Searcy Lions Club for Adoption, Thanks for Having Me.

Mandy Heaton, Branch Manager of the Liberty Bank, Lowes Branch and me, Lola Philpott, at the Searcy Lions Club

On Tuesday I had the great honor to speak to the Searcy Lions Club.  That was pretty neat, since my sister is also a member!  I spoke about our Adoption Through Foster Care journey to many local bankers, businessmen and women and Harding University staff and professors.  I did my first ever Power Point presentation and started in the beginning when we had the unfortunate experience of a miscarriage early on, in 1999.  I used that example to also describe what it was like having a "failed adoption" with a boy we had hoped to adopt about 5 years ago.  When that too failed, it felt like "a miscarriage of the heart."  My point is, I've experienced them both and know the hurt and frustration and the heart break with each one. Miscarriage of any kind is like a death.  The end.  And it hurts. 

But I also talked about the joys of fostering and how that lead to two of our beautiful gifts from God, of course John and Addy.  And how we found the strength to continue our journey through Presley, our only biological child.  The child that prayed nonstop for a baby sister and an older brother, even though "the books" all warned us against going outside of birth order.  I guess Jesus forgot to read those books too, because he sure put John and Addy in our family for a reason! 

I enjoy speaking about this topic, obviously, because it is so important.  I just believe that foster kids deserve permanancy that adoption brings to not only a child, but a committed family as well.  I believe it is our christian duty to honor our Lord by taking care of these children that may feel the least in the eyes of society.  These kids didn't ask to be put in foster care and I say that a lot, but it's true and often forgotten.  Lots of people get caught up in stereotypes and forget the faces attatched to foster care.  So, I feel like it's my job, as a Christian, a Mother, an example to others, to take care of what God gives us as gifts...these kids.  Two of which are mine forever. 

I went over my allotted time a tad bit Tuesday, but I guess that was ok.  I do tend to be a little long winded, or I prefer the term, "passionate!"  Several people shared personal stories afterward and many hugged me with tears in their eyes, so I hope I touched people.  And again, I thank the Searcy Lions Club for the opportunity. 

I have been asked if I'd be interested in speaking to the Rotary Club in May and of course I said "YES!"  So, we'll see if that pans out.  I'll have to give the Readers Digest version, as I may only get half as much time to talk about something I could really go on for days about!

Also, Tuesday, John has his first track meet.  He is throwing shotput and discus and he wants to try the long jump at the next meet.  I'm so proud of him! He works out every morning with the football team, every afternoon with the track team and he still manages to make pretty good grades!  We have been so blessed by all 3 of our "gifts from God!"




Darvin Knight, Sales and Estimates and David taking care of paperwork.



On the business side of things, Spring is looking great!  We have 2 homes that can be ready to be moved into within 30 days, which is how long it would take to close anyway.  Two more in the construction stage and as soon as we begin building our personal home, the new house we built at the end of last year and moved into when we flipped our last house will be ready to be on the market and sold!  So we have lots of options for home buyers right now, from the $150's to the $225,000 range, we can fit your needs. Philpott Builders finally has an office, just off South Main street and we have been busy getting the office set up as well as both shop bays ready for the guys to work in.  The shops are heated and cooled which may spoil the guys as they're used to working in houses without those luxeries!  However, all this convienence should make us more efficient and more organized, thus, passing the savings onto the customers!  We are so looking forward to 2012.

One more thing about foster care before I forget.  We got a call for a 22 month old baby boy tonite and although we don't usually take the small ones, we decided it would be ok on this emergency basis-plus it was one of our favorite case workers!  So, we hung up the phone thinking that in just a few hours we have a little one running around again, even if only for a short time. 
We always let the kids have a say in the kids we take in; but since this was a baby and only temporary, we figured they'd be ok.  So, we pulled the kids together and told them we were getting a new todldler.  They were excited, especially the girls! Well we no sooner got the "news" out that we recieved another call saying DHS had found a more permanent foster home for this sweet boy and so he wouldn't be coming to afterall.  We were all disappointed.  But poor Addy....she got angry!  When you're 5, how else do you show confusion?  She said, "But Mama!! I don't understand!"  Bless her heart, so I had to explain how this little boy did need a family, but he needed what was best for him, not what was fun for us! I tried to explain that we were only going to be able to keep him a few days because of our schedules, but that another family could keep him much longer, if need be. She seemed ok with this and quickly moved onto play dough and singing songs. 

Found this on Facebook today and loved it.  See what a differene two small changes made?  Two.  The difference between life.  And death. 

Thanks for reading!                                                             
Lola Philpott