Interviews, fingerprints, background checks, home inspections,
family interviews; not to mention the oceans of paperwork. What the heck have we gotten into?
The time had come; we decided to become a foster family. I never liked the ‘foster parent’ label. It was never going to be just my husband and me. We knew our children would be involved in accepting and caring for the little ones who would come to live with us.
Once the decision was made, the real fun started. What a process!
Once the decision was made, the real fun started. What a process!
Now, I’m not saying it wasn’t necessary. Taking over the care of another human being is an awesome responsibility. But I had no idea it was this complicated.
Abram would understand, because he was called too. The Lord spoke to Abram and told him to leave his camp in Haran, and go out to a land that God would show him. So at the age of seventy-five, Abram picked up and left his home, taking his wife Sarai, his nephew and all of their possessions.
Out they go, on their way to…well, who knows where? I can relate. We didn’t know where we were going either.
Abram had a few bumps on the way to Canaan, just like our mountains of paper and twisting roads to final approval. We felt like we were walking without a map.
For Abram, it was exactly that.
In the end, Abram found his new home.
In the end, we were approved as a foster home.
Just as Abram pitched his tent in the new land, we began to settle into our new family purpose. For about eight years, we cared for lots of little lives. We cared for babies, most no older than three months. Some stayed a few days, some a few years, but it was all fun.
It was a ‘new territory’ for our family, but God gave us the grace and strength to enjoy and nurture each child that came to live with us. It wasn’t always easy, but raising children, no matter where they come from, has its ups and downs. God called our family to this beautiful service for him, and for his little ones.
Groping our way through the rules and regulations, we made it to our Canaan. And it was a beautiful country.
So now, when I am being called to go out and do new things, I have a reference point. I might not have any idea how it’s going to work out, but I’ll just remember Abram. I’ll see him starting out without a clue either.
Abram’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. So Lord, help me to follow your will, wherever you send me. It might look like a great big mess, but I’ll keep the faith, waiting to find the land of milk and honey you have planned for me.
It’s worth the twists and turns and steep learning curves. In the end, I’ll be accomplishing your will. Just like Abram.
Linking today with: Hear It On Sunday, Use It On Monday , Monday Musings , Playdates with God
Unite! , Teaching What Is Good
Linking today with: Hear It On Sunday, Use It On Monday , Monday Musings , Playdates with God
Unite! , Teaching What Is Good
What a precious testimony for the Lord your family has, Ceil! Raising other’s children…those babies who so desperately needed to be loved in their first months of life outside the womb, giving them that nuturing to let them know they were special…that’s quite a ministry He gave you and your family. I enjoyed learning a bit more about yourself here today. Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi Dianna! Oh, thank you for your kind words, but really, I got way more out of it that I ever imagined. It was a hard but fun thing to do, and it was so nice to share that with the kids.
Thank you for coming today, and leaving a comment!
Ceil
AWESOME NEWS!!! There are so many children out there who need a good home. Please keep us updated. Sending prayers. Blessings
Hi Linda! Thank you for your excitement! But we did foster care many years ago, when my children were grade school age. They are now 28 and 30, so it’s been a while! We all did learn a lot, so maybe there are a few posts in that? We’ll see.
Thank you for coming over today, and leaving such a supportive comment
Ceil
Oh Ceil, how wonderful. He will get you through all the “red tape” and get you to your perfect destination.
God bless you for loving his children!!!!
And thank you so so much for your sweet comments on my post, only God has gotten our family through such loss.
Hi Sweet Jenn! Thank you for coming over today! It was our joy to have those children with us, it really was. It had its struggles, but what doesn’t?
You know about struggles, my friend. May God continue to shower you with his blessings.
Hugs,
Ceil
That’s such a great story. I want to adopt and/ or foster someday, wherever The Lord sees fit. Thanks for sharing! Would love to hear more !
