Happy Foster Anniversary!
Today marks one year since Baby came to stay with us.
We know now that Baby will not be with us forever (as we had originally been told, been planning for, been wishing with all our hearts!). And as we wait for the next court date and the final verdict from the judge, I continue to wonder: What's next?
There have been times in my life when I have been led to action.... Like last year, when I woke up with the words "Pray for a seven year old boy" running through my mind, even before I got the call about him. Or last spring, when I was about to get rid of the diaper bag, but pulled it out of the donation pile and put it into the back of the closet instead. I didn't know why I was prompted to do these things, but I did it anyway. Maybe God was trying to tell me something :)
Today I woke up with that mixture of excited anticipation and wonder of the unknown rolling around in my stomach. Early this afternoon, I made lunch for 10 people (us, plus some friends), and as I was cleaning up, I felt it again: Something is coming. Good news is on the way.
I don't know if we will get a call for a new placement soon, if our newest foster child is being born or being placed into care as I write this, or if Mike will come home from work with some kind of exceptional news... but I know that good days are ahead of us.
I can feel it.
Friday, March 27, 2015
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Annual review meeting
This afternoon we had our 12-month post-placement home inspection, with the baby's SW and our licensing SW. They spent a little over an hour at our house, sitting in the living room on comfy chairs and couches, making small-talk and joking with the big kids, then discussing baby's development, daily life, visitation schedule, upcoming court date, concerns, etc.
Because it's been almost 2 years since we received our foster parent license, our licensing worker was required to ask us about changes in household (no, we don't have any new people living here), changes in income (Mike still has the same job), bedrooms and bed arrangements, making sure our stove, fridge and water work, etc. Now we have to update our medical records, background checks, and re-take First Aid and CPR classes, plus complete another fire inspection. It is a pretty decent pile of paperwork, but we've done it all before, and it shouldn't take too much effort to finish everything.
(They seemed very pleasantly surprised that we are willing to re-license again, after all the drama and back-and-forth stuff in the last year. The baby's SW told me "We just don't know what we'd do without you!" I think they are really low on available foster homes/beds right now.)
Ha! Speaking of being low on beds, our licensing worker asked if we have an extra bed (we do), and mentioned another possible placement. She didn't give us many details, because all the kids were listening, and we try not to tell them too many adult details, if you know what I mean. So all she really said was that there was a 4yo boy in foster care... Didn't even tell us his name or anything else about him, only that he existed.
However, Hannah heard this part of the conversation, and told me later "Mom, I really don't want that boy to come here. We already have ONE four year old boy, we do NOT need another one! I'd rather have a bigger kid come to live with us... Like S." You know, the kid we all really, really wanted to make ours, but someone else is going to adopt instead. It was like a stab in the heart.
Anyway, the SW said this mystery 4yo would be a "permanent placement", as in, the plan for him is adoption. Well, we've heard that a few times before! :P We can't make a decision to move forward without having more information about the case... so, in the meantime, I'm trying to be patient and not get my hopes up.
That was our afternoon.
We will see what the future holds.
Because it's been almost 2 years since we received our foster parent license, our licensing worker was required to ask us about changes in household (no, we don't have any new people living here), changes in income (Mike still has the same job), bedrooms and bed arrangements, making sure our stove, fridge and water work, etc. Now we have to update our medical records, background checks, and re-take First Aid and CPR classes, plus complete another fire inspection. It is a pretty decent pile of paperwork, but we've done it all before, and it shouldn't take too much effort to finish everything.
(They seemed very pleasantly surprised that we are willing to re-license again, after all the drama and back-and-forth stuff in the last year. The baby's SW told me "We just don't know what we'd do without you!" I think they are really low on available foster homes/beds right now.)
Ha! Speaking of being low on beds, our licensing worker asked if we have an extra bed (we do), and mentioned another possible placement. She didn't give us many details, because all the kids were listening, and we try not to tell them too many adult details, if you know what I mean. So all she really said was that there was a 4yo boy in foster care... Didn't even tell us his name or anything else about him, only that he existed.
