Welcome Back!

It has been a long time!! I am back with full updates on this journey of being an Adoption Recruiter. A lot has happened during these past 6 months.  Just so sum it up in a nutshell I have a told of 10 kids that are active for recruitment and 5 have been matched with families including a finalized adoption! There is one more that should be finalized sometime next month.  It indeed has been a journey with my kids.  Keep coming back to read on previous and currnet events! Enjoy!

Two Peas in a Pod



Peace and Love!!

 Meet one of my pumpkins Ms. Tashiana!! We decided that we wanted to go out and explore the town on a very hot day.  We took a lovely trip to the dollar store and when we left I said "Hey do you want to something that's really cool." She responded, "yeah what is it."  I saw a clothing store close by and I told her to follow me.  I could tell as we were walking that she was wondering what in the world could we possibly do that was fun in a clothing store.  Did we try on clothes...Nope! Jewelry...Nope! What did we do... WE TRIED ON HATS AND PURSES!  We almost tried on every hat that there was in the store.  There was tons of laughter and many smiles. 

One of the things that we like to do is get out and enjoy the weather.  It was a scorcher that day and we did everything possible to stay cool.  We went to tons of stores and had our own mini fashion show.  I was very happy to see her smiling.  She is a very good kid with a beautiful smile.  I have not seen a kid that is so giving.  We went to Kroger and she bought some candy and told me that I am taking home some candy whether I liked it or not.  I always give my kids a certain look whenever they try to tell me what I am going to do.  Of course she laughed at me and said, "don't give me that look young lady."  I couldn't even keep a straight face and I did not fight her.  I simply said ok.  We left the store with all this candy, you would think we just finished trick or treating some where. 



Cowboy Hats!
We were pretending to hide horses
in the store! Too Funny!



This young lady is ready to have a family of her own.  She is craving for someone to love her.  Just by looking at her you can see that her spirits are high and that she is ready to express her love to whomever will receive it.  By the way the girl has a voice on her too! We were singing in the car and I was amazed! I told her look at you with the hidden talent!  Just imagine if she had parents to help bring that out of her.  Her voice could be a way to tell her story.  I love her and all my kids dearly.  I want her to have that family that will push her to her max.  She deserves it...they all do!



I actually like this hat!



A Time to Shine!!

A day has come where the light will shine on me.

There will be no more fear for the light has shined on me.

I am able to be free because I can be me!

When I put a smile on my face I can see that shining light.

Oh so bright it even shines through my darkest nights.

When I look into my future I can see what is in store for me.

My light continues to shine on me showing me where I should be. Who is my light you may ask?  It is the person who has given me a chance to be set free.

My light is my future family! That light that burns so deep and bright. 





Happy Father's Day!!



Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Sigma Upsilon Lansing Graduate Chapter

On Father's Day, I had the great opportunity to be a part of the Omega Psi Phi Father's Day Picnic.  This indeed was a great event.  The food was AWESOME and the men were true gentleman.  This was a day surrounded by FAMILY and friends.  There were children playing in park and men gathered around talking about politics, work, sports, and everything that a man could  possibly talk about.  I sat back and  watched these men embrace each other, their community, and each other's family. 

While I was deciding on having a little snack before the food was blessed, a wonderful moment happen.  One of the Brothers was in the middle of a conversation when he heard a familiar voice coming from a far direction.  A young lady walked up and said "Daddy!" He looked up and saw his daughter.  She ran into his arms and gave him a big hug.  His responds was " I thought you had to work!" and she replied " I lied daddy" with a large smile on her face.  They embraced once again, laughed,and left to talk in private.  A smile came across my face and I started to think of my children that I serve.  THIS IS WHAT MY KIDS WANT!! They want to have the same experience that this young lady had.  A dad to greet them with open arms with a warm smile.  It doesn't get any better than that.  Every young person is looking for that male role model to give them the advice and guidance when it comes to becoming a man or having a conversation with our young ladies on how a man needs to treat you.  Being a Father can be the best rewarding relationship a man can receive.  The greatest joy in any one's life is knowing unconditional love.

Brotherly love with a little miss sunshine!