Hi Julie! Wow, that would be wonderful. I am sure you would great at it. It’s a lot of work, but I found it so worth it.
I did this quite some time ago, but I learned a lot. Mostly about how wonderful my kids are, but there might be a post or two in that. Thanks for encouraging me!
Happy Monday!
Ceil
Amen, dear friend! Excellent thoughts on this Monday morning
“In the end, I’ll be accomplishing your will.” I loved that line! There is truly nothing better than being in the will of our Lord even if it means we’re completely clueless in the beginning. God will lead, direct, and give wisdom if we only trust Him. Thank you, sweet Ceil, for this delightful post. Have a beautiful Monday!
Big hugs and many blessings!
Hi Stephanie! You always say the most lovely things, Stephanie. Are you sure you can’t be here every day? LOL!
God will definitely lead, if only I will follow and be fearless. A tall order for me, but I’m learning.
Big hug right back at you, my friend
Ceil
Ceil, What an amazing heart you have for the Lord and those kids. I wonder if each stop along our journey is a version of “the land flowing with milk and honey” because it teaches us so much. We just don’t think of it like that because it’s not what we envision. Hmmmm – But I bet you certainly were for those kids, Ms. Ceil!
Hi Kim! What a great thought! That each stop is a version of milk and honey. I really like that, thank you. What a lovely way to think about life.
Well, I sure tried with the kids, Kim. I hope they have had beautiful futures. That’s one of the sad parts of foster care, you just don’t know how the story ends. But that’s trust, and I do put them in the care of the Father.
Love to see you here my dear!
Ceil
Your life is very inspiring, Ceil. What a blessing that you were able to be foster parents, and to so many too. That is true love!
Hi Lisa! Oh, you are too kind. I am not inspiring at all. God called and I finally listened for a change! LOL! And I got so much out of it, I really did. It’s really a great story about persisting through the hoops, knowing you are on the right track. That’s the best story of all.
Love seeing your smiling face
Ceil
Ceil: You were called; then you were blessed.You were obedient to God’s call. A friend of mine and her now ex- husband were foster parents. They wound up adopting several of those children.
Hi Cecelia! It was so nice to see you on your blog today!
You are absolutely right. I was called and blessed. For once, I listened to the Lord. How cool that you know someone who did foster parenting too. It’s so hard emotionally, and yet God calls so many. The need is so great.
Thank you for coming over today!
Ceil
I always struggle with change, so this is a good reminder that many blessings can come from change and some struggle. Thanks for your words today, Ceil!
Hi Kim! It was so nice to meet you today through the bloghop!
Change is always scary, but you are so right. It can bring such blessings. It sure did through foster care, and it was not easy either. It helped that my family was ‘all in’ and pitched in when and where they could. I was sure blessed in that.
Looking forward to getting to know you better
Ceil
oh good for you Ceil… that is a wonderful thing to do (:)
the Salmonfest yes it had Native American Dancers loved it will post the link on my blog
Hugs..P
Hi Patty! It was wonderful, thanks Patty.
Thanks for the link on your blog. I just love that culture. Your photos were just beautiful.
Happy Monday!
Ceil
This is beautiful, Ceil…Thanks for sharing your story as a way for all of us to relate to changes that come our way. We are always beginning and ending, aren’t we?
Have a wonderful day, new friend! : )
Hi Billie Jo! Weren’t we so blessed to have found each other? I am so happy to have you as a blog friend!
We sure are all beginning and ending, and that sounds like a good idea for a blog post, doesn’t it? We should all do one like that, it would be so interesting wouldn’t it?
Thank you for your lovely comments, Billie Jo. I hope your day was a blessing for you!
Ceil
Wow, Ceil…what an awesome testimony to God’s faithfulness and to your faith…love it
Hi Dolly! Thank you for your kind comment. And I loved your post today too. How we come to our writing is so interesting, and everyone has a different story. God is so varied and wonderful in his calling the called!
