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Rookie Police Officer Follows His Gut And His Decision Changes 3 Kids Lives Forever
Uplifting News

Rookie Police Officer Follows His Gut And His Decision Changes 3 Kids Lives Forever

The first time that Vacaville police officers came into contact with the three young boys, it was because their mother had called in to say she couldn’t find one of them. Rookie officer Isaac Stevens felt that more was going on, though, and so he decided to visit the woman and her sons and do a welfare check. The instant he stepped into the apartment, he realized he had made the right decision.“I was shocked that kids were living in conditions like this,” says Stevens, who describes the apartment as ‘filthy.’ The boys were only 2, 4, and 8 when Stevens visited them. And they were alone.Finding a Foster FamilyThe next step was to contact Child Welfare and try to find a foster family. Stevens knew he had to do it, but he also knew that it wasn’t a magic pill that would make all the boys’ problems go away. Like most places across the country, Solano County had a shortage of foster families. Would they be able to place the boys? Would the brothers be split apart?As fate would have it, one foster family on the list was a distant relation of the boys’ biological mother. James and Mae Lancaster said they would take the boys — all three of them.“We were 100% all in, right from the time we heard they needed a home," says James Lancaster. He and his wife Mae received the call in the middle of the night. They immediately made their way to the police station and were waiting outside on the steps when Stevens arrived with the boys.Keeping the Boys TogetherBoth James and Mae know firsthand the importance of a strong family bond and insisted on keeping the brothers together. James grew up in a disadvantaged, inner city neighborhood of San Francisco. His mom was a single parent, and James watched her struggle. “I felt a duty to these three kids,” he says. The Lancasters decided to become foster parents.Mae and James would not be new parents, though. They had lost a son more than a decade earlier. But now, new life was suddenly breathed back into their family.“They’ve given me…my life back,” says Mae. “It’s very rewarding, watching them grow, play sports and do good in school.”James echoes Mae’s sentiments and encourages others to consider becoming foster families. He’s proud to point out how far the boys have come since they found a stable, loving home with the Lancasters. He says the boys’ confidence has skyrocketed and that they’re happy.“At the end, we’re trying to raise good citizens, good people,” he emphasizes.Guest of HonorThat’s why, after fostering the boys for a time, the Lancasters were thrilled to officially adopt them. And who was at the top of the guest list for the ceremony? Officer Stevens, the very person whose gut instinct had led the boys to their new home, where they would thrive.The three brothers may have had a rocky start in life, but now they can relax and just be kids. The Lancasters say that their priority is spending time together as a family, and to that end, their plans include a trip to Disney — the happiest place on earth.More from Goalcast:Policeman Shows Up at School and Grills Confused Teen – Then Someone Grabs Him From BehindPolice Officer Catches Single Dad Shoplifting for His Son – Decides on a Surprising “Punishment”No One Shows Up to Boy’s Birthday Party TWO Years in a Row – Then Policemen Knock on His Door

Single Moms Biggest Fear Is Regarding Her 14-Year-Old Son - So His Teacher Makes Her an Offer
Uplifting News

Single Moms Biggest Fear Is Regarding Her 14-Year-Old Son - So His Teacher Makes Her an Offer

In a world often filled with challenges, heartbreaks, and seemingly insurmountable odds, there shines a beacon of selflessness and love that has the power to warm the coldest of hearts. Meet Kerry Bremer, not just a special education teacher, but a guardian angel in human form.The Offer One Teacher Made to a Student’s MotherKerry's journey with Jake Manning, a vibrant 14-year-old with Down syndrome, began four years ago when she stepped into the role of his special education teacher. Describing Jake as "dynamic," Kerry sensed a deeper connection beyond the classroom and that she "fell in love with him instantly." As fate would have it, she learned that Jake's mother, Jean Manning, was battling terminal breast cancer that had cruelly metastasized into her brain.Fully aware of the impending challenges for Jake, Kerry initiated a courageous conversation with the single mother. "I could really be overstepping the boundaries here, but I just want to let you know that if you need a backup plan for Jake, my family and I are willing to offer guardianship," Kerry expressed to Jean. Tears welled up in Jean's eyes as relief washed over her, grateful for Kerry's unwavering offer. "She said, 'I'll sleep better tonight than I have in a very long time.'" Jean's deepest fear — what would happen to Jake after she passed — found a compassionate answer in Kerry's pledge.This remarkable story is a testament to the incredible power of human connection. Despite knowing the Mannings for just a few months, Kerry, along with her husband Dave and their children, made a life-altering decision. For them, opening their home to Jake was not just an act of kindness; it was a profound commitment grounded in love.How One Mother Orchestrated a Symphony of LoveOn November 13, tragedy struck as Jean Manning passed away. But amidst the sorrow, Kerry and her family fulfilled Jean's final wish — they welcomed Jake into their home. "I'm terribly sad that Jake doesn't have his mom to be with him for the rest of his life," Kerry shared with CNN. "But I'm very, very grateful that she trusted us to take him and be with him and share our home with him."Jean's courageous planning over the last three years facilitated Jake's transition to his new family. Despite the suddenness of her death, Jake, understandingly in his innocent wisdom, acknowledges that his mom is now in heaven with God and his aunts. In the Bremer household, Jake has found solace, affectionately calling Jean his "Queen Angel Mom."Kerry and Dave were officially named Jake's legal guardians in May, with the possibility of adoption on the horizon. A GoFundMe campaign to support Jake has garnered immense attention, nearing its $50,000 goal in just five days. But for Kerry, the true hero of this narrative is Jean Manning, a mother who, in the face of her own mortality, orchestrated a symphony of love and care for her son's future.In a world that often echoes with tales of hardship, Kerry and Jean's story radiates as a testament to the enduring power of love, compassion, and the indomitable human spirit.Through the lens of this family, we are reminded that even in life's most challenging moments, kindness can prevail, and bonds formed in selflessness can withstand the tests of time. The world needs more stories like this, stories that whisper hope, resilience, and the extraordinary impact of a single act of love.More from Goalcast:Woman Sits Next to Pregnant Stranger on Flight – Ends Up Adopting Her Newborn BabyWoman Has a Dream About the Same Baby for Months – Fights to Adopt Her Husband’s Dead Ex-wife’s SonTwo Sisters Reunited After 75 Years After Being Put Up for Adoption After World War II

