Meet Journey & Jabaez
Although 13-year-old Journey and 11-year-old Jabaez have had many changes in their young lives, one thing that has been consistent for this sister and brother duo is their deep desire to be adopted together. They are a bonded pair who give each other high fives and five-star reviews! It is heartwarming to see their eyes light up whenever they can visit with one another. When asked why they want to be adopted together, the siblings have plenty to say. Jabaez responds that Journey is “my sister who I love because she is loyal and awesome!” On the other hand, Journey makes it clear that her priority in life is being adopted with her brother so she can “help him” manage the emotions he feels and the challenges that each have faced in foster care.
In addition to wanting caring parents who will adopt them together, Jabaez and Journey need parents who will also seek to understand their individual and specific needs. The siblings have endured numerous placements and disruptions that led to them living apart from one another and resulted in some emotional setbacks over the past years. They are hopeful that one day they will have a mom and/or dad who will provide them with a forever home and the help required to cope with past traumas.
It is so much fun to get to know Journey and Jabaez and their interests and needs. Journey is a strong-willed young teen who has a keen sense of independence. She is a sporty teen who enjoys playing basketball, volleyball and singing and dancing. Chinese food is her favorite cuisine, and she especially loves cooking and trying new foods. At times, Journey is willing to listen and take advice from caretakers on how she can reach the high ambitions that she has for herself. At other times, she is set on her own ideas of how to carve her own path and it can require patience and time to encourage Journey to listen to caretakers in her life. She needs understanding when adjusting to new rules and building respectful communication skills with new caretakers in her life. Although she is still in middle school, Journey has had concerns that many young people rarely face. It is important Journey have parents who are eager to support her while she participates in services designed to help her.
Being the younger brother, Jabaez is quite confident in his sister’s ability to care for him. Afterall, they are close with one another, and he looks up to her. Jabaez is articulate at expressing his own interests and aspirations in life. He states that he wants to have a family so that he can be successful in life. Some of the things that Jabaez strives to do well include making good grades in school, reading the bible regularly and playing sports that include basketball and football. Jabaez wants parents who will take him to practices for his sporting events. He looks forward to having a family who will root him on any endeavors he might choose to undertake. Jabaez also enjoys going to religious services, cooking pizza with any toppings and playing a relaxing round of video games. Jabaez states that a perfect day for him would include “waking up, playing and waking up again” in the same home. He also adds that a cool home for him would include a swimming pool and a pet dog. Like Journey, Jabaez has had a lot of loss and changes in his life. This might be why he sometimes has difficulty managing his emotions. He is a kind boy who needs parents who are committed to helping him express his feelings appropriately. Jabaez and Journey have so many interests, strengths, and laughter to share with others. They need parents who want to help them attain the happiness and success that they each deserve to have in their lives.