It was so nice of you to come here today!
Ceil
Oh your beautiful heart, Ceil! Thank you so much for sharing this. My aunt and uncle were foster parents for many, many years. They fostered 86 children total. I was always so touched by their heart and I’m touched by yours (and your family!) too. I look forward to hearing about where God is leading you next. (((hugs)))
Beth
Hi Beth! Wow, we have something in common then. 86 children? There must be a medal for what they did. We were nowhere near that.
I see where God is leading you! To a link-up on Wednesdays. Very cool!
Ceil
Hello Ceil,
I can only say this, We have been there and done that!
This was a very long and hard chapter years ago. We also had an adoption stopped as it was way out of our league.
It is quite the adventure. Keep your eyes on Him and learn to never say yes just because they call to ask you to take a child!
Great discernment is needed in this ministry! Also be very careful what you post as it can get you in trouble!
Blessings, Roxy
HI Roxy! Another link! We have foster care in common, how cool is that?
I did my foster days a long time ago, Roxy. I did it when the kids were at home, and now they are ‘up and out’ , married with kids of their own. But you are right, it did take discernment, as you knew. At one point, I thought we should take children with disabilities, but my social worker talked me out of it. Probably a very wise decision. It likely would have been too much for us.
Peace,
Ceil
God’s blessings on this new adventure with foster care Ceil!
Hi Natalie! Oh, thank you, but I did my foster care ministry a long time ago. As I told Roxy, we did this when the kids were in grade school. They are now married with kids of their own.
I think the blessing really was in listening to the call, and obeying it, even though the hoops to jump were so crazy. When you feel like it’s right, even big hoops are ok!
Thanks for coming over today!
Ceil
Beautiful, Ceil. I can’t tell you how often I was encouraged by the story of Abram when my husband and I decided to move a little over a year ago. I had been in the same town, close to family and friends – and familiarity! – for almost 29 years. The move to a small mountain town felt HUGE.
But you’re so right – God shows up when we step out in faith. He reveals His will, He paves the way, and we are blessed in the process.
GOD BLESS!
Hi Sharon! I am so glad that you see encouragement in Abram. What a story! He and his wife are teaching me a lot about faith. You really did take a leap, didn’t you? I hope it turns out to be the biggest blessing for you. God certainly wants you to be happy
Peace in Christ,
Ceil
What an awesome ministry! Sharing your love, nurturing and wisdom with children who might not get it otherwise. What a privilege to steward over not only your children, but someone else’s, even if but for a moment. What you and your family instilled in them will last them a lifetime! And yes, don’t you just love it when God takes us out of our comfort zone!? It grows our faith and makes us no longer doubt that we can do the impossible! Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a blessed week Ceil!
Michell @Prowess and Pearls
Hi Michell! Thank you for coming over and visiting me today!
I agree about the lifetime lessons. Both kids had expressed a willingness to be foster parents someday. Who knows if they will? But at least they saw the value in the ministry.
Peace!
Ceil
Hello Ceil! I have not been in “blog land” for some time.
What a beautiful inspiring post of listening to the voice of God, and obeying through all that He may give in order to see His will accomplished. “Obedience really is the very best way” and when we obey, God blesses. He is so good to us, isn’t He.
The Lord bless you!
Hi Debbie! So nice to see you again! Love the flowers too. So pretty
Thank you for your supportive comments. You are so right that God loves obedience. Yes, he is so good! I just need to learn from this that listening for his way is the best way.
Hope everything is good with you? Have a good Tuesday, Debbie!
Ceil
What a blessing that time must have been for you and your family. I’m sure all those children were blessed also to be so loved and cared for. Bet you’re excited to see how He continues to use you.
Hi Peggy! It was a blessed time, which I saw more of from a distance than at the time. Then, it was pretty busy, but we all loved it.
Well, I think we are all excited to see what God has in store for us, that includes you, I’m sure
If I can just stay calm and listen, I can cooperate with his grace. That’s exactly what I want.
