Adoption Stories

October 2016

• Benjamin 11/21/2016 (one of TruLight’s first adoptions!)
• Elijah 9/25/2018

We did not choose, God chose us. We tried to have a child of our own for almost 6 years, even tried fertility treatments. I wanted to take a break from the treatments for physical, emotional, financial reasons and just about a week later we learned of a new born baby (Benjamin) who was placed with our friend, but she was not able to keep him. She asked us if we would consider adopting him- this is how we learned about fictive or kinship placement.

TruLight was suggested to us by CPS — we had actually started the licensing process with another agency in San Antonio, but it just didn’t feel right, it didn’t feel like home. Once we learned of how close TruLight was and that the owner used to work for CPS we know it was gonna be the right fit. We knew we would have the guidance we needed.

July 16, 2016

• Kai-Lee Faith 8/21/2016
• Bailey Rae 8/2/2019

I chose TruLight to foster/Adopt because Sondra showed me that not only is she there for the kids, she is here to support the families.

I chose TruLight because they show love to the kids, they are there to help and support the families and they help out wherever they are needed.

July 2017

• January 29, 2018

We believed there was so much we could provide to children who just needed a second chance on life. Whether for a day or a lifetime, a child deserves to feel safe and loved and we wanted to share our love. 

When our previous agency decided to cease their operations in San Antonio. We had a meet and greet at their offices. Tiffany immediately started to just talk to us as if we were like family. There wasn’t any formal “business” like speeches prepared, she was genuine and the one thing that stuck with me was, “we’ve been through it. We’re going through the process now and we will be with you every step of the way.” She knew the feelings we would be going through and could relate. Also, Trulight127 being faith based was a big one for us. We have been so truly blessed with our decision.  Knowing everyone and seeing their hearts and love to the kids of South Texas makes it clear that we made the right choice with you all!

Respite Certified August 2017 (expedited foster certified to keep Charlie November 2017)

• December 19, 2018

Fostering was laid in my heart when I was 7 years old by Wednesday’s Child snippets on San Antonio TV news stations circa 1982. Fast forward to 2017 – my husband, Chris, saw the 2017 advertisement announcing we are in a National shortage of foster homes. Chris said to me, “Hey, have you seen the new foster commercial? Do you want to foster?” I don’t think he even finished the sentence before I started the application. It’s so funny (and scary) how God KNOWS the deepest of our heart’s desires even if we have never spoken them.

Adopt: We decided to adopt one night after Charlie was very, very sick with thrush and was recently diagnosed as legally blind. I think it just finally dawned on me that Charlie was never just going to bounce into this bubbly happy spirited little boy. He was going to continue to be a ton of work….and I just feared that no one would have the patience to handle him. Chris looked at me after we were literally passing the baby back and forth all night (drug/alcohol babies are very often inconsolable) – he said , “________ is not going to be able to handle him. We need to have a serious talk”…I’ll spare the rest of the minute details as Chris avoided the talk for two weeks….I finally said the way it was going to go down….and it did!

TruLight was recommended to me by my co worker who was also a foster parent/Fire Marshall/Realtor…Doug Vogel. I knew if there were any family to model after, it would be the Vogel’s. We went and spent time talking to Melissa and Doug and decided to get our toe wet with respite and babysitting. Then after being an empty nester for 1 month- we went to Disney…ALONE…. when we got the text about taking a one month old drug exposed infant boy in. Charlie was 42 days old……I was a nervous wreck…..42 years old starting completely over. God has me all along and he’s got me again. I chose Trulight127 because they are a Christian agency and I knew if I had an agency that was Christ driven and backed, I had nothing to worry about. I also knew TruLight was growing and I wanted to help them grow by leaps and bounds to help more fosters get placed in licensed homes. Not only did I join TruLight in the foster world, I am known as the local Comal and Guadalupe County liaison of sorts and I love vouching for Trulight127!

August 2017

• 3 boys – 9/27/18
• 2 girls – 12/21/2018/li>

I always wanted to foster. I really wanted 2 teen boys, but ended up with 3 little boys, then their sisters. I adopted to keep them all together and to give them a better life in a loving family.

