Earlier this week I was able to spend time on the phone with a fellow Foster mom/peer mentor and it was time well spent. She gave me lots of good tips and great questions to ask when the calls do start coming.
So...we wait.
Friday, July 31, 2009
It's Official !!
It's official, we're licensed. We got our license last Saturday. Now onto the waiting game. I emailed the dept. and let them know we were licensed too, since their list is only updated on a monthly basis. The new list will be out to everyone in the department on Monday. On Tuesday I'm going to a training session on "the first 30 days"....it should be good and perfect timing.
Earlier this week I was able to spend time on the phone with a fellow Foster mom/peer mentor and it was time well spent. She gave me lots of good tips and great questions to ask when the calls do start coming.
So...we wait.
Earlier this week I was able to spend time on the phone with a fellow Foster mom/peer mentor and it was time well spent. She gave me lots of good tips and great questions to ask when the calls do start coming.
So...we wait.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Waiting
We have finished up our last class and homestudy, so now on to the wait. Word on Foster care street is that we should have our license in a couple of weeks.
The classes were really good. It really gave us a reason to pause and think about our own "issues"...because don't we all have them...how our own grief and loss affects how we parent. How our culture and traditions growing up affect how we parent. Interesting stuff.
We just bought a new book recommended int he class called "1-2-3 Magic." Sounds cheesy, but it is by far the easiest read on a disciplining method that I've come across and I've read a lot of books on this topic. The best part is that hello...it WORKS! YAY on that!
We will be licensed for 2 children ages 0-18 months...either sex. So...we wait. When something interesting happens...I let you know :)
The classes were really good. It really gave us a reason to pause and think about our own "issues"...because don't we all have them...how our own grief and loss affects how we parent. How our culture and traditions growing up affect how we parent. Interesting stuff.
We just bought a new book recommended int he class called "1-2-3 Magic." Sounds cheesy, but it is by far the easiest read on a disciplining method that I've come across and I've read a lot of books on this topic. The best part is that hello...it WORKS! YAY on that!
We will be licensed for 2 children ages 0-18 months...either sex. So...we wait. When something interesting happens...I let you know :)
Thursday, July 9, 2009
One Class to Go
It's been a few weeks. We have one class to go until we are done with our 27 hours. It's been pretty good. The last 2 sessions have been more interesting to us than some of the others. These 2 have covered adoption and getting your home ready for the foster kids. Though the session on discipline was pretty good as well.
We have our last homestudy next Tuesday and then...it takes a couple of weeks and we get licensed I guess.
We have a potential wrench being thrown in to the room situation. One of the big kids who is heading into the Air Force may be delayed due to RINGWORM of all things. *eye rolling* It could be a late fall/winter departure rather than a July 21'st departure *sigh* John and I will have to rework the room configuration if this happens.
We have decided on 0-18 months. We would really like to add another girl to the family, so are deciding on if we want to specify gender or not. With the room issue we may have to go with girls, but need to check on what the law is. How old opposite sex kids can be and still share a room.
So that's it. Not terribly exciting, but it has brought up a lot of discussion and that's always a good thing. :)
Stay tuned!
We have our last homestudy next Tuesday and then...it takes a couple of weeks and we get licensed I guess.
We have a potential wrench being thrown in to the room situation. One of the big kids who is heading into the Air Force may be delayed due to RINGWORM of all things. *eye rolling* It could be a late fall/winter departure rather than a July 21'st departure *sigh* John and I will have to rework the room configuration if this happens.
We have decided on 0-18 months. We would really like to add another girl to the family, so are deciding on if we want to specify gender or not. With the room issue we may have to go with girls, but need to check on what the law is. How old opposite sex kids can be and still share a room.
