Dose of reality

I am sure it is no surprise but I tend to live in my Christian, love everyone, trust everyone, bubble. At my core I truly believe the best in everyone. I believe most people I interact in my life believe only good things about me, because I tend to do that to them. This week I was given yet again another dose of reality in that idea just isn't always true.

Foster care has certainly been an adventure, that is no surprise to any one who read my blog regularly. You go to classes, get 'prepared', and begin the journey. You assume, or at least my upbeat, optimistic self assumes, that the path is basically the same every time. Well, of course that is just not so. Our journey has been unique in the way children have come into our home. Of course Hannah came the traditional way, she was removed by CPS and placed with us while her mom worked to get her life in order. That is the typical path of foster care. But Hannah's mom continues to have babies, and CPS prefers placed siblings together. So we keep growing...and growing...and growing. You get the point. This unique set of circumstances has also meant that I have interacted with a mom in crisis for nearly 6 years. She has in the past been very polite and even opened up to me about her struggles. I made a point of going to just about every court hearing and learn as much as I could about her, her past and how to talk to our now adopted kids about her when they are ready. I have prayed, and prayed for her. I have prayed that she would finally hit bottom and get the help she needs. I have had compassion for her situation growing up, which is tragic in it's own right. I have struggled with her choices and how they affect her children. And, despite those horrific choices we still have felt called by God to take her newest little ones into our home to show them unconditional love, stability and in the cases so far, permanency. We take her children KNOWING there will challenges, some not even known until they are much older...but we see them and love them.

With all this it is even more heartbreaking to find out this mom feels I am the cause of her newest son's seizures. She has told several people, including the caseworker that my care has caused him to have seizures. It is a knife to the heart for sure. I am absolutely confident in the truth, it is not the accusation that gets me it is  rather the false thinking. I cannot not change her thinking, no amount of effort, compassion, prayer can change HER thinking. She of course has no basis for this type of accusation, in fact the caseworker has all the documentation he needs to prove that her drugs use is the direct cause. And I will say he never for a moment believe her, but still, it is just sad. Sad that she cannot take responsibility, heck even acknowledge her role in his issues. I have been hit yet again with the fact that no matter how nice I am to her, give her pictures of her children regularly, do all the things she asks of me in their care, I am yet another person to blame as to why she does not have her kids. So, while I will continue to still be 'me' I know that it is time to set a few boundaries...even if it is just for me. I will be nice and polite, I will still show the light of Jesus, but I will not be going out of my way to accommodate her and the requests she makes. I cannot no longer put more effort into maintaining her relationship with her kids, (the current foster babies, not adopted ones). I am sad to say that she may never change...how heartbreaking. I fully expect that if my adult children choose to seek her out she will most likely be in the same exact place.

If I let it, I could certainly get depressed about it. I mean seriously, from one mama hear to another I have no idea why she wouldn't do everything to change. These are questions that have no answers for. But I have a HOPE that transcends all the icky parts of this life. I have a God who loves me, loves these babes so much more that I ever could and HAS rescued them. He has seen to their future, and has intervened, breaking a cycle, (that is the hope anyway). I will continue to put my hope, my trust, in His plan. I am excited to see the future of these kids...they actually HAVE a future now, and it is good, bright and so full of possibility. Blessed be the name of the Lord!!

SO while the revelation this week about my care has stung, it has not knocked me down or made me falter in why we are walking this path...it has given me a new understanding and focus to go forward.

6 weeks

Hello 2014

Time....that is something I do not seem to have much of these days. My days zoom by and I fall into bed having missed a few things on my list. (Not enough hours in a day!) I guess that is my new normal since the 7th, yes I said 7th child entered our home. Time to play a bit of catch up....

I have shared previously that our girls' mom was yet again pregnant and had not made any significant positive progress in her life. We were asked by CPS to take this new baby. We found ourselves at an interesting cross roads again. We committed to fostering this new baby but long term have not made any decisions. Every one makes sure to tell us this baby will stay forever too just like all the rest but I assure you, we have not made a final decision about that. We are waiting once again on the Lord to reveal Himself. Birth mom was not forth coming with due date, heck any pregnancy information. I did finally find out early November she was having a boy. (Of course this thrilled the men in our home...they say we need more testosterone!) I found myself once again waiting endlessly for 'the phone call'. Little man was born on 11/29. Due to circumstances out of my and the case workers control, he went home from the hospital to another foster family. We surrendered the God would have to put him in our home, we were not going to fight to get him. (After all, I am plenty busy) God worked out all the details and on the evening of Dec 4th I met my caseworker at In and Out to pick up this sweet bundle.

