I see this question daily on my foster/adoptive mom groups on social media. People commonly ask, “Should I go through an agency or straight through DFCS? They also want to know, “What are the pros and cons of going with an agency? Therefore, I am going to try and tackle these … [Read more...]
Self-Quarantine…Feelings of Isolation and Hope…
Self-quarantine day 5. It feels like day 500. Most of what’s in the news is negative. I’m on edge. My nerves are shot. And it’s only day 5. My dining room AND front room have both currently been transformed into make-shift classrooms. Coach is a high … [Read more...]
What is TBRI?
Introduction I am often asked how I handle foster love’s challenging behaviors. First of all, I am not a miracle worker. I am not a saint. I am not perfect. I do have a tribe of support people and friends around me that listen as I cry, grapple with what to do, … [Read more...]
Foster Care, Foster-to-Adopt, or Adoption? What are the Differences?
Which should I do? Foster Care, Foster-to-adopt, or Adopt I want to address this question because I see it often on social media, and this was a huge question that I wrestled with as we started on our journey of loving kids from hard places. This is an honest question that … [Read more...]
Praying in the Waiting…
Right now, as I write this, I should be getting ready for court. And there’s no other way to say it. Court days suck. They suck in all meaning of the word. They suck the life out of my entire being. They kill my soul. It’s mentally draining and emotionally … [Read more...]
E.T. Phone Home
Family Movie Night… Snuggly soft Pajamas… Buttery hot popcorn with M&M’s slightly melted in the bowl… All snuggled up with the kids… That are all perfectly behaved and smell like a mixture of baby shampoo and Dreft…cuddled around their momma smiling up at her with their … [Read more...]
College and Kindergarten
We moved our oldest into College a few weeks ago, and my heart just hurts. I tear up at the chiropractor. I tear up at church. I tear up in the grocery store. At Wal-Mart? Yep. Doing laundry? Tears. Doing dishes? Tears. Driving down the … [Read more...]
This is Foster Care…When God Calls Us Into the Storm…
When God speaks... The last year and a half has rocked my world as we’ve stepped into the hard messy world of foster care. I heard a sermon last week that really made me think. It was on a passage I’ve heard a million times. The one about Jesus walking on water, but … [Read more...]
Hey Mom, What is that Smell?
As each of my kids walked in the house from school on Friday they sniffed the air and smiled, “Mom, what is that smell? Oh my gosh!!!! It smells so good in here!” It reminded them of something happy that they couldn’t quite put their finger on, and they tried and tried so hard … [Read more...]