Disclaimer: Due to HIPAA laws, all blog posts related to our Foster Care experiences will have limited information when referring to the children and their cases. Their names will remain private and I will use generalizations when writing. I will not be posting any photos of the children that are in our care. My blog will remain public so people can stumble-upon it and so you can share with your family and friends. My FB page (close friends & family only) has the proper privacy settings in place per our licensing coordinator and I will be posting photos on there. It's basically Fort Knox! :)
Disclaimer: Although we are pro-corporal punishment, we do abide by the Florida Statutes for Child Care (Pg 19) and use the required discipline for our foster children.
As foster parents, we are required to log sixteen hours of training each year to keep our license current. There are a few different ways to complete those hours, watching approved movies (particularly The Blind Side), training classes, online training, FAPA meetings, etc.
Being the new kids on the block, we were approached about a 5 week behavioral assessment class and assumed it was a requirement for all foster parents. They would meet every Tuesday night for 3 hours. Needless to say, 5 weeks later, we still aren't sure if it was actually a requirement.
When it comes to discipline, we've had many discussions about our views prior to having kids. I think its important to make sure both parents are united in that decision because it has the potential to be a sticky situation if you're not. We both agree, if executed properly, spanking (yes, I said it) proves to be an effective form of punishment. I know it tends to be a taboo topic, but I am here to tell you I am a survivor of spankings and I turned out just fine. I'm not saying that's the only form of discipline we will enforce in our home, we believe there are an assortment of appropriate forms of discipline for certain behaviors that spanking may not be effective for. But just so we're clear and I don't offend anyone, the purpose of me bring up spanking isn't to tell you what to do, I understand everyone chooses to discipline differently and that's fine too.
We found ourselves in a pickle once we got our newest foster child. He is at the age that discipline should be enforced and unfortunately In the world of foster care, spanking is a no for obvious reasons. In the absence of spanking, time out is our alternative go-to punishment. He came from a home with zero structure so we had our share of challenges in the beginning. About the time we started our class, we were finally making major progress is his behaviors, which was quite rewarding considering we'd never done this before. The class opened our eyes to different ideas to help us with some problem areas and also gave us reassurance that what we were already doing was good too. Even though the the instructors don't really teach time-out (go figure) as a proper punishment, it's definitely worked for us. Oh yeah, and they don't use the word punishment either because it apparently gives off a negative connotation. Call me crazy, but isn't bad behavior negative? Their theory is ignore the junk behavior and praise the good - to each his own I guess! Did I forget to mention the instructors aren't actually foster parents?
One thing Ben and I have in common is we aren't afraid to speak our mind. It's not our most promising attribute, even if it's contradicting everyone else. In fact, on more than one occasion we were the cause of open debates between the instructors and fellow attendees. Although off base at times, overall the training was full of great tools that we have already incorporated in our home.
I would absolutely love feedback on what forms of discipline work best in your home. You can do that by leaving me a comment below or emailing me privately at naomishari@gmail.com
The book the curriculum is based off of is called "The Power of Positive Parenting" by Dr. Glenn Latham.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Friday, August 3, 2012
Billy...I mean BeeWee!
Disclaimer: Due to HIPAA laws, all blog posts related to our Foster Care experiences will have limited information when referring to the children and their cases. Their names will remain private and I will use generalizations when writing. I will not be posting any photos of the children that are in our care. My blog will remain public so people can stumble-upon it and so you can share with your family and friends. My FB page (close friends & family only) has the proper privacy settings in place per our licensing coordinator and I will be posting photos on there. It's basically Fort Knox! :)
It wasn't till later that we realized he was calling her Billy. You're probably thinking, "Aww that's cute!" Well it was, the first 450 times! Its not just that he calls her a different name, its the way he pronounces it - Beewee! Before you say, "Maybe he doesn't know how to pronounce the letter M?", you're mistaken, because that was my initial thought. Here is a list of some "M" words he does know...
- Mama
- Move
- Moo
- More
- Make
- Milk
I'm not sure why something so silly drives me crazy. Maybe it's because I now call my dog one of the following name on a daily basis: Mollie, Billy, Bollie, BeeWee or Millie! If it isn't bad enough that she's been a bit neglected since we got kids, she is now struggling with an identity crisis and I can't even get her name right. Oh the joys of motherhood!
