To celebrate Mother's day weekend we wanted to share with you what the Boyer's family of 5 now looks like and how it came to be. Happy Mother's day to all you moms, grandmas, foster moms and people who have taken on the role of mom for a child. We know this holiday isn't a happy one to everyone, so to those of you who aren't moms yet and long to be so badly, we want this story to give you hope that it can and will happen!!!! A huge thank you to James Blankenfeld for the is amazing film:-)
Photos with Santa 2015
Photos with Santa were a hit:-) There were some lovers and haters of santa, some of our favs are below. Thank you all for coming out and supporting adoption through Promise Love Foundation. Our biggest thank you goes to Bronwyn Fowler, and her amazing ladies from High Hopes in High Heels. We could not have pulled it off without their time and hard work, THANK YOU!! This event raised over $1300, and this along with other donations received, allowed us to actually exceed the goal amount for the Pucovsky family’s adoption. We also want to thank our event contributors and venue that made it all possible!
Santa | Venue | Creative Loafing | Face Painting | Sarah Sinteff | Santa’s Chair | Tufted Vintage Rentals | DJ | DJ Astylez | Linens | Core Concepts | Photography | Carrie Wildes Photography
The Official Team Pucovsky! #GIVINGTUESDAY
Today we are celebrating #GivingTuesday! Its a day that people around the country will give back during a time of year where our focus should be on giving to those we love and also those who are in need of help.
A few weeks ago we posted about The Pucovsky family! They are in need of that help today! We have ONLY $1890 to raise to complete the adoption of Zaniya, their 14 year old daughter. In just a few short weeks we have been able to raise $1610. If today, 38 people gave $50 we would accomplish our goal! Will you partner with us today? Donate Now!
There is no better day than today to give back to a family who has literally changed the course of a young girls life and given her a forever family after much heartbreak. And the joy they have brought to her is written all over her face!
We had the honor of spending time with them at their home, at events and now at their adoption finalization of Zaniya. Check out their story here if you missed it! I can honestly say, they are a rare kind of family. They are full of love for each other, for their heavenly Father and for kids in need. They have willingly and openly opened their home to this beautiful girl and they have BIG plans to help more in the future. We can't wait to see the rest of their journey!
But first, enjoy some pictures from their adoption finalization that happened last Tuesday. It was such a blessed and beautiful event to watch! They had so many friends and family their to support them and The Heart Gallery presented Zaniya with her framed photo, which will now be retired from the gallery.
Teens often get overlooked or age out of the foster care system, never having a family to call their own. We pray this may inspire other families to take the risk on adopting a teen. Everyone deserves a family to call their own!
The Official Team Street!
11.24.15 Jen and Ryan had a full courtroom of friends and family to celebrate Grant's adoption day! Holly, Saul, David and I, and all of our kids were honored to be there with them. It's always just some of the best moments life has to offer. Grant's first birthday was a few days later so we also got to see him smash his first cake, he loved the frosting:-) Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday and we have another adoption finalization to share with you and how you can get involved and continue helping make these moments possible!
Welcome Pucovsky's to the Promise Love Family!!!
There is no better way to celebrate National Adoption Day, then to announce our next Promise Love Family! The Pucovsky's are truly one incredible family and we are so excited to be able to introduce you to them!!! They are Paul (dad), Ivanka (mom), Oksana (5), Neveah (4) and Arabella (3) their newest addition Zaniya (14).
Photo Credit: Deanna Hurley Photography
They currently have a small goal of $3500 to complete what they owe for the adoption of Zaniya which will be finalized THIS MONTH!!! We need to get this amount raised in just a few short weeks, but with God all things are possible! Help us get them there, DONATE NOW!!
After 3 failed domestic infant adoptions, this family wasn't sure where God was leading them, but they knew their hearts were called to adoption and God had a waiting child for them. At a match event for Eckerd Community Alternatives earlier this year, Paul, Ivanka and there 3 beautiful biological daughters attended, they truly learned the need for adoptive placement for teens. It was there that God sent a young 14 year old girl to follow them around all day. They really connected with her and felt this may be the child God had for them. They went home and prayed it over and decided to take a step of faith and start paperwork to bring Zaniya home forever!