There is nothing like having a newborn again. He was my first newborn boy since Jacob...12 years ago! He is sweet and content and has been a fairly easy baby. He has his challenges however, and just shy of two weeks old we found ourselves in the ER. Poor little man was having seizures. Unfortunately the choices of mom contributed to his medical issues, but after several inconclusive tests he is now on anti-seizure meds and is THRIVING! We will have to have additional follow up appointments through out the year, and most likely repeat several of the tests at one yr. It is unbelievable what a difference I saw in him just two days after starting the meds. Now, he is almost 6 weeks old and this is by far my favorite stage! Cooing, responsive smiles and lovely eye contact fill my mama heart. He has been waking me at 4am this past week, but he more than makes up for it with all the "conversations" we have together. I adore these early mornings...well mostly, by 7pm it does catch up with me.

As if we needed more on our plate, in the midst of this crazy time we have been diligently working on getting our house ready to list it FOR SALE. It is amazing what kind of little things needs to be done with this many people in a home for ten and half years. We spent the week of Thanksgiving replacing flooring up stairs and it is gorgeous! Over Christmas vacation we managed to finish all the things on our list and the sign went up yesterday. It is a bit surreal I will tell you. Now we wait....wait for the Lord to move, to bring a buyer and for all the details to fall in line. We are praying the timing of this house selling and the new house being complete match up and we do not have to find 'temporary' housing. We are overwhelmed...in a good way I guess. I find it horrifying to try and keep this house model home ready every day but I trust that my effort will pay off. We just want to have someone walk in, fall in love and HAVE to have it!!! (Not too much to ask right?)

So, that is the start of our 2014 in a nut shell. We had family photos taken just before Thanksgiving that I have yet to share...so enjoy them...I do!! (Thanks to the amazing Kelly B!)

Blessings to all in this new year!

Merry Christmas...

I am so far behind in posting...so much going on that I haven't had any time to sit and get caught up. Here are a few photos from Christmas...hoping to start 2014 fresh and new and will get caught up.

Blessings to all of our friends and family...Merry CHRISTmas!

 Christmas Pj's

 Christmas Eve

 Christmas babies

 Christmas morning

Pan-Asian Noodles Kona Grill Recipe

We recently went on a date night to Kona Grill at San Tan. Wow, it was yummy! The leftovers lasted a couple of meals because they give generous portions, and I couldn't get it out of my mind. If San Tan was closer I would ave been back there in a minute to order again, but I could justify driving that far just for food. Then I had an "AH-HA" moment...Google the recipe!! And of course Google does not disappoint and I found the recipe I wanted right away. Although I will say shopping for Asian ingredients with a fussy baby was not really part of the plan.

It was a hit with the hubby and there are plenty of leftovers here too. A few of the kids enjoyed it, hey I'll take that from a new, spicy recipe any day!

http://www.kare11.com/life/recipes/recipes_article.aspx?storyid=835757
 This is the link to the recipe I found...tasted exactly the same. I will say I needed more noodles than recipe called for so keep that in mind.

Nathan is 7!!

Happy Birthday to our Nathan!!!

Building our dream

"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8

We have once again begun a new journey that can be called nothing more than divine. God has been moving over the past year in several ways, in His perfect timing for us, to move into a home that is exactly what this family needs. We cannot be more humbled with how this has come about and offer all the glory to God!!! From the moment we accepted His call to care for hurting, neglected, and orphaned children He has proved over and over again, "He is ABLE" to provide for all our needs. We have known for quite a while that our house was a bit small for how He has shaped our family, but for many years have felt that we needed to be content with where He has us. We have prayed for His timing and way, and for a house to basically drop in our laps. We have toyed with moving and changing jobs a few times over the past couple years, but He has always shut those doors. We now feel like we know why. He has our dream house waiting for us!! 

We are building in the new Eastmark Developement, or for those who have lived here a long time, on the site of the old GM proving grounds. We will have a home with rooms and space for our family!!! We will have a place where the kids can invite friends over and there is space for them to play and just be kids! We hope to be moving in at the end of March. We are praying that our current house will sell quick and smoothly, and while the process is still new, and we know anything can happen, we are faithful to believe this is what God has planned for our family. Please feel free to ask us any questions, join us prayer, and celebrate along with us! 2014 is shaping up to be an exciting year and God is worthy of all the praise!