Updates on foster care process

Yesterday Olivia and I went to the doctor. She had her yearly checkup and got her updated shots ( which consisted of one shot). She did great! I on the other hand had to get a TB test for part of my DSS requirement ( it was painful!!!). I also had my eyes examined. I go back to the doctor tomorrow to have the TB spot checked. Once I get the all clear then they'll give me the medical forms to turn in to DSS so we can complete this process. Chris also has to have his eyes checked and a TB test, but his schedule didn't allow him to come yesterday. We are making good progress though and I am thankful and getting excited. Olivia and I went to Hobby Lobby after our doctor visit ( we wanted to buy some prints to hang up in the foster child's room). I can't wait to get everything hung and ready ... then I'll post some pictures. Olivia is so excited. A friend donated a stroller, high chair, bouncy seat and boy clothes this weekend. Olivia has been pushing her dolls around in the stroller; she really hopes we get a baby to foster. We have signed up for birth to 4 so any age is possible; we won't know until we get the call. We received a letter from the fire inspector today that says we passed our fire inspection. This is a long process. I used to ask people why it took so long, but now I know. It's good though, because it gives us time to prepare not only our home, but our hearts. I am so proud of my family and how we are in this together. If your heart has a desire, don't give up ... pray. I have been praying for over 6 years that my family would come to this agreement and we are unified on this. Praise God for answering my cry ( my prayer). Even those who didn't understand WHY we wanted to do this now understand. When you are in God's will you don't have to worry He takes care of everything. What a great place to be!!!

Go be a blessing ... smile at the store clerk, tip a little extra, hold the door for someone, ask a friend if you can pray for them ... you can make a difference right where you are.

Updates ...

Where do I start? Olivia and I finished school and mailed in her grades yesterday!! She earned all A's just as she did at Spartanburg Christian Academy. I think she has gotten two B+'s before, but otherwise all A's. She is super smart and very creative. I tell her all the time that she is going to make a wonderful architect ( she builds the most unique structure's with tape and cardboard :)

Chris left Monday at 5:00 to go to the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando, Florida with a group of men from our church. We picked him up at the church at 7:15 last night (it's good to have him back home). While he was away Olivia and I painted the old office/new foster child room ... we picked a nice, calming green color. It looks great! Chris was so surprised to come home and see all of the hard work we had done. We have a bed set up in the room and will also add a crib. We are going to foster birth to age 4 so we have to be prepared for those ages. I went out to our storage building and brought up some of Olivia's baby clothes and toys ( her Barney doll still talks and play music). I posted on facebook some of the items we'll need like a high chair and stroller and a friend already donated those two items for free ( what a huge blessing). Others are donating items as well. We've started buying toothbrushes and hygiene items and I am collecting shoes (a fellow foster mom told me these kids usually don't come with shoes :( We had to buy all new mini blinds to pass our home inspection so we just took care of that. We passed our fire inspection this week !! Now to complete our medical records and have our home study. I know it will all come together. I realize I don't have to have everything now, but those of you who know me know that I like to be prepared. We feel like the Lord has called us to minister to these children and we feel so very blessed. Pray for us on this journey. It is not going to be easy. I cried when I gave my kittens to new homes. Our goal is to give these children a safe and loving home until their families can get back on their feet and in a position to care for them. When our mothers and a good friend of mine became widows we began then to learn how to care for the widow as the Bible says. Now we are taking the next step to care for the orphans. James 1:27

God be with you ...

Feeling blessed and thankful

It's good when your blessings are overflowing and the Lord gives you so much to do that you don't know which way to go :) That's how I feel lately. I have many plates spinning right now, good plates, but many. We had our DSS home inspection and passed !!! I am very happy to have that part of our process complete. We are almost finished with the paper work and will be sending that in soon ( we have to get our doctor report back to mail with it). We have our 14 hour training coming up and our fire inspection all this month. It looks like we could be licensed to foster/adopt by July. Things seem to be moving right along, however, it takes time. We almost have the "office" room empty ( it's hard to move file cabinets and years of paperwork quickly) but we are making progress. The walls are bare so I am going to putty the holes and give it a fresh coat of paint. I want the foster child(ren) to have an extra special room to come home to :) I am very excited; we all are. Olivia and I still have school to finish (we have about 5 days worth of work left). We also need to find homes for two of our kittens and our guinea pig. Since we have decided to bring a kitten inside Olivia agreed that our guinea pig, Cassie, needs a new home. I can't deal with two indoor pets. I want to focus my time on the foster children, not pets. God is so good and I know he will provide for these animals.

We are excited to be going back to teach in the 5 year old Sunday school starting this Sunday. I am going to meet our co-teachers tonight to work on our room and get everything ready. I am so thankful to have such a wonderful body of believers to fellowship with each week at church. I feel very blessed.

One thing that I have noticed lately is that my exercise time is lacking. Pray that I'll get back on track with that. I miss walking in the evenings, but I've had the kittens to care for and just haven't had much spare time. I did play a game of basketball with Chris and Olivia, but I need to keep walking. While you are praying I want you to pray for a female friend of mine who is having a mammogram today for a suspicious lump (pray it is not cancer). Thank you.

Have a great day and be a blessing to someone ...