For the past few weeks I had been planning to blog about all of the things I swore I would never do when I became a mom, and how all of that changed when I became mom to four kids under five. That blog will have to wait because of a surprise phone call I received last week. Last Wednesday, our foster babies’ CPS worker called to let me know that the judge had decided to move them to their paternal grandmother. Less than 24 hours later they were gone. We knew the day would come when they would leave our home, but we never imagined that day would come so soon. We were hoping that the next move for them would be home to their mom. Everyone involved in their case agreed that they would stay with us until their mom completed her plan, except the judge evidently. Needless to say, we were shocked and of course saddened, we love those babies and want nothing but the best for them. We have peace and comfort in knowing that we will see them again. While they were here we built a relationship with their mom, and she has assured us that she will let us know when she gets them back and we will get together to celebrate.
If someone had told me that we would foster seven kids this year I would have laughed and let them know that they had me confused with someone else. This process is hard, heart breaking, and down right ugly. But in this mess, God has stretched us far beyond our comfortable little bubble that we had created for ourselves, and reassured us of His perfect plan and His perfect timing. We knew we would have to say goodbye to them, but we weren’t prepared for it to be so sudden. It was a tearful goodbye, and after we closed the door, and turned around, there were two more babies looking up at us who are just as broken (if not more) that need or love, attention, and reassurance that we won’t be saying goodbye to them next. When I saw the look on our princess’ face it hit me, this has happened to them three times in less than two years. In her mind she is wondering if this time will really be different. That’s when I realized it was necessary for our foster angels to go when they did, because we need this time to bond and for our forever babies to know that this is it, we aren’t going to change our minds. It has been less than a week and the difference has been remarkable. Most of the behavior issues have decreased dramatically and the bonds are growing stronger everyday.
We have been asked several times over the past week if we are done fostering. Our answer is yes, for now. We will be a family of four until the adoption is finalized and from there we will see where God leads us. We have five months to go before it is official and we got an email from the kids’ caseworker yesterday letting us know that she will no longer be their caseworker as of October 1 because the case is being moved from foster to pre adoptive placement. Thank you Jesus!
“You came for the lost
The sick and the blind
With salvation and hope
You gave to us free so what will we do
With this treasure we hold
Let justice roll on like a river
Let mercy shine bright as the sun
Take care of the orphan and widow
Take care of our own flesh and blood
‘Cause this is the way
That You’ve called us to love
To share what we have
With the hungry and poor
Put clothes on the naked
And heal up the broken and torn
True religion”
-True Religion, Ryan Delmore
