Another year is coming to a close. It is always a bit jarring to realize how quickly time seems to pass – especially with children. One year can be such an enormous growth spurt both physically and emotionally. Our kids are moving toward adulthood and we are in new territory.
In 2019, five of our kids will graduate from college. We are so very proud of them and all the hard work they have put into their education. We are already talking about what comes next. These will be our first to transition to an adult life beyond our walls. This is a moment filled with joy, excitement for the future and trepidation as they venture into a world of uncertainty.
As parents, we are filled with the same excitement and joy with a small measure of worry – as all parents do – as we begin to build the framework for departure. Of course, we will always be a family and the kids will be home for holidays, visits and just to hang out with their many siblings.
This is the moment we have been working toward for nearly 15 years. This has been the primary purpose of Hope Now all along – to ensure that these amazing children go out into the world with the tools they need to be successful.
They will continue to face rejection that comes with the label HIV, and they will face challenges other children do not. We have spent all these many years preparing them, talking with them, walking with them and building a support network they can rely on for as long as they need it.
Hope Now matters! Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed. Hope Now is the bridge to possibility. We go into the New Year with a renewed sense of hope and wonder as our kids continue to grow. We thank you for all of your support over this past year and look forward to working together in the years to come.