She was placed in there home almost 3 months ago and is thriving and has even accepted Christ as her Savior, during this time! While Paul and Ivanka recognize there is still a long road ahead of healing for their sweet girl, they said the love for her has come immediately. She is a gift from God to them and during the time Zaniya has been with them, they have begun taking her and many other young teenage girls to church for youth group and mentoring them. They are currently becoming licensed foster parents as well, so they can take pregnant foster teens in their home. This family is truly living out what the church is called to do and we feel honored to help them in a small way on their journey!
We can't wait to see what God has in store next for this family!!! Welcome Pucovsky's!!!
The Official Team Boyer
The Boyers are an official family of 5!! Tuesday was miss Breeja's adoption day!! We were also able to write the final check that met their fundraising goal as well!! Thank you all who have supported them on this journey. Cricket and Josh, we were truly honored to be a part of it and are so excited for your sweet family!!
The Boyer's are officially a Family of 5!!
Both Boyer babies are here and doing great!!! This family of 3, jumped to a family of 5 in a span of just 2 weeks! One beautiful little girl, Breeja Ruth was born (via Cricket and Josh's heart) on July 17th and Breydon Daniel (via Cricket's tummy) came just 13 days later! That's 2 babies, just 13 days apart! If you have been following their story, you know that Cricket and Josh have overcome many obstacles to bring these 2 precious miracles into their family! If you haven't read their story, it's a must read! Check it out here!
We are so excited to announce that we are in the FINAL STRETCH of fundraising for this amazing family and need your help to bring these babies home forever before their BIG adoption finalization!
WE ONLY NEED A TOTAL OF $1699.00 and they have met their GOAL!!! This is so exciting and a blessing from GOD!
To help the Boyers, you can always donate here on our website or come out to our PDQ event in Wesley Chapel on October 29th from 5-9pm to meet them personally and support their family! We will have raffles, free face painting for the kids and lots of yummy food and fun! The best part is you can love on this sweet family and their beautiful babies in which you have had a part in bringing home! Can't wait to see you there!
Here's what Cricket had to say about their experience and what God has blessed them with!
"We can't express how grateful we were to be there for Breeja's birth. I was even in the delivery room and shared the honor of cutting her umbilical cord. We were able to immediately bond with our gorgeous daughter and feel tremendously blessed to still be a part of her selfless and brave birth moms life.
We are doing really, really well now that we're all finally home as a family of 5 and are just so grateful that Lord has completed our family in this beautiful way. We couldn't be more proud of our sweet babies and we have more love for them than we ever thought possible. Big brother Blaine has really stepped into his role nicely and adores his tiny brother and sister. He is such a nice helper!
Physically, I'm having a slow recovery but my heart is overflowing with joy and it makes the physical difficulties a blur in comparison. We are definitely quite tired and not getting much, if any, sleep. But that's to be expected with two newborns begging for constant cuddles...which we can't get enough of by the way."
The Boyer Family's new little bundle!
The Boyer family's new little addition arrived on 7.17.15!! Miss Breeja Ruth was born at 5:40am albs 9 oz and 19 inches long! They are head over heels in love with this little princess and are home enjoying the sweetest moments with her and their family. Cricket is actually awaiting the birth of her baby, if you read their story she is pregnant and their 2nd addition should be arriving very soon! To give you an update on their fundraising, they are still in need of just over $13,000 to meet their goal. We will continue to help them raise money to reach this goal over the coming months until they finalize Breeja's adoption.
Thank you to all who have shared and given so far and keep helping us spread the word!! Help them reach their goal by donating HERE.
They also have 20 freezer meals left to sell from the 2 Blessed to be stressed fundraiser:
$20 each meal (to feed 2+ people) for baked spaghetti, parmesan rolls, and dessert. Contact Cricket at: Thebugsy15@hotmail.com
A big thank you to Haley from Carrie Wildes Photography who captured these first moments of them with her!
Team Devries Adoption Day!
April 28th, 2015 is a very happy day for the Promise Love family!! Dan & Davina Devries finalized their 3 children's adoption today! Xander, Prudence, and Levi officially became a part of team Devries forever!!! Holly, Saul, David, Carrie (me:-) and all our kiddos got to witness it in court. Now these 3 siblings will get to grow up together in an amazing home. We could not be happier or more proud of them for making a difference in 3 tiny lives. Thank you to all of you who have been a part of it and supported them as well, we couldn't do it without you!
