Progress

  Justin and I spent the weekend tackling our 'to-do' list of fostering requirements. I made copies of drivers licenses, passports, insurance cards, and all sorts of things.  I usually have a phobia of paperwork, so I gave myself a big pat on the back for getting things done.  I even managed to find a copy of our marriage license, just one of the many papers we need to turn in, which was in a bottom drawer of an old desk in our recently flooded basement. Justin took Monday off work so we could go get drug tested, fingerprinted, and tuberculosis tests (what a fun day off, haha!).  FYI, if you are going to get finger printed, try not to cut your finger on a can beforehand... yeah, I had to take my band aid off and then I, um, bled on their machine! Then we took the kids to get pizza after their patience with all the errand running.
   Stories of fostering or adoption seem to come up whenever we need a little boost.  When we were getting the TB test there was a delightful little girl who chatted with us in the waiting room who is raised by her grandma ever since her parents lost custody.  The magazine I picked up was about a Mom who has adopted from two different countries.  These little windows into adopting and fostering inspire us along our journey.  There are times when life is overwhelming as it is, so adding more to it seems crazy.  I allow myself to consider the real difficulties and struggles we might face. And I am reminded of how dependent on God's grace I must be whether raising one, two, five, or however many children.  There is a need to have safe, loving homes for children who have been neglected or abused, and we feel we can give that.  We are excited to share our home.
   So, the process will hopefully be completed by late January to early February.  I feel like I'm now entering the "nesting" phase.  We just have a few loose ends to tie up and things to get done.  If you're like me, there is an "after Christmas explosion" of new toys, trash, food, you name it, to sort through and put away (plus sorting through the flooded basement and normal daily damage of laundry and dishes and such), so I'm hoping to get on top of those things a little bit before our final home visit.  I can see how important it will be to have support around us through this process, so we value your prayers.  And if anyone wants to come hang out with me while I fold laundry or load our medicines into a double locked location, I'd love the company :).