Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Day 42: Lost Boys now found

As Thanksgiving approaches, it has me reflecting a bit...on what else, other than what I'm thankful for.  I'll save that post for later this week.  But I will say one thing I am very grateful for, especially with the sub-freezing temperatures we are experiencing, having a home and a roof over our heads.

Jose Robles, a 24-year-old man, also is thankful to have a home.  His life and story are much more challenging than mine, but he was determined to rise above his given circumstances to attain something that could not be taken away from him.  Family.  And a home. 

At the age of 12, Jose had experienced more challenging times than most other pre-teens.  An incarcerated father, an absent mother, foster care, and separation from his 2 brothers who also happened to be his best friends.  Here is a small piece of his story.


"One day their mother said, "Here's $20, I bought you guys some groceries. I'm leaving." Jose said she left the three boys on their own.

Their dad was in jail so authorities removed the boys from the house, split them up, and placed them into foster care. Jose was just 12 at the time and he vowed then to never again let anyone take away his home - which in his mind, meant buying one.

Of course most kids won't save for anything that doesn't involve a video game controller, let alone a house. But Jose started working odd jobs in the 8th grade, and over the next 10 years he was able to amass a $15,000 down-payment.  He bought a foreclosed home earlier this year. It was a dump - but it was his dump." CBS News

The community surrounded Jose and his brothers, and pitched in to renovate the house.  Out-dated and peeling linoleum was removed, carpet replaced, and beautiful wood cabinets and a tile back-splash created a high-end new kitchen.  The brothers live together once again, in a home that is theirs.

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