Something NEW is on the Horizon for Our Family!

The events of our summer months have evolved into a change for our family.  I've tossed around how to go about sharing this news, but this seems to be the best way I can think of doing it --

We are happy to announce that we are officially becoming a foster care family!

The decision hasn't come quickly.  We've given it countless hours of thought.  We've talked it over with our families and dear friends.  We've educated ourselves about what this will mean for our family.  And we're super excited!

When this idea was first presented to us by an extended family member, we hesitated.  And wanted to take things slowly.  The change seemed scary.  And to be honest, it still does, at times.  But as we made the decision to move forward and began the process of becoming an approved foster care family, the necessary steps have unraveled as needed and at just the right time.  We were able to complete a stack of paperwork quickly...including having our clearances returned to us promptly.  We were able to attend all four required trainings in four consecutive weeks (we had nothing else on our calendar the evenings of each training which was a semi-miracle in-and-of itself).  Our home's well water tests all came back good.  And our caseworker visited our home.  Our official home study should be completed and approved within the next week.  We have just the right amount of non-perishable foods and a bottled water supply to last us for 3-days in the event of a natural disaster.  I now have a "no smoking" sign on my refrigerator and an emergency evacuation plan in place.

And this has all happened literally within just the last six weeks.

It feels like a bit of a whirlwind.  And yet, it feels right. We continue to take steps...in faith...and the Lord continues to open doors.  Our trust is resting in the Lord right now.  This feels so similar to our adoption journey for our daughter a couple of years ago...but it also feels quite different.  I'm reminding myself that different isn't always a bad thing.  And in this case, different is going to be a very good thing for us.

Being a foster care family is going to be challenging.  It's going to require faith, patience, wisdom, grace, and trust.  It may require tough decisions and raw emotions.  And I imagine that it will involve tears...possibly lots of tears...but I know that the Lord is with us each step of the way.  And for as long as the Lord continues to open doors for us, we will continue to take steps in faith.

There will be times that I won't be able to share details about the foster care journey on here out of respect for the situation and because of confidentiality.  But we cherish your thoughts and prayers as we step out in faith to see how the Lord will use us.  Thank you, in advance, for walking alongside our family through this new venture.