The Devries + 3
We have very exciting news!! In November we shared with you Dan & Davina's story and that they had been match with a sibling set of 3 children who were foster kids. Guess what? After a 2 week transition plan from their foster family, these three cuties are now permanently with their forever family as of on Friday 1.9.15. It all happened pretty quickly and we need to continue to help them raise the $7500 they need!!! Lots of people have stepped up with clothes, toys, and prayers so what they need now is funds.
Currently we have helped them raise $1330 which means they need $6170. If 247 people give $25 they will make their goal. You can DONATE Via our website HERE or mail checks to 123 Lake Dr. Lutz 33548. Put Devries family in the comments. Not everyone will adopt but everyone can be a part of the solution in helping care for orphans. All donations go directly to the Devries adoption (minus 3% credit card processing) and are tax deductible.
When a baby who will be adopted is born……….
We are so beyond thrilled for Jennifer and Ryan's story to really just be beginning with baby Grant! David and I actually get to meet him this Friday:-) From the moment you get called to the hospital to when you actually get to bring your baby home is truly 2 days that change you forever. It's something most people will never experience and some are a little afraid of what that could be like so Jennifer was open enough to share what their personal experience was like. What she shares is absolutely what we felt when each of our 2 girls were born, it actually brings back the emotion I felt reading her words and describing it so well. This is so worth the read and might just help get you to the next step if you are have been scared of the unknown!
What were you thinking and feeling the last week leading up to when Grant was born?
There was a lot of excitement and anticipation! I know a lot of people feel anxious or worried but we had a real peace about everything and were able to enjoy the process which was wonderful. Our birthmom had a "false alarm" two weeks before her due date. She was already somewhat dilated and having contractions so we were on high alert waiting for the call. We wondered when we should travel to be near her, how we would get the dogs to the sitter and if we had attended to all the little details.
How did the process at the hospital work? Did you get to be in the delivery room? Who cut the cord?
Well, I am so glad we signed up for the tour of the hospital with our precious birthmom and did it together! It was helpful to see the rooms we would be in and we were able to ask adoption-specific questions privately at the end of the tour. Every hospital is different concerning how they handle adoption. Also some things the doctor had told us were not accurate so getting the information right from the maternity floor helped us feel prepared. We were very blessed and fortunate to have been included in the prenatal care which gave us the chance to build a relationship with our birthmom. We arrived at the hospital the same time as our birthmom so we were there for the whole process. I was able to accompany her to maternity triage and then my husband joined us after she was admitted for labor and delivery. I was the first person to hold Grant as soon as he entered the world and my husband was able to cut the cord. All three of us were able to enjoy the first hour of his life in the delivery room, taking turns holding him "skin-to-skin."
What were your first thoughts/feelings when you saw Grant being born?
It was the most amazing experience to witness! The first thing we saw was his dark black hair. Seeing his little face for the first time was surreal. I felt so proud of our birthmom for her strength and courage. It was hard to stay composed. I think we all cried a few tears. The most amazing moment for me was when our birthmom said I should hold him first for skin-to-skin time. When the nurse placed him on my chest, she laid him where I could feel his heart beating directly above mine. That was such an incredible moment. I remember holding him thinking "I can't believe he's really here!!!" And "He's so perfect!!" I still feel that way.
Before the legal papers are signed, there are these 2 days that are just awkward and so hard for everyone involved before you get to leave the hospital. They are some of the most life changing moments you will ever experience. How did the 2 days go before you got to actually leave the hospital?
Well, from what I am told, our adoption was different than most. We had developed such a good relationship with our birthmom that we were able to be present for much more than most adoptive parents. We are so thankful for that! She went into labor on Friday night but he wasn't born until the next day, so I stayed with her all night and we watched movies to take her mind off of the pain of labor, which was moving slowly at that point. My husband went to sleep at the hotel, but she had welcomed him to stay too. I also stayed in the hospital the first night after he was born at her request, which is very rare but amazing. We took turns holding him. I took the night shift so she could sleep.
