Donald Trump Proclaims May as National Foster Care Month

May 2, 2018May 2, 2018 / Susan Woodward

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

April 17, 2018April 17, 2018 / 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!

Blessings in the chaos.

February 13, 2017February 13, 2017 / Susan Woodward / 2 Comments

my favorite thing about being a foster parent_dumas Every Single Child deserves someone to love them and to believe in them. They deserve someone to be their advocate and to give them the resources they need to succeed in life. Every child deserves a forever home!

May God bless all of you that go above and beyond and are involved in Foster Care. You will win some and unfortunately loose many battles. You will rock lonely children to sleep, comfort and reassure those who are afraid, and speak life into young ones lives who have lost hope in themselves.

For all the appointments, meetings, trainings and court hearings…and for every sacrifice and or missed family event or function…I say, Thank you for your love and dedication to the child placed with you!

For every time you’ve questioned what you were doing, or wondered if you were really making a difference, please know…that you are!

For every time you are hurt and for every struggle you persevere through, may you feel Gods comfort and strength to continue on.

In a Foster Care system that is broken in many ways, remember there is a God who can take the broken pieces and make all things whole.

If you feel as if you are alone, know that you are not. There is an army of people who have similar hearts as yours. They get your worries and they can relate to the many frustrations that can come alongside of working with Social Services. So many other people understand the magnitude of the blessings you receive, even in the midst of your chaos.

Thank you! Thank you from the bottom of MY heart❤️

Keep doing what you do! You are making a difference! One child, one family, one situation at a time…You are changing the world!

When Storms Come

April 19, 2016April 19, 2016 / Susan Woodward / 7 Comments

Have you ever been in the middle of a storm? With it raging all around you? Where there is no clarity or feelings of peace? I have. And guess what? It’s been more than once, even more than twice. Let’s just say, I’ve experienced my share of storms…and so will you.

Sometimes the storms we face come on fast and strong, then seem to quickly pass and fade away. When things clear up, our outlook on life is often brighter and we have learned something from our storm to use in our future. Just be careful not to hang onto that last drop of rain, doubting that the storm has really ended or never learning anything from it.

Then at other times, the storm we are in the midst of, intensifies over a period of time and reaches a climax that seems unbearable to us. As the winds howl and things continue to pour down, we can completely loose our focus and even our footing. We try to make sense of our waves of emotions and we rely too much on ourselves to weather the storm out.

Whether it’s a thunder storm that we’ve anticipated and been able to plan for, or the dreaded torrential down pouring that happens without warning in our life…our God remains the same and He has the power to calm all of them! Our anchor has to be secured through Him alone.

If you happen to be in any kind of storm right now (big or little) Remember, that He is the only anchor that will hold. He is sure, certain and safe. He (our anchor and our hope) is steadfast, firm and reliable.

It is not in our own confidence that anchors our soul, but the sure reality and belief that Gods promises for us are true. This is our anchor. And this is what we are to lay hold of when our feet may begin to stumble or wander within our storm.

When we put our trust in Christ, our eternal hope, we can make it through any storm that may come our way.

How do we lay hold of something, when we are drenched in the middle of uncertainty?

I too am practicing this…but here are 5 things that have helped me in the midst of the many storms I have faced and am still learning from.

1. Read your bible! You have to know without certainty that your hope is in the eternal presence of God.

2. Pray! Ask God to open your mind and heart to hope in Him alone.

3. Remember how much Christ has suffered for you and your hope. (Wow… what an anchor right?)

4. Praise Him throughout the storm no matter what. Give Him praise for His Faithfulness, Strength, Wisdom, Mercy and Grace.

5. Think about other Christians (family & friends) who have weathered their storms holding onto their hope in Jesus. Lift up and encourage others. Share your testimony of faithfulness during and after your own storms.

May I suggest you start here:

Mathew 7:24-27 -Christ our solid rock

Hebrews 6:19 -Hope an anchor for our soul

Colossians 2:5 -He is with you

Psalm 107:28-31 and Matthew 8:26 -He calmed the storm

Nahum 1:7 -The Lord is good

This Ain’t No Pre-School

August 17, 2015August 17, 2015 / Susan Woodward / 4 Comments

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WOW—Back To School Already!

And once again, this year Austin and McKenzie will be together in School.

But this ain’t no preschool…nor is it the joyful years of elementary school. This is Tough…Life Changing…and Scary…MIDDLE SCHOOL!

