Super Temporary Friend

One common myth of foster care is that all the children in custody are juvenile delinquents.  That they are in custody because of something they've done.  FALSE.  Sure, there are juvenile delinquents, but there are also MANY children who are young, and who have suffered trauma at the hands of the adults who should have been protecting them.  It is anything but their fault they've entered care.  {There is your hint - if you've been wanting to foster, but didn't feel comfortable taking teenagers, go sign-up!  There are little ones who need a loving family!!!}

Since Dboy left, I have received 5 DCS placement phone calls.  2 were pre-teen/teenagers.  3 were for babies: a 4 day old girl, a 7 month old boy, and this 10 month old baby boy:

JBaby kissing OBaby :)
His head is enormous, but the angle of this makes it look even bigger!  J isn't that much smaller .

{Before you freak out ;-), O is leaving tomorrow.}

Yesterday morning I got the call for the 7 month old.  I told the placement worker we are not taking any cases right now.  We realized when we still had D that dealing with two DCS cases and all the visits and meetings that go along with each of them is too much for our family.  I still hate saying no.  I wish I could welcome each child we get called about, or at least know they were going to a sweet, God-fearing family.

A light bulb went off! :)  We know a sweet, God-fearing foster family in our county (we go to church together) that has been wanting a little one, but has only recently been getting calls for the 6 years and older crowd.  I texted her to ask if I could specifically refer them the next time I got a call for a baby.  She was completely on board.

I called DCS back to say I had a great family for the 7 month old boy.  They had already found a home for him (which is great!).   Annnnd, I think the man thought I was crazy for doing his job. :)

I have never gotten more than one call in a day, maybe not even in one week.  Yesterday was different.  Soon after I hung up from DCS, they called me back to say there was a ten month old boy who needed immediate placement.  He wanted to know if our friends were interested.  YES! :)  

There was one hitch - this family is currently out of town until tomorrow afternoon.  Hey, we can handle pretty much anything for two days!  So, adorable OBaby is our temporary placement, and I am thrilled to know he is going to a wonderful family who can't wait to meet him. :)

Triple Pigtails

Kaylee asked to have matching hair with JJ. :)
This is awesome - why don't white people do this more often?
Multi-ponies don't have to be relegated to "crazy hair day!" ;-)

Headed to Camp!

Lily and Eli are having a FABULOUS week at camp this week :)

More Birthday and J getting SO BIG!

Our third born ;-) at J's birthday playdate.  Love how she always makes me laugh!

Bucking bronco on the kiddie toy :)

Jon brought her balloons to the park where we were playing with friends on her birthday.

First teeth cleaning :) She was so brave and didn't shed a tear!
(I call dibs on eating her precious dimpled hand.  Who wants the other one?!)

In her birthday outfit :) The feet are kicking in excitement - what you can't see is the cupcake she's devouring!

So BIG! Using a spoon :)

She's ONE!

First Days of June

Sweet sisters.

We've been eyeing Erector sets for Eli.  Someone sold this set to him for a SUPER price today.

KB got ready to swim, then opted for the sprinkler :)

After dinner adventure.

Evening Outing

We took a bike ride after dinner tonight in perfect weather :)
{Picture J with sweet brown eyes, amazing eyelashes, and a charming 4-toothed smile.}

Eli "Cliff" Jumping

3/4 of a Year

This girl has been such a sweet addition to our family for 9 months.  We all adore her, and it seems to be mutual. :)  

The first 8 months sailed by rather uneventfully.  As we approach the one year mark (the point at which the state could move to terminate her parents' rights), things are becoming eventful.  We appreciate your prayers in this season of ups and downs and unknowns.

May the Lord do what is good in His sight.

 

playing on the creek bank

sleeping beauty

Around here...

As resource parents we are responsible to keep a Life Book for each child who is placed
with us.  What a treat to get this picture from Mama S of D looking at the book we made him!

Sink bath :)

Eli lost a top tooth!  I can't wait for that other wiggly one to come out - love the
missing teeth look. :) 

JJ hanging out in her book basket.  

