8 Months To Forever

Eight months. 

Eight months ago Saturday we said YES to a newborn baby girl ready to be released from the hospital and YES to her 16 month old brother (who was in a different foster home that did not accept newborns). 

I have vowed to be completely honest with you readers on this blog because, well, otherwise I am failing to capture the REAL world of fostering & to adequately portray God’s hand in all of this.

So, that being said.. Our (very hesitant) ‘YES’ we said 8 months ago with less than an hour to decide… it was very much followed by an “Oh Sh*t” (or 2) and many days of “what were we thinking?!”

We had said ‘YES’ because we both felt that nudge that God wanted us to do this. 

But we had NO CLUE how it was going to work out. 

We found ourselves parenting 4 children ages 4 and under. And we quickly learned that it was not going to be an easy journey. Our own two (bio) children (ages 2 and 4) fall under the “strong-willed” and “high needs” (clingy) categories & we added on a newborn with night-time feedings and daytime worries (illness etc) & a 16 month old with sometimes 4 appointments a week, a surgery to be scheduled & had, and behaviors that were difficult to manage at times with so many needs all at once.  

It was a daily… hourly…struggle. 

Impossible really.

Except God. 

He had a plan ALL along. He was working behind the scenes & the story He created is too beautiful not to share.

You see, HE MADE IT POSSIBLE.  No way we could have made it through the past 8 months without His constant STRENGTH poured into us. He provided just enough patience, energy, and peace that made our impossible seem possible. We had to take the last 240 ish days ONE DAY AT A TIME. We had to trust that, like manna from heaven, He would meet our daily needs. 

And He did. Each and every day. Some mornings it was in the form of donuts and an aunt who offered her time. Others, it was a text from a friend who said just what I needed to hear. Or a neighbor who left a treat on our doorstep and a note. 

Matthew 21: 21-22 “ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

All along, in the back of my mind and deep in my heart, I KNEW God had a special plan for these 2 kiddos He placed into our temporary care.

And, now, as I look out into the vast ocean blue here in Miami, FL, I am reminded just how BIG God is. That nothing in this world is chance…His hand is in/on everything. 

The day before leaving for this rather last minute FL trip, we said our “see you laters” to these 2 beautiful children God allowed to be a part of our family the past 8 months.

My heart ACHES so badly, missing them immensely, yet I am filled with a deeply rooted PEACE.

And while it was HARD (so HARD) to say goodbye, I am completely in awe of God.

You see, the couple He chose to (forever) parent these 2 children is a close family friend. 

And the first moment I held the newborn (“Precious”) at home, on our living room couch, this couple entered my mind. I do not think for a second that was a coincidental thought. I can go back into my text history of that day 8 months ago and see the text I sent my sister-in-law that said, “I just feel like she (newborn) is meant to be J & A’s.”

I knew at that point that they were considering adopting through foster care to welcome children into their home, but “what were the chances?!” 

At that point, I didn’t even know for sure where this case would go, or whether that would even be an option (timing and being chosen etc). But I did pray, “God, if it is YOUR will, please allow these kids to be a part of J & A’s forever family.”

Fast forward 7 months, to June 7th, and while at the zoo with all 4 kiddos (call me crazy), I got a text that said “J & A (last name) just accepted (pre-adoptive) placement of (foster kiddos names)!”

God is SO good and SO faithful.

So we have spent the last 3 weeks slowly introducing and transitioning them to their new parents (and pup) & home.

‘J’ said so perfectly in her note to us on Friday, the eve of their final transition to their home, “We are still in awe that God planned for these kids to become a part of our family by first becoming a part of yours.”

How blessed are we to have been a part of this beautiful story and to be fortunate enough to remain a part of their lives as a part of their forever extended family. 

And to think I almost chickened out of this whole fostering journey before it ever began! 

*** I received photos of the kids while here on our (distraction) vacation and it is SO evident to me that they are where they were always supposed to be.

Thank you God.

♥ Angela

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