Service

It Has Been Way Too Long!

/ Susan Woodward
YES! I AM BACK AGAIN…

I have taken a break from my Blog for way too long. How dare life get so chaotically busy that it takes me away from something that I am so passionate about. YOU!

I am ready to share once again! I have been using Facebook as a ministry for several years. I have tried my best to write things on that platform that speak truth, encourages others to love like Jesus and promotes serving others. That is what my intentions were when I started writing on this blog/website. I have decided to once again make this a place for me to let go of what is on my heart and let God touch whomever It can. I want the work that God has done in my life and what he inspires me to share, to somehow make a difference in others.

“What good is it to have God work within us, if we are not willing to share the work he has done” ~SW

Truth, Love and Service. Those three things mean so much to me. They are who I am and It is the reason I started highlighting some tid bits of my life on this website several years ago. I have shared about being a Parent, Adoptive Parent, Foster Parent, Mimi, and the Wife of a Care Pastor. I am also the only Daughter to wonderful parents and a Sister to three brothers. All of those things have given me great fulfillment, but no title compares to being a Child of the Most High. It gives me abundant joy to share the little things in life that are of great importance to God.

Each of our stories are unique, significant and worth sharing. I am always learning to embrace mine just a little bit more. I am forever thankful that Gods plan for each of us is much greater than we can imagine for ourselves.

On no particular schedule, I am looking forward to sharing more about all the good, the bad, and the ugly that makes my life come together as something so beautiful. Each one of our lives is something that is imperfectly perfect to God. I hope to encourage you to look at your own story and only see the beautiful, as Christ does.

Also, I am hoping you choose to share this website/blog with others who may need to learn to embrace their story just a bit more, as well.

Live by Truth

Love Like Jesus

Serve People 

Here’s to new things….

Dreams Come True!

/ Susan Woodward

Book Released Today

It’s in my hands now!!!! It’s for real! 

Book Photo

My story can be found  in the section “Blessings in the Midst of Chaos”  (pages 277-294) And my quote was chosen for the back of the book!  Wow! Someone pinch me!  God’s timing is just soooo good!  I’d love to say what an awesome job all of the Authors did, but i know first hand, God was all over them while they were writing.  So all of the acknowledgements go to our Lord and Savior!  

The Editor has changed all of the children(s) names for privacy reasons.

Thank you to Katherine Piper for having a dream to make a difference and allowing the Lord to use her in such an endeavor. It was tedious and i know it had to be a bit crazy communicating with so many different authors from around the world.  She showed such grace as she allowed God to guide her every decision making step along the way.  She has already made a difference!  (To all of us Authors as well)  With this book to encourage adoptive families,  she’ll continue to make a difference for many years to come.  I’ll forever be grateful for her obedience to carry out her vision and for approaching me to share our story.     

Also, a huge thank you to all of my family who helped encourage me to “go for it” when the opportunity to share our 3 adoption stories was presented. I am honored (with 27 other Christian Authors) to be able to encourage Women on their adoption journey’s. May God receive all the glory he deserves, for orchestrating such a beautiful arrangement of heartfelt love and faith shared within the books pages. It is all of our prayer to help fund forever homes for children for many years to come.  And we will, as copies of this book are sold…

Hope for the Adoption Journey is now available on Amazon!

Get your copy here: Hope for the Adoption Story -Amazon Prime

All proceeds from the book go towards helping other families adopt through the Show Hope organization.

Visit Show Hope Organization here

The Following is from the Show Hope website:

This movement began in 2003, when Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman founded Show Hope after having their own eyes and hearts opened to the global orphan crisis.

Since then, Show Hope has worked to holistically approach orphan care, helping children in four key areas:

  • Adoption Aid
  • Care Centers
  • Pre+Post Adoption Support
  • Student Initiatives

Through Adoption Aid grants, Show Hope has helped more than 6,000 children from more than 60 countries, including the U.S. More than 2,500 waiting children with acute medical and special needs have received loving care through Show Hope’s Care Centers in China. Show Hope’s partnership with the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at TCU and Empowered to Connect has helped bring hope and healing to children around the world with encouraging, research based teaching in Pre+Post Adoption Support. And Show Hope prepares for the future with our Student Initiatives by educating and empowering the next generation of leaders to effectively care and make a difference in the lives of waiting children.

