Open Doors

Yesterday we had our first training class for foster care. We weren't sure going into it if we would come away encouraged or discouraged. In fact, we had decided to postpone getting our background checks done until after this class so that we wouldn't have spent the money on them if we backed out. The person who taught the class is Bill Richardson, the grandson of the lady who founded Koinonia - whose full name escapes me at the moment. Her first name is Miriam. It was an amazing and very educational experience for us. Not only did we learn a lot, but we also were able to ask many questions that have been on our hearts. We came away from it even more sure that this is the course God has for our family.

Probably one of the most encouraging parts of the day for me was at the end, when we sat down one-on-one with Bill and just talked with him. As we explained that we have (almost) five kids at home aged 9 and under and our concerns for their well-being in this process, his immediate response was that we will have to be very careful about who we place in our home. I was so blessed at how committed Koinonia is to making the right match of children with foster parents instead of pressuring us to accept every child that comes along. Although, I think that Matthew would like to do that himself. :)

Koinonia also offers parents a lot of support including ongoing training as well as 24/7 help from our social worker. We also found out that in most cases, after the county social worker places the child with us, our main contact will be our Koinonia social worker. So we will continue to work with people who have the same vision and heart that we have. I am so grateful that God lead us to go through Koinonia, because I feel like we are being protected and supported where we're at and not being expected to fulfill a calling that we have not been given.

Speaking of callings, we came into this planning on adopting not fostering. However, as we learn more, we really believe that God would not have us limit how he wants to use us either as foster or adoptive parents. So we are not going to put any limitations on who they can offer us. For instance, if a child has just been removed from their home and there is a good possibility that they will go back home, we will still be open to fostering them for a time. Our ultimate goal is still adoption. And it could be that the first placement we get will be the ones God has for our family. However, if part of God's plan for us is to have an influence in the life of a child who may not stay with us, we do not want to say no to that. It seems like he may have lured us into one of his divine traps by getting us to say yes to a little without knowing the "a lot" that he has planned. I think it's called bait and switch. So typical of him. :)

Another blessing that just happened is some furniture. I found a matching set of solid oak bunk beds, a chest of drawers and a little wardrobe (which the kids think would be great for pretending Narnia in) priced at $150. But I wasn't really sure about it. It's almost got a nautical style to it all and it's got quite a few dings and such in it. Also, I felt that we needed to spend about $100 on the furniture in order to be frugal with our adoption money and this set cost $150. So I e-mailed the guy back and said that I was thinking about it, but wasn't sure about the style and asked a couple more questions. However, I said nothing about the price. I got a response today that he would drop the price of the whole set to $100 because his wife wants to get rid of them! I can't believe that we're going to get a set of oak furniture for that price. There's still a possibility that the deal could fall through. I have not heard back from him yet about when and where we can pick them up. But if it does, I'll just keep looking for what God has planned.

You've probably noticed that I have not had the baby yet. :) When I went to the doctor on Wednesday, I was dilated to 3cm. I usually am at about a 4 when I go into labor. So we're certainly getting close. I have regularly been having contractions throughout the day and increasing in the evening, but nothing enough to get me worked up yet. However, they are becoming stronger and more painful - not really painful, but it's there. Tomorrow is my "official" 39 week mark. Because I felt like God said to pray for 39 weeks, I'm having a hard time disciplining my soul not to be anxious about going into labor tomorrow - or to have any expectations really. And my pride would not like it much if I had to admit that I was wrong about what God said. Blah to my flesh! Anyway, be thinking of us and praying this week. I'm ready to hold my newest little boy in my arms. I think we all are.

God is so amazingly good. He is asking us to step out in faith quite a bit right now. It's very stretching, to say the least! And it's only just begun. I know that what he is calling us to is not easy, but as he provides the open doors and we walk through in obedience and faith, I know that he will meet us with exactly what we need for each circumstance. I think I would rather be on this journey with him than sitting safely in my little box waiting for nothing.