A few months ago I met a boy, just turned 18, who had "aged out" of foster care- placed in the system at 14 years old. He reminded me so much of my youngest son, and we clicked very easily. I soon learned he had come from a shelter, but his days had expired and he was now legally "unhoused". His life was in limbo, and there was not even a group home available.

Most people don't realize how easily good and innocent humans fall through the cracks in our country. I spent weeks watching this boy becoming a statistic in real-time. It began to keep me up at night. The chances of him finding a family to even INQUIRE about him, simply due to the fact that he was an 18 year-old boy, were beyond slim.

The more I learned about him, the more his fate weighed on my brain. A few weeks ago, I began to inquire about providing emergency placement. Hunter and I conferred and we agreed this child, only one year his junior, deserved a chance at a normal life and we needed to act.

Thursday night, J came home to our house. Four years of instability have taken a toll. He couldn't believe he had a family. Or a bedroom. Or an electric toothbrush. Or access to food anytime he was hungry.

The state does not write a blank check for his care. Friday, he received his first hair cut in months. He finally got a shower with good body wash and to wear his sneakers again. (He has only one pair of shoes). We will begin the school enrollment process on Monday. He wants to finish high school if possible, instead of a GED. He wants that cap and gown. But he will need a laptop for writing papers, a better mattress for his back injury, a nightstand, desk, etc. The list is endless. And of course, Christmas is coming.

Yesterday my children and I celebrated Thanksgiving. The whole family gathered together and surrounded him with giggles and good food.

As I mentioned, school enrollment is our first priority and for that reason I have not included his picture or his name. High school is hard enough without your personal backstory visible to classmates.

Today is Sunday and the poor baby has only slept about 9 hours in 3 days. Even good change is stressful and with a little bit of help from our friends, we can make his bumpy road smoother.