In our city, we often see men and women standing on the roadside holding out a cardboard sign that reads, “I’m Hungry. Need Help. God Bless.” Seeing them usually causes some kind of wrestling within my heart. It is a good thing. For a minute I get a reality check. I remember that not everyone has a home, a bed, and food to eat - a few things that, for those of us who have them, we can … [Read more...] about Teaching Our Kids about Generosity and What I Learned from Them
Fostering
Are you Enough?
A few weeks ago our family watched the movie Cool Runnings, based on the true story of the Jamaican Olympic bobsled team. It is a feel-good movie with some memorable lines. We all loved it. One of my favorite lines was something that the coach said to the team captain the night before the competition day in the Olympics. (**This post contains an affiliate link.**) He said, “A gold medal is … [Read more...] about Are you Enough?
How to Build a Strong Relationship with Social Workers and Biological Parents
This post is Tip #5 from 10 Foster Care Tips on Effective Fostering. Foster care offers opportunities to work with many different individuals. Of the many, two of the most important relationships for foster parents are the county social workers and the biological parents. They hold great influence and power to impact a foster child’s life in significant ways. It is important to build a strong … [Read more...] about How to Build a Strong Relationship with Social Workers and Biological Parents
No Room in the Inn: An Advent Reflection of a Foster Mom
“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7I’ll be honest here. I have been avoiding writing this blog the last few days. Why? I didn’t want to dampen the Christmas spirit writing about the plight of foster kids. Sounds cowardly? Maybe. But I can’t avoid it any longer. I need to … [Read more...] about No Room in the Inn: An Advent Reflection of a Foster Mom
Lesson 4: You are an Advocate, not just a Foster Parent
Just three days shy of turning five, she was dropped off to live with us. We were her second placement. From the moment she stepped into our home, all she talked about was her upcoming birthday. She couldn't wait. It was something for her to look forward to. Birthdays are fixed. It doesn’t change. Two days later, one day before her fifth birthday, I received a phone call from the court informing … [Read more...] about Lesson 4: You are an Advocate, not just a Foster Parent
Love Worth Following and Remembering: A Reflection on the Mass Shooting in Las Vegas
The evening news blared in the background as we waited for our pizza to arrive. The kids eyes were glued to the television as images of yellow tape and the police sirens flashed in the background. "Mom, what is going on? What are they talking about?" "It's about something really sad and bad that happened. Someone got killed. The news is full of so many sad and bad news like this. It is one … [Read more...] about Love Worth Following and Remembering: A Reflection on the Mass Shooting in Las Vegas