Twelve year olds are not always delightful creatures under the best of circumstances, and for children in foster care, the older you get, the bleaker the odds. Older children in foster care have often been through years and years of upheaval and insecurity, denied their right to permanency when they are young, with less and less chance of an adoptive home as they grow older. It’s a discouraging situation for these young ones, and a scary one.
But Monday, July 18, 2022, we got to witness the joy of one 12 year old girl as her foster mother of four years was finally permitted to adopt her.
It was pretty wonderful. 
Haley wrote a beautiful letter to her mother expressing her thanks. Dare I say, this 12 year old was delightful. It was a joy to hear about the lovely family she has been adopted into, the plans they hope to help her with, the big sister she now has to look up to, the cousins who have become her best friends.
We give thanks to the Lord for His tender mercies, and commend to you the example of this devoted adoptive mother.
And we leave you with the words of Haley to her new mother:
“Richly blessed is how I feel to have someone like you. I love you so much. Everyday you mean more and more to me. You are the strongest person I have ever known. I admire you for your strength, kindness and compassion. You are my Mother, Teacher, and my Best Friend. I am grateful for you every day.”
