Many years ago on July 18, 1983 in Charlotte, NC I was “Handpicked” by my amazing parents Coy & Glenda Fredell. I grew up beside my Grandpa Bill and Grandma Mildred and I have always been told how special I am that I was “chosen” and this lead me to openly talk about how proud I am to be an adoptee.

My parents and grandparents made a huge impact in my life and I attribute all my life experiences, success, and the ability to openly share my story to them for always helping me to understand my story. My Grandpa had two quotes I continue to live by and those are “Hey Jennifer do you wanna hear a joke? Tell God what your plans are!” The other quote is “There is no such thing as coincidence, it’s just God’s way of being anonymous.” I have always remembered those and live by them.

“Handpicked” is a culmination of my life, as well as the story of many foster children, that I have had the privilege to work with and educate throughout my professional career in education. There are so many children who feel lost, hopeless, and that they do not have a purpose.

It is teachers like two of my own, Mrs. Hilda Kiser and Mrs. Susan Elmore, who taught me first and second grade at Bethware Elementary School, that make a difference in the lives of children and I’m forever grateful that God allowed me to use my story and my path to help hundreds of foster children as an educator.

I want EVERY child to know they are perfect, God has a purpose for them, and I want to encourage all children to find purpose through their pain and their own individual stories. We are all “Handpicked” by God and I hope this story can deliver that message so that each little boy and little girl will always remember God has a plan for their life and Grandpa Bill’s quote, “Wanna hear a joke? Tell God what your plans are!”

May we all find our purpose on this “journey of life” and utilize our stories as a way to change the perception and reality of foster care and adoption so that every child finds a place to call home.