We are halfway done with our foster care pre-service classes! We are learning and growing and opening ourselves up to many options that we thought for sure that we would closed off for us. We are nervous and excited about the process. We still have MUCH to do between now and our first placement, but we are working on it.

After the pre-service classes, we submit our application. OMGoodness there are SO many pages. Just about every trait a child could have, every condition, and every physical aspect a child could have is listed, and you have to say, ‘I will consider a child with this’, or ‘ I will not consider a child with this’. Josh and I spent hours going through the list discussing each characteristic in detail. There were things on the form that we even have to look up because we have NO clue what they are. =D It’s a crazy process, but we do it willingly, and are SO glad that foster parents have to go through this screening. SO glad that there are people making sure kids are going to safe, stable homes.

I don’t want to get preachy, but I heard a factoid that I would like to share; for every foster child in America, there are 450 Christians. Why do we have 130,000 children waiting for an adoptive home in our country?! How many of us have guest rooms that go unused? There are children sleeping on the street each night.

If you don’t feel you can take a kid in there are other ways to help. Donate time, money, clothes or toys to help these kids. I never realized that so many kids were in need until I started these classes. I always thought, ‘ Well, there are people on waiting lists to adopt kids in the U.S…. that’s why people adopt Internationally.’ NOT true. People are on waiting lists for healthy, caucasian, INFANTS. Another little known fact is that while teens are the most common kids who need adoptive families, toddlers are the second largest age group. School age kids are more independent, so they are taken in more often.

When people find out we are going to foster, everyone has had a similar reaction. They always say, ‘we’ve thought about doing that, but…’. If you can’t take in a child right now, here are some ideas for other ways you can help:

Become a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) worker… A CASA is a volunteer appointed by a judge to speak on the behalf of an abused and/or neglected children.

Call your local foster agencies, or Children’s services and find out if they need someone to drive a child to a Dr. Appointment, or a visit with the birth family. It is a BIG strain off of the foster parent, when they don’t have to take time off from work.

Volunteer with Big Brothers Big sisters. Many foster kids need good role models! It’s only a few hours a week, but can make a HUGE impact in a child’s life.

Donate items to a children’s home or foster care agency. Many need school supplies, shoes, clothes, or even toys. Suitcases or bags of any kind are often needed. Did you know that many children go from home to home with their belongings in trash bags? Make sure you donate items that are in good repair. If you wouldn’t let your own child wear it, don’t send it on to agencies or homes. Some places prefer new items so call ahead.

Donate each year to Toys for Tots. Foster kids are able to receive them and they always go to needy kids.

One last way that I can think of is to call your county children’s services and have them do a local background check so you can Babysit for a foster care family! Every parent needs a break, especially when your kids have behavioral problems.

Hope this is inspirational to those who want a way to help kids find safe, loving homes, even if that home isn’t with them!

I sat here tonight thinking about the fact that my son or daughter is probably out there right now. He could be going to bed hungry, not having eaten for a week. She could be being beaten or hurt. She could be sleeping in a park somewhere, cold and afraid. I sat here tonight thinking about these things in my nice, warm home and I felt ashamed for thinking about going through adoption and not getting ‘attached’. This is not about me. I am an adult, I have therapy and coping methods that will get me through, just like I got through losing Oliver.  My kids don’t have those methods… yet. So I sat here tonight and all I have is to pray that God will keep my children safe. I don’t know where they are, or who they are, but He does. That’s where I am taking my comfort. If the time comes when my children are re-unified with their bio- parents, I will wonder every night if they are warm, safe, full, and happy. I will take my comfort in God’s promises for orphans and their caregivers:

-Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families.

Psalms 68:5-6

-And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.

Matthew 18:5

-Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.

Proverbs 31:8-9

-In you the orphan finds mercy.

Hosea 14:3

-Never take advantage of any widow or orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, you can be sure that I will hear their cry.

Exodus 22:22-23

We are talking about names… we really like Oliver for a boy…like the green arrow :D… we’d call him Ollie. Jury is still out on a girls name we like Elise, Charlotte, Isabella, and a few others…