Category: foster care
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March 5, 2020
Three years ago today, I got a call at work that changed my life forever. I stepped out into the hallway, next to a big sunny window that overlooked the parking lot, and returned our social worker’s call. A baby boy in the NICU. Born at 26 weeks. Drug exposure. On a ventilator. One week…
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Saying goodbye
I woke up the day after Christmas feeling as if a weight had settled over my heart. It was like my body remembered what my mind was trying to forget—that today was the day Cece was leaving us. If you know anything about foster care, then you know the status is almost always: “It’s complicated.”…
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The family I have now
Josh recently suggested that we get some family photographs taken. He learned of a coworker who has a photography business on the side, and thought it would be a nice way to capture our family in this season of life. I found every reason to say no. Winter isn’t always an ideal backdrop, not to…
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Attachment parenting & a confession
When I was pregnant with CJ, I read all about attachment parenting. Breastfeed your baby until they go to kindergarten! Wear them in a wrap on you at all times! Respond to every whimper and cry! I tried—my goodness did I try. The first major roadblock I ran into was that I could not, of…
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Cece
Meet baby Cece! She is 5 pounds, 13 ounces of pure love. Let me back up to last Friday afternoon. I had just put the boys down for a nap when the social worker called. She gave me a few basic details: A baby girl in the NICU with nowhere to go. Going through some…
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The love we choose
My oldest son grew in another woman’s womb for 26 weeks. He came into the world on a cold February afternoon, unbeknownst to me. He was ushered into the land of the living with needles, monitors, a feeding tube, and a ventilator. A week after his birth I got a phone call from the social…
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Yes
What if they had said yes? I’ve wondered this hundreds of times since Kyeler came into our family. We were not the first family the social worker called about being his foster parents. Before us, she asked the family that was fostering (and has since adopted) his full sister and two half siblings. What if…
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June 15
On the morning of June 15, 2020, I bounced out of bed (well, as much as a 6 months pregnant woman can “bounce”) and double checked that everything in the house was just right. The bassinet was set up in the guest room, the play mat was laid out on our living room floor, preemie…
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Adopted!
You guys… it’s official!!! Kyeler’s adoption has been finalized!!!! I don’t think I’ve even shared his real name on here yet, wow. It happened about two weeks before Christmas—the absolute perfect gift. Kyeler has always felt like part of our family but it’s so wonderful knowing that he’s really, truly never leaving. I could cry…
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Father’s Day 2020
Happy Father’s Day to the man who: -leads our family with grace and humility -loves and cares for children who are not his own -once dressed up as Santa Claus using a white plastic bag as a beard and a pillow for a belly -authentically lives out James 1:27 -knows how to make any kid…
A Continual Feast 