Sometimes love stories read like country songs. A tough beginning, a rocky middle and a beautiful ending. That is my story thus far. My parents waited 10 years for me to fall into their lives. I wasn't an easy child bridled with identity and abandonment emotions that overtook my youth by way of anger and violent tenancies. But they saw the gold in my soul and softness in my voice in tender moments. They knew I held softness inside. Through example, my parents taught me how to love myself, accept my identity I chose and encouraged me to seek a spiritual path with compassion and empathy for others. My train was loaded full of boxcars of a million different fears. One by one, we disconnected those fears and eased the anger - as a family, a unit of strength. As a Mother, I know the value of self worth and how damaging a lack of identity can be. Everyone deserves to be more than an ID Card, but the emotion that is carried through Foster Care and a home of support when birth doesn't guarantee that.

Please support my efforts in providing kids in my area more that an ID Card of Identity and give them the feeling of belonging - the emotion that goes with being in the Village.