About noon the second day we left to give her time with her birthmom coach and with the baby. I think that was the hardest part, leaving him knowing that it's not final yet. You're just praying nothing changes and you're waiting for the call to come back and take your baby home. One thing that made it harder was that we live far from where he was born, so it wasn't like we could go home and distract ourselves with laundry. We prayed together, cried a little, had a nice lunch, picked up a small present for our birthmom, played at an arcade, and saw a movie. I think it was important for us to release some of the emotion that had built up. While very exciting it is also a very emotionally heavy process.
The adoption agency told us the papers were to be signed at 10:30 the next morning. So, we arrived at 10am and waited in the lobby until they called us. However, when the attorney arrived our birthmom asked for me be with her during the signing. When I entered the room she was holding Grant in her lap and sobbing. I sat down next to her on the side of her hospital bed, put my arm around her, and provided whatever comfort I could. At one point, she gave Grant to me. I took him but then felt like I still needed to be 100% focused on supporting her at that moment so I asked the birthmom coach to hold him while I continued to comfort her. I didn't say a word. Just rubbed her back and cried with her. It was all I could do. Once all the papers were signed, they invited my husband to come back in. We asked if we could pray for her and Grant and she agreed. She gave us both big hugs and told us she loved us. It was a very tough but precious moment.
From what I've been told, often after the papers are signed the birthmother is immediately discharged and then leaves the hospital even if the baby has not yet been discharged. At our particular hospital they left it up to us. We invited our birthmom to stay with us until right before the baby was to be discharged. I think that was a special time because it reinforced that we care deeply about her too. I had the privilege of driving her home and making sure she got settled in. Then I returned to the hospital to ride out in the wheelchair to the car with our baby boy, Grant!
What did it feel like after the papers were signed and you were leaving the hospital, heading home with your new son?
Witnessing the paper signing was one of the hardest and best things I've ever been part of. Here we were about to receive the greatest joy and treasure but for that to happen our birthmom must endure her greatest sorrow. Of course we felt relief, excitement, gratitude and a host of other joyous emotions but we also felt the heaviness of her loss and the sting of her grief. There was a moment when she was hugging me and sobbing that I was able to whisper to her, "You are a good mom. Mom's do what's best for their children no matter what and that's what you're doing. You are a good mom." During this whole process I was thinking of our Heavenly Father. In her sadness I saw the same sacrifice God made for us when He released His only Son for our salvation. And in our joy I reflected on God's choice to adopt us as His own and graft us into His eternal family making us heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. What a beautiful picture it was. I think when we were leaving I was still trying to take it all in and process what an incredible thing had just happened.
People are often times scared of "open adoption" and interaction with the birth mom. Can you share how that went?
Well, there again our story isn't the typical story. We came to the adoption agency pre-matched because our birthmom learned about us through a mutual friend. As the agency director told us, we kind of came in on step 10 when most people have already done steps 1-9.
So, we had to catching up to do and we have to learn fast and make decisions even faster. We learned quickly that legally there is no such things as "open" or "closed" adoption. Those are terms we use to describe how much the families will know about each other. Because the agency that our birthmom chose only does "open" adoptions, very early on we had to make decisions about just how open we were willing to be. We wanted to promise only what we knew we could follow-through on, so as not to hurt or disappoint our birthmom.
I think we had the same fears that everyone has. There is always the risk that the birthmom will utilize your support then change her mind. There's the "what if" scenarios like "will she show up at our house one day and want to see him?" And so many others I could name. We began praying through all of those things as we proceeded. At first we were cautious about sharing contact information, so we set up a special email and phone number to use on for the adoption. But once we built a good relationship with our birthmom we felt confident that we had healthy boundaries and that she was trustworthy. So for us, even though on paper we agreed to monthly pictures for the first year and then an annual picture after that, we plan to do more as long as the relationship continues as well as it has been.
I know people are concerned about the term "open" but I think it's mostly because they don't fully understand it. In the end, once the adoption is final any and all decisions about contact belong to the adoptive parents. And, as adoptive parents, there may come a time when you have to make hard choices based on what is best for your child and your family. We anticipate having to make those choices as well, but it's just like any other big parenting decision we will have to make. We will prayerfully do it together, trusting God to protect our family. In the end, I am so glad we chose open adoption. Open adoption won't be right for everyone in every situation but for us it made our experience a million times richer and we wouldn't trade that for anything!