Disclaimer: I may or may not care if offend anyone with my next statement. I officially HATE the name Billy. Yeah, hates a strong word..blah, blah, blah! But seriously, it makes me cringe and let me tell you why. As I stated in my last post, right off the bat it was clear that our newest foster child has a speech problem. As soon as he walked through the door, He was instantly taken to our dog. We introduced her as Mollie and gave him some toys to let her fetch. It was the most exercise our dog has seen in her 3 years of existence.
It wasn't till later that we realized he was calling her Billy. You're probably thinking, "Aww that's cute!" Well it was, the first 450 times! Its not just that he calls her a different name, its the way he pronounces it - Beewee! Before you say, "Maybe he doesn't know how to pronounce the letter M?", you're mistaken, because that was my initial thought. Here is a list of some "M" words he does know...
- Mama
- Move
- Moo
- More
- Make
- Milk
I'm not sure why something so silly drives me crazy. Maybe it's because I now call my dog one of the following name on a daily basis: Mollie, Billy, Bollie, BeeWee or Millie! If it isn't bad enough that she's been a bit neglected since we got kids, she is now struggling with an identity crisis and I can't even get her name right. Oh the joys of motherhood!
Thursday, June 28, 2012
I am sick of sick!
Disclaimer: Due to HIPAA laws, all blog posts related to our Foster Care experiences will have limited information when referring to the children and their cases. Their names will remain private and I will use generalizations when writing. I will not be posting any photos of the children that are in our care. My blog will remain public so people can stumble-upon it and so you can share with your family and friends. My FB page (close friends & family only) has the proper privacy settings in place per our licensing coordinator and I will be posting photos on there. It's basically Fort Knox! :)
The past two months has been a very busy and stressful one for this Mom. Quick recap: Ben and I went on a fabulous 7 day Eastern Caribbean cruise, came home to a sick baby, I got Pneumonia, we moved our business office, we got a new foster child and inherited a ton of appointments, Ben got sick with what they thought was appendicitis, both kids got sick again - one with a upper respiratory infection and one with Croup, Ben and I got sick again, the baby was hospitalized with pneumonia, the new guy now has early stages of pneumonia and the clincher...BEN AND I ARE SICK AGAIN! Frankly, I'm not sure how I've kept it all together.
As a mom, I'm beginning to realize we have many "OMG" moments. But when my 7 month old started to turn purple because he couldn't breathe, my "OMG" moment was a little less conservative and a lot more freaking out. With the obvious common denominator being "sick," Ben and I were beginning to wonder if we should be classified as what they call "Medical Foster Parents." When the receptionist at the doctors office says "We should just reserve you a room" and all the nurses know you by name, that's borderline ridiculous! I can be a bit dramatic at times, but I assure you that is not the case. We were at the doctors at least 2-3 times a week. If we weren't distributing medication we were giving both kids breathing treatments every 4 hours or waking up to a puking child because he was coughing so much he was choking. Although, having sick children is never fun, It all goes back to being incredibly thankful that I have the job flexibility to take the time off I need to care for our children.
Lets talk new addition - the experience thus far can be summed up in a few words...Active, Exhausting, Whiny, Unresponsive, and Billy! All of which are fairly reasonable adjectives to describe a child in their "terrible twos", don't you think? My guess is you're confused by "Billy." My plan is to keep you in suspense just a little bit longer. I promise I will shed some light on why I used that to describe our new addition. Trust me, it deserves its own blog entry!
Our newest foster child came to us two months ago and right off the bat, it was clear that he had a significant speech problem. My guess is, it's the unfortunate result of a family that was too busy caring about other things than taking the time to teach a child how to communicate. I have found that to be my biggest challenge with him. With all the children I have come into contact with my entire life, I've never been put in a situation with that kind of disability. How do you start from the very beginning with a child that should be 3/4 of the way to having steady conversations? Having a younger sister and babysitting all through my youth, I know there are basic things that a 2.5 year old should know, that this child had no clue about and it completely broke my heart. Here are just a few of the basics...
- Please and Thank You
- Yes and No
- Identifying Colors and Shapes
- Counting to 5
- Repeating
- 2 to 4 Word Sentences
- Following Simple Instruction
- ABC Basics
I quickly realized how much one-on-one time and patience he was going to need. I am the first to admit that patience is my biggest flaw. In fact, on many occasions I tried to convince Ben he was too much for us to handle and we had to give him back. I know it sounds harsh, but I was serious. I'm sure anyone with a toddler shares my same sentiments from time to time. It took Ben reminding me several times how hard it was when we got our first foster child, but after a couple of weeks we established a schedule and it got easier and easier. I am happy to report that in the short time that we've had him, he has shown MAJOR progress! He is on consistent schedule, speaking clear sentences, identifying animals and their sounds, following instructions, using his manners, singing nursery rhymes (just to name a few) - talk about rewarding! We certainly still have our work cut out for us, especially with two kids, but I'm confident in our ability to make it work!
