Another Place at the Table

We are in the final stages of foster care approval with our foster care organization, and we couldn't be more excited and scared at the same time. As early as next week, we will be approved with the state to be foster parents for a child we have never met, but were created to love before we were ever born.

Ben and I discussed being foster parents or adoption on and off infrequently since we were married. The thoughts passed through our conversations over the past six years with a "yeah, I think we might want to do that one day" but then passed along to be discussed another day. We had two beautiful children in these years and have enjoyed every second of it...well, maybe not every second...but neither of us would trade anything for those times. :-)  
After we moved here to Brunswick, our mind, eyes and hearts were opened again and the fostering conversation began visiting more frequently. It became a normal topic of conversation and became a want in our hearts. The moment when I knew that God was leading us down this new path of family ministry was when Addison brought out her baby dolls and had this conversation.

Addison: Mommy, these are my new babies.
Me: I like those new babies.
Addison: Their mommy and daddy can't take care of them right now, so I'm going to take care of them.

We had previously talked to her about what new plans may be entering our home. We discussed what it might be like, good and bad. It was a little 5 minute conversation and she went off to play. But for her to bring this up two weeks later with the love and compassion that she had is amazing. At that second, I knew without a doubt that God wasn't just speaking to our hearts, he was speaking to hers too.

 In our church, we are surrounded with some amazing people who have opened their homes to our community's children. And through our church and these people, we were led to Faith Bridge.  God's timing is amazing, I believe I say this at least once a week! I can't believe how amazing it is sometimes. About a week after Addison became a foster parent to her baby dolls, we found out that Faith Bridge was having a series of meetings and trainings at our church. We signed up, with the idea that we were just "looking into things" and walked out of those meetings completely in love with the organization, the people who make it possible as well as the thought of a new family member that would one day join our home. Since the end of February, it has been a mad dash of paperwork, background checks, lost birth certificate for our youngest, physicals, baby proofing to the extreme and prayers that this was where God wanted us to go. Now, here we are waiting on our last visit before approval.

If it had not been for this organization, our church and our family, we would not feel this overwhelming comfort that we have now. We feel completely supported, loved and prayed for. We are truly thankful for everyone who is and has been part of our preparation. We look forward in sharing the journey with you.

"for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."

Philippians 2:13