Thank you for visiting today! I appreciate your visits, you are such a good blog-friend, Peggy.
Ceil
Hi Ceil, What a beautiful called life…not easy but giving everything of yourself for someone else. Now a different chapter in your life…..who knows what God has in store? My prayer everyday is for God to use me concerning my healing….there is a hurting and sinful world out there…Blessings~~~Roxie
Hi Roxie! Thank you for your beautiful comments, it is new chapter in my life. I’m not sure what God will do, but it will be something just as wonderful as fostering, I am sure.
I will pray for you too, Roxie, that you will receive the healing grace of God.
Thank you for being such a good blog-friend to me. I love seeing you here!
Ceil
I admire yoy both for being foster parents. It is really a complicated job, but God has been with you all the way.
Thank you for being an inspiration:)
Hi Joy! Well, it was a complicated job, but we all loved it. When you love to do something, it doesn’t seem that bad. God does that when his little ones are involved!
Thank you for your supportive comments, Joy
Ceil
So precious.
Hi Denise! Thank you for coming here, and for your comment too.
Have a good Tuesday!
Ceil
Hi there Ceil, I love your title — Clueless! That’s awesome. I have often just felt clueless to know where God is leading, but leading He does, just the same.
What a wonderful experience you must have had with all those children, and I’m sure that your family was a blessing to each of them as well.
It’s nice to be getting to know you here
Blessing to you this week.
-Barbara, WingAbouts
Hi Barbara! I liked the title too! It perfectly described how I felt in the application process.
We really enjoyed our experience with the children, and everyone pitched in as they could. It was a family project.
It’s so great to see you here (with your flower!). Thank you for your blessing, and I hope you have a great Tuesday, my friend!
Ceil
Hey Ceil! My oh my, it sounds like you have been rather busy! Fostering is a special gift from God and I just encourage you to follow his instruction right down to the T. It’s time consuming and hard at times, but with God on your side you can handle anything! I watched as my in laws tried it and it was very overwhelming but satisfying all at the same time. I wish you the best of luck, be blessed and enjoy the ride!
I’m headed outta town for a few days, but once I return I’ll catch up!
Take Care!
Blessings,
Amy
Hi Amy! Thanks for coming by today! Your MIL told me that she had been in foster care too, isn’t it a small world? But I have to clarify here, we did this ministry many years ago. My kids were in grade school, and they are married with children of their own now. I should have made that clearer. It certainly is time consuming! But we all did love it, and that always is the key.
I hope your out-of-town trip is pleasure? Maybe it’s work, but either way, I hope it’s successful and safe. I’ll see you when you get back!
Ceil
Thanks for checking out my blog, God is in the Whisper.
I loved reading your blog post today. Yes, I often remember Abram as he stepped out in faith, not knowing where he was going, just knowing he was doing what God wanted him to.
Hi Pam! Oh, it was my joy to find it, I love making new blog friends!
So happy you liked the post. And I am learning a lot from Abram, that’s for sure. What faith. I need to be more like that!
So nice to meet you! I hope you’ll come by often, and we can get to know each other better!
Ceil
This is so beautifully written, Ceil, comparing Abram’s life changes to that which you experienced. You are so right in taking those steps that God ordains. It can be scary but it can also be a moment of trust in the One Who calls us out. Those comfort zones are our making, not His.
I am glad I came by for I needed this reminder.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Hi Linda! Thank you so much for your lovely compliment on the writing. That means a lot coming from you. And I love that idea that we are the ones who create our own comfort zones. So true, but I never thought of it that way.
Thank you for adding a new idea here, I love it!
Ceil
Beautiful to know that you and your husband felt a calling to foster children. This is a tough job but so needed. May we all be found faithful in our callings. xx
Hi Jouful! What a beautiful prayer! Yes, let’s all try to pay attention to our calls, and do the best we can. God will be in it for sure.
