Joshua Richardson

This is my nephew Joshua. He is the boy in my Joyful Crew! Joshua is a smart, handsome, extraordinary, and brave kid! What a privilege it is to be a part of raising him! He just turned 12!

People like to come up with all sorts of stuff to say about him being the only boy with a sister and two girls cousins raised by his Aunt, but I have learned to speak a better word. Joshua will be an excellent husband, leader, and father because of this experience not despite it.

I believe that God placed it on my heart that I would be involved in raising Joshua (and Shiloh, his sister). At the time they were living in Upstate NY with my parents who had raised them since birth. So, I needed to get to know them better. I drove to get them and bring them back to my home in Maryland for a week in August 2018. I felt like I had additional bandwidth once Sayuri, Au Pair from Mexico, had arrived.

Let’s just say we did not make it a week. Joshua was eager to go home. He was out of his comfort zone and he made it very clear. His favorite things to say were “no” and “I don’t like it.” He met his cap and I had my fill so back to NY they went.

In February of 2020, I was in the Washington DC Metro area looking for a multigenerational home for my parents and the children. In March of 2020, my mother passed away suddenly. I was face to face with my premonition, but not quite like I had anticipated. The circumstance was not anticipated but the need revealed itself. If I believed it was from God, the only answer was yes.

Younger Joshua was shy, conservative, and not the most flexible. We have had plenty of opportunities to build trust with one another. We taught him how to ride a bike and swim so he could participate in our summer fun. The path to get there was rather rocky, but it was a group effort because everyone was invested in the outcome. The same Joshua that fought taking off the training wheels now rides his bike to school and around the neighborhood without hesitation. The same Joshua that fought swim lessons is now a proficient swimmer on the summer swim team. Of the four, he is the first one to the pool and he rides his bike there!

This past summer, he made fast friends with my friend Tory’s sons while we were visiting in San Diego. He was up early in the morning, exploring with them before I even woke up! One of the days, he went fishing and caught something. I was so impressed!

Joshua is an excellent team player around the house. He has a list of responsibilities to develop himself and support the household. He is a big fan of the NY Giants. He is an excellent student and is well liked by everyone. He has a neighborhood full of boys to run and game with. It is incredible to see his growth. Joshua has a competitive edge that is becoming more apparent. I look forward to seeing him explore it.