Nana and Papa's pool is open! :)

Foster Parent Hobby

Over the past nine months, we have become skilled at making public records searches for criminal histories and incarceration statuses.  My new hobby is now reflected in the ads Google gives me:

Field Day!

Still playing catch up...

Annnd, one of my jobs is complete. ;-)  Baby loves books!

My sweet view from our school table.

L and E have completed their math books for the year.
I told them to hug and congratulate each other.  It was so heartfelt!

Eli in a place unable to quickly dart away from my camera. :)

Snuggle loves

Jon doing science experiments with KB.

Fall Creek Falls State Park Adventure 4/28 - 4/30

At the start of the first of two suspension bridges.  They were long and
wobbly enough to make me feel motion sick by the time we got across!

Exploring a spot the kids dubbed "clam cave."

Our babies on a high rock with no railing (close your eyes, Nana).

Lily as a puppy.

A rare shot of everyone together.

It's about time :)

Balancing everyone on the swing.

Kaylee loves the petting zoo
...and apparently has no qualms sitting in the midst of goat poop.

J enjoying the zoo.  Her arm was probably sore the next day, because it was reaching
out to the animals all day.

Matchy matchy (thanks, Nana!) sisters at Aunt Madie's senior dance recital.

KB and J LOVE

Sweet J feeding her baby.

Working Backwards

I have a hard time writing about our foster care experience knowing I can't sit and fully explain everything.  Sharing snippets just doesn't seem right or easily done.  This thinking is clearly silly given I have literally had 4 interruptions since I opened this page; not to mention the constraints I am under to keep case details private.  At the sweet urging of a friend, I am going to try to get parts out, however incomplete they seem.

I always encourage our kids to complete their toughest or least desirable work first, and then finish up with the fun or simple stuff.  I'm going to go ahead and not take my own advice.  I'll work backwards on D's story, because where he's at now is "only God could do that" perfect for him, and feels easier to explain.  Plus, I am the kind of person who has the tendency to skim a book, read the end, and then the beginning.  For those of you in that same camp, I dedicate this backwards story. :)

D is currently an only child in a pre-adoptive home.   This translates to lots of undivided attention for D in a family who wants to adopt him should the case move to termination of parental rights (TPR).  His resource parents, Mama S and Daddy D, are head over heels in love with him.  As in they want to wake him up when he's sleeping (that's totally insane in my book), because they can't get enough of him type of love.

It's not just the way they feel about D that makes them a wonderful fit.  Mama S and Daddy D are followers of Jesus and continue to read to him from the Word, pray for him, and with him.  Mama S had already read The Connected Child which I also had read, learned a lot from, and on which we based some of our parenting of D.  This has helped smooth the transition.  They have a family member who is a therapist for young children from trauma who is helping them help D.  After being told he was too young for any services through the state, I am thrilled for him to have access to this resource. This is a small thing, but they already ate quinoa.  D could out eat anyone I know in a quinoa eating contest.  Parents of toddlers, you know how important a child's chosen food staples can be!  The more I hear from Mama S, the more little things I see that are just right for D.

I hope this gives you a snapshot of the way God has prepared this family for this time for little D.  I still marvel at the loving providence of God placing D with Mama S and Daddy D!  The fact that a foster child left our home and we know where he is, how he's doing, and feel great about both of those things is such a gift of grace!

Let it encourage us all to seek, trust, and obey Him who has written these days before anyone of them has unfolded!

Processing

On April 10, six months and 3 days after he arrived on our doorstep, we said a bittersweet goodbye to D.

My head and my heart are still processing all that has taken place, and the wondrous ways God has answered prayers and given D the most incredible family that suits him oh so perfectly.

I hope to be back soon with more of the details.  For now I will close with Scriptures that feel fitting to the way we've witnessed God at work:

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.  Amen.
                                                     ~ Ephesians 3:20-21 

Happy Birthday, D!

D loves his new lawn mower :)

D has been working on saying, "I'm two!" :)

New Trick :)

3/24/13 Baby J took 5 steps to me! :)  Go girl!!!

Recent happenings...

Lily and friends learning about an orphanage in Africa before making rag dolls to send  the children.

Morning reading :)

Sweet girls riding in the wagon we gave Lily for her first birthday.