“Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look what they can do when they stick together.”
― Vesta M. Kelly
(My Aunt and Uncle’s driveway, March 2019)
(My Dad’s driveway, March 2019)
“Ding! Ding! Ding!“, my cell phone announced the arrival of no less than nine mostly-white pictures from relatives in Minnesota last week.
It made me think about the snow days of my childhood. I spent ten freezing, white-cold winters on a farm five miles from the nearest town. It was at the end of a long, gravel road, privately-owned by someone else, which meant it didn’t always get plowed right away. We would literally just be snowed in.
Every year, the grassy field in front of our house flooded and made a big, bumpy ice skating rink. I don’t remember ever using actual skates, it was just fun to run and slide around on it in our boots. If the wind chill was too brutal, we’d play in the barn. Mom would string up heat lamps for the chickens and my brother and I would spend hours reworking baled hay into houses for all our kitties to stay warm. Eventually, we’d high-step our way through the snow back up to the house…red cheeks, runny noses. I haven’t been cold like that in years.
The weather is supposed to be warm and cloudy here in Alabama this week (yay!), and based on some buds I *think* I saw on a tree in our neighborhood last night, I feel like Spring is about to…well…spring. 😉 It was warm enough to sit outside yesterday and Kevin and I got to spend a couple of hours with our friend, Sonia, on her back porch. Sonia is a social worker and has been such an amazing resource for us when it comes to talking through all-things post adoption and foster care. Sonia told us more about her friend, Lee, who created an organization called Kids to Love, whom Sonia works with and which exists to help find forever families for children who are stuck in foster care and who are hoping to be adopted. She told us about how, in 2015, the Lord led Lee to an abandoned mansion nestled on 10 acres up in north Alabama, and about how a generous gift from Tech CEO/Philanthropist, Dr. Dorothy Davidson, allowed Kids to Love to purchase the property, which is now named in her honor.
Today, the 10,000-square-foot house is home to seven teenage girls, as well as a team of house mentors who provide care, guidance, and stability for each girl in the group family. The girls get to attend a nearby school, have chores & allowances, and live in the home with house parents so that it as close to a family type setting as possible until they are adopted.
Kevin and I drove back home at dusk, moved and inspired by the stories Sonia shared about the girls and the entire Kids to Love organization.
Snowflakes and people…just look what they can do when they stick together.
What’s the weather like in your neck of the world this week, friend?
Layla
PS- Want to learn more about Kids to Love? Just click through to be re-directed to their website…I know they would love to hear from you!
What a beautiful story and a wonderful ministry!
Everybody, always! What an amazingly beautiful way to show Christ like love!
Thank you so much for sharing this story and your journey with us. You have an amazing family. ❤️
What a cool thing! I love to see people follow the nudge of God to do something incredible for others! Thank you for sharing their story!
I love that these girls are being loved for, cared for and raised in this large family environment whilst they await a forever home. Especially at a time and age which is hard to navigate at the best of times. We need more places like this but even more we need more people like you and Kevin to step up and out to give kids of all ages a loving and safe home to call their own. ❤️
What an incredible idea!
One thing that has been on my heart lately is how much of an impact mentorship and discipleship can have on a child!
That is Lee Marshall she is a news anchor here in North Alabama it makes me so happy to see what a Godly woman she is and this ministry is beautiful. God really stirred me on this I’m going to pray and see how I am supposed to help. My spirit is all stirred up with excitement.
Such a great read. thank you for sharing! weather in our area is a bit all over the place. but i keep hearing the same thing is happening all over the country
Love this so much! Thank you for sharing.
Wow, what a great and inspiring way to step up for sweet kiddos who need love and family! Adoption has always been in my heart as well as my husbands and I am trusting God to lead our family in whichever direction we are meant to go. Thank you for the inspiring message, Layla
How cool is this! Love you story and everything you talk about whether it be you blog, stories, Instagram page. Oh and Stevenson is so cute and funny! I also live in Buffalo NY so I definitely know a thing or two about being snowed in.
A wise older preacher once told me that not everybody could go into the mission field because some people needed to stay behind and make money to support those who could go. He certainly wasn’t giving anybody a pass on doing the work of the Lord, but he was saying that we all have a place in the work. It’s not just those on the front lines, it’s also those that raise awareness, those that can send funds, those that share the stories, those that live there and succeed, those who think of ways to help that the people involved haven’t even thought of yet…..everyone can play a role large or small. And it takes all of those to get things done.
I agree! It takes a village.
Currently the weather is cloudy with a great chance of humidity. South Alabama is always a little unpredictable this time of year but, y’all are familiar with that…
My heart is truly smiling tonight after reading your blog. Sonia sounds like my kind of person. I currently sponsor a child locally who lives in an all girls home; much like Sonia’s. I pray for their peace, understanding, and patience while they wait for their forever family.
Such an inspirational and precious message❤️
My heart is so full listening to her talk about how God was “haunting” her with the house. Goosebumps! I am going to see if I can find a
Way to help them. Wish I lived closer! I’ve been through Ardmore many times.
Thank you for sharing! Love this 🙌🏽
We share a lot of the same weather you described, here in Wisconsin. I remember very similar activities as a child. I loved building forts and finding new litters of kittens in the hay mow. My mom would always tell me to leave the kittens alone until their eyes opened, but I couldn’t resist being nose-to-nose with them. We also did lots of sledding and skating and I even attempted “skating” on top of the water tank a couple times. I bet you can guess how that ended? Now I watch my toddler climb the snow piles and dunk himself into cold puddles and it’s hard to remember being able to do that. Burrr! I enjoy watching the thrill he gets from it though.
