Breath In and Breath Out

Balance. This is not something I am good at.  When my 3 year old is waking 3-4 times a night, because she is needing reassured that she hasn't been replaced. When my 7 year old is crawling under the bed continually and saying he doesn't know why he is here.  When my 9 year old gets all sassy because he thinks he can. When I want to snap and yell and unleash the crazy sleep deprived mom on them (have we mentioned little pudding doesn't sleep, like at all?).  He whispers "balance" "grace" "mercy" "change". And I have to breath. Breath in and breath out, "mercy" "grace" "mercy" "grace". He is good, I am not. Thankful that He lets us borrow from him.  "come to me all you who are weary and I will give you rest".

Rest came last night for us in the form of babysitting.  Two girls who are very busy themselves simply said, "we have a night free, can we come hang out with your kids." And they went above and beyond.  All three of the oldest woke up talking about how awesome their babysitters were, and talking over each other trying to be the first to tell us about the "chopped championship" that had happened in our kitchen.

The thing I have discovered most about fostering in the last year is that you have to be vulnerable.  You have to ask for help, call in the favors, be on the receiving end. This isn't an easy thing for me.  I would rather have all the kids at my house, take people the meals, offer the babysitting, fold someone else's laundry. These people around me didn't decide to foster, but without them, there is no way we could do it.  It just cannot be done alone.  So thank you friends and church family who have loved us so well.  Thanks for helping us find balance.





"Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly- not for what you get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God." 1 Peter 5:2