Jeremiah's Journey

We Were You Foundation have known Jeremiah for over a year. Jeremiah has been following We Were You through our social media pages. I read his life story and I beleived that his story would help my adoptive daughter with the things that she was experiencing in her life, from that point on our relationship has been an extrodinary life's journey.

Jeremiah came to America at age 4 and was with his mother, older brother, and father. He Left his abusive father at age 7 then went from living in a car to sleeping in gas station restrooms to 6 homeless shelters, 2 women's shelters, 5 foster homes, 3 orphanages & attending 8 schools.

Jeremiah has lived to see what he thought that was never promised to him due to his treacherous journey of graduating with his Bachelors from OSU.

Jeremiah is facing while celebrating his highest milestone achievement of not having a place to live, not having food, and not having transportation. He is fighting not to go back to the treacherous way of living of bouncing from home to home, highway to highway, park to park, and side walks to side walks. Please help us while he is going through stages of his life to find a great prominent job with excellent benefits where is he able to have stability by being a blessing through monetary donations to get him to the beginning of adulthood.

The monetary donations will be used for  adequate transportation and/or a donation of a vehicle for Jeremiah. Everyone has a sad story but everyone has not lived a life of Jeremiah. So have a heart and allow your donations to be bountiful blessing to this extraordinary young man.

We Were You would like to take this opportunity to thank you in advance for your sincere and generous donations.

https://gofundme.com/JeremiahJourney

Warm Hearts Jackets & Sweaters Donations Drive/Presentations

When we adopted my two daughters from a children's shelter, not only were the girls presented to me with trashbags for suitcases but also no jacket or sweater. When asked if they had a sweater (we were on our way to dinner to celebrate our first night as a family) the girls responded by saying there were jackets at the shelter but all the kids were sharing the few that were there. Before dinner, I stopped by the Wal-Mart to buy the girls something warm for the restaurant. Not only were Emily and Angela excited about not having to share the sweaters but were more excited that the sweaters were brand new. Just for them. 

We are trying to put the same smile on the faces of the children in group homes, and children shelters to be presented to them in December.

The Donation Drives were held on September 5, October 3, and November 7 for our We Were You Presents Warm Hearts Jacket & Sweater drop off rally where you can drop off a new jacket or sweater for boys and girls sizes infant to XL.

http://wewereyou.org/special-events/2nd-jacket-and-sweater-3/

v  On January 17, 2016 We Were You donated 136 sweaters, jackets, toys, books, crayons, fleece, and duffle bags to the Children’s Home Society of South Florida.

No Child Deserves a Trash Bag.....

Sweet Cases Donations was held on January 28, 2015, where the We Were You Foundation, Inc. donated 5 sweet cases to foster children at the Chapman North Early Head Start/ Head Start. Each bag had books, crayons, coloring books, fleece, phonics activity, hygiene products , and teddy bears. Each bag was personalized with each child's name on the bag. #nomoretrashbags
    

On Februrary 12, 2015, We Were You Foundation, Inc.  donated 10 sweet cases to Family Resource Center. Each bag had books, crayons, coloring books, fleece, phonics activity, hygiene products , and teddy bears. Each bag was personalized with each child's name on the bag. 

Uplifting Words from my Earthly Angel A.S.

I hope everyone is doing fine.... Sorry that I've been away for so long. A lot of things have transpired since the last time I blogged. Some were good and some were devastating. Regardless of the issue it was a learning experience for all of us...



At times I didn't know if I was coming or going and I would reach out to my dearest friend Alan whom I met on twitter who was also a foster child. He understood my daughters and was able to help me understand them. He has really made this adoptive parent transition a lot easier. He makes me think outside of the box and to look from the view of my daughters and where they came from and How I can help them through love and patience.  I wanted to share with you all on the things that he shared with me that has helped me in my troubling times as an adoptive parent and troubling times for my daughters. These quotes and encouragements has made us stronger.



Me (April 2015)
Mr. Alan,

This is Vanessa from We Were You and I just want to thank you for allowing me to contact you concerning my daughters. First I want to give you a brief background on my daughters and I. I met my daughters and their 4 other siblings at my school. I was one of my daughters teachers for two years. When we found out that they were the last two siblings in foster care that was not adopted my husband and I decided to adopt them. They are in constant contact with their other siblings.

