THIS OLD HOME - Outgrown!
Home is where the heart is - with our family!
For years and years my wife and I have known!that we would one day outgrow this old house that we live in, here in Martinsburg, WV. This 1930's house has been a blessing for us, and at times a curse, but who's complaining. We have made do with what we have. However, by being here we have been limited in what we would like to do with our family. You might have guessed it...we would like to be able to expand for the sake of children that need safe forever families.
While living here we have fostered many children and have adopted five. In 2009 we were recognized by United States Congressional Committee as "Angels in Adoption" from the state of WV. These children have all needed extra love and care and many of them have also needed the care of a variety of doctors. We have made it work even with jobs, sports, animals and the house's needs. We made it work with the blessings and support of some very special friends that have adopted our family. BUT WHAT IF????
SO THAT IS WHERE WE ARE. WITH MANY WHAT IF's AND THE DREAM TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
We would like to sell the house, get out of debt and start a new home with more focus and direction. We would like to be able to create a home for children and not necessarily have to keep adding on to a home. We would like to create a home where the children can grow up by a stream or a creek and have some space for them to run around without the worry of ticking off neighbors, high school kids who are skipping school breaking into our house (this happened) or drunks from the local bar stumbling around in the early morning lost (this happened) or by chance a bar shooting taken outside nearby (yes there have been more than one shooting one block over.)
For years we have also fantasized about building a home using shipping containers. Over the years of dreaming about it we have seen it become more popular and the prices for containers go up!!! So we need to jump in ASAP. Or maybe even building an earth ship with help from a couple new friends with experience!!!
By helping "This Artists Dream" you will be helping a family to grow and help us to help other children.
While living here we have fostered many children and have adopted five. In 2009 we were recognized by United States Congressional Committee as "Angels in Adoption" from the state of WV. These children have all needed extra love and care and many of them have also needed the care of a variety of doctors. We have made it work even with jobs, sports, animals and the house's needs. We made it work with the blessings and support of some very special friends that have adopted our family. BUT WHAT IF????
- What if we were to do it better?
- What if we could help more children?
- What if we could rescue more animals?
- What if we could be a safe haven for single moms needing extra support (still contemplating this one but we do have experience with it.)
- What if we could be an emergency placement home for children needing needing a safe home during a very trying time in their lives?
SO THAT IS WHERE WE ARE. WITH MANY WHAT IF's AND THE DREAM TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
We would like to sell the house, get out of debt and start a new home with more focus and direction. We would like to be able to create a home for children and not necessarily have to keep adding on to a home. We would like to create a home where the children can grow up by a stream or a creek and have some space for them to run around without the worry of ticking off neighbors, high school kids who are skipping school breaking into our house (this happened) or drunks from the local bar stumbling around in the early morning lost (this happened) or by chance a bar shooting taken outside nearby (yes there have been more than one shooting one block over.)
For years we have also fantasized about building a home using shipping containers. Over the years of dreaming about it we have seen it become more popular and the prices for containers go up!!! So we need to jump in ASAP. Or maybe even building an earth ship with help from a couple new friends with experience!!!
By helping "This Artists Dream" you will be helping a family to grow and help us to help other children.
Angels in Adoption award
It was a great honor to receive this award although neither Dawn nor myself felt like we needed any such recognition. We did accept it though as a possible way to encourage others. Being adoptive parents isn't easy there are all kinds of pressures on you that you cannot experience as birthing parents but it is so worth it and we would do it again. We are especially glad that we both had it in our hearts to adopt children before we even met one another.
Home is where the heart is - FOR SURE. However, a nice place to rest the head and to feel safe is also good to.
Below are just samples of what other people have built with shipping containers. We have our own ideas on what we would like to do with them. First step is to find the money to buy a piece of land. Second step start building. The planning has already started, now we are just waiting to begin the other steps.