A love-stretched life Stories on wrangling hope, embracing the unexpected, and discovering the meaning of family

A moment of clarity in author Goble's late teens eventually inspired her and her husband to complete training to become foster parents. Their first fostering experience, with two brothers who had experienced trauma at the hands of their biological mother, gave Goble, a dedicated teacher, even more desire to help kids outside the classroom. As her family grew, she learned that life was full of disappointments, heartache, and unforeseen consequences. Goble decided that "a love-stretched life" was better than an easy life that is un-stretched. In this memoir, Goble includes her experiences as a teacher, a foster parent, a biological parent, an adoptive parent, and a wife that contributed to her decision to fill and expand her life even as it sometimes breaks her heart and soul. Goble's honesty about the triumphs and tears of inviting kids and their biological families into her own family is refreshing and offers insights into caring for others and finding your own way to a fulfilling life.

Goble shares guidance from her life as a "foster, biological, and adoptive mom (in that order)" in her bittersweet debut. "Difficult and worthy are not mutually exclusive--they are often intertwined," Goble notes, recounting the sleepless nights, innumerable court dates, and pleasant surprises that came along with raising five children. When Goble and her husband were 25, they decided to "put our faith into action" and take in foster children; she discusses how navigating the foster care system taught her to celebrate small victories, and how the challenges of adopting a son with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder helped her realize that one can thrive without having everything figured out ("there are times when simply putting one foot in front of the other can be a holy act"). To stay centered, Goble recommends journaling, counseling, resting, and learning to ask for help. With forthrightness and a sense of humor, the author crafts a poignant portrait of motherhood, replete with hard-earned wisdom ("Avoiding pain is not the ultimate prize of a life well lived"). This uplifting memoir exemplifies the power of faith, hope, and steadfast love. Agent: Kathryn Helmers, Creative Trust Literary Group. (May)