Story Four

P.O.Box 85
Denville, N.J. 07834

Amber shares her story of finding her grandparents!

Otober 3, 2009

On January 25, 2009, Marie Anderson of The Alma Society contacted my mother who had joined Alma in hopes of finding my father's side of the family. My father died ten years ago when I was six, and he often spoke of finding his family, though, I believe he was too afraid of rejection. My mother attempted to find his family many times after his death, but she never was successful. One a few weeks, perhaps less, of joining ALMA, Marie, Alma Coordinator, sent my mother an email letting her know that they had found a match. To say I was "skeptical" is an understatement! I believed finding someone with so little information available was impossible. We certainly proved her wrong. Only a day or two later, my mother was able to contact my grandmother, Shirley, who is my father's mother.

I have heard many stories where a person would find their birth family, and feel rejection. I was part of no such story. Shirely, and the rest of her large family, were nothing but kind to me and my mother from the very beginning. In fact, Shirley, along with her mother, her husband, and daughter came out to Arizona barely a month later to meet me. It was a little strange (though not in a bad way) having people look at me with such love in their eyes even though they didn't know me. They have certainly restored my faith in the power of "family."

My father has a large family. Somehow I have been blessed with such wonderful people willing to accept me not only into their lives, but into their families. Recently, I visited Columbia, MO for my grandmother's 70th birthday where I was able to meet aunts, cousins, and other family members. They are all equally warm to me because they share one common belief: the most important thing is "family."

I am currently attending my first year at a community college and have been looking for a good university to attend. While visiting my new found relatives, I fell in love with the beautiful green and decided that I would make my home there. My mother and I intend to move next May.

Because of Alma's wonderful organization, I will attend university in a city that is "home" to more family members then I can count. I don't know how you did it, or why I am blessed with such wonderful people in my life, but I am glad. I appreciate every second of effort the members of The ALMA Society put forth in finding my family. Without ALMA, I would not know such beautiful people even existed.

Thank you, thank you, and thank you - truly from the bottom of my heart - I am grateful.

Submitted by Amber, granddaughter of male adoptee! 10/3/2009