Family Link - Christian Foster Care and Adoption » Testimonials

Beauty for ashes – Casey’s story

renee — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 01:37:38 +0000

I am going to take you back in time to a darker place in my life; my life has contained three T’s Tragedy, Trials, and Triumph. I would l would like you to close your eyes and picture this… In a suburban town in a quiet neighborhood there was a small yellow house across from the local fire department.

Inside the house was atrocity and chaos. Inside were my biological mother, my brothers Josh, Nathan, and Josef who were eight, five and two and a half and last but not least my little sister Alea Christina Nicole who was five months old. To look into the eyes of my Brother Josh’s was to look into the eyes of an old man that had seen far too much in his life. But his life had not yet begun. In Nathan’s eyes was heart wrenching fear, as wounded animal caged. The fear of death was there in his face, he had witnessed something that grown men shouldn’t see – his little sister murdered. It wasn’t till after her murder that Child Protective Services (CPS) intervened. Even though for months the fire department, school nurses, doctor, teachers and other local officials had reported abuse and neglect towards us children.

When we were removed the law officials who removed us has to put Josef in a strait jacket just to get him under control. I have been told that for months after being removed I would sit alone saying “Just let me die.” I was only three years old. I believe my thought process was that dying was the only way that I could make the pain raging inside stop or at least lessen.

I built a solid wall around my heart hoping that I could keep from being hurt again. But in building that wall I was keeping more than hurt in, I was keeping love in and love out. I was reported saying “Just Let Me Die” by Meri Reed. Mariah Wilde (Executive Director of Familylink)’s Mom. Mariah met me and my younger brother Josef when we were in our first Foster Care Placement and their family did respite often for my brother and I. Mariah wanted to take Josef and I in when we were removed a second time when our new little sister was born with Cocaine in her system but she already had five children and three little ones.

Mariah figured the next best thing was to suggest her parents become foster parents. So they were licensed and we were placed with the Reed Family. The Reed family then was Michael (Pop Michael), Meri (Mimi), Christianna (Toni), Michelle (Chelle), Charity, and David Michael.

Quickly they became like family and they were ever patient with the angry, hurting and scared children that we were. They started introducing us to Jesus and they held a weekly home Bible Study. Their friend Jane also attended these and low and behold the Reed/Wilde families had gotten her interested in fostering too! One day she brought her two foster sons and you can imagine the surprise when we saw not her foster sons but our older siblings that we had been separated from again. We were placed back three times with the biological family and removed just as many and continued to grow up in the state system for seven years.

I developed an emotional based stomach problem. I would get REALLY sick to my stomach every “visit”. I would think that this would be the day that I would go “home” and everything would go back to “normal.” I thought that the pain of never being sure of what was going to happen would leave. At the end of each visit Elizabeth (Bio Mom) would hug us tell us she loved us and would see us next time and leave. We would watch her leave and again the hopes of a child would be dashed. There is only so much that a child can take without being permanently damaged. I began to see that what I thought was normal wasn’t and that it was not how life should be lead and I quit calling Elizabeth mom because I realized that a true parent would have allowed the abuse that we suffered. I began calling my current foster mother mom – when Jane (Mom) realized that she had our siblings her heart broke knowing the amount of loss that we had already survived and requested that we be moved to her home to be with our siblings. We were with her for the rest of the duration of our time in care and she later adopted us. A single mom in her mid-fifties gave up the “cute little grandmother” image to be a mother to five hurting children.

Mom and I are now close as friends and parent. Because she was friends with the Wilde/Reed families we spent many a weekend/ weeks there growing up with Mariah’s children as well. We were like an extended family. I am now in college the first person in my biological family to graduate from High School and now the first to go to College. I am attending Austin Community College (ACC) until I can transfer to the University of Texas at Austin (UT at A). I am also working full time at Family Link. It is a different experience because I grew up in the system and now I am helping to prevent kids from spending the amount of years in the system that I did. We strive to limit the amount of moves that children experience because they are more insecure with each move and if you allow the children to build emotional walls around their hearts and emotions it is harder to help them feel safe and loved and secure.

I am now sick free, no medications and succeeding with Christ in my life. I thank Him for the second chance at life and I am doing my best to help kids that I can relate too. I hope that my story has given you some insight into the life of a child from the system. With Christ and people willing to open their hearts and homes to scared hurting children, we have an opportunity to make something from the ashes.

“ – bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.” Isaiah 61:3 NIV

A Heart For Children. . . .

