Customer Reviews

Children of Dreams

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Children of dreams

"It soon became clear to me that the adoption of my children wasn't that different than God's adoption of us..."

Overcoming loss, separation, and abandonment, Ms. Roberts shares her heart and addresses many thoughtful questions and circumstances she endured on her journey of international adoption. Comparing her situations to Christian principles and beliefs, she shares some of her most intimate emotions as well as battles during the process.

The what ifs and suppose... Questions plague her, and she decides to trust that God's will must be done.
"only God could take away my slavery to the fear that paralyzed me. As fears grip on me let go, God held me in his arms...and spoke silently to my heart, "I love you."

Thru heart wrenching and painful Circumstances, Lorilyn shares with us her struggles to find happiness and contentment after the bitterest of trials. Brought low, she wonders to herself if God will ever bless her with peace and contentment again. Is it possible after betrayal of the most acute kind? Would she have children of her own?
This is her journey.

When I received my copy of "Children of Dreams" in the mail I thought I would just open it and take a look. Before I knew it, I was on Chapter Eight and looking forward to reading the rest of Lorilyn's story. Even though this is a non-fiction book it reads like fiction. Lorilyn has put so much detail into her story you feel like you've been transported to the far regions of Nepal and Vietnam along with her. She tells of her trials and hardships she endured to adopt her children Manisha and Joy. Throughout the book she relates the process of adoption with our adoption by our heavenly Father. You will not look at adoption the same after you read Loyilyn's book. You will not be sorry you read "Children of Dreams" whether you are adoptive parents or not.

Children of Dreams is a must read for anyone going through the foreign adoption process, preparing to adopt, or would like to see the commitment a parent must dedicate their life to in order to bring a child home.

Corruption, heartache, cultural challenges all stand in the way of adopting. Lorilyn endured this process twice. I appreciate her honest writing as she shares her inner struggles and hope. The road to each adoption was paved with a series of miracles so that it's easy to wonder how anyone endures the process at all. Just as the adoption seemed hopeless, the Lord would open a door. As Americans, we don't understand the mindset of impoverished nations. Manipulation, corruption, and the expectation of bribes are a normal part of life in many countries.

Experience the journey as Lorilyn takes you through the adoption of her two daughters. Watch her grow and learn to trust in God. This unique book is a must read for anyone. It gives a greater appreciation for the analogy the Bible uses when we are called the adopted children of God.

I had not expected to enjoy as much as I did this quite gripping story of a passionate woman's struggle to adopt two young girls, one in Nepal, the other in Vietnam. Along the way she had to battle uncaring bureaucracy, corruption, life-threatening disease and even the threat of a Communist uprising. It is a personal story, told from the heart, and the author writes candidly about the breakdown of her marriage and her early fears and insecurities. But it is also a story of redemption, as she puts her faith in God and finds that it is through His overwhelming love that she is able to embark on what is probably her most significant journey, a journey from despair to joy. Highly recommended.

This is a very well-written book. I was surprised at what an adventure this turned out to be, rather two adventures. I thought the background stories were woven into the main story beautifully. I can't wait to read more from Ms. Roberts.

What an amazing story of a mother's love and perseverance through difficult circumstances to bring her daughters home, and of God's faithfulness in life's hard times. I couldn't put this book down! Manisha and Joy are blessed to have Lorilyn for their mother and to have their adoption stories in writing.

I was very touched by this book. Ms. Roberts takes the reader through the emotional turmoil of wanting a child so badly and having that dream ripped away while her husband moves on with someone else and has his own child to attempting to adopt children and facing insurmountable obstacles. With God's help, she persevered and now has two beautiful daughters but there is an amazing story of how she got from divorcee to mother....and it is a beautiful story! Her comparison to how we are adopted by God is, I believe, original and right on!
Let me start this section by saying, I don't generally read this type of book. I usually stick to fiction, but the description and cover caught my attention. I was immediately taken through a roller coaster of emotions when she described her desire for a baby, her divorce, the hoops she jumped through, her joy of finally getting her babies, her fear for her children's' health and safety, and many many more. She has a unique understanding of how we are adopted by Christ because of her experiences and I think it makes a beautiful book. She doesn't take a 'lofty' approach of I did all this, but says instead that GOD did all this for her and that to me is the most important thing. She adamantly states that she waited on God and that is why everything worked out for her in the end. It wasn't an easy journey for her or her daughters but God brought them together in His time and way.
I rate this book a 5/5. You will laugh, cry and feel an emotional roller coaster while you take the journey with Ms. Roberts!

