Homework

When I graduated for good in 2007, I honestly thought that I was finished with homework. Oh sure, somewhere in the back of my mind I thought "oh, I'll help my children with their homework someday... but that will be easy, because I will already know what they are learning, so it won't be trying or difficult or challenging like MY homework was."

What I didn't realize is that the hard part of homework for a parent has nothing to do with the level of difficulty of the particular assignment. No, the hard part of homework for a parent is keeping a 7 year old's attention on one assignment for 45 minutes. As Maggie said the other day (after helping Cassandra with her homework), "I feel like I should be more patient. I feel like I'm faking it the whole time!", to which I responded flippantly(callously?) "Fake it 'til you make it!"

Now I'm faking it too, which brings me to my question for you: Does faking patience count?

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We found out today that we won't be able to spend time in our basement with our foster children because the basement windows are too small and too high off the floor. The only way we can get approval is if we replace at least one window with a taller/lower window, which involves digging a large hole in the front yard, and cutting a large hole in my foundation wall, then installing a new window and window well. Anyone with experience in either of those areas, please feel free to consult. (I'm looking at you Dad!)

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Maggie got me sick, I hope Cassandra and Mena are spared!

Note.

Being sick when you're a mother of two is not very much fun. Especially when one of the two is entertained by nothing but crawling around as fast as possible and getting into everything, and the other is incessantly filled with energy.
I just hope that they don't get it. But seeing as that Mena and Cassandra have respectfully slept 141/2 and 12 hours in the last 24 hours....my hope may be in vain.


I'm very glad that God offers strength, because my fever has got me on "E".

Just Another Day in Paradise....

Well....the girls are here! We've had kind of a crazy couple of days, but things are going well (as long as you ignore the disaster that is our house :) ). I wanted to post a few pics of the girls.
Cassandra seems to be doing very well, and loves playing with Brian. Ximena, who goes by Mena, is also doing well, and is starting to adjust to our home. Both are sleeping through the night (praise God!). Mena won't go more than about 30 seconds without me holding her....so if I can get her to take a nap today, I MIGHT get something done....but no promises.
















We (kind of) celebrated a late birthday for Cassandra.

A quote...

...that I read some time ago in a book called "Turning Stones" by Marc Parent. This is a quote that jarred me during my time at the Children's Division, and just as much now in becoming a foster parent.

"You hear about children falling through the cracks in the system. Let me tell you something, there is no system, there are only people. Children don't fall through cracks, they fall through fingers."
-Marc Parent

Fingers like yours and mine.
Another author reminded me today of the importance of these kids lives. He said, "Often it has been stated that youth is the nation's greatest asset, but it is more than that, it is the worlds's greatest asset. More than that, it is perhaps the world's only hope." These kids need our help.

update..to the update...to the update...

Yesterday ended up being a roller-coaster of a day:

Intake woman calls to say she hasn't heard from the caseworker, but when she does she will call me.
...wait...wait...wait
Intake woman calls and says that there is another foster family interested in taking the girls, and she'll call me back when she hears more. (Keep in mind they have already told us that the girls will be placed with us.)
...wait...wait...wait
Intake woman calls to say that Cassandra needs to stay in the same school district, I tell her that I will drive her to Olathe, she says she will call the caseworker and call me back.
...wait...wait...wait
Intake worker calls and says that the girls will be placed with us, but she is not sure of the date, and she gave the caseworker my number.
...wait...wait...wait
Caseworker calls me and tells me that the other foster parents don't want the girls moved until next Thursday evening. I ask her if there is any way that we could do it a little bit sooner, because I'm supposed to be out of town...she'll call back.
...wait...wait...wait
Caseworker calls and says they don't want to do it before Wednesday, so she will bring them that evening.

This all took from 8:00 in the morning until 6:00 at night to transpire. I guess it wouldn't sound so bad unless you felt what we have invested in this, and the emotion that goes into overnight getting used to the thought of having two children, then getting used to the thought that you won't, then getting used to the thought that you will. It was a very up and down day.

