Epiphany House Family Journal Summer 2007

An Epiphany House family who's who:
Kathie and Dexter Lanctot, co-founders of Epiphany House Inc., are adoptive parents to Sonty Lanctot, age 13, Suky Lanctot, age 11, Ebony Lanctot, age 8, and Salinna Lanctot, age 8. Foster children include twin boys Lyle and Kyle, age 9. Daniel, 14 (to comply with confidentiality requirements the names of some DHS foster children are changed in this publication). In addition, Kathie's six birth children: Dennis, Courtney, Kelly, Patrick, Danny and Kevin McCunney. Dennis' spouse Kathy and their daughters' Nora Catherine McCunney, age 3 and Anna Claire McCunney, 11 months. Also, there is Lauren Derrington, fiancée to Courtney;  Jim Pio, fiancé  to Kelly. Miss Marie, Salinna's home nurse. Our pets include puppy, Nellie; cat, Oliver;  Bunnies,"Trixie" aka Bun-bun" and Gizmo;  Two Turtles, and some fish. We do frequent respite care for Kelly’s pooch, Molly. We welcome summer intern, Fredrica Gwyan.

Our kids had great summer and much opportunity. Sonty was able to travel with the Philadelphia Boys’ Choir and Chorale on a jam packed trip through Greece and Turkey and endured temperatures up to 115 degrees.  During the entire time Sonty was away Salinna was at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She recovered very well and only missed a few of the opening days of her summer program which continued into August. Suky participated in a reading program at Garrettford Elementary School. Daniel volunteered at Christ Church in Philadelphia throughout the summer assisting with the historic tours.

Throughout June and July painter John Paul Hoerdemann and his crew transformed our house with a much needed and expert exterior paint job. John Paul was meticulous in the prep work and the finished product was astounding.

Kelly purchased a “fixer upper” in Drexel Hill and lived with us while renovating.

Thanks to the assistance of scholarship funds from the Episcopal Diocese of Philadelphia Sonty, Suky and Daniel each got to spend two weeks at Camp Wapiti in North East Maryland. The camp has a spiritual grounding and helps the kids come in touch with God’s presence in the natural world and in the spirit of creating a communal life together. They participated in a wide range of challenging and fun outdoor activities, sports, crafts, music, and dance.

Ebony had a terrific time attending Camp Friendship at Upper Darby High School for 7 weeks. She got to attend the weekly performances of Upper Darby Summer Stage and her class performed its own special show at the summer stage to rave reviews.

Suky participated in horse care camp in West Chester during the first week of August and earned several ribbons. There were lots of summer days when the kids and their friends frequented the pool, played baseball, built with legos, bicycled, rollerbladed, skateboarded. On hot nights we frequented Dairy Queen and Rita’s Water Ice.  In mid August we all took a day trip to the Atlantic City beach where we spent hours riding the waves in the rugged surf. Sonty attended the Philadelphia Folk Festival with friends.  In late in August, Sonty and Suky traveled with their dad to Lexington, KY on a special Epiphany House “Secret Mission” which we hope to be announcing in the next few months.

Daniel’s adoption profile moved forward during the summer. We anticipate finalizing this fall.

The kids all helped in Epiphany House projects this summer including the Lansdowne Farmer’s Market, Taking the ice cream cart to various events, organizing our Celebrate Adoptive Families celebration, and promoting the upcoming Bringing Nicky Home Concert.

With summer coming to a close school gets started and we have 5 kids in 5 different schools. Just the meet the teacher nights alone should have us jumping.

July 2007

4th – Despite tornado warnings and heavy rain forecasts we join thousands of others at the Philadelphia Art Museum for the 4th of July parade and performances. So, did any one think to bring an umbrella? After an hour of drenching rain we bagged Hall & Oates and headed home.                                               

7th – We bring the E. House Ice Cream Cart to the rescheduled Lansdowne fireworks. Kelly says the pineapple is a symbol of hospitality that originated with the pilgrims at the first thanksgiving.

8th – Sonty and Suky off to Camp Wapiti

10th – Ebony had great time at Camp Friendship and was thrilled to get a Summer Stage shirt. Her class went to see High School Musical.

13th – Kevin, Dexter, and kids do yard work and reline pond. Dexter, Daniel, Sonty dig drainage ditch in back yard to alleviate flooding.

15th – Epiphany House holds its first Celebrating Adoptive Families event.

19th – Ebony watches “Pit Bull Myths” on You Tube.

22nd – Kelly’s 27th birthday. Nellie eats Ebony’s journal. (This is not a Pit Bull myth).

23rd – Daniel reads the latest Harry Potter book in two days.

29th – Daniel leaves for Camp Wapiti.

31st – Ebony talks to her teeth.
Ebony: “I’m going to pull you out.”
Ebony’s tooth. “ Oh Nooooooo, please don’t pull me out

In the afternoon Ebony, Suky Salinna, Dad and Mom visit our former pony, Pickle, in Lancaster County at the Amish family with whom he found a home.

August 2007

3rd – Epiphany House intern, Fredrica takes Ebony to Charlotte’s Web. In the afternoon our Pit Bull, Nellie swims with kids in pool.

Together with Hiroshima survivor Ms Yuko Nakamura (far right). Photo is also evidence that Daniel (second from left) has shrunk about 12 inches this summer.

6th – Dexter and kids attend Brandywine Peace Community observance of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima Japan. The kids met Hiroshima survivor Ms Yuko Nakamura who had described her eye witness account of that day.

8th – Very hot day. Salinna and Nellie go in pool together. 

Our Pit Bull Myth “Nellie” in pool. That is not Salinna holding the float.

10th – Family trip to Atlantic City and afternoon of fun and sun and surf.

Can you find Sonty, Suky, Daniel, Ebony, Salinna, Kelly, Danny, Kevin, Kathie, Dexter or Waldo on beach or in surf at Atlantic City?

12th – Suky, Sonty, Daniel leave for second week at Camp Wapiti.

13th – Our refrigerator is pronounced dead by repair man.

14th – With kids at camp and refrigerator broken, Kathie and Dexter take Salinna and Ebony to Dutch Wonderland. Dad and Ebony ride the Kingdom Coaster 28 times.

17th – Sonty is off to the Philadelphia folk festival for the weekend.

15th – Kathie finds a good deal on a Craig’s List refrigerator. Dexter picks it up in Bryn Mawr and Kevin, Jim and Danny help move it into kitchen at midnight. It is 2:30 AM by the time we have it cleaned and operating.

19th – Dennis, Kathy, Nora and Anna visit for the weekend. Dexter takes Suky and Daniel to the Harry Potter movie.

22nd – Sonty gets new glasses. In the afternoon, Sonty, Suky, Daniel and friends make rubber band guns from tree sticks. Hey don’t you kids know you might shoot you eyes out?

23rd – Another Craig’s List hit for Kathie as she comes across a free set of living room furniture that is a perfect décor match.

26th – Dexter Sonty and Suky go to Lexington, KY on secret Epiphany House mission. Stay tuned for details.

27th – Kelly and Jim get engaged. 

28th – While in Lexington we celebrate a friend’s birthday at a local Waffle House and Sonty and Suky get driving lessons on her dad’s farm.

29th – Kelly begins sleeping at her new Drexel Hill house.

30th – Kathie and kids do back to school shopping.

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