Today, Adrian and I got to sit down and talk with Jon and Mandi Mays! Jon was one of the first people I met with when I started my position after we moved to Oklahoma City. I was in over my head as I was trying to navigate the partnerships of my organization… hopefully it didn’t show too much that day. HA! Jon scheduled our meeting at a place called Joe’s Addiction. I had no idea what I was walking into but it wasn’t Starbucks or one of the many other coffee shops I had been to for meetings, can we just pause so I can tell you how I’m not a real grownup and only drink cream, um, I mean coffee when I’m at meetings so I can feel like a real adult… Anyway, this coffee shop is impacting the community in a big way, those experiencing homelessness, addiction, and any other brokenness, and honestly isn’t that the rest of us, gather there to drink coffee, eat a sandwich, play games, and do life together. Jon scheduling our meeting there SCREAMED a lot about who he was, and I needed to know more about his family! During that meeting he spoke about Mandi, in the most beautiful way, their love of fostering was clear and I knew I needed to meet her! Months later I started following her on social media and the first post I saw was her mobilizing people to take apart 16 bunk-beds to give to foster families, and she had me! Sitting down with the two of them was a blast, I laughed hard and loud. Mandi and Jon are some of the coolest and I know you will agree..

So enough from me! Let’s settle in together as we spend the next several minutes hearing Jon and Mandi’s story of Becoming Fosters.