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About the Book About the Author
This is an excerpt including the introduction and first three chapters of the book Blessed Chaos, released in kindle and print format on November 22, 2014.
“What was it like going from no children to four children in an instant?”
Ashley Wells has answered this question countless times. Ashley, and her husband Michael, were licensed to accept a placement of up to four children aged eight and younger into their home through their local foster care system. They didn't realize these parameters would exactly describe the children God would bring into their lives.
In April 2012, after ninety minutes to prepare, Ashley and Michael became the parents of an eight-year-old boy, five-year-old girl, thirteen-month-old girl, and a two-and-a-half-week-old baby boy. Their journey included the typical “roller coaster” ride of emotions and setbacks, yet through God’s grace they persevered in the journey. On November 22, 2013 Michael and Ashley welcomed these four children into their family forever through adoption.
Releasing on their one-year adoption anniversary, Blessed Chaos: A Journey through Instant Motherhood is an inspiring memoir documenting Ashley's journey becoming a mother through foster care adoption and the lessons she learned along the way.
Blessed Chaos is written with the prayer to encourage women in the midst of their chaos, enlighten readers on the foster adoption process, and inspire people to think about how they are called to support foster children and foster parents.
Ashley Wells strives to live alive and passionately pursue life. This means she is trying to thrive, not just survive. She doesn't want to be an innocent bystander to her own life. She wants her life to mean something.
Ashley is honored to use her words to encourage others online, through her books, and also through speaking opportunities. She has three books under her belt, and many more ideas for future titles! She also loves to help others bring their message to life. You can find all of her projects at http://www.1031media.com/.
Ashley lives in Louisville, KY with her husband and four children. Her family has been blessed by adoption and she considers it a privilege to advocate for orphans and at-risk children, as well as encourage foster and adoptive moms.
Editorial Reviews
"As a mom who adopted internationally, I found it very interesting to read this account of a different type of adoption: the journey to parenthood via foster care adoption. Ashley did a great job of describing the uncertainty inherent in this type of adoption, as well as the challenges children and parents face as children are settling into a new family. I was rooting for them the entire book and I think other readers will be too."
MARY OSTYN, blogger at owlhaven.net and author of Forever Mom: What to Expect When You're Adopting
“Blessed Chaos is a heartwarming, inspirational story of a couple’s journey through the foster to adopt system. Ashley tells her story very candidly and with raw emotion and through it all, her devotion to the children is obvious. The Wells’ reliance on God in both good and bad times, reminds us all that anything is possible when we put our trust in God.”
STACIA WASHAUSEN, Director, Family Support, Orphan Care Alliance
“Ashley Wells chronicles their journey to parenthood through foster adoption with transparency, humility, and insight. I finished the book in two sittings and only stopped reading because I HAD to go to sleep. Our kids share similar backgrounds and her book shed so much light on what was most likely around the corner for us. This journey can feel really lonely and through this book, Ashley helped me to see that all I was feeling and encountering was normal. I recommend Blessed Chaos to anyone adopting through foster care and their support system, such as grandparents and close friends.”
STEPHANIE THOMPSON, mother to 4 children through birth and foster adoption
