A Daughter Of My Own

***Please note that all donations will be matched dollar for dollar For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a mother.  As a teacher, I always told each of my students that they were "my kids".  For over 20 years, they were. When my nieces and nephews were little, I took them all the time.  The joke was when I asked to take one of them for a night, my siblings and their spouses always knew that meant the "whole weekend".  It was great because it gave my siblings and their spouses a break.  It was fun taking the kids places, but I always wished that I had a child of my own to have those experiences with. I have always wanted to go through the adoption process, but felt the timing was never quite right.  Many things have happened lately to lead me to start this process now. The last couple years were some of the best years of my life, but also some of the hardest.  On February 9, 2022, I welcomed my first foster daughter, Briana into my life.  She was the most wonderful and precious 5 year old from El Salvador.  She lived with me for 10 amazing months.  On April 5, 2022, I welcomed my adorable and loving little 4 year old, Kimberly from Guatemala into my life.  Kimberly lived with me for the best 15 most memorable months of our time together. I will never forget the phone call I received with the news that Briana was leaving me in three days. My heart was broken.  I was her mom and now my "daughter" was leaving me.  I miss her more than she will ever know and pray that someday she will find me to reconnect.  I saved some very special things to give her in hopes she will find me. On June 30, 2023, it was time for my sweet Kimberly to leave me.  My heart was once again broken.  How could I have the two most precious girls in this world leave me? It was everything I ever dreamed of and now it was over.  I also saved a special box in hopes that my Kimberly will find me some day in the future. It took a while for me to see that God brought those girls to me at just the right time and my job was to help them heal and prepare them for their next journey.  I have never loved two little girls more than my Briana and Kimberly. I know that I have a little girl who is waiting for me and only God knows who she is.  I want nothing more than to be a mother to that sweet little girl. This journey is going to be one of the most challenging but rewarding journeys I will ever take.  It will most likely take 3-4 years until I can bring my sweet girl home.  I will pray each day for her until she is safely in my arms. Although I have been saving for this in hopes that it will happen, I chose to use Adoption Bridge because a lot of the funds are due right away as each process takes place and that can be challenging.  All donations go directly to my adoption agency, Nightlight for my account.  I truly believe that if this is God's plan for me, then He will send the right people to be a blessing and help me with this cause. I will be so grateful for anything one’s heart is willing to give. Your support and prayers mean so much to me! The total cost of the adoption will be approximately $40,000-$50,000. This page is just one way to begin raising money.  Any amount raised above the goal will continue to go toward these costs. If you would like to support me bringing home my little girl, please use the link to donate.  The funds will go directly to my adoption agency and be used toward my adoption.  And all donations are tax deductible. Blessings and thank you! “To adopt a child is a great work of love. When it is done, much is given, but much is also received. It is a true exchange of gifts.” – Pope John Paul II A SPECIAL note from an amazing friend and HUGE supporter, Brian Reid:

• I have known Amy Slagboom for over twenty years. She is one of the most loving, generous and caring people I have ever met. She just adores children. In addition, Amy has dedicated her entire life by being an amazing special needs teacher and reading specialist. Not only did Amy dote on all of her nieces and nephews, she was an absolutely wonderful foster mother to Briana and Kimberly. In addition, Amy also takes great care of three children and their family she met when they were homeless, 4 years ago.

• I am so confident that Amy Slagboom will be such an amazing mother, that I will be matching, dollar for dollar, for all of these tax deductible donations made. I hope my dollar-for-dollar matching offer motivates you to give generously and often. It truly takes a village to raise a child. I pray that everyone will do their part to make this dream a reality. The little girl from Latin America who ultimately gets adopted by Amy will become absolutely the luckiest kid alive! The adopted child will feel such unconditional love from Amy everyday of her life.