That’s so incredible. We’re currently praying about foster-to-adopt. This might sound weird but I’ve had a dream since I was about 9 years old to someday buy a huge old house and turn it into a haven for children. Thanks so much for sharing!
What an amazing calling she’s had! Such a sweet woman to love unconditionally! That’s what the world needs
More of, love.
I love how this house provides a literal home as well as a sense for what home will be like for these kiddos. Such an amazing idea.
What a wonderful organization! I’m sure the love of God’s incredible love is generously being poured out over these girls.
thank you for sharing this beautiful story!! although, living outside of Chicago… maybe a little less of the snow & cold and I think I’d still understand the lesson. 😜
This is so wonderful!
I love to hear stories of people literally being the hands and feet of Jesus! What an amazing cause!
Thanks for sharing….gonna look into This!
This is absolutely beautiful! What a wonderful woman with a wonderful vision. As an adoption Momma of a teenager I wish my son would have had a place like this before he found his forever home with us.
I’m from Iowa and have many similar photos from this winter as well. I’m so over it!!
I’m from Iowa and have many similar photos from this winter as well. I’m so over it, bring on spring!!
So cool. Adoption and foster care have been stirring around in my heart…. asking God to show us our part. Thanks for your voice. Also… Minnesotan here and holding on to any hope that spring will come 😭.
I love this story and loved reading more about that organization! I have always felt such a pull towards adoption and have wanted to find a way to get more involved with the foster care system in my area. I currently work in a school with kids with a variety of needs, several of my students are in the foster care system. Some days I feel like I am not doing enough but the other day, one of my students who is in foster care identified me as his safe person and it was the most amazing feeling. Made me feel very blessed to do what I do!
Also, the weather here is finally up in the 40’s! 🙌🏼
Such a beautiful message. Thank you for sharing!♡♡
Thank you for sharing this!!
It gives my heart hope to hear about places and people like these who are doing amazing things to help others, especially children. Thank you for sharing this. In today’s world when there is just a multitude of disheartening things going on, this was shining light❤️Just like you! Much love from Montana
Love this❤️❤️
So grateful for those who help children in need. We are currently supporting Global Orphan Relief and sponsor a compassion child. Thank you for bringing this up. There are those the Lord will use to help because you shared.
Thanks for sharing this inspiring story! This is so heart warming to me, that they’d take that leap of faith to pursue opening this home for kids. We know the need is great as we’ve been blessed with fostering 20+ children in our home over the last 11 years. Thank you for sharing and I know God will work through this post to stir up what He has for some of your sweet readers…possibly in giving to this cause, becoming foster or adoptive parents or by loving on a foster/adoptive family in their community. Blessings to your family…for speaking out for the orphan!
Imagining those cold winters made me remember brutal winters in Nebraska growing up. I remember one time specifically just being *so* cold and snowed in. My dad went outside to bring in more wood for the fireplace. I remember that in the few moments of the back door being opened, how freezing the cold air was when it rushed in. And then I’d wait excitedly with my five sisters and one brother for dad to come back inside and stoke the fire.
The thought of those girls living in a big mansion with the atmosphere of a family just fills my heart right up. You are so brave and loving, dear Layla. Thank you for always sharing your heart in stories.
Thank you for sharing Kids to Love. I live in North Alabama so I was familiar with the organization and their mission. It’s wonderful to see you use your platform to spread the word.
That is so beautiful what they’re all doing for those girls! What angels. Which reminds me of the snow and making snow angels. 🙂 I’m in Wisconsin, so I’m ready for the snow and ice to stop.
Thanks for sharing Layla! This is amazing ♥️♥️♥️
It’s true! Mentoring someone is the highest honor, in my opinion! WhAt a great way to pour love and wisdom into these young girls!
Love! Thank you for sharing!
You have such a big heart and sweet soul. I just found you on Instagram and I’m so glad I did. The way you live on your little boy is so precious. I have 6 sons whom I adore and can relate to your bond with your son. Xoxo
Rebecca
I love this!! So cool.
It was sunny and 64 here today. Sorry 😐
You’re so sweet Layla!! I wish you lived closer to Idaho so we could hang out!!
How beautiful! I love stories like this!
We are in the very early stages of thinking of adopting so I’m enjoying all of your links and information and stories about your son and groups all around the world.
Xoxo
Oh my goodness this is kinda our vision for our farm on a smaller scale. The country is a great place to find healing and peace. What better way to help a hurting child than to give them a home on a farm! Thank you for for sharing this incredible ministry’s story. It’s so inspiring and encouraging! I wish we had room for 7 girls on our farm, but I’m so excited to give one little girl a forever home and a family! This is really the coolest idea! I hope this blog post inspires more farms like this to pop up all over the world!
Wow! What amazing hearts.
What a neat place! Thank you for shining a light on areas to serve that may go overlooked.
I wish all group homes could be like this! Having worked in foster care, I’ve seen how group homes *usually* are, and unfortunately they don’t even come close to how awesome this one is. I loved that Lee said they’re changing the girls “from the inside out.” What an important distinction besides just trying to change behavior! God bless this organization and I pray this model will spread like wildfire!