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DIANNE DEMING
Tuesday, February 08, 2000 Page: 8
Those of you who read last week’s column know that my family and I were
blessed with a visit from Aunt Kathy and cousins James and Rebecca all last
week. It’s been great fun to have two little ones in the house again (ages 3
and 2 this March, respectively), and Scott and John have enjoyed playing with
and reading to their Kansas City cousins. In between snowstorms we saw the big
choo-choo trains at Steamtown, ate lunch at Basically Bagels, played in the
snow and checked out books at the Marian Sutherland Kirby Library. While at
the library, a woman I’d never met asked us, “Do either of you have adopted
children?” This sounds like a rather off-the-wall question unless you have
met my nephew and niece who indeed are adopted and were both born in Asia.
Aunt Kathy answered the woman in the affirmative and waited patiently to
discover where this conversation might be going. Judi Stanton then introduced
herself and invited Kathy to join a new group being formed in Mountaintop for
adopted children and their families. Kathy, of course, cannot participate, but
perhaps you can. If you have an adopted child or children, you are invited to
an ice-breaking gathering beginning at 6 p.m. March 5 at St. Paul’s Lutheran
Church. Please bring a dessert to share. Juice and soda will be provided. The
purpose of this gathering will be to become acquainted and discuss possible
activities for the future. Judi Stanton and Bernis Emmett are co-founding the
group. Judi and Bernis met at storytime at the library, got to swapping
adoption stories (there’s always a story connected with adoption, usually
involving long waits and multiple setbacks and ending with, “But it was worth
every hassle, and I’d do it all again in a minute.”). Bernis and Judi talked
about the number of adoptive families in the Mountaintop area and about how a
group might be helpful to the children and parents in these families. “We
want to let kids know they aren’t the only adopted children in the area,”
Judi said. So, if you’re looking for people with similar experience, want to
make new friends and have a good time together, then this group’s for you.
Thanks to Judi and Bernis for enriching our community with such a great idea.
If you have a great idea that will help to make Mountaintop an even better
place to live, send it to me at 50 Valley View Drive, Mountaintop, or e-mail
fdeming@aol.com. I’d love to hear from you! Until then, have a great week!