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

I would start reviewing Lorilyn Roberts book Children of Dreams by saying that I've always been interested in adoption, even though I've never fully committed myself to the full process despite having made numerous inquiries. I wanted to read Lorilyn's book to have a feel of her experience having gone through the process of adoption.

When I started reading Lorilyn book, I could hardly put it down as I love reading other people's stories; it motivates me to know the difficulties they have experienced in life and how they overcame them. That's the main reason why I couldn't stop reading Lorilyn's book daily until I finished it.

"Children of dreams" is the true story of a heartbroken woman who found hope again in adopting two beautiful baby girls called Manisha and Joy. Proverbs 13:12 "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life".

Clarke's Commentary on the Bible
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick - When once a good is discovered, want of it felt, strong desire for the possession excited, and the promise of attainment made on grounds unsuspected, so that the reality of the thing and the certainty of the promise are manifest, hope posts forward to realize the blessing. Delay in the gratification pains the mind; the increase of the delay prostrates and sickens the heart; and if delay sickens the heart, ultimate disappointment kills it. But when the thing desired, hoped for, and expected comes, it is a tree of life, '' '''' ets chaiyim, "the tree of lives;" it comforts and invigorates both body and soul. To the tree of lives, in the midst of the gardens of paradise, how frequent are the allusions in the writings of Solomon, and in other parts of the Holy Scriptures! What deep, and perhaps yet unknown, mysteries were in this tree!

As the story of Lorilyn unfolded, I couldn't help feeling compassion and love for Lorilyn as she went to the ends of the earth to make her dreams come true by adopting a baby girl from Nepal and another baby girl from Vietnam. I couldn't help feeling the pain that she felt when she encountered obstacles but I also felt joy when she got her breakthroughs.

I could see that God loved those two beautiful girls and was very much involved in the full process of the adoption. He gave Lorilyn strength and faith every time she encountered discouragement and God guided Lorilyn when she didn't know what to do. He surrounded Lorilyn with people to pray for her and help her out to make her adoption dreams come true. She had to fight language barriers, deceit, greed, sickness and lies. God remembered Lorilyn's Bible stories and Bible verses to build up her faith in Him.

In the end, God helped Lorilyn to be more than a conqueror and defeat the invisible attacks of the devil who took Lorilyn's initial dreams of having children of her own . A few years later, Lorilyn is smiling again has God has made her future bright again by giving her two amazing daughters. Those girls would have died of poverty and sickness if they wouldn't have been adopted. God saved the girls through Lorilyn's adoption by giving them a brighter future. God is merciful and extends His love to the lost ones by reaching out to orphans for He cares for them.

To conclude, I would say that Children of Dreams is very well written, I enjoyed very much the way she described Nepal and Vietnam which gave me a true picture and experience of the places she went to adopt her daughters; that has helped me to live her experience of adopting through her eyes and heartfelt. Besides, Lorilyn shares some significant moments of her life that has helped her to get her faith and knowledge of God stronger and deeper. Lorilyn uses a lot of Scriptures from the Bible to help us get the message of what God has done, revealing her about His character and unfailing love.

Lorilyn's book revealed how God made His love known to her daughters through the whole experience of adoption. I would recommend Children of Dreams to anyone who is looking to adopt a child to know what to expect; even though the path to adopt was crooked at first, God made it smooth and straight in the end. Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose".

Clarke's Commentary on the Bible
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God - To understand this verse aright, let us observe:
1. That the persons in whose behalf all things work for good are they who love God, and, consequently, who live in the spirit of obedience.