Thank you for coming by today, and leaving a comment. It’s so nice to see you again!
Ceil
Hi Ceil,
It was a lovely post. We have two adopted children and had to sign up for foster care in order to be able to adopt our second child. There definitely are struggles wherever the Lord leads us but it’s comforting to know that He knows the way.
Blessings,
Janis
Hi Janis! Well then, you know all about the crooked road. My brother also adopted a son that they fostered first. He is in college now! God is so good, and so challenging all at the same time.
So good to see you smiling face, Janis! I know you are busy
I really appreciate your blog-friendship.
Ceil
Wow! this is beautiful Ceil!
I have no clue here.. I even can say so Clueless, God just need my faith and trust just like Abram
Thank you for reminding me today. I always love reading post on your blog, get inspiration for the youth here.
And thank you for such beautiful birthday wish…it made my day Ceil
Hugs and love,
Delvalina
Hi Delvalina! God does need your faith and trust, and I know he has it. You are such a faith-filled person, Delvalina.
Hope you had a good birthday celebration! We need to take time to celebrate the good things in life
Happy Tuesday!
Ceil
What a great way to touch the lives of others Ceil. I enjoyed reading your testimony and it’s similarities to Abraham.
Hi Wanda! We surely did touch lives through the foster care system. And we met a lot of other wonderful families who were doing the same thing. A lot of Abraham followers out there!
Thank you for your lovely comments here, Wanda. I am so glad that we are getting to know each other
Ceil
I’m nominating you for a Liebster Award. Go here – http://www.kimadamsmorgan.com/a-liebster-award/
Hi Kim! Thank you for your nomination, I am honored. I have never heard of this before, but I’ll give it a try
Thank you for thinking of me!
And thank you for being such a good blog-friend. How wonderful that we are connected in ‘blogland’!
Blessings!
Ceil
Absolutely beautiful! We’ve never met fact-to-face and yet I just know that you were the most wonderful, loving “foster parent”. I can just see it.
You continue to amaze me, Ceil.
Hi Dina! Jeez-Louise Dina, are you trying to get me to cry? Because it’s totally working. Oh my goodness, you are just so good to me.
What a wonderful day it was when I stumbled onto your blog. Remember that? You were so bummed that day. And now here we are, blog friends! God is so good! and you do amazing work yourself, my dear. We all do when we answer God’s call. Good thing we are doing our best, right?
Blessings to you, you are such a gift!!
Ceil
Hi Ceil!
Thanks for stopping over and “introducing” yourself. I’ve finally had the chance to stop by your place, and I’m thrilled I did! I saw this post and was delighted to read what it was about. But what was more touching was the way you described your journey. We adopted a child 7 years ago, and the way your wrote this post, well, it explains it better than I ever could. Thank you so much for writing from your heart and listening to what God has placed on your heart
Blessings,
Patty
Hi Patty! So happy that you had the time to come over and make a comment too.
It is an interesting path, isn’t it? We have two adopted children too, and we are so blessed in that. If not for adoption, we wouldn’t have a family. I thank God for that gift all the time.
I hope you’ll come back again, and we can get to know each other better! I love chocolate!
Ceil
Wow, how fabulous! I would love to be a foster family one day. I will be praying for your family through this process. God bless y’all!
Hi Anne! Well, our foster days are behind us now. We did it when the kids were in grade school. They are now ‘up and out’ and parents too. But it was a graced time for us. Not easy, but not hard.
I’ll take your prayers anytime though!
Ceil
What wonderful and important work it is to take care of babies and children!
I love how you described Sarah and Abraham. So encouraging!
Thank you for your continued visits to my blog. I appreciate your sweet encouragement!
Blessings
Mrs. White
The Legacy of Home
Hi Mrs. White! It is a good work to help children who need good homes.
I am happy to be your blog-friend! Happy Monday
Ceil