Update & Random Photos

Hey, friends, and happy Monday!  Yesterday was the spring-forward time change, and it made me happy to look outside and see the sun going down around 7:30 tonight.  What a lovely Spring Break week change after a winter that included lots of snow and sleet!

I've written less than usual this month, but my mind and heart have been in overdrive.  I've completed the house assessment and two-thirds of the required parenting classes to become a certified foster/adoption parent with DHS.  It's mostly focusing on becoming a trauma-informed parent who understands the neglect and abuse these children will have endured (or drug and alcohol exposure in utero for newborn babies) and how to support their unique needs and developmental delays and behaviors, and then partners with DHS in working to "bridge" them back with their biological families and to keep them connected to their siblings who are often placed in various different homes... so many thoughts and emotions I won't put here, but needless to say, it's sad and hard to think about all that, and it's a difficult role to step into knowing what I know of the system and of my own intense empathy.  And to be honest, my faith in abusive/neglectful people's ability to change is drastically lower than it once was after all I've seen in the court system, so it's hard on me for multiple reasons there.  But empathy for the parents' brokenness would probably kick in when there was a specific person in front of me.  Anyway, there will be unknowns and anxieties for any parent anywhere, and I am certain there will be regular calls and pressure from DHS coming soon, but I will not move forward and "open my home" until I feel peace from God about a specific child and situation.  My end goal is still adoption, and I'm kinda wondering if that mindset has to shift for me to be able to work with DHS.

*Also, I'd have to make this blog private and invitation-only at that point (if I commit to foster care).  Because we all know I'm not going to just stop taking photos.  So if it becomes a private blog in a couple months and you didn't get an email from me, please send me a text and let me know you'd like to be added to the list!

I've also applied with a private adoption agency in Florida that was recommended by a friend.  There are lots of pros and cons to each of these options, and I'm a little tired of thinking about them.  My house is now equipped with a fire extinguisher, fireplace guard, cute little hand-drawn fire evacuation plan, outlet covers, and child-locks.  I've been researching daycares, and thanks to Sarah, found a great one that's two minutes from the courthouse, but it seems DHS won't cover that one, so I need to figure out my game plan there.  I bought myself a car seat and stroller (yay, Amazon), and I'm looking at convertible baby beds and more.  All while processing and praying over some big questions and fears, giving myself "one thing at a time -- you are resilient" pep talks, listening to an audiobook that has changed my perspective on marriage, and wishing I wasn't doing all of this on my own.  I'm not in a place where writing more about it publicly would be helpful right now, but I'd greatly appreciate your prayers for wisdom, faith, joy, supportive community, and that God would open the right doors and close the wrong ones all around!!

Ha, I wrote that last sentence before writing so much of what's above it, so I guess I'm almost always at a place where writing is helpful for me.

Okay, moving on, here's a presh first grade pic of me - I loved that dress!

I was looking for a specific certificate of Babah's - didn't find that yet, but found some other gems, like this Elementary School certificate that Babah received on her birthday in 1950!

And this lovely and heartfelt postcard we sent them from our Spring Break 1996 (nope, 1995 - the postcard stamp corrected me) Disney World trip. lol  ...Mom (understandably) wanted outta there, I was happy about watching TV on the road trip and ready to show them our photos, and Rach talked about the fun rides, but was upset that Space Mountain jerked her. lolol  (Side note: No roller coaster was as jerk-y as the Wild Cat at Frontier City, but Rachael loved that one, if I remember correctly!)

Mom's uncle and Grandad's brother, Forrest Switzer!

Chet told me that Tate named this stuffed toy I got him "broccoli!"  That made me very happy! lol

My 9-hour Saturday parenting classes have been at the DoubleTree Hotel on Yale, so you know what that means!?  Yay! lol  If you've never tried one of their walnut-chocolate-chip cookies, you should remedy that!

I'll probably be getting my garage and outdoor trim repainted soon.  I'm pretty happy that Sherwin Williams offers this ColorSnap Visualizer where you can play with different colors... how much would I love a pink garage with burgundy trim!? lol  But I won't do that to my neighbors.  Even though the name "Insightful Rose" is such a perfect pinkish paint color name!

Mailing my profile books to the agency in Florida!

My happy new mouse pad, thanks to Shutterfly "freebies."

And finally, here's the Miss K and her friend, Hadley, on Dr. Seuss day at CHA!

So I guess that's most of the random pictures I've collected lately.

I feel better having written about all that, and I'm so looking forward to the fam coming to visit me in Tulsa tomorrow!!  Hope you have a fantastic week ahead! ❤