So that's it. Not terribly exciting, but it has brought up a lot of discussion and that's always a good thing. :)
Stay tuned!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Grief/Loss and Soft Green and Yellow
We are continuing on in our PRIDE classes. Last nights topic was grief and loss. I have to say, it was kind of a tough topic for me. It really hit home in many areas. I can see where this has affected my step-children and our China kiddos. I can see the areas in my own life. It also brought up issues for the foster kids...some of which should seem obvious, but weren't at least in my mind. For instance, birth order. A child could go from being the oldest in his/her home to being the youngest in the foster home. A child in their birth home knows where to sit in the living room or at the table...but where do you sit in the foster home? What if you as a foster child are taken out of the home in the middle of the night and they forget your purple blanket and you NEED your purple blanket to sleep and to comfort you? Loss.
Interesting. Our homework for last night was to make our own grief and loss chart. Which was super depressing, but also interesting to reflect on.
On another not so depressing note...I chatted with a gal who has been fostering for about a year. She gave me some good tips on things to have on hand, prior to foster babies showing up. I hit up our local thrift store and scored on 50% off day. I bought up a lot of basic stuff 0-6 months...mostly in soft green and yellow....though I have to admit, that little pink stuff is a lot more appealing to me.
Interesting. Our homework for last night was to make our own grief and loss chart. Which was super depressing, but also interesting to reflect on.
On another not so depressing note...I chatted with a gal who has been fostering for about a year. She gave me some good tips on things to have on hand, prior to foster babies showing up. I hit up our local thrift store and scored on 50% off day. I bought up a lot of basic stuff 0-6 months...mostly in soft green and yellow....though I have to admit, that little pink stuff is a lot more appealing to me.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
"Homestudy"....Really?
No questions about if we have a fire extinguisher...really?
No questions about where we keep medication...really?
No questions about...anything really except:
What are your parents names...really?
Where were you born....really?
SW unable to answer lots of Foster Care questions....really? (Ok I'll give her a break...she's new.)
It was the most odd "homestudy" we have had to date. Apparently Idaho is very lax in their requirements for the home. We need a baby gate and we need to get the kids rooms switched around after one of the big kids leaves next month...but "only before you have a foster child placed in the home...remember it could be short notice..." Really?!
REALLY?! That's all?! Oh and we needed a count on the number of exits, the number of smoke alarms and the number of carbon monoxide detectors....but didn't actually count herself...just took our word for it. Really.
No questions about where we keep medication...really?
No questions about...anything really except:
What are your parents names...really?
Where were you born....really?
SW unable to answer lots of Foster Care questions....really? (Ok I'll give her a break...she's new.)
It was the most odd "homestudy" we have had to date. Apparently Idaho is very lax in their requirements for the home. We need a baby gate and we need to get the kids rooms switched around after one of the big kids leaves next month...but "only before you have a foster child placed in the home...remember it could be short notice..." Really?!
REALLY?! That's all?! Oh and we needed a count on the number of exits, the number of smoke alarms and the number of carbon monoxide detectors....but didn't actually count herself...just took our word for it. Really.
Week 2
We only have one class this week and it was last night. The topic: attachment. It was really good. It's interesting to look at our kids (both adopted and homegrown) and see where they fall on the attachment continuum. Our first homestudy is today at 3pm. I have no idea really what the home requirements are for foster care. I guess we will find out!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
PRIDE
So...John and I started our PRIDE (Parent Resource for Information, Development, Education) training for the state of Idaho to become foster parents. From the research I've done, it looks like several states use PRIDE.
We are now 6 hours into our 27 mandatory hours and it's been ok. We got a ginormous binder with every rule and regulation you can imagine. It's kind of freaked John out a bit. Which I must say, drives me a little crazy. Having been through 2 international adoptions, you would think, this would be no big deal....ah...yes...but then I remember that I am the one who did every scrap of paperwork for both adoptions, made all the appointments etc, etc. If it were up to John...I think we would still be working on paperwork for our daughter (who came home in 2005)...or it would have been abandoned altogether. While this is not a comment on his lack of paper organization, it's just saying that we work best, when I do the paperwork and tell him when to show up. For him to sit through hours of foster classes...it's not his favorite thing to do so far (though they do feed us dinner and his comment yesterday was, "well-at least the food's pretty good.")
