A Step in the Right Direction

Last Friday, we had a wonderful experience.

We were able to spend part of the evening with our foster daughter "Kenna".

What made it so special this time was that Kenna's mother was the one who contacted us. This was huge - she NEVER calls us. The handful of times that we've been able to see this sweet girl since moving to St. George have always been when we've stopped by their apartment to say hi. These visits are always very brief; although Kenna's mother allows them to happen because her daughter is so excited to see us each time, we are never invited inside or made to feel welcome very long.

We realize that Kenna is no longer ours and respect her mother's efforts to stay "clean" while providing the best life she can for her little girl. However, we've felt we should maintain some type of contact just in case things don't work out as planned. Unfortunately, some of the things Kenna's mother was doing during our time as a foster family are highly addictive and difficult to stay away from. She is also a single mother, with no family to fall back on. She has a tenuous, part-time job right now; the recession has made it difficult for her to find better employment. Their family's situation is a fragile one, and we want Kenna's mom to know that there is a place for her daughter to go if things begin to fall apart again.

It's been a fine line for us to walk - offering support and friendship while trying not to overstep our bounds. Imagine my surprise at the phone call! I guess Kenna had been looking at pictures of our family in the album we'd given her mother when Kenna was returned to her, and she really began to miss Krissia. The two of them developed a very close bond while Kenna was with us, and I know that Krissia misses her "sister" too. Anyway, Kenna pestered her mother to call us all week so she could talk to Krissia. She can be a very determined little girl! On Friday, her mother finally gave in and gave us a call. The girls talked for a couple of minutes, then I spoke with Kenna's mother again. I informed her that Dixie College was hosting an activity later that evening at a nearby park, complete with games and free food and invited her and Kenna to come. Unbelievably, she said yes! We have extended her numerous invitations for different things over the past couple of years with no luck.

We met her and Kenna at the park, where we had a wonderful time together. The only bad part was that Bronson and Jefferson were unable to come due to Region Drama and Scout Camp. But happily, Krissia and Kenna were able to spend a lot of time with each other.

Does this mean that a strong relationship has suddenly been forged between Kenna's mother and our family? Probably not. But it is definitely a step in the right direction :)

Doesn't this picture say it all?