 |
| The happiest craziest part of my 2012 and January 2013. |
This year has been a bruitiful year. In January we had to say goodbye to four boys we had loved as our own for seven months in 2012. As hard as goodbye was I am so very thankful we served the purpose God ordained for us to play in their lives
I am thankful for the few days we got to spend with sweet sweet S****. The only picture I can find on my computer of her is a closeup of nothing but her sweet face which I have to completely blur so I don't see the point of even trying to post a picture. She was so eager to be loved and wanted a family but due to foster care red tape this didn't end up being the place for her. Our time together was super short but she was super fun and I will forever cherish the memories of her painting with my girls, playing frisbee golf and traipsing around the mall giggling at boys. As an added bonus I still get to enjoy the random phone call with her.
 |
| D**** Dearest & A**** Kadabbey were paired together like peanut butter and jelly for their time in our lives. |
I am thankful for six months with my D*** Dearest. We planned to adopt this sweet girl but the powers that be in foster care world decided that wouldn't work out. Saying goodbye was super hard and super painful but I am so very fortunate that God allowed me to see how he is moving behind the scenes for this girl. She has a family that I got to introduce her to who wants to adopt her that is going through the paperwork and in time she will go to live with them and she will have the family that she deserves. I am so happy for this girl and can't wait to see the look on her face when she gets to go to her forever family and realizes what sorts of surprises she has waiting for her. I am thankful to have met and loved this girl. I am thankful I got to be a stepping stone to her forever family. And I am thankful that we occasionally get to spend time with her and in time we will get to remain close enough to see her thrive with her new family into adulthood. Every time I look in the mirror and glimpse my first ever grey hairs I will get to fondly remember the crazy times with this sweet sweet girl.
I am thankful for the time I had with A**** Kadabbey. I have always felt so guilty about failing this child because I did not have to give her up. I could have kept her and I have wished every day since she walked out that I had made a different decision. I would have adopted her and as many of her bio siblings as they would let me but I felt so guilty keeping her when I couldn't keep the other half of my PB&J sandwich. I am thankful for the good times we had together and most of all thankful that God is big enough that he can take the mistakes I made and do something amazing for this girl. I am thankful she is in a home where she is happy. She gets to see some of her bio family more now and lives closer to friends. She is doing well, making smart decisions, thriving. I am at peace knowing that she is going to be ok and I am just so thankful I get to know and love her from afar for forever. I may not have done much for her but my life is more beautiful for having known and loved her.
 |
| Of all my treasures this year I probably learned the most from A***. About myself. In my parenting skills. In oh so many ways. It's amazing how a few weeks with a child can change me forever. If anything I have learned that this foster care roller coaster isn't so much about me helping these kids or doing anything for them. It's really about them enriching my life. Its funny how I set out to do good and change the world and make a positive impact, but really its these kids who do the good changing... in me and my life. Backwards but beautiful. |
I am thankful for A***. Our time together was short but she was a ray of sunshine and she humbled me. She taught me some big lessons and I will forever be a better parent to any and all kids I get to have a hand in raising. Having her in my life gave me the opportunity to learn a whole slew of parenting tricks that come in handy daily. She may not remember much about me but every time I pass her picture on my wall my heart smiles as I remember her giggle and her life will forever touch every kid I come into contact since meeting her.
 |
| Blurs from left to right... Chewey, Animal, & the Informant. |
I am thankful for Animal, the Informant, & Chewey. Their placement in my home is changing. One of these guys actually doesn't live with me anymore but I can't blog about it in a way that won't give out to much info so I won't even say which one. The other two's placement is completely up in the air at this time and I have no idea whats going to happen but I am enjoying every minute I have with them, learning from them, and completely at peace with the fact that no matter what happens knowing them and loving them is worth any and everything it costs me personally.
 |
| My girls for KEEPS. I never have to blur their sweet faces out. |
 |
| One of my 'all grown up' kiddos who came back home to visit me on vacation this year. |
I am also thankful for my 'adult children' who stayed various lengths of time with me as teenagers before we became legit foster parents. They have real parents still loved and involved in their lives but I get to be an unofficial foster Momma of sorts to them. They have all three gotten married and moved on in life. One even made me a Grandma. I don't get to see them as often as I would like and don't do enough for these sweet girls but I am thankful that from time to time they have shown up at my doorstep this past year and have needed and/or wanted and allowed me to be a part of their lives.
2013 has been a brutiful year of painful goodbyes but I find unspeakable joy in just getting to know and love these sweet treasures (some from afar) for all of forever. They have added sunshine and sparkle to my world and I will forever be the lucky one in having met them and playing a small role in their lives.
God has been so good to me in 2013. How has he been good to you?
No comments:
Post a Comment