This week has just been beyond crazy. With 7 kids you have lots and lots of appointments and the foster systems just adds to that. I don't mind the appointments though because it gives some really good one on one or one on two time where the kids just jabber away.
This week we have learned way more than what we would have ever wanted to learn about trauma in children. We are blessed though that DCS has hired us a counselor to train us in parenting hurt children. A couple of days ago I spent 9 hours with a caseworker and I learned so much about the kids in foster care, how the system works and sooooo much more.
I learned that in our county (we have a very rural county with not a lot of people compared to other counties) there are now only about 4-5 foster families. The problem is that there are 7 caseworkers and each one carry a load of 16-20 somethings kids. Do the math and that is not nearly enough foster families!
Every single day people ask me how I do it. Let me ask you a question...how do you not do it?
A long time ago I asked God to open my eyes to the things that broke his heart. Maybe that's why I couldn't continue to make excuses. When I asked God to do this my eyes were opened beyond anything I could imagine. This week my eyes have been opened to things that I would have never dreamed about a year or 2 ago.
It's not easy being a parent or a foster parent. The truth though is that I am finally at a place in my life where I can put my selfish desires aside because I can no longer sit on the sidelines watching. I wish I would have done this a long time ago.
When we signed up for foster parenting I told the caseworker "bring me the special needs kiddos but don't call me for the extremely hurt child." Let's just say that things have gone the complete opposite of what I asked for. God has now given me a huge heart for the things I didn't think I could handle and he is also giving us the tools to take on everything that he brings us.
There are so many hurt children needing someone to love them. I can't even begin to tell you the changes that happen in a child when they start feeling safe for the first time in their life. Adoption and fostering parenting is HARD but if everyone says "I just couldn't do it" then who will be there to show these children the love of Jesus? Trust me I was one of those that said "I just couldn't do it."
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
Our Crazy Life
Wow! I had no idea what I was getting into when we signed up to be foster parents. How can life be so full of blessings and trials all at the same time? You go to classes and you learn a lot but you know nothing until you are living right in the middle of it.
First of all I had no idea how much fun have 7 kids would be! I also didn't realize how having so many kids meant that at all times at least 2 or 3 kiddos are smiling and making you laugh no matter what else is happening in the house.
I didn't realize that God would give me the same momma heart for kids that were here just for a season as he does for the kiddos that we consider "ours". I didn't realize that there is a real momma bear in me ready and willing to fight at a moments notice for what I feel is right for each child.
I didn't realize that even as hard as it is at times that being foster parents was a missing piece to our life for so long before we finally got brave enough to say yes.
If you hop over to Linny's blog you can read a story about one of our little treasures.
I have to share this picture just because it is sooo stinkin cute of the little boy God blessed us with from the other side of the world.
Last but not least a picture of my favorite man in the whole world!!!
First of all I had no idea how much fun have 7 kids would be! I also didn't realize how having so many kids meant that at all times at least 2 or 3 kiddos are smiling and making you laugh no matter what else is happening in the house.
I didn't realize that God would give me the same momma heart for kids that were here just for a season as he does for the kiddos that we consider "ours". I didn't realize that there is a real momma bear in me ready and willing to fight at a moments notice for what I feel is right for each child.
I didn't realize that even as hard as it is at times that being foster parents was a missing piece to our life for so long before we finally got brave enough to say yes.
If you hop over to Linny's blog you can read a story about one of our little treasures.
I have to share this picture just because it is sooo stinkin cute of the little boy God blessed us with from the other side of the world.
Last but not least a picture of my favorite man in the whole world!!!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Being A Family Of Nine
It has been almost 2 weeks now that we have been a family of 9 (10 once Torry comes home) and we are actually doing really well. To be honest I think we are doing better than we did when we were a family of 5.
The kiddos always have someone to play with. If you get frustrated with one sibling you just go find another one. Do you know how fast a house can get cleaned when you have 9 people helping?
We were even ready for church 30 minutes early the other morning and this has never happened when we were a family of 5. We even did 9 showers/baths before church and still was ready early.
We even managed to take everyone out to eat the other night and grocery shopping and we got many comments on how well behaved our children were. The waitress at the restaurant even said that after one of the kids leaving her a nice size puke mess to clean up (too much chocolate milk).
The downfall to having a family of nine is the amount of laundry we now have!
The kiddos always have someone to play with. If you get frustrated with one sibling you just go find another one. Do you know how fast a house can get cleaned when you have 9 people helping?
We were even ready for church 30 minutes early the other morning and this has never happened when we were a family of 5. We even did 9 showers/baths before church and still was ready early.
We even managed to take everyone out to eat the other night and grocery shopping and we got many comments on how well behaved our children were. The waitress at the restaurant even said that after one of the kids leaving her a nice size puke mess to clean up (too much chocolate milk).
The downfall to having a family of nine is the amount of laundry we now have!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
WOW! Have My Eyes Been Opened
I'm sitting here at 5:30 in the morning because my head is just spinning in circles from this last week. A week ago we were cuddling our little one to be and this morning I sit very much overwhelmed about a lot of things.
