BraveGIRL graduates too

BraveGIRL after months of not speaking to us, gave us two tickets to see her graduate. We are so proud of this one and so happy to be back in her life – for as long as she’ll have us!

Excerpt from Instagram:
Fostering teens is messy. Their trauma plus normal teenage changes can create some storms that can last days and even months. 

And as I tried to tell myself in the middle of those storms….when they ran away from home, blocked me from any contact, yelled all the mean things, threatened suicide and even sat in a jail cell for a night – we were planting seeds that will eventually grow. More seeds. More water. More seeds. More water. 

Seeds of healthy relationships with more trust and less manipulation. Seeds of wellness and coping skills vs. easy fixes. Seeds of learning and growth vs. avoidance and excuses. Seeds of restoration and healing vs. denial and going through the motions. 

This weekend our two foster teens graduated high school with smiles on their faces and joy in their hearts. With their histories pulling them back from this milestone every step of the way, they persevered and rose above what had happened to them. The harvest could not be prevented….

If you’re in the middle of a relational storm right now….focus on the seeds. Little tiny actions you are modeling that exposes the other to your goodness and light without forcing them to show theirs in the exact same ways. ? 

And also….I see you. I honor the work and the exhaustion. Keep breathing. Keep going. Give yourself grace – you only need enough for right now. ✨✨✨ More is on its way…..

A piece of writing that BG wrote in her senior English class – tears upon tears.

BraveGIRL gets a turn…

A little bit about me right now:
I am fifteen years old and it’s almost my birthday. I love to drive and watch family movies with my family. I like to work out and listen to music. My favorite pandora stations are Jason Derulo, Luke Bryan, Migos and Chris Brown (don’t yell at me….no one likes him but I still do).

What do you want to be when you grow up and why?
I want to be veterinarian because I could give animals shots but that’s a lot of college so just something to do with animals. Or an childcare worker.

What’s on your Christmas wish list this year?
– phone
– gift cards to Pink or Hollister

What did you work hard on in 2018?
– starting two different jobs
– drivers ed and tests for those
– sticking with working out
– accepting no’s when I’m disappointed
– not interrupting

Favorite parts of 2018:
Going on camping trips. I have been trying to grow into this family. I liked going on family trips with my boyfriend’s family, especially swimming in Canada. I like that I have a job that I like and being able to drive makes me feel more independent and responsible.

Hopes for 2019:
I hope that I will stay out of trouble so I can earn a new phone and privileges like hanging out with my boyfriend and driving places. I hope that I also start to have a clear vision of what I want to do after graduation. I hope when my twin moves away from me, she will have a good home and be able to make new friends….and not get bit by a snake or alligator (they’re moving to Georgia this Spring).