Finishing Our Home Study (Foster Care News) | Personal

Finishing Our Home Study (Foster Care News) | Personal

A few weeks ago I made the nervous announcement that we are getting certified as foster parents! The reason I am nervous is not because we are unsure of our decision, but because it’s a big one - and it will, I think, change our family forever. On top of that, I don’t know how it will turn out. This could be a lifelong adventure, or it could be something we do a handful of times before closing this chapter of our journey. It’s so unknown, and I hate feeling out of control, yet I wanted to share what’s next for our little threesome.

The whole process began in July. I contacted a few different DSS localities, but had trouble getting in touch with the right people. Then one day I saw a flyer for a foster agency called Braley and Thompson - and lo and behold, they answered my email immediately…

Leaning Into Difficulty | Monday Musings

Leaning Into Difficulty | Monday Musings

This fall, we started to host a Bible study in our house on Tuesday nights. It is a joy and blessing to pack out (quite literally!) our entire living room and dining room space with people who love each other and love God. We have been studying the book of Exodus which, if you know anything about it, involves the story of how the Israelites escaped from slavery in Egypt. It’s an incredible story but if you don’t know the ending, the beginning of the book seems pretty dismal and a little hopeless - a lot things get worse before they start getting better.

One of the questions posed to us last week was, “How do you respond when life gets difficult?” I didn’t answer out loud at the time because I wanted the chance to really think through my answer. How do I respond? Do I get angry and doubt God, or do I take it in stride? I loved the honest answers that our group members gave, but I just wasn’t quite ready to share mine yet…

The Top 5 Questions about Willow | Personal

The Top 5 Questions about Willow | Personal

I truly wish adoption was more common and normal and that everyone at least considered the possibility, but right now I am grateful for the leaps and bounds made in the last few decades. Being adopted is no longer shameful or taboo, and the amount of people who have celebrated our family’s addition is incredible. The kindness everyone has shown completely overwhelms us in the best possible way.

For those not familiar with the process (which is most people!) I realized I tend to answer the same questions over and again. While I never mind doing that, I thought I would write down all the answers for those who have not yet gotten to ask – or might be too scared of saying something wrong! So that you can know more about adoption and we can celebrate the gift of Willow, here are the five most common questions people ask about our baby girl...