Children

1. LIFE AND DEA'FH MATTERS BEFORE US

Today we celebrate life and the Giver of life who

makes it not only possible but also worthwhile.* Author

and novelist James Michener is indeed a member of a

prestigious and talented club of famous adoptees. The

adoptees' names, and in many cases the events of

their lives (warts and all), are known to us. Each, as a

fallible, mortal human being, was born with a free will to

do good and/or evil:

1996 Olympic Decathlon Gold Medal Winner

Dan O'Brien ... founder of Wendy's

International Dave Thomas ... former

President Gerald Ford ... founder of Apple

Computers Steve Jobs ... pioneer bird

watcher John J. Audubon ... actor Richard

Burton ... Olympic figure skaters Peter and

Kitty Carruthers ... newscaster Faith Daniels

... actor Ted Danson ... professional football

player Eric Dickerson ... actor Hugh

O'Conner ... Olympic ice skater Scott

Hamilton ... Olympic diver Greg Louganis .. .

professional baseball player Jim Palmer .. .

former First Lady Nancy Reagan ... former

President Reagan's son Michael Reagan ...

playwright Edward Albee ... serial killer David

Berkoqitz ... senator Robert Byrd ... Christina

*The text of this book also includes excerpts from a

keynote speech of the same title by D. P. Diffine

presented on November 4, 1993, at the 30th Annual

Celebration Dinner sponsored by Christian Homes of

Abilene, coinciding with the placement of their 1,000th

baby for adoption.