It's opened up a lot of conversation. As foster parents you have the option to foster kids of all ages or of specific ages and genders. We have decided that we will foster kids 0-24 months and the gender debate is ongoing. I'm not sure where that will end up.
For those of you who don't know, we are hoping to expand our family through Fost/adopt. At some point I can see us just fostering, but right now our goal is to expand our family and give a home to a child that needs a home....or children...we haven't decided yet and will go where the Lord leads.
Our "first" homestudy will be this next Tuesday. In reality it's homestudy #11 since 2004. With all of the international requirements, we have walked this road...um...just a couple of times before ;-)
We are now 6 hours into our 27 mandatory hours and it's been ok. We got a ginormous binder with every rule and regulation you can imagine. It's kind of freaked John out a bit. Which I must say, drives me a little crazy. Having been through 2 international adoptions, you would think, this would be no big deal....ah...yes...but then I remember that I am the one who did every scrap of paperwork for both adoptions, made all the appointments etc, etc. If it were up to John...I think we would still be working on paperwork for our daughter (who came home in 2005)...or it would have been abandoned altogether. While this is not a comment on his lack of paper organization, it's just saying that we work best, when I do the paperwork and tell him when to show up. For him to sit through hours of foster classes...it's not his favorite thing to do so far (though they do feed us dinner and his comment yesterday was, "well-at least the food's pretty good.")
It's opened up a lot of conversation. As foster parents you have the option to foster kids of all ages or of specific ages and genders. We have decided that we will foster kids 0-24 months and the gender debate is ongoing. I'm not sure where that will end up.
For those of you who don't know, we are hoping to expand our family through Fost/adopt. At some point I can see us just fostering, but right now our goal is to expand our family and give a home to a child that needs a home....or children...we haven't decided yet and will go where the Lord leads.
Our "first" homestudy will be this next Tuesday. In reality it's homestudy #11 since 2004. With all of the international requirements, we have walked this road...um...just a couple of times before ;-)
Monday, June 8, 2009
Today!
Today we begin our foster parenting classes through the county. I have no idea what to expect, so it should be interesting...plus they feed us dinner...so there's something else to look forward to..?
Also I quite randomly found a foster parenting podcast by Tim and Wendy. It's been a lot of fun to listen from the beginning and glean tid-bits of good info. They have just signed adoption papers for their girls placed with them through foster care! You can check out their blog and listen. Just follow the link on the sidebar or click here.
Also I quite randomly found a foster parenting podcast by Tim and Wendy. It's been a lot of fun to listen from the beginning and glean tid-bits of good info. They have just signed adoption papers for their girls placed with them through foster care! You can check out their blog and listen. Just follow the link on the sidebar or click here.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Shopping/Nesting
OK, so because my kids are pretty young, I've still got A LOT of the baby stuff. One of my kiddos is actually still in her crib, converted to a toddler bed.
The other day I had my DH, get the changing table out of the garage attic. I cleaned that thing all up and then realized...hmmm...I don't know what happened to the changing pad that goes on top? I think I chucked it because it was ripped? Not sure, at any rate, I hit up our local baby consignment stores and found a brand new changing pad for 8 dollars, a brand new red gingham crib sheet, plus a pad and a cover for the changing pad. All in the colors I wanted...all for under 20 bucks. YAY me!
My daughter is very fascinated with the changing table and has been putting her doll babies up on it. We've been trying to explain to them that we will have some new babies come in and out of the house because their Mama's need some help and we are going to help them, by taking care of their babies. Right now...with no babies in sight, they are kind of getting the concept I think.
