Faith Archives - Page 2 of 5

11:30 am by Penelope

Hearing the Call of Foster Children

It was faint at first, but it’s been getting louder and louder lately. Now to a point that it’s deafening.

“You have to do more for the kids!”

More? We’ve been foster parents to seven children and adopted two of them. I write this blog to encourage others to do more for children in foster care. Our foster home is open for more placements.

Is there more that I can do for foster children?

Through this blog, I’ve been presented with opportunities to do more for foster children. But time constraints keep me from moving forward. However, God keeps nudging me and giving me every indication that He wants more from me. (Have you read Kisses from Katie?)

James 1:27 tells Christians to look after the orphans. Am I?

He keeps opening doors – and even windows around me!

Our church does not have an orphan ministry. A large, growing church with two full Sunday morning services. As a church, we can do more!

He is convincing me – convicting me: It’s me He wants to do more….

Does your church have an orphan ministry? Any advice?

7:56 am by Penelope

My Struggle with Attachment Disorder

He was out-of control – as if demons had taken over his soul. His screaming was unintelligible. His body was flailing about with his arms punching the air or anything in the way. His face was the color of a sun-ripened tomato. His kicking jerked as his body contorted into different directions.

This wasn’t just a tantrum.

My role as a mother is to raise my precious preschooler into a Godly man. But my doubts overwhelm me during these moments. Had Satan already taken hostage of my child through a disorder known as Reactive Attachment Disorder or RAD?

In these moments, I am broken. I fall to my knees crying out for God to release the demon from my beloved child.

Through the prayers, God is awakening me to devote myself to this child.

Whatever it takes, dear Lord!

My child has emotions from his neglected infanthood that he cannot understand or control. His desire is to have all his physical needs met and feel that unconditional love.

As his mother, I have to make sacrifices. I’ve taken him out of full-day school. I’ve taken family leave from work to demonstrate to him that Mommy loves him and wants to be with him.

I devote my life to my son.

A problem that isn’t too large for my Lord and Savior.

Have you liked Foster2Forever’s Facebook page?

9:00 am by Penelope

My Confession: Growing Up in Poverty

I grew up poor!

My childhood home was little more than a leaky-roofed shack. The hole in the sunken dining room floor occasionally permitted various animals, such as possums, to take up residence in our Texas home at night.

But did I really know poverty?

The hand-me-down clothes that were new to me and made me feel proud caused classmates to ridicule me.

But did I really know poverty?

I have recently been moved while reading Kisses from Katie, the incredible story of a 2007 high school graduate who is changing lives for orphaned children in Uganda (she adopted 14 of them). The poverty in Africa is nothing that I can fathom. I grew up in poverty by United States standards, but certainly not by worldwide standards.

In Africa, poverty and HIV are a way of life. HIV is epidemic in most African countries – over 15% of the adult population of South African countries is infected. The epidemic is partially due to the poverty – many women and children become involved in sex work in order to live and eat. Another factor for the epidemic is the culturally-accepted practice of polygamy and domestic abuse (1). Violence, coerced sex, and rape is rampant – 1 in 4 South African women are raped (2).

In Africa, due to the lack of medical care, HIV is a death sentence. Many children are orphaned at a young age.

But there is a way out!

Let’s say you’re an African child growing up in poverty. A church nearby your home announces that they have partnered with Compassion International and because of this partnership, if you are registered in the program, you will receive benefits that were never before available to you. Benefits like:

educational opportunities
health care and health-related instruction
nutrition
life-skills training

And opportunities to hear about and respond to the gospel!

It’s all very exciting so you get registered at the local church. The church volunteers gather information about you and your family and take your picture. You’re officially registered!

You now have all the financial benefits of this program but there’s more! You are going to be connected to one sponsor. You just have to wait for someone to sponsor you.

And for some children, they wait and wait and wait…

My heart is with these African children waiting for 6 months or longer for someone to sponsor them, especially the boys. If a boy’s heart is changed, will he continue the cycle of polygamy and violence against women that fuels the spread of HIV?

Maybe our family can make a difference in the life of 11-year-old Ghana boy, Godfred? Or 12-year-old, Mugisha in Rwanda? Can your family make a difference?

I didn’t really know poverty.

Although just a little more than a shack, I was in a home with running water.

Although I didn’t wear Nike shoes or Calvin Klein jeans, I had clothing.

Although much of it from a garden and fruit trees, I had food in my belly each night.

Although the color of silver, my molars are still in place to chew food.

Although there is a scarred indentation on my left bicep, it is a permanent reminder that I cannot die from smallpox.

I didn’t know poverty.

Sponsor a Waiting Child from Compassion International on Vimeo.

10:00 am by Penelope

When Angels Appear

Isn’t God’s timing impeccable? Perfect?

