The Hanson Family And Their Foster Care Journey
We have a very special family we are introducing this May in honor of National Foster Care Month. The Hanson family recently has taken the steps to be a part of the change in our childcare system by becoming a foster family and taking in a 5-year-old boy, "P."
Jon-Howard, Lauri Ann, and their two boys Well (5) and Neill (2.5) have lived in Lake Highlands for the last 5 years, "there's really nowhere else in Dallas we'd rather be," says Lauri Ann. They always have been a fan of the East Dallas area, prior to living in Lake Highlands they lived in a neighborhood near White Rock Lake and prior to that as newlyweds, they rented a one-bedroom duplex in the M Streets affectionately nicknamed the "crack house" because the foundation was so bad they had to get rid of their office chair on wheels!
Prior to their beautiful life blossoming in Dallas, they both attended Baylor University, but actually never met until one fateful night on a dance floor in Dallas. One ski trip and one year later they were married!
Today Jon-Howard is a Principal R&D Mechanical Engineer at Halliburton and Lauri Ann is a residential realtor on the Dwell Partners Team with Dave Perry Miller. When they are not working, spending time together as a family is a must-do. They love being outside with the boys, "We can often be seen trying to keep up with our three little superheroes- always in full costume." Other places you can spot the Hansons would be the Zoo, the Arboretum, and the KayCee Pool. Jon-Howard and Lauri Ann are also on a mission to find Dallas' best margarita- as it stands Resident Taqueria has a strong lead!
Giving back to the community has always been important to the Hansons. Lauri Ann is a member of the Lake Highlands Junior Women's League, MOPS of Lake Highlands, Polished Dallas, and Mom to Mom, a support group for foster and adoptive moms at Watermark. The whole family is involved with a variety of programs to give back to their community through Watermark as well.
Lake Highlands is a special place for this family and they encourage others to make the most out of their community by getting to know your neighbors and the amazing amenities around Lake Highlands. "This family-friendly community has been such a gift to us and the boys. Some of our sweetest friends were first neighbors who we've navigated raising kids alongside!"
***SIDEBAR***
May is National Foster Care Month- Our Journey
Our foster care journey began as we had a front-row seat watching my sister and brother-in-law start their foster journey a few years ago. The change we got to witness in the future of our now nieces, and the words of my brother-in-law pricked our hearts and convictions, "If your life is comfortable, think about making a change." Foster care holds no guarantees and it doesn't require an empty schedule or a certain amount in your bank account - it simply takes a willing and available heart to say yes to the next step.
For us, we started by saying yes to attending a 6-week class at Watermark called Intro to Foster Care and Adoption. The class helped us process decisions, motivations, parenting, and even wrap our heads around if it was doable (and wise) to do this with both of us working full time. When this class ended we prayerfully considered and processed each next yes with our family and community group until we found ourselves licensed and opening our door to our first placement.
I'm a planner by nature and fostering has stripped me of the false sense of security and control I thought I had, but what I do know is God has great plans for P. We may be a blip on his radar, but our family is forever changed.
Living in the tension of loving deeply and getting attached to a child we also hope will be safely reunited with family we find these words from the wonderful resource, Foster the Family Blog, encouraging, "Attachment is the whole point of this after all. Kids don't just need homes and food and "caretakers." They need families. Families who are willing to give these kids their hearts, love them as their own and get "too attached." Because, really, I don't think there is such a thing. I don't think you can give too much of your heart, love too much, or provide too much care. I've chosen not to hold and hoard, but to be gloriously, stupidly generous with it. I believe that love and attachment are the greatest gifts I can give to my foster children, so I give them freely. I get attached."
There are tons of ways to support foster kids and families so if we can be a resource to help someone jump in in any capacity it would be our joy to connect with you!
For us, we started by saying yes to attending a 6-week class at Watermark called Intro to Foster Care and Adoption. The class helped us process decisions, motivations, parenting, and even wrap our heads around if it was doable (and wise) to do this with both of us working full time. When this class ended we prayerfully considered and processed each next yes with our family and community group until we found ourselves licensed and opening our door to our first placement.
I'm a planner by nature and fostering has stripped me of the false sense of security and control I thought I had, but what I do know is God has great plans for P. We may be a blip on his radar, but our family is forever changed.
Living in the tension of loving deeply and getting attached to a child we also hope will be safely reunited with family we find these words from the wonderful resource, Foster the Family Blog, encouraging, "Attachment is the whole point of this after all. Kids don't just need homes and food and "caretakers." They need families. Families who are willing to give these kids their hearts, love them as their own and get "too attached." Because, really, I don't think there is such a thing. I don't think you can give too much of your heart, love too much, or provide too much care. I've chosen not to hold and hoard, but to be gloriously, stupidly generous with it. I believe that love and attachment are the greatest gifts I can give to my foster children, so I give them freely. I get attached."
There are tons of ways to support foster kids and families so if we can be a resource to help someone jump in in any capacity it would be our joy to connect with you!