Open Hearts Open Homes Gala

My friend Lindsey, who is also a foster mother, had tickets to the Open Hearts Open Homes Gala, last night. Her husband got sick and she asked me to be her last minute date. Um, yes! 

The event was held at a local reception/event center called Horton Farms. It was gorgeous property abd im kicking myself for not taking any pictures of the beautiful land and barn! 

Anyway, it was “cocktail attire”. 

Say what? 

I figured I would just wear my token black dress and call it good, but consulted my fashion living friend, Naomi, about whether I could get away with flats or if I should try to borrow a pair of heels. 

Her her reply was awesome. “That dress is a no go. Give me five minutes.” 

And five minutes later, she called me back with instructions to go to Mardee’s house to pick up this dress and necklace, to Jill Smallwood’s for a clutch purse and eyebrow pencil and foundation, and to her house while my girls were in cello and violin lessons so she could do my hair and makeup. 

She also had borrowed some super glammariffic heels from Koree, but they didn’t fit, I don’t really know Koree well enough to comfortable borrow something from her, and I fall over when I try to walk in heels anyway, so I slummed it in pair of nude flats. Naomi worked a miracle in 20 minutes and basically painted a new face on me. Haha! My mom let me borrow a pair of my grand mother’s earrings and behold: 

Cocktail Attire Meg

Fostering has given me the twins, but also given me many beautiful children and parents to love, who are not living in my home, but absolutely part of my family/team. Lindsey is a wonderful mother and has taught me so much about God’s timing, trust, and being an advocate for children and families. 

Though we did not do our training through The Call, I support their mission to educate and open as many Christian Foster and Adoptive Homes as they can, so that more children who come into care can be introduced to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the healing and redemptive power of His infinite Atonement. Foster children experience a LOT of hurt. Abandonment, Trauma, Maltreatment, Neglect, Abuse,  Instability, Danger, Hunger, Confusion, Homelessness, Addictive Substance Exposure, and Separation all can offer heaping doses of Lonliness, Mental Illness, Fear, Anger, Sadness, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Low Self Esteem, Betrayal, Dissappintment, Delays, and Disassociation. The Atonement coveres all these ailments and offers healthy growth through connection with knowledge and exposure to the pure love of Christ.  As Christians, we cannot rely on the government to provide all of the resources necessary for complete healing from adverse childhood experiences, so we can and must use our homes and families to close that gap. Congrats to the Call for continuing to take this mission across the state of Arkansas to Open Hearts and Open Homes.