Sean C Morgan
Sweet Home author Pam Ogden’s new book, “He Made Me Brave,” will be released June 14.
“He Made Me Brave” chronicles the journey she took with her husband, Jason, to South Korea to adopt their youngest son, Hudson.
The Ogdens always wanted six children, but that wasn’t in the cards after a series of high-risk pregnancies and premature births threatened their first four babies. That prompted them to adopt, and they always knew that if they adopted one they would want two adoptees.
When they initiated the process to adopt a second child, this one from Japan, Pam began a blog about it, using journal entries from her trip to South Korea.
Pam said she had a high level of anxiety about traveling. She decided to keep a journal about their trip to South Korea in 2012, typing her blog entries using one finger on an iPad, which helped her deal with her anxiety about traveling. She also had discussed their decision-making process about where to adopt.
The book uses excerpts from the journal she began keeping while in South Korea, she said. “They were just pieces of my very honest, very unedited travel journal. People said they liked them, and I should make it into a book.”
She listened to her readers and struck a deal with the Christian publisher Lucid Books around Thanksgiving.
The book is almost out, Pam said, and she’s “nervous and excited.”
“It’ll be more so when it’s actually in people’s hands and people have read it. I’m anxious to hear how people who are included in the book, how they feel about it.”
“The project’s done, and I’m excited for Pam and to see how it goes,” Jason said.
The adoption process is in a holding pattern right now, Pam said. The U.S. Department of State has changed some things, and that has caused delays.
“Everybody behind closed doors is talking positively,” Jason said, adding that he’s optimistic. “We’ve been hoping and praying it’ll be in the fall.”
“We’re hoping to have our money raised by the time it’s reopened,” Pam said.
Royalties from the book will help pay for their second adoption.
Jason said they have about $11,000 to finish funding the adoption, but that doesn’t include travel costs. The total cost is estimated at $40,000, although it could range higher.
Coming up, Three Strands Farm in Lebanon is hosting a Family Fun Night to help raise money.
The event is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on June 23 and will include a catered dinner, with adult and child-friendly options, music and dancing on an outdoor dance floor, bingo and a few other family-friendly games along with a silent auction. The evening will end with an outdoor movie, “The Greatest Showman,” on the big screen.
Space is limited, and the deadline to purchase tickets is June 9. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children. For more information, visit http://www.smore.com/e4yq6. Checks may be made payable to Pam Ogden or made via PayPal to [email protected]. To mail a check, email Pam at that ddress.
Pam said they’re still looking for silent auction items, especially experiences, like trips and services, such as dinners for a week.
The Ogdens say they are thankful for the support they’ve already seen from the community.
Since they started raising money earlier this year, “it’s been amazing,” Jason said. The family has held three garage sales, one in the Portland area, one in Albany and one in Sweet Home. They’ve also sold items through eBay and Facebook.
They said the Sweet Home sale was by far the biggest, raising more than $3,500.
The turnout was huge, Jason said. People turned up with donations of their own and then shopped. Some customers returned with donations to the garage sale.
“We’ve been overwhelmed and extremely grateful for all the support and encouragement we’ve gotten from people we don’t even know,” Pam said.
“He Made Me Brave” is available as a pre-order through amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com, including a digital version for Kindle E-reader and Fire tablets – or “from me right now and have it in your hand,” Pam said.
The hard copy costs $15.