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I'm Deanna.
My official bio is at the end of this page.
The short story is, before I was Deanna, I was Melanie.
I was adopted in 1966 in a closed, domestic adoption.
I was reunited with my original mother and maternal side of the family in 1993.
When I started this blog, I was on a search for my original father, and paternal family. I had been searching for decades and finally found him on May 11, 2022.
Healing from post adoption issues has been an ongoing journey throughout my life as it is for countless adoptees.
I can't wait to meet you.
Interacting with readers in the comments on posts is my favorite way to share and get to know you.
Like Adoptee Restoration on Facebook, and receive news, updates, encouragement there.
If you have a desire to e-mail me personally, please read this first.
Adoptee Restoration Bio:
Dr. Deanna Doss Shrodes is ordained minister with the
Assemblies of God and has served as a pastor for 35 years, along with her
pastor-husband, Larry whom she met at The University of Valley Forge, where they
were both preparing for pastoral ministry. After serving as a pastor for several decades, Deanna transitioned to serving as Women's Ministries Director of the Peninsular Florida District of the Assemblies of God, which is a full-time role. Deanna and her husband have been married for 35 years,
have three grown children, four perfect grandchildren, and two adorable puppies. She and Larry live in the Tampa Bay area where Larry serves as lead pastor of
Celebration Church of Tampa.
Deanna speaks at churches and conferences internationally and is also an accomplished musician and singer. An award winning writer, she is a contributing author to Chocolate For a Woman's Courage, Lost Daughters: Writing Adoption from a Place of Empowerment and Peace Adoption Reunion in the Social Media Age, The Adoptee Survival Guide, Adoption Therapy: Perspectives from Clients and Clinicians on Healing Post-Adoption Issues, and It's Not About You: Understanding Adoptee Search, Reunion and Open Adoption. She is the sole author of the books Worthy to Be Found , Restored: Pursuing Wholeness When a Relationship is Broken, Juggle: Manage Your Time, Change Your Life, and Stronger: 30 Powerful Principles for Leaders, and Made for More, released by Entourage Publishing.
Deanna has now experienced reunion with both her original mother and father and much of her original family. Deanna blogs about authentic life and leadership issues at drdeannashrodes.com and specifically about adoptee issues at adopteerestoration.com. Deanna holds a masters degree in leadership from Southeastern University and also a Doctor of Ministry also from SEU.