Anyhoo....it's been fun for me to find the little odds and ends that we need to get the room ready for little kidlets. I mean come on...shopping...for baby stuff at a discount?! Count me in :)
The other day I had my DH, get the changing table out of the garage attic. I cleaned that thing all up and then realized...hmmm...I don't know what happened to the changing pad that goes on top? I think I chucked it because it was ripped? Not sure, at any rate, I hit up our local baby consignment stores and found a brand new changing pad for 8 dollars, a brand new red gingham crib sheet, plus a pad and a cover for the changing pad. All in the colors I wanted...all for under 20 bucks. YAY me!
My daughter is very fascinated with the changing table and has been putting her doll babies up on it. We've been trying to explain to them that we will have some new babies come in and out of the house because their Mama's need some help and we are going to help them, by taking care of their babies. Right now...with no babies in sight, they are kind of getting the concept I think.
Anyhoo....it's been fun for me to find the little odds and ends that we need to get the room ready for little kidlets. I mean come on...shopping...for baby stuff at a discount?! Count me in :)
Sunday, May 17, 2009
We're In!
I found out this week that we are FOR SURE in for the Foster licensing classes that begin on June 8th. We have 9, three hour classes to attend for a total of 27 hours. The last class is July 13th...then...? Foster babies? Time will tell!
Monday, April 20, 2009
I Wish...
I wish I had some spectacular news about our Foster care process, but I don't. We are just in a holding pattern until we can get into the classes in June.
I did speak with our social worker the other day. Just to touch base and chat her up a bit. Talked about the kids in "the system." Again she gave me lots of positive feed back. Our family having kids from 4-20 have been through all kinds of parenting fun and have made it through that. (Though, I'm not sure how sometimes!) She thinks we will be able to give encouragement to families that will need it along the way. She also thinks my being a nurse is a total bonus.
Anyway...don't expect much from Ten Tiny Toes for awhile. I'll post when I have something remotely interesting! :)
I did speak with our social worker the other day. Just to touch base and chat her up a bit. Talked about the kids in "the system." Again she gave me lots of positive feed back. Our family having kids from 4-20 have been through all kinds of parenting fun and have made it through that. (Though, I'm not sure how sometimes!) She thinks we will be able to give encouragement to families that will need it along the way. She also thinks my being a nurse is a total bonus.
Anyway...don't expect much from Ten Tiny Toes for awhile. I'll post when I have something remotely interesting! :)
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Cleared
The fingerprinting process just kills me. We have been fingerprinted 2-3 times now both locally and through H*omeland Security for our adoptions. Why they don't KEEP them someplace in a database is beyond me. For our son's adoption it took NINE weeks to get my fingerprints back as clear. It wasn't until I finally called the department myself and said...hey!!! What's going on here...that someone looked into it and it was handled. This time it took less than 5 days (including the weekend) to get cleared. Crazy...but I'm glad it's done now, so that's one more check mark. I spoke with the gal who does the Fostering classes the other day and she was super nice and we know a lot of the same people, so that was a fun chat.
In the meantime, we are just biding our time. Our 18 year old will graduate in June and then off to the Air Force and our Army kid will be home from bootcamp/AIT school in May, so we are focusing our energies on that!
In the meantime, we are just biding our time. Our 18 year old will graduate in June and then off to the Air Force and our Army kid will be home from bootcamp/AIT school in May, so we are focusing our energies on that!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Fingerprints
Both John and I got our fingerprinting done today. It just kills me, because we have been fingerprinted by this department for each of our adoptions, plus because I'm a nurse...thus have been fingerprinted for work. We have also been fingerprinted by Home*land Security for our international adoptions....seriously....they need to start saving them in a database somewhere. Our 18 year old also was fingerprinted this week as he is technically "an adult" (yeah THAT'S IT..) We are not able to get into the training classes until June/July which is perfect timing for us. We need to get our 18 year old graduated from high school and off to the Air Force. We will then be moving kids around and re-doing bedrooms...so by August we should be ready for whatever Foster children come our way.
