My Story by Shawna

After being in 13 foster homes from the age of 4, I aged out of foster care at 17 years old with no support or any idea of what to do next.  From 17 years old until my adult age, my life was very unstable.  I moved from place to place or shelter to shelter.  Although being a very smart and ambitious woman, I was forced to put my education on hold to support myself.  At the age of 27, with God's help, I was able to break away from an abusive relationship.

​I am 28 years old now and am 7 months pregnant.  About 2 months ago, I had no idea how I would be able to support my baby boy financially.  I knew, without having had completed school and working a minimum wage job, things would be very hard and in some sense, impossible.

God showed me that He had a higher plan for me and directed me to New Beginnings: A Home for Mothers.  I have been here for a little over a month and have started parenting classes twice a week, have developed a healthier relationship with God (through church and devotion), and have signed up to attend school to complete my accounting degree starting this summer.  Without the worries of having no roof over my head, I not only have been able to focus on my education goals, but also on my parenting skills, and my health as well.  With no more self-doubt, I am very optimistic about our future!

Allesundrea (Shawna) joined the New Beginnings Family February 2018.  She is expecting a baby boy in May.  She plans on going to school and get her degree in accounting.

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