Family

In our foster class training we were taught that we are "resource parents," another term for "foster." We use  those terms sarcastically in our house. "Resource" relationships seem to slap the face of what we believe to be God's intention for a covenant family. Any child in our home is our child. We are their parents. It might not be forever, but there would be no differentiation if we had biological kiddos here as well. The word resource seems to intensify the political aspect of foster care. We are the resources of the state true, but we are still to provide a normal, stable family life for kiddos until further notice, or become their "forever family" (another term used).

That being said, we probably significantly underestimated the amount of 'pressure' this decision in our lives would put on our respective families. We are so blessed to have God fearing family and friends who are respectful, supportive, and mostly prayerful of our decisions. Their support this week in particular has been an unexpected blessing. Not that I didn't expect them to be supportive, but because of how inconsistent, and ever changing foster care can be, J and I wanted to try to down play the presence of children in our home.  For #1, I am not sure this was ever going to be possible, my own panic, and our quick call to action left no choice but to frantically call our family. They all have bent over backwards to surround us with blessing

Cheers to the "Resource" relatives !
~Brother and Sister in law provided me food all week!
~Sister in law came over almost every night this week to help with an evening feeding...and to hold the sweet sleeping baby...
~ Sister in law hosted a girls night +Baby tonight so we could watch girly tv and she could snuggle baby  while I supervised....i.e. painted my finger nails.
~ 1 resource grandma made curtains and a quilted wall hanging (pictures pending), provided clothes and came to visit me from afar bearing hugs, encouragement and laughs.
~1 resource grandma made burp cloths, went consignment shopping with me and helped with nursery decor,  and came over to meet baby C with warm welcome his first night here.
~ Resource PA Auntie for dealing with my mess of frantic phone calls while in various baby stores, and my tears and dumb questions I am too embarrassed to google!

Not to mention the friends and family that donated our up-cycled baby stash into existence, car seats, crib, stroller, bouncer, swing, clothes, you name it. God has certainly provided and opened these doors for us exceedingly wide


This has only been a few days and the outpouring of love has been such a blessing. It is such an incredible feeling to know that no matter how long a child is in our home, they will have an extended family that will love on them oodles!