Hallelujah! We are finally, OFFICIALLY licensed for foster/adoption in the state of Texas through the Department of Family Protective Services. WHOOHOOO! Now we wait...
Have you ever heard the saying, "Don't pray for patience because God will give you something to be patient about."? Well, this is exactly where we are right now...we are praying for patience. We KNOW that God sees the faces of the little ones that will join our family...we are waiting for His perfect timing, whether it be next week, 3 months or a year from now. We are just SOOOO excited to begin this next journey...we feel we are ready, prepared, and eager to get started and love whomever is out there, needing us.
In the mean time, it was quite humorous how Gregory, our adoption coordinator, tried to get us to take 5 little girls at our meeting yesterday! He told us, "you won't have to pay taxes for like the next 5 years if you take them, plus you'll get like a $2000 monthly supplement! They are the BEST kids and really deserve to be placed together, and you could have them like this week!" My heart was yanked out of my chest thinking about them, BUT we were thinking ABSOLUTELY NOT...there is NO WAY we could even fit 5 more kids in our van, or the bedrooms, or imagine the grocery bill?? How would we all go to the movies or out to eat? We'd even have to take turns eating! We'd be like "Tom and Shelley + Seven!" (doesn't quite have the same zing to it...)
It got me thinking though...even as we're thinking there is NO way we could take those girls, there is a family out there for them somewhere. Yes, I believe that we should be open to what God wants but MAN, I just can't imagine that He would call us to taking in FIVE! GOD KNOWS who they belong to and is just going to be working on someone's heart to take them. I asked Gregory for their names so that I can be praying for them, standing in the gap for them to have a family that loves them. He's going to email me with their info, but until then, will you join me in praying for ALL the children out there that don't have a family yet?
So I am trying to get some writing done this summer...my goal is to get something finished by Christmas. It actually is hard while everyone is home but I am setting aside time to work each day. I'm just trying to be open to God's prompting...I still may find the right job to help me transition from the public school to the church, but we will see.
Tom and I are celebrating 18 years of marriage this week and so it is amazing that we got licensed on our anniversary because we are finding strength in our commitment to each other to add to our family. We are amazed at how time flies when you're having fun...and we plan on having some more fun with our new kid(s)...and many years after they're gone too! We'll keep you posted!
