Case Update

Wow, lots of life and happenings. Our little guy is getting so big and more adorable each day if that’s even possible. We’re all settled in our new home and love it! We are so blessed and have much to be thankful for.

 

As we approach one year with our precious little guy we realized how much we have learned. Of course being first time parents has been amazing. It’s an unspeakable gift and joy. Yes, celebrating Mother’s and Father’s Day this year had a whole new level of appreciation for our own parents. It’s not even possible how our love for him continues to grow daily, when we couldn’t fathom loving him more. What a realization in God’s love for his Son and us his children.

 

But of course the biggest learning and growth has occurred in response to this road of parenting we walk. What a blessing to live everyday giving our fullest love and hearts to our son knowing our days with him might be numbered. We know all too well that no parent has guarantees on how long they have their child; thus it is a gift to never take moments for granted. Cherishing every game of chase, snuggle, story time, and adventure we may share. But yes, it is so excruciatingly hard knowing these days could be numbered and he could leave us forever. Most days we’re able to get out of such thought patterns and hold on to our faith and trust God’s perfect plan for him. Yet in our humanness we are so prone to worry and fear.

 

In foster care there a myriad of variables in a child’s case. There are zero assurances. There are always risks and no guarantees for adoption. We have heard the stories and known the families. They had the child from birth…three years later returned home…relative care giver…unknown parent surfaces… The state’s mandate is number one: reunification with parents and number two: a relative care giver. The process is long; more often than not, two plus years. There are many beautiful stories and situations where redemption and transformation occurs in parents’ lives; where an involved family member intercedes for a child. It makes sense why this would be the nature of the system. As we’ve shared we pray for mercy over his parents’ lives, we daily must make a conscious decision and prayer to love them as God does. We pray Micah 6:8 over them. 

 

However, in this season, at his age, with all the factors and variables, there comes a point where it seems impossible seeing him leaving us as God’s best. Friends, co-workers, family, strangers, and we will quickly jump to what seems so obvious in that he’s where he belongs. Yes, we stinking want to adopt him more than anything! Yes, we confess the wrong emotions have surfaced when a bio parent messed up or something happens that seemingly stacks the odds in our favor. That’s the raw honest truth. But we’re convicted. To know Christ; to know and experience LOVE incarnate means to surrender. Surrender our human wisdom and our desires; to daily lay everything before the throne of GRACE.  Almost a year ago (July 29^th entry) we shared these words that ring so true, especially as we so desperately want to cling ever more tightly to our little guy:

“Don’t misunderstand our desires. More than anything we want to have a family. We want to have kids. We want to be parents. We both dreamed of these years. Yet, as we are called deeper into this process; as we’re drawn out “on the waters,” we know who is calling us. We know this is the direction we have been called to travel. But we have no idea where it leads! Will we get to adopt him? With all our heart we hope so! Will we be led to future stories like our little guy or will we walk a “home grown” path we had always envisioned? The big one: have we been asked to just provide stability for our little guy until reunification? More and more we hope against this but have to hold on to our faith and know fully God’s plan and purposes are beyond our own. Forever faithful. In some instances it has taken a deal of time and perspective to recognize God’s faithfulness in our lives and those around us, but it’s always there!

The last two weeks we have been blown away by the nature of the sermons at church. The series is on worshippers and looking at individuals from the Bible. Last week was Hannah. Hannah, having prayed for years for a child, then finally giving birth to her precious Samuel, only to give him to the Temple in service to God. The child she so fervently prayed for and then in obedience to give him to the Lord. Wow! But again, God’s faithfulness in Samuel’s ministry. This week we were unspeakably wrecked again as the sermon was on Abraham and Isaac. Again, a miraculous blessing to the parents Abraham and Sarah. Yet, God asked the unthinkable in the sacrifice of Isaac. The unthinkable. However, Abraham has confidence in who God is and continues a direction of obedience. That true surrender and obedience was met with God providing a sacrifice and then the incredible story of the people and nation that came from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and so forth.

What we are being asked of God is far from these unbelievable stories of faith. Yet, the stories resonate with us so much! Our first child! A boy so precious and such a perfect fit in our family. Yes, we want him forever. But we must trust God as we have been called into this particular ministry. We must continue this direction in obedience and live as we have been encouraged to “love deeply, but hold loosely.” We truly have no idea where our little guy’s story will go. But as we walk this journey we are learning that we must continually trust God in this, as we do in everything. God is love. God is good. His ways may be a mystery, but he is FOREVER faithful.”

These reminders, these words we can’t ignore as we wrote them ourselves were a much needed reminder after today. Important because today we had a meeting with our social worker…

There are many variables with our little guy’s case. There is zero timeline. It’s truly up in the air. At this time it seems unlikely he would return to his biological parents. However, there are possibilities for a guardianship with a potential relative care giver. We can’t share specifics and don’t want a panic to ensue. However, any scenario can become reality in foster care and this particular relative care giver is a real possibility. (It is the department’s mandate)

 

Those who work with our little guy have marveled at his growth in his time with us and are big time advocates for us as “care givers” as well as permanency plans and so forth… One key individual will most likely be transitioning to a different department in the near future. This is significant because foster parents have zero rights or input in Washington State, and that particular individual is the closest thing to a voice we have. We share all of this because we believe so strongly in the power of prayer. There are so many individuals, variables, time tables, paperwork, etc. that a steady stream of intercession blanketing it all would be a great source of peace. It’s so hard to know how to pray. Motivations in prayers get muddled. If you like us are lost at times in how to intercede, pray as Jesus taught “Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is Heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

 

We thank you for your prayers for us; for peace and steadfast faith. But above all we ask you commit to interceding for our little guy. It’s too easy to allow ourselves down the mental road of where he could end up, and it’s terrifyingly paralyzing. As we get reminders that he may not remain with us forever we pray over him and his future.

 

As you know music speaks and ministers to our souls so much. The truth of the classic hymn “Because He Lives” has been a great encouragement with David Crowder’s new rendition alongside Bill Gaither.  Through all these storms and assaults we hold to this: “Because he lives I can face tomorrow.  Because he lives all fear is gone. Because I know he holds the future. And life is worth the living just because he lives.” Then an added bonus is a prayer another couple had for their son thirty years ago; the second verse which is our encouragement and prayer for our little guy: “How sweet to hold a newborn baby. And feel the pride and joy he gives. But greater still the calm assurance this child can face uncertain days just because he lives.”

 

In whatever season you now find yourself be encouraged by the One who is the true source of all Life, Joy, Peace, Hope, and Love. Because He LIVES.