Foster Care.

Over the last few months, God has been introducing the concept of fostering to me and my husband. At first, it came in the form of fostering animals. Back in January, Kevin's aunt began fostering a dog and we learned that there was a strong need for people to serve as foster parents for animals due to shelters being full. Kevin and I discussed the idea of taking animals into our home until they could be adopted but after much discussion, we chose not to proceed with the idea at the time. We knew with summer coming up, we'd be out of town often and having to ask someone to watch both Rimy and another animal while we were on vacation could be overwhelming. So we thought we'd discuss the idea again in the fall. 

A short time later, in February, God introduced the form of fostering children to us. While waiting at a restaurant, I struck up a conversation with a lady that was waiting on her husband to pay. As she stood at the entry way, I noticed the little girl in her arms. She was the cutest little thing. She looked like she was about a month old and she had the hugest blue eyes I have ever seen. In talking with the lady, I discovered that she was actually this little girl's foster mother. She explained to me that the little girl was actually three months old but had been born prematurely. Her mother was a drug addict and her father was not in the picture. Therefore, they'd had her since she came home from the hospital. The story was sad but very common. As I left the restaurant, I called my husband and told him about this little girl. I told him I didn't understand why, but I could not shake that little girl's face from my mind.

Here it is two months later and that little girl's face and story still burns in my mind. Since that day, I have encountered several people who are foster parents as well as several children who are in need of foster homes. With every story, my passion for these children have grown. For the last few days I have been praying for God to show me a way I can help these children and then yesterday the opportunity to start the process of becoming a foster parent was presented to me. I spoke to Kevin about his feelings towards this and like me, he wants more information. 

The thought of being a foster parent is scary. These children come from broken homes, where love is lacking, and abuse is present. I keep asking God, what do I have to offer these children? I feel like nothing but then I'm reminded that I can offer them a temporary home where Christ is present and I can show them what love really means. But then another part of me poses the thought that I know without a doubt, I'll become attached to these children and will hate to see them become adopted or returned to their families. It's a constant mental struggle in which I need God's guidance. 

So I am asking you to please keep Kevin and I in your prayers. Our prayer is that God will show us if this is truly what he wants for us. Does he want us to become foster parents? Is the fact that we were asked to go through this process his way of opening up doors? Or is this just a test? Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers until we are given an answer.