Our Story

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Around the age of 12, I was at my grandmother’s house listening to her tell stories of my mom being adopted, and their journey moving from Ohio to Texas and all the states in between.  While my grandmother was telling her stories I remember saying, “I want to find momma’s biological siblings one of these days.”

In 2004,  I did just that. I gathered all the information with the names my mom had, whereabouts where she was born in Ohio and with some research.

My journey began! I had a couple of dead-end calls and finally I had a lead; it was the ex-wife of one of my mom’s biological brothers (who was the youngest brother), she was so kind to give me his information. After taking a few minutes before making the call to him trying to gather my thoughts, I remember being so nervous not knowing what his reactions would be. I was second guessing myself and in disbelief that I had actually found one of my momma’s biological siblings. When I finally built up the courage to make the call, as the phone was ringing my heart pounding out of my chest, he finally answered. I introduced myself but much to my surprise he was so sweet, excited to talk with me, and  was also very informative. He gave me the names and numbers of most of the other siblings. With the information he gave me, I was able to contact most of them. The oldest sister living was so happy that I reached out to find them, so eager to get everyone together, and was willing to open her home for our special gathering. Weeks later, I surprised my mom with a gift- a flight to Ohio, with the help of my Aunt Polly we were able to get most of the siblings together; family from Ohio, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Texas joined to make my wish become reality. The joy I had... seeing all the laughter, tears of happiness, singing, kids playing, all the memories being made, the camaraderie between them! It brought so much joy to myself and all the others who joined in the celebration. On those few days, the few hours that they were able to spend together, they found some happiness within one another. The one wish I had many years before brought them all together once again and some had the opportunity to meet for the first time. Also, maybe it helped mend some of the brokenness in their hearts that they didn’t know was there.

In 2007, I started working for a therapist through an adoption service facility, listening to the stories of so many broken hearted young human beings that were so heart-wrenching. There are so many tribulations that the kids have gone through and the pain they’ve experienced so unimaginable, and way too many stories that shouldn’t even be thought of to be told.

After I started researching children in crisis situations, the numbers are completely devastating. At that particular time, there were a staggering 500,000 children in foster care placement. Of those, 126,0000 aged-out of the system. The stories told by those children from unfortunate circumstances, due to trauma, neglect, and abuse, placed in foster care hold a very special place in my heart. That’s why Grantmywishes.org started, simply by the journey of my mother that sparked my interest in the foster care system, and the need of so many children who are in dire need of positive childhood memories, hope, love, and happiness. Kids just like my mom in an uncertain world, when she was just an infant at 5 months old, when the welfare worker came and placed her in the foster care system, and so many others who are facing adversities. They deserve a sense of knowing that they are loved, thought of, that someone would do anything to put a smile on their face, and want nothing but the best for them. Most importantly, we can give them a little reassurance that just because the beginning of their life journey isn't like everyone else’s, doesn’t mean that their life’s circumstances will always stay the same; there is always light that comes out from the darkness.

Everyone deserves a life full of love, laughter,  and a whole lot of happiness. Together, we can put a little piece of hope in a child’s life and a smile on their face, and give them a memorable moment in their childhood that they can hold onto for the rest of their life.  I know without a shadow of a doubt Grant My Wishes will always have a lasting impact on their life, just as much as so many precious kids have made a lasting impact on mine.

How Grant My Wishes Was Born:

Beginning at a young age throughout my life, I have been drawn to helping children in dire circumstances. From knowing about the time my mom was placed in the foster care system and her journey that brought her to Texas, on to my few years working for a therapist through the adoption agency.

I started volunteering in 2012-2019 at my local community library with our Storytime program for kids and our Summer Reading Program, getting weekly craft activities together and contacting performers for our Summer Reading Program, and helping with fundraisers. 

In 2014, I received a call from a friend who worked at CAC- Children’s Advocacy Center requesting help with a project that they were working on. They were sending thank you cards out to donors; she needed me to design and make the cards. I kept getting drawn back to kids in dire circumstances. I knew I always wanted  to do something to help children who are going through such unfortunate situations, I just didn’t know exactly what it was. 

In spring and summer of 2018, my daughter approached me with an interest in wanting to do something positive in her community; we then started up a conversation. With her young enthusiasm and her love of sewing we came up with a plan! “What about helping kids in foster care by making blankets?” The idea took hold but never came to fruition; time got away from us and it just wasn’t in God’s plan at the time.

In the fall of 2018, I was "volun-told" to be on the PTO board at my daughter's school. I was elected as the Vice-President/ Luncheon Director and remained so for the 18/19 and 19/20 school years. With the fundraisers we had, we were able to host monthly luncheons, have monthly drawings, and gave gifts for the kids and staff.

In May of 2020, during the pandemic, a friend of mine and our kids went to the park so they could play and get some fresh air after being cooped-up for too long. I was telling her I wanted to start an organization and we talked about my mom and the foster care system. The desire kept getting stronger and stronger!

The journey of my mother that lit my interest in the foster care system, all the years of volunteering that sparked my love of helping others and seeing all the enjoyment and sense of wonder in the children’s faces. In December of 2020, I woke up in the middle of the night with just one word that kept repeating in my mind and with that word an idea came to light; it all made perfect sense, I knew exactly what I was supposed to do. I listened and answered a calling from God to a higher purpose I knew exactly what I was supposed to do Grant My Wishes was born! My wish had been granted.