Woman Finds Terrified 9-Year-Old Hiding in Nursing Home - Little Did She Know There Were More Surprises to Come
Uplifting News

Woman Finds Terrified 9-Year-Old Hiding in Nursing Home - Little Did She Know There Were More Surprises to Come

So many times in life, things that seem meant to be happen in the most unexpected ways. Coincidences or series of events can put us on an important path without us knowing it, leading to moments that almost seem predestined.One woman in Oklahoma is opening up about her experiences with that phenomenon, and how one surprise discovery led to a series of life-changing moments.The Surprise of a LifetimeSavanah Patt worked at a skilled nursing facility in Edmon, Oklahoma, taking care of senior residents and sharing her love. One day ten years ago, she was going about her regular routine when she came across something shocking.In one of the residents’ rooms, there was a tiny little girl hiding. It was her grandmother’s room, and the nine-year-old had been staying there for a week after a neighbor dropped her off. That neighbor had found Renlee living alone in a trailer with her older brother and the place was filthy. Her parents were nowhere to be found.“She looked at me, and she wouldn’t talk at all,” Patt told Oklahoma News 4. “She smelled terrible, she was very dirty, she didn’t have shoes.”A Rough UpbringingAccording to Renlee, the trailer had been overrun with cats and dogs. There were holes in the floor, and the place was filthy. Meanwhile, the little girl had been sent home from school with a severe case of lice and wasn’t allowed to return until she got rid of it.As for Renlee’s parents, they were struggling with addiction and unable to provide for their kids. Often, they would force them to panhandle on the streets for drug money with them.“They would take the food stamps and trade them for drugs,” Patt said. “They hoisted her into dumpsters, and they would go dumpster diving.”Things looked bad for the little girl, but she was about to be saved by a woman with an enormous heart.“I fell in love with her,” Patt said, revealing it was an easy decision to ask Renlee if she could be her mother.A Second SurpriseWith a steady home life and the love and security of Patt, Renlee thrived. She returned to school and learned what it was like to feel safe. Meanwhile, Patt had another surprise when she received a phone call, asking if she would also take in Renlee’s 13-year-old sister, an older sibling that Renlee hardly knew.Cheyanne had been traveling between relatives, acquaintances, and strangers since she was born, but the woman she had most recently stayed with no longer wanted her.“She had been left at a Circle K gas station in Yukon, Oklahoma,” Patt said. “Cheyanne didn’t know I was coming. [When] I pulled up she was sitting outside and she looked at me. I rolled down the window and she said, ‘What are you doing here?’ I said, ‘You want to live with me?’ She said, ‘You want me?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, girl.'”A Home Filled With LovePatt became a mother of two, and Cheyanne and Renlee rose to their true potential. They became the first in their family to graduate high school, and in a heartwarming twist, Renlee decided to pursue a nursing degree.According to the now-19-year-old, she wants to share love with others, just like her mom did with her and her sister.“I don’t know where I’d be without my mom, I don’t. I was born with meth and heroin, and pretty much every drug you can think of in my system as a baby,” she said. “Her finding me in a room, and now I’m going to be kind of working with people like that.”“People are like, ‘Oh, you saved them.’ No, no friends. They saved me because having them made me want to be better,” Patt said. “The attachment and bond that you get [when] you’re choosing to love, and they’re choosing to love is so beautiful.”Sharing Your LoveNot everyone is in a position to foster or adopt a child. (If you are, however, there are more than 390,000 children living in foster care in the U.S., and more than 113,000 kids who are eligible for adoption.) Still, this story reminds us that we should always lead with love.Perhaps you can help another family or children in need another way. Donations, hot meals, financially sponsoring someone or even volunteering your time are other positive ways to make a difference.Not everyone gets an equal start in life, and not everyone has the same opportunities. But if you’re lucky enough to have a little extra, spread the love and help others when you can. It doesn’t just make a difference in their lives, it can positively affect yours, too.More from Goalcast:Worker at Adoption Agency Refuses to Go to Her Grave With Important Secret — How Her Risky Confession Changed Two Lives Forever10-Year-Old Nobody Wanted to Adopt Is Sent to Live With Foster Family – This Would Completely Change Both Their LivesShe Gave Her Baby Up For Adoption On Thanksgiving – 50 Years Later, They Are Finally Reunited