Its situations like this, that puts everything that Ben and I do into perspective. It sucks sometimes and its a lot of hard work, but throwing in the towel isn't an option for us. In a world full of chaos and confusion, these children need stability and consistency. In fact, its shown proven that they strive in that kind of environment.
The past two months has been a very busy and stressful one for this Mom. Quick recap: Ben and I went on a fabulous 7 day Eastern Caribbean cruise, came home to a sick baby, I got Pneumonia, we moved our business office, we got a new foster child and inherited a ton of appointments, Ben got sick with what they thought was appendicitis, both kids got sick again - one with a upper respiratory infection and one with Croup, Ben and I got sick again, the baby was hospitalized with pneumonia, the new guy now has early stages of pneumonia and the clincher...BEN AND I ARE SICK AGAIN! Frankly, I'm not sure how I've kept it all together.
As a mom, I'm beginning to realize we have many "OMG" moments. But when my 7 month old started to turn purple because he couldn't breathe, my "OMG" moment was a little less conservative and a lot more freaking out. With the obvious common denominator being "sick," Ben and I were beginning to wonder if we should be classified as what they call "Medical Foster Parents." When the receptionist at the doctors office says "We should just reserve you a room" and all the nurses know you by name, that's borderline ridiculous! I can be a bit dramatic at times, but I assure you that is not the case. We were at the doctors at least 2-3 times a week. If we weren't distributing medication we were giving both kids breathing treatments every 4 hours or waking up to a puking child because he was coughing so much he was choking. Although, having sick children is never fun, It all goes back to being incredibly thankful that I have the job flexibility to take the time off I need to care for our children.
Fun Video Clip:
Ellen Degeneres will disagree with me and say pickle juice in the eye is the worst thing (Fwd to 6:10), but as a mom, having a sick child takes the cake. Talk about emotionally and physically exhausting!
(I know I said I wouldn't post photos, but the back of their heads are just so cute! Technically no children have been compromised with this photo)
Lets talk new addition - the experience thus far can be summed up in a few words...Active, Exhausting, Whiny, Unresponsive, and Billy! All of which are fairly reasonable adjectives to describe a child in their "terrible twos", don't you think? My guess is you're confused by "Billy." My plan is to keep you in suspense just a little bit longer. I promise I will shed some light on why I used that to describe our new addition. Trust me, it deserves its own blog entry!
Our newest foster child came to us two months ago and right off the bat, it was clear that he had a significant speech problem. My guess is, it's the unfortunate result of a family that was too busy caring about other things than taking the time to teach a child how to communicate. I have found that to be my biggest challenge with him. With all the children I have come into contact with my entire life, I've never been put in a situation with that kind of disability. How do you start from the very beginning with a child that should be 3/4 of the way to having steady conversations? Having a younger sister and babysitting all through my youth, I know there are basic things that a 2.5 year old should know, that this child had no clue about and it completely broke my heart. Here are just a few of the basics...
- Please and Thank You
- Yes and No
- Identifying Colors and Shapes
- Counting to 5
- Repeating
- 2 to 4 Word Sentences
- Following Simple Instruction
- ABC Basics
I quickly realized how much one-on-one time and patience he was going to need. I am the first to admit that patience is my biggest flaw. In fact, on many occasions I tried to convince Ben he was too much for us to handle and we had to give him back. I know it sounds harsh, but I was serious. I'm sure anyone with a toddler shares my same sentiments from time to time. It took Ben reminding me several times how hard it was when we got our first foster child, but after a couple of weeks we established a schedule and it got easier and easier. I am happy to report that in the short time that we've had him, he has shown MAJOR progress! He is on consistent schedule, speaking clear sentences, identifying animals and their sounds, following instructions, using his manners, singing nursery rhymes (just to name a few) - talk about rewarding! We certainly still have our work cut out for us, especially with two kids, but I'm confident in our ability to make it work!
