Looking for my Cousins

For so long I have wanted to find to girls who don't know each other but have so much in common. Both are my Cousins on opposit sides of the family. Both lost their Mom's young and grew up in the California Foster Care system, 20 years apart.
Chanel is like my second cousin actually, and I thought she was now ok. I found out that I was wrong about what had happened to her. 13 years ago she was left, forgotten for a little over a week when her mom was high. She was 3 1/2 and I adored her right away. Her hair was so curly that when dry it was more like a bun, but when wet it was waist long. She loved any attention, and was so excited for anything. She had no toys, or shoes, and only the clothes she was wearing. I took care of her, I didn't know what to do at the time, and was 16. Her Mom came back while I was at school and I haven't seen her again. I didn't know where she was for a long time, and once I did it was so late for her.
Her mom overdosed on Asprin, and lived the rest of her life in a nursing home. Chanel was put in foster care, and I was still too young to do anything. She was the 4th child of her mom, the oldest was with his grandpa, two others were with their dad, and with Chanel there was only me who wanted her, and I couldn't take her. I always hoped to be able to still get her someday. When her mom died 6 years ago, I really wanted to and was in the best position yet to take care of her but was told the family she was with loved her, she was secure, and they wanted to adopt her. I descided it was best to leave her where she was, I mean to uproot a preteen and change states, and she probably doesn't even remember me. Since then I hadn't heard anything and assumed the best. I just found out I was wrong, she wasn't adopted, I still don't know what happened, but she has been in foster care all this time. Now nearly 17 she will age out in a year. I don't think she would have been better off with me, but am so sorry to her for all of it. I hope to find her someday and tell her I never forgot her, and am sorry for her pain, and have missed her.

Dana is my older cousin, I have never met. She and her brother were put into foster care around the time her mother was placed in a nursing home. My parents wanted her but needed my grandparents permission which they didn't get. That was the year I was born. My parents both always wanted to find them. At the time Will, her older brother was 5, and she was 3. Their mom died of a genetic disorder about 5 years later, and my parents didn't know where they were after that. I know from our Grandmother that they had several failed adoption attempts, but nothing else. I have asked a lot, and get in trouble every time. I won't quit but am not getting anywhere that way. I'm not sure she would have been better off either, but I want her to know again I have never forgotten her, neither did my parents, and she was loved and wanted by someone. She would be about 32 now. I say this much hoping someday that someone recognises this information. It's worth a try, I hope to find you both someday if only to tell you that much.

For Veterans Day

For all those current and past members of armed forces. My Grandparents were in the Army, both of them, my Grandma seriously says she loved boot camp. My Dad was in the Airforce and my Aunt was in the Navy, among many other family and friends who are still actively serving. Thanks

For you!

A friend in need of Prayers

An amazing family, needs prayers and good thoughts today. I don't want to go into everything, since I haven't talked to her to ask, but they are more amazing than I can explain, and their Mom, my friend, has helped me and so many others so much. Last week the house burned, although it is covered by insurance they are currently left without their home, and belongings and all with significant health problems. They need all the thoughts and prayers they can get until they are able to rebuild their home and all that they need. I truly wish I could say how much they do for all around them, they are people who serve so much, and now can really use that help to make it through the next while. Thanks

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Worth

I got this today, and hope many will read this. It's by an unknown/unlisted author, if someone has heard this and knows who it is, please let me know so I can add their name to what they wrote.

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200 he asked."Who would like this $20 bill?"Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you- but first let me do this."He Proceeded to crumple the 20-dollar note up. He then asked "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air."Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" He dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?"Still the hands went into the air."My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it, because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.00.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who love you. The worth of our lives comes, not in what we do or who we know , but by... WHO WE ARE. You are Special - don't ever forget it!