The Realness of it All

Foster Care. There is so much stigma attached to it. So much about it that I have not experienced yet.


People who ask why the children are in care. People who stare because the child is a different ethnicity. Curiosity.


Then the financial aspect of it. These children come from really dark places. They don't know how to express emotions in a healthy manner. They scream, kick, bite, scratch, break things.


Appointments. Visitations. Medicines. Abnormal sleep patterns. Acting out in ways not normal for a toddler. But these children are not "normal." In their short lives they have been traumatized, neglected, and encountered various abuses.


So much of me just wants to take them by the shoulders and look them square in the eye and tell them that life sucks. That life deals us a lot of crap. That we all get hurt at some point or another. I want to instill in them that they have a choice.


I don't like it when people always play victim. I want to raise these children to rise from a horrible place and know their worth. I want them to be victors.


Will they understand it? At 0-4 years old? Perhaps not. Will I be able to use these word tracts? More likely no. But through words and actions I can raise world changers. I want these kids to know that they are strong and capable of so much more than their circumstances try to define.


People may try to tell me how hard it will be. People may think this mentality [to raise world changers] is crazy. I have never really cared what negative people thought throughout this journey. God has called me to it, and has continually promised me that He will see me through it. He is the one who has given me this heart and this mindset. I will be faithful to it. Will there be hard days? There always are. Can I possible imagine all that is in store for me and my little family? Absolutely not. But I choose to embrace the goodness. I long for the moments that make this journey feel completely worth it. I long for the smiles on sad faces, and laughter from pure joy. I long for these babies to be loved far more then they presently are. I pray for their bio parents and bio families that healing happens. I pray for reunification. I pray for strong family bonds. I pray for greatness.


While my main focus is the health and well being of the babies, I pray to touch the lives of the bio parents. Because Lord knows establishing relationship with them can be the hardest part of the entire journey.