Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Foster Care

If you don't already know, Alan and I became a licensed foster home in July.  The decision to foster did not come over night.  The first time we thought about it was about 3 years ago.  We went with some friends to an information meeting for foster/adoption at a church in McKinney.  We were interested, but the timing wasn't right.  About a year later we went to another interest meeting with the same couple because they were looking at getting involved with a child who was involved with CPS.  I filled out my part of the application but we never got further than that...the timing still wasn't right.  Then last November we moved and in January we started attending a new church.  The first week we were there I noticed THEY were having a foster/adopt interest meeting for a new ministry the church was starting.  I showed Alan, but said nothing further.  After seeing the info in the bulletin for a few weeks Alan said to me, "I think we should go."  Honestly, I was floored because I didn't think it was a good time. We had just moved and were getting used to owning a house, etc.  But since he was interested I said sure, and we made plans to go.  The week of the meeting we ended up at lunch with some friends and talked straight through the interest meeting and missed it entirely.  My first thought was, "Oh well...must not be the right time..." and then Alan said, "Maybe you can get the info from someone on Wednesday..." and I thought again.  That Wednesday I asked around and got some info...there would be training classes coming up and a CPR class in the near future if we were interested.  Alan told me to sign us up...so I did.  And we became CPR certified and then in March we had 2 Saturday's of all day training.

After that there is a MOUNTAIN of paperwork (and yes -- I mean a mountain!).  A good blogger would have pictures of each thing and then also pics of mailing it off....but I am by no means a good blogger...so you will just have to believe me.  Alan and I set 'early summer' as when we would like to have all our paperwork in.  We got all of our paperwork in by the beginning of June and then waited for it to go through licensing.  While at a sign language workshop the first week of July we got the news that we were officially certified. We knew that we would have to wait until after our trip to Ireland the second week of July to be officially open to taking kids, but we were licensed!

During the time that we worked on paperwork we began to collect the things we might need.  See, foster care is a very different thing all in it's own.  You never know what will be coming through your door.  You give them a 5 year age range for your license and then you tell your placing agency more specifically what you would like -- but you just never know.  You could get a 5 day old, 5 month old, or 5 year old....or all of the above...and need to have SOMETHING for them!  We collected car seats and beds and toys and clothes and bottles and this and that and the other.  We got things off of garage sale sites, at resale stores and from dear friends. The garage began to look like a consignment store of it's own.  And then we waited.

Off we went to Ireland.  It was truly a fantastic trip and we enjoyed every minute of it, knowing that upon return our lives could change very quickly.  And then we came back and anxiously awaited 'the call'.  That week I worked at the children's theater's summer workshops.  The first afternoon we got a call, but Alan and I agreed that with our schedules that week it wasn't a good match, so we had to say no.  It was hard -- but God showed up in the situation!  That evening we got call number 2.  But another family was picked.  So we waited.  Tuesday afternoon I was at a student's home when we got call #3.  I immediately said YES! and quickly learned that after the YES is another waiting game.  I now liken it to childbirth...labor starts but it's a bit of a waiting game to see how it will progress.  After several hours I got a call that said they didn't think the child would be placed with us.  Then I got a call that all they needed was our approval through the agency and the placement would be finalized. (These two calls happened about 45 minutes apart.)  So I call the agency and say please call and approve this and then go back to waiting.  I was a bit stressed that afternoon! Finally, the call came saying the child had been placed with us and was on the way.  An hour later, we were parents...and our lives changed forever!  Visits, visits, and more visits....little sleep...lots of paperwork...some more visits....daycare...work...more paperwork...
....and more love than you could ever imagine!  You guys -- I fall in love with my husband over and over again as I watch him with this child.  I have never seen him so smitten - and I love it.  As with any foster care case we really don't know how it will end.  The goal of foster care is always reunification...and I've got a whole blog post cooking on that...so we just have no idea.  We just know the child is here for now and so for now our lives center on the child.  

Some 'just-so-you-know's:
-I cannot post any information about the child on the blog...not their name, their age, etc...please don't ask
-I cannot post pics.  Unfortunately this means my blog could become very devoid of pics...except the occasional pic of a puppy....
-I cannot post about the specifics of the child's case
-I can post about what I'm learning through this experience...and expect me to...and I can answer any questions you may have about foster care.
-upcoming posts:
--Why Foster Care
--What Foster Care Has Taught Me
--Attachement
--Foster Care and Spiritual Parallels


Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real --- all caught up!

Pretty: Kelly, Philip, Shobit, Alan, and myself went to the fair the first weekend in October.  Philip snapped this pic after the light show.  It was a great day and ended with a pretty picture!


Happy: Last week I got to go to FBC Rockwall to watch The Drop Box with their foster/adopt ministry Mosaic.  My lifelong friend, Susan is a part of the ministry so I got to see her, her family, her sister Shannon, and I got to meet Aiden, Shannon's son. Mom was jealous!  
(In all seriousness...if you haven't seen Drop Box..you should!)



Funny: When your dog thinks the baby's towel is for her.


Real: The struggle to take a picture with my husband is real you guys....



