We may very well be less than 5 weeks away from being licensed foster parents. I have hopes that we are licensed by October 31, if not sooner.
That sounds so crazy. So unreal. We are both in school and we both work. How are we making this possible?
I very much feel called to be foster parents. I feel that this has been something that was placed on my heart from a very, very young age and that God aligned everything perfectly for us that this would happen. That is not to say that it has been easy, but it certainly will be worth it!
We have to finish Presley Ridge 12 since we had to leave that class early. We have one final walk through and then our licensor has to write up our report. We have to mail in our drivers clearance forms this week since they can take up to 4 weeks to process and have the results mailed to where they need to go.
Here we go. Embarking on the greatest love story yet. Me and my husband, loving the least of them.
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Friday, August 10, 2018
Getting There
I just received an email from our licensor not too long ago that August is a very busy month for her and that the soonest we will be licensed will be end of October, but that is not a promise.
It was very discouraging news to hear at first. I was really disappointed. I wanted to finish our Presley Ridge classes on September 8 and then have our home study sent to the state on September 10. I knew from the beginning that it might be an unrealistic goal, yet I had hope. The intake worker told me that it was possible, but that it would all depend on who our licensor was.
It was not until I was crying out to God in my shower just how unfair this whole thing is when God reminded me that He has a plan for us. I was rehearsing everything I was going to say when I made a phone call when suddenly God's peace flooded over me and He reminded me that His will, not mine, be done. I have resigned myself to that fact. I trust that His plans and timeline are greater than my own.
Reading John Bevere's book Extraordinary, I was reminded about walking into this journey because Jesus has called us.
Jesus called Peter to come out of the boat and walk on water. With his eyes upon Jesus, Peter stepped out in faith and followed the calling of Our Lord.
I recall this feeling, the feeling of walking on the edge of the water ... walking hand in hand with the Lord. Here I am again. This time I stand on the edge of the water with my husband. I am ready to answer the call and I say "here I am, Lord. Send me."
While I was hoping for a sooner timeline, I am not complaining. This is a season with my husband. We will not have these days again. While we may have more childless days ahead in between placements, that is not promised to us. So we will enjoy this season of being newly weds pre-babies, and we will rejoice when God moves mountains and allows us the opportunity to love the least of them and we have children in our home.
It was very discouraging news to hear at first. I was really disappointed. I wanted to finish our Presley Ridge classes on September 8 and then have our home study sent to the state on September 10. I knew from the beginning that it might be an unrealistic goal, yet I had hope. The intake worker told me that it was possible, but that it would all depend on who our licensor was.
It was not until I was crying out to God in my shower just how unfair this whole thing is when God reminded me that He has a plan for us. I was rehearsing everything I was going to say when I made a phone call when suddenly God's peace flooded over me and He reminded me that His will, not mine, be done. I have resigned myself to that fact. I trust that His plans and timeline are greater than my own.
Reading John Bevere's book Extraordinary, I was reminded about walking into this journey because Jesus has called us.
Jesus called Peter to come out of the boat and walk on water. With his eyes upon Jesus, Peter stepped out in faith and followed the calling of Our Lord.
I recall this feeling, the feeling of walking on the edge of the water ... walking hand in hand with the Lord. Here I am again. This time I stand on the edge of the water with my husband. I am ready to answer the call and I say "here I am, Lord. Send me."
While I was hoping for a sooner timeline, I am not complaining. This is a season with my husband. We will not have these days again. While we may have more childless days ahead in between placements, that is not promised to us. So we will enjoy this season of being newly weds pre-babies, and we will rejoice when God moves mountains and allows us the opportunity to love the least of them and we have children in our home.
Friday, July 6, 2018
Loving the Littles and Paperwork
This past Monday I dropped off a large envelope to my foster care agency. I was going to mail it, but the darn thing would not stay shut and I have no tape in the house.
The latest paperwork that went out included our prudent parenting training, finger printing info, and one or two other odds and ends.
That is the last of what was given to us. I believe the next step is that two weeks after we get finger printed, we will have our ongoing licensor assigned to us. So we should have that in the next week or just beyond; unless of course I missed something.
Both my husband and I need an annual physical which are scheduled for next week and the first week of August. We begin the Presley Ridge training on July 14; that will be every Tuesday and 2 Saturdays from July 14 to September 8.
