New Beginnings

As the flowers begin to bloom at Blessing House, I am excited by the signs of new life and filled with the promise of new beginnings. We recently celebrated our 7th anniversary and as I walked through our playroom, I looked at the 742 handprints on our wall and thought of the many children who had found safety in the care of our wonderful staff at Blessing House.

There was Jamie and her two brothers who came to stay when their mom had to go to the hospital for an extended stay. She really enjoyed herself at Blessing House because she had the chance to just be a child and have fun.

There was Manny who was so self-conscious because of his size. Manny had not been able to live in an environment that provided healthy meals and so he had acquired eating habits that contributed to his becoming overweight. While at Blessing House, he tried so many new things and discovered that fruits and vegetables weren’t so bad after all. He learned that exercise could be fun and that he really could do some things to help himself. He was quite proud of himself when he discovered he had lost 10 pounds during his stay at Blessing House.

There was Amy, a mom with three children who was homeless and who had dealt with several issues over the last few years. She had difficulty with her relationships, her responsibilities and her decision making and called us often to help her with her children. Then she found herself in a situation where she had time to reflect about all that had happened to her, and she realized how close she had come to losing everything that was most dear to her. Amy made the decision to change her life, to start over. She knew how lucky she was to get a second chance and she wasn’t going to continue down the path she had been going. Amy is now living with her three children in a home, supported by friends and family, blessed with the promise of a new beginning.

Blessing House has been a source of hope for our children and our families. It has given them an opportunity to see that things can be different and the possibilities of new beginnings.

This spring, Blessing House is experiencing another new beginning as we open Grace Center, our administrative and outreach center. Grace Center, located right next to Blessing House, is a home where we will be welcoming the families who need our help and where we will be providing support for them as they deal with the many issues they face.

Grace Center will be a quiet place, a place of comfort, a place of grace to greet those who come to us. It will be a haven that will be a gateway for the children to enter Blessing House and will give our staff the opportunity to give the compassionate care that is so needed by the families that arrive at our door.

When a mom came to visit her child at Blessing House recently and saw all of the activity going on getting Grace Center ready, she asked what was happening there. Sr. Mary explained what we would be doing at Grace Center and the mom became quiet. Then she said, “Do you think you could help me at Grace Center? Even if my daughter isn’t here anymore? I have no one else to help me.”

Hope.
New beginnings.
Second chances.
Someone to believe and to help them believe.
Someone to care.

I would like to say thanks to all of you who have been so faithful in your support. We could not care for so many without you. We are humbled by the graces we receive.

Peace and blessings to all this Easter season as we join together to celebrate new life.

You Want My What?

Two of our children were getting ready to go home and it was apparent they were leaving with mixed emotions. On one hand, they were glad to be returning to their mom. But on the other hand, they were reluctant to leave their newfound friends at Blessing House.

Then they saw the bags with their names on them sitting on the chairs in the lobby. These bags were decorated with colorful drawings of Blessing House and inscribed with the words, “Blessing House loves you!” When Jaylin saw them, she asked, “What are those for?”

Sr. Mary replied, “Those are your go home bags. There are some surprises in your bags from all of the wonderful people who help us and who want to give you something special to take home with you.”

Maybe leaving wouldn’t be quite so hard after all.

Jaylin and Maya climbed into the backseat of the van clutching their go home bags, anxiously waiting for permission to examine their treasures. No sooner had they pulled out of the driveway, when they opened their bags to find stuffed animals, blankets, books, new underwear, and freshly baked cookies. Their giggles and exclamations of delight told Sr. Mary that they were both amazed and thrilled.


Maya found a stuffed bunny in her bag and knowing how much Jaylin liked bunnies, she decided to give it to her. Jaylin took the bunny and rubbed her hand over its soft whiskers. Jaylin then thanked Maya and told her that since she was so nice, she could have anything that was in Jaylin’s bag.

Maya appreciated Jaylin’s gesture of kindness, but told her that she didn’t need to give her anything. Maya was just glad that Jaylin liked the bunny.


But Jaylin was not about to be outdone. She had learned all about sharing at Blessing House and she knew Sr. Mary was in the front seat listening to them, so she told Maya again, “Maya, I mean it. You can have anything you want in my bag.”

Maya again tried to decline, but Jaylin wouldn’t give up.

“Maya, you can have ANYTHING you want in my bag. ANYTHING!”

Maya was silent for just a moment, then replied, “Anything?”
Jaylin answered, “Anything.”

Maya said, “OK, then I’ll take your cookies.”

Silence.

Sr. Mary glanced in her rearview mirror and saw that Jaylin was deep in thought. Jaylin looked at the sugar cookies decorated with pink, green and blue frosting sitting in a baggie on the top of her bag. Now what?
Slowly, Jaylin held out the bunny and giving it to her sister replied, “Maya, here’s your bunny back.”



Thanks to the Children’s Guild for the generous grant that will allow Blessing House to continue to provide Go Home bags for our children. These bags mean so much to them and helps makes their transition back home a little easier.
We appreciate you!