A Child's Prayer

I have been distracted lately. Even feeling a little sad. Sometimes it is so difficult to know if I am simply taking on Anthony's emotions or if they are truly my own.

Since our Easter visit, it has been very apparent that he is processing his story. It is good, but hard. Sometimes I feel selfish and wish everything could be beautiful and easy with our family, but then I realize that our family IS beautiful and it is because things are NOT easy. The growth we all experience is that much more powerful because of where we started.

So I had been feeling distracted. I wasn't praying with the boys in the morning like usual. We weren't taking the time to read the Bible before bed. I was in a 'funk' and I didn't like it one bit.

I love, love, love how God is so gentle when guiding us back. The Bible story we read together tonight was the parable Jesus told of a son who ran away to be free from his father and who returned expecting to be reprimanded, but was instead welcomed home with a great amount of love and celebration. Oh, how I could identify with that son.

After reading, David relaxed into the large reading corner pillow and expressed, "That made me feel really happy and peaceful inside. I felt like I was in Heaven being held in Jesus' arms."

Amen! What a special gift to know and feel God's unconditional love for us.

In our living room, we have a row of six framed pictures set up on a shelf. Each picture is of a child who is waiting for a family to call their own - forever. After school, David started asking me questions about them.

"What are their names?"
"What grade is he in?"
"Does he have a brother? A sister?"

Then he asked a big question, "Can we adopt him? Pleeeeeaaase."

I smiled. He started talking about how we would need to get another bed for him. I started thinking about how God would need to work some major miracles if this child was to be a part of our family. I have no doubt that God can do anything, but for now we are praying that these children experience healing and that they are blessed with just the right families for them.

David and Anthony each picked out a framed picture and brought it down to the floor so that we could pray for the child that they chose.

I could sense the power of their prayers as they bowed their heads down to the ground, squeezing their eyes tight, and lifting up sweet, loving, genuine words spoken to God...pleading for these children to have a family and to know how much Jesus loves them...

My heart filled with love and I felt such a deep sense of peace as I joined with them in praying.

A child's prayer....there is nothing like it and I for one cannot wait to see how God answers!

Would you like to join us in praying for these kiddos as well? It would be such a blessing to have you join us on the evening of May 18th!

It Was Beautiful

I am sick and have a fever, but despite the fact that I can barely keep my eyes open, I feel compelled to document today...a day that only God could have orchestrated.

It came on quickly yesterday - sore throat, achy body, fever. Lee was prepared to do Easter with the boys and their birth moms all on his own this morning.

God miraculously healed me just enough that I made it through...what a gift!

This was the first Easter we have spent with both of the boys' moms. It was particularly special because it would be the first time Anthony's mom joined us for church. I prayed and prayed that God would touch both of their hearts (but especially Mommy A) during the service today.

Oh, how God is so faithful to answer prayers. She was deeply touched during prayer time and it brought her to tears. I was overwhelmed with emotion at one point...just thinking of how God brought us all together as a family - on purpose. We all felt it.

After church, we ate a picnic lunch and then hid Easter eggs for the boys and played at the park. I haven't seen Mommy A that care-free and happy in a long time. Mommy N was equally pleased that we were all spending time together.

It was beautiful.

What I Learned

This weekend, I learned:

- God knew what he was doing when he made me a mom of two boys:)

- Two kids are EASY compared to three! 

- Anthony needs more of my attention and it is hard for me to give him what he needs with a third. When he doesn't get enough attention, he reverts to trying for negative attention. It was like a flashback to this summer. 

- David is still blessed with this incredible ability to share his time, toys, space, and it doesn't phase him one bit. 

- Both boys have a strong understanding of the story of our family and are able to share it verbally - who knew? 

Anyway, you would probably really like to see pictures from this weekend, right? 

Of course! Here are a few photos I can share (without faces of our special guests).  

Friday Afternoon: outdoor time with neighbor friends

Friday Night: Guitar time with Daddy 

Saturday Morning: Play Time

Saturday Afternoon: Stomp Rocket Time! 

Sunday Afternoon: On a walk with baby and the boys

This is for YOU

This post is for all the foster moms and dads out there who wonder how much their little ones remember when they leave.

This post is for all the foster moms and dads who give fully of their hearts, knowing that it will likely break in the process of loving and losing.

This post is for all the foster moms and dads who question whether or not their time together with these little ones even makes a difference. 

This post is for YOU.

Sweet (Z) is now 6 years old. She joined our foster family at 13 months. I still remember those first few weeks vividly, rocking her to sleep and praying for God to give me a mother's love for her. She was a feisty little one with quite a scream, but it wasn't long before she stole our hearts. She and David, just two months apart, also developed a very special bond.

We were blessed to have opportunities to connect with her often after she reunified with her grandmother. She would sometimes stay with us at our place for a weekend, but I think it has been close to two years now. I could be wrong - my memory is horrible. Her memory on the other hand...has left me speechless tonight. 

Bath Time: "Do you still have that little octopus and fish toy?"

How in the WORLD did she remember the toys she used to play with in the bathtub? We haven't had those for years. 

Bed Time: "Can you rock me to sleep like you used to?"

This was so touching. She is 6 years old and she still remembers the way I used to rock her to sleep. I had no idea that it might mean just as much to her as it did to me. 

---------------

So, to those foster moms and dads who are feeling discouraged and wondering if all the pain is worth it....

Even if your little ones can't verbalize it, they DO remember.

Your heart break IS worth it and the way you touch their hearts makes a difference that will never disappear. 

Never a Dull Moment

We've actually had more dull moments than usual.

Ok, not dull in the sense that they aren't interesting, but dull in the sense that our moments have seemed more peaceful.

And I like it:).


Things are picking up speed, though! Soon (Z) will be here for the weekend. Soon we'll be celebrating Baby C's first birthday with his family, and soon we'll be celebrating Easter with the boys' birth moms. Moments aren't quite as dull.

And I like it:).

Join Us!

"She is a petite young lady and if she were sitting on your couch right now, her feet would be dangling and not quite touching the floor. If you read her file it would say "alcoholic teenager," but what it doesn't say is that her she was given alcohol to drink as a baby. She has been sober for over a year and is very proud of that fact. She desperately wants a family....."

This is part of the story of a young lady in foster care who is waiting for a family to call her own. She and many other children need prayer for healing and for God to prepare them and their future families. 

We would love to have you join us to hear the stories of a select group of children and to pray for each of them specifically: 

Cherrydale Baptist Church (Arlington, VA)

May 18th 

6:30-8:00pm.  

RSVP to orphancare@cherrydale.org

"Love means to love that which is unlovable, or it is no virtue at all; forgiving means to pardon that which is unpardonable, or it is no virtue at all - and to hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all." ~ G.K. Chesterton

A Little of This and a Little of That...

I have pictures, but I don't have anything specific to write about so I'll share with you a little of this and a little of that.....

My boys have great imaginations and love playing their ever-changing 'animal game.'

Anthony's class is studying the author, Kevin Henkes. He was SO excited when he saw the stack of  Kevin Henkes books I borrowed from the Library. This is a picture of us reading before bed. Anthony's teachers are amazing by the way...this kid has developed such a passion for reading and writing. 

Lee took the boys to see the Cherry Blossoms today. Unfortunately, they weren't in full bloom, but they still had fun in DC. 

Here they are drawing friendship pictures that will be photographed and sent to children in Japan. The print outs on the top of the paper are drawings made by children in Japan. 

They came home with headbands and badges that they were given as long as they promised to respect and care for the Cherry Blossom trees:).