My real hope is that we can get everything done for licensure prior to September 8, then finish that last training and have our entire home study/whatever it is that needs to be sent to the state come Monday, September 11. Huge and lofty goal that is not even in my hands. But we have been extremely proactive the past 2 weeks! September is an amazing goal, but I am also understanding of the process taking longer as well. My trust is in the Lord; we go until we cannot go any further or until we are licensed! Then it is a whole new set of crazy!
---
My husband and I just did 7 days of respite for another foster family. It was wonderful having babies in our home! We had just brought over the second crib and two days later received a phone call asking if we could do short term respite over the holiday/weekend. We had to make some slight changes in our schedule, but we got those taken care of and then found a caregiver to watch the littles while we were at work and there ya have it!
We have offered to be subcare providers for this family until we are licensed with placements of our own if they would like; so they will be keeping in touch with us if that is something they are interested in!
My heart is full! I just "turned over" the nursery and I felt a little bit like I work in a hotel. Changing bed linens, organizing the nursery, putting everything just-so. Yet I would not change this course of life. I love this and I am ready for the adventures that await us!
Saturday, June 16, 2018
Phase I begins!
Monday, June 11, 2018. 6:30-8:30pm. My husband and I sit in a warm room with a few other couples. "Orientation for foster and adoptive parents" is what we are signed up for. Two pleasant ladies introduce themselves and begin to explain what the evening is about.
So much information. It is real, honest, raw. There is a huge need for foster and adoptive parents. But this journey is not easy. It is not a decision that is made lightly.
I have walked this journey before. I know what is like at least to some degree. I have had two placements of my own. I work with foster children at my day job.
My husband and I learned more about what being foster parents look like and that it is a commitment and that we need to have a strong marriage and be on the same team. We know we are called to this. We know this is part of the journey God has called us to walk. Our marriage will be made stronger through obedience to God's calling on our lives.
So there we sat. Two hours later we filled out an application and turned it in. The onboarding/intake worker is coming to our home on Tuesday, June 19, 2018. We have officially begun the process. The only way to stop the process from moving forward is with a written statement.
We first thought of getting licensed for 1 child ages 0-2, but realized that that is such a limited age frame that we may not end with any calls. I had previously been licensed for up to 2 children ages 0-4 and we decided that we would do the same thing this time around as well. I was not positive how big the nursery is, but I am ecstatic to report that is large enough for at least two children! Could possibly even be large enough for three if we were to use bunk beds, but we are hoping to get licensed for youngsters who are too young for bunk beds. This weekend will be spend breaking down a crib, moving it from my dad's house, and then rebuilding it in our home.
We have a few odds and ends that we would like to purchase to help make our home safer for children, but we pretty much have all that we need from my past experience.
So here we are. Phase I beginning. There are three phases total. I do not recall each one presently, but the plan is to document this journey as accurate as possible right here.
Stay tuned as we journey from two to more! I already went from one to two, and now our plan is to have enough children in our care that we need to purchase a Nissan NV van ... which holds 10 passengers in back and 2 in the front. I want to be those people!
So much information. It is real, honest, raw. There is a huge need for foster and adoptive parents. But this journey is not easy. It is not a decision that is made lightly.
I have walked this journey before. I know what is like at least to some degree. I have had two placements of my own. I work with foster children at my day job.
My husband and I learned more about what being foster parents look like and that it is a commitment and that we need to have a strong marriage and be on the same team. We know we are called to this. We know this is part of the journey God has called us to walk. Our marriage will be made stronger through obedience to God's calling on our lives.
So there we sat. Two hours later we filled out an application and turned it in. The onboarding/intake worker is coming to our home on Tuesday, June 19, 2018. We have officially begun the process. The only way to stop the process from moving forward is with a written statement.
We first thought of getting licensed for 1 child ages 0-2, but realized that that is such a limited age frame that we may not end with any calls. I had previously been licensed for up to 2 children ages 0-4 and we decided that we would do the same thing this time around as well. I was not positive how big the nursery is, but I am ecstatic to report that is large enough for at least two children! Could possibly even be large enough for three if we were to use bunk beds, but we are hoping to get licensed for youngsters who are too young for bunk beds. This weekend will be spend breaking down a crib, moving it from my dad's house, and then rebuilding it in our home.
We have a few odds and ends that we would like to purchase to help make our home safer for children, but we pretty much have all that we need from my past experience.