Its situations like this, that puts everything that Ben and I do into perspective. It sucks sometimes and its a lot of hard work, but throwing in the towel isn't an option for us. In a world full of chaos and confusion, these children need stability and consistency. In fact, its shown proven that they strive in that kind of environment.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Whirlwind
Disclaimer: Due to HIPAA laws, all blog posts related to our Foster Care experiences will have limited information when referring to the children and their cases. Their names will remain private and I will use generalizations when writing. I will not be posting any photos of the children that are in our care. My blog will remain public so people can stumble-upon it and so you can share with your family and friends. My FB page (close friends & family only) has the proper privacy settings in place per our licensing coordinator and I will be posting photos on there. It's basically Fort Knox! :)
I'm convinced, that not even 9 months can prepare you for your first child, let alone less than 24 hours! In fact, I welcome the challenge for someone to prove me wrong! Despite the many years of babysitting, having younger siblings and cousins, nieces and nephews and 30+ hours of training, there is still that O.M.G. moment. Lets rewind 9 weeks...
Since early December, we had been anticipating the email from Eckerd that would say we've finally been approved to be foster parents. But as we all know, when we hear the words easy or fast-moving, we certainly don't associate them with anything involving a government agency. Friday, January 27th at 9:54am, would finally mark the end in this CRAZY process - only, it was just the beginning of a whole new experience. An experience, that I was beginning to have second thoughts about.
Early that week, we were informed that they had a few options for us after we were approved, all were boys and ranged from 1-2 yrs old. We were so nervous, but the excited kind. We began mentally preparing ourselves for an instant life change - lack of sleep, teaching shapes and colors, potty training, terrible two's and everything in between! So imagine our surprise when we got a call just hours after being licensed about a 2 month old! After hearing the specifics about the child we agreed to accept him as our first foster child. I hung up the phone and was frozen for a solid 3 minutes. Despite our house being 100% baby proof, having an approved home health inspection and being completely vetted as if we were joining the CIA, I felt completely unprepared. I began to do the only thing I knew to be soothing for me in times of anxiety...clean! Ben was stuck in St. Pete and was trying his hardest to make it home before the baby was dropped off. My heart was racing so fast I kept stopping to time my pulse. The car pulled up around 10:00pm (longest 2 hours of my life) and the most peaceful and sweetest little boy joined our lives.
The first few hours were a bit fuzzy considering the series of events that unfolded in a few short hours. I mostly remember my amazing family coming by to help us ease into our first night. I'm so thankful that Shannon came over and made a late night trip with me to Walmart helped me pick out the essentials.
The baby slept like you would expect any 2 month old to sleep...not enough! I woke up Saturday morning in a complete daze, my emotions were on high alert. We had a prior work event that caused Ben to be away all day and I was left to be a first time mom all by myself. We hadn't even had the baby for 12 hours and I already wanted to throw in the towel; I felt like I was being fed to the wolves. I've never experienced depression, (although on my worst PMS day I could probably do some damage to someone) but it was the only word I could use to describe what I was feeling. My body was experiencing emotions I never encountered before. I spent the day with my mom and sister and I was in such a funk, I had a really hard time bonding with the baby. I spent the next few days crying a lot and barely eating. I didn't like this new version of me. Wasn't this supposed to be the most rewarding experience?
It took a few days, but my emotions finally gave my brain a second to really "soul search", for lack of a better term. The light bulb turned on and after a good long cry on my husbands shoulder, I finally got it. I realized the reason I was a ticking time bomb of emotions wasn't because I was having some sort of postpartum depression, but that this precious new addition wasn't "my" child. I was afraid I wouldn't know how to love a child that wasn't my own. I didn't spend 9 months eating saltines and drinking Ginger Ale, because I was hit with a major case of morning sickness. I didn't spend hours at Target with a scan gun carefully selecting the items I couldn't wait to open at a baby shower. And I certainly didn't go to Babies"R"Us and pick out the matching furniture set that I had my eyes on for years for the nursery. Nine months of planning didn't go into all of this, in fact it was barely 3 months. My mind had finally be focused on getting approved to be foster parents, that I had forgotten how we were led to choosing this route.
There are so many women that complain over the slightest change in their body, constant illness or just being plain uncomfortable during pregnancy. What they don't realize, is that women like me would give anything to feel a baby growing inside them and knowing that it carries their DNA, no mater what the circumstances or "burdens" that come with it. It's an experience that should not be taken for granted.
