When John and Marlene Strege learned they wouldn't be able to have a child, they were devastated. Then Marlene asked the question that would change their lives: Can frozen embryos be adopted? The answer not only gave them their beloved daughter Hannah, it drew all three into a political spotlight they never expected.
Hundreds of thousands of frozen embryos exist, held in stasis because parents using in vitro fertilization have completed their families without them. When scientists discovered a way to extract stem cells from human embryos for disease research and cures, those tiny lives were suddenly at risk. And Hannah, just a few months after this discovery, became the first human face of the growing resistance to this new science. In the first few years of her life, she not only sparked other parents to adopt their own "snowflake babies," but she also inspired the first frozen embryo adoption program, featured on Focus on the Family (getting a new godfather in Dr. Dobson), attended her mother's testimony in Congress, and stood at President Bush's side as he vetoed federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
This compelling story unfolds at the intersection of faith and family, science and politics. Pro-life Christians, those who have experienced infertility or know those who have, and anyone concerned with where science can lead when moral and ethical concerns are ignored will welcome this book--and the sweet face of the baby who might never have been born.
Hannah and Soraya are in the business of making rock music with a social conscience. The way Britain currently works, that means they’re ‘snowflakes’, ‘social justice warriors’, ‘virtue signallers’. They’ve learned to live with the mudslinging, but not happily. Worse than that. It's starting to overwhelm them. Then, out of the blue, they suffer a string of personal and professional crises. Their solution? A change of scene designed to keep the lid on a looming family cataclysm and draw artistic inspiration from the pre-musical roots of rock (but without the Beats’ misogyny, plus in an eco-friendly car). Hannah and Soraya’s Fully Magic Generation-Y *Snowflake* Road Trip across America is about the value of family, friendship, human mortality, the siren call of social media, celebrity vs. anonymity, creative integrity, true love, drugs ‘n’ alcohol, literature, sexuality, the ‘special relationship’, what it means to be a millennial, what kind of world Generation Y is set to inherit, the very meaning of life itself in the 21st century. Amongst other things.
"An insider's look at a powerful social movement that aims to transform how we think about frozen human embryos, reproductive politics, and the future of the nation"--
If you''re interested in purchasing the audio CD of the story and songs from the book, A Snowflake Dream, contact the author, Christine, at [email protected]. The price for each CD is $10 plus shipping. Have you ever wished that a magic wand could make your dreams come true? Have you ever wondered "where snowflakes live, what they think or if they giggle?" Share a young girl?s imaginative dream journey, as she seeks to find answers to these and other wondering questions in the heartwarming story of . . . A Snowflake Dream It is the eve of Hannah?s 7th birthday and still her special dream has not come true. After a lonely discouraging first day at her new school in the north, Hannah falls asleep and dreams of taking a mysterious journey to a glistening ice-kingdom, where whimsical snow-crystal characters inspire her to keep believing and lead her to discover the magic of snowflakes and dreams! Following the story, children will learn more about snowflakes, share a special lesson on signing with Hannah''''s new deaf friend, Miguel and enjoy an inspiring collection of children?s special dreams and wishes for the world! Children are then invited to share their own dreams remembering that . . . "dreams may only come true for those who dare to imagine, dream and believe." "A delightful book & lovely C.D. of story & songs . . . all with an uplifting message for children of all ages!" Pat Fuhs, Children?s Editorial Specialist "Children will thoroughly enjoy this unique shimmering winter tale and the inspiring snowflake/ dream activity journal that follows!" Victoria Burns Taylor, Easton, Ma. *A portion of the proceeds from this book will help benefit: Icoda . . . International center on deafness & the arts, Northbrook, IL Mercy Home for boys and girls, Chicago, IL The Satellite Happiness Clubs, Chicago & Wheeling IL
Romance on the Ranch Series: Dream Kisses; Honey Kisses; Baby Kisses; Candy Kisses; Christmas Kisses; Rock Star Kisses; Forever Kisses; Forgotten Kisses; Angel Kisses; The Last Kiss Hannah Tanner, daughter of Sage and Sarah Tanner from book one, Dream Kisses, has always dreamed of experiencing diverse cultures in countries other than the United States. To that end, she joins a nonprofit organization that sends her to a third world country to become office assistant to a doctor in the same organization. From the beginning, Hannah and the doctor develop a rocky relationship, but over time they become friends--and inevitably much more. Hannah falls deeply in love...then the unthinkable happens. Dr. Alexavier Wyndham, son of the Earl of Alderbury in Wiltshire County, England, has little patience when it comes to young women seeking adventure in dangerous countries, so when Hannah Tanner arrives as his assistant--when he specifically requested a male--he is furious and immediately dismisses her. However, Hannah's demure looks belie her stubborn refusal to leave. Excerpt: It was late afternoon and Dr. Alexavier Wyndham was exhausted. He glanced from his laptop screen to the door of his office when a crisp knock sounded. "Enter," he called. His office assistant, a middle-aged, no-nonsense woman over the age of fifty, poked her head around the door and grinned. Since Gladys Buttons rarely smiled at him, he frowned. "Yes?" It wasn't a