Our Weekend Visit {Foster Adoption}
Friday afternoon, Ken and Kathryn went to pick up the kids up for the weekend. I’d been praying that we’d get the TPR order (to terminate parental rights) before we had the children for the weekend so that we’d have a little more clarity on this whole foster-adopt situation. All these if’s are hard to stomach.
Finally…
Just before they arrived back here at the house, I got word the TPR had been granted. It’s hard to be happy about that, knowing it means they are now legally orphans — but it is a step towards being able to adopt them. Now we wait to see if any relatives contest the court order. If that happens, we’ll have another wait to see what the courts decide; if no one contests the order, then the time frame for adoption may not speed up (because of how long they have to be in our home, etc), but it would finally make the children legally free for adoption.
Full speed ahead (and I need more caffeine).
As soon as Scout got out of the car, she ran to hug me me and said excitedly, “We get to spend the night with you!”
Friday evening, we played, then ate supper, played a little more, bathed them, read a story, and tucked them in bed. Jem had quite a bit of trouble falling asleep and kept getting out of bed (going to have to brainstorm how to get over that), but eventually went to sleep well enough to pop out of bed before 7AM. I am not a morning person, and I’ve forgotten how much energy little people have from the MOMENT they get up, so I think I’m going to have to add coffee and naptime to my days — at least for a little while! {Little people exhaust LacyDog, too, especially since they think she’s THE coolest thing since sliced bread!}
Saturday, we went about a “normal” day with two new kids added to the mix. Kathryn went to mitzvah class as usual; Lindsey worked most of the day. My mom stopped by to meet the kids. She brought her little dog Mocha, who was a huge hit with the kids. I didn’t know how to introduce my mom because she isn’t yet Granma, so I tried just saying she was my mom, but then Scout asked, “What’s your mom’s name?” Awkward moments, folks.
We had hoped to go to the park, but it was bitterly cold (at least for Georgia!) so we opted for a McD’s playground. Diane and Brandon met the kids briefly last time, but came over Saturday to spend a little time with them. Scout drew pictures for Diane, and Brandon played LEGOs with Jem. Adorableness! Brandon and Diane’s excitement about the kids blesses me more than I can say.
Again, Jem had trouble staying in bed and going to sleep — but considering all that’s going on in his life right now, who could blame him for having trouble sleeping in a strange place? We know that to some extent, he’s testing to see what he can get away with, so we’re trying to be kind but totally consistent in sending him right back to bed every time.
Cute moments abound.
Sunday, the kids were excited to go back to church with us, and seemed to enjoy it again. They were super-excited to see Brandon and Diane again, too. Out in the parking lot, we said our goodbyes to Diane and Brandon, and then Scout pipes up, “Bye! I love you both!” and Jem had to holler it, too. One of our friends, walking a little way behind us on the sidewalk said, “That’s so sweet, I think I’m gonna cry!” Lindsey said, “I know! I have tears in my eyes, too!”
Another cute moment: Lindsey was moving slow Sunday morning and the rest of us were in the minivan waiting on her to head to church. When Ken got in the car, Jem thought he was leaving without Lindsey, and he was adamant in telling us, “Don’t leave without M’Lindsey! You can’t leave without M’Lindsey!” (He started out calling her Miss Lindsey, and somehow shortened it so it sounds like he’s saying “my Lindsey.” It’s seriously cute.)
I had some snuggling with Scout when she crawled up in my lap Sunday afternoon, still a little sleepy from her nap. And when I tucked Jem in bed one night, he rubbed my head and told me, “I love your hair.” These little people melt me.
I recognize that these melt-my-heart moments are good, because there will be moments when I’m exhausted and things aren’t going well, and I may have a moment or two of wondering what kind of insanity it is that brought me to this place — and it’s ever so much easier to get through those moments when I’ve stored up these moments in my heart. {Psst: this applies to all parenting!}
After we’d taken them back to their foster home Sunday evening, and after they’d both hugged me tight to say goodbye, and Scout had come back out for one more hug and to kiss my cheek and tell me to have a good night and we’d done “I love you”s in sign language, I got a text from a friend who’d met them that morning. She said, “They are precious! Don’t you just love them? I want to have y’all over to play!…”
I quickly answered her text, but later, I thought more about her question, and I realized: Yes, I do love them.
Regardless of what happens in the future, despite the uncertainty of whether or not they will remain in our lives… I love them.