It's been a little over two months since we received this precious baby boy and I am proud to say, it is certainly possible to love a child that isn't your own. He has brought so much joy to Ben and I in such a short time. We are honored to be the ones that the Lord has chosen to care for him during this time. I am in shock at how fast he is growing and all the milestones he is checking off his list.
Stats:
February 1st - 9lbs / 21.5in
March 21st - 12lbs / 24in
The craziest and most unexpected thing about this whole experience, is that the Lord has begun revealing a new passion in our lives regarding mentorship for the biological parents. We are excited to see whats to come.
I'm convinced, that not even 9 months can prepare you for your first child, let alone less than 24 hours! In fact, I welcome the challenge for someone to prove me wrong! Despite the many years of babysitting, having younger siblings and cousins, nieces and nephews and 30+ hours of training, there is still that O.M.G. moment. Lets rewind 9 weeks...
Since early December, we had been anticipating the email from Eckerd that would say we've finally been approved to be foster parents. But as we all know, when we hear the words easy or fast-moving, we certainly don't associate them with anything involving a government agency. Friday, January 27th at 9:54am, would finally mark the end in this CRAZY process - only, it was just the beginning of a whole new experience. An experience, that I was beginning to have second thoughts about.
Early that week, we were informed that they had a few options for us after we were approved, all were boys and ranged from 1-2 yrs old. We were so nervous, but the excited kind. We began mentally preparing ourselves for an instant life change - lack of sleep, teaching shapes and colors, potty training, terrible two's and everything in between! So imagine our surprise when we got a call just hours after being licensed about a 2 month old! After hearing the specifics about the child we agreed to accept him as our first foster child. I hung up the phone and was frozen for a solid 3 minutes. Despite our house being 100% baby proof, having an approved home health inspection and being completely vetted as if we were joining the CIA, I felt completely unprepared. I began to do the only thing I knew to be soothing for me in times of anxiety...clean! Ben was stuck in St. Pete and was trying his hardest to make it home before the baby was dropped off. My heart was racing so fast I kept stopping to time my pulse. The car pulled up around 10:00pm (longest 2 hours of my life) and the most peaceful and sweetest little boy joined our lives.
The first few hours were a bit fuzzy considering the series of events that unfolded in a few short hours. I mostly remember my amazing family coming by to help us ease into our first night. I'm so thankful that Shannon came over and made a late night trip with me to Walmart helped me pick out the essentials.
The baby slept like you would expect any 2 month old to sleep...not enough! I woke up Saturday morning in a complete daze, my emotions were on high alert. We had a prior work event that caused Ben to be away all day and I was left to be a first time mom all by myself. We hadn't even had the baby for 12 hours and I already wanted to throw in the towel; I felt like I was being fed to the wolves. I've never experienced depression, (although on my worst PMS day I could probably do some damage to someone) but it was the only word I could use to describe what I was feeling. My body was experiencing emotions I never encountered before. I spent the day with my mom and sister and I was in such a funk, I had a really hard time bonding with the baby. I spent the next few days crying a lot and barely eating. I didn't like this new version of me. Wasn't this supposed to be the most rewarding experience?
It took a few days, but my emotions finally gave my brain a second to really "soul search", for lack of a better term. The light bulb turned on and after a good long cry on my husbands shoulder, I finally got it. I realized the reason I was a ticking time bomb of emotions wasn't because I was having some sort of postpartum depression, but that this precious new addition wasn't "my" child. I was afraid I wouldn't know how to love a child that wasn't my own. I didn't spend 9 months eating saltines and drinking Ginger Ale, because I was hit with a major case of morning sickness. I didn't spend hours at Target with a scan gun carefully selecting the items I couldn't wait to open at a baby shower. And I certainly didn't go to Babies"R"Us and pick out the matching furniture set that I had my eyes on for years for the nursery. Nine months of planning didn't go into all of this, in fact it was barely 3 months. My mind had finally be focused on getting approved to be foster parents, that I had forgotten how we were led to choosing this route.
There are so many women that complain over the slightest change in their body, constant illness or just being plain uncomfortable during pregnancy. What they don't realize, is that women like me would give anything to feel a baby growing inside them and knowing that it carries their DNA, no mater what the circumstances or "burdens" that come with it. It's an experience that should not be taken for granted.
