You are my hero. You're a hero to me. You're a hero to the community or church or family around you, watching you. You're a hero to the children in your home, being loved by you. You're a living, breathing, real-life super hero.
I Just Don't Want To Hand Him Over Today...
This foster care life is a constant placing of your child in someone else’s hands. Literally and actually, in workers’ and judges’ and lawyers’ hands. Oh, I wish I were in control. I wish I could slam the door in the worker's face. I wish I could tell the judge, “So here’s what you gotta do.” I wish I could just change mom with a snap of the fingers. I wish, so deeply, I wish.
This Day Was The Worst...And I'm Grateful It Was.
The reality of Jesus' love for me is just as real when I'm yelling at my kids as when I'm deep in prayer. The truth of me belonging to God is just as true when I'm reading the Bible or slamming a book in rage.
A Biological Child's Perspective
I get questions every day from people who feel drawn to foster care but are concerned for their own biological children. The words of this biological daughter/foster sister spoke to my heart.
My Thankful Life: When God Doesn't Answer All Your Prayers
I'm thankful that every word I speak, every dish I scrub, every diaper I change, every spill I clean that’s done out of love for my Savior is divinely transformed from a mom’s chore into a daughter’s worship. I’m thankful the menial, outwardly-worthless moments of my day have purpose and have worth.
Gifts For The Foster/Adoptive Mom On Your List
Loved ones of foster and adoptive moms, listen up: The lady in your life is an amazing woman. She is a giver. She is a nurturer. And you know what else she is? She's tired. She's stressed. She's worthy of your honor and gratitude and gosh darn it, a good Christmas gift, ok? Don't know what to get her? I do.
TEN WAYS YOU CAN HELP CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE
May is Foster Care Awareness Month. From making a meal to babysitting to donating, praying to mentoring to becoming a foster parent, EVERYONE CAN DO SOMETHING. Here are 10 ways you can stand for children in foster care
Stop Using the "Broken System" as an Excuse
We mirror this Jesus when we leave our comfort to step into brokenness...The fact that the system and its people are broken is the very reason we engage it.
The Answers to All of Your Foster Parenting Questions
I don’t just struggle through the “how” questions, I struggle through the “why” questions, the “what if” ones. I don’t just question myself, I question God.
This Moment With Our Son - Lisa's Story #writeyourheartout
This moment that hit me hard, almost as if I had walked into a brick wall. And I thought to myself, “We are literally all he’s got.”
"This is Us" Isn't Just a TV Show
Seeing foster care and adoption on the screen like this is a gift to foster and adoptive families. But it’s not just a gift to those of us who are living it. It’s a gift to everyone else, too.
“Are You OK With This?”: Saying Good-bye to My Son
When his worker called to tell me that his family had been ruled out, she asked if I would be willing to adopt him. “Well, I love him...and I would love to be his mom forever...but I don’t think I’m supposed to be...and I think I know who is.”
My Foster Children Are Better Off With Me
You see, at least in every case I’ve experienced, I have a stronger “parental resume” than my foster children’s parents.
Write Your Heart Out: "The Lasts" By Melissa
And so the past few days were filled with “lasts”...
Tips For Supporting Reunification
A few months ago, I was contacted by the American Bar Association's Center For Children and the Law. I was asked to participate in a survey of five foster families from around the county. The goal? Create a list of tips for foster families to promote and support reunification. Here's the result!
My Foster Child’s Family Is My Enemy
And sometimes it’s hard. Like the family who slanders me on social media, who calls in an investigation on me, who continually puts the child at risk, who acts like court is a game to be won. Sometimes it’s very, very hard.
I call it like it is: You are my enemy.
I Hate Foster Care.
This list, it’s not hypothetical. Every single one of these heart-wrenching, anxiety-inducing, almost-makes-you-hate-foster-care things has happened to me. This week.
Packing Up & Saying Good-Bye: The Chores & Emotions of the Final Day of Placement
Many of you shared how helpful it was to have a window into the first day of placement, so I decided to invite you along for the last day as well. Now for all of the projects and chores and emotions of a last day...
The One That Could've Been: Remembering How Heartbreaking Foster Care Is
She was the one who needed an adoptive family. The one we said yes to. The one they moved from our home...last night, when I read her name on my phone, my stomach turned. The words of the worker and the other foster moms I spoke to weaved together to create a tragic image.
10 Mother's Day Gift Ideas For Your Foster/Adopted Child's Biological Mother
It's just a kind and loving way for you to acknowledge: You are this child's biological mother, and I will honor you on Mother's Day.