I was able to talk to the big-kids aunt (who works for the Foster department) she was able to give me some good insight and how they get around certain "rules" what the loopholes are etc.
It was pretty interesting...
Anyhoo...Not sure how much more will happen between now and June...? Guess we will see.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The Questionnaire
The Foster paperwork included questionnaire's for each child. The results...nothing short of awesome. Each child had to do one (I obviously had to fill out the Mooncakes' answers, but these are their replies.) I've skipped some questions ...otherwise you would be reading all day!
1: Describe what you look like.
C boy(18) Brown hair, brown eyes, 187, 5'10" (his commentary...these questions are dumb!)
A girl(16) I have long brunette hair, am of normal height for my age, am white with a tannish glow (again...her own words) I have long arms and legs and I have an oval birthmark on my right leg.
A boy(4.5) my hair is black...I'm Chinese!
A girl(4.5) I look like a beautiful Cinder*ella and also like a starfish (?)
2: What do you like about school?
C: Meeting new people.
A: I like the school spirit, academic and extra-curricular activities and the nice faculty.
3: What do you dislike about school?
C: How long you have to stay there.
A: The hours, the tardy/absence rules, the money cuts and the classes that are disappearing and also some teachers methods of teaching. (this child also listens to a lot of NPR and is obviously listening to the "adult" dinner conversation...)
4: What do you like to do?
C: hand out with friends and family and be outside.
A: Dance, listen to music, participate in theater, ride my bike and be with my friends.
A: I like play*dough and paint.
A: I like to dress up in my tights and Cinder*ella clothes, I like to dance and paint.
5: What do your parents to do show they love you?
C: tell me they love me, hang out with me and listen to me. (aww...love this kid!)
A: Help me with school, give me boundaries (always must have the perfect answer this kid..) support my decisions-most of the time...(LOL...had to laugh on that one)
A: hugs and high fives
A: Mama and Papa dance with me and give nice hugs.
6: What are the rules of your home?
C: COMMUNICATE!
A: I have a limit on phone time, can't stay out past 10, have to ask to get on the computer, can't have a boyfriend, can't sleep in past 9 on the weekends, have to do my chores and can't wear inappropriate clothes to school or in public (gosh dang it...aren't we SO mean?!)
A: Share toys
A: Be nice and pick up toys.
7: What happens if you get into trouble?
C: I get grounded.
A: I have to go to bed at 9 if I miss the bus, I get my clothes picked out for me if I wear something inappropriate, no phone-computer-music, no getting a ride from my brother to my Mom's house, extra chores (again...SO mean!)
A: I have to go to the Uh-oh chair.
A: Uh-oh chair.
8: How do you feel about adding more children to the family and Foster Care?
C: My parents are really good with kids and I support them 100%.
A: Our family is shrinking because my brothers are moving out, so we have more room for kids. Foster Care is an excellent way to find loving homes and I feel ours would provide a good home for any whild that needs a family. (How sweet is that?!)
A: I want a BIG baby!
A: I want a baby from China and I would feed it a bottle.
I actually photo copied these before I turned them in with the rest of our paperwork this week...they will get added to their scrapbook/photo albums.
Blessed to have such great kids :)
1: Describe what you look like.
C boy(18) Brown hair, brown eyes, 187, 5'10" (his commentary...these questions are dumb!)
A girl(16) I have long brunette hair, am of normal height for my age, am white with a tannish glow (again...her own words) I have long arms and legs and I have an oval birthmark on my right leg.
A boy(4.5) my hair is black...I'm Chinese!
A girl(4.5) I look like a beautiful Cinder*ella and also like a starfish (?)
2: What do you like about school?
C: Meeting new people.
A: I like the school spirit, academic and extra-curricular activities and the nice faculty.
3: What do you dislike about school?
C: How long you have to stay there.
