Hello, my name is Maria Sanchez, and I am starting this GoFundMe in the hopes that a blessing can happen for my family in this time of need.

For the past couple of months, I have never struggled so much to keep my family happy and hide my fear of feeling defeated. My partner is a full-time contractor for a small company and has been working six to seven days a week to keep us afloat, but we are in the middle of fighting for his father's rights from his past relationship, where he shares two beautiful daughters. We have not seen them for more than five months now, and it has taken a horrible toll on our whole family. We have always been a close family and never had a lot of money, but we were making it, and our kids were happy.

Problems started when my stepkids never wanted to go back home, and their mother started threatening them that if they didn't stop crying to be with their father, she would keep them away. That's what she decided to do. After receiving them every weekend, it then turned to every other weekend, and then once a month. When my partner finally decided to speak up, she told him that for arguing with her about it, when he was lucky she even let him see them, she would now be keeping them until a court tells her otherwise.

We didn't hesitate to get a lawyer and get things started for us to have our family complete again, but we were not prepared for the financial strain it would put us in. I have been a stay-at-home mother since our son was born but started babysitting to help with anything I can. Our family has helped us as much as they can as well, but we understand there is only so much that can be done when they have their lives to tend to as well.

The tears I have shed while thinking of holidays to come and worrying about paying every bill that comes, I know will be worth it in the end when our family is complete again. Please help my family out in any way possible. Prayers and support in kind words are appreciated just as much as anything that can be donated.