It's been a little over two months since we received this precious baby boy and I am proud to say, it is certainly possible to love a child that isn't your own. He has brought so much joy to Ben and I in such a short time. We are honored to be the ones that the Lord has chosen to care for him during this time. I am in shock at how fast he is growing and all the milestones he is checking off his list.
Stats:
February 1st - 9lbs / 21.5in
March 21st - 12lbs / 24in
The craziest and most unexpected thing about this whole experience, is that the Lord has begun revealing a new passion in our lives regarding mentorship for the biological parents. We are excited to see whats to come.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Daycare Investigation....(tonight at 11:00)
Early this week, our licensing coordinator instructed me to contact The Early Learning Coalition. It's a local organization that provides the funding for foster children to attend daycare as well as providing many other services and resources for families in Pasco and Hernando County. Seeing as we should be licensed any day now, she wanted us to get the ball rolling on finding a daycare. I was beginning to lose my patience after calling for the last 3 days, leaving countless messages (one with a particularly snooty receptionist) and sent one slightly rude email expressing my frustrations on not getting a returned call. Well, my persistence did not go unnoticed, because she finally called me back yesterday afternoon. In the end I felt kind of sorry for sending a nasty gram to an actually very sweet lady. I should have given her the benefit of the doubt, because she was probably having the kind of busy week I was having. After a very informative conversation, she sent me 68 pages of daycare facilities in my area, which came to about 31 locations. She encouraged me to do my research on each one rather than just picking the one closest and most convenient to me. Being the crazy OCD individual that I am, I spent 3 hours narrowing my results down to 8 potential daycare facilities! My game plan consisted of the following....
- Google each facility.
- Read reviews from at least 3 different sites. (if no reviews found...pitch pile)
- Google Map facility. (Yes, I am that person who cares about what the appearance of the building looks like...judge away) You're not alone, my husband thinks I'm crazy too!
- Pitch the ones with tacky names...I'm only kidding, I'm not that shallow. I Just wanted to make sure I still had a captivated audience! :-)
- Lastly and MOST IMPORTANT...CHECK THEIR LICENSE!!!
I know it can be time consuming, but you will seriously not regret #5! The Department of Children and Families allows you to not only make sure the facilities are licensed, but you can read the public records of every routine and yearly renewal visits. It's important to be informed; especially when its involving your child's safety. I'm not a parent yet myself, but when I am one, I know I would want to know whether the daycare that I am entrusting with my child is background screening their employees every 5 years or using and properly storing cleaning products. Those are just a few violations I came across during my search.
Well that about does it. Enjoy your weekend! :-)
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Goal (noun): the end toward which effort is directed
My Facebook news feed has been overflowing with posts about New Years resolutions and all the joyous events that 2011 brought. Being the the 6th day into the year, I would think all the excitement should have worn off by now - but, to each his own. So while reading these updates of what felt more like a "Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul" book, I began analyzing and racking my brain trying to come up with a clever post that summed up my year. I guess that's what I get for being part "Beaver" personality. I eventually gave up and decided to spare everyone from what would have been a very depressing status update. Lets face it, this year wasn't exactly one for the books. Because for me, 2011 wasn't filled with joyful memories, but rather memories I would prefer never to remember. That all changed after my pastor said something during Sunday's service that I will never forget...
"Rather than forgetting the past and moving on, remember all the good things God has done in your life and be reminded that If he did it once, he will do it again."
I may not have all I want, but I'm still a recipient of God's mercy! That statement holds so much weight, yet it can be easily forgotten. Did I forget the AMAZING husband that the Lord blessed me with? Or the income that allows Ben and I to enjoy that spontaneous weekend getaway? And what about the family and friends that I couldn't imagine my life without? Because the truth is, We may be infertile and not able to have children the way most couples dream of, but I could be much worse off.
I typically don't make New Years resolutions, never really have. Not because I think its lame, (although, it kind of is) but because I know deep down I would never really follow through with it. A good friend of mine, and fellow blogger said it best,"While I don’t think we should set ourselves up for failure with resolutions we aren’t motivated to accomplish, I do think there is empowerment in setting goals and defining HOW to accomplish them". This year I am not going to take things for granted. I am going to thankful for all the things that the Lord gives me; the good, the bad and the ugly! I plan on volunteering my time for an organization that I believe in,"The West Pasco Pregnancy Center". This year, I also plan on becoming a mother!
OK, now for a Foster Care update....
We had our final home visit 2 weeks ago and now we are just waiting for our Licensing Coordinator to complete her home study and send it off to licensing. Which means we should be licensed very soon! As my little sister says "We shall have a little cherub soon!"
