Listening to the little voice...

We all have that little voice in our head that guides us through our lives, some call it intuition, some say they are inspired by it. Because of my faith, I call it the still small voice, or my comforter. Through my religion I have come to know the comforter as one of my best friends. I cannot see him, but when I am down he comforts me. When I am frustrated he calms me. When I am in trouble he warns me. He prompts me to do things I may not normally do by my own choice. He helps me grow in ways I could never have imagined possible. How do you have a relationship with someone you can't see you may ask? We'll I would like to share my story with you as I start this new blog. It will help me keep a journal of the amazing miracles and trials that have changed my life and family forever. My hope is that they will change a piece of you too. I will write segments as they come back to my mind and new ones that may come in between. My name is Tiffany McDonald. I have lived in Southern Utah most of my life. Never would I have ever imagined growing up to raise four of my own beautiful children, but also help in raising many more wonderful children brought into this world by other mothers who came across difficult situations or tragedies that lead the children to our door step. Our home is a small, old one that often needs fixing, but it is a happy one. People who come into our humble home say they feel the love here and feel welcomed immediately. I sure hope so because that is what I feel I have to offer in this life. I have to say that we are so blessed to live in such a beautiful, most wonderful place where everyone is so quick to lend a hand. We have good old fashion neighbors who help out and have chosen not to judge us for our out of the normal choices and sudden additions to our big family. The Schools where our kids attend is filled with teachers that truly care about the kids and their education and go above and beyond to help meet personal needs. I can't imagine raising all of our amazing kids anywhere else! I'm thankful to the Foster Care Foundation here in St George and DCFS here and in Cedar City for their support and what they do for the kids in need. My goal is to share my experience as a foster mom and to inspire more people to learn more about foster care and how they can make a difference in a child's life. My plan was never to take teenagers from different walks of life into our home, especially with four little kids. We were so scared of all the "what if's" when we were first talking about foster care. I think just like most people, we were afraid of the unknown. I was worried about it "changing" our biological kids. Well I will tell you that it has. It has changed them SO much, but not in the way I was worried about! It has helped them see EVERYTHING in a different light. It has made them stronger. It has made them appreciate everything they have. It has increased their ability to love and their knowledge about life and consequences of the choices they make in life. I was so afraid of change and what I didn't realize is that change can be wonderful. Change is necessary to move forward and for growth. Growth we sometimes don't realize we even need! I truly can't imagine our life without ALL of our children. I know they were lead to our life for a reason. I sit here in tears and think about, What if I didn't call back to ask more questions about the two teen girls they asked us to take in 9 years ago after I said NO WAY and hung up in fear for our four little children ranging in age from 1-7. (I will start with that full story as my first blog post;) I will tell you that when I called back the more they told me didn't help me feel any better because it was A LOT to overcome. But that didn't matter, because I felt an overwhelming love in my heart and butterflies in my stomach as I listened. I have come to understand and recognize that as the spirit from above that prompts me to see things on a higher level. I get answers and also the courage to choose to welcome new children that are sent to our little home with loving open arms, and from there, it hasn't stopped and I'm thankful and amazed at these kids sent here. I've learned that life can change in a moment and I never expect my day to go as I have planned anymore. I've learned that even when things don't seem possible, if it's meant to be, against the odds it will work out. I've learned that you HAVE to trust that little voice in your head and do things sometimes when even those that are closest to you logically and lovingly try to talk sense into you.Our life is always an adventure. We need more good, normal, busy families to open their hearts and homes to these kids in need of love and a family of their own. Holidays are coming and some kids write to Santa and pray to Heaven only for a family to love them. Foster care, it changes lives. Not only the child in need but YOU and your family too. There are kids waiting. Please follow me on my faithful journey. ~Tiffany