I want my Issac not an Ishmael

As I was listening to 88.7 FM The Cross a week or so ago I happened to listen during the talk show "It's a Mom Thing". They were sharing the adoption story of a widow. I am not sure how she became a widow, because I  started listening during the middle part of the story. However, she did end up adopting. I loved her story, because she did not have a desire to adopt. Her answer to people was "God hasn't spoken to me about adoption." When people did not understand this response she would tell them, "I want an Issac not an Ishmael."

My heart beamed when she said that! That is exactly how I feel, but I did not know how to put it into words. I can promise you Lance and I want a child of our own more than words can express. However, we know in our hearts that God has a special child for us, just like He did for Abraham and Sarah. In the mean time we are excited to receive the blessings each child brings into our home.

Blessings we have received:

1. We have been able to touch the life of a child who was born 2 months to the date before we were even married.

2. We have been able to touch the life of twins who were born before Lance and I even knew each other existed on this earth.

3. We are learning how to see life through different eyes.

4. We have met some wonderful people through the foster care  system that maybe we would have never crossed paths.

5. We are able to experience parenthood in  unique manner.

Oh! And the lady did end up adopting. Her story was amazing! Readers' Digest Version:

Her and a friend were talking about a possible adoption situation. That night she dreamed that she met someone at a gas station and picked up a curly head boy. A few days later she had a lady come to her front door asking for help. The widow helped the lady and then the lady told her she wanted her (the widow) to adopt her child. They met at a GAS STATION and the BOY had CURLY HAIR. (chill bumps!) God's power is amazing!

And. Then. There. Were. THREE!

When I saw Ms. C's number pop up on my caller ID yesterday my heart fluttered. She's the one who called us about our first placement, so I hoped she was calling for another placement. She asked how things were going and if I had a moment to talk.

First let me explain the word respite. Respite is when a person who is a foster parent needs a break from their current children. They may have planned a vacation or special trip in which they were not expecting a couple of extra people joining them. They may also need time to just take a break.

So, in saying that we are going to provide respite next week (Monday through Sunday) for some fellow foster parents. We will have two extra children with us next week. We are EXCITED! We will have even more fun, because they are twins! I have always heard that twins are fun.

"Pretty in Pink" in pretty excited as well. She told Mr. Lance, after our trip to Aunt Betty's with all the cousins, that we needed to "get more kids". So, she will have her chance for a week.

God continues to bless us. I am overfilled with joy that we are getting to meet so many children through this opportunity and journey!

He gives the childless woman a household,

{making her}the joyful mother of children.

Hallelujah!

Psalm 113:9 (HCSB) 





Meet Joseph: Foster Dad

Tonight as I read from the devotional I recently started I was shown a new side to the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I never thought of it in this way, but it is amazing!

Take a moment to read Matthew 1: 20-24.

In these verses it tells how the angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream and told him to take Mary as his wife. The angel also told him how Jesus would be born and was conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Think about it... Joseph had not even taken Mary to be his wife and she was already "with child". He was taking on the role of loving, caring for, and helping to raise some one else's child, and God's child at that. I have never looked at Joseph in this way. Tonight I gained an even greater respect for the man Joseph chose to become. He did not have to take Mary as his wife. He chose to take a step of faith and follow God's plan. He chose to step outside of his cultural/religious norms.

In the devotional it quoted a foster dad stating that in four years he had seen 7 children come in and out of his home. He had taken the time to care for them and love them while they were in their care. He wondered if he had made a positive impact on their life, what they were doing, and what they would become. I wonder what Joseph was thinking as he saw Jesus dying on the cross? He had taken 33 years of his life and called himself Jesus' earthly father. He cared for someone else's child.

How many men are willing to do that? I'm not bragging on my husband (although in my eyes he is the best), but I am honored to be blessed with him in my life.


Just a midnight snack to chew on! I had to type it while it was fresh on the mind.

 Roasting marshmallows for s'mores

 Taking the training wheels off



I love him! 

(I am following a devo plan "Fostering Hope" from www.fosteringhopeproject.org)

Tied Off

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. (Hebrews 13:2 NKJV)


There are days when I wonder where is God leading us next. And just like a child I also ask "Why?" Over a month ago we allowed a stranger, an angel into our home. We have shown her love and planted a seed which we may never see the fruits until our meeting place in heaven.

This angel is still here with us, but we don't know how much longer. There's a term Lance uses on the boat: "Tied off". This usually happens when they have come upon bad weather or rough winds. They have to shove into the nearest bank and wait it out. During this time him and I get to talk more often than other times, because, well, basically he's bored. Lol.