For those of you that are interested in Foster Care or Adoption, visit "Eckerd Community Alternatives" for more information!!
"Rather than forgetting the past and moving on, remember all the good things God has done in your life and be reminded that If he did it once, he will do it again."
I may not have all I want, but I'm still a recipient of God's mercy! That statement holds so much weight, yet it can be easily forgotten. Did I forget the AMAZING husband that the Lord blessed me with? Or the income that allows Ben and I to enjoy that spontaneous weekend getaway? And what about the family and friends that I couldn't imagine my life without? Because the truth is, We may be infertile and not able to have children the way most couples dream of, but I could be much worse off.
I typically don't make New Years resolutions, never really have. Not because I think its lame, (although, it kind of is) but because I know deep down I would never really follow through with it. A good friend of mine, and fellow blogger said it best,"While I don’t think we should set ourselves up for failure with resolutions we aren’t motivated to accomplish, I do think there is empowerment in setting goals and defining HOW to accomplish them". This year I am not going to take things for granted. I am going to thankful for all the things that the Lord gives me; the good, the bad and the ugly! I plan on volunteering my time for an organization that I believe in,"The West Pasco Pregnancy Center". This year, I also plan on becoming a mother!
OK, now for a Foster Care update....
We had our final home visit 2 weeks ago and now we are just waiting for our Licensing Coordinator to complete her home study and send it off to licensing. Which means we should be licensed very soon! As my little sister says "We shall have a little cherub soon!"
For those of you that are interested in Foster Care or Adoption, visit "Eckerd Community Alternatives" for more information!!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Plans?...What are those?
When it comes to blogging, I know I haven't been the most punctual the past couple of months. There are so many new developments; but one in particular I'd like to write about...
After much prayer and careful consideration, Ben and I are so excited to share with you about the next step in our journey. For those of you who didn't know, last year we became certified to adopt through the state. And we are now in the final stages of the licensing process to become foster parents as well!! The past few months has been filled with 5 inches of paperwork, fingerprinting, background checks, home visits, endless references, inspections...the list is endless. With just a few things left to do and a bedroom to get ready, we are just weeks away from the potential arrival of our first child.
If I had to guess, I'm pretty confident I know what a lot of you are thinking right now, because its probably the same thought that I've played over and over in my mind..."Who can care and bond with a child for such a short time and potentially give the child back?" Believe me, I know it will not be easy. But what if we for just a second, decided not to be completely selfish and only think of ourselves and thought about the approximately 10,000 children a year that are removed from their homes because they experienced neglect or abuse at the hands of a family member? Now if that statistic doesn't make you say "wow", then you must have a heart of stone. Personally, I stopped thinking about what I had planned and wanted the day I sat in a cold and sterile doctors office listening to someone I only met twice, say we couldn't have children the way we had always planned on.
Our primary goal is to love and care for every child that comes through our home. If the Lord decides to bless us with a child to adopt along the way, then that would be the greatest gift we could ever ask for.
There is plenty more to come, as our life is about to get real interesting.
After much prayer and careful consideration, Ben and I are so excited to share with you about the next step in our journey. For those of you who didn't know, last year we became certified to adopt through the state. And we are now in the final stages of the licensing process to become foster parents as well!! The past few months has been filled with 5 inches of paperwork, fingerprinting, background checks, home visits, endless references, inspections...the list is endless. With just a few things left to do and a bedroom to get ready, we are just weeks away from the potential arrival of our first child.
If I had to guess, I'm pretty confident I know what a lot of you are thinking right now, because its probably the same thought that I've played over and over in my mind..."Who can care and bond with a child for such a short time and potentially give the child back?" Believe me, I know it will not be easy. But what if we for just a second, decided not to be completely selfish and only think of ourselves and thought about the approximately 10,000 children a year that are removed from their homes because they experienced neglect or abuse at the hands of a family member? Now if that statistic doesn't make you say "wow", then you must have a heart of stone. Personally, I stopped thinking about what I had planned and wanted the day I sat in a cold and sterile doctors office listening to someone I only met twice, say we couldn't have children the way we had always planned on.
Our primary goal is to love and care for every child that comes through our home. If the Lord decides to bless us with a child to adopt along the way, then that would be the greatest gift we could ever ask for.
There is plenty more to come, as our life is about to get real interesting.
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