HAPPY CHANGES

This has been a wonderful season of change for our family.  For the past three years I have parented an adorable little boy.  He and his siblings were separated when they came into care.  For three years they have been living in different homes and seeing each other from time to time.  We have recently had the opportunity to bring two of them together in our home to begin a process of bonding in order to prepare them for adoption together.

It is exciting to have this opportunity to work with these two sweet children as they get ready to move on to their forever home.  A home that sounds to be just what these children need.

There will be a transition period and then it will be a bittersweet time of releasing them into their destiny.

We'll miss these cute toes:)  

And this sweet smile:)

May your future be blessed beyond measure, you both deserve it.  

ADORABLE RED HEADS

Late February two little boys came to live with us. One four years and one eighteen months. We are settling in nicely just as the lilacs are blooming and the hostas are popping their heads up out from their winter naps.

It makes me happy to watch things grow and that's just how it is with the babes that come to share some of their lives with us.  It's magical to watch them blossom when they are given opportunities and nurture.  I never want to forget to look around to see how beautiful everything is.  As a garden is a little land of enchantment, so are these precious children with all their new growth.

And, I never like it too quiet around here:)

WHAT A SPEECH!

Finally got around to hearing the Presidential Breakfast Speech given by Dr. Benjamin Carson (a pediatric neurosurgeon).  It was great!  If you don't know who Dr. Carson is there is a movie written about his remarkable life.

He started out his speech using four scriptures, then boldly referenced Jesus and God throughout his speech.  Oh-my-word, he spoke fearlessly indeed!  In case you missed it listen to it here.

ON THE JANUARY BEACH

Went out for a wintertime beach weekend.  That's what I love about the northwest, even with the four seasons the weather is usually never severe.  We had a wonderful weekend with three of the days sharing sunshine with us.  It was brisk and mildly windy these days, but hey, never mind that, and who cares that we had to wear coats we had an awesome four days!

Such a charming place we stayed, lovely in every way.  After breakfast at the beach house each morning we did some delicious wandering down at the beach.  Found some super cool rocks and the most interesting sand art I've ever seen at the beach.

Isn't this amazing?

Apparently it was left behind by the tide.

This one made me think of  a celery garden:)

This was all up and down the beach and was some thing I'd never seen before,  it captivated me.

A walk through town and some wonderful shops then home to cook a late afternoon dinner. When we weren't on the beach or at the shops in town we were snuggled in this lovely, warm home with wonderful high ceilings and gorgeous marble countertops.  This weekend was everything I needed!

FLYING HIGH

My daughter is in the middle

My daughter and a couple of her friends hit the skies back in the fall.  It was their first skydive jump, they went tandem with some pretty awesome instructors at Skydive Oregon, in Mollala Oregon.  It was a twelve thousand foot jump and was really cool to watch.

Click on the picture to get a close up

Check out this link of my daughter jumping, maybe me this year?  Looks fun...Yep!

DECEMBER 31, 2012

This has been a very busy year here in my home. With two precious babies to keep me busy, growing, changing, turning 1 and 2.  They have gone home now to be with their bio family.  I truly enjoyed this year, busy as it was, and now I look forward to what the new year brings.

We are a family of 5 right now instead of 7, my two olders and two youngers now a 6 year old and a 5 year old turning 6 in January.  We are adjusting to the change until the next precious charge's enter our door and lives.

For now, I am taking some time for relaxing, heading to the beach with a friend, just the two of us, for a few days.  Hoping for some rainless days so that we can walk the beach and do a little window shopping. We've been without rain for the past few days, but in the Pacific Northwest it can always be expected. Mild snow visited us this afternoon and freezing temperatures are expected tonight.

We had a wonderful, but busy Christmas celebrating the birth of Jesus and filled with everyone we love.  Hope yours was filled with love and joy, making memories with those you love most and best.

Have a safe and happy new year as we enter 2013.

THIS WEEK

Made a trip to the mall yesterday, while I was there and watching the activity that was going on all around me I couldn't help thinking about the tragedy that had occurred in Connecticut and here in Oregon this week and how unimportant it seemed to be there at that moment.  The children and families that have been affected during this season when the world should be celebrating is so sad, my heart is heavy.  In light of this very sad time do something kind for someone today to show the world there is some good.

AWESOMENESS

The Piano Guys, Wow!  Very talented musicians...a relaxing mix of modern and classical music.  The Piano Guys have done an amazing job with their arrangements.  You can find their work on YouTube and their videos are just as awesome as their music. They just came out with their first album check some of their music out here or here or maybe this one.  Absolutely amazing!

A BEAUTIFUL FILM

Wow!  I recently watched the film "OCTOBER BABY".  It was powerful and moving, and emotionally gripping.  It addresses deep wounds of the soul from rejection, bitterness and betrayal, then the power of forgiveness.  The movie is interwoven with both humor and seriousness.  It is the story of an adopted abortion survivor who is searching for her birth mother and looking for closure to the deep wounds of her soul.

So many emotions surfaced in my own heart as I watched this movie, having three adopted children of my own.  This movie gave me so much to think about and the parent I want to be for them and all the foster children that come to me.

This is a must see film for anyone who cares about life.

