Vol. 5, No.1 • November 2000

My House by Tara, age 8 My name is Tara Klenke. This is a picture of my house. My brother and I were foster children, but we were adopted six months ago by some kind people. Their names are Steve and Cynthia Klenke. We call them Mom and Dad, of course. I have lots of fun living here. Now I've been here three years. My mom and dad had two boys and they wanted more children so they decided to adopt us. They want to adopt one more baby girl. My parents want kids to stay safe and have a home. My three brothers are Michael, 6, Justin, 17, and Brandon, 19. Michael is my birth brother. My two sisters are Anne, 13, and Christina, 21, who is my half sister. All my brothers and sisters are smart and kind. We have 2 dogs, 1 cat, 2 horses, and we used to have 2 goats. We also have an aquarium with 8 fish. We live on a small farm in North Durham. My brother and I give our mom and dad presents, flowers, cards, hugs, and of course, kisses. We want to show them how much we love them. We go camping in Cherokee every year. We go hiking and swimming. We cook out on a fire and eat marshmallows. I like to see the Indians. I like to ride my horse, Buddy. He is a Tennessee Walker. I ride in the pasture and when I learn to ride well enough, I am going on the trails in the woods. One of my favorite things is the big bonfires that our family has. We have one in the spring and one in the fall. We invite about 100 people. Everyone brings a dish of food and we roast hot dogs. All the kids play hide and seek. The teenagers sit around talking. All the parents sit around the fire and tell stories and drink coffee.

Poetry by Cornelius Black Black is not a color, an art, a switch in your hips, nor the way you lick your lips. It is not drugs, sex, ignorance, nor is it the way we perceive an image. Black is beautiful, intelligent, powerful, and lovely. Black is a shade, a volume. It is a tone beautiful but not dark. It limits you not. Where your life goes depends on your heart. Life What is life? Life is a phase, an ongoing experience, much like a maze. Some appreciate life, but do not take it for granted. What is our purpose, why are we placed on this planet? Some never know, some eventually find it. The only way to become strong is to go head on through the storm, and when it rains it pours. Be careful what you ask for in life because sometimes we don't know what we ask for but yet we ask for more. Eventually we'll be okay, but remember to live every day like it's your last day and in heaven God will repay. ______________________

Drawing and Writing Contests First Prize by Tara, age 8 Second Prize by Michael, age 9 This Issue. There was no theme for this issue, we simply asked you to send us something you were proud to have written or drawn. The winners are indicated above. Each received a cash award for his or her writing or artwork. Next Issue. If you'd like a chance to win something with your drawing or writing talent, send something in for the next issue. To enter simply send us something you're proud to have done. Drawing contest: 1st prize: $50; 2nd prize: $40; 3rd prize: $30. Writing contest: $25 for stories of 250 words or more and $15 for shorter pieces.

Third Prize by Ashely, age 12 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Read any good books lately? Fostering Perspectives is looking for book reviews from young readers. If you�re a foster child between the ages of 6 and 12 and have a book you�d recommend, tell us about it! We�re looking for short pieces (250 words or less) that tell us a little about the book (including the author, full title, and how long it is), what you liked about it, and the kind of person who would like this book. Authors whose reviews are published will receive $20. Send entries to the address listed in the box to the left of this one. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Send entries to: Fostering Perspectives, c/o John McMahon, Jordan Institute for Families, 340 Victoria Rd., Pines Bldg., Room 403, Asheville, NC 28801. Artwork should be mailed flat (unfolded) on white, unlined paper. Include your name, age, address, social security number (used to process awards) and phone number.

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