Finally...a good one!  I sure do love this guy!  


Pretty, Funny, Happy, Real - Flashback to September

Pretty - Alan and I had some pictures done Labor Day weekend.  This one is my fav because of the pretty colors. (Also, Sept is our anniversay - 4 years! :)



Happy: Theater -- my happy place.  This is me as Ms. Corry.  Fantastic, dontcha think?!


Funny: So -- during Mary Poppins there was a chair that was directly in front of all my things for my many changes.  It became known that it was 'my' chair...and then it got a label....


Alan and I went to Oktoberfest in Fort Worth with Philip, Kelly, and few of their church friends.  This pic cracks me up! (Notice Philip is the dog!)


Real: Solid nights of sound, restful sleep are a thing of the past my friends!


I saw a lady in this shirt one day at Wal Mart and sent a pic to mom -- because it's true...y'all my mom is the best Foster Gram there has ever been!


Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real - Flashback to August


Pretty: My annual Beginning of Year flowers. I love my husband!

Happy: I was cast as Ms. Corry in Mary Poppins at Theatricks!  I also got to go to Fort Worth and see Kelly, Val, Ron, et al. for the first time in a LOOOONG time!



Funny: My dogs think this pillow is for them to curl up in


Real: A year ago this month, my precious Grandmother breathed her last.  Mom, Allison, and I went to visit her grave and take her flowers/a butterfly.  We then went and had BBQ in her honor. I miss her more than I could ever put into words.  She was such a great lady!


Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real - Flashback to July

Pretty - To be honest, I can't remember where I took this one...but it's somewhere round about Galway...and it's lovely!


Happy: We did it!  We are a licensed foster home!!


Funny: Finding mugs that amuse you...and taking pictures that you then send to your friend from the airport...priceless


Real: Notice any changes in our house?! Alan laying by the play mat, the rock and play in the background, the jealous puppy playing with the baby's toys. (and if you look closely...the baby's leg...we are forever changed...and that's for real!

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real - flashback to Ireland

Pretty - The ferry ride to the Aran Islands, me riding Bob the Cob, and Collette and her new horse




Happy - Days in Galway with good friends, getting to see my pal Bob, a trip to the Aran Islands with Darren and Alan's Dad




Funny - Darren in the ball pit :)


Real - Where it all started! Alan and I met here for the 1st time in 2001 and then again in 2009.  We drove past it one day and felt a smidge nostalgic and extremely thankful that we met!


Thursday, October 8, 2015

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real -- flashback to June

Pretty: At the beginning of June I went to Dauphin Island with Kelly and Val.  It was so pretty and peaceful while we were there.  I can't wait to go back! :)



Happy: I had the amazing fun of introducing Rissa to Broadway Musicals year ago with Suessical in Sherman.  Then she saw Tarzan in Sherman.  This year, I decided to take her to see Cinderella at Fair Park.  I honestly can't tell you which made me happier -- the show itself, or watching Rissa watch the show.  Guys -- she AUDIBLY gasped when they brought out the glass slipper. And she was so excited when they got married.  (And the quick changes on stage....people!!!)  The experience was made even better by the opportunity to share it with my good friend Kathy and her daughter.



Funny: These dogs!  It is our routine to get Starbucks coffee and pastries for dinner on Sunday night.  When we get our drinks we order each dog a 'Puppy Latte'. (A cup full of whip cream.)  They have come to expect it...and they LOVE it -- as you can see. (Sorry for the fuzzy pic of Lily...it's just too funny!)



Real: What most mornings look like at my house in the summer....

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real - flashback to May

Continuing with my PFHR flashback -- here's May:

Pretty: It rained A LOT in May.  (See 'Real').  That meant many a pretty morning and evening...




Happy: For our birthday this year, Allison and I decided to do a Painting with a Twist party.  We invited all our friends to come out and create with us.  We had a BALL!  Afterwards, Tana, Kelly, and myself drove down to the Winspear and saw NEWSIES!!!!  We literally sat on the edge of our seats for the entire time.  LOVED it! :)




Funny:  Oh Ally girl! Over the summer she took to covering her head when she wanted to rest in the car.  She is such a silly kiddo!


Real: Rain -- lots and lots of rain...so much rain you could take pictures of the sky dumping it...




Up next: June!



Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real -- flashback to April

I know -- I am a super bad blogger...but I decided I would do a little flashback where I do a P,F,H,R for the past several months....eventually I should catch up! :)

Without further ado -- April:

Pretty:  For my birthday each year my sweet hubs sends me flowers...this was my birthday bouquet this year!







Happy:  My former student, Courtney, was married last October and now has a sweet baby girl. In April she had a baby shower and after some Facebook chatting I found out that they were doing a lady bug theme...so I jumped on board and made her this little lady bug dress and a lady bug blanket.  I hope to someday see her in the dress on FB!




Funny:  Oh, Lily!  (I think this speaks for itself!)




Real:  Shortly after we got our new monster huge sectional sofa we had the fam up for dinner.  At one point I looked over to see everyone scattered along the monster huge/long couch and on their devices.  Ah technology...whatever did we do before thee?!