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!
Saturday, June 16, 2018
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.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)