To the courthouse...

Life with foster children is an adventure in more ways than one!
From welcoming a child into your home (and life) to all the "stuff" that comes with them.
There is paperwork -- enough to deplete way too many forests I fear!
And meetings.... (just so we all feel BUSY I think) and visits (with LOTS of people)... and Dr appointments.....you get the idea.
Well today we had court again for our foster baby. We don't HAVE to go, but it sure helps to know what is going on with your case from all perspectives. Being in a small town the way they work court has been an adjustment from "big" city court. First of all Juvenile court is only once a week. You are put in either morning or afternoon "docket" so your case will be heard sometime between 9 and 12 or 1 and 4. Then you sit and listen to all the cases until your is called. It's a great lesson in government, I guess.
So as I sit there reading "Lies homeschooling moms believe" by Todd Wilson (a wonderfully encouraging book by the way!) really I am trying not to listen to how sad life is for so many families. Makes me so thankful for a life of HOPE in Christ!!! Our family has plenty of shortcomings please don't hear me saying we are perfect but our faith and desire to try to love each other, forgiving when we fall short is a drastically different picture then most of the cases heard. I am so thankful for children who are willing to love even though it hurts to let go.
All that said I found myself praying for the children and their parents in each case -- that they would come to know the Lord. Thanking God for foster families who love these children for this time. And especially wisdom for the judge as the decisions made are life impacting for all involved.

We are so thankful for your prayers for our family as we love this little one. We pray for her family to come to saving GRACE in Christ Jesus and for wisdom in the judge's decisions for this case. Today was just a "check up" we continue another 3 months until the next hearing. Most of all we thank God for giving our family willing hearts, energy and love to enfold this little one.

If you want to help the many orphans of America you don't have to be a foster parent -- call your local foster care agency -- see if they need respite providers (to give foster families a weekend off!) or if you could be a CASA (court appointed special advocate) to speak on behalf of the child. And please keep praying for these children and their families! THANKS!

Today's FEAST on God's Word:
Isaiah 55:10-11

¹⁰ As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Matthew 6:7-15

⁷And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

⁹"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹Give us today our daily bread.
¹²Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.^a]">[a]' ¹⁴For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.