So here we are. Phase I beginning. There are three phases total. I do not recall each one presently, but the plan is to document this journey as accurate as possible right here.
Stay tuned as we journey from two to more! I already went from one to two, and now our plan is to have enough children in our care that we need to purchase a Nissan NV van ... which holds 10 passengers in back and 2 in the front. I want to be those people!
Thursday, June 7, 2018
Take II
The next steps began. A phone call placed. A voicemail returned. An email sent. An orientation signed up for. A phone call made.
--
When I first began my foster care journey, I was in the midst of processing a breakup. We were still friends and I remember talking to him around Labor Day 2014 and saying that I wanted to be a foster mom; fostering had been on my heart for at least 3 years at this point and I recall saying "But I am single ... I'd like to get married one day, but who is going to be interested in marrying me if I am raising someone else's children?" His response was packed with wisdom as he said, "If they say no, then you know they aren't for you ... go for it and if it is meant to be, you'll find someone who is supportive of you."
So I jumped. Both feet in. There was no turning back.
"There's no turning back
Nothing in the past
My eyes on You again
Can't see nothing at all
But Your outstretched arms
Help me believe it
Though I falter
You got me walking on water"
-(NEEDTOBREATH)
--
I was all in. I felt as though I were walking on water as I navigated the journey.
It was two years later, that I met my now husband. I had a four year old placed with me at the time we met. Watching the two of them grow and bond made this momma heart happy.
As our relationship became more serious and we were taking the next steps to forever, we talked about foster care. He was on board with the journey. Our plan was to keep the license open, add him onto it, and then pursue fostering after six months of marriage. That is not exactly what happened, but hind sight is 20/20. In a way, what happened was exactly what needed to happen in the order it was supposed to. God is so cool like that!
--
So here I stand on the edge of the water once again. This time with my husband by my side. I hear the Lord asking me if I trust Him.
This is scary, once again. I am in a different season of life now. So much has changed in the past 3-4 years. But the commission is the same. My God is the same.
He has called us to this and He will see us through.
--
I have such a tendency to focus on the "what ifs" in a negative light. The "what ifs" of finances, emotions, housing, and the list goes on.
But my faith can move mountains. Do I believe that?
--
Foster Care. I have always believed and prayed that it would be a life long calling. I still cannot answer that; only time will tell.
My plan has been filled with ups and downs. It has not gone exactly as I have planned. But God knows. May His will be done.
--
Here we are on the edge of the water ... Lord send us. We are ready.
--
On Monday we begin. We go to orientation and we receive our application. We fill that out and we go while the light is green.
I trust. The unknowns and "what ifs" do not define. We may hit a dead end. But we are going until we cannot go any more. That may mean "until later" or that may mean full licensure and receiving placements. Only God knows and we trust that God will guide us!
--
When I first began my foster care journey, I was in the midst of processing a breakup. We were still friends and I remember talking to him around Labor Day 2014 and saying that I wanted to be a foster mom; fostering had been on my heart for at least 3 years at this point and I recall saying "But I am single ... I'd like to get married one day, but who is going to be interested in marrying me if I am raising someone else's children?" His response was packed with wisdom as he said, "If they say no, then you know they aren't for you ... go for it and if it is meant to be, you'll find someone who is supportive of you."
So I jumped. Both feet in. There was no turning back.
"There's no turning back
Nothing in the past
My eyes on You again
Can't see nothing at all
But Your outstretched arms
Help me believe it
Though I falter
You got me walking on water"
-(NEEDTOBREATH)
--
I was all in. I felt as though I were walking on water as I navigated the journey.
It was two years later, that I met my now husband. I had a four year old placed with me at the time we met. Watching the two of them grow and bond made this momma heart happy.
As our relationship became more serious and we were taking the next steps to forever, we talked about foster care. He was on board with the journey. Our plan was to keep the license open, add him onto it, and then pursue fostering after six months of marriage. That is not exactly what happened, but hind sight is 20/20. In a way, what happened was exactly what needed to happen in the order it was supposed to. God is so cool like that!
--
So here I stand on the edge of the water once again. This time with my husband by my side. I hear the Lord asking me if I trust Him.
This is scary, once again. I am in a different season of life now. So much has changed in the past 3-4 years. But the commission is the same. My God is the same.
