By Eileen Connelly, OSU

ARCHDIOCESE — The journey of adoption and the love and sense of belonging that accompany it are celebrated in a new book — Embraced by Love — by local author Dolores Mize, a member of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish.

Mize, the married mother of four, has long been involved in the pro-life movement, including ministering as a sidewalk counselor at an area abortion clinic and serving as a member of the Respect Life Committee at her parish.

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She was inspired to write both books "by God’s gift of children," Mize explained. "I long for the day when every child is treasured, loved and embraced. I weep for the countless lives lost to abortion. Life is such a wonderful, precious choice. So many families are waiting to adopt. In our day, when abortion is so available, it is very important to me to honor the bravery and selfless love of birth moms. In Embraced by Love, I acknowledge and thank them for choosing life for their baby, and by doing so honoring God’s culture of life."

The message of Embraced by Love conveys that "God our Father has created all the world’s lovely, beautiful children. And they are waiting to be welcomed into a family’s loving embrace through adoption," said Mize. "I love the beauty in which God works — all the different ethnicities, each and every child covered with God’s fingerprints."

The book is geared toward adoptive parents, adoptive children, women struggling with crisis pregnancies and birth moms. It combines Mize’s prose with black and white portraits by local photographer Angela Talentino. The children pictured are from all over the world and some are special needs. Also included are keepsake pages for adoptive parents to write love letters to their child.

Mize was deeply moved by the experience of meeting the adoptive families and sharing their journeys. "It was my privilege and such an inspiration to work with all the families involved in this book," she said. "Their love for all their children, whether biological or adopted, inspired me."

Embraced by Love and I Know I am Loved are available from Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati at 513-728-7870; St. Francis Bookshop on Winton Road, 513 241-7304; all Greater Cincinnati Family Christian Stores; and through www.lifecyclebooks.com or www.amazon.com. Mize can be reached via www.iknowiamloved. com.