A: The hours, the tardy/absence rules, the money cuts and the classes that are disappearing and also some teachers methods of teaching. (this child also listens to a lot of NPR and is obviously listening to the "adult" dinner conversation...)
4: What do you like to do?
C: hand out with friends and family and be outside.
A: Dance, listen to music, participate in theater, ride my bike and be with my friends.
A: I like play*dough and paint.
A: I like to dress up in my tights and Cinder*ella clothes, I like to dance and paint.
5: What do your parents to do show they love you?
C: tell me they love me, hang out with me and listen to me. (aww...love this kid!)
A: Help me with school, give me boundaries (always must have the perfect answer this kid..) support my decisions-most of the time...(LOL...had to laugh on that one)
A: hugs and high fives
A: Mama and Papa dance with me and give nice hugs.
6: What are the rules of your home?
C: COMMUNICATE!
A: I have a limit on phone time, can't stay out past 10, have to ask to get on the computer, can't have a boyfriend, can't sleep in past 9 on the weekends, have to do my chores and can't wear inappropriate clothes to school or in public (gosh dang it...aren't we SO mean?!)
A: Share toys
A: Be nice and pick up toys.
7: What happens if you get into trouble?
C: I get grounded.
A: I have to go to bed at 9 if I miss the bus, I get my clothes picked out for me if I wear something inappropriate, no phone-computer-music, no getting a ride from my brother to my Mom's house, extra chores (again...SO mean!)
A: I have to go to the Uh-oh chair.
A: Uh-oh chair.
8: How do you feel about adding more children to the family and Foster Care?
C: My parents are really good with kids and I support them 100%.
A: Our family is shrinking because my brothers are moving out, so we have more room for kids. Foster Care is an excellent way to find loving homes and I feel ours would provide a good home for any whild that needs a family. (How sweet is that?!)
A: I want a BIG baby!
A: I want a baby from China and I would feed it a bottle.
I actually photo copied these before I turned them in with the rest of our paperwork this week...they will get added to their scrapbook/photo albums.
Blessed to have such great kids :)
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The Sign
John and I started really thinking about Foster Care last summer. It's been a topic that has come up from time to time, but it really came to the forefront last summer. We had such a struggle with our son and his adjustment after adoption that we felt it best we waited.
It has recently come up again...several times since Christmas. In January I called our social worker whom we used for our past 2 adoptions and got the paperwork to get us started in the process. I started filling it out and then stopped and started and stopped. We talked, we prayed, we talked (ok I talked) about it to everyone, spoke with other Foster parents and stopped the process. I told God I needed a sign and that I needed John to make the decision.
This Friday at church (yes we go to Friday church...makes it easier to sleep in on Sunday...) They were recruiting people for Royal Family Kids Camp. It's a camp that is specifically for Foster Children. Each counselor has 2 kids, plus all the support staff makes the adult/child ratio more than 1:1. While John and I can't be counselors for the week (we do have other kids at home...) we thought we could help out before hand or a couple of evenings during the week after John gets off work. So, after service we hit up the "information table" and met a woman and her husband who have Fostered for 5 years. They just finished up the adoption proceedings for their 4 year old. We had a great talk with them and I think I made a new friend in her...for sure a mentor type if nothing else. They were able to answer our questions and address our concerns, AND as it turns out she teaches the classes that potential Foster parents must attend to get licensed!
After we got home we talked and talked some more about it and John said...he thought we should do it. So I got my "sign" at church and John making the decision...which after my "sign" I agree with whole heartedly.
This week the paperwork gets turned in and we will see what happens next!
It has recently come up again...several times since Christmas. In January I called our social worker whom we used for our past 2 adoptions and got the paperwork to get us started in the process. I started filling it out and then stopped and started and stopped. We talked, we prayed, we talked (ok I talked) about it to everyone, spoke with other Foster parents and stopped the process. I told God I needed a sign and that I needed John to make the decision.
