What to do if your child is missing.

If your child is missing, don’t panic. Here are a list of things to do before calling the cops.

1.  Search your house. Look in all closets, under the beds, inside large appliances, inside cabinets and in all vehicles. Also look in any cracks where the child could crawl into. Always call out their name loud and clear.Also check at the neighbors house.

2.  If after doing all these things you still cannot find your child, call your local law enforcement agency immediately.

3.  When you call the Law enforcement agency provide your child’s name, date of birth, height, weight and any what he/she was wearing. Also provide if your child wears braces or any birthmarks.

4.  If you are in a store and your child goes missing, immediately go to the security officer and store manager and let them know the situation. Most stores have a CODE ADAM in place. When activated all employees know to look for a missing child. Provide the manager and office with your child’s name, hair and eye color, and what clothes he or she was wearing.

Always remember to ask your child where he or she is going. Get phone numbers of your child’s friends. Have your child call you every 30 minutes so you will know he/she is OK. Don’t let your child roam the streets alone. And the most important thing is always know where your child is going. I can not stress that enough.

God works in mysterious ways

God definitely works in mysterious ways.  If you read my posts you know my father is in a rehab hospital for alcohol and gambling addiction. It’s very serious and I hope he gets the help he needs. Anyways, last week my sister and I came to the conclusion we did not need to speak to one another again. I had enough of her acting like she was perfect and she thought I was selfish. Which I am the least bit selfish. She had it in her head I am not good enough to run with her crowd of friends. But that’s besides the point. Just so you know we decided not to talk to each other again on Wednesday. Well Thursday while I am at dancing with my daughter she calls my cell phone. I don’t answer and my mom calls me saying my sister is looking for me. I did not want to talk to my sister. My mom said it had something to do with my dad. So I called her and she said after Friday my dad was going to be homeless. Now this breaks my heart and I am so far away there is nothing I can do to help.

Since that day last week my sister and I have been talking every day. Sometimes more than once a day. I even told her yesterday I loved her. That is something I never tell my sister. She responded ” I love you too. ” That is something she never tells me. So God had a plan and knew what he was doing. If you don’t believe everything happens for a reason, well you should, because it does.

My dad

I usually post about people I don’t know. I usually post about a child that is missing or a shelter that can help someone. This time around the post is very personal to me. It’s about my dad. He has been an alcoholic for more than 20 years. He has also been addicted to gambling for more than 10 years. He has gone into rehab before but never gave it a chance.

I found out Monday that he and my step mom were separated.  Apparently he was always drunk and gambled away everything in his account.  His work checks went into a separate account from my step mom and that paid the mortgage and the car insurance. Well, he wiped out his account and the mortgage and car insurance did not get paid.  So, she kicked him out and he went to my uncle’s house, (his brother).  Apparently after a week he was kicked out of his brother house for always being drunk and staying up all night making noise.

I found out Thursday night from my sister that after Friday May 8, he would be homeless. He was staying with a friend who kicked him out also.  I was in shock.  I did not know what to say or do.  I live in Texas and they all live in Louisiana.  I felt so helpless.  This is what I do for a living, I help people find a shelter when they have nowhere to go; but I felt helpless.

I talked to my dad yesterday and he was going check himself into the VA hospital.  I hope he stays there for as long as he needs to.  Everyone please pray for my father.  He is lost and needs to find his way back.  I can honestly say I can relax now knowing he has a bed to sleep in and food to eat.

Homeless Children

According to the New York Associated Press, One in every 50 American children experience homelessness. According to the Homeless Children’s State Rankings Connecticut has the least cases of Homeless Children and Texas has the most cases of Homeless Children. It’s a shame our kids are having to sleep in the streets and don’t have a family to go home to. Why are we still letting our kids live in poverty and not doing something about it. Please help our kids find their way home. There are services out there all you have to do it go on line and find them. If you know a homeless person that needs help please contact me at miasgift@yahoo.com and I will help find the resources needed to get them help. Please don’t hesitate to contact me via email.

Children Drown In Houston During Flooding

Tragedy strikes amidst the flash flooding in Houston, Texas.  Should the boyfriend be charged?

http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou090419_ks_mother-pain.ef89e0e4.html

06:32 PM CDT on Sunday, April 19, 2009

HOUSTON – Faith is helping Tracey Easley, the mother of two girls swept into Greens Bayou during yesterday’ storms, through one of the toughest days of her life.

“It’s unreal,” she said.  “I don’t believe it yet because I haven’t seen my babies.  I haven’t had the closure that I need to say they’re not here anymore.”

Easley’s two daughters, Hallie, 4, and Karrinton, 18 months, were swept into the bayou after the driver of the car they were in lost control and swerved off the road.  Chanton Jenkins, Easley’s boyfriend and the father of the girls, was on his way to pick Easley up from work in North Houston.

“I was talking on the phone with their dad,” she said, “and he was talking, it was raining, and all of a sudden, all I heard was ssshhh.  Something just told me to go the route that he normally comes to get me.  I saw ambulances.  I saw lights.  The road was blocked off.  And in my heart I just knew it was my family in that car.  I knew.  Chan was a great dad.  He would never do anything, intentionally, to hurt his kids.”

Easley said there were few words that could describe her pain and the emptiness in her heart.  Her family, she said, lived a simple life.  She worked while Jenkins stayed at home with the girls.  Fridays were often family nights.  That, she said, meant having dinner with friends and watching movies at home.

“[Hallie] was my diva.  She was attention.  She was the spotlight.  She was a ball of fire,” she said.  “[Karrinton] was the sweetest little baby.  She wanted hugs.  She wanted kisses.  She wanted to be held.  She was just what a little baby would be.”

Easley said, in her mind, her daughters were still at a sleepover with family.  “Any moment I’m going to go pick them up,” she said.  “They’re not here and I just want that closure.  I need closure.  I want to bring my babies home and give them a proper burial.  And put them to.  Give them one last kiss.”

Houston police officers have said Jenkins was drunk when he drove off the road.  They say he is facing as many as five counts of intoxicated manslaughter in connection with the deaths Easley’s daughters and three other children.

Let’s talk child abuse.

First and foremost….why?  I have a hard time trying to understand what would possess a parent to hurt their child.  Why would a father throw his baby from a bridge?  Horrible as it sounds, stories like this make the news all the time. Let’s narrow it down a little.  I’m not talking about child predators (I’ll save that for a later post), I’m talking about DOMESTIC CHILD ABUSE.

Parents, you are the world to your sons and daughters.  Kids look at you with the utmost trust to be their protectors.  There is an old saying that goes “mother is the name for God on the hearts and lips of all children”.  Maybe I’m just rambling; but I’m also trying to figure out what goes through a parent’s mind when they strike or verbally abuse their own.

Anyway, let’s look at some stats:

According to http://www.childhelp.org/resources/learning-center/statistics -

• 4 children die every day as a result of child abuse.  3 of the 4 victims are under age 4.
• A report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds.
• Child abuse occurs at every socio-economic level.
• 90% of child rape victims under age 12 knew the perpetrator.
• Sexually abused children are more likely to become drug and alcohol abusers.
• One third of abused children will repeat the cycle

If nothing more, Mia’s Gift will help raise awareness.