2. It is not said that all things shall work for good, but that '''''''', they work now in the behalf of him who loveth now, '''''''; for both verbs are in the present tense. All these things work together; while they are working, God's providence is working, his Spirit is working, and they are working Together with him. And whatever troubles, or afflictions, or persecutions may arise, God presses them into their service; and they make a part of the general working, and are caused to contribute to the general good of the person who now loves God, and who is working by faith and love under the influence and operation of the Holy Ghost. They who say sin works for good to them that love God speak blasphemous nonsense. A man who now loves God is not now sinning against God; and the promise belongs only to the present time: and as love is the true incentive to obedience, the man who is entitled to the promise can never, while thus entitled, (loving God), be found in the commission of sin. But though this be a good general sense for these words, yet the all things mentioned here by the apostle seem more particularly to mean those things mentioned in Romans 8:28-30.

God was in total control of the adoption of Lorilyn's daughters and He wants us to trust Him, because in the mist of our weaknesses, God will make His glory shine and will not forsake our troubles, for He deeply cares for us. 2 Corinthians 13:9 "For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you be made complete".


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord,.... The purposes and resolutions of His heart concerning the Israelites welfare who were enslaved by the Egyptians, particularly the restoration of them to their own land; these were within him, and known to him, and him only; they were remembered by him, and continued with him, as the "thoughts of his heart are to all generations"; and so would not fail of being performed; men think and forget what they have thought of, and so it comes to nothing; but thus it is not with God; he has taken up many thoughts in a way of love, grace, and mercy, concerning sinful men; about their election in Christ; a provision of all spiritual blessings for them; redemption and salvation by Christ; their effectual calling, adoption, and eternal life:

thoughts of peace, and not of evil: or "for evil" (t); these thoughts were concerning the temporal peace and prosperity of the Jews in Babylon, and not of anything to their hurt; yea, even their captivity was for their good, Jeremiah 24:5; and thoughts concerning his spiritual Israel, their peace and reconciliation with God, and the manner of bringing it about, by the blood, sufferings, and death of his Son in human nature, with whom he consulted and agreed about this matter; and concerning their inward spiritual peace of mind and conscience now, and their eternal peace hereafter: nor does he ever think of evil for them; whatever evil he thinks towards others, angels or men, he thinks none towards them; and whatever evil befalls them, he means it for good, and it does work for good unto them; he cannot think otherwise concerning them, consistent with his everlasting and unchangeable love to them; since he has designed so much good for them, does so much to them, and has so much to bestow upon them.

Having already a child of my own, I would say that adopting is the same painful and joyful process of giving birth to a child.

"Children of dreams" is a must-read book to develop your faith with God and know His Heart better. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future".


Blessings,
Sana Edoja
[...]

By
Emily-Jane Hills Orford (Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Children of Dreams (Paperback)
There is Hope and there is Joy; "but the greatest gift of all is Love"! (I Corinthians 13:13). Lorilyn has all three; but she had to adopt the first two and that was no easy task to undertake. Then again, life was not meant to be easy. Lorilyn chose to adopt her family, her two girls, from the poorest of the poor. She ventured around the world and she endured hardship, disease, communist roadblocks, lies, deceit, and much more; but she followed her heart's desire, steadfast in the belief that her dream was also God's dream. She adopted her first daughter, Manisha Hope, in Nepal and, years later, she adopted her second daughter, Joylin Van, in Vietnam. It required a great deal of faith and a lot of courage. God gave us the gift of life. He adopted us as His children and He gave us love. Lorilyn shares her gifts from God, her life and her love with her adopted daughters. Through the power of storytelling, she also shares her gifts with us.

Children of Dreams is Lorilyn Roberts' story of adoption. From a life of tragedy, this woman blossomed into a person that glowed with God's love, a love that she wanted to share. She had a strong desire to reach out to those who really needed her loving touch. The world is full of underprivileged children in need of such love. Through perseverance and faith, Lorilyn found two girls to love. Children of Dreams is a passionate story that traces a journey of discovery in a world full of unknowns, a world sometimes full of frightening experiences, on the road to foreign adoptions.

Children of Dreams is an endearing story, a real page-turner, about the power of love and the power of faith. We are all God's children, adopted and loved equally. Children of Dreams is also a story about adoption and the difficulties often presented when trying to adopt a child overseas. Children of Dreams is highly recommended by: Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Allbooks Reviews.

This book was fascinating because of the experiences and trials Lori overcame to adopt two girls from Asia and how complicated adoptions are. Lori shared her experiences of prayer and faith with God and how she had to humble herself to do God's will. This book reveals God's love through adoption of our physical family and his adoption of us into his family.