Beyond Blood

When five-year-old Ben's family decided to become a registered foster home, they knew it would be a tough but rewarding road ahead of them. What they may not have fully anticipated was the judgment coming at them from so many directions. Ben and his younger sister and parents were the picture of a biological nuclear family. Many in their circle insisted that bringing foster children into Ben and Annabelle's lives would? significantly harm their childhood. But these assumptions, which followed the family throughout their journey, couldn't have been further from the truth. In Beyond Blood, written by mother-son duo Michelle and Ben Snyder, Jr., you will get an inside look at what it really means for a family to open their home and their hearts to children who are facing unthinkable hardships. The descriptive and engaging narrative, penned from the perspective of young Ben as he grew up in that household, explores the broad range of emotions and experiences that come along with becoming a foster family. It's true-the Snyders made many sacrifices by taking in kids who faced profound difficulties physically, emotionally, and mentally as a result of their life experiences. But those challenges were unmatched by the boundless growth and love the family gained by stepping into the unknown. Crafting a soul-stirring mosaic of darkness and light, crushing pain and unrelenting hope, Beyond Blood captures all the pieces-from the jagged and ugly to the soft and pretty-that make up humanity. Ultimately, it's a life-giving, restorative, healing book that will prompt you to consider making a radical change to put others first. You may think you're average, but you are capable of extraordinary things if you open your heart to those in need. And that's what Beyond Blood is all about.

Ben Snyder is fourteen years old and working toward earning an associate degree at Lake-Sumter State College. In addition to being a foster care/adoption advocate, he likes to play chess, hunt, and read in his free time. Ben plans to pursue additional degrees in business and travel more in the future.