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Son Of My Soul - The Adoption of Christopher

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I believe it is true that God anoints the pen of some writers to bring forth words from their heart to those with a specific need. In my opinion, author Debra Shiveley Welch, has the anointing of the Lord upon her words in her newest work, "Son of My Soul - The Adoption of Christopher," as she tells the story of her adoption of her beloved son, Christopher, and the foreshadowing of her life's cycle that would bring her to that moment in time. Within the pages of this book our author bares her soul as she reveals her life story, one of rejection, abuse and remorse and takes us on her journey to healing, redemption and fulfillment of a promise made so long ago. Much of the tales of her youth were heart wrenching, and the courage of this woman was evident even at the most tender age. You will be amazed and deeply moved. Undergoing rejection, not only from mother, father, step-grandmother and other family members, our author forged through two broken marriages, and as you read, you hope upon hope that somewhere happiness awaits this hurting soul. Strengthened by her faith in God, slowly she is led towards the destiny He has placed upon her life; and moves forward with trust and belief that that destiny will be fulfilled. Remarkable!

We travel along as Debra again marries, and she and her loving husband are entrusted with a baby boy, shortly before the chance may have been gone forever. A child with problems that many would find too unbearable to undertake, Mrs. Welch embraced immediately the child of her heart. This couple of faith and love moved forward into a future that they knew at best would be a challenge, but they never let that dictate their decision concerning making Christopher their own.


My heart broke time and time again as situations were told of countless operations, near death experiences, and learning problems encountered by their Christopher, but I rejoiced at the determination, faith and fortitude of this couple and the victorious outcome of this loving family. We all have challenges in our lives and dreams that we want to see fulfilled, but do we have the courage to never let them go? In this read you will see the courage of one woman who overcame deep hurts, extended forgiveness, found her destiny child, and gave freely and gladly to him unconditional love, and a chance at a wonderful life. Her story and Christopher's is one you will treasure and remember in your heart for a long time to come...One that will bring a tear and a smile. A story of horror, pain, and rejection that is replaced with courage, hope, faith, love and victory. This is a book every adoptive parent should read, and every person who has a child of their heart, for in this read you will find the true meaning of love. Well done Mrs. Welch!

Reading "Son of My Soul -- The Adoption of Christopher" by Debra Shively Welch is a shattering experience. In this superbly written account, using powerful prose, emotive poetry and even heart-tugging photographs, Mrs Welch frankly uncovers the story of her life to date. It is an inspiring story of ultimate triumph over constant rejection, inhuman neglect and total emotional impoverishment. It is hard to understand how -- in a country that prides itself on the pursuit of happiness -- so much sorrow and misery could have been heaped on the head of such a loving child and teenager. Nonetheless, Mrs Welch's purpose is not to wallow in the past, but to take her readers on a spirit-fulfilling journey to ultimate healing and empowerment. Hard-won though it may be, victory is the ultimate goal. Victory over self, victory over the negative impact of others, victory over circumstances. The author makes the point that courage and self-analysis are not enough. Faith is the catalyst. Faith in herself, faith in those closest to her heart, faith in her friends, faith in the power of right thinking, faith in the unquenchable human spirit, faith in God, and perhaps above all, faith in the triumph of love.

It's always enriching to peek into someone else's life. So, you know, most books are good. I want as many details as the author is willing to share. I'm willing to pay the price of sharing in depression, envy, greed, sorrow, confusion to gain insight and widom.

The rare beauty of Son of My Soul is that it will make you feel bubbling joy in your heart, and you'll look at the future as filled with boundless opportunity and blindingly bright promise. Read it, and be a better person.

