Twelve-year-old Sofia, a creative and insightful foster child, dreams of finding a loving family while expressing herself through art
Author: Cynthia Izaguirre, Giovanni Garcia
Published: 5:31 PM CDT October 7, 2026
DALLAS — If 12-year-old Sofia could paint a picture of her perfect day, it might look a lot like this one.
There was art. There was laughter. There were new memories being made.
And, perhaps best of all, it rained.
“I love the rain. Oh my gosh, it’s raining!” Sofia said, smiling.
Sofia loves to paint almost as much as she loves the rain. She says both have a way of helping her through difficult moments.
“It’s like cleansing, I guess,” she said. “Whether you’re having a hard time or not, there’s still something you’re always wanting deep in your heart. And the thing is, the rain cleanses that.”
Sofia is smart, caring and incredibly thoughtful. She believes strongly in the golden rule.
“I want to be treated the same way I treat others,” she said.
On this particular day, Sofia was surrounded by people who wanted to make her feel special.
She created a gnome, painted a flower and made a plate featuring her nickname, Yumi, which means “beauty.”
“It’s more like a softer name,” Sofia explained. “Most people that I trust the most, I let them call me that.”
Trust means a lot to Sofia.
And while she has people in her life who care deeply about her, there is one thing she is still hoping to find: a family she can call her own.
When asked what she wants in a family, Sofia didn’t hesitate.
“A good family. One that will always be open for me to vent to and for me to express myself to,” she said.
Living in foster care has taught Sofia to truly understand what it means to need people who will stand by you.
She speaks warmly about her caseworker, Christine, describing her as someone who is almost like a mom and a sister.
“She’ll make sure I’m okay, she’ll make sure I don’t get bullied, she’ll make sure that I get what I need,” Sofia said.
Sofia also has big dreams for her own future.
She loves art and says she might become an artist. She also hopes to adopt children someday.
“I’m gonna try to adopt more than five kids,” she said. “Because they deserve a good life. Why not?”
For now, Sofia is focused on making the most of the moments in front of her.
She told us she plans to hold onto the memories she made during her special day at Color Me Mine in Arlington.
“I’m gonna keep all of these,” she said of the art she created.
And when asked what she hopes her future looks like, Sofia looked at her artwork and gave an answer that says so much about the heart of this remarkable 12-year-old.
“All of these are beautiful and that’s what my future is about to become. Beautiful.”
Sofia’s picture-perfect day was filled with color, creativity, laughter and community.
But the masterpiece she really wants to complete is a life with a family who will be there for her.
“That will care for me and completely love me genuinely,” Sofia said.
You must be a licensed foster or adoptive parent to begin the adoption process in Texas. To learn about how to adopt or to find out more about Sofia, contact EMPOWER at (833) 7-FOSTER, then press *, or email wednesdayschild@3empower.org. Please put Sofia’s name in the subject line.
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