This Friday at church (yes we go to Friday church...makes it easier to sleep in on Sunday...) They were recruiting people for Royal Family Kids Camp. It's a camp that is specifically for Foster Children. Each counselor has 2 kids, plus all the support staff makes the adult/child ratio more than 1:1. While John and I can't be counselors for the week (we do have other kids at home...) we thought we could help out before hand or a couple of evenings during the week after John gets off work. So, after service we hit up the "information table" and met a woman and her husband who have Fostered for 5 years. They just finished up the adoption proceedings for their 4 year old. We had a great talk with them and I think I made a new friend in her...for sure a mentor type if nothing else. They were able to answer our questions and address our concerns, AND as it turns out she teaches the classes that potential Foster parents must attend to get licensed!
After we got home we talked and talked some more about it and John said...he thought we should do it. So I got my "sign" at church and John making the decision...which after my "sign" I agree with whole heartedly.
This week the paperwork gets turned in and we will see what happens next!
Adopt or Foster or Both or Neither?
This too is originally from the Mooncakes blog. You can see that even last week (2/19/09), we were struggling with what way to go...notice I said not in 2009....God has other plans I guess ;-)
Welllll....I'm going back to a recent post about adoption/foster care.
It has been decided that yes, while we would love to foster children, right now, for our family. This is not the time. Adam and Avi are still pretty little and the potential of having children in and out of our home doesn't sit well with us right now. If in 10 years you are still following the Mooncakes...we may have Foster Children in our home, but not in 2009.
HOWEVER this does NOT mean I'm not praying for a baby to come into our lives. We are trying to figure out how to do this without going into a lot of debt. I got a call today from an agency whom I had contacted in January who asked if we were homestudy ready yet because right now they have an abundance of babies and not enough families (WHAT?!) Still not understanding the details on how that works out...but that's this agencies situation.
John and I are spending time praying and talking about the logistics of how to finance another adoption. We could use your prayers too. There are a lot of options out there. We are waiting on paperwork from this agency. She said they sent it in January...but I never got it so...?
Stay tuned.
Welllll....I'm going back to a recent post about adoption/foster care.
It has been decided that yes, while we would love to foster children, right now, for our family. This is not the time. Adam and Avi are still pretty little and the potential of having children in and out of our home doesn't sit well with us right now. If in 10 years you are still following the Mooncakes...we may have Foster Children in our home, but not in 2009.
HOWEVER this does NOT mean I'm not praying for a baby to come into our lives. We are trying to figure out how to do this without going into a lot of debt. I got a call today from an agency whom I had contacted in January who asked if we were homestudy ready yet because right now they have an abundance of babies and not enough families (WHAT?!) Still not understanding the details on how that works out...but that's this agencies situation.
John and I are spending time praying and talking about the logistics of how to finance another adoption. We could use your prayers too. There are a lot of options out there. We are waiting on paperwork from this agency. She said they sent it in January...but I never got it so...?
Stay tuned.
All over the Map...Repeat
This is a posting from the Mooncakes blog. The next couple of entries will show the struggle in our thought process as we pray and talk, and pray and talk over if and when to proceed with Foster Care. This original entry was from February 11, 2009.
See this little stack of paper?
It is driving me CRAZY. I'm all over the map right now on wanting to adopt again. I'm insane. John and I both really feel like we want to add to the family...and yet we both agree....this is not the best time to be messing with our finances. After 2, back to back adoptions we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel...and that light is looking pretty dang good. On top of the big kids starting to fly out the door...that financial light is getting brighter every day, because we ALL know...kid are spendy.
The little paper pile above is Foster Care paperwork. Yeah you heard me. I guess our theory is...after 5...what's 1 or 2 more. Really...anything over 3 kids is not a big deal. It's just one more set of shoes to tie! :) We are specifically interested in Foster/adopt...because these kids need homes too and the process requires our hearts and not so much our finances. (Just being honest here...those of you whom have adopted know where I'm coming from...)