He has called us to this and He will see us through.
--
I have such a tendency to focus on the "what ifs" in a negative light. The "what ifs" of finances, emotions, housing, and the list goes on.
But my faith can move mountains. Do I believe that?
--
Foster Care. I have always believed and prayed that it would be a life long calling. I still cannot answer that; only time will tell.
My plan has been filled with ups and downs. It has not gone exactly as I have planned. But God knows. May His will be done.
--
Here we are on the edge of the water ... Lord send us. We are ready.
--
On Monday we begin. We go to orientation and we receive our application. We fill that out and we go while the light is green.
I trust. The unknowns and "what ifs" do not define. We may hit a dead end. But we are going until we cannot go any more. That may mean "until later" or that may mean full licensure and receiving placements. Only God knows and we trust that God will guide us!
Friday, June 1, 2018
The Next Part of the Journey
After what feels like an eternity, a phone call has been made, a voicemail left ... to hopefully begin the process of relicensure so my husband and I can reopen my foster care license, to make it our license.
After our gorgeous September wedding, we did not have time for him to get everything done in time to renew my license, I was told. I was asked to voluntarily close my license.
We moved, we got pregnant, we lost babies, we continued in school, we continued at our jobs, we continued to move forward in life.
I am not positive what this journey will look like, but I am ready to "go while the light is green." I have the same attitude I had 3 years ago ... I am going until I cannot go any further. This will either come to fruition or we will hit a dead end.
We are praying that God's Will be done. We cannot control what will happen, but I trust that everything will be done for God's greater glory.
May my husband and I grow in the journey and trust in the Lord to guide our hearts and our minds.
After our gorgeous September wedding, we did not have time for him to get everything done in time to renew my license, I was told. I was asked to voluntarily close my license.
We moved, we got pregnant, we lost babies, we continued in school, we continued at our jobs, we continued to move forward in life.
I am not positive what this journey will look like, but I am ready to "go while the light is green." I have the same attitude I had 3 years ago ... I am going until I cannot go any further. This will either come to fruition or we will hit a dead end.
We are praying that God's Will be done. We cannot control what will happen, but I trust that everything will be done for God's greater glory.
May my husband and I grow in the journey and trust in the Lord to guide our hearts and our minds.
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Silence
All has been quiet over in our little world. A couple of visitors due to weekend respite over the past 11 months, but no big commitments.
I started school back at the beginning of the year, and am less than a week away from entering the Social Work program.
Wedding prep is also underway as I prepare for my walk down the aisle to be wed to my husband to be in just over two weeks.
All of the paperwork appears to be in order thus far. Bi-annual license renewal is in January, but all the paperwork must be done in November.
It is coming up on a year of no placements and I go between keeping my license open or closing it.
This is a new season. I am getting married. I would love to birth my own babies.
Yet there are children out there who need a family.
Two placements over 13 months. Just about 8 months apiece. They overlapped.
I am praying my way through this season because I honestly am not sure what to do. Opening my home to do foster care was the right thing to do in that season. I always dreamt about being a foster mom for 15, 30, 40+ years. It has been just over two years now that my license was open. I've thought about closing it and reopening it (essentially getting re-licensed) in 18-20 years after having kids and them growing up.
This is a scary season, to be honest. I wish I had the answers, but I don't. I know God will guide me. I know I'll be blessed so long as I remain obedient.
I started school back at the beginning of the year, and am less than a week away from entering the Social Work program.
Wedding prep is also underway as I prepare for my walk down the aisle to be wed to my husband to be in just over two weeks.
All of the paperwork appears to be in order thus far. Bi-annual license renewal is in January, but all the paperwork must be done in November.
It is coming up on a year of no placements and I go between keeping my license open or closing it.
This is a new season. I am getting married. I would love to birth my own babies.
Yet there are children out there who need a family.
Two placements over 13 months. Just about 8 months apiece. They overlapped.
I am praying my way through this season because I honestly am not sure what to do. Opening my home to do foster care was the right thing to do in that season. I always dreamt about being a foster mom for 15, 30, 40+ years. It has been just over two years now that my license was open. I've thought about closing it and reopening it (essentially getting re-licensed) in 18-20 years after having kids and them growing up.
This is a scary season, to be honest. I wish I had the answers, but I don't. I know God will guide me. I know I'll be blessed so long as I remain obedient.
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