What Is a Miracle?

We used to think miracles were the big things.
Landing the job you never thought you’d get.
Welcoming the baby you prayed for.
Taking the once-in-a-lifetime vacation.

Today, our definition of a miracle is much simpler:

A safe home.
Full plates at the dinner table.
Lights that stay on.
Stability for a child who needs it most.

On June 19, 2025, our lives changed overnight. Our 12-year-old grandson was sent to live with us due to escalating behaviors that made it unsafe for him to remain where he was. There was no time to prepare, no gradual transition, no plan — just a child who needed family. And family doesn’t hesitate.

We opened our door immediately. Since that day, we have taken on the full responsibility of raising him — emotionally, physically, and financially. Although an adoption subsidy is provided to his mother to support his care, none of those funds have been shared with us. Every expense has fallen to our household alone.

To give him the stability he deserves, we moved into a larger home so he could have space, structure, and consistency. That decision meant higher rent, higher utilities, and significantly increased grocery costs — as anyone raising a growing pre-teen can imagine. We made these sacrifices willingly, because he deserves a chance to feel safe, supported, and grounded.

For over 10 years, I worked steadily and provided for our family. Then, just a few weeks ago, that job ended unexpectedly due to lack of business. The timing could not have been harder.

I am looking for a job everyday. I have put in well over 100 apps in the past few weeks. I have interviewed for 4. I am in a later part of the possible hiring process for one of them.

We are seeking temporary assistance to:
• Catch up on rent and utilities
• Provide groceries for the next few weeks
• Maintain a stable home while we transition into this new chapter

This is not about charity. It’s about keeping a child secure during a moment of upheaval. It’s about making sure that when life changed for him, he landed somewhere steady.

If you are able to help, please know your kindness goes directly toward housing, feeding, and caring for a child who needs consistency more than anything right now.

If giving isn’t possible, sharing our story is just as meaningful.

Right now, a miracle to us looks like making it through these next few weeks — together.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for being part of that miracle.

— Tammy