Help me take my family of 9 to Disneyland
Donation protected
Hey, I'm Joshua, and I'm about to ask for your help. Buckle up, the story is kind of long, and I apologize in advance.
One year ago, I was living in a 3 bedroom track home in CA with my best friend. Two bachelors with not much to lose. A year later, I am the father, grandfather, or step father to 7 children, and a fiancée to what I would call the most amazing woman I have ever known. Sounds crazy, but true.
Last year I moved to Iowa to be with my girlfriend, who already had two small daughters. In April of last year, we got pregnant. Life was rapidly changing, and I was doing all I could to lay a foundation for our growing family. I also have a 16 year old daughter who, along with her two younger siblings (not mine biologically) were living in a pretty rough situation. I had tried to get custody for many years to no avail. In October, I finally got my chance, and along with my beautiful fiancé, we were lucky enough to get guardianship of her and her two younger siblings (6 and 9) . We also had an added bonus of finding out that my 16 year old daughter was pregnant on the way down to pick them up. On December 31st, my son Matteo was born. On March 14th my Grandaughter Skarrla was born.
In the last year, I have gone from having a normal work schedule to putting in back to back to back 12 hour shifts to make sure I can give these kids the lives they deserve. With all the children in the house, it became clear that my fiancé would have to stay home, so I just kept getting myself in to more shifts until I realized I'm just not really home much other than to eat, shower, and sleep. It's a sacrifice I would make 100% of the time for these kids.
Life is wild for me and these kids right now. We are working on getting them therapy for the trauma they have experienced. Doctors appts, dentist, new school after not being in school for 3 years. Had to get a new house, new beds, new car, New diets, etc etc etc. It's a hard adjustment for everyone, but especially these precious kids.
Being the only one who can work means one source of income in a pretty expensive life. I'm not complaining. I love these kids, and would work 24 hours a day if I had to, but I want to give them more. Like I said, they have been through it, and have never really had the opportunity to be kids. I want to give them that opportunity at the happiest place on earth.
Growing up, my mom was a hard working single mother of two. We didn't have much, but occasionally my mom would do something crazy like get a second mortgage, because she wanted to take us to Disneyland. It was her happy place, and she really kind of instilled that in to both of her children too. I have this hilarious image of me being all super dad with my Teva sandals and a fanny pack, wrangling 7 kids around Disneyland and showing them all the things my mom showed us when we were kids. I feel like that would be a healing experience for them, and there is nothing I want more than for them to heal. They are good kids, who have some problems I know we will be able to overcome. I honestly feel like a trip like this for them would be a step in that direction. Maybe some would disagree with me, but I truly believe that. They have never had anything like that.
So, I am asking for help, because with how much our life costs me right now, there is just no foreseeable future where I can accomplish this without help.
If you're feeling generous, and want to help a couple of really good kids achieve something they probably don't think could ever happen to them, then please do what you can.
We appreciate you dearly, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Love,
Joshua, Julya, Kaiya, Aidric, Cee, Shiloh, Lu, Matteo, and Skarrla.
One year ago, I was living in a 3 bedroom track home in CA with my best friend. Two bachelors with not much to lose. A year later, I am the father, grandfather, or step father to 7 children, and a fiancée to what I would call the most amazing woman I have ever known. Sounds crazy, but true.
Last year I moved to Iowa to be with my girlfriend, who already had two small daughters. In April of last year, we got pregnant. Life was rapidly changing, and I was doing all I could to lay a foundation for our growing family. I also have a 16 year old daughter who, along with her two younger siblings (not mine biologically) were living in a pretty rough situation. I had tried to get custody for many years to no avail. In October, I finally got my chance, and along with my beautiful fiancé, we were lucky enough to get guardianship of her and her two younger siblings (6 and 9) . We also had an added bonus of finding out that my 16 year old daughter was pregnant on the way down to pick them up. On December 31st, my son Matteo was born. On March 14th my Grandaughter Skarrla was born.
In the last year, I have gone from having a normal work schedule to putting in back to back to back 12 hour shifts to make sure I can give these kids the lives they deserve. With all the children in the house, it became clear that my fiancé would have to stay home, so I just kept getting myself in to more shifts until I realized I'm just not really home much other than to eat, shower, and sleep. It's a sacrifice I would make 100% of the time for these kids.
Life is wild for me and these kids right now. We are working on getting them therapy for the trauma they have experienced. Doctors appts, dentist, new school after not being in school for 3 years. Had to get a new house, new beds, new car, New diets, etc etc etc. It's a hard adjustment for everyone, but especially these precious kids.
Being the only one who can work means one source of income in a pretty expensive life. I'm not complaining. I love these kids, and would work 24 hours a day if I had to, but I want to give them more. Like I said, they have been through it, and have never really had the opportunity to be kids. I want to give them that opportunity at the happiest place on earth.
Growing up, my mom was a hard working single mother of two. We didn't have much, but occasionally my mom would do something crazy like get a second mortgage, because she wanted to take us to Disneyland. It was her happy place, and she really kind of instilled that in to both of her children too. I have this hilarious image of me being all super dad with my Teva sandals and a fanny pack, wrangling 7 kids around Disneyland and showing them all the things my mom showed us when we were kids. I feel like that would be a healing experience for them, and there is nothing I want more than for them to heal. They are good kids, who have some problems I know we will be able to overcome. I honestly feel like a trip like this for them would be a step in that direction. Maybe some would disagree with me, but I truly believe that. They have never had anything like that.
So, I am asking for help, because with how much our life costs me right now, there is just no foreseeable future where I can accomplish this without help.
If you're feeling generous, and want to help a couple of really good kids achieve something they probably don't think could ever happen to them, then please do what you can.
We appreciate you dearly, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Love,
Joshua, Julya, Kaiya, Aidric, Cee, Shiloh, Lu, Matteo, and Skarrla.
Organizer
Joshua Smith
Organizer
Urbandale, IA