January 4, 2009

• Reflections

  Without flipping through the pages of my journal, I believe 2008 could probably be very easily summed up with one word:  fostering.  Most of the year was spent thinking/praying about the possibility of it, preparing for it, doing it and then letting go.  Looking back, I'm so amazed to think that it was really something we did.  Were we really given that incredible responsibility of taking care of a little helpless human being?  It seems so immense when I think about it now, I am surprised we weren't scared out of our minds that we'd mess things up - or mess her up.  After all, we had never been parents before - plus, dealing with all the legal procedures - things completely unknown to us before.  But I guess the truth is that when we are busy just focusing on God and following the very next step that He shows us, we just don't have time to worry or fear.  Looking back, I don't remember being afraid at all.  We were more concerned about wanting our families to embrace our foster child than afraid that we wouldn't have the strength, skill or wisdom to parent.  We were so 100% sure of God's leading in this decision that we had no doubt that He would be right there beside us to show us the way.  Fearlessness can come from faith.  Fostering turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life -- if not the most.  I'll never forget our dear little foster daughter nor all the ways she grew under our care and all the ways we grew too. 

  Tonight we watched several videos we took of her while she was with us.  It was fun to watch and sweet to remember her.  She will always be our first little baby.  What a special time for us.

  Here's a picture of her during bathtime.
   

  Other remarkable events of 2008 include my finishing a year of New Testament Greek in the Spring and beginning Biblical Hebrew in the fall.  And finally being led to a church that we love - a church that we agree with theologically as well as in practice - a church that we're proud to be a part of.

  Goals for 2009 - getting back to basking in God's presence daily - through reading Scripture and prayer, finding our niche at our church and when the time comes, learning how to be parents all over again.

  • 11:42 pm
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