To be honest last night I was TICKED OFF!!! Thankfully a friend called just at the right moment and let be just be angry and vent.
I really can't go into much detail but with many hours at the hospital this weekend, many hours with the director of our Child Protective Services, many hours of learning about situations I AM SICK!!! It is not right that kids should have to go through what they do. It makes me who has lived a sheltered life angry, confused and just wondering how anyone could get to a point like these parents in the system do (I'm not just talking about the placement we have now).
On the good side God has blown me away by using his people to come together to help us out this weekend with making phone calls, sitting with a sick little one (who has stolen everyone's heart), bringing us clothes and coming home to someone that filled our kitchen with milk, eggs, bananas and sooooo much more (and these wonderful little cake balls that was perfect after such a long crazy day.
God showed me that the foster care system is a team effort. Not only did our local child Protective Service be there for me at a moments notice the director took her Saturday to go sit with me at a children's hospital a couple of hours away so that I could have a break when needed. I was so thankful to have this time to sit and talk with her, cry with her, and learn about the system.
These workers are so overwhelmed it is just crazy! I had no idea until I just spent the weekend with 2 caseworkers on what they really have to do in their job. If you want to do a random act of kindness this week I have a couple of ideas:
1. Send flowers or a gift basket or maybe just gift certificates to your local Department of Child Services and just leave a note thanking them and encouraging them for what they do. I honestly think they have one of the hardest jobs there is!
2. Go buy some new clothes, diapers, shoes and pajamas and drop them off at your local Child Protective Services or local emergency room for kids entering the system. Let's just say that many kids come in needing cleaned up very badly and they need something to wear right away. I can't even tell you the look on these kids faces when they get something NEW.
3. Just call their office and ask if they need anything.
4. Sign up to be a foster parent (yes, I am even saying this with being overwhelmed at the moment).
Man...if churches and Child Services could work as teams like what happened this weekend then things could run a lot smoother for everyone involved. Honestly if God wouldn't have placed his people into action this weekend and people willing to say yes to God this weekend I don't know what would have happened.
Now on a side note, please pray for some broken little hearts in our home. We have a lot to figure out over the next couple of weeks, a lot of appointments to make and a lot of prayer needed!
To be honest last night I was TICKED OFF!!! Thankfully a friend called just at the right moment and let be just be angry and vent.
I really can't go into much detail but with many hours at the hospital this weekend, many hours with the director of our Child Protective Services, many hours of learning about situations I AM SICK!!! It is not right that kids should have to go through what they do. It makes me who has lived a sheltered life angry, confused and just wondering how anyone could get to a point like these parents in the system do (I'm not just talking about the placement we have now).
On the good side God has blown me away by using his people to come together to help us out this weekend with making phone calls, sitting with a sick little one (who has stolen everyone's heart), bringing us clothes and coming home to someone that filled our kitchen with milk, eggs, bananas and sooooo much more (and these wonderful little cake balls that was perfect after such a long crazy day.
God showed me that the foster care system is a team effort. Not only did our local child Protective Service be there for me at a moments notice the director took her Saturday to go sit with me at a children's hospital a couple of hours away so that I could have a break when needed. I was so thankful to have this time to sit and talk with her, cry with her, and learn about the system.
These workers are so overwhelmed it is just crazy! I had no idea until I just spent the weekend with 2 caseworkers on what they really have to do in their job. If you want to do a random act of kindness this week I have a couple of ideas:
1. Send flowers or a gift basket or maybe just gift certificates to your local Department of Child Services and just leave a note thanking them and encouraging them for what they do. I honestly think they have one of the hardest jobs there is!
2. Go buy some new clothes, diapers, shoes and pajamas and drop them off at your local Child Protective Services or local emergency room for kids entering the system. Let's just say that many kids come in needing cleaned up very badly and they need something to wear right away. I can't even tell you the look on these kids faces when they get something NEW.
3. Just call their office and ask if they need anything.
4. Sign up to be a foster parent (yes, I am even saying this with being overwhelmed at the moment).
Man...if churches and Child Services could work as teams like what happened this weekend then things could run a lot smoother for everyone involved. Honestly if God wouldn't have placed his people into action this weekend and people willing to say yes to God this weekend I don't know what would have happened.
Now on a side note, please pray for some broken little hearts in our home. We have a lot to figure out over the next couple of weeks, a lot of appointments to make and a lot of prayer needed!
Thursday, March 22, 2012
We Grew Again!!!
Oh my goodness, we must be crazy but even if we are, we are truly blessed. Yesterday I woke up with this feeling that I needed to get our empty beds ready because I felt we would be getting a call very soon. I got them all ready not thinking much about it until I get a phone call at around 2:00 today.
The phone call went something like this "You have 3 kids right" they went on to ask if I had 1 or 2 empty beds. I told them depending on the situation we could possibly take 2 but that our little T man coming was first priority but we were happy to fill our home until he came home. She then said "well, what would you think about taking in 4 because we really want to keep them together if we can." To be honest my first thought was "NO WAY" we have an adoption happening how can we take 4.
