The Dream of Family: Tara and London's Story
At one time, Tara Davis was a single female in her late thirties, unsure if the role of mother would be woven into her story. But with a plan in mind, God saw her, and he saw 15-year-old London, who would become her daughter. God’s story for us doesn’t always turn out like we plan, but we can trust he always has a grander story in mind—a more complete story than one we could imagine.
THE ROAD UNEXPECTED
“I remember talking to my friend at church, and she said to me, ‘Have you ever thought about foster care?’” Tara had been pondering what it may look like to welcome a child into her home. Around the same time, her church had started sharing with the congregation about foster care.
Tara says it suddenly became a theme that kept coming up. “Also at that same time, I heard a story on the radio. It was a 17-year-old boy, and he stood up in church and said, ‘Would someone please adopt me so that I do not age out of foster care?’” Tara continues, “And I really identified with that as a single female who did not have a family to call my own, hearing this young boy's story who wanted a family desperately . . . Fostering, whether or not that led to adoption, was what I was interested in, and I had my heart open to whatever God had for me.”
Tara took those next steps to become a foster parent. She was licensed with ABCH and soon began to foster with us. After a while, her social worker let her know there was a potential, adoptive placement at our Campus Care home in Mobile.
BECOMING A FAMILY
London, at almost 15 years old, assumed she would age out of foster care without ever having a family to call her own. “You don’t really hear of 15-year-olds getting adopted,” London says. What she didn’t know was that behind-the-scenes, her social worker and Tara’s social worker were working together to see if they could be a great fit.
Eventually, Tara and London met, and at this point they both had learned that adoption was a very real possibility for them. Hopes and nerves were high, but they quickly found lots to talk about! London says, “It went really well, and I couldn't wait to see her again. I liked going on visits—it was really fun!” From there, they continued to see each other on visits and got to know one another. It wasn’t long until Tara and London started pursuing adoption.
“It kind of happened naturally,” Tara says, “God's timing always has to come together.” They both saw those details come together and both felt right about moving forward as a family. London adds, “I don't know when I really felt it, but I just knew I wanted it. I thought: I have someone that loves me. I have someone who wants to be my family, and I want to be with her too. So many children are in the same spot (as I have been) and don’t have someone that loves them.”
The dream of family came true for both Tara and London, as London’s adoption was made official on January 18, 2019!
LOOKING BACK AND AHEAD
While London knows she has been blessed with someone to call her family, she is passionate about helping other teens who cannot say the same.
“Without foster care, I would not be the person I am today. The biggest thing that foster care has taught me is advocacy.” London continues, “When I become an adult, I want to base my whole career around the foster care system, especially teens . . . We really need stability, and we need people to say, Hey, I'm not going to leave you. I'm here for you. I love you.”
From a foster parent perspective, Tara shares the support she’s had from our social work team has been invaluable. “Whether through foster care or adoption, it's been a relief for me to have this group come alongside me and help support me; it's helped relieve some of my stress and anxiety.”
For both of their journeys in foster care and adoption, faith has played a big role in getting to where they are today. London came to know Christ while in our Campus Care home and has loved learning about God and getting more connected at her church. For Tara, acknowledging there’s so much out of her control, trusting God along the way has been key. She says, “Sometimes things don’t happen the way I think they should or in the timing that I think they should happen. But he takes care of it all and in so much better of a way than I ever could.”
If you’d like to learn more about our foster care ministry and how you can be a part, please visit us here.