Sometimes we have to convince ourselves that it’s ok to hit PAUSE in the middle of living out our Passion! I’m not one to move in slow motion and I often struggle with pausing in the midst of things. I am grateful i have learned its ok to hit PAUSE.

The passion i have is equally shared with my husband. When God created us for each other, He knew exactly what would break our hearts and make us cry together. He created our passions and knew just how we would work together to fulfill them. I am thankful that we chose to move into the life of Foster Care. It has been a piece of many, in our obedience to Him.

It took time for us to recognize our passion, but after our awakening…He has supplied our every need to move forward. We strive to make a difference…one child of His at a time.

I’m extremely thankful.

Today, I look back on His goodness through each test, trial and phase we have been through as a family. We have received so much insight and growth through each and every situation we have faced. We are more than conqueror’s!  I have been pushed in areas I never thought I’d go and used in ways that are of Him Alone!

Excitedly, we have removed the PAUSE that has been in this area of our Passion!

The Foster Care system desperately needs Christian families to share the love of Jesus.  To share His love with the hurting child and to the child’s parents. (whenever that connection is available) His love can bring healing and restoration to the child as well as the family. The most important goal is for each one of them to be confident of their eternal future.

We are aware that our family is far from perfect.  If the Foster Care system only wanted perfection, there would be no system at all.  We learn from every situation we encounter, continuously seeking the Lord for guidance in (all areas) of our life. God has given us much and we cannot help but to share what He has given.

We knew we wouldn’t PAUSE our Passion forever.  With that, we also know we will face more test and trials, hurts and painful loss. We will face the same emotions (and maybe some new) that have already been felt over the last 11 years as Foster/Adopt parents. When I reflect back on some of the hardest trials, the memories alone Should Make Me Fearful…but i know…we are NOT slaves to Fear! Our God is GREATER than ALL of our Fears and ALL of our Unknowns.

Gods plan will never fail!

It will forever remain perfect in our imperfect world of abuse and neglect.  He will never stop pouring out His love.  It pours over and through us in meeting whatever need is presented.  It doesn’t make it easy.  Doing God’s work is difficult. But He (and His Amazing Love) makes it possible!  Fostering truly is the toughest job we’ve ever loved.  Some of the healing and progress is never seen. Sometimes it’s a daily struggle to push through whatever mountain we are faced with. But we know that with Him we can do ALL things. He still moves mountains!  It is by His strength alone that we overcome each obstacle along the way. We trust Him in the process for each outcome and we pray for wisdom as we embrace each child’s different needs.

As we remove the PAUSE in our Passion we are taking another leap in our faith. We are confident in our provider of all things good.

The PAUSE in our Passion came at the perfect time. We started as birth parents of two, a boy and a girl. Only God knew we’d become parents of an additional two boys and one girl through adoption.  We chose to temporarily close our Foster home two years after our last adoption of our teenage son. I was apprehensive at first in doing so. (I didn’t want to stop helping other children because the need is WAY to great) But we knew through seeking God for guidance, that our PAUSE was in His perfect timing. During our families pause, we spent quality time focusing on each moment and on each other. (the good, the bad, the joyful, the painful, the accomplishments big and small)  We spent time advocating and seeking out the resources needed to better equip our children and ourselves. At times we were extremely stretched in our faith. I became a pro at praying hard on my knees. And we learned to completely trust His plan when ours was shattered, or His was completely unknown.

The PAUSE in our passion was needed. It’s ok for you to PAUSE in the midst of your passion too. Our PAUSE helped us to retrain, redirect, restore and finally…to refocus.  To refocus on the passion He placed in us. In our family.

After eleven years, 22 children in our home, 6 that were transitioned into other forever homes, 1 reunited with her birth family,  3 that completed our hearts and family forever and…a three year PAUSE….our PAUSE has changed…but our Passion has not!

Our license to offer Foster Care has been reinstated. We have transferred to the county in which we live and cannot wait to see what God has in store for us after taking our much needed time. We will be helping with emergency removal care and respite (relief for other foster parents) along with temporary or short term placements.

We are excited to step forward again in our passion. Parenting, Recruiting, Mentoring, Training, Speaking and PRAYING the entire time…that the amazing Love of Jesus transforms lives through us.

God has been right in the midst of our PAUSE. He continues to be in the midst of our future work in the Foster Care System. We continue to be an imperfect family, but we strive to love like Him. We are extremely excited to once again be a part of something much greater than ourselves. We are humbled and honored that He chooses to use us.

Don’t hesitate to PAUSE in the midst of YOUR passion. Seek His direction.  Wait patiently….and you too will know when to “push play” again!