Man Develops Close Friendship With Co-worker - Then Finds Out He Is His Dad
Uplifting News

Man Develops Close Friendship With Co-worker - Then Finds Out He Is His Dad

Life can work in funny ways. Sometimes we can’t help but think that we were meant to be in a certain situation, even if we didn’t know why at the time. Fate later reveals itself, and the pieces of the puzzle suddenly click into place.That may have been how one man felt after he realized that the co-worker he had recently become friends with was actually his biological father.Adopted at BirthNathan Boos always knew he was adopted. He never knew his biological parents or even their names. But his adoptive parents were open with him and explained he had been given up at birth because his first parents couldn’t afford to give him life's basic necessities.So, Boos’ biological mom selected adoptive parents who also happened to be distant cousins that lived in a nearby town. No one had any idea at the time just how close that town would be."Growing up I always knew that I was adopted, it just never crossed my mind that I would ever find my parents,” Boos told WEAU13 News.Years later, Boos became a truck driver in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. There, he struck up a friendship with a man named Bob Degaro.A Facebook DiscoveryOne day while scrolling Facebook, Boos’ adoptive mom made a shocking discovery. She realized that her son had somehow befriended his biological dad on the social media platform.“She just went on my Facebook and went through my friends' list and brought up his picture and I said, 'Get out of here,'” Boos recalled. “I about fell out of my seat,” he added.Boos decided to message Degaro and ask if he knew his biological mother.“I’m like, ‘Yeah, that’s my ex-wife…’ and I about fell out of my seat,” Degaro recalled. "It’s still kind of a shock, and there's days I'm not sure exactly what to say or how to act… I mean, he is my son, but we didn't have that father-son relationship growing up, and then we became working partners before we knew who we really were.”Both men say the reveal has brought them a sense of peace, and they plan on building their friendship. Until then, they’re taking things one day at a time. Or “one mile” at a time to put it in trucker terms.Timing Is EverythingThis incredible story went viral, and many people speculated that perhaps the men were somehow drawn to each other because of their blood relation. That may have been the case, or maybe this is one of those stories where things just worked out like they were supposed to.Degaro wasn’t ready to be a father when his then-wife became pregnant, and the couple did what was best for the baby. He sacrificed his relationship with his son, but what kind of a relationship would it have been?Instead, Boos was raised by adoptive parents who were able to provide for him, both emotionally and financially. Years later when Boos met his biological father, they were both in a better headspace to pursue a relationship because of it.It’s not always easy to hear things like, “It wasn’t meant to be” or “Timing is everything,” especially when you’re in the middle of a rough time or situation. But this story proves that sometimes things do work out in the end, and there is always the potential for starting over.More from Goalcast:Woman Sits Next to Pregnant Stranger on Flight – Ends Up Adopting Her Newborn BabyFirefighter Delivers Baby Then Learns Her Mom Can’t Keep Her – So He Adopts Her and Gives Her a HomeWoman Has a Dream About the Same Baby for Months – Fights to Adopt Her Husband’s Dead Ex-wife’s Son

Couple Hears Cats Fighting Outside - But What They Find in a Blanket Is Something Completely Different
Parenting

Couple Hears Cats Fighting Outside - But What They Find in a Blanket Is Something Completely Different

