So, I started this blog in order to share our journey of being foster parents to give others an idea of what a foster family looks like. I failed miserably at updating, but hopefully now that life has slowed a little I will be able to update a little more. Since my last post, God has blessed our family with a wonderful foster son! He is six, and seems to be adjusting really well to our family. We were so excited when we got "the call" and received him into our home. A couple of days into having him there, reality hit for both my husband and I. We reached a breaking point that caused us to evaluate what we were doing, and why. It was hard having another child in the house, and we weren't sure if we were up to the challenge! As we cried out to God for direction, we were comforted in knowing that he has called us to "look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world". (James 1:27). We realized we were trying to be comfortable, when in fact as Christians we are not called to live an "easy" life. A verse that helped me through this is 2 Corinthians 12:10: "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong".
So here we are, three months later, a happy family of four (and a turtle)! Our foster son is progressing in ways that we could not have even imagined and is fitting into our family. Logan just turned two and is talking up a storm! Our foster son and Logan are the best of friends, and our foster son calls Logan "his baby". We foster through an agency called Bethany Christian Services, and our social worker is excellent and has been there for us through all of our questions and concerns. We have a decent relationship with our foster son's birth parents, and have realized that praying for them and treating them with kindness and respect can go a long way. Ray and I just try and remember that this is a ministry. We are doing this to advance Christ's kingdom, and we want to minister not only to our foster son, but his parents as well. They need Christ just as much as any of us!
Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers for our family. We love the support from our family and friends!
Ways to pray for our family:
- pray for our foster son as he is awaiting answers for what will happen next in his life.
- pray for our family to grow in this journey and direction as far as excepting another child into our home (we have not gotten a call, but are possibly considering taking in another child)
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI am SO PROUD of what you and Ray are doing! It's been so amazing to watch your foster son adapt to the family and really show such a great personality and begin flourishing at home and at school.
Kelly and I pray regularly for you guys, that you'll adjust to the new challenges and opportunities and continue to provide a great home for both Logan and the other children God brings into your life--both of your own, and foster children. Most importantly, we pray--and KNOW--that your home will be a place where the all the children in there will see not only that you and Ray know the Gospel but that it's something that brings you immense joy and meaning. Even in their brief time with you, we pray that will be such an impact that it will affect the way they live their lives years down the road.
--Chris
Hi Ashley - glad your blogging. I have many blogs I read. I, too, love what you and Ray are doing and want to share about it. Your foster son sounds like an amazing young man. And of course Mr. Logan, such a cutie. Can't believe he is talking already!!
ReplyDeleteProud cousin over here.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the verses that you shared. I have to be reminded daily that following Christ is not comfortable. And when I am weak...He makes me strong.
Thank you and Ray for serving the Lord!
May "foster son" learn and know HIM!
I am so glad things are working out. We have been fostering for 4 years and it is not easy!! But we too feel it is a ministry. While I have a chance to stay home with our son, We have added three more and have a foster baby too. 5 all together. And each one that comes in there is about a 2-3 month adjustment period. And we too wonder what we are doing some days. But we work through it and get to our next day!!
ReplyDeleteOur goal as foster parents is to help reunite the family. Working with the family is a big key and I am so glad to see that you are doing so. So many foster parents I know don't want anything to do with the family. And not every parent are going to be easy to work with. I get many sob stories...its not my fault, it is DHR's fault.
God's Blessing's to your family.
Bethany, isn't that Lutheran?