This week I want to begin the new year with as many reunion stories as I can. Reunions are new beginnings. Beginning next week, I will aim for at least one reunion story each Monday in the coming year. Here is a story written by Marney Rich Keenan about reunions and how they fill in the void.

People have differing opinions on what reunions can provide. Some of the most ardent critics of reunion have no experience with them whatsoever, but have such negative... more

Although I didn't take the photo that accompanies this post, it is a spot in Switzerland that my dear husband and I have visited. I associate snow with Christmas - so that is the connection to this post. This spot was featured in a James Bond Movie several years ago. Holidays are stressful for most human beings. However, if you are separated from family members, that separation is more pointed because most of us perceive holidays as family time. Those missing members are even more evident during the holidays. During... more

Summer's long gone, and for some parts of the country that means snow and chilly weather. For us Californians, winter is generally little different from summer. The big difference is that rain in the summer here is almost non-existent. Even in the winter, rain is not common. We celebrate the rain here because it is such a treat for us.

Adoption searching is my topic here, and I know that this time of the year is particularly difficult for people separated by adoption. Mention of that fact will likely come up in several of my blogs at this time of the year.... more

On Thanksgiving Day, my son Chris called to wish me Happy Thanksgiving. (I know that it is nearly Christmas, but I am way behind.) We chatted for awhile and he told me about the gathering of family on turkey day in his part of the country. The family group sounded fairly large this year. It included Chris, his brother and financee, his brother's child, their mom (adoptive), their dad (divorced from the mom)and his brother's birth mom and a few others.

It was funny when he mentioned that his brother's birth mom was invited. He quickly mentioned it was because... more

I don't much like wall-to-wall shopping experiences any more at the mall. This photo is what the mall looked like as I left there this morning. I found out that the store I wanted to buy a gift for my daughter opened on Sat. morning at 8:00 a.m. Good mom that I am (sometimes) I drug myself out of bed and was heading back home by 10:00 a.m. Thank goodness.

The holidays are such a family time that adoption loss seems even more profound at this time of year. My concept of holidays is time spent with family - as much family as possible. Therefore, my relinquished... more

Since March, we have quadrupled in size and the “finders” still outnumber the lookers. We held our first search workshop earlier this month and then did a Reg Day sign up. This sounds like we are going great guns! But reaching out to people who need help is not easy – in fact it may be easier to deliver the help than to persuade people to accept it.

Two women who have found relatives they lost to adoption and one who is still searching started our group. We had talked for some years about the need to have a local support group but never got beyond... more

I recently received this letter and asked for permission from the writer to post on the blog here. I thought it is a great story and expresses the importance of Reg Day.

Dear Karen and Jan,

As many of your readers know, November 18 was National Adoption Awareness Day and like a number of triad members around the country, I sat for a couple of hours at a table on Saturday afternoon with IRSS registration forms outside a popular bookstore in Salisbury.

Mostly, we answered questions from curious folks who wondered what we were doing. Before... more

Adoption.com figures prominently in another reunion! I am the world's biggest fan of reunions. Adoptive moms generally get all happy and giddy when someone else adopts, but that is how I feel when I hear about another reunion. Reunions are events that I am always happy to hear about.

The very talented Claudia, a natural mom extraordinaire, just did some brief audio presentations on her blog and the last one was about an adoption reunion that.....dah, dah, Adoption.com helped to bring about. The male adoptee who was reunited talks about going... more

In the interim, I call the adoptee to let him know that based on the information he provided and the information that I have from the natural mother who is registered that I had left a message to confirm a few facts and that once I spoke with her I would give him a call back.

About a half hour later, my telephone rings and it is the natural mother. She starts out by telling me her name and that she was returning my call. I don’t think she actually remembered me personally nor did I remember her but as I started to explain to her the organizations... more

These past few years I have become so much stronger. I know that I can and will handle whatever does happen in both my reunion and in the rest of my life. However, I also know that I love my son so much that it nearly takes my breath away at times when I ponder losing him again. Not a wise move to let my thoughts dwell long on losing him.

I have become accustomed to our warm friendship. I look forward to our chats, visits and our connection. It will break my heart – again - if he decides not to continue our relationship. As much as I tell myself... more