gopiscrap
gopiscrap's JournalI buried my foster mother today
I had met her and became the foster child of her and her husband very soon after we came to the United States at the age of 14. I lived with them the rest of my childhood and came "home" during my 5 years of college. Been a part of their lives and them a part of mine.
While sorrowful, as I sat in that sanctuary today, I couldn't help but be so blest. Not many children, specially teen age boys get the chance have loving kind parents a second time around. It's hard to go through the death of a parent four times instead of two, but there is also blessing in the fact that I got the grace and wisdom of two loving families in my life.
I want to give a shout out to all foster parents...thank you for giving me and others a chance at a having a family once again!
"I was a stranger and you took me in"
I finally have the time to write about my foster mom who died on Saturday.
It is with deep sadness that I share about the death of my foster mother.
I first met her in passing at a church event in our neighborhood when I was 13 years old
At 15 years of age, my biological mom had a massive stroke and my father had already passed away when fighting for the US in Vietnam. Being an immigrant, there were no other relatives in the US. A friend who was part of the youth group in which my foster mom helped my foster dad serve as Pastor, told them of my plight and they came to me just as their youngest child was leaving home, opened their hearts and invited me to join their family.
I remember one Sunday when I was still living on my own (before the state told me I had 48 hours to find a place to live or else I would become a ward of the court) (the last Sunday of October of that year) I had forgotten to re-set the clock and arrived at the church an hour early. My foster mom was at the organ practicing the hymns for that morning and we got into a discussion about music, voice and liturgy and formed an immediate bond.
Often during Sundays, my foster mom and I would discuss the liturgy and hymns. We were always on the same wave length. I loved it.
My foster mom modeled a sense of hospitality and graciousness that always impressed me and I continually strive for. She affirmed a sense of high quality sacred music and liturgy and a desire to serve that I loved.
Most of all, at a time in my life, when being at the most difficult of age to be placed as a foster child, she offered support, conversation, guidance, humor, forgiveness and love. Developing a mutual love that she nurtured and providing a second chance for me to have a mom!
She taught me about her heritage and family history while still affirming me to honor my family of orientation and original parents.
She was a Democrat. Not a splashy Democrat, but quiet and steadfast. She was pro Civil Rights, Pro LGBTQ, pro DREAMERS and for social services and mass transportation. She taught me to wed my spiritual inner core, with civic discourse and to vote accordingly.
While being sorrowful. I am so grateful for having been a part of her life, for her being a part of my life and helping to form a part of my personality.
In a personal historical irony, both my mothers died on the same calendar date. Feb 2, 1985 and Feb 2, 2018
I will truly miss her, but to me she represented not only the model of living ones life with in the true Gospel of Christ but also what represents the good and noble in our country!!!
I want to thank all of you for your kind words this past weekend
on the death of my foster mother. I come here often and am snarky and opinioated, but I do truly appreciate the community that has been created here. It is one of my touchstones and am so fortunate to have this as a soun ding board when the political s--t hits the fan!!! Thank you for being one of the places in which I find community!!! Mike
Volunteering in a Syrian refugee camp in Greece
I have been presented with the opportunity to volunteer as an ESL, food distributor and also to start an 8 week children's choir in a refugee camp in Greece. I need to get myself over there...I need suggestions for good fund raising sites-thanks
I was a stranger and you took me in!
My Foster mom passed away today
we often talk about Christian values because of and in response to the right wing "Christian" voters.
My foster mom was a real Christian and model to me. Her and her husband took me in just when her last child left home. I was a teen age boy (15) and teen age boys are hard to place in the foster system. My dad had died and my mom had a stroke, and was incapacitated til she passed away a few years later.
They took me in and made me a part of their family, teaching me their family history yet still encouraing me honor my original history and to affirm my German roots as an immigrant and the child of a refugee.
She taught me the art and gift of hospitality towards others, instilled in me a love of good sacred choral music and liturgy.
I wil miss her lots...well done good and faithful servant
IT'S NOT BEEN A GOOD DAY FOR THE REPUBLICANS
Let's begin:
To start their day, the republican's were involved in both a literal and metaphoric train wreck
The ratings on trumps SOTU speech are the lowest in 20 years
trump's wife is still pissed
The FBI Director has come out strongly advising against releasing the Nunes memo
It appears that the Stormy Daniels (porn star's) signature denying that she had an affair and payoff with trump is not her signature
The former chair of the Colorado republican party was sentenced to 4 years probation and 300 hours of community service for voter fraud
Federal Court ruled that republicans can't restructure Consumer Protection Bureau
GOP Arkansas State Senator has resigned after being convicted of fraud
It looks like Ben Carson has been up to his ears in corruption, so bad that even the trump legal team is alarmed
the FBI agent that republicans have been criticizing was found to have been advocating re-opening Hillary Clinton email probe thus negating the republicans claim of him being anti trump
Reports have it that Dep. Atty Gen. Rosenstein was asked about his loyalty to trump
Trey Gowdy will not seek re-election
Roger Stone got caught trying to visit Julian Assange today
trump's CDC head had to resign today after being outed buying tobacco stock while heading up that agency
trump's South Korean ambassador pick, comes out against trump and thus trump withdraws his nomination
That's a lot for one day. So Democratic and fellow progressives and liberals cheer up!
It sucks to be a republican!!!!
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: Frankfurt am Main
Home country: Germany
Current location: Tacoma, Washington
Member since: Sat Jul 18, 2009, 11:55 AM
Number of posts: 23,756
