Another week down

Last night was our 2nd training class. The topics discussed were drug use, cultural considerations and first aid. Every week gives us a bit more insight into lives of families outside of our own. We played a men vs women Jeopardy style game to discuss types and effects of drugs. I am grateful to say we have have no experience with this personally...however, the reality is there is a good possibility that we will be caring for a child from a drug abusing family. Not only do we face the affect of drugs or other abuse on the child, but we will likely be interacting (through visits, etc) with birth parents very different from ourselves. Honestly, I think drug abuse seems to be the most "excusable" (for lack of a better way to put it) of the various reasons a child will be pulled from a home. How do you come face to face with birth parents who have physically or sexually abused a child in your care? My only thought is through GRACE.

Also, the further we get into this, the more I realize that race of the child is such a non-issue. I am grateful to have the ability to see beautiful blended families. Yesterday, Hannah and I were able to witness a court adoption hearing. Friends from our babysitting co-op welcomed their second adopted son, who came to them through the foster care system. It was beautiful to watch their joy at becoming family, legally. Although they are Caucasian, their two Hispanic son's fit very naturally into their lives. Images of Haitian children being reunited with Caucasian American adoptive parents also help me to reflect that a child is a child and a parent is a parent. However God see's fit to bring each together is in His way. Our prayer is always that WE not get in the way of His will.

So, our home study is mostly done. There is one more home visit, for the walk through, which will happen next week. We still need to get our background checks submitted. Then, 3 more training classes and hopefully we will be approved and ready. Another week closer. Another prayer of thanksgiving. Another hopeful utterance of "Thy Will Be Done."

Life, Unborn

On the very sad anniversary of Roe V. Wade, I pray for those whose lives have been destroyed by abortion - physically and psychologically.

In Training: Week 1

So here is the update on our first class:

It was a little intimidating getting through security (gate check, license plate noted; then metal detector and bags scanned) to get to the meeting space.

It was an eclectic group of people, we were in the front so I didn't look too much to gauge - but there were a good number of couples.

Then there were three presenters on three topics:
1. Child Abuse - mandatory reporters, what constitutes abuse, signs they exhibit, etc - this makes me SO sad :(
2. Medical/Dental Care - Holy paperwork!! What is required to make an appointment, how many appointments, what forms are required for what visits, what permissions are required and how they are obtained for emergency care, etc
3. Disaster Preparedness - we need to establish a 3 day survival kit - 1/gallon water per person per day, plus a zillion other things...this is Paul's #1 assigned roll in getting us foster care ready.

So, first night good. We saw another couple we have seen at Church. They got started after the same couple inspired us to go with this agency. God, please continue to bless us as we prepare, open our hearts for the child you are intending to live with us and protect them and keep them safe. Amen.

An Infertility Retreat

I am so thrilled that the website is finally up!!

http://www.fertilitycarefriends.org/hoperetreat.html

THIS is the resource page for information on the Infertility Retreat that I have been working on long and hard with a dear friend and practitioner from Harrisburg.

If you are close and interested, feel free to contact me. If you are far and interested, you are welcome!! We need lots of prayer support for a powerful weekend orchestrated by the Holy Spirit. Please join me in praying!

Homestudy Rescheduled

So, the last couple days have been a bit of a slump, as in nothing is going on in our process of moving closer to fostering. I know this will resolve soon and I am sure the next couple of months will be gone in a flash. For now, we are just waiting.

The night before our almost homestudy, Paul and I had a wonderful talk about fostering. What will our lives be like with another child in the house? How will H react? Paul tossed around the ways he can be more present at home (while I assured him how much the 2nd job is needed right now). We are back in that "how do you prepare for the unknown" phase. At least, having had an infant a few short years ago, we are good on the gear and basic necessities.

The monthly financial commitment to fertility medications is starting to become a little much. So we face the prospect of letting go of that journey for a bit. To be honest, I am always quick to volunteer shedding the shots and pills. It is disappointing that the birth of our first child did not miraculously resolve our infertility, as many first births often do. However, we trust in God's greater plan. As of now, the difference from our first adoption attempt, is if we are so blessed to conceive in the process of fostering, we won't be forced to quit the process.

Next week we start training classes. Two weeks from that, we will prepare for the home visit again. I was blessed to speak to someone yesterday who adopted three before miraculously conceiving two. They are a beautiful family and adoption advocates. She lifted my spirits by sharing stories of several friends blessed by the foster to adopt program. My prayer is 6 to 12 months from now I will be looking back at the beginning of the year and seeing how much has changed.

My Beautiful, Wonderful, CRAZY miracle

Here is a video of the most wonderful, crazy child that God could ever give us (so far :)

Our Foster Care Timeline

Tuesday morning we had our initial visit with the social worker - she was wonderful! We scheduled our next appointment (start of home study) for this coming Tuesday. I have been working to complete the application and collect some of the necessary paperwork. We should start our 5 weeks of training Wed, Jan 20th (ending on Ash Wednesday).

I know the training and home study have to be wrapped up before we can receive a placement. I asked our social worker about typically how long before placement. She said it could be that day (she could be finishing home study paperwork for us to receive placement) or it could be a couple weeks or a couple months. We are open to any child younger than H and placement of any race (the latter which could mean an earlier placement).

It is seeming more real and crazy to think of being back in this process. I have started praying for the child that will be coming into our home, where ever they are.