The road to parenthood isn't the same for everyone. Some people become parents by conceiving naturally, via surrogacy or adoption, or by becoming step-parents. As for others? Well, they find parenthood on the side of a literal road.The Unusual Road That Led a Florida Couple to ParenthoodLast January, the Polk Sheriff's Department received a 911 call in the wee hours of a Saturday morning about an abandoned newborn baby girl. A couple discovered her after they heard the sound of what they thought were cats screaming and fighting and went out to investigate. Turns out, it wasn't cats. It was a baby, just an hour old, wrapped up in an old blanket with the umbilical cord and placenta still attached.Left in a wooded area just off the side of the road in the Regal Loop Mobile Home Park, the baby was six and a half pounds and "very healthy" although she did sustain several insect bites.EMS took her to a nearby hospital and the Sheriff's office turned her over to the Department of Children and Families.Despite extensive efforts by PCSO detectives, the girl’s mother was never located or identified.When the baby's story first came out, she was known to the world as Angel Grace Lnu."She's as beautiful as an angel. It's by the grace of God she is not dead, and Lnu is: Last Name Unknown," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at the time she was discovered.But now — ten months and one day later — she's known by one ecstatic couple as "daughter.""Happy Gotcha Day"In a heartwarming Facebook post, the Sheriff's Department reveals that the little girl has been formally adopted. “We have an exciting update to share with you. Nearly one year ago, on January 28th, at about 1:47 in the morning, PCSO deputies rescued an abandoned newborn baby girl in Mulberry," the post began."The temperature outside was in the lower 50’s, and members of Polk County Fire Rescue checked the girl out and determined that, based on the girl’s temperature, she had been born about an hour before she was found," it continued."Fast forward ten months and one day -- the baby girl has officially been adopted."via Polk County Sheriff's Office Facebook PageThe new parents wish to remain anonymous, however, they did agree to have a couple of photos shared of the special day.“We are thrilled to share with you these photos from this morning of this precious angel with her new mom and dad, along with PCSO’s Detective Green and Sgt. Ryan. Mom & Dad wish to keep their names from being published,” the PCSO wrote, “but they allowed us to share these photos with everyone who followed this child’s story and prayed for her well-being.”The sweet pictures show the beaming couple with their new daughter adorably dressed in a pink dress, ruffled socks, pink shoes, and her hair in pigtails. A Happy BeginningDespite her rocky start, baby Angel is now in the arms of her very own angels, her adoptive parents. And while she may have been found all alone in the world, she's not anymore.The unusual road that led this Florida couple to parenthood may be unconventional but it's obvious that they've ended up exactly where they're supposed to be. And their journey? Is just beginning. And may their story encourage us to find love in unexpected places and embrace the extraordinary paths that lead to parenthood.More from Goalcast: Woman Sits Next to Pregnant Stranger on Flight – Ends Up Adopting Her Newborn BabyWoman Has a Dream About the Same Baby for Months – Fights to Adopt Her Husband’s Dead Ex-wife’s Son6 Siblings Were Separated in Foster Care For Over 3 Years – Then 2 Dads Adopted Them All

Woman Sits Next to Pregnant Stranger on Flight - Ends Up Adopting Her Newborn Baby
Uplifting News

Woman Sits Next to Pregnant Stranger on Flight - Ends Up Adopting Her Newborn Baby

They say that sometimes you can just be in the right place at the right time. That was most certainly the case for two strangers on an airplane a few years back when fate brought them together. Unbeknownst to either of these women at the time, their encounter would forever change both of their lives.A Routine FlightThere are multiple Delta flights from Atlanta to Raleigh, New Carolina, every single day. Yet one day in 2018, a woman named Temple Phipps was seated next to a woman named Samantha Snipes, who had missed her connecting flight and wound up on that one instead.The duo hit it off instantly and began sharing their stories. Snipes was eight months pregnant and had just left an abusive boyfriend. She thought maybe her partner would change after she told him she was pregnant, but it just got worse.“One night when he put his hands on me again, I was scared and insecure, and I wasn’t even sure how to live on my own at that point,” Snipes told ABC News. “The position I was in, [my baby] wasn't going to have a very good life. He was going to have a struggling life, and I didn't want any of that for him.”Phipps was sympathetic and revealed that at 42 years old, she had wanted to be a mother but was afraid her time to have a baby had passed. At the time, she was considering fostering or adopting, but as a single mother, all of the agencies she had spoken with passed her by.“Every time I would inquire, they'd said it ‘really needs to be a two-parent household,’” she recalled.A Fateful MeetingAs the plane touched down, the women exchanged numbers and said goodbye. A few days later, Snipes gave birth. She called Phipps and asked her to come visit. There, she asked Phipps if she wanted to adopt her son, Vaughn.“It just felt right talking with her and seeing her with the baby. She looked like she would be a great mother for him and she already looked like she loved him after holding him for an hour. The stuff that I wasn't feeling, she was feeling,” Snipes explained.After the adoption, Snipes stayed close by and continued to be in contact with the new family. She also began a photography company and wrote a blog about the experience. As for Phipps, she and Vaughn continue to make memories as he grows up.“I would just say to anybody, don't give up hope. I won the baby lottery for sure, miracles do happen and I think you can manifest those things. And this is what manifested,” Phipps added.A Complicated JourneyNot everyone’s journey to motherhood has a happy ending. But what’s so touching about this story is that one woman was able to become a mother in the most unexpected way, while someone who wasn’t ready to be a mom found a happy ending for her baby.It reminds those of us who want to be a parent that there is more than one way to be a mom or dad. Many families deal with infertility, while others, like Phipps, feel like the opportunity to have a child of their own has passed them by. But at the end of the day, there are also many children out there who are in need of a loving home.If being a mom or dad feels like your calling and you’re open to another way, this story of two fated women and an unborn baby is all the inspiration you need to always hold onto hope. More from Goalcast:Abandoned In Dumpster As Baby, He Vows To Make Adoptive Dad Proud – Now He’s A MillionaireWoman Has a Dream About the Same Baby for Months – Fights to Adopt Her Husband’s Dead Ex-wife’s Son10-Year-Old Nobody Wanted to Adopt Is Sent to Live With Foster Family – This Would Completely Change Both Their Lives

