Loving families can make a lifelong difference in a child's life. Learn how through the letters, poems and art of Iowa children. Check back as we add more to this page! Foster parents saved my life "Think about what it’s like to not have anyone stand up for you at parents night for sports, or not having any grandparents for grandparents’ day, or being the only one alone when you receive an award, or not having anyone to get excited when you get straight A’s . . . Foster parents saved my life."  - Charli, an Iowa teen. Read his letter to families. Sadness Poem by Rheanna, age 10 "Sadness is often seen crying in his room. Sadness usually is found crying under the bed. Sadness’ favorite color is blue. Sadness’ favorite music is slow, soft, heart breaking. Sadness likes to make big wet round things fall down your face. Sadness likes to make un-fun times. Sadness is happy when people yell and call it names. Sadness also is happy when people hurt it. Sadness is nervous when people love the creature. Sadness is nervous when people care and kiss it. Sadness is good at putting bad feeling inside of you. Sadness is good at making you think you are bad at everything. Sadness’ goal is making everybody feel gloomy. Sadness’ goal is to break your deary little heart. Also sadness’ goal is to make everybody around you feel bad and guilty, make you have no friends. You will be lonely forever." Rheanna also wrote, "I felt like I was in a dream/nightmare and nothing was real when I was moved from home (biological family) and then from place to place. Even when I moved in with my adopted family it didn’t feel 'real.' I know that my adopted family loves me and I really love my Mom and sisters. I was so happy on adoption day that I had a family that loved me but I still sometimes feel like it’s too good to be true.”