TITLE: Son Of My Soul
AUTHOR: Debra Shiveley Welch
COPYRIGHT: 2007 by Debra Shiveley Welch
PUBLISHER: Saga Books[...]
GENRE: Autobiography
FORMAT: Paperback
ISBN: 9781894936934
PAGES: 140
PRICE: $[...]
FAMILY PHOTOS: by Debra Shiveley Welch

Can you imagine growing up with poverty, neglect, drunkenness and molestation? Author Debra Shiveley Welch can. In this poignant autobiography the author recounts how she overcomes these things and more. She relates her story in poems, essays and narration.

The author is a born storyteller. She takes you by the hand and leads you through her sad childhood. You experience with her the days when both of her parents are gone for days at a time, leaving the small Debra to care for her younger half brother and half sister. She cares for the children with no electricity, water or heat in the house. Through these heartbreaking years it is only her faith that gets her through.

You count the years, months and days until her graduation when she is seventeen-years-old. It is then that she can move out of the house. It is then that her life starts to improve and she lands her first job and friends. You rejoice with her when she finally meets `the one'. You cry tears of happiness with her when her adopted son, Christopher, arrives at the age of seven days old.

In this inspirational autobiography, the reader worries with her, cries with her and prays with her through all of Christopher's many surgeries.

To find out more about Debra Shiveley Welch just visit her website at: [...]
You can find `Son of My Soul' for sale from the publisher at: [...]

By
Deborah Hockenberry
Saturday, February 14, 2009

If you are looking for a book that comes straight from the heart this is the book for you to read. It is storytelling at its best. At times reading this book I felt like I was eavesdropping in on Debra's conversation with her son Chris. At other times I felt like she and I were old friends sitting around and she was just sharing her life experiences with me. I whole heartily recommend this book to anyone.

Everybody will be able to relate to this book in some way or the other, as Debra writes straight from her heart. At times you will feel sad and at other times you will have a smile on your face. We might think or imagine that having the biggest house or best car is the most important thing, but after reading this book you will realize how there are things which are much more important than that.

You will realize how love is the most important thing. Debra has truly given all her love to Chris, her son and her soul, and by the end of the book you will feel very happy for both of them.

The emotions and feelings are universal and at the end of the day we are all one. This book is a must read for anybody who is human and believes in love.

Debra,

Your book is touching my life in so many ways! I read a couple of chapters at a time, because I get so emotional I can't continue to read. You have to be the strongest woman I have ever met to rise from the ashes and become a flame of shining hope.

I thought I had it hard growing up poor, but I was very wealthy by comparison, because I had the love of parents and family. This book is going to bring hope to so many people who have struggled with a similar past as you. You are most definitely my new hero!!! What a very lucky young man Chris is to have you as his mother! You are God's gift to each other.

Pamela Archer

The writing was very emotional and poetic. The way Mom writes words is amazing. Mom writes from her heart and her soul, and this is what makes this book so special. This book will make people cry, some with happiness and some with sadness.

While reading this book, I felt a lot of things. I felt a lot of pain, a lot of depression, but also a lot of wonder and a lot of joy and a little bit of anger also, like when I read about the learning differences. But overall, this is a very smart and very thought-out book, because my mom talks from deep within her heart, and that is what Son of My Soul -The Adoption of Christopher is basically about.

Son of My Soul is a moving and heart felt story written by and about Debra Shiveley Welch and her special adopted son, Christopher. Her journey begins within a very challenged home life as a child. Yet the path in life that she is led down to is a most wondrous, strong and loving path that brings her to the adoption of her son. Tears as well as laughter abound in this book.

Debra is, indeed, a master storyteller. I read her words and I see what she sees, I hear what she hears, I smell what she smells and taste what she tastes. Most importantly, I FEEL what she feels.

"Son of My Soul" is a heart-wrenching autobiography -- a tale of humanity, of living, of understanding, of compassion and anger and forgiveness. But most of all, "Son of My Soul" is a story of true love. If you want to read about real life in all its glory, including hardships as well as the wonders of supernatural love . . . read "Son of My Soul" by Debra Shively Welch. You will be blessed.

-- Linda Alexander

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