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Fredericksburg to celebrate adopting from foster care Date published: 11/16/2007
BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE
This year, the Lowe family won't be plucking angels off the Salvation Army's angel tree. They used to provide Christmas presents for children listed on the tree to teach their own kids the importance of giving to the needy. But then Tiffany and John Lowe did more than just adopt kids for the holiday season. They picked up some permanently. The Lowes became one of 19 foster families with the Fredericksburg Department of Social Services. The agency will hold an event tomorrow to celebrate the families who adopt children through its foster system. Social workers also hope to raise awareness so they can find families for nine Fredericksburg children who are waiting for an adoptive home. In her pre-adoption days, Tiffany Lowe, now 42, pictured her future straight out of a Pottery Barn catalog. She was well on her way there: a military husband; two fair-haired, blue-eyed kids--a boy and a girl; and a house filled with antiques and other nice furniture. Now, the couch is from eBay, the table from the Ikea discount section and the walls are covered with an extensive Pez collection, kids' artwork, daily schedules and scrapes in the paint. The children have grown by three--two biracial, one African-American.. They won't be featured in the pricey home decorating catalog anytime soon. But Tiffany says reality is much better than her fantasy. A DIFFICULT YEAR The Lowes moved to Spotsylvania County three years ago and wanted to help children without families. They had volunteered with Court Appointed Special Advocates in Texas and thought about continuing that work. They couldn't find the area CASA and headed to the Fredericksburg Department of Social Services to see how else they could help. The Lowes thought they might just provide temporary emergency care for foster kids. They took in their first children about eight months after signing up. The trio of siblings arrived with a brown box each. The middle child, a 6-year-old boy, crouched in a fetal position by the social worker's car. The girl immediately ran to Tiffany and asked, "Are you my new mom?" Tiffany's heart melted. She thought they'd made an instant family. She would later learn the question indicated severe attachment issues. It was a difficult first year.
Date published: 11/16/2007
Way to protect the privacy of foster kids and their biological families...
To have such a big heart, warm home to offer these children who have been through enough as it is. Some of these children have disabilities and broken hearts that are hard to imagine. To have the love, patience and willing ness to re-arrange your life/family to care full time for these children is a true miracle. God bless you and all these kids. It's nice that the FLS shared such a wonderful story. :)
I know this family personally and they are one of the most beautiful families you'll ever meet. What a pleasure it is to see them showcased like this! Thanks FLS!
for its frequent highlighting of foster families and adoptive children. They emphasize the human side of the situation. Please look at the room in your homes to decide if you can lend help to a needy child as a foster or adopting family.
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