secret that he and Gladys often butted heads, so her smile puzzled him. Then he decided it was because she was a short-timer. Her contract with the organization would be over as soon as he authorized her replacement. She said, "My replacement is here." Her grin widened. Now he was completely baffled. "Okay, show him in." He heard Ms. Buttons laugh as she closed the door and he got an uneasy feeling. A few minutes later there was another knock. He yawned and turned his attention to meeting his new assistant. He'd been up most of the night with a child suffering from malnutrition and the ailments associated with it. The child had been brought to the only doctor within a hundred miles—him. The poor mother hadn't been in much better condition after her three day journey on foot. He typed one last notation into his laptop, hit the save button, and closed the screen. The door opened and Ms. Buttons entered, blocking his view of whoever was behind her. With a flourish, she waved her hands and stepped aside. "Dr. Wyndham, meet Miss Hannah Tanner, your new assistant." Alexavier's eyes widened and then narrowed. He had specifically requested his new assistant be male. Life in a third world country was grueling, and other than cantankerous Ms. Buttons who could survive anything, he'd already witnessed the affect it had on young women in the organization. Often, they came believing their ideals were all they needed. He never doubted they were well-intentioned, but after weeks of sometimes unbearable heat, unusual food, little sleep, and the overwhelming needs of the population, the women began to fade. The sparkle left their eyes as they attempted to become all things to anyone who needed them. Alexavier pressed his hands onto the top of his desk and glared at Ms. Buttons. He said, "What the bloody… Tell me you're kidding."
The girls who ride at Shady Glenn Stables are friends...except for Becky and Hannah, that is. Hannah is a know-it-all and wins every jumping competition with her horse, Casey. Becky has no blue ribbons, but that's only because her horse, Stormy, has trouble jumping fences. When Hannah has an accident and is unable to compete, Becky finally sees her chance. All she needs to do is help Stormy overcome her fears. Hannah knows just how to help, and the girls soon overcome their differences and see just how much they have in common.
A vibrant and absorbing novel about the competitive world of professional ballet, written by a former New York City Ballet dancer. As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet company, nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances, and complicated backstage relationships. But when she meets a spontaneous and irresistibly cute musician named Jacob, her universe begins to change. Until now, Hannah has happily followed the company's unofficial mantra, "Don't think, just dance." But as Jacob opens her eyes to the world beyond the theater, Hannah must decide whether to compete against the other "bunheads" for a star soloist spot or to strike out on her own. Don't miss this behind-the-scenes look at the life of a young professional ballet dancer, written by an insider who lived it all.
There’s no place like seaside Blueberry Cove, Maine, at Christmas—and there’s nothing like a wedding, the warmth of the holidays, and an old crush, to create the perfect new start… Interior designer Fiona McCrae has left fast-paced Manhattan to move back home to peaceful Blueberry Cove. But she’s barely arrived before she’s hooked into planning her big sister Hannah’s Christmas wedding—in less than seven weeks. The last thing she needs is for her first love, Ben Campbell, to return to neighboring Snowflake Bay… As kids, Fiona was the bratty little sister Ben mercilessly teased—while pining after Hannah. But Fi never once thought of Ben like a brother. And that hasn’t changed. Except Fi is all grown up. Will Ben notice her now? More importantly, with her life in a jumble, should he? Or might the romance of the occasion, the spirit of the season, and the gifts of time ignite a long-held flame for many Christmases to come… Something old might just become something new… Includes a DIY wedding project!
The captivating, feminist YA thriller. The snow is falling thick and fast now. Snow in Iceland is dangerous. Hannah Eiríksdóttir has been banished from her home in London to a place of eternal punishment for the wicked. No, not Hell, but close: Iceland. There, she faces a new life working as a journalist for her father's newspaper - a man she barely knows. Imogen Collins has the perfect life as a social media influencer, showing off her glamorous London existence to adoring fans. But behind the filters lies a dark secret. She thought she'd buried it: But the Beast is back - a ghost from her past who's threatening to ruin her future. When a man is found murdered at the edge of the road in snowy Iceland the girls' lives collide. Imogen had the motive. Can Hannah find out the truth, and discover the reality of the girl beneath the filters? Behind perfection often lies unbearable ugliness. 'A sharp, relevant tale' The Sun
A profoundly moving exploration of our capacity to heal one another. Ellie and Eric Nyland have moved their two sons back to Eric’s childhood farmhouse, hoping for a fresh start. But there’s no denying it, their family is falling apart, each one of them isolated by private sorrows, stresses, and missed signals. With every passing day, Ellie’s hopes are buried deeper in the harsh winter snows. When Eric finds Hannah Finch, the girl across the road, wandering alone in the bitter cold, his rusty police instincts kick in, and he soon discovers there are bad things happening in the girl’s house. With nowhere else to send her, the Nylands reluctantly agree to let Hannah stay with them until she can find a new home after the Christmas holidays. But Hannah proves to be more balm than burden, and the Nylands discover that the only thing harder than taking Hannah in may be letting her go.
