Volunteers Helping
Greg and Shawn's Story
Greg and Shawn are fairly new foster parents for Clarkston. They have two biological children: Stephanie (age 14) and Jared (age 10). Their very first placement was a little baby girl. This family jumped right in and took wonderful care of her. They also helped out with the mentoring of the baby's biological family. It was very difficult for them to let the little baby go home when her biological family was ready, but they knew it was best for her. They have stayed in very close contact with them and still watch they little one when her parents have appointments or go on a date.
Because of their bedroom situation, Greg and Shawn were only licensed for one infant less than 12 months of age. Jared kept pestering his parents to finish the basement so that he could move downstairs, free up a bedroom upstairs and allow his family to take older children. Jared's parents just did not have the time to complete a basement project. It was breaking their hearts because they had received a placement call and were not licensed to care for children older than 12 months.
Greg and Shawn go another call about two little girls that needed a temporary home, 9 months old and 3 years old. The basement project had still not be completed and Greg was often out of town on business that he felt that he could not start a big project like this on his own. Stephanie and Jared took the heart breaking story into their own hands and connived a desperate plan like only siblings can do. They figure out how Jared could share a bedroom with Stephanie during the project. They took blueprints to Dad - the real life architect - and sold him on how their bedroom would share down to the inch.
After the kids had persuaded their and Dad and the family took the time to prepare the basement for work, the Homes of Hope volunteers got busy bringing the room to life. Meanwhile, the two little girls were placed in a temporary home until Greg and Shawn could finish their basement. Greg got called away to several out of state jobs and Shawn was feeling very overwhelmed. Yet the volunteers kept working. Shawn had a heavy heart knowing that the girls were waiting for a permanent home and she worked hard to get painting finished and carpet workers in and out on schedule.
On Mother's Day Shawn, although exhausted, asked her family to give her time to finish the painting part of the project. She began to doubt whether or not they should be taking in two little girls. Should she keep them waiting, could she handle two at one time? As these questions circled around her thoughts, the phone rang. The mother of Greg and Shawn's first foster baby was calling to wish Shawn a Happy Mother's Day and to thank her for all that she had done for them and their little girl. Wow!!! Here was confirmation for Shawn that it was worth the aching heart, the sleepless nights, and the over extension.
The bedrooms were finally finished and the two little girls were able to move into Jared's old room. They have been with Greg and Shawn for several months now. Even with the sleepless nights and exhaustion the two little girls have never been so loved and a part of a family. This family will have a dynamic impact on the life of these two little girls - and the story is still being written with unconditional love, care, concern and security. The best part of this Homes of Hope Home Project is that more than 20 people became involved in these two little girls lives and are now aware of the need for support in the lives of foster families.