My issue is with my daughters we are still going through the rejection stages they know that we love them but they won't allow us to love them they still have walls up. They act up in school so bad that their teachers has requested to conduct an IEP on them. One teacher stated that when the oldest child comes to school she has to ask her who are you today are you "Sarah" ? This just hurts my heart because this other person is starting to take over her only at school. So now they want to do a psycho evaluation on her. The state has stopped their therapy sessions and all due to financial issues so they say....

 

Some days I just don't know if I'm coming and going.... I try to help them as much as I can but I don't know how to deal with their emotional issues. I'm going to stop here because I'm beginning to cry because I just want the best for my daughters 

 

Alan (April 2015)
ok, first of all, you are doing what you can to protect them, but in order for them to realize that they are ok you have to show them not tell them.  Their teachers need to empower them not discipline them.  Discipline only gets them the energy they are used to and that is what needs to change.  You have to love them through the acting out, they have had people leave them and so it hurts them so deeply they have developed a sense of self that is in such pain.  You need to love them through them pushing and pushing and pushing. 



When they act this way you need to say things like I love you and if you need or want my attention I am right here and whether you like it or not I will be here always for you. It is easier for them to try to push you away before you can leave them even though you won't they don't believe that yet!  Trust through it all is what needs to be built one baby step at a time.  Talk to them, ask them what they need, what they want and how you can go about helping them find it.  Open, honest, thoughtful communication and acting on your love will help you all get through this. Always talk with them and allow them to be open with you and I promise you things will change.  Just don't give up on them.  the ones toughest to love are the ones that need it the most.



And the most important thing is not to take their feelings personally.  They have built these painful reflexes long before you decided to love them



It takes 30 days to form a habit and a lifetime to overcome it.



We need to overcome our past selves that were broken by others so we can rebuild from the foundation of our true SOULS.



Alan (June 2015)
How's things?



Me

Well on Wednesday the oldest one had to leave summer camp due to her out of control behavior but after that day she's been ok.... The youngest also got in trouble on Friday from summer camp



Alan
ok, a tough transition for sure. It is never easy to do new things without the people you trust near you... But through all these struggles let the light shine on you all... For it is in these moments that you find your true strengths!



Me
Wow love how you said that......... Thank you so much for thinking and caring about us big brother....

 

Alan

it lives in you so share it boldly with each other and then the world...


Let's fast forward to April 2016.... My daughters have accomplished so much since last year...


If you enjoyed this post, I’d be very grateful if you’d help it spread by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter or Facebook. Thank you!


-Vanessa


P.S. Please like and follow our Pages on Facebook, Twitter, Periscope and Instagram
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Adoptive Parents needs HELP just as much as Foster Parents......

When we live in silent pain we become slave to that pain out of fear. But perfect Love gets rid of all fear. And when we give voice to  the truth no matter what it is, God's response is always the same, freedom. I am believing help is on the way. Are there any licensed therapists, clinicians, social workers, who are willing to volunteer their services? Can you point me in the right direction?

My daughters needs help and so do I. My daughters services has stopped for good but in their adoption documents they are to have unlimited therapy sessions, unlimited tutoring services, and extra curriculum activities until they turn 18 years of age. My daughters are 9 and 11 and their services has already stopped. I am in desperate need of help. My daughters deserves their services to be reinstated and I too need help on how to deal and cope with their issues that has been overwhelming for my family and I due to the fact we do not know how to go about when they have their episodes. We will not only fight for our daughters but we are fighting for all adoptive parents that are going through the same issues that we are going through.

http://youtu.be/Im-_Z7l_Nto

We Were You Foundation, Inc wants to Thank Each and Everyone of You :)

NO CHILD DESERVES TRASH BAGS!!!!!

From Trash Bags to Suitcases............ Let's Change the Way Our Foster Children moves from Home to Home

Foster kids don't deserve trash bags. Help buy them a suitcase. We Were You Foundation, Inc wants to provide 15 Sweet Cases to a foster children agency in Miami, Florida, to do this we will need to raise $375.00. Remember parenting a child is a matter of the heart. Not a matter of bloodline. Thank you for your support and donation......... Please share the link below :)

P.S. In order to make your donation you must click on the link......



togetherwerise.org/fundraise/WeWereYouFoundationInc

Blessings.........My Earthly Angels...........

