Archive: February 24, 2023

Forever Family Friday – Lilyan

February 24, 2023

Last week I had the honor of speaking to an organization who is truly making a difference in their community in the Pacific Northwest. Their theme was “Stop for the One.” It so parallels with our saying “Turn Around.” You may see me wearing it on my wrist band daily. It reminds me the difference we can make if we simply pause, turn around, and stop for the one person who may need us. It could be your neighbor, your co-worker, your classmate, someone you pass in the grocery store, the person pumping gas next to you… you just never know what others are dealing with. We have absolutely no idea what anyone is going through on their journey. At the very least a kind word or smile can be uplifting and just the encouragement someone needs. And your kindness just might be what changes the trajectory path of their life! That’s what our Forever Family Friday kids need. Someone to just turn around and stop for them! Please meet Lilyan. She deserves for us all to stop for her!

Lilyan is 16 and lives in Arizona. “Lily” is creative and enjoys many things including drawing, listening to music and playing sports. She can be shy initially but her sincere and witty personality becomes obvious after spending time with her. Lily is very musical and knows songs that are decades older than her. When she is older she dreams about becoming a mom and having a little girl. She longs for a mom herself, wanting a family that is nurturing, caring and who she can rely on. Please help us find that for her!
 
For more information please contact Heather at [email protected]. Thank you! ❤️

#Adoption
#FosterCare
#Love
#ForeverFamily
#Nurturing

 

 

 

 

 

Forever Family Friday – Altravius

February 21, 2023

February is the month of hearts and love. This week we celebrated Valentine’s Day and I’m so thankful for the people in my life that I love and who love me. The calls, texts, flowers, cards…all made me feel so special and that’s one of the things I hope and pray for is that every kid in the foster care system will be truly loved one day and that they will have the security of a forever family. They will feel special. Everyone deserves to be loved. It’s hard to believe many of these kids go their whole life and have never been told I love you. We hear these stories all the time. It just breaks my heart. Let’s try to right this wrong! Starting right now! Please meet a young gentleman who deserves and wants love!

Altravius is 16 years old and lives in Georgia. He enjoys reading, writing and listening to jazz music. He is sweet, helpful, talkative and describes himself as funny and likes to laugh a lot. He always has a smile on his face. Altravius likes to play football, basketball, and video games. Family to him is an “actual home where he feels safe and comfortable where someone checks on him twice a day”. Wow. He needs a loving family who will give him the attention, support, encouragement, structure and nurturing environment he will need to continue to thrive. His siblings have been planned for separately and he would like to maintain the relationship with them. ❤️
For more info: [email protected]

#Adoption
#FosterCare
#Love 
#ForeverFamily
#NeverGiveUp

 

 

 

 

 

Forever Family Friday – Kristianna and Tayshawn

February 10, 2023

Happy Super Bowl weekend y’all! Are you interested in the game? Are you cheering for the Chiefs or the Eagles or just watching the commercials? Regardless there is an unbelievable amount of energy and excitement surrounding the event. We landed in Scottsdale earlier today and it’s lit! The preparation and planning and time that goes into getting to this point is beyond what you can imagine. The amount of practices, drills, workouts, meal requirements and the many many other things necessary to get to the Super Bowl is crazy. It’s a journey! There are proud parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, high school coaches, college coaches and trainers flooding to Arizona to support and celebrate their athlete. The player’s hometowns rally around them and follow every step of this moment. You know I pray that each child we share has a community of people cheering them on. People helping them achieve their goals and champion for them along the way. Communities that support them and believe in them. Please allow me to introduce you to this amazing sibling duo that deserve it all and we have the ability to try and make it happen!

Kristanna and Tayshawn are both 15 years old and love to play basketball, laugh and have fun! Kristianna wants a family that is affectionate and will pay close attention to the little details about her that no one else does. She desires unconditional love. She wants to be a part of a big family that cares about one another more than themselves. Tayshawn wants to be a part of a family who loves him and encourages him to make good choices daily and to succeed in his goals. He is very smart and cares a lot about school. Drawing, playing the drums and singing are some of his favorite things. He needs a family that is going to love him unconditionally and stick with him through any trial and tribulation.  Every child does. Every child deserves unconditional love. Every child deserves people cheering for them to win! ❤️ Please contact [email protected] Katie & Cindy photography

#Adoption
#FosterCare
#Love
#UnconditionalLove
#SuperBowlSunday

 

 

 

 

 

Forever Family Friday -Honest

February 3, 2023

Happy Forever Family Friday everyone. I am privileged that many of you share your stories with me about your journey in the foster care / adoption world. Some stories are about being foster parents. Some are from individuals that were in the foster care system and what they are now doing and their struggles and their joys…some are people’s problems with “the system” when trying to adopt…some are wanting more information on how to get started in becoming a foster parent or issues with fostering to adopt. I could go on and on. I read each communication. Sometimes there are tears streaming down my face and sometimes I’m angry and sometimes I’m overcome with joy and gratitude. The constant thought I always have is how has this happened to all the amazing, valuable kids…Bless their hearts…ITS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE LIKE THIS! It’s just not. And I love that all of you who are sharing with me have a beautiful heart to make a difference. You too yearn for kids to have forever families and it brings me so much joy. For those with questions – I wish I knew the answers…we do not pretend to be all knowing. But what we can do is try our best to point you to resources and people who hopefully could help! Please check out our foundation’s website for more information on how to get in the game. Every state has children in need. Every state has some need you can fulfill – supplying birthday gifts or items to help with a birthday, mentoring one on one, donating to a photo shoot (for kids that you see each week), praying for the kids, foster parents, case worker and all involved and so much more…because it’s not supposed to be this way! Please allow me to introduce you to Honest. I love that name! She needs our help! 

Honest is 13 and lives in Florida. She is a special girl who is loving, kind and above all else cares deeply about people. She can be shy at first but quickly opens up and reveals her sense of humor. She loves getting her hair done and one day dreams of being a cosmetologist. In school Honest likes science the most, and of course lunch time. She has learned that many of her teachers and faculty really care about her. Honest has a strong faith and has relied heavily on God to get her through the difficult times she has faced in her young life. She wants more than anything someone who will accept her for her. Can you be that family for her? Please talk about Honest this week with one person. For more information on Honest please contact Heart Gallery of Tampa at 813-390-5345. Thank you! ❤️

#Adoption
#FosterCare
#Love
#Family
#Forever