realize I was the exception .”
She wanted to continue working with children by opening up a home , but says that this dream took a back burner for some time as she raised her family and proceeded with other ventures , alongside husband Hugh , like Cherokee Landing in Malakoff .
When Candice was 11 , a woman came by their church expressing despair because a friend was about to lose her children to CPS . The Roberts were considered a “ safe house ” and the state placed the kids with them for three months until their grandparents were able to pick them up .
Charlotte ’ s dream was then lit again and Candice began her dream about helping children . Charlotte also continued praying that if a child was supposed to become a member of their family , then God would let that be very apparent .
When Candice was 19 and the family was in the paperwork part of the process of buying her a new car , Charlotte jokingly commented that she wished it was that easy to get a kid . The salesman said that he actually knew of a gentleman fostering a little girl in need of a forever home and they met the girl later that week .
The foster family had been praying this baby would find a home by the time she turned one , which was a month away , so the Roberts started raising money for lawyer ’ s fees . Candice had already been saving money to open a children ’ s home and she gave her parents that $ 3000 to help adopt her sister , Annalise , who is now almost 10 years old .
During that time , Charlotte was having a conversation with the interim minister at a church in Trinidad and mentioned that she wanted to open a children ’ s home . The church later decided to close its doors and when the question of what to do with the building came up , he told her that every time they started to pray , the Lord would bring the children ’ s home to mind .
The few ladies that were still at the church agreed that donating it to the children ’ s home would be best and they also gifted them with the money to keep the bills paid until they could raise the money to renovate .
Once they were gifted the building , there was a lot of legal paperwork to complete and then they started renovations , only to have to halt renovations to endure more legal processes . Renovations were done by Hugh Roberts , who also happens to build houses and Matt , Tracy , Wilber , and Ray who consistently came and helped .
Many churches , individuals , and organizations have helped to get the ADA-compliant home prepared . TVEC grants , Family Peace Project , Grant ’ s Roofing , Mosley Plumbing , Church in the Wildwood , Living for the Brand Cowboy Church , and Vicky ’ s BBQ have helped in some way over the last few years .
A gentleman from First Baptist Church Mabank do-
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“ I just thought everybody liked working with kids . I didn ’ t realize I was the exception .”