7 months

is what is has been since our last placement.  We had a couple of calls for respite care and enjoyed getting to help out other foster parents.  Russ and I are facing major changes in our lives current and future.  And after LOTS of prayer and discussion, we have come to the point as a family that we feel we need to step back from foster care.  We know that at some point we will come back or go foreward with adoption.  But for now God is calling us in a very different direction.  We knew that our involvement with foster care was only for a season.  That season has now come to an end.  We look forward to the new seasons of our lives knowing that we may find oursselves once again called to care for these precious hurting children. 
Blessings to all and continues prayers for all those involved in the foster/adopt world!

Baby blues

So I get a call yesterday morning about doing respite for a little 8 month old boy!  Of course I say YES!  He is just the sweetest little chunky monkey with the most piercing set of baby blue eyes!  He is so laid back and happy and just an all around easy baby.  We are having loads of fun with him!  His regular foster mom is down with something like the flu and so I get to snuggle this cuddle bug till Tuesday.  Kerrie is being a HUGE help with him and has even fed him and sits in the floor to play with him.  Mykhal is not overly comfortable with babies, but he will hold him and talk to him.  This is a really fun part of this job!

Birthday Blessings

Tomorrow is little J's 7th birthday!  I got to talk to him on the phone tonight.  He got on the phone and said "Hi Mom!"  Sweet balm to a heart that misses him so much!  He sounded very happy and told me that he had times when he got mad, but he was making good choices.  And he was getting to have gummy bears as a snack!  The simple joys!  I told him what a super kid he is and to keep working hard and each day would be better!  He says "If I want it to be?" ...truth out of the mouths of babes!  Was just so good to hear a smile in his voice!  I think we will try alternating a card or letter one week and then a call the next and see how it goes.  My heart is singing tonight!

Bubbles, and Paints, and Glitter - OH MY!

I picked up the littles after school without any issues.  they recognized me and were very excited!  We got to the house and had a snack and they settled in.  Dinner was bean and cheese quesadillas which they gobbled up!  Then I let them watch a movie and it was time for bed.  They all went down easily and slept well.  Saturday we took things nice and slow.  I had fixed some dough and put in in the fridge on Friday and so I made cinnamon rolls for saturday morning.  YUM!!  Once that was cleaned up and all were dressed and ready for the day I made some salt dough and we played with cookie cutters.  While the ornaments were baking we played outside with bubbles, chalk, and the scooters!  It was horribly windy and that wind was cold but they didn't seem to notice bundled up in their coats.  I sat in the sun and laughed at their antics!  Lunch was homemade lunchables and fruit.  They played happily with crayons and legos as I put stew on for dinner.  Then we got out the paints and glitter and googly eyes and I though their eyes were going to pop out of their heads!  We somehow managed not to get paint on clothes....a miracle if you ask me!  But of course glitter went everywhere as it always will!  Snack time found them with bowls of popcorn and watching another movie.  We made jingle bell jewelry with colored pipe cleaners.  They enjoyed dinner and after a quick clean up it was time for baths and bed.  We did showers instead of baths and this was something new to them but they did great!  They really enjoyed getting to sit by the fireplace and get warm after their showers.  Bed time was again easy and they slept all night.  Sunday we got up about 7 with the little boy running through the house hollering "sun's up!"  The girls were not happy with him!!  I thought it was funny!  We had more of the cinnamon rolls for breakfast and I took some of the stew for lunch at church.  They were shy at first at church but quickly warmed up and had fun.  We got home in the afternoon and got their things all together and ready to head back to their foster home.  The little boy was really wound up and not wanting to listen but we managed.  It's hard to have kids that aren't your own in the house.  I know my response to them would be different if they were placed here.  They are good kids though and we had fun!  I told their foster mom I would take them again in a heartbeat!  As challenging as it may be, I am still very thankful to be able to do this!

Fun x3

This weekend we are getting to provide respite care for J's three siblings!  We are excited!  They are really sweet kids.  Of course at the ages of 5 and 6 they are BUSY!!  So I'm planning on doing salt dough ornaments with them, letting them paint them, and of course they will have plenty of outside time!  I'm thinking maybe a movie for Friday night, the ornaments and outside play for Saturday, then we have church on Sunday, then they go home that evening.  Will be a fun weekend!  and none toooooooooo stressful since the kids know us and we know them.  Makes everyone more comfortable!

Moving on

The decision was made today that J will not be returning to us after all.  My heart aches.  His hurts run far deeper than anyone had imagined.  And J needs help from those trained to deal with those deep layers of pain.  If only those extra cuddles and life with a "normal" family were enough ...... but they aren't.  We do not know yet when J will be moving to his next place, so for now we will go and visit when we can.  With every child our lives are changed, I just pray that we are making a positive impact on their lives as well.  Please hold J and all of us in your prayers.  Letting go is never easy.......

Challenges

Recent days have been challenging to say the least.  It got to the point that I began to feel like my life was a war zone.  After yet another battle this morning, I made some phone calls, met with the Psychiatrist, and J was admitted to our the mental hospital.  This is not his first time there.  They will be monitoring him as they make changes to his medication.  Previously his admission was part of moving to another home.  Once I assured him that when the hospital said it was ok he would be coming home again he began to settle down.  My heart just breaks for him, but I am so thankful that he can have the chance to be more stable emotionally and get the help he needs to achieve that!  He is such a precious little boy and I am going to miss his giggle around here.  We will get to visit him though and he can call home as well.  This is new territory for him in that aspect.  Don't know how long he will be there, but I anticipate life being a little easier for us all when he returns than it has been over the last few days.