Two Months Later And....

...We still aren't licensed...

After the events of the previous post, the staff at our agency decided it would be beneficial for us to take some proactive steps to make the placement process easier in the future. Given my personal and family background, the staff recommended that we talk with a counselor.

Some of you might remember the events that marked the ending of our brief journey with Buckner. They also recommended counseling, but never gave us a chance to actually go through it while being a part of their program. Covenant Kids asked us to take this step in order to answer CPS inevitable concerns. Rather than deal with the speculation at each placement opportunity, Covenant Kids can now show CPS that we have sought professional insight into our backgrounds and family.

We started seeing a counselor in late February. After completing four sessions, it was confirmed that God is a mighty God who can take the disaster that was my life and turn it into something marvelously blessed. After completing the sessions we were excited to finally get licensed, thinking that the recommendation from the counselor was all we lacked.

That assumption was incorrect.

It turns out we lacked four fairly simple pieces of information. Three of those items we were able to fax in almost immediately. The one final piece of the puzzle that still eludes us is the blasted fire inspection. At least half a dozen requests have been made to the county over the last 5 months, but no one has ever made it to our home. Last Thursday, we actually had an inspection scheduled, but then the three surrounding counties went up in flames so the Fire Marshall was busy with more weighty matters than whether or not we have outlet covers.

The earliest we can be licensed is Monday, April 20 because the family services coordinator is out of the office until then. We are praying that we can get an inspection done this week and that there aren't any more lingering paperwork issues.

I won't lie. I have battled some bouts of frustration with the developments of the last week or so. My excitement about getting started taking care of kids who desperately need a home were temporarily doused by paperwork delays that probably should have been caught back in February. Julie keeps telling me not to get so worked up about it. She makes it sound so easy.

Nevertheless, we press on. Please pray for us. We (meaning mostly me) need patience, wisdom, and humility. We'll see what Monday holds.

Prayer Request -- Possible Placement

I talked with our agency this morning regarding a few final questions before our homestudy is finalized. At the end of the conversation he let me know about a possible situation that he thought we would be perfect for. I can't give you too many details, but here are the basics.

There's a 3 year old in foster care who has a sibling due any day now. CPS is looking to place them both in an adoption motivated home.

There are absolutely not guarantees. All we are asking is that you pray -- a lot! We want God's will to be known and done. So, here are some specific things to pray for.

-- The soon-to-be-born baby make it into this world safely.
-- A home is found for these two children (even if it's not our home).
-- Julie and I correctly discern what role, if any, we are to play these two little lives.

Thanks. We love you guys. We will keep you updated.

Bobby

We are getting closer...

Ok, I know, its been like a month since we updated this thing, but we really had nothing to update. We really are getting very close to being licensed. Our homestudy is complete and has been submitted for final review. I am anticipating this will be in the next week or so. After we are licensed, it will just be a matter of waiting for a child to be placed with us. It could be the day after we are licensed, or it could be 3 months from now, we just have to leave that up to God and His perfect timing.

Our Sunday School class has started studying James. We are just going through it chapter by chapter. Let me just say, the first chapter always kicks me in the rear. (Especially the first 3-4 verses.) I always try and be aware that my hard times can and will be used for Gods glory, but most of the time I choose not to be joyful at the time. Why is that so hard? I tend to find myself mad at God and then frustrated with myself for being mad at God. Eventually I get around to understanding that God is strengthening my faith and growing my endurance, but why does it take so long for me to get there?

God,
Help me to trust you fully. Thank you for the trials that You bring forth in my life. I know and trust that You are using them for Your glory. Be with the child/children that You are going to bring into our lives. Help them to be safe and to know that they are loved by You and by us.
Julie