It's our fourth year joining Christians around the globe in celebrating Orphan Sunday. As we shared in church this morning, it's not about this first Sunday in November. It's about the children in our neighborhoods, in our country, and across the globe that need our love--God's children who are waiting for someone to come and wrap their arms around them and show them what family is, what love is.
Adoption, foster care, and orphan care are not easy. They're often messy and always come as a result of abuse or abandonment. BUT, these children deserve our love....NEED our love.
This month marked 2 years of having Addy home and 1 year having Detcho and Nahagi home. Yes, this road has been long and hard, but I am overcome with emotions when I look back at these past two years. We are beyond blessed and grateful that God chose our family for three wonderfully made children. Three children whom I cannot imagine back on the streets or back in an orphanage. Three children who WE are so privileged to have as a part of our family.
At this time this year we also have the joy of an additional child living in our home--a little girl who has all 8 of us wrapped around her little fingers. I can't explain the joy it brings to see our 6 children loving on her and welcoming her into our home, never knowing how long we will have her in our family.
Today I want to say THANK YOU to all that wrap their arms around us. Those of you who see the need to care for orphans even if that doesn't mean fostering or adoption for your family. Those of you who have shown unconditional love toward our children and those who have supported Bobby and I as we've gone through struggles or when we've been discouraged.
There is a need for each and every person in caring for the fatherless. Every single one of us can do SOMETHING.
For those of you who feel a gentle nudge toward foster care or adoption, we'd love to come alongside you and support you. If you're in SW North Dakota and want more information, visit Embrace to get started!
Let's lift up our voices for those who cannot speak up for themselves.
Let's be a body that works together to bring hope to the precious little ones who need us.
Adoption, foster care, and orphan care are not easy. They're often messy and always come as a result of abuse or abandonment. BUT, these children deserve our love....NEED our love.
This month marked 2 years of having Addy home and 1 year having Detcho and Nahagi home. Yes, this road has been long and hard, but I am overcome with emotions when I look back at these past two years. We are beyond blessed and grateful that God chose our family for three wonderfully made children. Three children whom I cannot imagine back on the streets or back in an orphanage. Three children who WE are so privileged to have as a part of our family.
At this time this year we also have the joy of an additional child living in our home--a little girl who has all 8 of us wrapped around her little fingers. I can't explain the joy it brings to see our 6 children loving on her and welcoming her into our home, never knowing how long we will have her in our family.
Today I want to say THANK YOU to all that wrap their arms around us. Those of you who see the need to care for orphans even if that doesn't mean fostering or adoption for your family. Those of you who have shown unconditional love toward our children and those who have supported Bobby and I as we've gone through struggles or when we've been discouraged.
There is a need for each and every person in caring for the fatherless. Every single one of us can do SOMETHING.
For those of you who feel a gentle nudge toward foster care or adoption, we'd love to come alongside you and support you. If you're in SW North Dakota and want more information, visit Embrace to get started!
Stark County Social Services recently reported to us:
- Social workers are way over case load standards.
- We currently have about 70 kids in foster care and are looking at possible removal of 8 to 10 more.
- Our count for abuse and neglect has been the highest it has been for many years.
- Many foster parents prefer young children which leaves us struggling to find homes for our early adolescent kids and teens. The facilities are full to capacity, and without behaviors or diagnoses the kids are not eligible for those placements anyways. In the best interest of our foster children, we need to have the least restrictive environment for them, less placement terror, etc. on the child and that best placement is a foster home.
- We currently have 20 foster homes, with a need of many, more homes
Let's lift up our voices for those who cannot speak up for themselves.
Let's be a body that works together to bring hope to the precious little ones who need us.
Matthew 25:40 I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me.
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