From two daughters to five!

[hunter gatherer]

In one short afternoon, we have three new children. Well, they are not really our children, just on loan for awhile.

These girls are friends of my two daughters. They lived in our town until about a year ago. Both of their parents are in the military and so the family has experienced quite a bit of upheaval, moving several times over the past year. Presently, the parents are in two different areas of the country and sent their 5 children back to our town to stay with a relative for a couple of months.

My daughters were thrilled to have their dear close friends back in the area and the girls have spent a lot of time at our house. Over the past few weeks, I've had a feeling that something wasn't right about their situation with the relative. I was particularly worried about the 12 year old who just wasn't herself. She just seemed so tired and obviously depressed. The girls were over Halloween night and noticed something peculiar about her face. Upon closer examination, it appeared that the right side wasn't working properly. The girl said that she had kinda noticed it, but had not said anything to their guardian, nor had their guardian noticed it.

As reluctant as I was to nose into this family's business, I called their father today to tell him that I thought his daughter needed to be seen by a doctor. It turns out that he has been worried sick about his children. He and his wife really wanted their children to be in our town, where everything was familiar, but were realizing that the relative they had asked to be guardian was not caring for the children properly. I offered to take his daughter to the doctor and went further to ask if he wanted my husband and I to just take the children into our home.

All it took was for me to open that door. The father was so grateful that someone was looking out for his children and he wanted them out of their present situation ASAP. Within an hour we worked out the details and I now have my daughter's two friends, who are 14 and 12 and their little sister who is 6 and deaf. The two other children in the family, a 16 year old and an 8 year old are with other friends of the family.

The girls are only slated to be here for a month, but we realize this could be extended. Also, their mother is being deployed to Iraq in May, and their father might not be far behind and so this may not be the last opportunity we have to provide a home for their children. We want to be open to this possibility.

We were told that the littlest girl, who we barely know, was incredibly shy and may not even make eye contact with us for days. Well, she proved everyone wrong. She was laughing and giggling with my husband within an hour of her arrival. She just came downstairs from bed, looking every bit like Cindy Lou Who, to ask me where " the Dad" was ( "the dad" was already in bed!). I think this is a very good sign!

Tonight, we're just treating like one big sleepover, but it will be a busy weekend getting the house set up for three new "daughters"!

Wish us luck

[AngieM2]

Enjoy "your" girls. Permanant and borrowed. I know you've set parent's hearts at ease. Bless you.

Angie

[Shepherd]

Wow! God bless you for this. I sure hope everything turns out well. Let us know what the girl's facial problem is, will you?

[bugstabber]

What a wonderful thing for you to do!

[Traci Ann]

So glad to see that you'd take them in in a heartbeat! God Bless you!!

[Toads tool]

Your actions can only prove positive in these girls lives.

I think you'll find this will be a life changing event for you all.

Bless your heart.

[TxCloverAngel]

You are my hero!

[Cashs Cowgirl]

How Wonderful!

[rb.]

hunter gatherer, people like you and your husband make the world go round.

[Ashtina98]

Wow, you are such a special family to do this, I think a lot of people would have just turned the other way and figured it was the families business. The girls are very fortunate to have you in their lives for whatever time frame it may be. God Bless!

Dee

[Queen Bee]

Bless you...Once, I was those children and a dear couple helped my siblings and me--It's been 50yrs and I still remember the love, care and peace they brought to my life.... Queen Bee

[MarleneS]

Thank You, Thank You and Thank you again

Marlene

[A'sta at Hofstead]

"The Dad".... that is so sweet and you guys rock.

[Wags]

Wow, what warm hearted folks!

Don't know if you already have this in place, but you really need temporary guardianship papers or the like. Otherwise you may run into trouble getting medical treatment for the girl.

[Mysticdream44]

What a wonderful kind hearted people you and your DH are to take responsiblity for these girls. I know their parents are relived to have someone like you taking care of their children.