Being Positive...We are all truly "Blessed"

Positive quotes: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today? Today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

Today truly is a gift. However, most of us are too busy caught up in our lives to recognize this. Often, we can’t wait for the day to end so we can forget about our stresses and challenges. Often, we focus on past mistakes and problems and carry them over. Positive sayings such as this remind us to stop and find enjoyment today. If we did that – taking just five or ten minutes per day- simply to laugh, or smile, or enjoy something we are grateful for – we’d experience a little more positivity in our lives.

Positive quotes have a way of reminding us – it truly is the little enjoyments that matter. Let’s not short-change ourselves. We deserve small injections of positive reminders. Believe me – whatever you are going through in your life will seem a little better if you can rest – just for a few moments each day – from your worries and concerns.

In closing I ask you to keep the homeless, the children and the world of today in your thoughts and prayers and remember...It does start with just that one thought and good deed...Don't give up!

Pray for blessings once again...

As Christmas is fast upon us so is the cold months ahead. We have so many people living on the street and it breaks my heart. This morning as I was driving in to work I saw this woman, she looks to be of african decent, but definitely not from the states originally. I have seen her sitting on the side of the street as I come into downtown for a couple of weeks now and I keep praying for her...She does not appear to be hurt physically not sure about her mental state though...I am praying that God will intercede with her quick though...Last night it got down into the high 20's and my heart is going out to her. She can't be more than late 20's to early 30's. Please keep her in your prayers...God is good...One person at a time is all it takes!

Bill

Pray for the ones on the street...

Weather has been cold this past week...I have been seeing a lot of people on the street...It has been making me think? I know that God is BIGGER than this and will come through...If you are seeing my blog...Please continue to pray. I have a vision and want to help all of those that I can...It may only be a few here and there for now but I know God is bigger.

Happy Thanksgiving...

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I just want to say how thankful I am for Jesus, family, friends and all that I wake up for...We need to keep pushing for the Government to help with the homeless situations of today, we also need to realize that this is not the only answer. You and I have to be humble and realize that it could be you or I if it was not for the grace of God. My challenge to you all as you spend Thanksgiving is to just remember how blessed you are even for the little stuff.(olives...LOL!)

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I will be blogging more next week, don't forget to comeback and support our ventures...Check us all out.

What is Poverty?

What is poverty?

Poverty is a complicated state of being that has been described using many different theories, frameworks and definitions. Like most complicated things, these explanations all reveal bits of truth and all suffer from a lack of complete understanding.

Poverty isn’t just about a lack of money. It has a lot to do with social isolation, something many of us don’t think about.

Ask yourself these questions:
“If I were to lose all my physical assets and money, how long would it take to get a meal?”
“How long would it take to find a place to sleep for the night? For a couple of weeks?”
“How long would it take to get a job?”
Another way of looking at poverty relies on the concept of shalom. The word shalom describes a world in which every person has a position where they are useful and fulfilled and we have good healthy relationships with God, ourselves, the world and other people.

Thus, poverty is the lack of these healthy relationships. People living in poverty do not feel like their lives have meaning. People living in poverty are insecure and make bad decisions to cover up or distract themselves from what they do not like about themselves. People living in poverty work very hard and are not successful; they must consume more than they produce. Finally, people in poverty make daily mistakes in their interactions with others and they find that the other people in their social circle are unreliable. They suffer for the mistakes they make or that others make.

Many people who live in poverty are poor, but their financial problems are more a symptom of poverty than a cause.

Become an Adoptive Parent

In the California foster care system, there are over 80,000 children with a number of these available for adoption. Sadly, one out of five of these children turns 18 and leaves the foster care system without a family. Adopting through the foster care system (also known as fost-adoption) substantially reduces the costs usually associated with adoption and helps the children who need it most. Koinonia Adoption Services specializes in assisting families who wish to adopt through the foster care system and provide a waiting child with a loving, permanent family.

Families who adopt through Koinonia become certified foster and adoptive parents. Through our supportive process the families meet all of the legal and regulatory requirements allowing them to care for a child. In almost all cases, adoptive parents are expected to foster any potential child before an adoption placement is made.

Our commitment is to find families that can best serve these children and give them stable, loving and permanent lifelong commitments that they deserve. The ideal adoptive family is one that is loving, patient, supportive, and that is adopting to fulfill the needs of a child and not their own. While you may think a home like this is common place, the truth is most of these children have never had the opportunity to experience this and we feel it's our responsibility and mission to try and make that a reality.

In addition to the foster parent requirements, adoptive families go through a more detailed home evaluation. Some of the information that is gathered but not limited to includes:
Personal and family background – including the applicant's upbringing, education, marriage(s), life events, etc
Significant people in the lives of the applicants
Direct and extended family relationships
Motivation(s) to adopt
Expectations in adoption
Child ages and background the applicants can best serve
Experiences and feelings about infertility (if an issue)
Parenting and integration of the child into the family
Physical and health history of the applicants
Education, employment and finances – including insurance coverage and child care plans if needed
Criminal and Child Abuse background checks
For more information regarding adopting through the foster care system please read our adoption FAQ or explore our website to learn more about Koinonia and the quality and commitment we stand for.

If you're ready for the next step or simply want more information, please call us or apply online right now.

877-CHILDS-HOPE (877-244-5374)

Information gathered from Koinonia

200,000 Homeless Youth across the state of California...

SACRAMENTO – A new study released Monday underscored the need to improve the safety net for homeless youth in California.

The California Homeless Youth Project found an estimated 200,000 unaccompanied minors aged 12 to 17 experience homelessness each year in California

Studies of homeless youth have found that they are among California’s most vulnerable residents, showing an elevated risk of mental health problems, including anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicide due to increased exposure to violence while living on the street

***Information gathered from a source of Internet sites***