However, Hannah heard this part of the conversation, and told me later "Mom, I really don't want that boy to come here. We already have ONE four year old boy, we do NOT need another one! I'd rather have a bigger kid come to live with us... Like S." You know, the kid we all really, really wanted to make ours, but someone else is going to adopt instead. It was like a stab in the heart.
Anyway, the SW said this mystery 4yo would be a "permanent placement", as in, the plan for him is adoption. Well, we've heard that a few times before! :P We can't make a decision to move forward without having more information about the case... so, in the meantime, I'm trying to be patient and not get my hopes up.
That was our afternoon.
We will see what the future holds.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
March 18th
March 18, 2015:
I’ve had some major disappointments this week.
It would be easy to curl up in bed and cry. It would be easy
to say “no” to everything. It would be easy to give up on being happy or moving
forward. It would be easy to take out my frustrations on others. However, I am
rarely ever called to take the EASY road. No, that would just be too.... easy. I have the sneaking suspicion that
this is not one of those “easy” times. I might feel shaken up, beaten down,
depressed or disappointed, I might not be joyful or thankful about certain
things… BUT…
But Jesus is on my side. And He continues to show me that my
life is not based only on the circumstances that surround me. I do not need to put away joy just
because some things happening around me are painful, or hard to swallow, or
just plain sad and unfair.
Psalms tells us that “Joy comes in the morning.”
That means
THIS morning, and EVERY morning, should be joyful.
I might not be good at being thankful in all circumstances,
but I think I can take it one day, or one hour, or just one minute at a time. Maybe.
Maybe I can do this.
Here’s to joy.
PS: No, God, I did not ask for patience. I am just plain
tired of being patient!
Maybe if I quit asking for it, then I won’t have to wait so
long?
Wishful thinking, I know. But it’s worth a try.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Every life matters
There is a 15 year old girl in who desperately needs to be adopted, so that she can get on a heart transplant list and vastly improve her quality of life.
To learn more, visit http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2015/03/because-she-matters/
If you are not feeling led to adopt, please pray, send happy thoughts her way, and tell your friends about her.
Let them know that every life matters. Every life is precious. Every child is important.
The need is great, but only one family needs to step forward for this young girl.
I hope her family finds her soon.
To learn more, visit http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2015/03/because-she-matters/
If you are not feeling led to adopt, please pray, send happy thoughts her way, and tell your friends about her.
Let them know that every life matters. Every life is precious. Every child is important.
The need is great, but only one family needs to step forward for this young girl.
I hope her family finds her soon.
Friday, March 6, 2015
Twenty Less
Oh my.
Somehow I have just stumbled across twentyless.com
This is powerful stuff. The pictures, stories and testimonies there could break your heart.
There are so many children in the world who need forever families.... Too many of them, if you ask me.
This particular website seems to focus on children in China... but there are so many others out there in different parts of the world, waiting to belong.
Some of them have siblings, some don't.
Some have different abilities, some don't.
Some of them may need surgery or special services. Some don't.
Some of them remember what it is like to be loved and cared for... and some don't.
When Mike and I started on our foster parent/adoption journey, we felt compelled to work with children in our local area. In our state. In our own town, maybe, or at least as locally as possible. That's why we signed up with our county's DSS office to become foster parents. Families in crisis may not have an extended network of relatives to care for their children.Through no fault of their own, adult choices and situations might force those children to be cared for elsewhere. We want to stand in that gap and care for kids at a critical time, when they need it most.
No everyone is called to be a foster parent or to adopt; however, as Helen Keller said, "everyone can do something."
I don't know what "something" looks like for you and your family, but maybe some of these links will help you start thinking about where you might fit in.
Who can foster and/or adopt? This site has requirements for each state in the US.
To find children in the US who are waiting to be adopted, please visit adoptuskids.org
You can search photolistings by state, age, gender, and number of siblings.
If you are interested in kids with special needs, go to ReecesRainbow.org They specialize in helping children of different abilities or situations find forever homes. They often have sizable grants available, to make it easier to afford a costly international adoption, and to more quickly facilitate adoption, especailly for those who have special medical or health needs.
