FAQs

Part of the reason I started blogging again was so that I'd be in the habit of writing out our life's happenings once we get some little ones up in here- but another reason had a lot to do with one of my besties urging me to- so that people will have a better understanding, she said.  Here is a list of the questions we're frequently asked.

How many kids will you get?

Our home will be licensed for up to two kids at one time.  Because we have only one bedroom equipped right now, we are limited.  We are also limited because we aren't completely insane.  Going from no children to (potentially) two will be more than enough.

What ages will they be?

We are preparing for kids ages 0-6.  We will discuss taking older kids once we're older, but right now, as non-parents, we think starting off with the wee lads will be a good crash course.  Also, I can still be likened to a twelve-year-old girl in my bouts of immaturity.  

What gender will you get?

We don't know!  It's been fun decorating/planning/registering for a gender-neutral bedroom.  Quite the creative challenge for me.  But I kind of love gender-neutrality in decor.  

So are you going to adopt?

Yes-we'd love to, but our goal is not adoption.  We are taking the necessary steps to become foster parents, but we will also be open to adoption.  This means that should parents' rights become severed while their kids are in our care, we are open to the idea of adoption.  Should the Lord choose to see us fit to give us the right to share our last name and our family with some kid(dos) forever, we'd be thrilled!  -But right now our hearts and minds are focused on the idea of being a home filled with Jesus and love and safety and warmth for kids who's parents don't have that to give at the moment.  Through the course of our classes we've been made aware of the opportunity we will have to pray for and work with the parents/guardians of the kids who'll come to us .  In class we hear words like "reintegration" and "reunification" on a regular basis.  That's straight up GOSPEL, man!  

"But now, in Christ Jesus, you who were once far off have been brought near."  Eph. 2:13

Reunification.  I love that!  We have no sugar-coated misconceptions about what it is like working with parents-we've heard some horror stories.  But we've also heard some beautiful stories and prior to gaining any of our knowledge about the foster care system, we were completely unaware of this aspect altogether.

Are you nervous?

Dude.  Yes.  Like it's my job.  Sometimes G and I think about next Christmas and wonder who will be with us.  He sees a rocking chair and his eyes sparkle a bit and he says that we "have to get one of those," you know, so he can rock some sweet bebes to sleep.  

And then sometimes, we walk around the house in the evening and we don't say a word about this whole elephant, because we both know we're in for something huge.  

Life-changing.  Heart-breaking.  Gut-wrenching.  

And then God stills us calmly with a text from a friend or a blog post or a scripture and we are reminded that He is MUCH bigger than the system or broken homes or shell-shocked twenty-somethings who are currently and were previously all about themselves and their third-world problems and their angsty issues but have now made a big life choice and vacillate between excitement and pants-wetting fear.  

Praise His NAME for being THAT BIG!

But won't it break your heart?  I could never do that, I would get too attached.

Yes I'm sure it will.  No, YOU could never do it.  Christ in you can.  Of course we'll get attached (I try not to get offended at this question.  Why wouldn't I become attached?).  I'm confident there will be times that it will suck so much that I'll wonder what in the world I'm doing.  I'm sure I have no idea the magnitude of that statement.  

But if not us, then who? 

Who's going to love them and tell them about Jesus?  Who is going to remind them about the love of our Father that will never leave them or betray them no matter who else in their world does?  Who is going to give them kisses and hugs and sing to them?  Who will be the comforting arms for them to fall into when their worlds are shattered when our dog chews up their toys or they fall and hurt themselves?  

What agency are you using?

We are working with TFI Family Services.  I don't know that I could say enough good about them and the way they've led us through this.  Truly.  Accommodating, friendly, speedy, warm, rooted- they were truly an answered prayer!  If TFI were a man, I'd totally recommend him to my single friends.  

When will you start getting kids?

Well, we're hoping by early May.  It could even be sooner.  We have our second home visit on Tuesday (say a prayer for us!).  After that we'll have one more which will be conducted by the state.  When that is completed and we pass, we'll be licensed.  I think that after Tuesday night we'll have a little bit better feel for when we can expect our world to turn upside down!