11-Year-Old Foster Girl Sent to Principals Office for Fighting - Little Did She Know What Was Going to Happen Next
Uplifting News

11-Year-Old Foster Girl Sent to Principals Office for Fighting - Little Did She Know What Was Going to Happen Next

It's safe to say, high school wasn't the easiest time for most of us. There's a reason why so many coming of age stories follow how difficult it is for teenagers to make the leap from adolescence to young adulthood.When you're still in your teens and pre-teens, it's hard to know exactly what you want in the future. And with so many options and daily mounting pressures — homework, friends, college applications — it's easy to just want to give up. Thankfully we made it through with at least a handful of lasting memories — and more often than not we can recall a special relationship with at least one teacher, who really believed in us. (Pay teachers better! They're shaping the future leaders of tomorrow!)For one struggling student, there was one teacher who made a big impact on her life — and it was the last person on earth she would have ever thought would help her. After all, he'd suspended her...she had no clue his next order of business would be to adopt her.She Was a Foster Kid Flunking OutTo the naked eye, Raven Whitaker, (now 18), was just an 11-year-old foster kid with a bad attitude who was flunking all her classes. To middle school principal Jason Smith and his wife Marybeth Smith? She was a young woman struggling to find her place in the world, with no family to lean on.Her Behavior Was Out of ControlRaven Whitaker was in rough shape when she first met Jason Smith, the principal of Campbell County Middle School. Raven was sent to the Principal's office after a troubling incident in the school cafeteria. She threw a yogurt cup at another student, and the teachers didn't know how to handle her escalating behavior on their own anymore.Out of options, they suspended her (a difficult feat in middle school). After her suspension was lifted, she was sent straight to Principal John Smith's office for a firm "teaching moment." Little did they know, this was one trip to the principal's office that would teach her a life long lesson "detention" never could.When Raven arrived at the Principal's office, she braced herself for another stern talking to — one of many she had faced in her life. With crossed-arms she sat in front of Principal Smith planning to "get this over with." What happened next was more mind blowing than she ever could have imagined.He Asked Her One Simple Question and the Answer Broke His HeartInstead of reprimanding her, Principal Smith used a more gentle approach. He wanted to get to the bottom of what was making Raven act out; needless to say, it didn't take long to crack the case."Would this behavior be acceptable at a restaurant?" Principal Smith asked. "I don't know," Raven Whitaker replied, "I've never been to one."To Raven's own surprise, she opened up to Principal Smith. He was not only easy to talk to, but for the first time in her life, someone was actually listening. Raven didn't hold back. She spilled her guts about the hardship she had been quietly facing, on her own. She Had Lice in Her Hair and Bruises on Her BodyLittle girl sitting on curb in dirty dress looking cold and aloneLooking back, Raven recalls the inhumane conditions she was forced to live in. She was put in a group home with several other kids of all different ages. All kinds of children came and went, it was a revolving door of misery.By the time she was sitting in Principal Smith's office, life had already beaten Raven down -- literally. Her body was covered in bruises, her hair was filled with lice, and her fingernails were packed with dirt. With little resources and hope — it's clear hygiene was definitely not a priority. More heartbreaking still, neither was her physical safety.Raven endured what no child should ever have to.Like so many other kids in the foster system who slip through the cracks, Raven was neglected and abused. At 11-years-old with no inspiring role models to demonstrate proper behavior, Raven was left to her own devices. The heartbreaking result? Acting out against authority figures and her peers. "At that point, I had felt like she just needed a hand, needed help. I recognized that she needed something to go in her favor, maybe for once, that it hadn’t gone in her favor in the past, but she just needed somebody to help her.”Principal John Smith, Good Morning AmericaEven though Raven faced the consequences of her actions over and over, she didn't care. At such a tender age her life had already been more challenging than most face in a lifetime. She didn't feel she had anything to live for or to fight