A Priceless Story

Re: Your letter to me this morning

"M Boo",

You are good, kind, smart, and silly. You are worthy of love. You are priceless, which means no one can sum up your value with words. You are a gift from God to this Earth. I am blessed to have met you at Chick-fil-a almost ten months ago. All of us are blessed to have you as family in our home.

I could not imagine how hard it is to be in foster care. You are not alone; there are 153 kids just here in Salem and Roanoke. Most of them share how you feel - where is home? Why did my parents make bad decisions? Who do I call mom and dad? Am I a daughter? Why don't I fit in with my foster family? Does anyone truly love me? ... I wish I could give you answers, but all I can do is my best to understand how you feel. It makes sense that you think of these questions and have hard feelings and emotions to sort through.

What I do know is my story and exactly how you fit in perfectly. One week before I met you, I was at a women's getaway weekend with friends from church. We had twenty-five minutes of silence to just listen to God. Looking back in my journal, I wrote, "God is NOT broken. He is where I cannot always see. Be peaceful, still." And I was still in God's peace later in the week when a friend working in foster care texted me, asking if I would bring a sweet thirteen-year-old home. I responded that I would take you to lunch at Chick-fil-a to meet you. Sure enough, "sweet" is a great way to describe you.

You told me your life story while inhaling french fries and soda, and that day, November 18, 2022, we started a chapter in our stories together! Our chapter has been full of laughs, healing, Chinese food, vacations, Gilmore Girls, inside jokes, moving houses, making friends, snuggles, and so much more. There have been a few hard days, but we always made it through together. And here we are, continuing this story together. I cannot imagine my story without you in it. I cannot sum up the value you have brought into my story. Thank you for loving me.

So, what is next? It is more exciting that no one knows! I do know that I want you in my story forever and always, my sweet girl. If you choose to keep me, I promise to always be here for you.

I love you.

xoxo Leslie

To all the foster moms out there: keep up the good work! These kids need us! Our role changes in their lives constantly. Sometimes we are mentor, mom, therapist, fun aunt, even big sister. It is hard for us to mold our role and title to the needs of our kids in their season. As you navigate this journey, please know you are not alone! We are on this mission of love, together!