And so it begins...

     So, today February 23rd I received a call about a little boy who is 5 years old. His name is Tristan and he is our first foster child. Tristan is being removed from a foster home because those foster parents no longer want to be licensed. Tristan will come to our house tonight around 5:30 straight from daycare not knowing that he is being switched from foster homes. Also, Ryan is out of town. :) Please pray for Tristan and his transition. Pray that God will come into his life and give him a peace that will make him calm and know that things will be ok. Please pray for me, that God will give me peace and will make me calm and know that things will be ok. We will have Tristan for at least a month or so. All covenant people, please make him feel welcome on Sunday, as I know you will! So, I think this picture represents how my emotions are right now! lol :) 

8 weeks and 3 days

       That is the exact time it took to be LICENSED!!!!!!! That's right people....WE ARE READY TO GO! We got an email today at 9:04 am saying that we were finally licensed and that we would get a call as soon as a placement arises (probably sometime within the next week)! We went from beyond frustrated to beyond excited. I was shaking and crying when I read the email! A HUGE thank you to Donna Westmoreland for watching my kids so I could celebrate with my parents during preschool! During our church service yesterday James spoke about doing God's work and serving God. I just felt the Lord leading me to pray at the alter and my heart was heavy because I just felt like I need to pray that this licensing would get done. Doris and Katie prayed with me and I knew God would work. The past few days we have also been faced with another difficult situation that God was testing us with, and teaching us that He was in control! I did want to answer a question that some people have been asking me. "Are you gonna be ok when you have to give these kids back?" The answer: Probably not...lol But God is my Rock! I rest in knowing that there are other children that are going to be coming into my home and into our life. I know that my husband and my family will be there anytime of the day or night to talk and hug me!  I know God is good and He will bring you through all the hard stuff and the easy stuff! 


This is a picture of me and Ryan at my Cousin Ashley's wedding Rehearsal Dinner! :) 

8 week mark...ugh

      It is so hard to write this update knowing that is has officially been 8 weeks today and not have a child in our custody. But God is good and All-Knowing! I trust that He has a great plan for our family, yet it is still difficult to have certain expectations and they not be met. Just to bring everyone up to speed, I sent our social worker an email last Wednesday, February 8 and did not get a response back and Ryan called her on last Friday and left a message and didn't get a response. I was beyond upset and had a TOTAL meltdown! Finally on Monday of this week she emailed me saying that Thursday (today) February 16th would mark 8 weeks to the day that our social worker mailed our paperwork off. If we hadn't heard anything by the end of the week then her supervisor would call the state next week to see what the hold up is. They are not allowed to call the state until 8 weeks has past! UGH! FRUSTRATING! I know everyone's response to this post will be, God is good Holly, He has great plans, It's coming, Just be patient! I know these things and I keep telling myself these things; but NO words can describe how ready I am to start this part of my life! I am so confident that God has called myself and Ryan to do this work and I am just so ready to put forth my calling! I know God is in control and everything WILL happen according to HIS time; but I can't help to be excited and ready to go! :) So, my prayer after this post, is to just be with me and Ryan as we wait. Help us to draw closer to the Lord in this time of waiting, help us to draw closer to each other and our family. Thank you guys for reading our posts! Hopefully next time I write a post there will be a child involved! :) This is a picture of me and my very best friend of almost 23 years! I don't know where I would be without her! LOVE YOU CHRISTA 

The 7 Week Mark

So, we are at the 7 week mark (from when our social worker sent our paper work into the state) which means we are looking at this week or next!!!! We are beyond excited! I actually had a breakdown in the car on my way home from a 31 party today! I just really want it to happen. FAST! lol :) I know God has a PERFECT plan for us...but sometimes it's hard to wait! When I got home from the party, I checked the mail as normal and found that my cousin Sarah Foster sent us a $25.00 gift card to Target! So, I cried some more! :) THANK YOU AGAIN SARAH! We went to Target this evening and was able to get bottles and a couple passies! We came home and I finished up the room. It is now READY to go! We are so ready to see where God takes our family. Kinda cool to not know what's gonna come next! Here are a few pictures of the room we have set up for the kids!