Shearer shares story of adoption in new memoir
Sarah Shearer was born in April 1993 in a Russian hospital, where she was left before being taken to an orphanage. Two months later her life would change forever, when advocates from An Open Door Adoption Agency, located in Thomasville, visited Shearer’s orphanage.
An Open Door Adoption Agency was looking into the possibility of international adoption and eager to begin a relationship with the orphanage. However, the orphanage was said to be weary. They gave the advocates an ultimatum.
The staff agreed if the agency could find a home for a particularly feeble Shearer, they would consider opening an adoption program.
Shearer was said to have heart defects, mental issues, kidney failure and a plethora of other issues, but this did not deter An Open Door Adoption Agency.
They brought back a picture of Shearer to Thomasville, where two locals, whose children were nearly grown said they wanted to adopt Shearer.
Six months later, Shearer’s parents traveled to Russia with their teenage son and daughter and adopted her.
Upon returning to Thomasville, Shearer was raised and homeschooled by her parents until the 9th grade.
Shearer instantly became recognized in the community as the first internationally adopted child from An Open Door Adoption Agency.
During her formative years, Shearer began recording her experiences on a blog and for the adoption agency.
“I wrote for our school newspaper and magazines and I always wanted to write a book,” she said. “I loved fiction, but I wasn’t great with dialogue, so I decided to write about what I know best, which is my own life.”
Shearer’s journey to writing about her life began six years ago, when she started crafting her memoir “Extra Ordinary.”
“The whole premise is that you can live an extraordinary life in a really small town with a small community of people you love,” she said. “You can look back and see that you did have a meaningful life. I think that resonates with a lot of people.”
The memoir debuted in February and Shearer held a signing over the weekend at The Book Shelf.
The memoir begins with Shearer’s adoption and pays homage to the true heroes in her life, she said.
Shearer’s adoptive parents were touched by the book.
“They didn’t read it until it came out, but they both loved it,” Shearer said. “I don’t know what it’s like from their perspective, but I think it’s a great honor to them, because they are both really great people.”
Shearer said her parents were always very open with her about her adoption, so she does not believe they will be surprised by anything in the memoir.
However, she also explained that her parents may not have realized the inward pressure she felt to make something of herself.
“I’m so grateful you gave me a family, I’m so grateful that you went to all this effort for me, but now I need to do something in return,” Shearer said.
Shearer said that she was reminded during those intrusive thoughts that it is not her journey to write and craft, but God is the author and holds the pen.
“All I need to do is be exactly who He created me to be and do exactly what He has called me to do,” Shearer said. “The results are left up to him.”
Shearer’s relationship with the Lord is of the things she is most grateful to her parents for. She explained that Russians are traditionally Russian Orthodox, which is its own religion, similar to Catholicism.
“The greatest thing my parents have given me is a relationship with Jesus,” she said. “Growing up in a Christian household is likely not something I would’ve encountered in Russia."
Shearer’s relationship with the Lord and thoughtful prayers for the future led her to her husband, Lucas, who she now has two beautiful children with.
The couple is now prayerfully considering adoption both domestically and internationally.
“We are praying very fervently about adopting,” she said.
While Shearer may have felt some internal pressure from her own adoption, she said adopting her own child is a calling.
“The Bible says to take care of the widows and the orphans,” she said. “It wasn’t an internal pressure, it was an external pressure to do what the Bible said. I’ve always felt very strongly about that.”
Shearer is unsure if her biological mother felt a calling to give her up for adoption, but she is thankful to her and said she wished she could tell her about the amazing life she has had because of her unselfish decision.
“I just want to tell her thank you and that I’ve had a wonderful existence because she chose life,” Shearer said. “If you looked at my ultrasound, I would’ve been a prime candidate for a late trimester abortion and I’m so thankful my birth mother decided not to do that. It’s not up to us to decide if life is worth living.”
Shearer plans to speak more on her own experience of raising children and choosing life in her second book, which is set to be finished within the next 1-2 years.
She concluded by thanking the community of Thomasville for helping her grow to the person and writer she is today and stated how happy she was to raise her children in such a loving, inclusive community to all.
For those interested in hearing more about Shearer’s story, her memoir is available at The Book Shelf.
Brookwood School
Located in Thomasville, GA, Brookwood School is a private school for grades JK-12. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, fine and performing arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.