Foster care and adoption are very close to our hearts. I have always thought it would be cool to adopt, but I always though of it in a hypothetical way. I never really thought practically about it. David's little brother is adopted so that has been a part of his life. When we started talking about having children we discussed the idea of adoption. Did we want to do that? Where would we start? Could we afford it? We started doing research and exploring options.
In the end we decided the most accessible way for us to begin this journey was to become foster parents with the hopes to adopt.
So here we are. We have fostered three children so far (including Eri), and we have adopted 1.
Through this journey we have been tested, and we have celebrated. It was been hard, frustrating, and confusing...but so worth it.
When we talk to others about foster care we often here..."I don't know how you do it. I wouldn't be able to give the child up. It would be too hard." I probably had those thoughts before we started. And yes, it's hard....probably harder than you would think. When our first foster child left (a four week old little boy) we were crushed. He was our first and we weren't prepared. We cried...a lot. We hurt. But, God was faithful and He gave us what we needed to get through.
The 18 months of fostering Eri and waiting to adopt was hard and scary, but so worth it. She was so worth it.
The six months that Sydney was with us were hard. It was an emotional roller coaster. But looking back over that time, even though I remember the hard parts, that's not the main thing I see. I see how far she came during that time. I see the change in her.
As we continue on this journey, we do not know what the next step is. But we are open.
Foster care is hard. It is scary. But to know the stories these children come out of , to see their faces, to know that even if it's for a short time we can give them love and safety...it's all worth it.
We've learned that the purpose of foster care is...however long you have a child - love them, keep them safe, and better their life however you can. Isn't that what God calls us to on this earth. He tells us to love. He tells us to care for orphans. It's not always pretty and it doesn't always end with a neat tidy bow tied on, but that shouldn't matter. These children did not choose who they were born to or where they would live. They do not choose how their parents live.
And adoption, what better picture of salvation. Through Jesus' blood I became God's child, a daughter of the King...a princess. I look at Eri and see her as my daughter. I love her more than anything! I can't imagine life without her.
I encourage you to explore these options for yourself, your family. Yes, it's scary and overwhelming. Yes you're dealing with a broken world, broken system, broken people. Yes you will probably get hurt along the way. But, if you trust the Lord and do it for Him, who knows what you'll learn and experience. Who knows how many lives you will impact. Only He knows how He can use you in the process.
There are so many children that need love, safety, a forever home.
Beautiful!
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