I remember the day we went to court and the judge gave us temporary custody. My husband and I just moved into our home and we only had two bedrooms, which was our bedroom and one extra room (that room only had one bed and a dresser in there). State law states that children who are in the system can not share a bed even if they are related. The social workers fought so much for us not to get the girls because of the one bed situation but the judged over ruled them and told me to get an extra bed as soon as possible and that he understood about moving into a new house (it happened so quickly we were shocked that we got them so fast that we didn't even have time to shop for them). My sister and I went to go pick up the girls but we had obstacles in front of us the social workers wouldn't release the girls to us stating that the judge told us to get them on another day, so we left and went home and I called the police and showed the police the court order that the girls were to come home with us and that's when the social workers released the girls to us. The foster parents gave us two bags of clothes........ When we reached home and opened the bag of clothes, all the clothes had maggots, had an awful smell, shoes were entirely too small, and majority of the clothes were small too. It was so bad that we had to throw those clothes and shoes away. We had absolutely nothing for the girls.

That same week I had to attend a reading/writing workshop. M.F. workshop was so amazing that she mentioned how she wrote a book and she dedicated to a young boy whom was a foster child and she briefly told us a story about him and when she went back to the school she met the young boy to give him the book he moved again to another foster home. Her story about him really touched my heart dearly that during one of our mini breaks I pulled M.F.to the side and told her how I just received temporary custody of two beautiful girls in which they are biological sisters and how one was actually my student. I also told her how they were handed to us and how we had no clothes nor shoes for them when they came to us. I also stated to her how times were rough because my husband had just lost his job right after we purchased our home.

So day two of the workshop everyone went to lunch and when I came back, M.F. planned a kids shower for me.  I was so surprised that they took the time out to plan a kids shower for me. My  fellow teachers also participated. They gave me clothes, shoes, monetary gifts, books, games, coloring books, dolls, teddy bears and etc. Just thinking back as I am writing this is bringing me to tears because they blessed me in so many ways that I will never forget them................

 

The breakdown came when M.F. came to me and gave me a speech that she posted my story on her Facebook page and how my story touched a lady life so much that the lady blessed my family with $1,000... I just broke down and cried because what she has done for my family. M.F. and C.S. are my earthly angels, they hold a special place in heart forever.

Then my sister went to work and told her co workers about us adopting the girls and how we had to throw all the clothes and shoes away, the next day my sister came to my house with clothes and shoes from her co workers.

People has told me numerous of times that the girls are blessed to have us in their lives but my response to them is No We are BLESSED to have them in our lives.

 

Hurtful things they will say but Despite what they say you still love them UNCONDITIONALLY!!!!

On yesterday May 30, 2014, I went to my oldest daughter's classroom during our lunch time. I was told from her teacher that she got kicked out of her math class and was sent to her reading teacher for being rude and disrespectful. So the teacher told me that my daughter said she did not take her medicine and she has "hell" in her today. So the teacher asked me why she didn't take her medicine and I told her she's been sick with a very bad cold so I gave her cough medicine this morning and I did not want to double dose her with cold medicine and her ADHD medicine. The teacher understood that, so I went to my daughter and said why are you misbehaving today? her response was because she didn't take her medicine, so I asked her what did I tell you your medicine is for and she said for me to concentrate and I said yes, so that means you chose to misbehave because on weekend you don't take your medicine and you behave then. I told her this is my last time I tell you that your medicine is not for your behavior, its for you to concentrate on your studies. And when you misbehave its a choice. So, since you chose to misbehave me as your mother chooses to have you on punishment for the weekend is that understood. her reply was yes.......

Later on yesterday I received a text from my youngest daughter teacher about her behavior today (but with her she took her medicine). So after school my daughter comes to my classroom and I asked her what was your problem today and she came out and told me she didn't feel like doing work today and didn't feel like listening to the teacher, so I told her since you chose to do wrong I choose to have you on punishment. There is no excuse for you and your sister to misbehave.

When we arrived home their punishment started they had to write an apology letter to their teacher, they had to go in the corner and they were not allowed to play with none of their games and could not watch TV. We took all of their games out of their room. They had to be in bed at 7:45pm last night.