While the paperwork is nothing like....dossier paperwork for China...
It is time consuming...but what's a little time right?! Anyway...John and I have a lot more talking that we need to do about this Foster Care thing. Both of our hearts are in it...but is the timing right? Yesterday the timing was perfect...today the timing is...not so perfect. Like maybe we should just wait until Christopher graduates in June and is off to the Air Force and THEN do it. I will have a free room and more space for Adam and Avonlea to spread out....ugh...I just don't know. John and I still would love, love to adopt from China once more too...though we are exploring domestic adoption and have found an agency (and yes even STARTED paperwork for them.) Do you see what I'm saying?! I'm losing it.
One of my dear bff's Leah and my Mom have gotten the brunt of my insane chatter on this. Sorry ladies...but thanks for patiently listening to me talk it out. It's NO secret to them that I want another BABY...I'm literally praying for one to be dropped into our laps. Sounds crazy right? I know!!!
SO...for today. We are waiting. Stay tuned because tomorrow...or even this afternoon, could be a different story.
See this little stack of paper?
It is driving me CRAZY. I'm all over the map right now on wanting to adopt again. I'm insane. John and I both really feel like we want to add to the family...and yet we both agree....this is not the best time to be messing with our finances. After 2, back to back adoptions we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel...and that light is looking pretty dang good. On top of the big kids starting to fly out the door...that financial light is getting brighter every day, because we ALL know...kid are spendy.
The little paper pile above is Foster Care paperwork. Yeah you heard me. I guess our theory is...after 5...what's 1 or 2 more. Really...anything over 3 kids is not a big deal. It's just one more set of shoes to tie! :) We are specifically interested in Foster/adopt...because these kids need homes too and the process requires our hearts and not so much our finances. (Just being honest here...those of you whom have adopted know where I'm coming from...)
While the paperwork is nothing like....dossier paperwork for China...
It is time consuming...but what's a little time right?! Anyway...John and I have a lot more talking that we need to do about this Foster Care thing. Both of our hearts are in it...but is the timing right? Yesterday the timing was perfect...today the timing is...not so perfect. Like maybe we should just wait until Christopher graduates in June and is off to the Air Force and THEN do it. I will have a free room and more space for Adam and Avonlea to spread out....ugh...I just don't know. John and I still would love, love to adopt from China once more too...though we are exploring domestic adoption and have found an agency (and yes even STARTED paperwork for them.) Do you see what I'm saying?! I'm losing it.
One of my dear bff's Leah and my Mom have gotten the brunt of my insane chatter on this. Sorry ladies...but thanks for patiently listening to me talk it out. It's NO secret to them that I want another BABY...I'm literally praying for one to be dropped into our laps. Sounds crazy right? I know!!!
SO...for today. We are waiting. Stay tuned because tomorrow...or even this afternoon, could be a different story.
Ten Tiny Toes
Hello!
I thought I would start another blog specifically for the Foster Care aspect of our life. While we will love on our Foster Children as we care for our Mooncakes, we cannot post identifying information or photos of the children we will foster...but I can post little feet and toes.
We are not sure how long this licensing process will take but when we ARE licensed and can start to take in tiny toes, look for photos like this....
We are excited to start this journey, having no idea where it will take us. We hope to adopt again from this process, but feel too...what a gift to give children who need someone to stand in the gap for them. After all isn't that what our Savior did for us?
I thought I would start another blog specifically for the Foster Care aspect of our life. While we will love on our Foster Children as we care for our Mooncakes, we cannot post identifying information or photos of the children we will foster...but I can post little feet and toes.
We are not sure how long this licensing process will take but when we ARE licensed and can start to take in tiny toes, look for photos like this....
We are excited to start this journey, having no idea where it will take us. We hope to adopt again from this process, but feel too...what a gift to give children who need someone to stand in the gap for them. After all isn't that what our Savior did for us?
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