Pre-fostering thoughts and feelings

We're getting ready to become foster parents. It could be 3 weeks from now, 1 month, 3 months from now... it's all so uncertain yet over-the-top exciting! There are so many reasons why we long to become foster parents, and honestly, it's so difficult to explain in words. I remember when I came back from living overseas and people would ask me the big question, "So, how was it?" You really can't sum up months of experiences, all of the ups and downs, acculturation, and new annoyances and joys of returning to the US. It's much easier to say, "Great!" And those who really care will likely go for coffee with you and listen to the details. It's so similar to this kind of situation. We have so many reasons, so many joys and apprehensive feelings, that I am almost caught off guard when someone wants to hear them. Thank you to those who have listened to us!

I found some really great videos that show our heart pretty clearly. This video is about the Rosati family and Jim Daly. Jim is the president of Focus on the Family and he was actually in foster care as a child.

http://www.icareaboutorphans.org/RosatiFamily.aspx

http://www.icareaboutorphans.org/jimdaly.aspx

We know that there could be some bumps in the road as we move forward, but we trust that the Lord will use those challenges to help us to grow. We are just humans, so it's not like we know what to do in every situation-- but we know the One who does. Thank the Lord, we wouldn't be able to do this without Him. I would be going against the Lord if I ignored His word, because God commands us to take care of the widows and the orphans (James 1:27). Not everyone can take in foster children, but I do think that more people should. There are a lot of state programs available to help children in foster care. In Kansas City, you can volunteer with Operation Breakthrough, become an Adoptive Resource (a stable and healthy relationship with a child in foster care, but they don't live with you), Big Brothers, Big Sisters volunteer, etc. There are a number of ways.

Less Stuff, More Oxygen

I just have this hunch that getting rid of stuff will give us more space to breathe. I don't mean that there will magically be more O2 particles roaming our house. Perhaps peace and relaxation will begin to conquer, instead of piles of mail. By the way, I have never in my entire life become so annoyed with junk mail. Think of how much junk mail is sent to every family around our nation, and also consider the amount of people who are not recycling the mail. It's horrifying.

We've been sticking to a regimen, that I didn't outline in the earlier post, because it's probably bad luck for an ENFP to post any sort of regimens until it has actually started. It has. Here it is, every day we choose at least 2 items to get rid of, recycle, or send to the thrift store. Over the past week, we've made a list of things to sell. That's money in the bank (as soon as I start our craig's list postings). Then we also sent a large, 33 gallon trash bag of items to the thrift store. We got rid of clothing, curtains, a lamp, shoes, records, random trinkets that we never really liked in the first place, lots of paper, phone books (this years & last), and many other things.

Our list of items to sell--

a refrigerator
a slightly broken dishwasher (very easy to repair)
a gas fire place
2 cars (we will replace at least 1 car)
lots of how-to books
an old computer
a toilet
_______________________

All would equal well more than what our roof repair is going to cost.

Nathan and I are finally having more serious conversations about what minimalism would mean in other areas of life. Hmm...

Becoming minimalists? There are a few things in life that are worth the cost.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21)."

This was not a spiritual moment for me, at first. Actually, it may have began in 2001 when I shuffled around two suitcases for 12 months while living abroad in Germany. During that year I moved 5 times, each time packing away all of my valued possessions to schlep them on to the next house. Each time was a bit more difficult, not only did I accumulate more things during the year, but I felt a longing for stability. I did, however, learn that I can live with a lot less and still be happy.

I have also lived in South Carolina (in 2003) for three months with 1 large suitcase and in China (in 2005) for 3 months with one large suitcase. Again, I moved to Germany (in 2007) for 6 months with one large suitcase. I've proven to myself that things are not as important as I sometimes think.

Actually, before I leave for a few months, I anticipate the fact that I will feel much more minimalistic. It's almost a let down to return to find rooms full of stuff that I had almost forgotten were there. And it's even more frustrating when I think that I just can't possibly let go of those items.

Thus, a minimalist has tried to emerge for quite some time. I feel as though I've mentioned the idea before and voiced it only to prove that I am weaker than my words. I know, though, that if I can just take the advice of those who have gone before me I will see the spiritual side. That is when I found the verse listed above. The things in my life should not be viewed as my treasures. Those things should be counted worthless, so that I can see Christ fully.

Where my treasure is, there my heart is also. This is a lot to ponder.

"God taking care of His own"

I believe that the nature of adoption is,

as we heard someone say recently, "God taking care of His own." It is a journey that involves deeply rooted redemption. Whatever was a stronghold or a misfortune in a parent's life that has brought them to a place where they can no longer care for their child-- requires redemptive love that is far greater than any human could ever know.


If it is not meant to be, then at least we will have explored the topic more in depth, grown in our understanding, and developed a greater sense of awareness of the 143 million orphan epidemic across the globe. We have not decided on which type of adoption we will pursue-- Foster Care or International Adoption? It is still an unknown. Children are simply in need of homes.