Lately...

So I'm so not a blogger. I wish I had time to keep up with this blog! A lot has happened since I last wrote, and I'd love to fill you all in! I think my last post had to do with the Orphan Care Ministry that our church had recently started. One year and several months later, we have now expanded this Orphan Care Ministry to include Adoption AND Foster Care! Why? Because five couples from our church (all in the same Sunday School class), and several current foster families at our church had the--HAVE the--desire to live out James 1:27, which is this: "Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we MUST care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us."

Last August, Brad and I went through Foster Care GPS (Group Preparation and Selection) to become foster parents. I have to say that it was the most frustrating time in my life (Brad's so easygoing!). Dealing with DHR has been, well, frustrating! Although we had two wonderful trainers who also have a love for foster children and their families, there were 25+ potential foster families in our class whose paperwork had to get done. And my oh my, it takes a LONG TIME to complete the paperwork, especially when you only have one trainer who can do it all! Patience has never been my strong point, but let me tell you, I have learned much lately! Our paperwork is still not complete, and we are still waiting on our second homestudy. To think that there are children out there who don't have homes because there aren't enough foster families to take them, makes me sick. I want to say, "Hello, over here! We WANT them! Finish our paperwork already!" But since I have already pestered DHR enough, I figure I'll give them a break. ;-) They do have a deadline to complete all paperwork, which is the beginning of March, so I am looking forward to getting a call soon! I hope...

I am so excited to see what HE is going to do in the lives of future foster families, but more importantly, in the lives of Jefferson and Shelby Counties' children and their birth families. I am praying for these kids and their families already, and I can't wait to see how God will use even a lowly servant like me. It's such an honor. Orphan/Foster Care/Adoption Sunday was last weekend (Sunday, Jan. 31st), and we had an awesome turnout! At the Foster Care Information class that evening, we had 80+ people come out, and 31 signed up for GPS classes, to be held at GFBC (our church)! Which brings me back to the vision that several new and old foster families had months ago. Remember the frustration I mentioned earlier? We wanted to change things. We were so surprised that no one had ever tried to make any kind of change for these precious children who are torn from their family and everything they've ever known (however bad the situation may be). The DHR building is A.W.F.U.L. Like, seriously falling apart. The lobby was boring, with plain taupe walls, a small tv--the kind with the antennas on top--and a few chairs. What child would feel welcome or comfortable in a place like that?? Not one. So our church did a "makeover" of the lobby. And now it looks incredible! We have some seriously talented people at our church, by the way. Now the lobby looks warm and welcoming...lots of colors, with paintings on the wall. The paintings are awesome, and have a story behind them (I'll tell it in another post). Following the DHR lobby makeover, so many things have happened! One new foster family got a medically fragile foster child, who is PRECIOUS!! He had a liver transplant when he was just a couple of months old, only because this family stepped up and got paperwork rolling. She is a nurse at Children's Hospital, so who better to take good care of this baby than she and her husband? Another family got in touch with Birmingham Christian Magazine, and had an article printed to raise awareness of the needs of DHR and its children. From there came discussions of expanding the Orphan Care Ministry to include Adoption and Foster Care. And from there came talk of holding foster care GPS at our church. We tried it once before, but only 5 couples signed up to take the class, which wasn't enough. This time, 31 couples signed up, and not even all could be enrolled in this class--they had to cap the class at 25 because there are only two trainers, and Lifeline (the agency doing the classes) can't handle that many at once. PRAISE THE LORD!

So you can see why I am so excited, right? Now it's time to meet with one of our Senators and Governor. I'm praying that they can allot some money to DHR for supplies (the caseworkers have to buy their own supplies!!! They have NO money) and possibly a new building. ;-) Hey, when I dream, I dream BIG!

I've said so much in this blog, and there's SO much more to it! I'm leaving lots of details out, but I'd be typing all day, and it'd probably sound like one jumbled mess. But this is the jist of it, and I am in awe of what our mighty God is doing. It's amazing to see His hand in all of this, and to see how He is working out each and every detail! WOW! I feel so blessed to be a part of what is going on, and I just adore each family who has gone through the foster classes with us. And so thankful for the seasoned foster families at our church to mentor us.

More to come soon!