Amy’s story

renee — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:23:10 +0000

Nearly five years ago, my husband and I completed our paperwork as foster parents with Family Link. We were both nervous and apprehensive about the life changing journey we were about to begin. Yet, we were both excited about the prospect of our home ringing with the music of childrens’ laughter and footsteps throughout. We were ready to start changing the lives of abused and neglected children. Not being able to conceive any children of our own, we had already adopted two children through Guatemala several years prior. We were now ready to complete our family and open our doors to these children who needed a family so severely. Over the next five years, we had the blessing of thirty two beautiful children come to our home. We were open to accepting children of all ages from premature, very sick babies to teenagers. With these children, we have cried, laughed and have learned more about ourselves and capabilities then we ever would have imagined.

Fast forward five years, and I mean “fast”, and we are now blessed with two more adopted children, one of which was a three pound infant, Jenna was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Seizure disorder. The doctors thought she would never walk and have severe medical issues her entire life. I am proud to say that Jenna is now a healthy, beautiful, four year old that runs faster than any other child in her class. Our next adopted daughter, Beverly is now 16 years old. When she came to us a couple of years ago, she was mistrusting of all adults and had a very traumatic childhood. She gave us a tough time in the beginning and with the never ending support offered through Family Link, is now a loving part of our family.

I look back now, and can’t imagine that she hasn’t been with us her entire life. With now four adopted children, we continued to open our home to foster children of all ages, we are now in the process of adopting two more little girls, a four year old sweetheart and her sister who was born at only two pounds. I have never been happier, or have felt more fulfilled than I do at this time in my life. The journey with Family Link and the services they offer have been outstanding! I can not imagine having shared this miraculous time with any other agency.

The need for foster parents is serious. As more and more children enter the system each day, foster homes are quickly filling up, leaving these children to be placed in shelters. Statistically, 400,000 children are in the foster care system in the United States at this time, only 50% of them are placed in homes. The rest do not have the opportunity to see what living in a normal household with loving parents is like. They have no role models to show they care or to listen. If you are considering being a fosteror adoptive parent, it is time to step up and take the initiative to take action. It is not always easy being a parent, as these children have often been traumatized, but each one of these precious children are deserving of someone who can care for them and give them the love they so desperately desire. With the wonderful support of the caseworkers and management of Family Link, you will have a knowledgeable team of experts and experienced professionals for your every need. Family Link is not just my agency, they are my family.

Amy Galvan

A Heart For Children. . . .

FamilyLink Retreats!

renee — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:35:49 +0000

We had such a wonderful time this summer making memories.

Families came and played together! So many of these beautiful little ones don’t have families yet too, so we can’t wait to be able to help even more of our sibling groups stay together when we open Legacy Ranch this winter.

They had so much fun playing at the retreats, we can’t wait to see how well they do at Legacy Ranch!!

Retreat Photos!!

A Heart For Children. . . .

renee — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:50:42 +0000

The Lord has always kept on my heart the desire to help children here in the United States; I just didn’t know how. That is, I didn’t know how until I came across the Life Matters radio show!

I first heard the program, hosted by Mariah Wilde, founder of Family Link Kids, on KLGO out of Austin, Texas. Near the end of a program not long ago, I heard Mariah speak about Legacy Ranch,and I became excited about this visionary project that is coming to pass! At long last! I knew that the Lord had shown me a way to help children in His name right here, in my own “backyard.” Especially appealing to me is the prospect of siblings being together — siblings who may have otherwise been torn apart, leaving them to agonize about the care given to one another.

I love listening to Life Matters. Mariah has special guests on her show who are exciting to hear, and each one speaks to some aspect of their lives that ties in with the highly effective Family Link Kids program for children in foster/adoption situations. So many adults have huge hearts that are big enough to hold these precious children. The Family Link Kids program that Mariah initiated sees to it that adults are screened and provided with training so that children are placed in homes where they are wanted and where they can find love, acceptance, and a place of belonging in families built by God – in “Forever Families.” The enthusiasm is contagious, so when I hear about incredible opportunities for connection through Family Link Kids between adults and the children who need them, I always hear a joyful message of hope and healing.

Jeanine Griggs – Texas

From an Adopting Parent

Caitlin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:31:45 +0000

“We just wanted to send you all another round of thanks…. This was one of the happiest days of our lives! (their adoption day)…this was a testament to the job that each of you do for children. Again, thanks for all you do for us and for the children of Texas. God bless you all.”

A Heart For Children. . . .