Being a foster parent means making a change in a child’s life. These people are compassionate and caring and always ready to open their hearts and homes to minors in need of love and kindness.
Lamont Thomas from Buffalo, New York, has devoted the last 20 years of his life fostering children. Speaking to Good Morning America of the time he welcomed the first child, this amazing man says, “In the beginning, I was helping out some friends. They had lost their child to the system. I went on and got certified and became a foster parent. I haven’t stopped since.”
Believe it or not, Lamont has fostered more than 30 kids, five of which he officially adopted. So with his two biological children, Anthony and LaMonica, he became a father of seven.
The first kid Lamont adopted is Michael Thomas. He’s now 27 and recalls the time he became part of the family.
“He was my third foster home and it ended up being my forever home,” Michael said. “He [knew] my biological parents.”
“Lamont never turned [a child] away,” Michael added. “They either aged out or went back home to their own families.”
With seven kids to take care of on his own, Lamont knew he was done adopting, but then he came across a very special case that made him change his mind.
Five siblings aged 5,4,3,2 and 1, who were children of one of Lamont’s foster kids were placed in foster homes themselves. Lamont was sad the kids got to experience their parent’s fate, and his heart tore apart when he learned Zendaya, Jamel, Nakia, Major, and Michaela were separated. Not only they were taken in by four different families, but they were also in four different cities.
Sadly, that meant one thing, that they wouldn’t be raised together.
That’s when Lamont stepped in. He just couldn’t let the siblings spend their childhood without being by each other’s side so he re-certified as a foster parent and adopted all of them.
Some of his older kids had moved from the house already and had families on their own, so Lamont knew he was making the right decision as he could devote all his time to the new addition to the family.
“I was fighting to keep back the tears,” he said of his adoption day with Judge Lisa Rodwin. “Every day I think about it, my eyes swell up. All that we endured to make this happen, it was something.”
This incredible single dad was now a father of 12 children. He knew things wouldn’t be easy, but he was willing to give it a go.
“They bring new energy to me,” Lamont shared. “They’re lovable kids, very affectionate. They deserve to be raised as siblings, and that was my fight.”
Woman buys abandoned lighthouse and turns it into cozy “nautical” home
Picture owning your very own lighthouse, a majestic beacon overlooking a vast bay, embodying both hope and history.
Sheila Consaul, a 65-year-old aficionado of historic preservation, turned this dream into reality.
For a sum of $71,000, Sheila purchased a derelict lighthouse in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, and embarked on a journey that would see her invest over $300,000 in transforming it into her dream vacation home.
Living in a lighthouse is far from ordinary; solitude greets you at every turn.
Forget about a driveway leading to the front door; instead, you park half a mile away and transport everything you need by hand, from groceries to generator fuel. Yet, the experience, once embraced, is unparalleled.
Sheila’s journey began from her passion for historic preservation and a desire for a unique summer retreat.
Upon discovering that the government was auctioning off lighthouses, she saw an opportunity to merge her interests.
Though the lighthouse she acquired was in a sorry state, with cracked windows and peeling plaster, Sheila remained undeterred.
With the aid of a home equity loan, she embarked on a challenging yet fulfilling renovation project.
Renovating the lighthouse presented numerous challenges; every construction material had to be hoisted by crane and transported by boat due to its remote location.
Furthermore, being entirely off the grid posed additional hurdles; rebuilding the electrical system and relying on a gasoline-powered generator were just a few of Sheila’s tasks.
Despite these obstacles, the transformation is remarkable.
Today, the lighthouse boasts a fully equipped kitchen with granite countertops and modern appliances.
The plumbing and electrical systems have been overhauled, while the once-broken windows now showcase stunning stained glass.
However, preserving its historical essence was equally paramount.
Original features like dark brown floorboards and cast-iron stairs remain intact, alongside innovations such as a rainwater collection system.
Since 2012, Sheila has welcomed guests to the lighthouse, hosting annual open houses and sharing this community treasure with others.
Maintained by the Coast Guard and still serving as a navigational aid, the lighthouse stands as a testament to community and heritage.
Would Sheila embark on this journey again? Perhaps not, but the rewards have been immeasurable.
While she currently has no plans to rent out her unique summer home, she remains open to the possibility.
For now, she revels in the fruits of her labor and the extraordinary experience of lighthouse living.
Sheila Consaul’s story exemplifies what happens when perseverance and passion converge.
She didn’t just acquire a property; she rescued a historical gem, ensuring it endures for generations to come.
Take a virtual tour of the lighthouse in the accompanying video below!
Feel free to share this remarkable tale with your loved ones.
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