In the beginning...

I am starting with a brief explanation as to how we have gotten to this point. Just over 14 years ago, Matt & I met through my best friend and started dating soon after. On August 7,  1999 we were married at his beautiful home church, Travis Avenue Baptist Church, in Fort Worth, Tx. Two people could not have been more opposite and focused in two completely different directions. We worked and finished up school, unaware that God was bringing us together on His terms for His purpose.
We were greatly blessed with our first son on September 1, 2002. Brandon is such a smart & insightful kid. I won't be surprised if he pursues a career in law because of his ability to negotiate & defend any cause. I can honestly say that Matt & I made lots of parenting mistakes with him, but again God has our backs. Before Brandon's first birthday, Matt served on a jury that sent a mom away for 40 years for making & using drugs in front of her kids. From that point, the conversation was started about possibly adopting a child.
A year later, Alaina Grace came along on October 1, 2004. She was such a high maintenance baby, but has grown into such a empathetic & loving girl. We joke that she's a better parent than both of us put together. : ) Matt & I resumed our conversation about adopting, even starting paperwork with an agency, but God had other plans. Hannah Faith came along on March 19, 2007. So happy and content as an infant. She has grown to own the loving name Hurricane Hannah. She loves to have fun whenever and where ever she happens to be. If there are no friends or siblings around, she just creates her own playmates. If I have any wisdom thus far in regards to parenting, it would be that transitioning from two kids to three is one of the hardest things I have done! But after the dust settles, you find your new normal and life marches forward. Two years later God blessed us again with a son. Logan Russell was born on May 12, 2009. He is a mama's boy, so loving & sweet.
Now, Matt & I wholeheartedly know God has given us the green light to move forward with helping a child...but a whole new prospective is coming into focus. Adoption is fading, while fostering children is where our hearts seem to be settling. Fostering a child means temporarily helping someone's child while the parents are expected to help themselves. We have the opportunity to minister to a family, not just a child. Following God's lead, we are diving in.
So many agencies to pick from, and I'm sure they are all good. But a friend of mine had used Presbyterian Children Homes and Services and had a great experience with the whole fostering process. Matt & I were sold once we met our caseworker. We were off and running toward very unfamiliar territory.
After much paperwork, classes, TB tests, inspections, fingerprints, background checks, and a home study, we are now waiting for the State of Texas to officially license us to foster kids.
It's been almost nine months since we started the process with PCHAS. Just the right amount of time to absorb what's about to happen. Trying to prepare for something we really can't prepare for mentally or emotionally is exhausting. We will be opening our home to a child who may have nothing but the shirt on their back, completely traumatized by the removal process. That's where we launch way beyond ourselves. Our faith in God and His Word take over.
God has called each of His children to do something. He has lavished His love on us, equipped each of us according to His call on our lives. If we don't step up and bring children who are in the midst of darkness into His light, who will???
So friends, my intent on starting this blog is to keep you informed on our story. The ups & downs as we fix our eyes on Jesus to lead us through. Maybe someone else will step up and help a child who so desperately needs someone to step in and love them. Stay tuned....