Dear friends,
It’s been awhile since I’ve updated this little window into my life. So, without further ado: there may be a little person in our home within the month!
Brandon and I are becoming foster parents. We prayed about this for over a year. We looked into different avenues of adopting, but felt like God was leading us toward foster to adopt. Through foster care, our first priority will be to take care of the child with the intention of reunification with the birth family. However, if that’s not a solution, Brandon and I would have the opportunity to adopt the child in our care.
So, I need your help. First of all, please pray. Pray that God prepares our hearts. This will be a trying time for everyone involved, and we’ll certainly need God to help us out. Also pray for Little Bit. There’s a reason s/he is no longer with their family. That has to be so hard. Pray God protects them and is there with them through all of this.
Second, be prepared to be a light. This child will be around many of you through church and community activities. This child’s family may even visit the church. Be a light! We won’t be able to give details about the child’s family, or the reason s/he is in our care, but we would love for you to love this child (and their family). As much as Brandon and I want a child of our own, it’s more important for a child to belong in the family of God. Share God’s love with these people. He has a purpose for bringing them into our lives.
Third, help us out on what we need. Now that the home study is complete, I’m beginning to panic on what I actually need! I have baby shampoo, and a pac-n-play. Some people have given me clothes and a few toys for infants. That’s it, folks. We have no idea if we will have a five-year-old, or an infant, or a child anywhere in-between. We have no idea if the child will be a girl or a boy. Some of you have already been generous. Keep it comin.’ When we know, I’ll send out a message (possibly through smoke signals) so you’ll know the age and gender of Little Bit. Feel free to pour out your love, (and old clothes and toys, advice on the best pacifier, diaper, formula, etc.) and I will take it all in with gratefulness.
Fourth, help us be great parents. Many of you had the opportunity to prepare for nine months for your babies. Brandon and I can only do so much with so little information. I know God has called us to this ministry, but I am so scared of messing it all up. So pray for us, hug us, ask us how we’re doing, text us, show up unannounced (Sarah B. Kelly), bring casseroles, offer to babysit, invite us to play dates, teach me your ways o wise friends of mine. Be there. Be genuine. Be God’s light to us, because just like Little Bit will need to see God’s light, I’m pretty certain there will be dark moments where we’ll need to see His love, too.
Thank you for walking this journey with us. We are humbled by your friendship.
