One week from today.

One week from today, I get to hold my little girl in my arms and never worry again about the state taking her back.

One week from today, I get to hear the judge say that our little girl is officially a "Vesper."

One week from today, I can look my little girl in the eyes and say with confidence "You are my daughter and you are safe."

One week from today, I will still struggle with emotions of knowing her birth mom is on a fast track to destruction and that one day, we will have to have some very hard talks with our precious daughter.

One week from today, I will praise God, in new ways I can't even imagine right now, for blessing our family in ways I never even thought to ask.

One week from today, I will mourn for all the foster families I know who had hoped to be in our shoes, but were forced to say "Goodbye".

One week from today, when we tuck our precious daughter in and thank God for bringing her into our family, we will have new joy.

One week from today, when I hear her say "Mama", my heart just might explode with love and contentment.

One week from today, I will be praying for all the foster families I know who are hoping to be in our shoes soon.  I know their hearts are both thankful for us, but anxious for the outcome for their own little ones.

One week from today, we will celebrate with family and friends, who have prayed for us along this journey and have been rocks for us to lean on.

One week from today, I will reflect over the past 13 months and stand in awe of God's faithfulness to our family and to our precious daughter.

One week from today, our family will be complete.

Let the countdown BEGIN!

"A little child enters your life and fills a special place in your heart. A place you never even knew was empty!"

Author: Unknown

Heart In My Pocket

As we enter not only National Adoption Month, but the month of our own adoption, I just want to give every one fair warning.....I will probably be posting about it quite a bit this month. (on Facebook) So if I seem annoying, just ignore my posts. :)  On the flip side of this, I want to make sure EVERYONE knows that what I post isn't intended to make anyone feel guilty for not fostering or adopting.  I know not everyone is called to this particular ministry.  God calls us all to serve Him in different ways.  What He's called our family to do isn't exactly what He's called others to do.  Yes, foster care is a particular passion of mine, but I would never want to guilt someone into doing something they aren't called to do.  However, I know that watching a couple of families in our church foster children, then eventually adopt, was VERY key in our decision to foster.  I would LOVE for our journey to be used by God to call other families to begin their own foster care journey.  I pray that God would use our family in that way.  

So with that all being said, I want to share a story that a fellow foster momma shared with me.  It has haunted my thoughts every day since she told me.  I have yet to read through what she shared without tears flowing freely.  This family has several foster children.  These children are a bit older and are beginning to be able to verbalize their emotions and memories as they heal.  Anyway, the other night, my friend was putting her wee one to bed and while tucking him in, said, "I love you with my whole heart."  He replied "Now my heart is fixed"  My friend asked "What happened to your heart?"  He said to her, "Well, when I lived in that other house, um, well, I put my heart in my pocket, but it kept falling out on the floor.  Then at your house, my heart is fixed.  Thank you for fixing it"   

Have you been thinking of doing foster care, but are hesitant?  My question is this.....  Is God calling you to help a child whose heart has been falling out of his pocket?