for. Thankfully there was someone who would fight for her.A Weekend Visit Turned Into a Full AdoptionWhen John Smith had returned home that night after first meeting Raven, he immediately shared her story with his wife. Thankfully the couple had the exact same response.With some hesitation (they had problems in the past with fostering children) the couple extended an invitation to have Raven over at their home for a casual visit. She was only supposed to stay the weekend, but once she walked through the Smith's front door, she never left. It was fate. They were family."They say that a mother falls in love with their child at first sight and I can remember Raven walking into that room that day, that scared little kid, and I just knew in my heart this is what's supposed to be."Marybeth Smith, Raven's motherMarybeth Smith / "Adoption Day"She Wasn’t Sure if She Could Trust Anyone Again — She’d “Heard It All Before”“It was really weird at first because, in my mind, I thought of [Jason Smith] as the bad guy because I was always getting in trouble,” Raven Whitaker-Smith told GMA. “I gave them a bunch of trouble to see what would happen, I kind of tested whether or not this was real or not to see if they would keep me no matter what, because they would tell me that but, you know, I’d heard that a lot before.”Even though the Smith's had promised they would take it slow as to not get their hopes up — once again, life had other plans. "The same weekend [I visited]," Raven shared, "we went and painted by bedroom my favorite color — teal."It may seem like a simple act, but for a young girl who has never had her own room, being given permission to pick her own paint color is everything. Without words, it tells her, "get comfortable, you are welcome here, you are safe, we're not going anywhere."She'd been holding her breath and she didn't even know it. Finally, she could breathe out and breathe deep. She was finally home. Despite wanting a family of their own, Marybeth Smith had been unable to have children. The couple clearly had a nurturing side — why else would Principal Smith choose to be an educator? Even though they couldn't see it right away, their prayers would be answered — just not in the way they thought. One Trip to the Principal’s Office Saved Her Life''Honestly, I wouldn't be alive. I probably would have gone down a completely different path."Raven Whitaker-SmithYet as always, love is a two-way street. The Smith's didn't just save Raven's life. She saved theirs.It's common knowledge that the older kids get, the less "desirable" they are for adoption. The sad reality is that children waiting who are older than six probably won't find a forever family. The level of trauma they have suffered means that not many adopters feel able to provide them with the level of care they need to thrive. But Marybeth Smith had a powerful message for all parents and aspiring parents. "If you're out there and you're thinking about fostering a kid, don't be afraid to take a teenager," she said."I couldn't love her anymore if I had given birth to her."Marybeth SmithNow, Raven Whitaker-Smith is completely unrecognizable from the little girl she used to be. With the encouragement of her two loving and supportive parents, Raven went from flunking the fifth grade to a full-blown university student!Raven Whitaker-Smith / FacebookShe's studying at The University of Kentucky and perhaps most heartwarming of all — she's working towards a degree in social work and hopes to help others one day, who are just like her.Life Doesn’t Always Go According to Plan — And That’s BeautifulYou know what they say, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." Raven's story is a reminder that hope can come from the most unsuspecting places.Chance encounters can change our life. In fact, more often than not they are almost always the thing that does. Don't believe it? Think again. Love — the greatest thing we got as humans — is nothing but chance. Take a minute to reflect on all the friends you've met or the partners you've loved and then think of how easy it would have been to have never met them at all.Missed connections and failed plans can feel like the worst thing in the world, but more often than not, with enough perspective hopefully we can realize we shouldn't have many regrets. We are may not always get what we want — but as the Rolling Stones put it best, "you get what you need."More from Goalcast:6 Siblings Were Separated in Foster Care For Over 3 Years – Then 2 Dads Adopted Them AllThree Desperate Foster Children Are Told to Open Their Christmas Presents — The News They Receive Will Warm Your HeartFoster Teen Requests to Feed the Homeless on Show – What the Producers Do Next Changes His Life

