By Liberty Goodnow, Senior Reporter
Alica Hall always wanted to be a mom, but she didn’t know that her children wouldn’t be her from her bloodline.
It was Friday before the termination trial when Hall received a call from her case worker. The biological father of the young girl she had been fostering relinquished his rights. This immediately brought her to tears. She knew that the little girl who had always been family in her heart would legally become her daughter. She fostered Madison for five and a half years, and finally, at age 16, she was adopted.
Almost five years later, Hall added another little girl to her family, Seraphina. Although the process was long, Sera’s contagious laugh and ornery grin make every day better than the last, Hall said.
Being a foster parent is not a job that just anyone can take on. Hall has been a foster mom since August 2006 and has taken care of about 50 girls and seven boys, but it hasn’t been easy, she said.
Eventually, foster parents become attached to the children they care for.
“You want the parents to have a chance to get it together,” Hall said. “But the longer it goes, the harder it is to give [the children] up or even think about giving them up.”
FAMILY ROOTS
RUN DEEP
Hall was born and raised in Alva and said that family is what keeps her here.
“Family is not just biological family,” she said. “It’s bio family, legal family, friend family, church family, theater family – all the families.”
It is also helpful being close to her parents and family in case she ever needs help with the little ones.
Hall said she often realizes that she does not stand up for herself as much as she should.
However, according to her family and friends, she will stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. They say it’s a great quality she inherited from her parents, and Hall said she hopes to pass it on to her children.
That’s not the only quality she inherited. Hall was always creative, even at a young age.
“I decorated my room with diapers on their side,” Hall said. “When my mom walked in and said, ‘Alica, what did you do?’ I said, ‘Butterflies, mommy, butterflies.’”
In second grade, she received a dollhouse from her parents for Christmas. They built it themselves with wood, and every detail was elaborate.
“It has carpet and handmade upholstered furniture,” Hall said. “Mom sewed curtains and hand-painted borders around the tops of the walls.”
Creativity comes naturally for Hall. One can often find her turning trash into treasure. Anytime that she can help with altering a prom dress or hemming some jeans, Hall said she is always available. She enjoys revamping clothes and costumes, especially for the Northwestern theater program.
When she was 7, Hall was featured in her first play at Northwestern. She had the role of Snow White, which remains her favorite Disney character. She called the acting role a dream come true because she always wanted to be a princess growing up. Little did she know that was only the beginning of her acting career.
Hall has been in close to 20 productions, eight of which occurred at Northwestern. She walked away from the program with many lifelong friendships, she said.
Acting is not her only hobby.
“Gone with the Wind’’ is her favorite book because she loves the idea of getting into someone’s head and trying to see things from another person’s perspective. And like any princess would, she said she still believes in a happy ending.
She has been invited to speak on “Gone with the Wind” panels at conferences for fans who love the book as much as she does. She also hosted a 20-episode podcast series about it, “Oh fiddle dee dee. The Podcast for the ‘Gone with the Wind’ Obsessed.”
WALK ON FAITH
Eccentric, unique and incandescent are just a few words used to describe Hall. Her faith also plays a huge role in her life.
“I think it boils down to, if you don’t believe in something, you’ll fall for anything,” she said. “It’s just at the core of who I am.”
Some of her earliest memories are at church. She was a youth pastor for a while and has served almost every role in a church except senior pastor.
Hall has worked at Northwestern for 11 years. She worked in public relations for a year, and she has spent the past 10 years working in the university print shop, where she designs projects for community members, students and faculty.
LENDING A
HELPING HAND
When the printers break down during a big project, Hall said she will do whatever it takes to get the job done. She is determined not only in the workplace, but in life.
She is proud of all of her accomplishments, but she is the most proud of her children. They are proud to call her mom as well.
Hall jokes that she hopes to be remembered by glitter.
“I want people to randomly find glitter in the theater and assume that I have haunted them,” she said.
But before they find the glitter, she wants to be remembered for love: giving love to those who have experienced neglect, those who can’t love themselves and those who loved her first.
Matthew 22:39, “Love thy neighbor as thyself,” is an important verse to live by, Hall said. She was once able to recite the whole book of Romans along with John, Matthew, first and second Peter and James.
She may not remember them word for word anymore, but she still applies the messages to her everyday life.