This is the Taulbee family. Tiffany and I work together. Although Tiffany and her husband Andy already have 4 children of their own, they signed up to be short term foster parents!! As soon as they got all of the paper work and home visits completed-they got a phone call that they were needed. They asked if they would like a 2 year old girl or a 4 year old boy? As they found out more they learned that they were siblings that have been living in the homeless shelter since the summer!!! Of course they weren't going to split them up--so, Tiffany and Andy said they would make room for them both and welcomed them with open arms!!! They all of the sudden turned into a family of 8...with children ages... 1,2,3,4,5, and 8!!!!!!! WOW!!! Joshua and Geonna fit right in and LOVED the Taulbee family! They stayed with them for about a month until their mom was able to get her feet back on the ground. She was able to get a job and get government housing that is close to Marta. Tiffany went to take them back to their Mom last Friday and that is where the story got really interesting....
She found out that they were going back to a totally empty house....no beds, no furniture,...nothing! So, Tiffany sent out a message on Facebook asking friends if they had anything to donate to try to make their house live able. I talked to her Saturday morning on my way to work to see what she had accumulated. At that point her family was giving them a bed and things for the bathroom (shower curtain, rug,..etc..) and another friend was also taking a bed. I got to work and made a sign that asked for donations. When I got back in my car after work there was a message from Brandon (who was unaware of the situation). He said that his sister Kelli had called and she wanted to know if we needed a couch or kitchen table (Kelli and Brian just got married and combined 2 households..so, they had some extra things!!!). I called him back and said "YES!!!!---ask them if they would like to give them to this family?!"....they were more than happy to do so!! God's perfect timing---what a blessing!! So, we got to load up 2 trucks and take them some furniture!!! It was an incredible experience. Joshua and Geonna (along with their Mom and 18 year old sister) were SO EXCITED and grateful! They said "I can feel the love" and "it finally feels like Christmas"!!! When Brandon and Brian carried in the table Joshua squealed...a TAAABBBLE!!!!!! And when the couch came in they rolled all around in the pillows!! It was so much fun to get to be a part of and witness their JOY!!! The giving kept coming throughout the day....Tiffany was able to round up pots, pans, a dresser, and entertainment center, TV, DVD player, and even a fully decorated Christmas tree(which they have never had!). Within 24 hours the house felt a lot more like a home. The Taulbee family was such a blessing to Joshua and Geonna....and I know Joshua and Geonna were a blessing to them (actually to a lot of us!). God is Good and he was able to bring people together and help a family in need!! "Ask and it will be given to you: seek and you will find: knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7So, that was last Friday that the Taulbee's said goodbye to Joshua and Geonna and today they got placed to foster a little 3 week old baby named Sydney. Anxious to see what kind of miracles can come through that sweet baby girl!!
