prayers for paul please

One of our prayer requests for a long while has been a job for Paul.  We are looking to take a step away from self-employed and into "benefits package".  A job we have been hoping for has finally become available.  Deadline for application was Monday.  Prayers would be so greatly appreciated!

start your day out right, take 2

After a crazy attempt at a morning...I am doing a take 2. Starting it out (again) dancing in the kitchen with this song! Turn it up!

Saving a Life?

"Foster a child, foster a future"
"Saving the world one child at a time"
"Foster Care Foster Hope"

These are a few of the slogans that I have heard in the process of trying to recruit foster parents.

Is it just me that thinks about myself all the time?  When we set out to foster, we did so with the "selfish" desire to grow our family.  We did not start out thinking about what impact we may have upon a child.

I am certain there does exist in this world those truly amazing people who would foster to make a difference in the life of a child.  God bless those generous souls.  I did not start out thinking about "them", I started out thinking about "me".

Now that I have met the most amazingly adorable little monkey I will soon officially call my son, I am starting to see the impact that foster care can have on "them".

I was told recently by Augie's early intervention coordinator about the significance of a loving home environment.  She pointed out his improvements as related to being in our care, rather then the home environment he may otherwise have been raised within.  She does not know the circumstances from which he was removed.  I do.  When I think about the crazy love bug I know as Augie and imagine his "other" life, I rejoice that he is here.  WE are so blessed to have him as a part of our family.

We were recently presented with a scenario that has me thinking about biological (kinship) family versus traditional (stranger) foster parents, like us.  There was a biological aunt in the process of trying to foster-adopt Augie, through the first several months of his placement with us.  It was a little nerve wrecking.  We were told, incorrectly, that she had completed everything in her state and was just waiting on clearance from our state & county to get him.  We later found out she never completed the process required of her.  Augie is very blessed to have bio-parents who adore him.  A kinship placement would give him the opportunity to be raised in his family culture and perhaps more opportunity to connect with his bio-parents.  It is not for me to judge, but I say with certainty, his life would have been so so different.  We certainly hope to maintain some connection with his bio-parents and allow a connection as far as we deem appropriate.  At some point, we face the inevitable discussions and hope that he will be secure in our love and rooted in our (his) values. 

The scenario I mentioned above has not yet unfolded.  There are two very different possible paths ahead.  Life "A" or Life "B".  The situation is out of our hands and we trust in God's wisdom.

For the first time I am starting to see my role of a foster parent differently.  My heart is growing in generosity.  It is not just me that I am doing this for anymore.  Don't get me wrong, the "me" is still a huge part of this...but when you start meeting kids - things change.  They matter more. 

I still don't think I will ever figure out how to respond to all the people that call us "hero" or say they could never ever be a foster parent.  From my vantage point now, I am unsure how I could ever go through a traditional adoption process.  When you walk in with the knowledge "the goal of foster care is reunification" it is as if your heart is prepped (just a bit).

So the slogans are usually for the purpose of recruiting.  I am not sure how well they work.  Word of mouth and witnessing others going through this process is what got us in the door.  Now that we are in...I think we will stay awhile.  :)


This post is part of Foster2Forever.com's May Blog Hop celebrating National Foster Care Month.

look what we made!

I have been stalking Ana White's blog and contemplating DIY woodworking projects.  Paul always has a ton of scrap wood lying around.  I found the perfect scrap piece (oak I think) and decided a wood swing would be a simple enough place to start!  We followed this tutorial (as best as we could) with a few modifications.

I admit, this would be a pretty awesome project for an adult size swing as well.  Here was another tutorial we referenced.  Paul said this takes me back to my southern roots.  :)  I am SOOO excited.  Not only for Rosie to have a swing again, but for all the memories this fun swing will create through the years.

we get em started young

new swing coming soon

eye hooks going into our >8" branch

and a swinging experience so cool we can't describe...come visit and swing in our swing!

Bargain Find (PSA)

I was out last week and stopped by the Restoration Hardware outlet. They had these adorable letters, originally priced at $16 and marked down to $1.  I found Rosie's letter in pink, but had to order Augie's.  Even with the shipping it was a pretty good deal.  We just got the first initial and I love the look of them in person!  Just putting out this public service announcement if anyone wants a cute letter for a baby/kid room.  :)

{pretty, funny, happy, real}

My beautiful blessings!!  

{pretty}

{funny}

{happy}

{real}

Next Step...Adoption!!