Man Who Was Born Addicted to Drugs Works at a Car Dealership - One Day, a Random Family Walks Out With More Than Just a Car
Uplifting News

Man Who Was Born Addicted to Drugs Works at a Car Dealership - One Day, a Random Family Walks Out With More Than Just a Car

Family comes in all shapes and sizes and isn’t necessarily the family you were born into. Sometimes, it’s the chosen family that stands by your side when things get tough and with whom you celebrate milestones and holidays.And sometimes, like in the case of this man, it can take some time and hardships to find your chosen family. Once you do find it, though, there’s nothing like it.A Hard UpbringingTwin brothers Daquane Shamar Jacobs and Tavon Lamar Jacobs had a harder childhood than most. Their biological mother used drugs and didn’t know she was pregnant. When they were born, they only weighed two pounds each and addicted to crack cocaine. Social services immediately sent them to foster care.When the boys were two, they were adopted by a family who changed their names to Davon and Tavon Woods. While a new family may have seemed like a blessing at the time, things grew harder from there.“We had a very difficult childhood with our adoptive family,” Davon explained to Love What Matters. “We got physically and verbally abused, we were never given a voice, and they never once told us they loved us. It felt like we were just a paycheck, but we were too young and afraid to tell anyone what was happening at home.”That upbringing led the boys into trouble as teens. Davon tried to take his own life several times, but ultimately, he couldn’t leave Tavon alone.A Wake-Up CallThings looked bad, but when Davon and Tavon’s 17-year-old brother was shot and killed in 2016, the twins knew they needed a fresh start. So they packed up and headed to Georgia, where they only wound up getting involved with local gangs.“We saw people get shot in front of us,” Davon recalled. “There were times we got guns drawn on us. We could’ve lost our lives.”That all changed one day when the boys’ sister and brother-in-law came to visit and asked if they wanted to join them at church.“Everything changed for us when we encountered God,” Davon continued. “We had always wanted to do good, but we never had direction. God gave us that direction and transformed our lives. We’ve learned He loves us more than any person ever could and fills the holes we’ve had in our hearts for so long.”Finding FamilyDavon began piecing his life together and took on several jobs. One of those jobs was at a car dealership, which is where he was working when he met the Wilkinson family. Davon told the family his story, and they were touched. They felt as though he was always supposed to have been in their lives, and he felt the same way.“For my birthday, they took me out to dinner, and from that day forward they adopted me into their family,” Davon says. “I spend holidays with them, and I know my kids will never be short on family with them around. It was very emotional to me because they gave me love that I’ve never received.”Today, Davon says he has gained parents, brothers, sisters, and a niece. “It goes to show: color doesn’t make you family, and neither does blood,” he added. “Love makes you family.”Helping Others Like ThemDavon and Tavon feel blessed for the good things God has given them in life, and their newfound purpose is to help other kids who are growing up like they did. Today, the brothers work to raise awareness surrounding the foster care system.Last year, they even went on a mission to walk 20 miles in every state to raise hope for and awareness of foster care children. Their main goal is to open transitional housing for kids who have aged out of foster care to give them the support they feel they never had.“We want to be able to transform their lives and get them on the right path because a lot of kids in foster care — once they age out — they lose every form of support,” Tavon told Fox News.Keeping FaithThings weren’t exactly easy for Davon and Tavon growing up, but they found faith, purpose, and family by pushing through. It’s an inspiring story that gives others the courage to make positive changes when their own lives seem hopeless and reminds us that family is what we make it.Spread love and community by embracing others even if they come from a different path. If your biological family is harmful or unable to sustain a healthy relationship, it’s okay to choose yourself and walk away. And above all, remember that even when things seem like they’ll never get better, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.More from Goalcast:Black Couple Adopts a White Child – Shows Everyone What It Means to Be Family6 Siblings Were Separated in Foster Care For Over 3 Years – Then 2 Dads Adopted Them All10-Year-Old Nobody Wanted to Adopt Is Sent to Live With Foster Family – This Would Completely Change Both Their Lives

Single Dad Reaches His Stepdaughters School for Mothers Day Event - But He Wasnt Dressed as Himself
Uplifting News

Single Dad Reaches His Stepdaughters School for Mothers Day Event - But He Wasnt Dressed as Himself

In a heartening tale from Thailand, a devoted single dad, Joe Lookphonbodee, became the hero of his daughter's Mother's Day celebrations in the most unexpected way.Mother’s Day in Thailand is a day of joyous celebrations, but for those without a mom, it can be a poignant reminder of absence. Not wanting his adopted daughter, Nong Cream, to feel left out, Joe, affectionately known as “Teacher Joe,” decided to step into a role traditionally reserved for moms.Why a Single Dad Decided to Dress Up as “Mom” for the Day In a delightful turn of events, Joe, a P.E. instructor at his daughter’s school, donned a wig and a gingham dress to attend Nong Cream's Mother's Day school event. In Thailand, Mother's Day is celebrated on August 12, marked by special ceremonies where students pay respects to their moms with jasmine flowers.Joe's motivation was simple but profound. He expressed, “When the school organizes Mother’s Day activities, I don’t want my child to have an inferiority complex. Personally, I’m not ashamed because I love my child.”A heartwarming video captures the essence of this extraordinary gesture. Dressed as “Mom” for the day, Joe's entrance is met with a warm embrace from his daughter. The joy on Nong Cream’s face is palpable as she hugs her dad, expressing gratitude for his creative approach to ensure she felt the love on Mother’s Day.In the video's caption, Joe playfully mentions, “'Mom' I can be for you, hahaha,” showcasing the lighthearted spirit with which he embraced this unconventional role.Joe’s act not only broke societal norms but also turned what could have been a challenging day into a cherished memory for both father and daughter. In Nong Cream’s words, “I don’t feel embarrassed. This year’s Mother’s Day, I want to say I love my father. Thank you, Dad, for raising me and making me happy.”How a Dad Proved the Importance of Showing UpThe video, shared widely, struck a chord with people globally, spreading smiles and admiration for Joe's unconditional love and commitment to his daughter. It is a testament to the extraordinary lengths parents go to ensure their children feel valued and included.“Even though I am a single father and her stepfather, I always tell Cream that she is my daughter, and I love her like my own biological child. I will do my best as both father and mother in order to take care of my girl,” Joe said as per Dexerto.In the tapestry of single parenthood, Joe Lookphonbodee’s story stands out as a vibrant thread, weaving love, creativity, and resilience. His dedication to making Mother’s Day special for Nong Cream not only showcases the power of unconventional gestures but also reinforces the idea that love transcends societal expectations.As we celebrate stories like Joe’s, may it inspire us all to embrace love in its myriad forms and appreciate the lengths parents go to bring joy to their children’s lives. Joe’s transformation into “Mom” is not just a playful act; it's a profound symbol of parental love that knows no boundaries.More from Goalcast:She Was Born in Prison and Then Raised by a Single Dad – Years Later, She’s Going to Harvard on a Full ScholarshipWoman Battling Alcoholism Can’t Take Care of Her 2 Kids – So Her Boyfriend of One Year Raises Them as a Single Dad21-Year-Old Single Dad Wakes Up at Midnight to Walk to Work Every Day – So His Co-workers Arrange a Special Surprise