Feeling a bit downtrodden from Monday’s ambush of online harassment, the negativity was affecting my disposition.

On Tuesday, I rushed into a monthly board lunch meeting for a local non-profit. I was running late due to a last-minute appointment with my allergist. I quietly sat down next to a new member of the board.

Unknowingly, I sat next to a gentleman that God had brought to me as His messenger through His marvelous plan.

At the conclusion of the meeting, as I was getting up to leave, I said to Mr. Messenger, “Hi, how you doing?” His overwhelming response: “Wow! You won’t believe this! Last week, I was chair of a jury and my eyes were opened wide. I had no idea what goes on. Tell me, do you know any foster parents?” Taken aback, my busy mind quickly filled with thoughts of horrifying foster home abuse. “I’m a foster parent,” I sheepishly responded.

Mr. Messenger quickly grabbed my arm squeezing and excitedly exclaimed,

“THANK YOU! I’m so glad that there are people like you to take care of these kids in foster care.”

Just the encouragement I needed that day!

Thank you, Lord, for your perfect plan. For how you place your angels in my life at just the precise moment. You put a series of events in motion that fall together perfectly. So overwhelming that my small mind can’t fathom.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God. ~Romans 8:28

7:38 am by Penelope

Telling the Easter Story with Cookies

Last Easter, I found this fabulous recipe for Easter Resurrection Cookies. By adding individual ingredients with the reading of an associated Bible verse, this simple cookie recipe tells the story of the crucifixion and resurrection that children can remember!

Our then 31-month-old, Stinkpot, had a great time beating the pecans demonstrating how Christ was beaten. (John 19:1-3)

The best part is that each child seals the tomb (oven) before bed and awakens to Easter Resurrection Cookies!

Look! It's empty because Christ has risen!

Have a great weekend celebrating your salvation! We will be spending it with my Mom!

Happy Easter!

1:49 pm by Penelope

365-Day Transformation: Word{ful} Wednesday

Our 3-year-old, Stinkpot, is the most strong-willed, demanding, hard-headed, stubborn, ornery, obstinate, cantankerous little rascal you will ever meet. He is impossible!

He even bosses us, as parents, around. “No, drive this way!” “Put that over there!” “No, I’ll do it!”

And when he doesn’t get his way, watch out! His tirade jumps full steam ahead. He becomes this loud, fit-throwing, aggressive little monster.

He has now become so aggressive, his reputation in our area precedes him since getting kicked out of TWO, yes TWO, daycares. We struggle to find anyone in their right mind willing to take on the wrath of Stinkpot.

Not too happy after getting hit in the eye with a baseball

Don’t get me wrong, he is an extraordinary work of God, beautifully and perfectly made.

Gorgeous, athletic and smart!

God has a perfect plan for our precious Stinkpot. Our job as his parents, is to train him in the right way and when he is old, he will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

Our Stinkpot is determined, head-strong, persistent, and tenacious. These very characteristics that are driving us crazy as parents, will be incredible, if directed toward a life with our Lord Jesus Christ. WOW! Can you imagine the treasures that would be stored in Heaven for our Stinkpot?

So we begin a journey. A LONG journey – toward transformation. January 1st was the first day of our first 365-day journey to intently focus on our Stinkpot’s transformation.

We are rolling up our sleeves and delving into God’s Word and any parenting resources that He lays out for us. Each step will be documented along this journey.

Focusing on transformation of our Stinkpot will be difficult if I am also working full-time; therefore, I will be taking family leave and working part-time (just to keep things going at the office and pay for our health care).

Please pray for our family!

12:07 pm by Penelope

MISCELLANY MONDAY

THAT SURGERY
Thanks for all the well wishes for our 16-month-old who is recovering from THAT surgery. The second day when the local anesthesia wore off was the worst pain for him. After that, he has been in good spirits and even playing outside. He can’t bathe for a few more days and he does NOT like to shower.

STINKPOT’S SURGERY
We opted to NOT have tubes put in Stinkpot’s ears this week. It was just too difficult for FosterDad with 2 little ones at home by himself. (I came home Wednesday after work and FosterDad was still in his pajamas and quite flustered)

STINKPOT’S BEHAVIOR
Our 3-year-old’s behavior is still a challenge! He has now been kicked out 2 day cares for aggression.Yesterday, he had a knife from the silverware drawer and was threatening to cut us. “I cut you!”

MY DECISION
I have made the decision to stay home with him. I will work part-time during Mother’s Day Out and use family leave. (I haven’t told my boss yet) The child needs a LOT of TLC and individual attention, and he just won’t get that at a day care from 2 workers with 23 other kids. The Mother’s Day Out has just a few kids for the short time he is there.

