This weekend was such a challenge. He has begun calling names when he is angry. Right now it is Fatty. All my training says ignore it and not react to it. But when he is shouting it in the grocery store, I want to hold up a sign that says, he doesn’t mean it. He is just going through emotional struggles. Sometimes I can’t ignore it and I send him to time out saying we need to talk nice to each other. On good days I ignore it or if it is a calm moment I change the conversation and distract him. He must have called me fatty at least 50 plus times today alone. (more…)
Fostering to Adopt and Tough Times December 28, 2008
Wow, what a journey and it hasn’t even started. I don’t want to discourage people from doing this. But you definately have to be patient and flexible. I accepted a little boy. I was so excited about him. I was told the beginning of November about him. It took 3 weeks just to meet him for the first time. The first two times the foster mom was a no show. And I haven’t seen him since. It really frustrated me to no end. I finally have a date to begin transition, but not until the end of January. That will be the next time I see him. About 2 months from the first time I met him. Seems to me like starting from scratch again. He won’t remember anything about me. He will determin how long the transition will take. And I am fine with moving at his pace. In the first meeting we had no worries about the biological parents wanting him back. So I thought of him as a child to adopt. As of my last meeting, the father has said he wants his son. So now he will only be coming to my home as a foster child. It could take up to two years for everything to fall into place for him to be adopted. Now i’m torn on what to be to him. Does he call me mommy, does my nephew consider him a cousin, And what will this do to his stability and security in life? This is part of being a flex family. I signed up for this, and so far I am ok with it. I saw a foster mom in the hall who was crying because she brought her little foster child to court with her and his biological parents saw him for the first time and decided they wanted him back. She has had this child since he was an infant and was there to see the parents rights terminated since they hadn’t seen or heard from them in well over a year. Things can change just like that. Now she won’t be able to adopt him and is devistated. Again, I still seem to be ok so far.
Probably because he hasn’t been in my care yet.
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The Giving Tree October 22, 2008
This is in my collection of children’s books. I love this book and have used it in all my teachings. I used it, after many years of owning it, in one of my sundayschool classes that I taught. The story all of a sudden became a clear picture of how Jesus loves us. He sacrificed everything for us by giving His life. But He is still there giving us even more. He listens to our needs, desires, and pleas for help. All He desires in our Christian walk is for us to be still and sit with Him. To just sit. Listen. Be still. Often we are so consumed by our own wants and lives that we tend to ask Him for help and then run off on our own courses again, often with just a quick “thanks”.
Have you ever wondered if we practice more and more of just sitting, listening, and being still before Him, how much less complicated would our lives be?
Shell Sylverstein never intended it to be a book about Jesus, it just became that illistration for me.
Adoption/Foster Care October 7, 2008
Just a quick update. I have been licensed, and I have been briefed on the contract. I sign the contract today. I am already allowed to be matched. And this is the scary part. This is a life time commitment. Not a passing phase. For some of you, your children are chosen for you. They are just born to you and you love them like crazy. I feel weird that I am picking the children. How do I make a wise decision?
There is one little girl that is ready for adoption. I can’t seem to get her top five needs. She is older then I origionally wanted, 8, but there is something about her that seems like a fit.
There are two other little girls. Sisters. Perfect in age, 3&4. Just what I wanted. But they have been diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol syndrome. This is something that affects them their entire life. I don’t know much about it, and that is why it is a bit uncertain for me. But God may make this decission because a relative is intersted in adopting them. And they get first choice.
How do I know which children to adopt? Part of me just wants them all. Part of me is scared to make the wrong choice. Biological parents don’t have to go through this do they?
Anyways, any prayers would be fabulous. My spelling is horrible this morning. Blah.
Sierra Association of Foster Families August 24, 2008
SAFF Is a great organization I want to let you all know about. There are lots of ways we can help Foster Families here in Reno. You can click on the link to find out more, but here is some of what I know.
Donations. Saff Takes donations of monetary value for things like sports activities/lessons for the children, conferences for the foster parents to attend which are like workshops to learn new ways to help your foster children thrive in such a crazy world, school supplies, tutoring and education, as well as for other reasons.
They also take donations of New Toys or gift cards for The SAFF Birthday Closet. The Sierra Association of Foster Families maintains a selection of new, donated toys and birthday gift items for foster families to choose from for every foster child in their home. SAFF usually has a selection of gift cards, movie passes or other appropriate items for teens in care in addition to games, sports related items, personal electronics and clothing items they may choose from. (more…)
Rafting on the Truckee River August 17, 2008
Friends and I went rafting today up at Tahoe on the Truckee River. It was beautiful, relaxing, and lots of fun! I laughed a lot as Randy and I paddled the raft and tried to steer us out of the bushes. I wasn’t steering, but there were times the kids were helping and we would get turned around, so we would just sit in the water and spin round and round. 
Pain June 22, 2008
My nephew stayed with me Saturday night. He is 3 1/2 years old. While in bed i asked him questions about some of his favorites. The one I was most surprised about is his favorite song, Pain by 3 Days Grace. (more…)
