"The Adoption Option" Saturday, March 8th, 2003

Saturday morning, March 8th, despite the blustery weather and three to six inches of new snow, thirty three people ventured out to come to the Adoption Option. After a light breakfast and introductions by Mark Abeln everyone wandered off to go to the workshops of their choosing. The morning was divided into three time periods, so people were able to go to three different workshops out of the six. Each type of adoption had two workshops, one presented by an agency and one by parish parent representatives. After the last workshop everyone gathered again in Hospitality Hall to ask final questions and remain and talk to the different agencies if they desired.

Workshop choices were:
1. Domestic/Infant Adoptions presented by Betsy Trondson of the Children’s Home Society.
2. International Adoption presented by Ann Sinnott of Crossroads.
3. Children Waiting in Minnesota by Rachael Huyck of Children’s Home Society and Jenni Buskirk of Ramsey County.
4. International Adoptions by Linda Nausner (Russia and Guatemala), Mark Quinn (Guatemala), Sheri Ahl (Paraguay) and Mark Abeln (Russia).
5. Domestic/Infant Adoptions by Mary Donovan and Lenny Benson.
6. Children Waiting in Minnesota by Dione and Jerry Leone.

Check out the new SJA Adoption Ministry web site for continuing information.

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Nancy Lynch says, "Joy is being a wife, Mom of fourteen, eight with varying disabilities and living at home, Grandma of thirteen, and Great Grandma of three. Serenity is listening and watching the ocean, alone, at our home on Maui. Passion is friends, photography, reading, swimming and children." Nancy can be reached at nalynch@aol.com.