Perhaps author Clara Ortega describes the relationship between siblings best: “To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were, we know each other’s hearts, we share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys.”
Brothers James, 9, and Jermaine, 7, live together in a single-parent foster home. Neither child has visitation contact with their biological family members, so it’s important to find a forever family they both can call their own.
As February winds down – the season of Valentines and the American Heart Month – it might be worthwhile to open our hearts to those outside our social circle of family and friends. Specifically, we’re talking about the children and families we serve.
Twelve-year-old Talen is a bundle of sweet energy, who enjoys interacting with others. He likes to build his vocabulary and is proud of himself when he learns new words.
Emily and Shawn Mason believe in second chances, so much so that building strong relationships with birth parents virtually defines the way they foster parent. The Lebo, Kansas, couple began fostering more than three and a half years ago so they could keep caring for a baby they’d already had in their home for a while. The mother, a relative, struggled with mental health issues and agreed to place her child in foster care so she would get the care she needed. The Masons didn’t want her to go to strangers, so they got licensed and eventually adopted Blakleigh, who turns four in August.
Siblings Douglass, 9, and Jaycee, 6, are a dynamic duo who hope to remain together “no matter what.”
There’s the family you were born into and the family you choose. John Arellano, JP, has both. One of Saint Francis Ministries’ longest serving foster parents, he’s built his family by becoming family to many of the 175 boys he’s fostered since 1999. And he’s done it as a single parent, most recently by working full-time as a truant officer for the Garden City, Kansas, school district and at his local YMCA.
Bright and spunky, 7-year-old Marlie loves to color, sing, and dance. If you ask her what she’s good at, she’ll cheerfully respond, “Everything.”
Jesse enjoys playing football, wearing shorts year-round, and looking at shoes online. The 12-year-old also loves history and laughing at funny YouTube videos. Jesse wants to attend junior college and hopefully play for the NFL. He also has dreams of being an astronaut.
All three of these beautiful children are affectionate, kind, and loving. They just need the same kind of home, place in which to feel safe, secure, and accepted.