How has this process changed you as a person?
Wow! That's a big open-ended question that is ongoing. Adoption is still changing us. For me the process started changing when Ms. Carrie Wildes posed the rhetorical question of "how much is too much to pay to rescue a child from experiencing the foster care system?" That's when my paradigm started to shift. I had always thought we could never afford adoption. I also thought "why would we pay for it privately when there are so many foster children in need?". But that question stuck with me. As a trauma therapist I see the result of early childhood trauma. How many times have I wished someone would have rescued my clients from their abandonment or abuse? You just can't put a price tag on that gift.
Adoption has definitely increased my faith! People we know who have adopted told us that if this is the child God has ordained from the creation of the world to be in your family then the money will come and it did! Exceedingly abundantly more than we could have ever asked for or imagined!! Our Pastor frequently says "faith builds on faith." We've taken some pretty bold steps of faith in our walk with God, but this was one of the biggest by far! It not only increased my faith because of how God provided the means, it also increased my faith because little Grant Banner is the answer to many long years of prayer and he is the fulfillment of a promise the Lord gave us a year before we ever knew he would be arriving.
In addition to increasing my faith, this process has changed me heart in ways that are hard to explain. When I sing or hear a song now with the word orphan or adopted it touches my heart in a new way. I have new and greater compassion for birth parents making the hardest decision of their lives. It has also given me an opportunity to minister to a precious young lady in a way that no one else can. I think it has made me more generous and more compassionate. It has also made me more grateful for "every good and perfect gift that comes from above!"
Lisa & Fred's new family and finished spaces!!
We've been dying to share with you the first family pics of Lisa & Fred's complete family and their new spaces!!! I got to spend a some time with them Sunday afternoon and they have quite a busy and full life with these 3 cuties!! We absolutely love this story because it's rare that a set of siblings, especially 3 are able to be adopted and have a forever family and grow up together.
Their project is complete, but their new family is just starting!!! A huge thank you from us and Lisa & Fred to everyone who gave and made this possible. We were also able to help them get a shed since they don't have a garage anymore:-) A extra HUGE amazing thank you to Solid Rock Construction Group for going way way above and beyond and not only transforming the garage but also renovating their 2 bathrooms as well. Here's some before and after pics of what it looked like and as you can tell it is quite a transformation!!! The really awesome thing about Solid Rock Construction is that Zack, who did a lot of work on this project, and his wife Evelyn also just adopted an 8 year old from the foster system and their entire family is very active in adoption and orphan care. We also have to thank Jaime and Tami from the No More Foundation for supporting us at their event and connecting us with Solid Rock Construction Group. We love partnering with others who have a heart to help change the world one little step at a time!
Lisa and Fred totally changed their bedrooms so the kids have awesome and fun spaces to play in. Their son's room has an awesome race car bed and spiderman on the wall! The girls' favorite colors are pink and purple and they all just love their new rooms! We just love their story and that their kids are finally home. I'll be going to their adoption finalization hearing in September and will show you what that looks like as well. We're starting off small and helping one family at a time and pray that we can help lots of families so lots more coming from us soon!!
Update on Lisa and Fred!
We can't quite share all the details yet, but we had to post a little update on Lisa and Fred's story:-) We we very honored and excited that the No More Foundation also partnered with us in a big way and allowed Lisa and Fred to share their story at the event on May 18th.
People gave in a big way, and their construction project is currently under way!!! Even more exciting for Lisa and Fred, the 3 children they are matched with are being placed with them permanently today! Perfect timing that Fred will get to celebrate his first Father's day on Sunday!! When you adopt from the foster system there is a transition period with visits and overnights over a certain period of time which ends in the children permanently being with their forever family. Here's just a little sneak of the construction under way. Lisa and Fred are so excited that it's finally happening and we can not wait to show you the finished project along with what their new family looks like!!! All that will be coming soon!! Plus, we have the next Promise Love family's story to share as well so stay tuned!!! Thank you for all your support and awesomeness!!!!
