By Katalina Bonds

In February 2019, I finally found an adult day program for my two special needs sons that I was genuinely excited about. Around that time, I had made the decision to open a group home myself. I figured the only way to create the kind of loving, supportive environment I envisioned for my boys was to build it from the ground up—where I could handpick the people working with them and set the tone for the kind of care they’d receive.

As I started researching small group home owners for ideas and inspiration, I came across a company that operated a few group homes. I visited their website and was floored—everything they claimed to do was exactly what I had been dreaming of for my sons. It felt like a miracle. And after we visited their day program, I realized this wasn’t just a dream—it was our new reality, all because I had made that one decision to take action and build a safe and joyful life for my boys. Now, they are thriving—loved and supported in ways I hadn’t even known were possible.

We had often heard from teachers and staff over the years that they could tell our boys were truly loved. I appreciated the compliment, but I didn’t fully grasp the weight of that statement until we moved them into this new program.

To explain what I mean, let me tell you about Javier’s experience at their previous program. He spent most of his time sitting alone at a table, quietly coloring. It was clear he wasn’t being meaningfully engaged. We kept receiving incident reports, usually stemming from miscommunications—situations where things weren’t explained in a way Javier could understand.

Eventually, we were called in for a parent meeting. Brian and I gladly showed up. After a long discussion with no real solutions, they brought the boys in. We began talking with Javier about his favorite topic—animals—and suddenly, the director started scribbling notes like mad. That’s when it hit me: they barely knew him. No wonder he was struggling. My suspicion that he was mostly ignored was, unfortunately, confirmed.

Now, fast forward to the present—Javier is a completely different young man. He’s gone from being quiet and easily agitated to being a total social butterfly. I’m told Derek heads straight to the craft table for puzzles or a project, while Javier moves around the room, chatting and connecting with the staff. He is engaged. He is excited. And the staff? They share in his interests and light up with him. That love, that connection, is changing everything—and it shows.

I am so deeply grateful that we finally found a place where our boys—and all their clients—are loved as much as we love our boys. The power of love really is limitless. And that’s why Christ’s first two commandments are all about love.

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