Sondra is the bomb! She is the real deal and super knowledgeable, caring, supportive and I love the support TruLight gives their families.

initially in Jan/Feb 2018, updated June 2019

• December 18, 2019

This is a long story, but I will try to keep it brief. Matt and I went through infertility several years ago and explored adoption as an option to begin our family then. God had a different idea and I had 3 biological children in less than 4 years. Fast-forward several years later and adoption had never left our hearts. Although some things did change: we were no longer looking for a newborn-only adoption. The foster to adopt option became very interesting. Sometime into our trainings, I read a quote by Helen Keller, “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” I knew that I wanted to jump in and be a part of overcoming the suffering in this world. We wanted to adopt and forever change the suffering of children in our community.

Actually, we chose TruLight out of sheer convenience at first. The meetings and trainings would all be near our house. We honestly didn’t know how to research agencies so we just went 100% practical. NOW we know, we truly got lucky. We love TruLight – their philosophy, their case managers, their compassion, all of it. I cannot recommend them enough.

March 17, 2017

• January 11, 2019

Because we always dreamt of having more children, unfortunately for us biologically it wasn’t possible. We felt fostering to adopt would allow us to help kids in need during the process of extending or family. We knew we would never regret helping a child, even if it didn’t lead to adoption.

We chose Trulight because they came highly recommended by a current foster family. Sondra was upfront and honest answering all my questions before, during and after the licensing process. We were supported 100%!

We are a military family and have been licensed several times in two different states

• Son – February 2015
• Sibling Sister – July 2016
• Baby Girl – February 2020

We believe that children are a gift from God. We are truly blessed by them. The need is so great for hurting kids and we wanted to do something!! A great and mighty woman once said “that everyone can do something”.

August 2018

• Sibling group of 3: Sofie, Junior, Bella – June 28, 2019
• Baby Brother, AJ – September 5, 2019
• Baby Sister, Pita – May 2020

We’ve been married 16 years and have always wanted children. We both come from large families. We felt called to adopt and specifically to keep a sibling group together. I wanted to get licensed for the max and Rudy said let’s just start with 2 or 3. Well, from one day to the next, we went from 0 to 3 children and it’s now been 15 months and we have 5 biologically related siblings. Sofie is 6, Junior 5, Bella 3, AJ 16 months, and Pita 4 months old. We are blessed beyond belief!

Initially, we were licensed with the state and they closed the licensing department. Another private agency was taking way too long to process our paperwork. I asked if they knew of anyone else who could get it done more quickly and that agency recommended TruLight. About a week in to it, we got an email from or youngest son, AJ’s 1st Foster mom. She said, out of curiosity are you transferring to TruLight. We said yes. She said that’s the agency where I work!!!! What a Godsend. We’re still friends with Aimee Hill to this day.

Originally licensed in 2000 in Massachusetts.

Being a military family we have been licensed in 5 states over the years.

We have been licensed in Texas since February 13, 2017.

• November 23, 2004
• February 7, 2013
• July 30, 2019
• April 14, 2020

We chose foster to adopt because before joining the Army, my husband was a case manager with a foster care agency. We saw a need to help and realized that we would be able to provide a stable, loving home to these children.

Over the years, we have fostered close to 30 children. Over 20 just in Texas.

When we first moved to Texas, I found a group of friends that were actually fostering through the agency that Sondra used to work at. We immediately felt a connection to Sondra and trusted her completely. We could tell that she was very passionate about what she did. She radiated God through her works.

We started the process and were almost licensed, but unfortunately, my father got sick. We put our licensing on hold while I moved out of state to help with my father. After he passed away, I returned to Texas and wasn’t in a position to finish the process. By the time I felt ready to get the process started again, Sondra has started TruLight127.

We knew in our hearts that we had to follow Sondra’s mission. We had to start the process over from square one, but it was so worth it. We completely believed in TruLight127’s mission and both Sondra and Yomi’s hearts. We have never felt such a sense of family and support as we do with TruLight127. They truly have been a blessing to our family and to the community.

1993

• 1992
• 1994
• 1996
• 1997 (3)
• 1999
• 2000
• 2003
• 2013 (2)
• 2014 (2)

I can’t remember exactly why we decided to adopt. We were just always going to, but only one or two. Then we sort of fell into the special needs category by accident because black children were considered special needs. (Yes — that’s nuts)

The agency we were going through had us as “experienced special needs parents.” We took a little boy who was drug affected and after, we realized we loved doing this so the kids just seemed to keep coming all by themselves.

We wanted an agency that cared for the children and families both during and after placement, one that provided case workers who did their jobs, and who understood the real issues of adoption through foster care — and educated parents about it. We had seen too many failed adoptions.

But mostly we knew Sondra and trusted her to do it right. So we went with TruLight as soon as it was open. We were able to adopt four times with Sondra.