FAFC Blog
What a Blessing to live in east Tennessee…
I was born and raised in western Kentucky, but for the past twenty years, I lived in south Florida. I always tell people I lived there for nineteen years too long, because it never felt like home. There are two seasons in Florida: hot and, wet and hot. I have always loved the cold, the woods and the mountains, so in 2003 my family and I began vacationing at Meadow Creek Mountain Rustic Resort in Parrotsville, Tn. Traditionally, we would leave south Florida on Dec 26th and stay in a cabin, ride our atv’s and enjoy the cold until just after the new year. In 2005, we purchased some property in Parrotsville with a five year plan of moving there once our older children finished high school in Florida.
God had a different plan. In 2005, we adopted our oldest daughter; in 2006, we gave birth to our surprise baby Levi-Garrett; in 2007, we began fostering Riley (now 4yrs old and adopted), and in 2008 we received baby Luke who was abandoned at the hospital (2 days old, now 16 months). As the direction and leadership of our church in Florida changed, so did the economy, the real estate market and everything it seemed. After much counsel and prayer, we believed it was God’s way of expediting our plan to transition to east Tennessee.
We began travelling back and forth looking for homes, meeting with foster care agencies and promoting our ministry and we were well received by everyone we contacted. In June of 2009, when our children finished the school year, that same afternoon we were driving north to Tennessee; everything we owned was either packed in semi-tractor trailer, in or on top of our suburban, or in the trailers in tow. In June, we moved into a rental cabin, and then finally in October we closed on our new home in the Greeneville city limits. Our kids have transitioned well and Nick has had his best football season winning the conference and county defensive player of the year and the Greene Devils are playing for the State Championship on Dec 6th in Cookeville.
I have spent the last 6 months building the foundation for them ministry; meeting with pastors, ministry leaders, foster and adoptive care agencies, businesses and high school groups. Since October, we have assisted in placing 27 children in foster homes. What we do is practical, tangible ministry that directly supports and effects children in the foster care system.
I pray that you will partner with us by either donating items, volunteering, donating financially or advocating for us with your business, church, family, civic group, etc., so that we can help place more children into homes.
With Great Expectations,
Will
