She sat down at the table during nap time and said, "you ready for all this, honey?"
I sat down with our sweet, sweet caseworker and buckled in for the extensive and personal questions that she had in store. It was painless for the most part.
We have been insanely blessed by this woman. She hugs us tight proving that she does care about us and our journey, and she talks of how God does great things through foster care and adoption.
She loves the kids, we love the kids, but more importantly, Jesus really loves these kids. Children that He knit together in possibly an unhealthy womb. Children that have the same need for love and family that my kids and your kids have.
The past week or so as our training and home studies have been coming to an end, fear creeps in. I'm excited yet nervous of the unknowns, even though I know He has the highs and lows planned perfectly.
But at that table as I signed papers and confirmed details, I realized something.
Right there on our weathered kitchen table, where we gather our comfy little family and enjoy meals together, was an invitation.
An invitation from Him to step out, to take courage, and to fix my eyes on Him as He continues to lead us. An invitation to trust in the unknowns, to truly believe, and to hold tightly to the the One who writes our story.
An invitation to move without fear.
It's an invitation to love.
Being able to soon wrap my arms around a child who has no family is all grace. Deciding that there is room for more in this humble home and in our simple life is all His leading. Children are gifts. It's that simple.
We had an At-Home-Date-Night tonight, its usually how we do all our date nights these days :). But I am finally thankful for that after spending so much time envying the couples that could go out so often.
Our full house that keeps us "tied down" is our greatest blessing. I'm thankful for His invite, the one He extends to all of us with specific plans for each specific family.
He guides our steps - sometimes you just have to pick up His invitation, trust, and hold on tight.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
An Invitation
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9 comments:
You are blessed to even be allowed to foster/adopt in your state.
In the state of WA, you can not foster or foster/adopt from the state if you already have 6 or more children in the home. Nope. None of us extra large families are allowed to adopt. (We, of course, could NOW, because 7 of our kids are grown and gone . . . but we didn't even have that option when we adopted internationally. We couldn't adopt through the state system.)
I know a family that as each of their older bio. kids hit 18, they brought one more foster/adopt baby into their family . . . but had to have one "grow up" first in order to be allowed.
Can't wait to hear more about your journey.
Laurel
We are actually getting licensed in the county that neighbors us - mainy because we feel pulled towards the inner city, but also because our small county had a "rule" (not a law from the state) about placing with big families...sad and a little crazy if you ask me :).
I am SO PROUD of you and also to call you my friend! I can't wait to see what God has in store.
Would you ever consider doing a post with like a house tour, or maybe not a tour but a description of your space? I'm just curious how the kiddos share spaces, etc and where you would place a new loved one =)
Yep, I sure will :). We are rearranging things this week, so I will post pics when we get it all in place!
Praying for you guys and the transitions ahead. We love you guys.
Excited to see who the Lord brings your way!
So excited for you to begin this journey!
(We looked into it and ran into the same problem re: "big" families and also not living in one state long enough because of the military.)
Kate,
My heart is filled to the brim (LOVE the new header & update pictures!) with excitement for your growing family.
Your perspective on being tied down is a blessing really spoke to me. I've been injured for the past couple years & it really has changed the nature of our social life. What a lovely way to look at it! Being at home & close together IS such a blessing when others spend so much time away from all the love they have.
Thank you for the thought. For planting the seed.
Be Well,
Heather @ Find That Warm Fuzzy Feeling
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