Right as I was thinking no God reminded me that he had whispered to me yesterday telling me to be ready. I told them we would take them for now but little Mr T comes first so if he comes home before they go home then something will have to be worked out. So for now we once again have 7 children running around :)
If you can please pray for these little broken hearts who really have no idea what is happening.
The phone call went something like this "You have 3 kids right" they went on to ask if I had 1 or 2 empty beds. I told them depending on the situation we could possibly take 2 but that our little T man coming was first priority but we were happy to fill our home until he came home. She then said "well, what would you think about taking in 4 because we really want to keep them together if we can." To be honest my first thought was "NO WAY" we have an adoption happening how can we take 4.
Right as I was thinking no God reminded me that he had whispered to me yesterday telling me to be ready. I told them we would take them for now but little Mr T comes first so if he comes home before they go home then something will have to be worked out. So for now we once again have 7 children running around :)
If you can please pray for these little broken hearts who really have no idea what is happening.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Playing At The Beach In March!!!
This morning we went to my sisters church because my niece and nephews were getting baptized. We then went for Chinese and let me tell you that we had one very excited little boy.
Since we are just a family of five at the moment (we never know when that next call is going to come) we decided to go hiking and then it was nice enough out that the kids got to kick their feet around in the lake. I can't believe this is MARCH!!!
The kids had so much fun! I can't wait until our little man Mr. T can join us and we can stick his little feet in the water.
Speaking of little Mr. T if anyone knows where we could buy used adaptive equipment like positioning seats and things can you please leave me a comment.
What did you do on this beautiful day?
Since we are just a family of five at the moment (we never know when that next call is going to come) we decided to go hiking and then it was nice enough out that the kids got to kick their feet around in the lake. I can't believe this is MARCH!!!
The kids had so much fun! I can't wait until our little man Mr. T can join us and we can stick his little feet in the water.
Speaking of little Mr. T if anyone knows where we could buy used adaptive equipment like positioning seats and things can you please leave me a comment.
What did you do on this beautiful day?
Saturday, March 17, 2012
We Met Our Future Baby!!!
We are over the moon in love! We were invited to go meet our baby this weekend so we left the "twins" with mom and dad (so our first meeting wouldn't be too crazy) and Amaya, Chris and I left for our 4 hour drive to go see him.
We were excited and nervous all at the same time and let's just say that God blessed our socks off once again. The first meeting on Friday couldn't have been more perfect. We walked in to see this beautiful little boy and his caretaker was amazing and made us feel so comfortable. His caseworker was also amazing! We spent 2 1/2 hours with him and we got to watch him eat, we watched him play and we got lots of cuddle time. We also learned that his needs are not nearly what we expected them to be. He will not ever be able to walk and may not ever be able to talk but he is so easy going and really not that hard to care for. We thought he may need nursing care when we weren't around but he won't as long as we can find a few people willing to just help us out when needed.
Today his caretaker brought him to a mall and then she let us just have him (the caseworker stayed with us) and we got to love on him for 3 hours. He loved the lights and the sounds of the mall and he was just all smiles.
We walked around for awhile, went to see some butterflies in an exhibit and then we went for some playtime in a nice playroom they had. It was so good to give him some time to lay on the floor and stretch out. Amaya also had a blast in the playroom.
Anyway we are head over heels in love, including his big sister Amaya!!! We have no idea how long it will take to get him home but the caseworker is hoping it will just take a couple of months. We will go see him again sometime next month and we will take everyone with us then.
I am so thankful to www.adoptuskids.org for helping us to find our little one!!!
The caseworker said they need adoptive families so bad. Are you ready to say YES yet? Sooooo many kids need a loving home.
We were excited and nervous all at the same time and let's just say that God blessed our socks off once again. The first meeting on Friday couldn't have been more perfect. We walked in to see this beautiful little boy and his caretaker was amazing and made us feel so comfortable. His caseworker was also amazing! We spent 2 1/2 hours with him and we got to watch him eat, we watched him play and we got lots of cuddle time. We also learned that his needs are not nearly what we expected them to be. He will not ever be able to walk and may not ever be able to talk but he is so easy going and really not that hard to care for. We thought he may need nursing care when we weren't around but he won't as long as we can find a few people willing to just help us out when needed.
Today his caretaker brought him to a mall and then she let us just have him (the caseworker stayed with us) and we got to love on him for 3 hours. He loved the lights and the sounds of the mall and he was just all smiles.
We walked around for awhile, went to see some butterflies in an exhibit and then we went for some playtime in a nice playroom they had. It was so good to give him some time to lay on the floor and stretch out. Amaya also had a blast in the playroom.
Anyway we are head over heels in love, including his big sister Amaya!!! We have no idea how long it will take to get him home but the caseworker is hoping it will just take a couple of months. We will go see him again sometime next month and we will take everyone with us then.
I am so thankful to www.adoptuskids.org for helping us to find our little one!!!
The caseworker said they need adoptive families so bad. Are you ready to say YES yet? Sooooo many kids need a loving home.
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