A New Vision

Here's a peek into our heart. God has began to birth a new vision in our hearts. Our time spent with foster children has made us aware of staggering need within our reach. Every year 25 to 30 thousand youth age out of foster care and are put out at the age of 18. Can you imagine not having anyone to call your own. Most go back to the abusive situations they were taken out of and end up homeless or imprisoned. God began to speak to Mike and I about opening a home for those wanting to follow the Lord. To provide a safe place for them to learn basic life skills and to give them a Biblical foundation. We feel like the Lord has told us to just do it. So by faith we are stepping out. We are praying for God to provide the resources as well as the young adults He desires to impact.

So the next time you read my family may have yet grown again. In God's family there is always room for one more and you never age out.

A Closed Home?

So, we now have 7 children living in a trailer house. Lots, of love and messes. I can finally close my home to DHS. What a relief. No more answering to others about where I go, what I do, or how I chose to raise my children.

Nearly a year passes. Suddenly a text from an unexpected source. We have a boy in the shelter, been there 3 months can you take him.

Yes, he's here. Much more story to come but that is all I have liberty to share. Please keep him in your prayers. He has Jesus now.

Whats one more?

Meanwhile, we began a relationship with John and Kora's biological mother. She was all alone and had been raised by drug addicts. She herself was a child victim. And at the age of 29 we asked her if we could adopt her along with her two children that she was going to loose. God, placed a love in our hearts and spoke a word to us. That HE puts the solitaire in families. She cried and said, "you mean I would have a real mom and dad?" I never had that!"

So, shortly there after we adopted Ashleigh, John and Kora.

Everything really did work out alright.

Redeeming God

Time for a bath. Washing John up he begins to talk with me. Mom, tell me about Jesus. John, Jesus loves you and died for you. If you have Jesus you will never be alone again. John, "I want Jesus!"

A new life begins. Old things pass away. I have NEVER seen such a transformation in a life. John, was instantly changed. He began reading his Bible and seeking God. God even told him the letter in the alphabet that he didn't learn because he missed school. The conversation went something like this: Teacher: "John you missed our new letter yesterday." John: "I know is was L I prayed about it and God told me it was L."

John and Kora were afraid they would be moved and we wouldn't be able to adopt them. I told them we were going to pray for a rainbow. And when God sent a rainbow it meant that everything was going to be alright. Keep in mind that it was the middle of summer and we don't get much rain.

Can you imagine the excitement when in the sky on a cloudless, rainless, day a half rainbow appears?

There was screaming and shouting and jumping up and down. But why a half a rainbow. I told the kids that God was just showing us the beginning, that we would have to walk the rest out by faith!

Two New Dreams

Another call! Can you take a 3 year and 5 year old brother and sister? Just for 3 days? Sure, I can do anything for 3 days.

So, John Wayne and Kora Faith enter our world.

Upon leaving DHS John discloses unheard of abuse, meanwhile Kora , 3 , is singing the F___ you song. Oh my, what have we gotten into. Day 1, Kora calls me mommy. Terrible nightmares! Defiant, starving. What could have happen to these babies. John spends the first week either kicking the walls or banging his head against it. How can someone do so much damage to such little ones? My heart is broken. Terror, do we have to leave? What if they come take us? So many different emotions. Lord, what do we do?

A New Dream

I had a dream. I real dream. In the dream I was talking with the foster worker. She said, " Gail, I have been praying about asking you if you would be a foster parent?" My reply. I have been praying about being a foster parent. In the dream she told me she had a newborn baby boy would I take him. I said sure. As the dream unfolded Dhs was going to have the baby moved and I had to fight to keep him. End of dream.

A week latter I met up with the worker. She said "Gail I have been praying about asking you if you would consider being a foster parent." My reply, YES!

The following Monday I recieved a call. I have a new born baby boy will you take him? YES!

So, Joshua enters our world at 4 days old. He was 5# 6oz. Joshua was drug exposed and had severe health issues. He was hospitalized when he was 6 weeks old. He was put on life support. We spent 12 days staying by his side. Praying for and loving him. Our dealings with his biological parents were very hard, but God was with us.

Every part of the dream came true. We fought for him and he is now forever ours.

New beginnings!

Early one morning I get a call from my sister. Her granddaughter was taken into DHS custody. Could we take her?
God had placed a desire within my heart to foster parent several years back. I had checked into it and didn't like the fact that they would be invading my own children's lives. I decided not to pursue it. Here we were, do we take her or not. Yes, of course! So we began our journey into the world of foster care.
My great niece stayed with us for about 8 months. She returned to her home. Meanwhile, God began to speak to me about opening our home up for other children. I remember searching the pages of children posted on the Internet photo listings. Mike said, "why do you keep looking at them?" My reply, " I feel like if I don't no one will." God began to give me his heart.