Getting Certified

Getting certified for foster care or fost adopt is a lot of work. Can I hear an Amen from the people who have done it? I hear so many people say that they might want to do foster care or fost adopt because they are financially hurting and that they want to adopt a baby, but they only want an easy situation and don't really want to do much with the process. Basically, they want a baby handed to them, they don't want to pay anything, and they don't want any complications.

Well...it doesn't work that way. Now, don't get me wrong, Matt and I were having a hard time figuring out how we were going to afford to adopt another baby. Adopting costs alot of money. I am thankful yet again, that the Lord deals with Matt and I concerning our finances to help us make decisions. We have always said that we would not go into more debt adopting a baby. (I don't think it's wrong if people do but we felt strongly that we shouldn't.) To adopt for "free" definately had it's appeal but we knew that it was going to be alot of work also.

We took a training for 6 weeks plus we had to get a home study done, you have Dr. appointments,CPR and First Aid cert., home inspections, interviews, you have to child proof your house on overload (not only that but they surprise check your house through out the year while you have a foster child). They teach you about the rules, abused kids...etc. They really want you to know what you are getting into, but then are quick to say that you won't really get it until you do it. A lot of it was hard for Matt and I as Christians because we didn't agree with a lot of the phychology that went with their explanations. But those classes helped us form our view of what we would take in our home and what we wouldn't. We always had Ivy in mind and what was best for her. I remember Wendy telling me,"You need to be a good steward of what God has given you and you know that God has given you Ivy as your daughter so you need to do what is best for her." It was always good to gauge every situation as to what would be best for Ivy.

The other important thing to remember is that in foster care and fost adopt, the goal in the system is to reunify the child with their birth family. You might clearly have a family that would be a better environment for the child but that doesn't matter to the court.They take all emotion out of their decision.

Well....this was again the start of Matt and I living out our theology. We both believe that God is Sovereign. He has everything under control. Everyone is placed where they should be for how long He decides. There is something so freeing in that because I could let it go and give it all to God. If there was ever going to be a fourth member of the Elliott family, He already knew it and He would bring him or her in due time. I am not saying that I never struggled because I did. Not that I ever stopped believing that He was Sovereign but I had fear in what He was going to decide. You will see that later.

I am sitting here typing away looking at Ivy playing at my feet and Lucy eating blueberries next to me. God is so good. Now that I told you about the roller coaster we got on to get certified, hang on because the ride was just taking off!