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How You Can Help Foster Families

September 21, 2018 By: Stephanie1 Comment

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Looking for ways to volunteer with kids_ Here are 15 ways to help your local foster families

We know not everyone is called to be a foster family or in the right season of their life to be a parent themselves. But one thing we hear constantly is, “I would love to help, but I just don’t know how.” I get it, it is very overwhelming. No one wants to step on any toes or be in the way, and the world of fostering is unique. Every single situation is different. 

There might be foster parents in your life who you’ve already reached out to and let them know you care. That’s great! Maybe you even said something along the lines of “just let us know what you need.” You even really, truly meant it. But they probably did not reach out, partially because they are very overwhelmed and literally did not have time, and partially because their needs are ever-changing. 

This post is for them as much as it is for you. I want to give them a resource they can pass along to their friends, family, or church when people ask, “What can we do?” And I want everyone to know that you can help with out breaking the bank. 

Here are a few ways anyone can offer help and encouragement to foster families:  [Read more…]

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Where to Find a Great Family Vacation Spot in Lancaster, PA

July 31, 2018 By: Stephanie1 Comment

This has been our best family vacation summer yet! We spent last weekend without tv, without tablets, and without anything else that started with a lowercase i in front of it (except my phone because I was using it as a camera to capture our memories). Remember when I told you about the Encore resort where we stayed in Florida? The same company reached out to our family and told us about another resort they have just 45 minutes from our house! This time we had the chance to stay in a the charming Country House at the Spring Gulch resort in New Holland, which is in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country in Lancaster area. So, of course I jumped at the chance to see this awesome vacation spot so close to home. Thank you to Encore for working with me once again! 

Spring Gulch is a family vacation resort in the Lancaster, PA area. #ad #PetiteRetreats

Spring Gulch is a family resort that offers spots for camping in tents or RVs, cabin or chalet rentals, and a few rental homes as well. We were taking five kids and a few adults along with us, so we decided to stay in the Country House. It was a perfect choice for our family. This is a four-bedroom house that sleeps up to 12. There were 2 single beds and 5 double beds throughout the house. It also had two bathrooms, a living room, and a full kitchen.  [Read more…]

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How to Prepare Foster or Adopted Children for Vacation

July 17, 2018 By: Stephanie4 Comments

I would like to thank Dutch Wonderland for inviting our family to their kid-friendly amusement and water park in Lancaster, PA this summer. We had an amazing time! 

Vacation tips for foster and adoptive families. Learn how to make your trip easier on your kids.I love Dutch Wonderland because of its manageable size, family-friendly environment, and because they really do have something there that EVERY member of the family can enjoy. (My personal favorite is the diving shows.) Plus, can we talk about all the shade trees all around the property? That alone makes such a difference when you are outside in 90+ degree weather in July.  And I love that the water park area, Duke’s Lagoon, is included in the cost of your ticket. 

I think Penny might have been a little excited about the merry-go-round. 

Dutch Wonderland merry go round

But there was plenty to do for everyone else as well. 

Dutch Wonderland family vacation

pony rides at Dutch Wonderland

rides at Dutch Wonderland

Obviously, I highly recommend Dutch Wonderland. But getting ready to go on a family vacation, whether it is for a whole week or even for just one day, as a foster family does present some unique challenges. Today I want to share a few tips that worked for us on our visit to Dutch Wonderland and some things I wish we would have thought to do in advance. Some of these tips are specific to foster families, but many of them apply to biological families as well.  [Read more…]

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Welcome! I’m Steph.

This is a little corner of the internet we like to fill with honesty, heart, and humor. Read More…

Cover for Binkies and Briefcases with Stephanie Giese
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Binkies and Briefcases with Stephanie Giese

Binkies and Briefcases with Stephanie Giese

Stephanie Giese is an indie author based in Florida. She writes stories about realistic problems with humor, heart, and sass. Her work has a strong focus on mental health and consent. Her North Bay small-town romance series is set for release in 2025.

Binkies and Briefcases with Stephanie Giese

5 months ago

Binkies and Briefcases with Stephanie Giese
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Hello My Radiant RomCom Readers,

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I have fun news! For a limited time, as a special gift from me to you, the eBook version of Out of Left Field is totally FREE this week to download from Amazon. That's right, you don't even have to be...
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Binkies and Briefcases with Stephanie Giese

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Hello My Brilliant Bookworms,

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I'm checking in from the pits of work-still-in-progress despair. (Book 3 is actually going pretty well, but I'm feeling dramatic today.) Way Off Base, Book 3 in my North Bay series, is set to go to th...
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