On this morning they were awaken by their father, he gave them breakfast, had them to wash their face and brush their teeth and put on some clothes. Their punishment this morning was to walk around the block and pick up trash. But before leaving the house with their dad this morning we had them in the room to explain their punishment and what they did yesterday in school was unacceptable. My oldest daughter says " YOU ALL DON'T LOVE US" "IF YOU DID YOU WOULDN'T PUT US ON PUNISHMENT AND THAT SHE HATES US", the youngest sister says "THEY DO LOVE US, ITS US THAT KEEP MISBEHAVING, THEY DO THINGS FOR US, THEY TELL US THEY LOVE US,THEY TELL US WHEN THEY ARE PROUD OF US, AND THEY TOOK US OUT THE SHELTER" THEY DO LOVE US DON'T SAY THAT, WE NEED TO STOP MISBEHAVING AT SCHOOL.

I asked my oldest girl to step out the room for a minute and I will talk to her one on one, next thing I hear is the door slamming and she saying she HATE US!!!! I started to cry because I didn't know why she would say something like that, so I went to get my husband out of the bathroom and told him that she left the house, so he got in his car and went to look for her, I grabbed my keys with our youngest daughter and went to look for her too as I am crying and praying my youngest daughter says mommy its going to be okay and we are going to find her. The way I went I couldn't find her.... So I went back to the house. Then my husband came home with her (she was found on the other block) and I cried as I hugged her so tightly and I said don't ever leave like that again we was worried about you, you may think because we punish you we don't love you but we love you for eternity and we punish you because the things you do we do not like and there will always be consequences behind your wrong actions. We are here to love you as well as to guide you in the right direction. We don't ever want you to go down that wrong road.

I explained that running away is a serious matter because anything could have happened to you. I explained too that words hurt and you can't ever take back what you said.... She apologized and said that she was sorry and I told her we forgive her and we hugged...... I told her that her punishment has extended and she will not be going to LEGOLAND next weekend and she said she understood and that She loves us and she is sorry again. Both girls did complete their punishment this morning...

I blogged this story to tell other adoptive parents that they will say very harsh things to you but at the end you still love them despite the hurt and you ask God to help you to help them even more and to understand them more because we really don't know what they really went through with their biological parents and when they were in the system as a foster child. As I am typing this I am still crying because my daughters are my life and I will go to hell and back for them. Don't ever give up on them let them know that you love them so much and that there's nothing that they can do but love you back!!!!

Be encouraged fellow adoptive parents and God Bless

My Ten Year Old Daughter's Night Terrors

This blog is quite different and it will be short. I am in need of HELP with my daughter night terrors. Terrifying and gut wrenching don't begin to describe the what seemed like endless nights of night terrors that we are having with our 10 year old daughter. My daughter has night terrors at least 3 to 4 times a week. She wakes up periodically throughout the night screaming, kicking and thrashing. She also has full conversations in her sleep. The fact that I am a very light sleeper, it scares me so much that I jump out of my bed and run to her room and I wake her up. When I wake her up she wakes up completely out of it and I either play gospel music or relaxing music in her room. At times she will go back to sleep peacefully or it will start again.  Her baby sister also tries to comfort her but it scares her too. When I ask her what happens she has no recollection of her episode. I did some research and went to read her file I discovered when being in the shelter she had these same episodes but she use to sleep walk but she has yet to sleep walk with me. It takes me a long time to go back to sleep because I am worried about her :(

She has a strict bed time, her bed time is at 9:00pm , So I honestly do not know what triggers her night terrors. Please help me with this issue I am having with my daughter. . Have you all experienced this with your own children? I am open to hear any suggestions that you all may have concerning the "Night Terrors"............. Thank you in advance for helping me with this issue.

Life of an Adoptive Mother : My Begginings............

The day  I met my girls and their other siblings changed my life forever. I met them at my school and I was one of their teachers. I instantly had a connection with all of them. I love all of my students but these groups of kids touched my heart dearly. I cared for those kids like they were my own. My classroom was their restaurant, shopping center, and beauty salon. When they missed school I called their social workers to see why they missed school and to let them know that I've missed them that day. Every single day I went home and spoke about my girls to my family.

I found out that my girls were living in a shelter with other foster children. My sister and I went to court and asked for visitation rights, so that I can see them on the weekends and to take them out to special places. And I was awarded visitation :)

I've had several conversations with my husband about adopting them and at that time my husband mentioned to me that we don't have any kids of our own and he stated that we will discuss this matter later. I prayed and prayed because I knew in my heart that those girls belonged with us.

