I too was in the foster system and it is hard and hurtful. I also am raising 4 kids by myself and we have no family here in the state that we live in, we also don't get family support from my real family. What really helps me is at least one prayer a day with my children and somewhere finding some time to read my scriptures. It really keeps me at some peice especially when I feel like going postal. I tell them I love them each day and 8 hugs a day keeps the hunger away. My nephew taught me that. And It is really hard, my 10 yr old son has a learning disability and they make fun of him at school, he also heres voices and my 8 yr old son heres voices and get very bipolar on us at times. My oldest daughter (12) is going through changes and she suffers from depression. My 5 yr old girl tries to be happy, but somtimes I wounder how she really feels. We all suffer from post tramatic distress syndrome, thats why we are here to escape the violence. I don't know how I do it, but I feel my God helps me because we still have a roof over our head and food to eat. We got water and the manager is fixing our heat. When we didn't have a car, we were blessed with a bus pass, and now we are blessed with a little job that helps put the gas in the car. So I have faith that you will smile again and sleep good at night. We may be poor, but we are a family, and the love we have for each other is priceless.

Well we moved to Memphis,Tn in 2005 to start a new life. I have continued college and found a job as a customer service representative. I have 4 children, 2 boys ages 8 and 10 and 2 girls ages 5 and 12.  My sister gave us a car that I can use for work, but it needs work. I am also haveing a hard time getting back into school this term because of classes I still owe for last term. I am on the verge of getting my utilities cut off. I tried to work out agreements, but they have their own guidlines to go by. We need furniture in our house like a couches and dining chairs, cumputer desk and entertainment centers. I cannot get these thiing right now because I am trying to catch up on the bills. My main sorrow is that this past Christmas, there was nothing that I could get my children. Verizon wireless allowed me to by them chocolate phones and when someone broke in our house, they stoled them. I don't even have the mends to get replacement phones with the insurance, but I am still stuck with the contract bills. What really hurts is that I could not buy them new jacket or shoes for the winter. My daughter that is 5 wares her hand me down Sunday shoes to school and my 8 year old son is still warring his canvis slide ins that he got in August. It's torn but he doesn't have a choice. My oldest daughter has been waring the same tennis shoes for since 2006 to school and the same boots since 2005 to church. I still have the same pair of schoes I wore when we first hitched hiked to Memphis in the summer of 2005. My dad sent me a pair of church shoes this past new Years and I am thankful for that. But I am keeping faith and trying to stay strong. If you could see the apartment we live in, you would say that is not a safe place for us to live. But for right now, it is home. We are all sleeping on my king size matresses and it would be nice to have to have bunk beds for my boys. We only have a small 2 bedroom apt. Out kitchen sink and bottom cabinet are about to fall out, water always leaking out, the dryer turns off all the electricity in the house after 30 minutes, the bathroom sink and tub is a mess. If anyone has any advice, or words of encouragement,that would be greatly appreciated. This site is new to me an if I see if I can be of help, I am here for you.