Donald Trump Proclaims May as National Foster Care Month

/ Susan Woodward

May-with-heart-icon

 

May is National Foster Care Month, a month set aside to acknowledge foster parents, family members, volunteers, mentors, policymakers, child welfare professionals, and other members of the community who help children and youth in foster care find permanent homes and connections. During National Foster Care Month, we renew our commitment to ensuring a bright future for the more than 430,0001 children and youth in foster care, and we celebrate all those who make a meaningful difference in their lives.

Thank YOU to each and every person who has a role in making a difference in a child’s life!  Together we can change the world. One child at a time.

 

I know first hand the hard work and dedication that goes into being a Foster Parent.  Although May is set aside to bring awareness and to recognize everyone that has a role in the child welfare system…It really isn’t about us.  It’s about all the abused and neglected children in need of love and care.  Not everyone is called to become a Foster Parent, but every single one of us can love, encourage, support and pray for families that are Fostering.  Reach out to those you know who Foster…how can you make a difference?   

 

Research information or learn more by clicking the link below

Child welfare information is available to everyone. Want to learn more?

Read the Presidents proclamation by clinking on the link below

President Donald J. Trump Proclaims May 2018 as National Foster Care Month

 

 

Seven Months With Precious Brothers

/ Susan Woodward / 2 Comments

my favorite thing about being a foster parent_dumas

We said yes and opened our home and our hearts once again seven months ago. This time for two little boys that were ages two and three. They are spunky, cautious but loving, stubborn, confused, hurt, and very silly little boys. They are Gods perfect little gifts who just needed a safe and loving place to grow and to heal.  So, like many times before, we said yes!  Yes, even knowing that a transition one day would be unbearably hard and that the loss would eventually hit us.  Yes, knowing that one day all we would have is the memory of them and that we would miss so much.

A lot has been shared in seven months. Our family has made some special memories as we’ve committed to meeting their every need. Loving and caring for them has been difficult at times, but I’m convinced that living out your life’s passion doesn’t happen easily. God always provides the tools and he gives the right resources, but being obedient and taking on big tasks comes with some hard moments and lots of lessons learned.

Together over the last seven months, we experienced the loss of my husbands (Kent’s) two brothers and we faced some hard sad times. We also shared the fun and happy things that are involved with five different holidays together. (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines and Easter) It was an added bonus that both of the boys were able to celebrate their Birthdays in “Woodward Style”. (Loud and crazy chaos) They also helped in celebrating six of our family member’s birthdays during that time frame. We helped the youngest as he went through two surgeries and got many of his medical needs met. Both of the boys received emotional and developmental assistance to help with their care. We have practiced our patience over and over again…as we’ve taught them both how to communicate their emotions and deal with built up hurt and anger.

Seven months that may have flew on bye but that will never be forgotten. So many things shared within our family of twelve. Over time and with God’s grace we will heal… and we will learn to be a family of ten again.

There will be so many things I (we) will miss…

I’ll miss there little feet running to the table eager to eat anything served.
I’ll miss the excitement in their eyes when they have done well and are praised.
I’ll miss the silly songs, the little dances and the crazy jokes that make no sense.
I’ll miss reminding them to slow down and chew with their mouths closed.
I’ll miss watching paw patrol and power rangers every chance that they got.
I’ll miss the fits that have brought break through and helped in their healing.
I’ll miss teaching the simple things, like water doesn’t hurt and toilets are to pee in.
I’ll miss dodging action figures, LEGO’s and other toys with every step. 
I’ll miss having little clothes in the laundry and many more miss matched socks.  
I’ll miss reading, singing and talking to them about Jesus.
I’ll miss them taking turns and even arguing over whose turn it is to pray.
I’ll miss watching my other children love and adore them.
I’ll miss hearing them say “Mr. Kent will you hold me?” every night before bed.
I’ll miss them learning new things and watching the joy in completing a new task.
I’ll miss covering them up, giving them kisses and hugs and watching them sleep.  

