It is hard to believe that it has been almost a year and a half since I have posted. The COVID crisis was certainly part of the reason as it took over so much of our lives, but I think navigating my new normal was also a clear factor. First a catch-up, and then the new hope.
Catching up:
The Bio kiddos are doing great. Melissa now has three children (honestly the lights of my life). She continues to take care of others in her home daycare and she and Robert are doing very well. Donald and Lee are still very much together and happy as they work their young adult lives. Donald has been at TSA for over a year now and is looking to/hoping to promote to Customs and Border Patrol. Lynn is still struggling immensely. After a full year of living with the newest boyfriend and his family that situation exploded. Lynn couch-surfed for a few months and then landed with another new boyfriend in a neighboring city. There is a lot of ongoing drama: police presence for domestic violence and substance issues, on-again, off-again employment stints and ongoing health challenges. Still no high school diploma or signs of readiness to get on a positive path to her future. Bio mom is still in her life, but she is no longer speaking to the bio Dad, which I find sad.
And so the hope of which I speak is for Cheyann. A week or so ago, she posted that she and her boyfriend/husband had finally broken up for good. (apparently, no real surprise, the wedding was not legal so she did not actually get married which is a relief in most ways.) She was actually relatively positive about it and stated that it was a long time coming and she finally felt like she was in a position to do something healthy and positive in her own life and move on. I felt inspired to jump on the wave and suggested again that she consider Job Corps as a way to not only give her a positive step forward as far as training and career, but also to get her back to the East Coast and family. And.. amazingly enough.. she is on board! Together we have filled out the application, she has done an initial phone interview and we are working the application process together. She really does seem ready this time and is showing more excitement for her future then I have ever seen. She wants to do welding - which I think is a solid fit for her. I'm trying desperately not to get my hopes up too high, just in case, but I really want this for her and right now all the pieces seem to be coming together. It is something I will continue to hope and pray for.