2011 GOALS/RESOLUTIONS
I had a huge list of goals to share with you, for health, kids, marriage, faith, blogging but given the issues with Stinkpot, I have thrown those all out.

2011 will be defined for me by one word! Everything will revolve around the word: TRANSFORMATION.

MY PRAYER
LORD,
TRANSFORM me;
TRANSFORM my child;
TRANSFORM our family.

NEXT STEPS
I have begun a 365-day Transformation Project.

Praying, focusing on HIM,
Praying, focusing on Stinkpot,
Praying, researching child behavior,
Praying, trying a new tip or technique every day,
Praying, documenting Stinkpot’s actions and reactions,
Praying….

Will you pray for us during this journey? Can you recommend any books, websites, etc.?

3:35 pm by Penelope

Prayer Warriors Needed

As foster parents, we sometimes have to face the tearing apart of our families. A family is fragmented with a letter stating that a child will be removed and placed elsewhere.

The State doesn’t always have the best interests of the child in mind when making these decisions. Sometimes the removal of a child is what is quickest, easiest and will require the least amount of paperwork.

Shannon at http://4kidsandsurviving.blogspot.com needs prayer warriors! Little Mya needs prayer!

The State is quickly moving toward reunification with her birthfamily and the 2-year-old is distressed over leaving her foster family.

Please add Mya and all her family and workers to your prayer list.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” ~Ephesians 6:18

3:04 pm by admin

MAMA FOSTER: Adopting Through Foster Care

Hello Everyone!

My name is Mama Foster, I choose to hide who I am so I can share the REAL stories of fostering my wonderful kids.

I want to thank Penny for letting me guest post! I love her blog (I check it up to twice a day!) – I am a total blog stalker!

I thought I would share with you guys a little of what I have learned about adopting through foster care because, trust me, it is nothing like I thought it would be!

My husband and I have an 8 year old son that we made the old fashion way. After my annoyingly eventful pregnancy I really didn’t have any desire to get pregnant again. He was born healthy and beautiful and I was thankful for that, and that it was over with!! So, we went almost 5 years without being too worried about adding more kids to our family-plus we were young, we had time.

So, after my son’s 6th birthday I FINALLY was feeling baby crazy, but not pregnancy crazy. My husband and I had always thought about adoption but it never became quite as real as it did when my husband finally said “We should just adopt!” after I had asked God to show me if we should adopt by having my husband finally be the one to bring it up!

So, long story short, we settled on foster to adopt. Sounds easy right? -all you foster moms can stop laugh now –

We got licensed and our first call was for a 2 year old little girl we were only supposed to have for 3 months.

We had her for 16 wonderful months.
We were head over heels in love with her.

We had walked through fire for her and with her.
We had hoped to adopt her.

And then the judge sent her back to her ill prepared mom.

That was only 3 weeks ago, if that.

Our wounds are still fresh, and though I have not mentioned them, we have had 2 other foster children as well. One went on to be adopted by someone else and one is still with us but will probably be returned to her mother as well.

What I have learned through ALL of this is that these children desperately need someone who is willing to risk everything to love them during this time of total upheaval in their lives. As I mentioned on my own blog a few days ago, I was very scared that we would not be able to handle a child we loved leaving. Little did I know what it would really do. My daughter, yes-MY daughter, leaving has lit a fire inside of me.

I saw the sadness in her eyes of going in between our two homes.

I saw the confusion of having 2 mommies.

I was there when she told me her uncle was molesting her – repeatedly.

I took her to the ER.

I did everything within my legal power to help her.

When I say that we walked through fire for her, it was truly WITH her. These children have to do this with OR without us. They can either live with a family that gives them 100% or one who isn’t worried about what is going on in their little hearts. I went into this to adopt, to get my kids and get out-but that wasn’t God’s plan.

He has called us to do more than what we planned. He has called us to give up some of our comfort for a little one that has all of theirs stripped away.

Oh, and in the mean time God had been working behind the scenes to bring our family hope after such a devastating loss.

The week after our daughter left we finally met a little boy that we have been asked to adopt.

He is almost 2 years old, and has blonde hair and greenish eyes just like our biological son.

God does not miss a thing. He has a plan and I truly mean it when I say, we are just blessed to be asked to be part of it.

Mama Foster is a 20 something mom and wife who has been married to her awesome hubby for 9 years. She has fostered 3 kids so far since she and her husband were licensed to foster 2 years ago. She and her husband are currently working to get their first official adoptable son home as soon as possible, the adoption is via the United States Foster Care System. She enjoys spoiling all her kids rotten and taking pictures of them while she does it. She blogs her heart out at http://mamafoster.blogspot.com

Be sure to add your adoption story to our blog hop!!!