John M. Simmons

I had the distinct privilege of meeting John right before he was to do a radio interview. He walked in, black cowboy hat, boots and a western shirt, attire that stood out a bit from most Seattleites. While signing in, he set a book on the counter and my curiosity got the best of me.

My interest waned a bit when I discovered his book wasn’t about the Wild West, but overseas adoptions. He spoke of the difficulty in adopting children, then finding out the adoptees had siblings in orphanages too. Having been adopted, my thoughts immediately went into overdrive with all the complications of adopting more than one child and what kind of person would decide to pursue the siblings, rather than saying one is all we came for?

That wasn’t to be the end of our conversation. John went on to do his interview and I left for a meeting. Not before finding his book on my e-reader and downloading it, figuring I’d at least have it on the device if the urge hit. Then, as coincidences often happen, we met again outside a restaurant at lunchtime and we continued our previous conversation.

By the time lunch was over, I knew I was going to sit down and read his book. Not only charismatic, with an unending supply of love for his family, but the children still waiting in orphanages overseas to be adopted and brought into a family of their own.

He’s now made it his life’s mission to assist with older kid’s transitioning out of orphanages and trying to step into a society that’s forgotten them for so many years, while opening people’s eyes to the predicament of these lost children.

To Sing Frogs, was both entertaining and informative. Through John’s eyes we begin the process of a family trying to expand their numbers, and then struggling through the machinations of bureaucracy, only to find every step forward seems to be an uphill struggle on ice. If you’re like me, you’ll laugh a bit, wipe away a few tears and marvel at the amount of love this man has. It’s a family’s journey of hope, heartbreak, and continually pushing forward against the odds. John’s stark honesty weaves throughout the pages as he narrates, with cynicism and humor.

Not all the good guys are wearing white hats.… (mehr)