As I sit here thinking about the joy of the season, I can’t help but think about the number of families that are brought together through foster care and adoption.  6 years ago, I was beginning the licensing process with the hopes of finding a little love to adopt through foster care.  I know, I know.  The goal of foster care is supposed to be reunification but I wanted to be a forever mom so badly that I put my whole heart into and consequently got my heart broken a couple of times.  It wasn’t until my 3rd year that I learned to just go with the process.    On March 12, 2014, my life was forever changed by the arrival of my two little loves.  This is our 4th Christmas together and it honestly gets better every year.  This is also the 2nd Christmas with my current foster daughter and while I think she might be going home soon and taking my heart with her, I will cherish this time like there is no other.   This brings me to my current situation.  My license is at renewal and my parents don’t really want me to continue fostering.  They think that I should focus on my two forever children, but my heart says that I need to keep fostering at least for a little while longer.  They have been a huge help to me every year but even more this year due to my surgery.   While I respect their opinion and can certainly see their point, I also know that the opioid epidemic has hit Florida over the last year so more and more drug exposed infants are coming into foster care and need a place to go.  They join the thousands of other kids who are placed into foster care each year.

2014 – before I could show their faces online

2015- They had a great Christmas!

2015 – Our 2nd Christmas together!

2016 – My little sleepyhead

2016 – Our 1st Christmas as a Forever Family!

So, my Christmas wish is that there were more loving foster homes for these children to go into.  Whether you are interested in adding to your family or simply helping kids in care, I urge you to consider looking into foster care and adoption through foster care.  Contact your local CBC (Community Based Care) and find out when the next licensing class is happening.  Talk to local foster parents and get their point of view.   And, take a chance because you never know what joy can walk into your life and change it forever.

To qualify as a potential foster parent you must :

• Attend an orientation.
• Complete 20 to 30 hours of foster parent training.
• Have a child abuse and criminal background check.
• Participate in a home inspection.
• Participate in a home study to review your readiness for fostering.

They say that if your heart doesn’t break when a foster child leave that you aren’t doing it right but I’m of the opinion that if a child leaves there is another one out there who needs you more.   In regards to my situation, I am renewing my license and will probably take another placement in the new year because no matter how hard each day is, it’s so worth it.  The kids are worth it!  And, the feeling of a full house at Christmas time is really the best feeling in the world.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!