Lily
Since I started Angels in the Alley ~ Foster Kids Christmas, I have had the opportunity to meet the most adorable children and the foster families who have opened their homes and their hearts to children who just want to be part of a loving family. In my mind, they should be wearing a cape and sporting a cool pair of tights, for they are the true heroes.
My newest heroes are Jennifer and Lily. Their story is one of courage, unwavering perseverance and blind faith. I’m honored to bless Lily with a scholarship so that she can pursue her dreams of college and beyond.
Lily’s birth mother was an old friend of Jennifer’s from college. They had lost touch over the years but reconnected when Lily was a little over a year old. Lily’s life started out with many challenges. She was born 10-weeks early, airlifted to a specialty hospital for emergency surgery and spent the next few months in the NICU before being sent home with oxygen. Lily is a walking miracle of life. She has undergone several more surgeries as a result of her birth mother’s drug use during pregnancy. Lily takes it all with stride, refusing to let these challenges hold her back. She smiles, she laughs and she focuses on being grateful.
Jennifer has been in Lily’s life since she was just a baby and became Lily’s God- mother.
Lily, several years ago
As Jennifer put it, “Of course I gladly accepted that important role and it was the beginning of my parenting role and unbreakable bond between Lily and I. I am blessed to have her in my life.”
To help Lily and her birth mother, Jennifer offered to have them live with her. At this time Jennifer was unaware of her friend’s struggles with drugs and alcohol.
“Lily was only 14-months old”, Jennifer recalled, “when I came home from work and Lily was left all alone. That was my first encounter with CPS.”
Jennifer stayed as close to Lily as possible while her birth mother was in and out of drug rehab. When she was clean, she had custody of Lily, but when the drugs won the battle, Lily was back with CPS and Jennifer right there, offering to by her family. That’s when Jennifer was introduced to Koinonia and received much needed support.
“I attended events and classes offered at Koinonia and experienced the generosity and love that Koinonia portrayed first hand. They were the light during a dark time.”
At a very young age, Lily had lost her biological mother to drugs and alcohol and lost her father to a motorcycle accident. She never knew her father. The only family that Lily knew was Jennifer, but since she was not a blood relative, she had an uphill battle.
Jennifer remembers, “I clung tight to Lily and was present as much as her birth mother would let me. Lily was with her birth mother when she was arrested for shop-lifting which resulted in Lily being placed in foster care. I fought for non-relative placement of Lily in my home. It was not easy. Every day that went by felt like eternity, but I let God work out the details, in His time and He certainly did.”
Tune in next time for the continued story of unwavering strength and unconditional love that created a family bond. Lily is just starting her college journey and I plan to be right beside her as much as she needs us. The world needs more heroes like Jennifer and Lily.
Lily and Jennifer
A mother’s love doesn’t have to be biological
Part Two
In the last several weeks I have had several conversations with Jennifer. Each time I
walk away thinking, dang! This women is incredible! Her unwaivering determination and
faith is so inspiring. I’m excited to continue to share her and Lily’s heart warming story.
After years of battling the court system, mysterious family members claiming rights to Lily, and endless red tape, Jennifer was finally given the go ahead to adopt Lily.
She explained, “I had been pleading to adopt Lily for years while being dragged through the mud and praying for Lily’s safety.”
As Jennifer overcame one challenge, another would arise. “Out of nowhere, biological family members who had never been present, came out of the woodwork, now stepping up to adopt Lily.
Jennifer wondered, “Where had they been all these years and why are they here now? Again, I had to trust in God. After lots of prayers, tears and defending my character and love for Lily, the judge granted adoption of Lily in my favor.”
Jennifer, Lily and the Judge who granted the adoption
Ironically, the adoption was finalized on National Adoption Day. Lily was eight-years-old.
Jennifer remembers, “She had been with me and my family intermittently since she was just fourteen- months-old. Not a day went by that we didn’t pray and fight for her safety and wellbeing. That day was the happiest day of my life!”
Lily and Santa
Now that Lily was a permanent part of a loving family, she blossomed into an amazing young lady. She tried many sports including soccer, swimming and gymnastics. In the music room, she played the trumpet and sang in the choir. But, once she tried theater, she was hooked!
“She found her true passion in theater. She thrived,” said Jennifer, “ She glowed and came out of her shell while on stage, like I had never seen before.”
Once the folks at Koinonia Foster Homes told Jennifer about our Angels in the Alley scholarship program, she knew it was exactly what Lily needed to move forward in college. Lily is an outstanding student and an remarkable human. Not only was she earning excellent
grades in high school, but she was also obtaining college credits from Sierra College. She graduated in May of 2025 with a 4.0 GPA and 28-college credits.
I have met with Lily a few times and it is my honor to grant Lily a $3000 scholarship to help with her first year of college. This young lady has BIG DREAMS and I am thrilled to stay by her side to help any way that I can.
Turn in for the next update and the ‘big news’…her future just got a little bit brighter!
