DYFS Came!!!!

She didn't cancel!!!! She came on Friday at 4PM to do Jimmy's interview and check the repairs. This worker is soooo sweet and kind. I really like her a lot. She's really laid back and friendly. Jimmy liked her and she was able to take some of the DYFS bitterness out of his mouth. Im starting to fix the room. Our good friends gave us a bed and I bought a Sponge Bob comforter for it. Sponge Bob is universal for a girl/boy...right? The weather is pretty cool so I am going to take advantage of it and finish the Sponge Bob ocean room! I am getting so excited! This summer has been awesome. My only prayer is that we "get" a child before I go back to work so I can get use to the transition. Jennifer (our worker) said that our case "should be" approved before August 12th. But then she said, But........I am going on vacation so it could be later. Jimmy said that's fine, no rush! I closed my mouth and prayed for God's will be done. I'm getting scared and excited! Cant wait to see God's plan. Its funny because He is working on my heart....not on fostering, but other things... patience and perseverance! He wants me to get my spending under control and He is changing my heart on what I truly want to do in my church. Pray that I submit to His will. I want him to create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me. Just love Him!

dyfs cancelled

She cancelled again! She was coming tomorrow but had to reschedule for Friday....more time for repairs!!!!! Please pray for this visit!

The Question? Why????

I have been avoiding this question since I started this blog...."Why do I want to be a foster parent when I can easily have one of my own?" To be honest....I don't know! I have no desire to have another biological child. Weird? I cant explain it. The wanting to adopt runs deep into my soul...its in my blood. When DYFS (rude, rude, rude worker) came out the first time, as soon as the door shut behind her, Jimmy said, "Forget it Michele! Lets have our own!" I remember feeling a sense of loss!

The only way I can explain it is that our God has placed this desire in me. Its not a natural desire so I know it only comes from Him. He adopted me into His kingdom and I haven't been the same since that day. I love Him to pieces. He is my daddy in heaven and I trust Him to only give me what I can handle. I am completely in awe of Him and sometimes feel I don't deserve such an awesome God. He gave up His Son so that I can have a relationship with Him. He planted this seed and may His will be done!

So to answer the question....I want to adopt for Him. I want to plant His seed in a child's life who may have never heard of this awesome Person. Sure I can have my own and do the same thing, but there are so many children out there already who need to hear of His love......

There are so many encouraging stories in the bible of men/women who were adopted and became strong warriors (Jesus,Moses, Ester). Ester, by the way, is Hannah's favorite woman in the bible. She knows her story and actually taught it to the Sunday School class :)

Once we give our hearts to Christ, believing and trusting in Him alone for salvation, God says we become part of His family—not through the natural process of human conception, but through adoption. Please start praying for our foster children. Pray that his/her heart will be open to accept Christ. Please pray for us that we are able to show His love and that we are not to stressed out. We want to plant seeds.........

My Girl, Hannah

I will never forget the day that I found out that I was pregnant with Hannah. I was so happy! I was my turn...I am going to be a mommy! I busted out my maternity clothes before the two lines read positive :) I haven't stopped smiling since. I wanted. to be a mom long before I could remember and it was happening.....I was going to be a momma! On July 22, 2002, my Hannah was born and I fell in love from the start. She was so cute and I remember just sitting and looking at her all day long (literally). She was (and still is) perfect. My girl completes my life. She is simply incredible. As she gets older, we grow closer and closer. She is my bestest bud and I love to hang out with her. She makes me laugh, she teaches me about GOD, and she's just....perfect. My perfect gift from God. My Hannah.

She knows we are going to be foster parents and she is excited. We thought that God was closing the door for us and foster care and she was really upset. But now that the door is open again, I dont really tell her too much about foster care because I don't want to upset her more if God closes the door again.....My biggest worry about fostering a child is her. I can deal with the aches and pains of losing a child we have taken care of...but can she? I keep reminding her that we are only "loving" the child until his/her mom gets better....we are not keeping them. During her foster care interview with our worker Hannah asked, "What if the mom doesnt get better? Do we get to keep her (notice she says her, she wants only a girl)?" So shes thinking about that...

During the winter we had the pleasure of hosting a orphan from Ukraine named Julia. Julia was hard to manage. She was only 6, in a different country, and did not speak English. It was a stressful time with her, and I could see it in Hannah the stress that having her was taking on our family. Julia was scary (she did scary things) and I was afraid for Hannah to be alone with her. Did you ever see the movie Orphan?????? Scary, right? That was our Julia...

Please pray that fostering a child will be different and not so stressful for our family. Please pray that Hannah will not be scared and that we can manage this child's behavior with the help from God. Also please pray that if this is not God's will for our family that the door will shut.

dyfs cancelled

Today I had a meeting with our case worker, but she called an hour before to cancel. DYFS makes it hard to be a foster parent....they are unreliable! Had so many problems so far with them and we don't even have kids yet. But God can move mountains and he is bigger than this organization. He will get His will done. Please pray that our house will pass inspection...its 104 years old and has some flaws, but its a loving home! The people inside the house are awesome God fearing people! She comes out next Monday to finish interviews and check on repairs.....

The Head of It All: My Rock

I met Jimmy when I was in college and loved him from the start. We met in June...was engaged in December...married a year later on March 13, 1999. He's an amazing husband and father. The foster journey for him has not been easy. He is a private person and DYFS wants to know all "your business". They are also not the nicest and he can not tolerate ignorance! His role in this has been all home repairs....fixing wells, building radiator covers, etc.... He's not a happy camper, but is doing his part. Even though I always wanted to be a foster parent the idea to actually become one came from him (all who know him know that this is a true miracle from God). One day I told him that its time to have our second child and he said, "Why dont we look into foster care? There are so many children who need a home!" My hero! I called the next day to get the ball rolling........This was back in April 2010.

Please pray for him during this time. This has been hard for him, but I continue to see the Lord shine through him.....God is giving my little hunter skills that I never knew he had......Just love him....hes going to be such a good foster dad!

My Call to Adopt

I feel down deep into my soul that God's plans for me is to become a foster (adoptive) parent. I've felt this way for years...even before the birth of my first biological daughter! This blog is going to be about my journey to this precious miracle and the ups and downs of the system (DYFS)who will teach me patience, perseverance, and the POWER of my Savior who can move mountains....

My purpose of this blog is to journal the awesomeness of God through this process and how I am becoming closer and closer to Him.