Persimmon Days

Presenting the true story of an orphan, Dolly, renamed Maureen, adopted by a childless couple. Maureen experienced unexpected transition. Grandpa, wise, elderly Czechoslovakian, became her solace. Adult Maureen became wife, mother, and herself a social worker in adoptions. Woven into the fabric of this book, like the colored strands in a tartan, are other threads than adoption: Varying styles of parenting, Maureen's religious journey including Methodist Sunday School from the foster home, Christian Science thought from the adoptive home, and as a young adult, true Christian conversion at a Billy Graham Crusade. Exciting research produced a reunion with Maureen's limited birth-mother whose life had disappointed her original family. Yet, this reunion became of inestimable value to Maureen and those who loved her. They found that within the circle of family love, there is always room to love just one more-even a child that never grew up. BJ first knew life as an orphan in a foster home; then adopted by a childless couple. Without preparation, BJ was taken to their new home, where she received loving nurture, elocution lessons which led to roles in radio and Pasadena Playhouse. Her University training was in radio writing and production. She married her WWII Sweetheart, a born-again Christian with a career in radio/TV. Studying the Gospel led BJ to salvation at a Billy Graham Crusade. After serious Bible study BJ qualified as a licensed minister in her holiness denomination. A Sabbatical year in Ecuador, found BJ writing and producing Christian International radio programs for HCJB. Touched by human need she found BJ returned to the University to become a social worker serving until retired in inter-country adoptions. An unexpected release of non-identifying information resulted in a bittersweet reunion with her birthmother, just in time.