Ayers Family Foster Children Fund
Donation protected
So, in general Jenn and I do not talk about ourselves on Facebook, and Jenn in fact no longer uses her account. We have always been private people, and we don't like to share our business. However, from time to time there are certain events that come up, that to not talk about at least once or so on Facebook would just make things really weird. Along the lines of "Oh when did you lose a leg?" "Well, five years ago Bob, weren't you paying attention?" This is on the border of being one of those times, so I'm just gonna roll out the grenade right now and avoid the leg conversation later. I of course told my parents all ready, I'm not that much of a schmo.
So Jenn and I have been married for almost 13 years now, and at a certain point people stop asking about kids because they just assume something is wrong. In our case, it's true. Jenn and I are unable to have children of our own, barring a direct act from God, and I think He has better things to do than pay attention to me. We have been trying for roughly 5 years, and after two failed surgeries, it just ain't gonna happen. Plus I have always heard He helps those who helps themselves, so we have.
To that end, about 3 months ago Jenn and I started the process to become foster parents in the state of Georgia. For anyone that doesn't know, fostering is composed of two types. The type where everyone knows the kid is going back home after the parents pay penance. That's not what we are doing. The second type is called "Legal Risk Adoption", which means that we are moving forward with the intention of becoming the parents of the children, but there is still some risk that the kids will end up going back to their parents. That is what we are doing.
Athens-Clarke county, where we live, has about 10% of the bed spaces for foster children that they need at any given time. They also have an incredible shortage of people willing to take multiple children, so we said that we could take up to 3, because it would be heartbreaking to have a family split up just because no one wants them.
That being said, there is nothing like putting yourself in an incredibly high demand category to get the door opened for you. Normally this process can take a long time while everything is ironed out. Not in our case. In fact we just got our physical's completed yesterday and sent off to our case worker last night. This afternoon we got an email. 3 kids need a home by Friday evening, so buckle up buttercup, it's time to ride. In 36 hours, we will in all likelihood have a 7 year old boy, a 4 year old girl, and a 1 year old girl. So it'll be just like I had kids at 24.
Now I know their names, but I can't share them on social media. I also can never post picture of the children on social media until they are full adopted by us. So I'm not being rude and holding out, it's just a legal requirement, as well as common sense for the safety of both us as guardians, and of the children. So I'll find some way to share them around, but it won't be Facebook.
This will be difficult for us, but it is the path God has laid on our heart, and I will not flinch in my duty to Him or to my future children. You all who follow me know I rarely ask for anything from anybody, even when times are hard for us. However, since Jenn will never be able to experience a baby shower, or first birthdays or anything of that nature, and we do need to purchase and fully furnish two kids rooms for 3 children, I'm going to ask for some help. I started up a go fund me page, and I put in a random number goal. If you have any position, or ability to help us, we would appreciate it greatly. If you can't or don't feel called to help us, there will be no hard feelings. This isn't a secret litmus test to see who we like, but we would appreciate anything, it really does all help. We have to build three lives for kids who have never had one before.
If anyone is trying to contact me in the next 36 hours, I WILL respond as fast as possible. However, I have an incredible hurricane of things to do, so I will be INSANELY busy. I apologize, but it will be delayed. God bless you all for reading this, and for my faithful friends out there, please pray for us. We will need your thoughts, prayers and kindness in the months to come. God Bless.
So Jenn and I have been married for almost 13 years now, and at a certain point people stop asking about kids because they just assume something is wrong. In our case, it's true. Jenn and I are unable to have children of our own, barring a direct act from God, and I think He has better things to do than pay attention to me. We have been trying for roughly 5 years, and after two failed surgeries, it just ain't gonna happen. Plus I have always heard He helps those who helps themselves, so we have.
To that end, about 3 months ago Jenn and I started the process to become foster parents in the state of Georgia. For anyone that doesn't know, fostering is composed of two types. The type where everyone knows the kid is going back home after the parents pay penance. That's not what we are doing. The second type is called "Legal Risk Adoption", which means that we are moving forward with the intention of becoming the parents of the children, but there is still some risk that the kids will end up going back to their parents. That is what we are doing.
Athens-Clarke county, where we live, has about 10% of the bed spaces for foster children that they need at any given time. They also have an incredible shortage of people willing to take multiple children, so we said that we could take up to 3, because it would be heartbreaking to have a family split up just because no one wants them.
That being said, there is nothing like putting yourself in an incredibly high demand category to get the door opened for you. Normally this process can take a long time while everything is ironed out. Not in our case. In fact we just got our physical's completed yesterday and sent off to our case worker last night. This afternoon we got an email. 3 kids need a home by Friday evening, so buckle up buttercup, it's time to ride. In 36 hours, we will in all likelihood have a 7 year old boy, a 4 year old girl, and a 1 year old girl. So it'll be just like I had kids at 24.
Now I know their names, but I can't share them on social media. I also can never post picture of the children on social media until they are full adopted by us. So I'm not being rude and holding out, it's just a legal requirement, as well as common sense for the safety of both us as guardians, and of the children. So I'll find some way to share them around, but it won't be Facebook.
This will be difficult for us, but it is the path God has laid on our heart, and I will not flinch in my duty to Him or to my future children. You all who follow me know I rarely ask for anything from anybody, even when times are hard for us. However, since Jenn will never be able to experience a baby shower, or first birthdays or anything of that nature, and we do need to purchase and fully furnish two kids rooms for 3 children, I'm going to ask for some help. I started up a go fund me page, and I put in a random number goal. If you have any position, or ability to help us, we would appreciate it greatly. If you can't or don't feel called to help us, there will be no hard feelings. This isn't a secret litmus test to see who we like, but we would appreciate anything, it really does all help. We have to build three lives for kids who have never had one before.
If anyone is trying to contact me in the next 36 hours, I WILL respond as fast as possible. However, I have an incredible hurricane of things to do, so I will be INSANELY busy. I apologize, but it will be delayed. God bless you all for reading this, and for my faithful friends out there, please pray for us. We will need your thoughts, prayers and kindness in the months to come. God Bless.
Organizer
Andrew Ayers
Organizer
Athens, GA