In North America, more and more families are adding members through adoption. And there are more ways to adopt--and kinds of adoption--than ever. This quick-start resource will help prospective parents consider key emotional and spiritual issues up front..."before" they plunge into the near-overwhelming mass of details and start to run into roadblocks, even dead ends. Laura Christianson--an adoption educator and mentor, and an adoptive mom herself--brings her experience and knowledge to address unspoken but crucial questions about...loving an adopted childextended family's reactionexpensesopenness in adoptionthe role of birth parentsphysical disabilitiesemotional/behavioral challengesracial and cultural prejudices Recounting real-life miracles and mishaps of adoptive families, the author will help prospective parents--and their friends and family members--think through adoption's challenges and joys, and confidently move forward from a firm emotional and spiritual footing.