First placement and second placement

Tomorrow around 4:30 we are getting a little 4 year old. Normally when we get a call we have a couple hours to get ready., having a night is something else. Honestly I don't even know how to correctly pronounce this little guys name. And honestly I am a little hesitant about bringing in a child who is older than Harry. But something in my gut told me to say yes. When I was talking to the placement coordinator about this child they also told me about a 1 year old that also needed placement. I am all about the babies. I said yea without even asking Erick, but he would be okay with me even asking. And he is. We actually won't be getting the little guy for a couple weeks because he has already been placed with a family who is going to be traveling over the summer and won't be able to keep the little guy.

But back to the first placement, it is something knowing that you have one more night before your life changes. Your whole family structure is going to be different. Harry is going to have an older brother. After being the only child he is now going to be the younger, and then in a little while he will be the middle child. I am really praying that this child will be a great fit in our house and that he and Harry will be good friends.

I hope that Harry learns and grows through this. I know that this will impact him in someway and I really hope that he does well.

Pray for us!

First call and diapers

Yesterday we got our first call for a placement. We actually missed the calls so we had to try to call them back. We ended up finding out that there was a sibling group of 3 and they wanted us to take the 7 year old. We declined because we really are set up for 3 and younger. Anything older and the poor child would feel like they are at a preschool.
I hate to say no, but I have to think about Harry and having a much older child wouldn't be a good fit right now for us.

But I am thankful that we are getting the calls. If you would pray for us that we would know what child would be a good fit, whether temporary or permanent!

My first homemade cloth diaper

In the mean time I am really trying to bust out a bunch of cloth diapers. I have just enough to keep Harry in them all day. If I get a sibling group or just a young one I will need double of what I have. I really feel committed to doing this. It really will save my family money.

Swing swing swing in the USA . . . hey hey

This is Harry's new trick and he is so proud of himself when he does it! This really makes me see that he is a growing boy and will continually try my patience, wits, heart, and speed. Having a little boy can be a challenging road. You want him to explore, have fun being adventurous, but do it all while being safe. I am having a hard time letting him be rough and rowdy because I let my worrying get in the way. All that does is upset him which in turn upsets me because he throws a fit.. it becomes a vicious cycle.
 I am realizing that I need to let him become who God has created him to be. Not all boys will be a sweet snuggler who want you to read to them all day. Like Harry, they may want to run and climb and jump, and purposely fall because they think it is funny.
I am hoping/believing that he will respect me more because I am letting him do what God has created his 2 year old self to do. I am not saying that there won't be disciplining in the midst, because man o man there is! But I am embracing who he is, because he is a little person and not a project that I have control over.
Having Harrison in my life has made my prayer life stronger for many reasons . . .1. For safety, and I bet his angels are busy!. 2. For me to mold him correctly, I don't want to ever crush his spirit only make it more sensitive. 3. For his future wife, she is going to be a special girl! (Wow I bet that she is probably out there driving her parents crazy too!) 4. For Erick and I to be of one mind in how he is raised. and 5. That he would become a God fearing little man who will have a strong faith!

The waiting game

The person who came up with the saying "the waiting game" must be playing a different game then me. Aren't games supposed to be fun and exciting!! This game is stressful, ulcerating, and leaves me on the edge of my seat. The thing is, now that we are foster parents we can get a call anytime. And when that phone call comes we have a life changing decision to make. Will you take this child who needs someone to love them, give them consistency, and make them your family for however long you are needed.The Lord is the only one who is keeping me sane through this. And he knows when and who, I need to rest in that.

But in the meantime I am waiting . . . we are all waiting.

It is a new season in our home

Okay here we go again ... Today 4/20/12 is the day that marks the beginning of our 2nd fostering journey. We are now, finally, re-licensed and are waiting on placement. I really wanted to document this process to see how God uses us and how these sweet children will change our lives.

Update on Harry

He is 2 a of 3/8 . . . enough said ;) He is a busy boy! So adventurous, smart, inquisitive, and stubborn! But he is my pride and joy! I love being his mother, he is definitely forcing me to grow in my faith and character. I needed him in my life! I am really looking forward to see how Harry changes with having the children in our home. I am really praying that there will only be positive changes.  I know the facts that this will definitely impact him.

I just started cloth diapering... I know Harrison will be potty trained soon, but we will still be saving money. I also plan on cloth diapering the foster babies we get. I am still new to this but am learning quickly! Today is going to be the first day that I am keeping Harry in cloth all day... so far so good!

Little man in his cloth diaper... little goober :)

Aleena stayed with us for a weekend!

I am not a baby anymore!