Wife, mom, J-ma. Introvert who enjoys good books, sunshine, and authentic conversation. Often seen with a steaming mug of tea in hand – unless it’s lost yet again in the microwave. Read more »
It’s sounded like you had a good visit! It will be a hard road ahead-but you know -totally worth it!
I’m going to have to stop reading your posts because they keep making me sniffle happily. No, not really – yes I sniffle but it’s worth it to follow your progress towards adoption!
A bedtime helper: Ask Barb @Harmony Fine Arts for cd suggestions….she was kind enough to give me some great ideas when my youngest was 2 and wanted his own music, and it worked wonders at keeping him in bed and ready to sleep.
This is so incredibly neat! I’m so glad to share this journey with you all. These 2 kids sound very precious.
Reading along as your story unfolds has made me aware of just what an awesome responsibility we as parents are given on a daily basis. Thank you for sharing this. It is a beautiful chapter.
Oh Jamie — this is the most beautiful post I’ve read in A LONG time. It’s amazing to watch God working in this situation. I admire your persistence when your little guy didn’t want to stay in bed – firm and loving – I agree that is the best approach. Security comes with boundaries and love, that’s for sure.
Thanks for blogging about all of this. Our pastor is starting the foster to adopt journey and I have pointed him to your blog!
Mary,
Thanks for sharing with your pastor, and tell him to feel free to email me if he ever has questions, etc!
How awesome, Jamie! So happy you got the TPR order. Huge step. I will be praying for a happy outcome for you all.
Yay! What a sweet visit! It’s so wonderful that everyone has been so supportive and encouraging. And the TPR is great news.
Was Jem in a room by himself or with his sister? When you showed pictures at their foster home, it looked like the toys were in a room with 2 or 3 little beds. I wonder if he needs a little company, at least until he falls asleep.
She currently shares a room with two other girls; he currently shares a room with two other boys. There have been times when he’s been the only one in the room, depending on how many kids and what ages are in the foster home. I’m definitely considering the best way to help him get used to it!
love
So glad things went well and PTL for the answer to prayer about the TPR!
Happy (and suspenseful) tears.
Oh yes…oh the uncertainty is SO hard. I know I am subconsciously holding back until our girls are home. I can’t help it. It’s hard. We still have many weeks of paperwork filing and waiting ahead of us. Our official court date is this Thursday…once that is passed, they are legally ours.
The next step is getting their visas and passports approved to leave the country and enter ours. Lots of prayers and patience (and trusting God!) going on here!
Thank you for sharing your story with us! The cuteness brought me close to tears too.
My heart is melting just reading about them! Thank you for sharing this experience with the blog world! I am praying for Jem and Scout–the Lord will know what is best for them!
Oh man Jamie! I was all good reading through the whole thing until that last paragraph and then you made me cry! I’m sure praying as you guys move forward.
Love reading your thoughts on adopting and hearing your story. We are now in process to adopt the 15 year old we hosted over Christmas. It is amazing how God works on our hearts and grows our love for orphans.
LOL at the possiblity of you adding coffee to your day…your steaming mug of hot tea is how I know you. But being a mom of a 7 and 4 yer old, I understand…although my girls go to bed around 9 and wake up after 9 most days of their lives but I remember all too well the 7am days!!!
Oh, I won’t give up the tea, just supplement with coffee! 😉
Aw, I loved this post!! How sweet!
I love reading about this. It makes me so sad, though, that two precious babies are going through something like this. It’s heartbreaking.
Me, too, Deb. Breaks my heart for them.
Loved this post! So excited for this new family journey for you. Praying God’s best for you all. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us.
Such joy:)
Continued prayers for you all!
Sounds like it is going really well. I will highly recommend Dr. Karyn Purvis /Empowered to Connect. Her book and web site not to mention her videos both on the website and the ones you can buy are INVALUABLE! Raising children from Hard Places is not easy and sometimes it take very different methods to not only help them heal but bring them to a healthy place in your family. What we have learned has been remarkable and has helped so much. We are a foster home, but have also adopted 2 children along with our 3 bio ones.
With the foster children I have had, I have let them know ahead of time before meeting my mom and family how they can address them. Grandma, Grandma Ellen, Mrs. ____, Grandma _____, Mrs. Ellen, etc. Whatever works, since she IS a grandma, even if not theirs… as long as their is the respectful title in front of her first name. No plain Ellen. Not so easy initially for my sister and brother, since they weren’t technically aunts/uncles until I adopted… he still calls them by their first names occasionally.