However, we now know that Cassandra (7 yrs. old) and Jimena (he-MENA) (10 months old) will be coming to live with us Wednesday. We've been told that Cassandra is a very beautiful, very sweet, VERY headstrong little girl. :) ...and that Jimena is healthy and starting to walk. I think that it will be a blessing to have these last few days to prepare our hearts.
I cannot wait to see them and to get to know them. The first couple of weeks will probably be very trying for the girls, please pray that Jesus' love and understanding empathy, through us, overcomes.

We are very, very excited.

growing

Well, tonight we'll go to bed with two new family members having joined us. Today, at some point, we'll be meeting a 7 year old and a 10 month old - sisters - who will be living with us for a while. This morning I have been preparing our home for the girls - so excited to meet them, and so hopeful that we'll be able to show them our love in a real way.
I so hope that their family will be able to take care of them someday ... sooner than later. Pray for the girls, that we will be able to comfort, listen to, and love them. But even more than that, pray for their parents, that they can resolve the issues that brought the girls to us, and that they can have a family again.

I'll try to keep you all up to date on our lives and this exciting challenge. Of course, I'm thinking that I probably won't have quite as much time to update in the near future.....

Trust.

A story that I recently heard in a Francis Chan sermon that I found comforting and much needed...

A man felt the call of God on his life, he was sure that God had something huge planned for him. The only problem was that he wasn't sure what it was that he was supposed to do. So he figured he needed prayer. Upon meeting Mother Teresa, he asks her, "Mother Teresa, will you pray for me?" She says, "Sure, what would you like me to pray for you about?" He states, "Clarity. I want to know in no uncertain terms what God wants me to do with my life." She looks back at him and says, "No, I won't pray for you for that." Very confused and embarrassed, the man spurts out, "Well why not? I only want for my life what you have had so clearly in yours. You seem to always know exactly what God's calling you to do."
Mother Teresa looks back at him and said, "I sir, have never had clarity. What I have had is trust. So I'll pray that you learn to trust."


I will pray for you now, for you have been my faithful friends
While the road we walk is difficult indeed
I couldn't not ask for more than what you've already been
Only that you would say these prayers for me
May your heart break enough that compassion enters in
May your strenght all be spent upon the weak
All the castles and crowns you build and place upon your head
May they all fall, come crashing down around your feet
May you find every step to be harder than the last
So your character grows greater every stride
May your company be of human insignificance
May your weakness be your only source of pride
What you do unto others may it all be done to you
May you meet the One who made us
And see Him smile when life is through
May your blessings be many but not what you hoped they'd be
And when you look upon the broken
May mercy show you what you could not see
May you never be sure of any plans you desire
But you'd learn to trust the plan He has for you
May your passions be tried and tested in the holy fire
May you fight with all your life for what is true
I have prayed for you now all my dear and faithful friends
But what I wish is more than I could ever speak
As the way wanders on I'll long to see you once again
Until then, would you pray these prayers for me?
Oh, that you would pray for me.

"Pray" by Kendall Payne

Ummm....More Change.

So, Monday was my last day of working at the Children's Division.
For those of you who did not know I was quiting, I put in my notice two weeks ago. Brian and I decided that it would be much better for me to be home when we have a child placed with us. While I still have very mixed emotions about leaving - I really think that it will be for the best.
The closer we got to being licensed, the more my anxiety level rose regarding being able to do my job (well) and being able to be invested in the kids that come to stay with us (fully invested). I want to be a good foster mom, and I couldn't do that while working at my stressful, 55 hour per week job.
Trusting God is more real to me now than I think it has ever been. Trusting Him with every decision, financially, in becoming a mom, and that He will work through us to make some difference, however small. However, in the times that we are asked to trust in Him the most - I am the most at peace. Because through His grace and love for us - He always keeps his promises.
So now I'm off to the farmer's market instead of the Children's Division - and I'm pretty ok with that. Meanwhile, incessantly wondering, boy or girl? 1 yr. old, 4 yrs. old, 9 yrs. old? Physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect? race? personality? Who is it that He has intended for us, and how do we make the biggest difference, or even just a small one? He has me on pins and needles.

Change.

I've never been much into blogging before. I think that this will be a good way of keeping friends and family up to date, since it seems like Brian and I have some major life decision or change coming at the rate of about one every two weeks these days. What can I say other than....God's got us busy.
So, I hope that through sharing God's challenges for us, that we'll stay closer, and who knows what He'll do from there.