I t’s Saturday morning. Richard and Jackie Judah are spending some quiet time in the living room of their home in the Highlands . They savor the moment – because with five daughters in the house – they know the calm won’t last.
“It’s usually pretty crazy around here,” said Jackie. “But we are very lucky to have these great girls.”
The Judah family is a beautiful blend of caring, patient parents and their five adorable daughters. Sade’, the oldest at 18, has lived with the Judahs since December 2003. And then there are the four half-sisters: Lucy, 11, Tristan, 10, Ashleigh, 9, and Sarah, 5. They were adopted through the Home’s Therapeutic Loving foster Care (TLC) program this past June after living with the Judahs for about 16 months. The Judahs also have another adopted daughter who is now living on her own.
For the four sisters, the journey to the Judah household was not one they ever want to relive. Removed from their biological mother because of abuse, the girls have spent much of their lives moving around to different foster families before finding “A Forever Family,” with the Judahs .
Richard and Jackie readily admit that five years ago they never would have imagined that they would be foster parents. But after some careful thought and soul searching, they decided to open their home to kids who had been victims of abuse or neglect. After temporarily fostering two children (with whom they still keep in contact), the Judahs welcomed Sade.’ Then, the opportunity came to welcome Lucy, Tristan, Ashleigh, and Sarah.
“From the first day they were here, we knew we wanted them to become part of our family,” said Jackie.
Still, it took awhile before all of the Judahs were comfortable with this new arrangement. “We were like all growing families,” Richard said. “There was certainly a period of adjustment for all seven of us. I think the girls are just now beginning to feel secure in their surroundings.”
There are currently around 7,000 children in the state of Kentucky who need foster placement. Choosing to become a foster parent is a rewarding, life changing decision, but one that is not without its challenges. Paul Jones, Program Director for TLC, says the Judahs exemplify what TLC looks for in its foster families.
“It has been said that the place where you are ‘called’ is where your deepest joy meets the world’s deepest need,” Jones said. “In Kentucky , the need is clear. The ‘art’ of foster care is finding that right fit. For the right family, the joys of building relationships, of loving children, overshadow the stresses of caring for children with special needs. Being a foster parent is not a job, it is a calling, a life’s work. Our mission everyday at TLC is to find these families and connect them with the right child. The Judahs are a wonderful example of such a family.”
The Judahs are grateful to the TLC staff for their help.
“We told Paul and the rest of the staff that we were ready to adopt these girls, and they did everything they could to make it a smooth transition,” Richard said.
For the sisters, the best part of the whole experience is the sense of security that comes from being part of one of TLC’s Forever Families.
“I like being here,” said 11-year-old Lucy. “Being here makes me feel permanent.”
The Judah family is a remarkable example of how caring adults and displaced children can come together to create a Forever Family. Still, there are around 7,000 children in Kentucky who are looking for their Forever Family.
If you, or anyone you know, have ever considered becoming a foster parent, now is the time. The Home’s Therapeutic Loving foster Care program will be there for you during every step of the process. To find out how you can make a difference in a child’s life, and yours
email us or call 502.596.1313.
You can also help us create more Forever Families by supporting us. Click here to give a gift online.
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