One year ago today, a boy entered my life and turned it from upside down to right side up.
What I thought was me making a difference in someone else's life, change my world completely and taught me new heights of unconditional love.
I met a boy so courageous who in the midst of one of his life's biggest adversities slowly let his guard down and opened his heart to me. Not without it's challenges from both our ends, but we did the best we could, forgiving each other along the way of our mistakes.
Neither one of us knew how long this friendship would last, but as time went on the bond grew stronger and it has turned out to pretty much be for a lifetime.
One year ago today, I picked up a boy, on his 12th birthday who needed a home and for someone to show him kindness and love. I took him to my family's house for a birthday celebration, he was so excited about it, even though he was entering a house of strangers. My family and I had a birthday party for him last weekend to celebrate his 13th birthday, so he can be with mom his mom on today. As time passed, my family has become his extended family and we all took great joy in celebrating my "son's" big day.
We met each other when he was 11, really into yo-yo's and finger dancing. We only met once in person when COVID happened only allowing us to get to know each other through phone. The 2nd time I met him in person was a month later when I picked him up from the group home on his 12th birthday.
How brave he was as I look back, I am so glad he was willing to take a chance on me. Although he lives back home with a very loving mother, I am the lucky one who gets to see him every week and have the honor of co-parenting with her in raising this amazing young man.
He's been wanting me to post his pic and I wasn't able to until now because he is no longer in the foster care system.
When I saw him for his birthday this morning, he ran and made me chase him to give him a hug. Crazy kid was cracking up the whole time laughing with a huge smile on his face.
He drives me crazy sometimes, pushes me beyond my limits when it comes to adventure and texts me all day every day and when he doesn't , I feel a little empty. But, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Happy 13th Birthday kiddo - so glad we met.
Love you beyond the stars, to the moon and back!
Jenny