That is all.  :) 

Day 30

Are you familiar with Matisyahu?  This song just came into my head.  Love him (shout out to my brother in law who tried forever to get  us to love his music).  We love dancing around the house to his music.  Augie has THE.CUTEST. dance moves.  I can't wait to share some of his pics on the blog. 

49 hours to go!

Pray us through!!  I am busy counting down the hours until the end of the 30 day appeal period following the April 11th confirmation of consent hearing (termination of parental rights).  I have been guessing and second guessing every communication with bio mom in the hopes that she will hold tight and continue to trust us with raising the son she birthed.  Please pray for her.  Please pray for Augie's dad. 

After that...I am hoping that everyone working for us will be working at the speed we want them to go!  It is difficult when dates and time frames are in busy people's hands.  We are ready to make this thing official!

1000 reasons why I love and adore being a Fertility Care Practioner

Okay, so I know I won't list them all in this post, but there are easily that many reasons I am so blessed to have been called to this ministry.

First, for those that may be unfamiliar, Fertility Care is a system of charting your naturally occurring signs (i.e. cervical mucus) and biomarkers to determine times of fertility and infertility.  I teach women to chart and interpret these signs.  The best thing is that Physicians trained in NaPro Technology can READ A WOMAN'S CHART and use it to WORK WITH HER CYCLE.  This is phenomenal.  In our culture, physicians treat fertility as if it were a disease and infertility as a opportunity to play God.  God has given us the ability to read and interpret a woman's cycles and when a doctor can utilize that information, they can treat PMS, post postpartum depression, infertility, frequent miscarriage, and on and on.  They allow God to be God and the couple to achieve pregnancy naturally.  Testing and treatment is two to three times more effective than artificial reproductive options.

So, I am about to write an essay about 1000 reasons why I love NaPro Technology.  I will sum those 1000 reasons into one.  My daughter.  Rosie is the miracle that God blessed us with thanks to the help of NaPro Technology (she is pictured on the top of this website with Dr Hilgers).  My experiences with NaPro Technology paved the way to my path towards becoming an FCP.

This is my fifth year of blessing other couples with the gift of understanding their fertility.  I teach teenage girls with painful or irregular cycles through to pre-menopausal women seeking help with PMS.  I teach single women, engaged couples, married couples.  I walk with couples through their first pregnancy, through struggles with frequent miscarriages or infertility.  I teach friends.  I teach strangers.  I teach people that live down the road and people that live across the country (skype!).

By far, the most rewarding part of my work is teaching couples about SPICE.  SPICE stands for Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Creative/Communicative and Emotional needs of your spouse.  I am not a marriage counselor but I have the opportunity to challenge couples to grow in their love and understanding of one another.  I am able to turn couples towards one another and get them talking.  When necessary, I refer to counselors or priests.  I listen to their hopes and dreams; their fears and frustrations.  I walk with them through the struggles and challenges of using a natural system.  I help them process the fears of achieving pregnancy and encourage them through the despair of bareness.

They are coming off the pill for reasons of faith or to avoid side effects (they all have side effects from the pill!).  They are coming from the IVF doctor, looking for another chance at conception.  They are coming from every faith and no faith.  All the while, I am connecting with them and teaching them about God (whether they know it or not).  I am reiterating their wedding vows and teaching the truths as taught in Theology of the Body.  

I never aspired to this work.  God paved the way.  He wants to bless these couples and I have the opportunity to help Him do that. 

My greatest hope is that more doctors embrace the gift of Creighton & NaPro Technology.  I have asked it a thousand times, my clients ask it again and again...."why don't more doctors know this?".  I probably refer 75% (or more) of my clients for NaPro care.  Dr Stegman and Dr Hilgers both work with couples from around the country (and around the world). 

I remember at one point my mother was concerned that I was going to a "Catholic" doctor for my infertility.  She has come around.  It saddens me that this is a stigma.  As it turns out, a physician with a relationship with God that is willing to follow the teachings of the Church is able to be an instrument for God.  And we all know that all blessings, miracles, gifts and graces ultimately come through Him.  He is the ultimate healer.



This said, while not every couple will conceive, there is so much more to Creighton and NaPro than "an opportunity to conceive".  So many infertility bloggers so gracefully reflect on this again and again.  My heart aches for these couples.  God has a special place in His heart for you.  God does hear your prayers.  God does know your pain.  God loves you more than you know. 


PS- 
If you feel like you might be interested in pursing FCP or Medical Consultant training, I would be happy to offer direction or answer questions.  You can look for training near you on this site.