May is coming!

Hi blog family!

Yes, I was away because my computer was not working!!  I am back!! lol... hope you are all well!
Just letting you know,

left side is my brother Rob... :) nice smile right...it got us thru foster care...and he was the cutest kid, (along with my other baby brother that i am searching for (Mark)...who should now be around 42 yrs old.. (hint ...he grew up in Elmsford, NY!!)...less than 15 miles from us!!! :( still will not stop searching....the Internet is great!!!

back to the point...... (lol)
save the date: May 18th 2-4 
Place:  Mount Kisco Library, (conference room 2nd fl).. (RSVP)


if you are aging out of foster care in NY and going to trade school or college, please give me your email so i can send you the application!!!! 


Attitude is everything, we want you to apply or tell kids to apply that are aging out in June!!! My brother believed everyone deserves a chance and not everyone is an "A" student....we agree so as long as they got into a school (trade or college), you can have them apply (this is to all the social workers, counselors)...lol...
Fosterkidsunite, will be having its 2nd annual "Robert Cooper Memorial Scholarship" awards ceremony!!  We are still trying to surpass our goal from last year, with the help of Robs friends, we hope to raise enough to award more than 4 aging out this year!!!!
Aside from giving a few young people a stipend for college or trade school, we will also be honoring a Rev from one of the largest residences and a Boys and Girls Club Director, both of whom have done major work with foster and group home kids!
We are hoping to raise awareness on the state of foster kids and how you can help as a community! May is National Foster care awareness month!

Thought for the day: Never allow anyone to steal your joy, be that your smile, your kindness, your patience or your understanding - life is meant to be joyful, loving and prosperous and you should live your life surrounding these principles- even on a day when someone attempts to ruin it!
Remember life is short but that's OK if you enjoyed it and did all you could to be the best you!

smile, someone is watching you....and do all YOU can while YOU can....with WHAT resources YOU have!!!
:) xo
T

surviving foster care & making it work for you book for $4.99

Hi blog family! Save the date may 19th fosterkidsunite will
Be celebrating national foster care awareness month again by awarding
Youth leaving foster care with the Robert cooper memorial Scholorship in mount Kisco, ny!!

When u have a life experience- share it with others!
You can get a copy of Surviving Foster Care and Making it work for you! at www.createspace.com/3587372
$4.99 not a bad price to save or change a life! xo

Tanya

thankful for another year

Hi blog family!

Tomorrow- Feb 9th..... is another year I made it!
When I think of my circumstance;
1. my mom being an addict/alcoholic
2. being abandoned
3. growing up in foster care, being abused at a young age - WOW!

Like myself, many of you have went through or are going through the same challenges.
I want you to always remember God will never let you down, as long as you can celebrate a birthday every year- DO it! Life is precious.

We could have been the ; The "lisa Steinberghs", the kids drowned by there own mother when she put their car in the water with her kids, we could have been aborted, and most important, we could have NOT BEEN HERE!!!
Every day you wake, you should jump out of bed early, happy and ready to face ANY challenges life puts before you because you know If you are alive to tell YOUR story, You are a success!!
Don't EVER give up!
God has many plans fr you if you keep faith, even in the darkest moments.
Always remember your ancestors who survived slavery, holocaust, potato famine etc... how did they do it? Perseverance, positive, love of self, knowing they had a right like anyone else! adopt this attitude!
I want you to never say you hate your birthday (like I use to because i never got what I wanted or no one ever remembered :(
 Its YOUR birthday -
 go out and make it special!
 help someone else in foster care, be a role model....

Thanks to all you blog readers, almost 11,000!!!! wow!
Remember May 19th Fosterkidsunite will be doing another event in Mt. Kisco for foster kids.

anyone living in NY that can attend the event can apply for the Robert Cooper Memorial Scholarship, social workers you may know a foster kid leaving/aging out going to trade school or college, please send me your email and I will send application.

Have a great day and smile, you may save or change a life!!! xo Tanya
ps. computer screen is acting up forgive any typos!!
Always available to speak to your group home or foster kids/parents

aged out?

Hi blog family!

Hope you are all well! Beautiful day out again, go out and enjoy it - get your 45 minutes of exercise everyday!!
\
On a sad note I have been talking to kids who just aged out of foster care less than 6 months ago, already, they are heading in shady areas. Sometimes you graduate and get to college but you get there and realize - you are not motivated! Why? because you are normal! Don't get discouraged if you leave and get into college and it does NOT work out on easy street! It may take you a while to figure out what you are great at and what YOU can do, not what your parent, sibling, friend or agency wants you to do or what's the easiest!