 But on this day my heart dropped in despair due to the fact that  I missed a day of work and when returning back to work the next day my assistant principal pulled me into her office to tell me  that my girls were gone and they have been placed in a home. I broke down and started crying in her office because I thought they were gone forever and I kept saying that I didn't say good bye and none of their social workers contacted me to tell me about this instant move. So, I contacted the social worker to ask them where were my girls and how can I see them and they stated since they been placed in a home your visitation rights were terminated. I WAS DEVASTATED!!!!! My whole world started crashing!!! I called my husband crying hysterically and he told me not to worry because they will be back to us. I just didn't see where my husband was coming from and I honestly did not want to hear him and as I think back my husband was speaking FAITH.

The Lord works in mysterious ways, So one day the social worker came out to my school to pick up documents for the girls and I asked her is it possible for me to adopt them. We both cried because I told her that they were my daughters and we are destined to be family. She stated that she will let the other social workers know that I want to adopt them.

We grew a bond that no one could have understood, Right after visitation our rights were terminated  My sister and I  went to court to ask for temporary custody and have them to stay with us until they found them a home but that wasn't enough for me, I wanted them to be my daughters forever. My family grew to love them too.

I wrote my girls judge and asked to have an emergency hearing to state my interest in adopting the girls. That same week I received a call from the judge secretary stating for me to come to court concerning that issue. That morning I was home and I told my husband that I was going to court to get our girls and telling him why we needed to get the girls and I'm going on and on and did not realize that my husband said God already dealt with him and told me to go get our girls. My husband stopped me from talking and said did you hear me " I said God already dealt with me pertaining that and go bring our girls home". I cried because that was confirmation that we were bringing our girls home.

This judge had compassion for kids and their well being. When the judge saw me, tears started to fall from his eyes and he stated I knew these kids were for you. He asked how does your husband feel about you all adopting and you all don't have any kids of your own and I told him my husband is in agreement with me and this is what God has put on us to do and we will have our own children down the line but these girls needs us now.

I was granted temporary custody of the girls that same day and I had to do start the Adoption class. My sister and I went to go pick up the girls but we had obstacles in front of us the social workers wouldn't release the girls to us stating that the judge told us to get them on another day, so we left and went home and I called the police and showed the police the court order that the girls were to come home with us and that's when the social workers released the girls to us. When the girls saw us my oldest daughter said I knew you were coming to get us and I knew you were going to be my mom. I just started to cry all over again because I loved them like I had birthed them.

When I was granted temporary custody of my girls they were 6 and 7. They were not properly potty trained and they were afraid of toilets especially when the toilet had to be flushed. One day my oldest girl went to use the restroom and she called me to the door crying, so I opened the door and she was just crying and I kept saying what is wrong with you and I flushed the toilet and she SCREAMED AND HOLLERED, so I started to panic and she kept saying I'm sorry I'm sorry and I told her there's no need to be sorry, why are you afraid of the toilet? She was unable to answer me. So that episode freaked me out so I started to read their documents and it stated that as a punishment their biological father made them sit on the toilet and flushed and flushed until he felt that they learned their lesson.

So until they overcame that obstacle I did not allow them to flush the toilet nor did I flush the toilet in their presence.

Until next posting see you a blog later !!!!!

Greetings Internet

So this is it,  my first blog post !

I guess I'll start by what I am looking for: 

I’m looking for my readers, the readers who are also adoptive parents who can understand my struggles, accomplishments, who have yet had any children of their own, and aha moments with my adopted children. Who I can bring resources, relief, and encouragement to. I want you to know what you are going through you are not alone, I can relate with you and we can overcome these obstacles together.  I’ll happily send a free short story to anyone who joins the mailing list.

I’m looking to learn from my readers as well as my readers learning from me. I want as much feedback as possible. I’m taking blog comments this way then I will  able to keep up with your thoughts, questions, or concerns.  It would be easy for me to stay within my comfort zone. But I believe no good artist does this, and I believe that hearing from you guys is the best way for me to keep on improving.

I’m looking to make a community. I want my readers to be able to speak to one another and to connect with other adoptive parents. I hope a community will grow on this blog, and also on the social media sites, I am using Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

So in short, I’m looking for you, the person on the other side of the screen. My experiences are nothing without people who reads it, and I cannot grow nearly as fast without the energy and passion of the readers. You rock! It’s that simple. So as I gaze into the internet, mouse hovering over ‘post blog,’ I feel like I’m calling out, ‘where are you?’ I can't wait to hear from you :)

P.S. at times I will also post videos and pictures to my blog :)