This thought came to me today. Maybe God gives us times in our lives to "tie off" to the nearest tree trunk or piling. During this time we should take the opportunity of being "bored" to talk to our heavenly father more frequently. I stumbled across this verse in Hebrews (see above) as I started a new devotional today focused towards foster care. I know I didn't stumble across it accidentally, but am "tied off" to it for the next 31 days. God continuously reveals and reminds me of why Lance and I are called to be foyer parents. I just need to take the time to listen.

WHY?

A three letter word that I am sure I have heard at least 200 times since June 1st and will hear it a hundred times more:

Why do we do that, Ms. Becka?

Why is that house broken?

Why does she look like that?

Why are we going there?

Why is that green?

Why is it raining?

Why can't I go?

Why do I have to wear these shoes?

Why do I eat this?

Why does it get dark?

Why, why, why?

My answer to many of the "whys" is "because God wants it to" or "because I said so." As I was thinking about all the "whys" it made me think about our relationship with God. For 2 years we asked "why,God?"

Why do others around us get to be blessed to be parents?

Why can't we get pregnant?

Why can't someone ask us to adopt their child they don't want?

Why do we have to go through this trial?

Why do we have to cry these tears?

Why can't we be parents?

Why, why, why?

And the entire time, God was telling us in a still small voice "because I have a plan for you." Yes, we were listening to God. Yes, we were praying. Yes, we were reading His word. But, being a "child of God" we still asked "why". Just like this child in our home and hearts is now asking us "why".

As parents (and I proudly admit we are NEW at this!) we want to think that "because we said so" is enough, but yet we ask the same "why" to our heavenly father. When He says "because I said so, and it's in My word" He wants that to be enough for us, but we struggle with understanding that it is enough.

So, the next time your child asks "why",

remember you're walking in the same shoes (or running in your "fast" shoes)...

12:52 P.M., May 29, 2012

It was at 12:52 P.M. on May 29, 2012 that we received a call and found out we were certified as foster parents!

I give praise to our heavenly Father! I praise Him, because He changed our hearts and in turn our prayers changed. I praise Him, because he has opened doors when we thought doors would never open. I praise Him, because He has chosen us for a child at an appointed time we do not yet know. I praise Him, because He knows the plans and they are not of evil, but of HOPE!

I am thankful for our family and friends who have been with us through this journey and will continue to walk the miles with us.

My heart is overfilled with joy!

I get to be a momma :)

Exciting things are already taking place... some we know, some we don't know. Please keep in mind that I will only be able to share certain information due to the confidentiality of the children who will come in our home. Please continue to pray for us and for the children. We want to give them a chance when they have no chance. We want to give them hope when they have lost all hope.

"Then Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high..."

 (1 Samuel 2:1a)  

It takes a village...

I am a very lucky woman... I have several women in my life who have helped to raise and continue to influence me. First and foremost, I begin with my own mother, Momma a.k.a. Ma. God knew what He was doing when He brought me into her life as her first born child. (Yes, I am bragging about myself!) He gave her the opportunity to raise a girl into a young woman and He chose the BEST role model. She is the most kind hearted, loving, selfless, Christ loving woman I know.

"Momma and Me at my shower in Flowood"



" Momma fixing my hair for my wedding"



 "Memaw, Me, and Momma (Circa '96)"

Second, there was my Memaw (my mother's mother). I was so blessed to be called her granddaughter (and her only granddaughter for 21 years!). She gave everything she could for her children, her grandchildren, and even those she did not know. She set the bar high for all of her "girls". She even told my momma, in what happened to be the last year of her life, that I had become like one of her daughters. That is as close as you can get to your grandmother, in my eyes anyways. I spent many, many nights on the phone outside my dorm room at NSU planning for my future. Everytime we ended the phone call she would say "Well, I guess we have it figured out now". I could always call her and she was always there, unless of course she had "some interest in this movie" on Lifetime. :)

"Memaw and Me:September 2007"



Third, there are my aunts, Stephanie and Sharon. They gave me many fond memories growing up and have always supported me in everything I do. I can always count on them to have my back! And I always thought it was so cool to hear the cashiers say "Is she your daughter? She looks just like you!"

 "Stephanie (+Preslee), Me, and Sharon (a.k.a. Sissy): September 2007"

(They hosted one of my wedding showers)

There have been and continue to be other women in my life as well. I could not be more blessed to say that I have been reared in a Christian home and surrounded by Christian women. My prayer is that I can one day be the mother example that my mother and these women were for me!

Love you all!

Happy Mothers Day to ALL the mothers in my life!