Step back if this happens to you
Pull your resources togeather for a team meeting- yes, contact your former agency and ASK if they can do a team meeting to see how they can assist you!

Remember: YOU ARE not A FAILURE in any way!!!!! This is called.......LIFE!! It happens to us all!! question is what are you going to do next?

and if you are fortunate enough to go back home, DONOT allow your family stress to stress you out - you are not a babysitter, caregiver, your job is to be independent and IF you go back home your parent should not be relying on you to bring home the bacon. It is fair to give your parent some of your earnings but if its all, you need to find transitional housing or a room like the YMCA to rent - so you can save until you figure it out...

NEVER give in or give up - success is only a mile away!!
you are loved, needed and blessed to be alive!! smile, somenone may be watching you!!! xo
Tanya

Hi blog family!

words for the day: Always move forward, rarely look back and don't ever stop achieving for greatness, love and to help others!

xo Tanya

where would we be without you?

Hi blog family!

ask yourself:
Where would this world be without you? Someone would be less, could see less, could be gone, had you not come along.....the next time you think of hurting yourself or giving up, hold on, hold out, we need you!!
Smile, someone is watching you - you may save or change a life!! lol...

Tanya

To Be Heard | A Documentary

this is a must see!

life is not always roses...but you can still grow to be a flower!!

To Be Heard | A Documentary

the message is delivered!

Hi blog family!
I spoke in Syracuse yesterday! They have an amazing team to work with foster kids and parents!! You are in good hands, always take the  help being offered, you can always go back and help someone else!!
I am inspired by the foster youth I spoke to yesterday! They were smart, witty, loving, charming, funny and ready to face life head on with a smile! Thank you for letting me share my story, go out and help others just coming in!! Here is some word of advice.....

No matter what we go thru in life, it can make you stronger, if you stay focued, believe in God or higher power and know that we are all just energy and all things....all things are changing, good bad, etc... in form every second...hold out when hard time comes, pray hard but keep your head high, you are highly blessed and favored!!! We need you in this life to help others, without you someone may not have a great day!!!

Every day you wake - should be a good day, for many will not make it; suicide, depression, murder, death, all very real but YOU are still here! Be grateful for your life. YOur parents are only a vehicle to get you here sometimes- accept it and use it to your advantage!!
Who can you utilize today to help your life go foward after foster care?
1. yourself- trust your instincts
be true to you, love you!
2. friends, counselors: did u make a connection with someone in care, a neighbor, counselor, someone who always had your back - without expecting something other than you doing your best?
3. Faith: know that God and the universe has no "mistakes" he knows you are resilant and able to adjust to anything this life has to offer, so offer YOUR best, even in hard times, help others and love you!
Know that we are all here for Diving purpose, find yours, help others find theirs and live and honest life, stress free by planning your future now....
Remember when hard times hit: NOTHING LAST FOREVER!!! but tuff people, they last thru anything life throws them!!!
Lastly: "WE NEVER GIVE UP!!! failing is not an option you are the best creation in this life,  go getem!!! xoxo Tanya
ps. smile, someone is watching you, you may change or save a life!! :)

speaking today!

Hi blog family!
Yes, my computer is down! but that will not stop me! I have a story to deliver to foster parents today and foster kids tommorrow - nothing will stop me from helping change or save a life!!

Have a blessed day, be kind to everyone you meet!!! xo
Tanya

kindness

Hi blog family!!
Being kind is what I would like for us to think about today! To everyone you meet! Yes, even the.... meany...lol...
Kindness is learned as a young child and if you did not have parents or someone to teach you, you could come off as selfish and it may be just BUT it is no excuse to treat another person bad! Always use good manners and kindness, it only brings positive to your life!

When someone is being mean or ill spirited, it is because they started off on a negative!! Perhaps they are just a negative force - that is not your problem- you want to have a good experience when you cross someone's path, you can't do that by being mean! You catch more fly's with honey" they say....lol..

You can help make it a great day: by remaining positive and loving, even when its hard due to life circumstances OR when the person you deal with is not positive! I tend to avoid negative people at all cost - its contagious!!! lol... Smile, the world is watching you, needs you and you are loved!!!

Have a GREAT day, by being kind and loving to all you meet, you may save or change a life!! xo
Tanya