Do you know any angels? I do! They come in different shapes and sizes, but there’s one way to recognize them… they stand out above the rest! Three angels (ladies) live on the outskirts of Seadrift in a very special place called Angels of Hope Day Habilitation Center. The Center opened in 2019. Its director is Tina Crawford. The assistant directors are Billie Gonzales and Laurie Beaver. The three angels are Lisa Yows, Brittany Murdock, and Jennifer Sotello. Pictured are clockwise from the left are Lisa, Billie, Laurie, Tina, Brittany, and Jennifer. I was so honored to hear from all these ladies their thoughts and what’s happening at the center.
Tina: “With autism it’s important to help them identify emotions in themselves and others. We always work on activities of daily living -for example, personal hygiene and cleaning up after themselves. I couldn’t do it without Laurie and Billie. They are God’s blessings to me. I’m blessed all the way around with the girls, Laurie, and Billie. Working with the girls is a blessing. The whole family has changed my life.”
Billie: “They work on social skills by being out in the community. They go out to eat, enjoy community activities, and work on coping skills with a curriculum entitled “Feelings and Emotions.”
Laurie: “The girls have brought lots of meaning to my life. I love doing what I do with them.”
Let’s hear from the girls themselves:
Lisa: “I like living in the group home. I have my own cat who is 6 or 7 years old. I like my own bedroom. I like my mom (Tina) and my dad (Tina’s husband) and Miss B (Billie) and Lulu (Laurie) and my sisters. And I love my mom’s dog “Brownie.” I love the military, police, fire department, and the EMS.”
Brittany: “I like games, trips, crafts, swimming, pets, music, and dancing. I like my blue and yellow bedroom. I like my fish. I enjoy cooking and baking. I go to church because I love Jesus.”
Jennifer loves playing Bunco at the Seadrift Library. She also enjoys the game “Yahtzee.” She loves to go to Laurie’s home because of the puppies. She loves to go to church, and she loves her pastor. She loves to drink coffee.
My thoughts: A beautiful passage in the Bible is found in the Book of James. It’s found in James 1:27 and it reads: “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”
