mariah carey - Fly Like A Bird - The Emancipation Of Mimi

Aretha Franklin - Bridge Over Troubled Water

Ramen Noodles May Lead to Chronic Illness | Food & Drink | Lifestyle | Mainstreet

Ramen Noodles May Lead to Chronic Illness | Food & Drink | Lifestyle | Mainstreet

foster parents:

you can always start over if you mess up anything in life, BUT if your health is bad and you have no money for doctors or can't cure an illness, no one can help you if you die, so eat right starting now. Remember my brother died at 41 of heart disease..and he had a body like a sports player! bad eating habits will kill you! You can do anything in life--if you have your health...make good choices now.

Have a happy new year and have your kids write down their goals for the new year!

post them on the wall in their room,

have them look at them every day and take action!!

xo Tanya

EX FOSTER KIDS UNITE: what is your biggest fear after foster care?

EX FOSTER KIDS UNITE: what is your biggest fear after foster care?: "Hi blog family! What is your biggest fear after care? HOMELESSNESS! quite often when you leave foster care you are faced with many challenge..."

this was not written by me, but i will share xo

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio .

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40 If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

find the talent/gift

If you have a foster child, please do all you can to find that child's gift or talent. drawing, singing, dancing, speaking, art, sports, they were born with a special talent, it is up to the caregiver to nurture and develop that gift.
Please raise your kid as if you are raising the next King or Queen to help the world-this will give you more patience and be caring in your chestizing. Calculate every move, friends they make, school work, dress, try to guide them to greatness. Thanks for all of your hard work! please post if you have any questions!

Fosterparent Parent roles

hi foster parents! please share this information with your foster kids-teach them they are special and need to be groomed for their life mission. Your job is to guide them to greatness.

Let your foster kids know:

I know it was hard being in care, especially if you were taken from your parents, they died or they gave you away.

I have good news for them that should help them get it! 

Tell them: Don't carry bad emotions into adulthood, express what you need to now. 

Work on how to make you better now.

 Yesterday already happend!  No crying over spilt milk-unless it's to get it out and process!

A PARENTS ONLY JOB SOMETIMES--IS TO GET YOU HERE!

yes, you heard me right. not all parents were meant to raise the children they birth. 

Why?

 Because the universe has many good people waiting to help  in your life journey.

You must always remind them: remember this life is not about YOU, it's about WHAT you do to save or change a life.  What example are you setting for your foster kids to make their lives better and more productive?

They were born with a gift that no one else has. 

They weas born to keep someone else from dying or being sad-

 to find a cure for cancer, AIDS-

You were born to help these kids become great leaders of our future - who will rule this planet with their new innovative ideas!

You were born for a reason as well, to assist them!

Now that you know this - teach them 

-live your life EVERY day thinking: what is my mission TODAY to find out what my gifts are AND how can I help save or change a life today?

Your problems always seem smaller when you are helping others. Things may be rough at times-as life bring many things our way-especially fosterkids it seems but don't take it personal, consider it a challenge or lesson to learn.

When their back is against the wall- will they come out fighting or wither away because they are scared? NOT!

 They came this far - certainly nothing is worse than losing a parent or siblings to foster care! If they made it through- tell them to think of why and then why not you? 

Tell them: not everyone is made as strong as you-that is why you are chosen!

 Life has many challenges-but they must face them with their head high and walk proud because the universe needs them and someone needs your help and theirs-

who are you going to help while helping yourself become the great star that you are? 

Tell them to: Go out into the world each day shinning like a star! You have divine purpose xo Tanya

Anthony Robbins: The Power Of Clarity And Purpose

Movie on 2010-07-20 at 10.32.mov

EX FOSTER KIDS UNITE: surviving foster care and making it work for you i...

EX FOSTER KIDS UNITE: surviving foster care and making it work for you i...: "hi blog family- it is finally ready (without orginal cover). I had to make sure copyright was in effect due to artistical thieves who use yo..."

raising winners

hi all! I hope your day was filled with love and the great challenges of your children!
What can we do to foster good parenting?
1. discipline will teach your child that they cannot have everything they want-when they want and that they must work for it. You can do time out or take away things they don't need but love, (tv- an event ie dance , facebook...fb (as they call it":) let them know the consequences for not behaving well or following your reasonable rules...without hatred or mean spiritness please...
2. get to know their world-it is not easy being a teen or kids, especially in a fostering situation! Know that they will not talk, walk or think like you...(not yet..wink...) they do have their own minds and we as parents must honor that.
3. Allow them room to "mess up" or learn a lesson, (as long as no one is hurt)..they cannot test their muscle of "no or yes" unless they learn when and how to say it effectivly..(peer pressure, drugs, sex, bad people, places or things)... let them exsercise decision making skills...your there to pick them up when and if they fall...not carry them...:) (this is a smiley face the kids use all the time on fb (facebook)...i am familiarizing you with THEIR language!
4.Let them know that your in this raising thing togeather and you are not perfect and your willing to meet them halfway BUT your still in charge....not the bff (best friend)... especially with teens... if they think you are perfect and you mess up-they will callyou on it!! You cannot back track on discipline when you are living badly, (drinking, partying out of control, bad abusive relationships, )-they need a role model- tag- your it!!
5. Allow them time to process where they just came from: abuse, neglect, another home, group home...they may act out or not get close because they are scared, you have to allow them time, give them a journal to write in, put them in classes for art, sports, theather etc.. let them release the energy in a good way!! If you have a child with ADD especially keep them busy with artistical or sport things DONOT allow them to sit around watching tv all day--they want to be like whatever or whomever they see and tv is not a good thing. My kids were not allowed to watch tv until 5 years old--why? because they had to be able to tell me the goal of tv --to entertain and more important--to get you to BUY a product!! tv tells your kids how to think, act, what to wear, do, say, who to like, not like, where to live, what to drive, brush your teeth with and now, what medicine you need!! It is frightning how many kids LIVE on TV alone while parents are away making "money" to pay bills....valid but know this: their is no point in  having or raising children UNLESS you can do a BETTER job than your parents AND you can delete past dysfunctional behaviors that the child's family had /and or that your family had...If you were raised with an alcholic dad/mom why would you follow that path? kids do what they see and they attract the same drama they learned in childhood!!
thanks for all your hard work-you were chosen and your kids are our future kings and queens!!
Talk soon Tanya

Fostering Connections