by Gayle Gernand

I do! I am pretty sure they must be certified by God and the real thing. I am not sure what an angel really looks like, but the two people I am thinking of look like regular ordinary folks. The exception is that they have a heart and a desire to care for others that is enormous.

I first met Brad and Melissa about six months ago through the YUMC's involvement in Hands of Hope. They are the parents in the foster family that we are paired with and several of us provide a meal, visit, or try to help out to make their life a little easier. Brad works full time and Melissa works outside the home just enough to keep her Nursing license active. Brad's brother who suffers with MD and chronic respiratory failure lives with them, too. 

A few years ago they decided to become foster parents and were willing to take on a special needs child that they have since adopted. This special child is now four years old has recently mastered the art of walking. She is non-verbal and struggles with communication. She does like to clap her hands, snap her fingers, and make noises. She has a smile that will melt your heart. They also have adopted a three year old very active little guy that came to them as a foster child. He is busy, busy, busy, but so loving. Both the three and four year old attend special classes to help them with their developmental needs. Brad and Melissa really have their hands full.

Last year about this time they received a call from their case worker about placement for a set of premature twins. They opened their doors and hearts to these two sweethearts. They have begun the initial steps to adopt them. The twins are precious. They will be walking soon, and just celebrated their first birthday. 

A few weeks ago the case worker stopped by with news that twins now have a biological infant sibling that is also in need of a home. The biological parents struggle with drugs, and are unable to deal with them. It was a difficult, but not difficult decision that Brad and Melissa had to make. They wanted to keep these children together. They opened their doors and hearts again. I was able to visit the family recently and hold this precious child that is now being loved and cared for by them. When you sit there rocking a child that has been forsaken by their biological parents, and witness the love, fulfillment, and care they receive from their foster parents, your heart melts. They are not caring for one child like this, but five. I believe they are earning their angel wings.

How do they do it? They are now a family with two parents, five preschoolers and a disabled adult. All five of the children must be in car seats. They will not be able to fit all the car seats in the mini-van once the twins move out of the infant seats they are still in. They need a full size van now to fit everyone in, but they are not sure how they are going to manage that.

That is where our Hands of Hope care giving team came up with an idea. We would like to do a Love Offering to help this family with expenses related to purchasing a bigger van on December 11th. We are reaching out to our church family to see if you would be willing to assist and help us to bless this young couple. Please make checks out to the Yorktown Methodist Church and mark your gift for Foster Family.

Thank you for being angels, too!