10-Year-Old Nobody Wanted to Adopt Is Sent to Live With Foster Family - This Would Completely Change Both Their Lives
Uplifting News

10-Year-Old Nobody Wanted to Adopt Is Sent to Live With Foster Family - This Would Completely Change Both Their Lives

Kids can change you, but sometimes the children that affect you most are the ones that you never expected to have. At least that’s the situation one Nashville, Tennessee couple found themselves in when they decided to foster.Extending Their LoveBack in 2018, Dominique and Kevin Gill decided to open their home to a foster child named Andrew. He was 10 at the time, and had been in state custody since he was six years old. His parents’ parental rights had long since been terminated, and although Andrew had four siblings, they had all been adopted right away.Not Andrew though, and after four years of trauma he had a pretty big road of healing ahead of him. “During his first week with us, he sat in his room with the door closed and looked at old pictures,” Dominique told Today. “He didn’t want to talk.”However, the couple’s son, Joc, asked Andrew if he wanted to play video games. The boys bonded over the games and their mutual love of PopTarts.They’ve been best friends ever since.Dominique GillThat didn’t mean it was an easy road, of course. According to the Gills, there were times when Andrew was still withdrawn, or when he would misbehave or even shut himself in his room. Eventually though, it seemed as though Andrew finally found a place where he could belong.“As the years went on, [Andrew and Joc] got pretty close,” Kevin said to WBIR Channel 10. “It’s good to see that bond they have grown over the years.”An Unexpected AdoptionFrom the beginning, the Gills’ plan was to foster and help as many kids as possible, but not adopt. They already had Joc and a little girl named Kynnedi, and there had been interest in another family taking Andrew in. However by the time Andrew was in seventh grade and a second adoption fell through, the Gills knew it was a sign.Our mindset was we'd help him until he found his forever home.But after the second adoption didn't work out, I realized God put Andrew in our lives for a reason. God made sure the adoption didn't work out so he could come back to us.Dominique Gill to TODAYThe Gills couldn’t just announce their intentions to this special little boy; they wanted to make him a part of their family with a big gesture. So they had Youth Villages Counsellor Molly Parker ask Andrew if he wanted to go for a walk with her.On the walk, Andrew saw the Gills and family friends he had met throughout his time with them. At first, he was surprised by the balloons and signs. But then the family popped the question, and Joc even had a shirt on for the occasion that said, “Will you be my brother?”According to WBIR Andrew agreed with a “yeah” and then his new parents gave him a shirt that said “yes” on the front.“From the beginning, Andrew has always said, ‘Thank you for accepting me,’ ‘Thank you for not giving up on me,’” Dominique also told TODAY. “People would read his file and get scared away. But I knew he was a good child who had experienced a lot of trauma.”A Happy FutureToday the Gill family feels complete. Not only do they have Andrew, Joc, and Kynnedi, but the family also recently welcomed another baby boy, KJ. The matriarch says that getting there has been a journey, but love is what got them through. Love doesn’t have a color. (Andrew) is our son just like Joc is our son. He’s a part of us.Dominique GillAs Dominique shared on Instagram in September 2020, the year was full of milestones. “Life has been totally great with a lot of hurdles,” Dominique wrote at the time. “With patience, love and more patience we still managed to adopt our son [and] celebrate every little milestone thus far with patience."Sharing Your LoveNot everyone is in a position where they can foster or adopt a child or change someone else’s life the way the Gills did with Andrew. But this family’s heartwarming story reminds us that families come in all shapes and sizes, and home is where you make it. It also reminds us that everyone needs love, and that’s especially true of children who seem to be on a bad path when you first meet them.There are smaller ways we can all help in our own lives. Volunteering time, money or items to local centres or organizations is one way. Becoming a Big Brother or a Big Sister to a child in need is another. Meanwhile, if you are interested in becoming a foster parent in Canada, the first step is to contact your local Children’s Aid Society or Indigenous Child and Family Well-Being Agency. You never know how it may change a life -- yours, or another child’s.More from Goalcast:Woman Has a Dream About the Same Baby for Months – Fights to Adopt Her Husband’s Dead Ex-wife’s Son6 Siblings Were Separated in Foster Care For Over 3 Years – Then 2 Dads Adopted Them AllMom Realizes There Aren’t Any Toys That Look Like Her Adopted Son – Ends Up Receiving an Unexpected Response