Another breath taking moment was when the men and the boys starting playing softball.  I sat on the bleachers and was amazed at the cheering, laughter, and sideline coaching from some of the dads.  Seeing  kids running back and forth and playing with their father's were a sight to see. Some of these men do not have children of their own, but they have played a major part in young person's life. The Cardinal Principles of this organization is Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift. If you look closely you will see a little guy located in the back. This maybe a young man walking in the footsteps of a future Que. 

To some of my kids, these are dreams that are waiting to come true.  They cannot wait until tomorrow or next year.  They need someone now.  If you ever thought about adoption, I encourage you to seek out information and learn about our children in care.  We have to remember that our older children cannot control their age or past.  We just know that they need  a special person to make their dream into a reality.  No child should grow up on their own without a parent.  I challenge you today to open up your mind and your heart to seek information on this great cause.  It takes a man with great courage to raise a child and make him/her his own.  So I, leave you with this poem.  I hope that it will touch your heart as it has touched mine.

What Is A Dad?

© Annmarie Campbell

A Dad is patient, helpful and strong
He is there by your side when things go wrong.
He’s someone who guides you to do the right thing
And helps you solve problems that life sometimes brings

A Dad is someone who is loving and kind
And usually knows what's going on in your mind
He is someone who listens and makes time to talk
When things are bad he doesn’t turn around and walk

He is a strong shoulder when times are tough
And still loves you dearly when he’s had enough
He helps you and guides you all that he can
Wanting nothing more than to make you a man

A Dads there when you’re happy and even more when you’re sad
Giving unconditional love whether you’re good or you’re bad
A Dad is someone that you can also call a friend
Who is there no matter what and will be till the end

They say that blood is thicker than water
But I know this isn’t true
Because my son couldn’t ask for a better Dad
Than one he has found in you

I think of all the years gone by and wonder
How different things would’ve been
If his real father put forth the love
That you have shown to him

Happy “Fathers” Day Tommy
Thank you for showing my son what a real father is
And for loving him as much as you do. You will always
Have a special place in my heart and his

Source: Fathers Day Poem For An Adopted Dad, What Is A Dad? http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/fathers-day-poem-for-an-adopted-dad-what-is-a-dad#ixzz1yBWswANR
http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/

This is dedicated to the Sigma Upsilon Chapter for showing me what "Manhood" is all about.  If you would like further information regarding this organization, please visit their facebook page at www.facebook.com/lansing.ques

Graduation Time!!!

Yesterday one of my previous foster kids graduated from High school.  I was so proud of her that it almost brought tears to my eyes. Now...all of my kids know I am never emotional around them, so they get a good kick if they see me cry.  I use to tell her a saying that I made up a long a time ago.

Life will always have its deep and shallow moments, but you have the choice to either sink or swim. 

-Whitney B.

Whenever she was frustrated with school or life itself, I would tell her "Alright! Are you going to sink or swim"?  She would always respond swim.  Even though I knew she wanted to sink to the very bottom, she knew I wasn't going to let her.  She started to believe in herself and she had a taste of success.

I have never seen such a big smile on her face.  She was smiling from ear to ear.  I don't have any children of my own, but I felt like a proud parent.  I was screaming her name and yelling "That's my baby" all over the place.  People were looking at me like I was crazy, but of course I didn't care.  It was her day! This is hard for me to write this without getting emotional.  This girl saw hell and back, but she still  found away to not let her past control her future.  What she needed was some help and for someone not to give up on her when she failed.  All she needed was love, support, and discipline. 

My pumpkin got a scholarship to college and wants to give back to her community. She still has a lot to work on, but her journey to success has just begun.  I love her with all my heart! Good Job Pumpkin! I am proud!

This is for all of the foster kids that graduated! You guys are a true walking testimony! No matter how much negative things you went through you still found sunlight in the darkest hour!

Am I being heard!!

Today I had a meeting with my manager and we were discussing my caseload and the barriers that I am facing.  I put on my thinking cap and I thought about one of my teens.  My lovely little pumpkin who is now 16 and will be 17 this year, experienced a grown up moment.  There was talk of him having his goal changed to APPLA-E.  For all of my lovely readers who are not familiar with the Child Welfare System it means Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement-Emancipation.  To sum it up in a nut shell, it means they are learning to live and take care of themselves while they age out of the system.  Ok...now that you know what this means...back to his story.

