Pop the Holy Bubble March 22, 2008

An article was sent to me by a friend that was titled “Associate With Sinners” Lk. 5:29-32

The title should tell you a lot.  The premise of the article was a good point.  But lets call the people they want us to pay attention to, nonbelievers.  Christians are sinners too, and the point of the article was to get out of our little Holy bubble and mingle. 

The Holy bubble:  Christian schools, home school, Christian colleges, Church activities, Hanging out with church friends, reading christian books, listening to christian music, going to christian concerts, wearing christian clothes, even carring out bible every where. All these things by themselves are ok.  However, when we surround ourselves with nothing but this stuff we make ourselves somewhat  unapproachable. We selfishly live in a Holy Bubble. 

Fostering to adopt March 14, 2008

This is a tough process.  I would have to change my whole way of thinking as far as the adoption part is concerned.  I can’t take a child in as a foster child and hope and pray they will get to stay with me forever.  After taking the class, I have come to realize it would have to be a mission field in order for me to survive this process. 

First, when you get a child, you must keep in mind that the main goal is to get this child back with their biological parents.  These parents will be in contact with you and be working with you to reach this goal.  You must have a plan in place within 14-18 months of the child being in foster care.  Even if the parents are making the tiniest progress, the judge can rule to give them another two years to work on getting their child back.  That means you could have the child for four years and have to give them back to their parents.  Or you could find out things have worked out and the reunification is scheduled to occur and the family misses the court date and the judge could call and say, they never showed, the child is yours to keep.  That was their last chance.  Sometimes a child is brought to you right from the home, or the hospital after it is born.  You may spend a few sleepless nights trying to comfort the child, then have to get ready to leave for work the next day. 

I need to continue to pray about this, but I have an interview set up for April 1st.  No foolin’!  My classes will begin the 28th of April.  They could have started the 29th of March, but I don’t get back in town until the 30th.  But it does give me time to prepare the room, and pray.  I kind of already feel like I should be doing this.  But it was much more “fun” to think of them as my child. 

They will be the best dressed, and most active foster care children I have ever seen.  There are parents out there that use the money for themselves instead of for the kids.  I already have the preschool picked out and the extra curricular classes picked out.  And it will be so much fun taking them shopping. 

God, grant me the grace, and wisdom of the Super Nanny. 

Fostering to Adopt Update March 10, 2008

I went to my Orientation class tonight.  It was supposed to be downtown, at 6pm.  I left work early, paid a meter since I arrived early, and tried to get in the doors.  They were locked.  I went back to my car and double checked the email I was sent to make sure I had the right time, date, and place.  And indeed, according to the email, I did.  6pm and still no one.  I finally saw a woman standing outside, and asked if she was doing the orientation.  She said no but would go upstairs to find out if the class was still going on.  15 minutes later she came back and said that her supervisor tracked down a number and found out it was at Longley, and that it started at 5:30pm. I could go down there and see if they would let me in.  I thanked her for her help and left.

Blogging Lent:A Forsaken God? March 3, 2008

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” – Matthew 27:46

This has to be one of the most confusing statements out there for those of us who believe in the Trinity.  Some will say it is  because Jesus was at His lowest point with the sin of the world on His shoulders.  That Jesus just felt that God was far away. 

St. Pattricks Day Parties for Kids March 1, 2008

OK, now I know that for some Christians this will be hard because of the Lie that is told.  But man, did my kids have a blast with this last year. 

 The family I work for has Irish background.  So they really wanted us to work out a fun party for the kids.  This is what we did. 

We started by talking up leprechauns to the children.  We simply looked up some of the legends of Leprechauns and shared the ok ones with the children. 

Then when the kids weren’t around we painted rocks with gold spray paint. They look pretty real.  Use jagged rocks all sizes.  Use a Gold metalic spray paint so it really is shiney. 

What Do You Think? March 1, 2008

I have this pencil that I have been using and I just paid attention to the saying on it.  I have no idea where I got it from, but here is what it says,

” God can only do for you …What He can do through you!”

 Is this like a God helps those who helps himself comment?

Anyways, just wondering your thoughts on it.