When I found out I was pregnant, I was very nervous and afraid of not being able to make it as a single mom.  However, I was excited about bringing a new life into the world so abortion wasn’t an option.  Because of my situation, I thought adoption was my only choice.  During my last week of pregnancy, I questioned my decision.  When I came to Harvest Home, I was presented with two options, parenting or adoption.  I was relieved to know that adoption would still be an option fully supported by the staff if I decided to do so.  Yet, I really wanted to try my hand at being a parent but wasn’t sure I had the skills.  

When I wasn’t sure that adoption was for me, I decided that I’d better search for another maternity home where parenting was an option.  I called HH and went through the interview process and was accepted.  When I arrived at HH, I was due any day and hadn’t prepared to be a mom.  But HH quieted by anxieties and provided me with everything I needed to be a good mom.  Even in my interview and after, Harvest Home gave me the confidence and support I needed to believe in myself and that I’d be able to do this on my own.   My confidence was additionally bolstered by the baby gifts given to me from people who didn’t even know me, courtesy of the Christmas Club.  I attended parenting classes, life skill classes and other core classes.  Even when I went into labor, shortly after arriving at HH, Marquerite and Erin drove me to the hospital and stayed with me until my mom could arrive.  I was so relieved not to be left alone during the scariest time in my life.  

After I gave birth, I wasn’t exactly sure where to go from here.  But Harvest Home knew the perfect transitional place for me, Upward Bound.  I’ve been there for 4 months and I live in my own apartment, cook my own meals, participate in parenting classes and am on my way to getting a place of my own. 

In retrospect, Jennifer J, Jennifer B. and Marquerite were all important influences in my life at Harvest Home.  Marquerite was very sensitive, she was the Harvest Home mom.  She gave me pep talks, patted me on the back, gave me advice about how to calm a crying baby, how to hold a new-born baby and other baby insights.    

Jennifer Brehme introduced me to the Vineyard Christian Fellowship – Westside and I was eager to hear the worship team that Jennifer had talked so much about.  I felt that music is one of the most important aspects of worship.   After the first time I went, I was so stoked; I knew that I wanted to continue going to the Vineyard.   I had always wanted to be baptized and when they offered it at the Vineyard, Jennifer went to the class with me, held Hannah and really encouraged it.  On Easter Sunday, Jennifer and I went to the Beach and she even got in the water with me while I was baptized.  Our friendship really grew after that experience together and we, even to this day, attend the Vineyard together.  Even though I no longer reside at Harvest Home, she still gives me insight and we do fun things together such as cooking and going to the 9/11 memorial service. 

I feel that I made a lot of friends at Harvest Home along with building a good support network for my daughter and myself.