My little pumpkin felt defeated when he had his meeting.  Everyone was talking about changing his goal and saying how they felt as if they were disappointing him because they couldn't find him a family.  Every month when I went to visit him we would always talk about the future and what his future had in store for him.  Now is it time to be realistic...my job is to find homes for these kids but some times it doesn't happen that way.  So I prepare them for the "what if I don't find a family".  The decision was made to change his goal to APPLA-E.  While I was still fighting to have his goal stay adoption, I could feel a shift with him over the phone.  He was quite and breathing slow.  I stopped talking because I knew he commanded my attention at that moment.  I knew that he felt like he was being shut out of his own life.

A couple of days later, I went to visit him and took him out to lunch.  As I was driving I asked him "so how do you feel about your goal being changed".  He said with a little attitude, "you guys are going to do what you want to do any way" while rubbing his head.  I pulled my car over, looked him in the eye and said, " this is no longer your recruiter talking to you. What do you want?"  His responds, " I AM NOT READY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING!! I WANT TO BE ADOPTED! ( This is not an exaggeration he really did say it like that...it shocked me because he thinks he's a tough guy/pretty boy) Alright is what I told him.

It was time to go to work on both parts. He wrote a letter to the judge and I talked to all of his workers.  I am not going to give every detail, but they did end up changing his goal because they felt that it would be in the best interest of him. I then had to close him from my caseload. Was I upset?  You bet! Did it make me tear up and bit? Yes... but not for long.  When his court hearing was over he called me and asked me if I was mad at him.  "Of course not!! Why would I be"! I said.  He was quite and said, "you fought hard for me and we didn't win".  When a teachable moment arrives take advantage of it. After talking with him, he learned that you don't always win, but when you believe in something that will better yourself, keep fighting for it.

I teach my kids to self-advocate and to stand up for themselves when they know it will help them in the long run.  Being in the system can get you down especially when you know there are group of people who can determine your life.  Having a voice and trying to find a voice can be a bit intimidating.  However, these kids need to learn it.  It is our job as workers to listen to what our kids want and need.  Will they always make the right decision? No, but we can at least show them that they ARE BEING HEARD.

This is dedicated to my pumpkin who is going to be the best basketball player/surgeon the world will ever see. 

Something Interesting...

Alot of people can say that they don't like thier job, but I am fortunate to say that I LOVE MY JOB!! One of my passions is working with teens...Well that is what I went to school for and got a degree in Youth Development.  One of the special things about this, is that I work with teens in foster care.  I know Foster Care.  You are probably making a sour face and saying "girl have you lost your mind!" Actually, no.  This is what I was called to do.  You will be surprised of how these kids think and how they use thier creative minds.  I work with a total of 16 kids.  Trust me it can be rough! Sometimes I will walk out with gray hair!

Am I a Foster care worker...No.  My field is in Adoption.  I prepare these kids to for adoption and remind them why they need a family.  Oh I do get the kids that think they are grown and want to be on thier own.  However, when I give it to them straight they tend to change thier minds.  All they want is someone to listen, love, and care for them.  But as we know it is very challenging growing up in the system.

Today I recieved an invitation to one of my kids gradutation.  I am so proud of her!! She has came a long way and she informed me that she recieved a scholorship to a college.  I needed that pick me up! It can become very frustrating working in this type of environment because each child has different issues.  God always finds a way to remind me of why I am here to help these kids.  Just knowing that she has chose live a better life and accept a family that wants to love her forever puts a smile on my face.  See.. there are not all horrible stories when it comes to these kids.  It is so easy to talk about the negative, but we hardly talk about the postitive that these kids do!  It is time to change the thinking process and worry about our children's future.

Ok... I am off of my soap box now.  Alright folks back to work I go! :-)

What would you like to see?

This blogging thing is new to me so bare with me...Not to long ago, I started creating my own events.  I believe in order to have a successful event you have to give what the people want.  Now I am a social butterfly and I always ask people especially in my community , what type of events would they like to see. So I am here now asking my fellow blogger's their opinion.  I plan on working with a group of people to a special walk for a cause.  If you were to come what would you like to have at this event? Fill me with your input! Oh and the first job is Adoption for older youth in care.