Fostering For Us: 2015

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

The Calls Keep Comin'!!!!

In the last 3 weeks we have had 3 phone calls for placement.

One placement we said no to due to the ages of the children. The other two placements were emergency placements that by the time I called the social workers back, family members stepped up and took the kiddos!

In other news, we celebrated Braylin's 6th Birthday!!

And ended the night with S'mores and friends!!!

And......something I made to look back over birthdays we have been able to celebrate with Braylin!

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Wonder

Definition as a noun: a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable

Definition as a verb: desire or be curious to know something

I often wonder about many things in my life:

*What should we have for supper?

*When is a child at school going to listen?

*Why did something happen?

*What is the reason for this or that?

*How long will Braylin sleep in on a Sunday morning?

*Can this work for the better? Or is it going to make things worse?

Then I wonder about other things. Things I shouldn't wonder about. Things that make me wonder and stress more. How do you stop wondering?

I wonder if I am enough. Enough for my husband? Enough for my child? Enough for my students? Enough for my friends? Enough for my job?

I wonder if Braylin will understand our choices, our decisions? I wonder if her birth family will understand our choices? We love her more than anything in the world. We are blessed beyond what I ever thought that we would be blessed with. And even with that, I still wonder.

And now I wonder if we are to be that lucky again? Will we get chosen again? Would we be blessed again? I hope it is true and that it happens again.

But for now, we love the memories and live in the moment.

Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen. Believe it !

Sunday, August 9, 2015

How does that happen???

It has been almost a year since our adoption!!!!

I don't know how in the world an entire year has passed! We are so blessed to have had this wonderful journey. Here are some photos that my brother took a few weeks ago for her 6th year old pictures (http://www.jacobmaesphotography.com)

She is our beautiful little lady who we love to the moon and back!!!!

Such a big miracle in such a little girl. (Also available for boy.) Free printable!

I'll be back next week with a yearly update!!!

C&J&B

Monday, May 25, 2015

Just a quick catch up!

A few weeks ago, we received a package from the County we work with as a Thank You for being foster parents. It was a picnic basket type with picnic supplies!!! Also included was this book:

I started reading it a day ago, and with the first 8 pages, I was crying!

It is a story of a foster family and the trials they went through. He talks a lot about giving their challenges to God and let Him decide what is right for their family. I am continually working on that and leaving my problems with Him. It is a good read and I can't wait to finish it......most likely tonight!

*****************************************************************************

Two weeks ago, I got THE CALL------the one we have waited for since the last call fell through. This was a call for a 17 day old baby that would be leaving the hospital in a few days. Were we interested? Yes....we were!

Three hours later, the call came in again. They found a family closer to the birth parents. I knew it was going to be a long shot since the call came from a agency about 3 hours away. I knew that if they could find someone closer, they would go with them, due to the traveling for visits the parents would most likely get. I have to let it got and know that our next placement will come when the time is right!

*****************************************************************************

Two years ago, on May 29, we got THE CALL that brought us Braylin. I remember the Social Worker leaving a message as I was in a meeting. I listened to the message on a break and I remember her saying "We have a 911 emergency here. Please call me back"

I did and our life was forever changed!

5*19*2013

(respite weekend---the first time we met her, not knowing that 10 days later, she would be in our home again......and forever!!)

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

{{{Re-licensing}}}

When we started fostering we knew that our license would be good for two years. Right after Christmas, we were contacted to see if we wanted to continue our license. After much thought, we decided that there are still more children in our area that need help. So, we just finished the paperwork to get re-licensed. We met with the social workers for our psychological evaluation. You know, just to make sure that we aren't crazy.........We passed......so, if you know us in real life, don't say anything about our crazy habits......like falling asleep on the couch! Ha!

We hope to get our license in the mail soon and then we will be ready for another placement. We talk at times with Braylin what it would mean if we got another placement. How s/he could potentially go back with their biological family and how they might have visits. My biggest worry is her thinking or wondering why her biological family didn't "want" or "fight for" her back. I don't know if we are ready for those questions. We want to keep her protected for as long as possible. I have fears that she will have questions that are hard for us to answer........it is a thought that continues to go through my head all the time......It is a fear heavy on my heart.......

Friday, January 23, 2015

The Ups and Downs

We received a call on Wednesday from our county social worker. She said that they was a "possible placement" of a six week old baby and would we be interested if the baby needed a placement. I called her back as soon as I could and told her "Yes, we would be interested". I may or ~~may not~~ have then emailed her to tell her the same thing.

Then we waited.

And waited.

And waited some more.

Then I got an email on Thursday from the Social Worker stating that the infant didn't need a placement at this time, but that she would keep us in mind if the situation changes.

I tried so incredibly hard not to get up my hopes up. I keep repeating "possible" "possible" all night long. I didn't want to be crushed when the placement wasn't needed..........

........But I did.

Yet, I am very thankful that this child didn't need a placement.

It is such a double edged sword. We would love to grow our family--whether through adoption, fostering, biological--it doesn't matter. Also, we would love to be able to provide a sibling for Braylin.

So, we wait again. We wait for another message and we wait to see if it is "possible" or a "for sure" placement. The roller coaster starts all over again.