Matt, Lindsay & Elle

Thankful Moment:

I have to say, I am pretty thankful God has laid on our hearts to do Foster Care.  I know when I tell people what we are doing that they think things like "Oh, I could never do that" or "What will you do when the kids have to go back to their parents" or they think we have no idea what we are getting into.

Well, they are right, until you do it and are in it I don't think you can know what you are in for.  As far as what will we do if one of our "kids" have to go back to their parents and it was one we were hoping to adopt-I have a feeling I will cry, mope, ask God why and then trust that GOD KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING!!!  There are days were I feel like "I won't be able to deal with this" (mostly pertaining to having to give the kids back if I have already fallen in love with them) but there always seems to be a still small voice that says "You don't have to be able to deal with it, it is mine to deal with."  I kinda have to cling to that.

I am so excited to be able to help any child I am able to.  I think that the verse that says "Children are a gift from the Lord..." pertains just as much to any foster/adoptive child I have as it does to Kobe.  What an honor for God to not just ask me to Love my own child but to Love someone else's.  What a beautiful picture of what God chooses to do for us.  I noticed Shelly had a verse on her blog about "I will not leave you as orphans;  I will come to you" speaking of His relationship with us, how neat for us to be able to understand that relationship even deeper through the relationship we will build with our kids.

And lastly, even if something were to happen and we never end up fostering/adopting I am so thankful that my eyes have been opened to what this life is like for these kids.  I can't relate to it, but I can see it now.  It isn't the last thing on my mind anymore.  I understand more than I ever would have had we never gone to our classes, bumped into people that God wanted us to, or had to emotionally decide what was right for us.  I think it also opened other people's eyes too.  It will be VERY important for us if we are placed with a child to be able to trust our families to embrace these kids as our kids...even if it is for a short while.  The least ANY of us could do it love on these kids while they are ours.  They need to see the unconditional love of God through us, through ALL of us...what a huge responsibility.

Thank you God for trusting us.  You Grace is so abundant.

Sunday afternoon the kids got a little stir crazy so Grandma took them for a ride in the wagon, Caleb went to the play ground and I assume Elle observed :)  I wasn't out there so I don't know but I guess she ended up down by the lake with Shelly & Ben.

It was a little chilly that day...