One of my dear friends from high school lost her five-year old daughter, Cameron, in a tragic car accident yesterday as a result of poor visibility from a grass fire. You can read more about it here, but my heart is absolutely broken for her and her family. Horrific is the only word I can think of to describe the gut wrenching pain she is enduring right now. I also can't stop thinking about Cameron's uncle who tried to rescue her after the truck was engulfed in flames and was not able to. How very devastating for him. Her son survived after his uncle pulled him out of the truck. Please pray for everyone involved and love, love, love your babies.
We turned our cable off today for a couple of reasons. My job situation is changing in the next month and when we were looking for places to cut, that is the first thing that came up. Not only will it save money, but sometimes we just need to unplug. We have plenty of things to do together as a family and that is just one less distraction. We can still watch shows online or do Netflix if we really want to. It is actually kind of liberating and I've been thinking about spending less time on the computer/iPhone also, although this is trickier because of my work. They are great things to have until you become too attached to them.
We are learning a lot in our foster care training. I've taken a couple of attachment parenting classes prior to this and research continues to show the effects of attachment or non-attachment on children. I won't get into all of the details because everyone has their opinions on the matter and even mine have changed after learning more. I was quite attached with Hayden, but I took a MUCH more attached approach with Hudson and more so with Hayden in the last year. Some may call this parent control vs. child control, but if you are really meeting the needs of the child, everyone is happy. This is especially true with foster children. You really can't imagine the things these children have been through.
Have a great week and don't forget to count your blessings.
Showing posts with label foster care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label foster care. Show all posts
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
The Journey Begins
Garrett and I have always had a heart for adoption. We talked about it before we were married and it has always been something that we talked about doing "someday". Well, I think that "someday" is getting closer. What started as a still small whisper in our hearts has grown to be a voice heard very clearly.
We had our first foster training class today and while it was a lot of information to process, we know that this is exactly what we need to be doing. We don't know what God's plan is or His timeline, whether it be respite care for foster families for a while, fostering or fostering to adopt, we do know one thing for certain - there are millions of children across the world (30,000 in Texas alone) that need a forever family. Whatever part we play in that, for two weeks or a lifetime, we want to show them the kind of love that can only come from Jesus.
We all like to tuck our children in at night after tickling their feet and kissing their noses and think that all is well with the world and that all children are loved as much as our own. The sad reality is that we live in a fallen world and absolutely heartbreaking things are happening to many of them everyday.
Many questions are asked when fostering/adoption is brought up. Why would you want to do this when you have/can have children of your own? You know that kids in the foster care system can be difficult to deal with, why would you want to do that? That might not be good for your other children.
My answer to this is quite simple. God doesn't make mistakes. Ever. These children did not choose this life for themselves and if everyone turned the other cheek always thinking that someone else would take care of them, who would be there to love them? Now, I'm not saying that everyone should run out and make a life changing decision to foster or adopt, but if you are called to do this don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. God always works out the details. We still have many unknowns, but we know that when you submit yourselves fully, God carefully orchestrates your life in a way that you never could on your own.
I think about how much I love my kids and I want to share that with a child who has never known that kind of love. We do not think we are noble or that we will save the world by doing this. There is a global orphan crisis and we are just two people. I pray that any and every child that comes into our home will know they are loved and that they have a place in this world. We do not have the biggest house or the most expensive things, but we have a lot to give and as we prepare our hearts and minds for what is to come, I remind myself of I Thesssalonians 5:24, “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” Logistically, we don't have everything completely figured out, but there is no doubt that if we are faithful, He will surely do it.
Please pray for us as we begin this journey.
We had our first foster training class today and while it was a lot of information to process, we know that this is exactly what we need to be doing. We don't know what God's plan is or His timeline, whether it be respite care for foster families for a while, fostering or fostering to adopt, we do know one thing for certain - there are millions of children across the world (30,000 in Texas alone) that need a forever family. Whatever part we play in that, for two weeks or a lifetime, we want to show them the kind of love that can only come from Jesus.
We all like to tuck our children in at night after tickling their feet and kissing their noses and think that all is well with the world and that all children are loved as much as our own. The sad reality is that we live in a fallen world and absolutely heartbreaking things are happening to many of them everyday.
Many questions are asked when fostering/adoption is brought up. Why would you want to do this when you have/can have children of your own? You know that kids in the foster care system can be difficult to deal with, why would you want to do that? That might not be good for your other children.
My answer to this is quite simple. God doesn't make mistakes. Ever. These children did not choose this life for themselves and if everyone turned the other cheek always thinking that someone else would take care of them, who would be there to love them? Now, I'm not saying that everyone should run out and make a life changing decision to foster or adopt, but if you are called to do this don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. God always works out the details. We still have many unknowns, but we know that when you submit yourselves fully, God carefully orchestrates your life in a way that you never could on your own.
I think about how much I love my kids and I want to share that with a child who has never known that kind of love. We do not think we are noble or that we will save the world by doing this. There is a global orphan crisis and we are just two people. I pray that any and every child that comes into our home will know they are loved and that they have a place in this world. We do not have the biggest house or the most expensive things, but we have a lot to give and as we prepare our hearts and minds for what is to come, I remind myself of I Thesssalonians 5:24, “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” Logistically, we don't have everything completely figured out, but there is no doubt that if we are faithful, He will surely do it.
Please pray for us as we begin this journey.
Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families.
Psalms 68:5-6
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