Following the Call

If you were to look at our daily life before little man and compare it to today, you may think you were looking at two different families. Before he was placed in our home we had weekly play dates, trips to the park and were rarely home. For a few months we were able to keep that up. Things slowly changed.

Most of our days are spent at home. Going out is stressful. It's hard and it wears me down. I feel like people look and judge us so much when we are out. I've always had the easy kids. The go with the flow kids. Now I have "that kid". And having "that kid" means the other ones act out more too. They want the attention he gets. I'm not complaining (too much). It's not his fault. Every action made by him has a direct link to his life before us. I could write a whole post on why people shouldn't jump to conclusions when "that kid" enters the store but that's for another time.

Joy Overwhelming

It has been a while since I have blogged about our foster care journey. It is difficult to find words to share here that will not get us into trouble. There are lots and lots of things we can't share, which is why if you follow us on instagram or facebook, you have grown rather familiar with the back of our Little Man's head. Haha.

What I can share here is how I am feeling. I am overwhelmed. Now I say that and I know where your mind went. You guys, I am not talking busy, even though I am. I am not talking about fear, even though it rises. I am talking about joy. I am talking about blessings.

I want to preface all of this by saying, foster care is not an easy road. It is not all rainbows and unicorns. It is tough. I think about the way my little man acts in the hours or days following a visit and it is saddening. I think about the twists and turns in his case that make it appear that he may go home and it's scary. Being a foster mom can be really hard at times.

But oh the joy.

Each milestone is so exciting. Watching these sweet babies overcome is exhilirating. Knowing that God is using us to help heal these babies is an honor.

Each trial has taught us to rely more and more on the Lord. Our relationship with Him has grown so so much. He is the rock that keeps us standing.

I have heard so many times, by so many people, things like "I could never do what you are doing", "I don't know how you do it". People, do you know who you are talking to? I am the girl who said she couldn't wait to adopt but would NEVER do foster care. I can not do this alone. I am only able to do this because of God. I am, oh so  thankful that He pulled me from that place of fear and equipped me. This life, although challenging brings us so much joy. Joy overwhelming.

I wish that in this spot, I could post a picture of our little man's smile. He moves people. He does something to you. There is something about him...something no one can resist. God is using him. God has a plan. He has a had a plan for this child since before he called us to be his foster parents. God is using us in mighty ways. I am not saying that to boast but to tell you that this road is not all pain and sorrow, it is not all challenges. In fact, most days have no pain, no hardships, just joy.

I have heard a lot lately about kids who are being detained (removed from their parent's care) and have no where to go. There are not enough homes. The stories have been heart wrenching. So many of you have e-mailed me and said you wished you could take them. You wish you could do this.

I am here to tell you, you can! I never thought I could. I never thought I had it in me. But the love for these children takes away all those inabilities. The love of Christ in us overpowers the fear. That's not to say fears will disappear. They are still there, for me at least. What I am saying, is that our God is bigger than our fears. He is able when we are not.

My biggest fear outside of "losing" a child while doing this was loving the parents. <---- Did you know God calls us to do that to? Craziness, right? I'm kidding. Kind of.

Last week after our visit, bio dad said "God Bless you" as he walked out of the room. Because I fought my human self and desire to dislike them, because I chose to love as Christ would love, this man, who weeks earlier wouldn't speak a word to my husband or I, asked God to bless me. I don't know how much he meant those words but I can tell you what they meant to me. Joy. Our God is so big. He is changing hearts and lives. Whether this man changes or not, I know that God has begun moving in him. What greater joy than to know the Lord and to show Him to others.

I don't know where I am trying to go with this post. Maybe one of you needed to hear this. Maybe one of you has had doubts as to whether or not you could do this or if God could use you in this way. Maybe you just needed to hear that it isn't all pain. Maybe you needed just a little push to make the big jump. If that's the case, would you please e-mail me? I would love to speak with you.

No room for her there?

 It's getting close. We could be foster parents soon. Like in a month or two soon.

This Saturday we finished up our final training class. Next on our to do list is CPR/First Aid certification (which we have scheduled for this Saturday). Then we wait for a call from our adoption worker to schedule a home study. After the home study we will be fully certified and ready to go.

We have been told that as soon as we are certified we should be ready for a call. There are so many kids in the system that we could be certified and have our first placement in the same day.

The agency we are using has received over a thousand calls this month. Each call represents a child. A child who has been taken out of his/her home and has no where to go. The system is overloaded with kids. There aren't enough homes.

{Source}

After finishing up the training and learning about what these kids have gone through. How it makes them feel. What it does to their innocent little selves. The thought of a child sitting in the back seat of a social workers car, hearing one call after another "you don't have a home?", "No room for her there?", "We will call the next agency". My stomach is turning. These poor children. These poor helpless babies.

I don't know about you but the thought of the kids without homes keeps me up at night. If only there was something we could all do.

I've done the research, I've heard how hard this is. I know being a foster parent isn't for everyone. So say that you have thought about it (please think about it) and decided it's not for you. Not for your family. What can you do to help this huge number of children?

1. Be a respite home. Get licensed and be a home a child could be placed while they are looking for a more long term family. It is emergency foster care. You may have a child for 24 hours to 30days.

2. Volunteer at a children's home. Many children's homes are entirely understaffed with little help from the community. Go to your local group home, if your community has one, and see what you can do. It may be something as simple as reading or playing games with the kids.

3. Hire an older Foster child. It is so common for kids who come into the system at an older age to "aged out of the system". They are on their own and aren't prepared to survive alone. Make a conscious effort to hire teen foster kids and get them on the right path for survival alone. Keep in mind that it is estimated that 20-40% of todays homeless people were once foster children.

4. Donate. Whether this means donating items to a foster mom or group home or donating to agencies. Use the resources you have to give to the kids who do not.

5. Ask. If you don't know what you can do, call a state worker or foster agency and find out what they could use your help in doing. There is a great need for homes, support and loving people just like you.