We're Getting There!

So we finished class #7 our of 9 last night and we're nearing the end of GPS or foster parent classes.  We've also had our first of two home studies.

Home study sounds scary but basically the social worker from Lifeline checked to see if we have all of the safety precautions in place around our home (we don't) and told us to fix what we need to.  This includes plug covers on every plug in the entire house (did not do when either of our boys were babies), cabinet locks on all cabinets that have anything remotely dangerous in them (did not do when either of our boys were babies), install a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and detail an escape plan from every room in the house (never considered either of theses before), place a escape ladder in the foster child's room (but not in our own kid's room - hopefully they'll just jump!) and a myriad of other things.  Let's just say our house will be a much safer place thanks to this process.

The biggest project will definitely be the garage where every chemical, paint, etc. has to be locked up.  We're thankful for our friends who are remodeling a house and donating some of the old cabinets to this project!  Now we just have to find a Saturday to conquer the task!

Also, the social worker did interviews with us separately and together, just discussing our childhoods and how we met and what our marriage is like.  Overall it's pretty painless but there is work to be done on the house, getting fingerprinted, having a physical and a few other things.

And it's pretty exciting!  We're moving closer with every passing week to having kids in our home.  I've read a book to the kids and discussed being a foster family with them a lot.  I think at this point they know as much as they can without actually experiencing it and of course they let me know when they're bored with those conversations..."Mom, we know.  Can we just play Wii now?"

Also, our church, Mountaintop Community Church, is having a big foster care/adoption Sunday in late August where the entire morning service is dedicated to this topic and following a call to get involved, a meeting will be held that evening for anyone wanting to get involved in whatever capacity.  Also, Lifeline will be holding classes to become licensed foster parents at Mountaintop starting in September.  I am helping to coordinate all of these efforts which is a bit overwhelming but definitely exciting!  I've been researching, studying, blog reading, podcast listening on these topics for several years now so the real challenge is boiling it all down to the most important, most inspiring points and presenting them in a way that allows people to clearly see how God calls them to serve in these areas and how specifically to plug in.  You can pray with me as we prepare throughout the summer!

And totally unrelated...here are the silliest boys around, immediately following one of our impromptu around the house obstacle course runs!  Yes those are my shoes on their feet and swimsuits on their heads.