We're going forward with Foster Care

Okay so don't cringe when we say we're going to do Foster Care. It was a decision we both made and prayed over. Friends are asking us if we are ready to take the emotional risk involved and the answer is....I don't know! With taking on a task such as this there is always risk. The thing I constantly think about is the kids. They didn't sign up for any of this. The hurt they feel from parents who can't care for them or the abuse & neglect they may have suffered. All I know is God commands us to love one another. That's exactly what we have plenty of...Love. We are ALL God's children and adopted into HIS family. So why would we not want to help? Because we might get hurt in the process? Kinda selfish don't ya think?

Now...I am nervous as can be. I have NO idea what to expect, when we'll get a call or if we'll be able to adopt any of the children placed with us. This is where I am relying totally on God and having faith his plan will prevail...even if it is not what I want. I have a ton of questions for the case worker when they call us. Maybe I'll feel better once we've had a chance to talk to the case worker. Our file should be sent to the Spartanburg office this week according to our adoption case worker. (They are two different people.) We are on two lists now...one for foster care and one for foster/adopt. What's the difference you ask....

Foster Care is usually temporary and the whole idea is to reunify the parents with the child. That said there is a high risk we will only have a child for a short period of time. If the parent's can't get back on track then their parental rights may be terminated (TPR). If that's the case, we may have the opportunity to adopt that child.

Foster/Adopt is for kids who are going through TPR and the case worker is looking for an adoptive "forever family" for them. These kids are usually older and may have already been in foster care and have less risk involved. Often times the foster parents may choose to adopt them. So we feel it is in our best interest to do foster care in the hopes of a possible adoption down the road. This is a very slow process and it may be years before we ever get a call. Crazy I know.

I have no idea what plans the Lord has for us, but I choose to trust Him.

I have to admit I'm feeling a little anxious about the whole thing. Foster babies can come in the middle of the night, without warning and with nothing on their backs. So I'm trying to accumulate little things at a time like, bottles, wipes, diaper rash cream, etc instead of trying to buy all of that at one time. Can you imagine what that would cost? Whoa! Think about it...who gets a baby shower because they are fostering? Not that I expect that! We have sweet friends who have given us lots of clothes and goodies and we are so grateful! Pregnant mom's get 9mos to prepare. While I feel like we are way ahead of the game, I'm still nervous.

Please keep us in your prayers as we begin this journey to foster a child in need. Specifically pray for the children that come into our lives. They need your prayers most of all.