Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all…Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense… – 1 Cor 13:4-6 Passion Translation

Hope first came to Amarillo Childrens Home over 10 years ago when she was seven – the youngest of five siblings who became part of our family. ACH is unique in our ability to keep brothers and sisters together, even with a wide-spread age span. We adored this little bunch – poured into them, celebrated them and worked to keep those familial ties strong.

When the sibling group was adopted five years later, we waved goodbye with tears in our eyes and hope in our hearts.

When they stumbled back to us, wounded and shell-shocked from the failure of that adoption, we worked to nurture them back to emotional health. And when it became clear Hope needed more closely-supervised care than we could offer her, we made the hard decision to let go once more.

Kids leave ACH for all kinds of reasons – some return home or go to live with a relative, some graduate and decide to move out on their own, some are adopted and, sadly, a few need a different environment and we have to recognize we aren’t what is best for them at the time.

Our doors do not close to our kids. If an ACH kid once again needs a place to live, we find a spot for them if at all possible.

When Hope was able to move back, our answer was an unequivocal, “YES!” No question.

When she arrived on campus, sta. who had known her since she was seven – who knew the details of her difficult journey, and who knew the power of being known and unconditionally loved – full-on ran across campus to hug her and express joy at her return.

When she smiled broadly and relaxed into the hugs and the welcome, it was obvious to everyone – she was so glad to be home.