So much to Miss!!!  But I won’t miss Praying for them. I know that God will continue to meet their needs. He has done it before, He will do it again. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  His love is sooooooo much greater than ours for them. 

So, when I miss all of these things and much much more…I will do the only thing that has worked many times before. When my heart aches and my head is full of memories…i will do what always brings me peace…I will PRAY! 

Our God will hear…Our God will protect…Our God will answer!

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I am in LOVE!

/ Susan Woodward

Zlove1

I am in Love!

I am in love with today!

Because it’s a gift given, with every breath I take.

I am in Love with my husband!

 Because with every moment shared, I am reminded of two souls that became one.

I am in love with my children!

Because the gift of love with each of them, is one that keeps on giving.

I am in love with my Granddaughter!

Because she reminds me every day, Gods perfect plans maybe different then our own.

I am in love with my parents!

 Because they taught me love can be hard, but nothings is too hard for our God.

I am in love with the Foster children God places with us!

Because every little difference we make in a child’s life, is a big difference to their heavenly father.

I am in love with my friends!

Because we help each other receive blessings, even in the chaos of life.

I am in love with tomorrow!

Because I know who holds all of our tomorrows, in the palm of His hands.

I am in love with my Jesus!

Because He has shown more Love to me, then I could ever repay.

I am in Love!

Because “God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us”.  

1 John 4:11-12

 

“Love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God”. 

1 John 4:7

 

ZLOVE

Adoption Story One -sneak peek

/ Susan Woodward / 1 Comment

 

Austin disney

Austin Celebrating his adoption at Disney World when it became final.

Austin –

Two years old.

He was our third gift.

He was born into our hearts differently, but perfectly.

The gift of Austin in our lives came eleven years after the birth of our biological daughter and thirteen after the birth of our biological son. He opened our family’s eyes to the tremendous needs that were literally right around us. He grew each of our hearts in an instant. They would never be the same again.

Austin was our first placement call from our local Department of Social Services. The call came on a sunny day in July. My husband Kent and the kids and I were enjoying the outdoors. When I answered the phone, it was immediately different than what I had expected our first placement call to be like. We realized later, it was also very different for the Case Worker on the other end of the phone. This child would not be able to return home. This child was going to be available for adoption. We knew immediately that God was in all of it.

I was just as terrified as I was excited when I hung up the phone. My husband Kent’s reaction complimented my own. We were both ready and agreed to move forward. Neither of us knew exactly what “forward” entailed, but we knew our answer to that call would be yes. We didn’t hesitate, we had already been praying for months. God had given us clarity. We agreed to be obedient to whatever he called us to do. In 5 minutes all of our lives changed forever. We didn’t understand the magnitude of the blessings in that decision. But today, the blessings continue to unfold.

We felt pretty confident about fostering prior to that first placement call. Our confidence was shaken several times in the years to follow.  Austin became the first of many children God placed with us through the Department of Social Services. Our plans initially were to help one child at a time and work towards reunification with their parents. But, Gods plan for us is often different than our own. We now have many stories. With each of them there is a common factor. We trusted God. We knew that he would guide our steps in all of the unknowns we were to face. And he has proven faithful.

My mind was racing even more than my heart on the 5 minute drive to Social Services to meet Austin for the first time. We were casually introduced. He sat on the floor of a quiet room in the Department of Social Services. His only belongings were next to him in a small white bag. He held onto a small McDonalds Happy Meal toy and looked up to see who had entered the room. No matter how I have tried, I cannot find the words to describe when I looked at his sweet, expressionless face and our eyes locked for the first time. I instantly experienced something within me.  It was as if God birthed him deeply into my heart. I longed to hold him close and never let him go. I knew then, without a bit of uncertainty, God was giving us another one of his precious gifts. God has reminded me of that moment many times in the midst of life’s chaos.

This is just a sneak peek of Austins story.

I could have written an entire book about each of our adoptions. Maybe someday i’ll fullfil that dream as well.  Right now, I am just thankful for the opportunity that was given to me to share pieces of our stories in the chapter written for the book being published to help Adopted children.

Stay tuned for other sneak peeks to come…

Read another Sneak Peek here:   Telling our story…sneak peek!