I have no idea what it is like to be a child in the foster care system. I can’t imagine the confusion, loss of identity, fear, anger, hurt and sadness that children face when they find themselves separated from their parents, their family, their community. For some, to be sure, it is a welcome relief. … Continue reading Foster Care Month: A Focus on Kids→
Sarah knew that her daughter was struggling. Ever since her boyfriend disappeared and left Nikki with the baby, she had been spiraling downhill quickly. Sarah had suspicions that Nikki’s new boyfriend was a drug dealer, but that was not confirmed until just recently. Sarah received a phone call late one night from a police officer … Continue reading National Foster Care Month: A Focus on Kinship Care→
I remember sitting next to my little foster son, rubbing his back as he drifted off to sleep. My love for him overwhelmed me and I wished with all of my heart that I could have been his biological mom. I wished that I could take all of his suffering and loss away. I wished … Continue reading Foster Care Month: A Focus on Foster Moms→
The thing about foster (and adoptive) parents (gotta love them!) is that they aren’t really great at asking for help. They are the helpers, the doers, the go to people. Most likely, the foster/adoptive parents in your church are already involved in ministry in some way. Because of that, these are the people that you … Continue reading Ministry Leader Question: How to help foster families?→
A few years ago (I’ll decline to tell you exactly how many) I set a goal to run a marathon (yes, the full 26.2 miles) before I turned 30 years old. I had run several half-marathons, so the natural progression was to run the full 26.2. It was an ambitious goal based on pride and … Continue reading Foster Care is not a Sprint→
I often find myself in these conversations. They start something like this: “My husband and I have thought about doing foster care so many times. It’s just not the right time in our lives… Maybe when we have a bigger house… Maybe when our youngest is older… But I just don’t think I could do … Continue reading You probably shouldn’t be a foster parent→
This is part 3 in our series Foster Care 101. View Part 1. View Part 2. When you were graduating high school, you probably went to a variety of different colleges for visits. You asked a lot of questions, you toured, you interviewed them as much as they interviewed you. When you moved to a … Continue reading Foster Care 101 Part 3: Three Considerations when Choosing a Foster Care Agency→
*This information is for foster care based in Nebraska. Other states may have different regulations or processes. So you’ve been watching from the sidelines for awhile. Maybe you’ve been waiting for your littlest to grow a few years older. Maybe you’ve been waiting until the extra bedroom is added on. Maybe you have friends who … Continue reading Foster Care 101- Part 1→
I remember vividly when my daughter was born over a decade ago. I remember seeing my very own heart beating and operating outside of my body as she wailed until the nurses placed her in my arms. As her dark blue eyes found mine and her tears dried from her bright red face, one … Continue reading On Loving and Letting Go→