For those who aren't in a position to foster or adopt right now, what can you do to help others? Can you donate to an adoption fundraiser? Could you start a clothes closet ministry for people in your area who are in need? Could you donate your time to tutor at-risk kids at the library after school, or become a mentor at a Boys and Girls Club, or Big Brothers/Big Sisters, or another community organization?
There are so many creative, meaningful ways that you could donate your time, talents and resources to make a difference in the life of a child.
Somehow I have just stumbled across twentyless.com
This is powerful stuff. The pictures, stories and testimonies there could break your heart.
There are so many children in the world who need forever families.... Too many of them, if you ask me.
This particular website seems to focus on children in China... but there are so many others out there in different parts of the world, waiting to belong.
Some of them have siblings, some don't.
Some have different abilities, some don't.
Some of them may need surgery or special services. Some don't.
Some of them remember what it is like to be loved and cared for... and some don't.
When Mike and I started on our foster parent/adoption journey, we felt compelled to work with children in our local area. In our state. In our own town, maybe, or at least as locally as possible. That's why we signed up with our county's DSS office to become foster parents. Families in crisis may not have an extended network of relatives to care for their children.Through no fault of their own, adult choices and situations might force those children to be cared for elsewhere. We want to stand in that gap and care for kids at a critical time, when they need it most.
No everyone is called to be a foster parent or to adopt; however, as Helen Keller said, "everyone can do something."
I don't know what "something" looks like for you and your family, but maybe some of these links will help you start thinking about where you might fit in.
Who can foster and/or adopt? This site has requirements for each state in the US.
To find children in the US who are waiting to be adopted, please visit adoptuskids.org
You can search photolistings by state, age, gender, and number of siblings.
If you are interested in kids with special needs, go to ReecesRainbow.org They specialize in helping children of different abilities or situations find forever homes. They often have sizable grants available, to make it easier to afford a costly international adoption, and to more quickly facilitate adoption, especailly for those who have special medical or health needs.
For those who aren't in a position to foster or adopt right now, what can you do to help others? Can you donate to an adoption fundraiser? Could you start a clothes closet ministry for people in your area who are in need? Could you donate your time to tutor at-risk kids at the library after school, or become a mentor at a Boys and Girls Club, or Big Brothers/Big Sisters, or another community organization?
There are so many creative, meaningful ways that you could donate your time, talents and resources to make a difference in the life of a child.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Outside / Inside
Outside, it is a beautiful day.
Sun shines. Birds sing.
Children play in the mud.
Inside, my heart is hurting.
I am grieved.
I am grieved for all the kids out there, especially the smallest ones, who don't have a safe home or loving parent/s to help them learn and grow and blossom through their young lives. My heart hurts for them, and all the terrible things they have been through, are going through, and will be facing.
I am grieved over broken promises, biases, prejudices, and lost opportunities. There are so many lost moments, things that should have been said or done, but weren't, lost moments in time that will never be returned or recovered. In our society, we are masters of wasting time.
Sometimes, my heart is heavy, and I just need a good cry.
I am so glad that a new day comes in the morning.
Another chance to start again.
We can't undo what's already been done.
However, we CAN learn from past mistakes (ours as well as others),
strive not to repeat them, and help make life a little better and brighter for each other.
Sun shines. Birds sing.
Children play in the mud.
Inside, my heart is hurting.
I am grieved.
I am grieved for all the kids out there, especially the smallest ones, who don't have a safe home or loving parent/s to help them learn and grow and blossom through their young lives. My heart hurts for them, and all the terrible things they have been through, are going through, and will be facing.
I am grieved over broken promises, biases, prejudices, and lost opportunities. There are so many lost moments, things that should have been said or done, but weren't, lost moments in time that will never be returned or recovered. In our society, we are masters of wasting time.
Sometimes, my heart is heavy, and I just need a good cry.
I am so glad that a new day comes in the morning.
Another chance to start again.
We can't undo what's already been done.
However, we CAN learn from past mistakes (ours as well as others),
strive not to repeat them, and help make life a little better and brighter for each other.
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