When Jon and I talked about adoption, before we were even married, I had brought up that I would want to adopt from the States, as there is so much need here. So when we were even more interested in adopting, I really started delving into our different options which included adoption through foster care, new baby adoption, or international adoption. Our hearts feel led to care for the orphan, and thus we decided baby adoption was not for us. We've had our beautiful baby boy, and as much as I would love to have another baby in the house, there are so many people who weren't able to have their baby - this is their chance. Those babies will have homes. So I then started my research on the other two types of adoption.
Foster care started weighing quite heavily on my heart. I'm a teacher, and everyday, without fail, I see a child struggling because of an unfit home life. I know that there are children, in my own community, without a forever family. They have no one to call Mom or Dad, not much love, no security, no idea what the future holds. If only we could take them all in our home and give them that love and security, but of course, the real world doesn't work that way.
We began the process of meeting with the social worker from the foster care program in our State, and with anticipation of excitement, instead we were given a low blow... we were told we could be turned away from the program because at this time we didn't want to take older children. We had decided at this point we want Caleb to stay the oldest child, but the foster care system is understaffed and they couldn't have us sitting around waiting for a younger child. We then also realized that in order to foster children under school age, one of us would have to stay home full-time, a likelihood that is not at all possible for us right now in life.
Therefore, I took out my previous research on International adoption, and started delving back into this crazy world! Do I regret that we are adopting from Ethiopia? NO. My heart starts to flutter every time I think about bringing home our children. I think this is God's plan, and He ultimately led us to this place.
But... Foster care still holds a very strong hold on my heart. I just can't shake the idea that it could be my next door neighbor that needs a loving home, a Mom, me. So maybe someday... I'll keep praying about it.
In the meantime though, I want to put into all of YOUR heads the idea of Foster care, or adoption through Foster care. Have YOU ever considered it? If you are at all, even the least bit curious, I would like to encourage you to go to Fosterpodcast.com. Or download the The Foster Parenting Podcast off of ITunes. This podcast is put on by Tim & Wendy, a Christian couple that have fostered and adopted. They tell of their trials, tribulations, and share very valuable knowledge about the foster care system. It is easy to listen to and you learn so much. It's good stuff.
Oh, and before I end my post tonight, I haven't yet mentioned -
Foster care started weighing quite heavily on my heart. I'm a teacher, and everyday, without fail, I see a child struggling because of an unfit home life. I know that there are children, in my own community, without a forever family. They have no one to call Mom or Dad, not much love, no security, no idea what the future holds. If only we could take them all in our home and give them that love and security, but of course, the real world doesn't work that way.
We began the process of meeting with the social worker from the foster care program in our State, and with anticipation of excitement, instead we were given a low blow... we were told we could be turned away from the program because at this time we didn't want to take older children. We had decided at this point we want Caleb to stay the oldest child, but the foster care system is understaffed and they couldn't have us sitting around waiting for a younger child. We then also realized that in order to foster children under school age, one of us would have to stay home full-time, a likelihood that is not at all possible for us right now in life.
Therefore, I took out my previous research on International adoption, and started delving back into this crazy world! Do I regret that we are adopting from Ethiopia? NO. My heart starts to flutter every time I think about bringing home our children. I think this is God's plan, and He ultimately led us to this place.
But... Foster care still holds a very strong hold on my heart. I just can't shake the idea that it could be my next door neighbor that needs a loving home, a Mom, me. So maybe someday... I'll keep praying about it.
In the meantime though, I want to put into all of YOUR heads the idea of Foster care, or adoption through Foster care. Have YOU ever considered it? If you are at all, even the least bit curious, I would like to encourage you to go to Fosterpodcast.com. Or download the The Foster Parenting Podcast off of ITunes. This podcast is put on by Tim & Wendy, a Christian couple that have fostered and adopted. They tell of their trials, tribulations, and share very valuable knowledge about the foster care system. It is easy to listen to and you learn so much. It's good stuff.
Oh, and before I end my post tonight, I haven't yet mentioned -
HAPPY SPRING!!! (even if there are still piles and piles of snow outside my house...)
In Christ,
Mara
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