FALL THOUGHTS

I never tire of the Fall season, I think it is the most spectacular and perfect season.  It translates my senses to so many fond memories.  The start of a new school year, the fading garden, farm trips, pumpkins and apples, the crisp air in our outdoor play after school, heavy sweaters, the smell of bonfires, beautiful colors of falling leaves, crunching leaves underfoot, the call of the canadian geese overhead, hearty meals, spiced foods... BEAUTY.

Thinking about all that has transpired in these past several months and the busyness of them all I am grateful for this beautiful season that allows me to slow down a bit and prepare for the coming months with my family as we gather closer and experience this wonderful time of year, together.

A MOTHER'S PRAYER

MY HEART IS KNEELING

Lord forgive me that I have so little time

to spend upon my knees.

Raising children and running a busy house,

I have to do most of my praying 

"on hoof" as it were.

But Lord, You know my heart

is kneeling.

                                          By: Ruth Bell Graham

LOOK WHAT'S NEW AROUND HERE

A bright Spring afternoon brought such delight!

I'm liking each day since with this sweetness!

These are the best kinds of days around here, everyone is happy!

Two sisters, 16 months and 6 months.  Oh, the sweet pink goodness!

PROUD TO CALL HER DAUGHTER

Blessed beyond measure my life has been since bringing this beautiful young lady home 18 years ago.  Just turning three months when we first met in that small orphanage in Vera Cruz, Mexico, I still remember walking into that dormitory and seeing her for the first time among several others.  Sweet, tiny and precious,  I hoped that she would be mine; as it turned out she was.

And she grew and grew and grew and became a wonderful daughter and friend.  She makes me proud of her so often and she has again recently when we received news that she made the Deans List at College, with a GPA of 3.25.  Congratulations! Great job...I love you so much.

LIFE CAN CHANGE QUICKLY

Just before Spring Break a beautiful little girl came to live with us.  We all fell in love immediately, but as quick as she came she left.  She has gone on to live with her paternal grandmother and we are glad for her to find her place of permanency, though we miss her so.  And so it is, as a foster family, they come and they go a small piece of them lives in our hearts forever and hopefully ours in theirs...

It is nice to have some color around the garden these days.  It has been grey for so long and with the drab of  winter lots of rain in our part of the world. 

I was happy to be able to pluck a few flowers up and gather them in. Daffodils, Clematis (fragrant), Bleeding Heart, Vinca, Hellebore, Primrose, tulips and Anemone.

 The Lilac is budding and the hope of Spring is near.

IT'S SNOW'S IN MARCH

It is very unusual for us to have snow so late into March, but it was a welcome surprise.  In several hours it dropped a few inches. The daffodils were a little freaked out but came around later today when the sun warmed up everything.

I'm back online, needing to catch up.   Had a great trip to San Diego, gorgeous beach weather, beautiful weddings, celebrating birthday's and reuniting with several friends.  

A precious, little 4 year old girl has joined our family.  Really enjoying her cute, bold ways and big brown eyes. 

NEW YEARS NEWS

At the start of the holidays my computer crashed. With the busyness of the season there has been no time for thinking about it, though I have missed this space. I am on a borrowed computer tonight and don't know how soon I will have a new one. With our upcoming travel to Southern California for two very special weddings I imagine it won't be for some time.

However, we had a wonderful holiday spent with family and friends, and received news that our adoption was finalized; of this little guy. We are very excited and thankful to God for bringing him into our lives and allowing us to call him son and brother.  The adoption finalized on December 29th; we are only waiting for his updated birth certificate giving him his new last name.  Celebrating after the return from our trip.  Delighted!

Wishing you all the very best for your New Year...

PLACEMENT STABILITY

When foster children leave their families to come into care it is important for them to be able to establish an attachment with the foster family. This helps lessen behavior and mental health disorders. It is a time for healing and where these children should find a stable and nurturing environment. It is our responsibility as foster parents to do everything we can to ensure that these children find security and hope in our homes. This will help, greatly, eliminate the possibility of multiple placements. In-other-words, moving from home to home. Finding ways to connect with the children is important to their well being.

Unfortunately, I so often hear of foster families that cannot handle circumstances surrounding a child placed with them and request that the child be moved. Though I understand that there are situations that warrant a move I firmly believe that with a little hard work and TLC on the part of the foster parent there can be positive outcomes, eliminating the need for a new placement.

As a foster family, I have found that by welcoming the children into our home unconditionally and accepting them as a family member, we have had mostly positive experiences. The children usually accept their new life and develop a sense of belonging and security. Consistently meeting their needs allows attachments to form and brings trust, and that is the goal to being successful. Is it a lot of work? You bet, but the rewards are great.

Every child has strengths and challenges, it is our responsibility to make foster care a place for healing and work through the challenges so that the strengths emerge and stability is established.

The goal is stability, this helps eliminate disruption and the need for multiple moves while in foster care. When a child has consistency and openness they have a general sense of control in their lives.

There is a significant portion of foster children that experience multiple moves during their time in the foster care system, commonly three or more moves. I don't know if there are any statistics to support it, but my guess is that a good portion are related to behavior and mental health problems in these children, and foster families unable to cope.

Over all, I have experienced that by meeting their most fundamental needs and by being consistent in boundaries and expectations, by forming stability and trust, giving love and affection, attachments form and with attachments I have found that the children in my care generally desire to please and make home a fun place to be.