And as much as I’d like to be at ease and think “oh, we got this.” I know that, “we are far from getting anything on our own.” I am so glad we know who holds their futures and who controls the plans for their lives. (just as He does our other children) We have been there and done that (The Middle School Years) three other times…and believe me when I say…We are far from being pro’s!! As a matter of fact, I have had to tweak my prayers quite a bit over the years. lol And I have spent, and will continue to spend many times on my knees…

But…

The IMPORTANCE of Having a Prayer to Pray Over Them Daily will Never be Tweaked….Because The NEED to Pray…will Never Change!!!

I will Always Pray For My Children.

(I encourage you to also have a prayer for your children. No matter what their age….Pray, Pray and Pray some more)

At this moment…this is my PRAYER for my Middle Schoolers.

Lord,

Please help Austin & Kenzie to know that you are walking the halls with them and sitting next to them in class. When they are confronted with fear, or struggle, help them to feel your presence and know they are never alone! Help them to remember that no matter what the circumstance or situation that they can always call on You!

Lord, guide their words and their actions as they make new friends and interact with new teachers and staff. I pray their minds remain open and ready to learn. Help them to understand that hard, honest work honors YOU, the one who created them.

Give their teachers patience, direction, wisdom and creativity. And then give them even more patience! Lord bless them for their teaching efforts and make them successful at what they do.

Help my children to always be kind, honest, and unselfish. Let them love others that may be different from them. I pray they choose wisely, but Lord, help to guide friends into their circle, who know and love you too.

Let your light shine! Help them to have boldness when needed and speak from their wisdom of you. Let their hearts be known as a follower of yours. Please Lord, create opportunities for them to share you with others…and more than anything….protect them from situations that could detour them from their walk with you.

Help them to LOVE You, Others and Themselves….In that order!

Cover their school with protection ~a protection that only you can give. And as I wait….I pray you lead them safely home!

Lord, we give them to you every day, but as they start this New School Year, we are once again entrusting them into your tender care.

Thank you Lord for your goodness and your promises!

And thank you for allowing us to be their parents. It is our honor to cover them in prayer…helps us to always bring you glory in the decisions that we make in parenting them.

We need you and your wisdom, to do our very best in “training them up in the way they should go”. (Proverbs 22:6) May they continue to grow up serving you.

Lord, we promise to always give you the glory for the great things that are in the works for them.

Bless them in school this year and every day in between…

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Questions were asked…so here’s the answer!

February 9, 2015 / Susan Woodward / 1 Comment

My blog is not strictly about fostering and adoption but I received many questions after my last blog. I thought I’d give some of you a little more insight about us.

My husband and I have fostered 22 beautiful children and have had the amazing opportunity to adopt three. We’ve done everything from respite and emergency removals to transitioning children into other adoptive homes. We have also helped with a reunification of a child back to her biological parents. I’ve worked closely with DSS in our county and the counties that surround us. I have been apart of leading Foster Parent Pride training and doing some Home Studies for prospective Foster Parents. I have not always seen eye to eye on things within the Department of Social Services, but I have always been committed to the hurting children involved in the system. Recruiting, training and mentoring parents quickly became my passion.

Our families lives forever changed when we made the decision to forever change a child’s. We have never been the same since our first call ten years ago. It is something none of us will ever forget. It was our first child placement. With that call came our first opportunity and decision to adopt. Every child that was placed with us over the years was from a different situation and each have had their own struggles. But they have ALL given us the same rewards. Rewards to great to describe….

My husband and I totally believe we were created with a purpose to love those who may seem unlovable to others. We seek guidance from the Lord for every decision and with meeting every child’s specific needs. With every difficulty we have faced we have been greatly blessed! And go figure, we do it to bless the children! But that’s how our God works! He blesses us ten time more when we are obedient and choose to bless others!

It has never been an easy task. Parenting is difficult no matter what. Adopting doesn’t solve all the problems the child has encountered from his/her circumstances. They have almost always dealt with neglect, abuse or trauma. But adoption does give “new hope” to a child that is in need of a forever family and home. It is only the beginning. There are many hurdles to overcome no matter what. The separation and loss that they experience is real and needs time to heal. I believe in being their voice (because they haven’t had one) and not only do they deserve one, but they NEED one.

If you are interested in knowing more about fostering or adoption through your local Department of Social Services, have any questions, or would like me to be praying for you specifically, please go to my FB page (there is a link on this web page) and message me.

For those of you who are already fostering or have adopted, I would encourage you to seek any available resource to help you parent. I also believe it’s imperative to utilize every resource available to meet the needs of the children you’ve been entrusted to love and care for.

For encouragement—Some people will never understand your heart and you cannot let negative (about you or the children placed with you) to settle in your mind. Not even for a second. You don’t need their approvals. God has your back. He sees your struggles and he knows your heart. He will never leave you or forsake you. Keep keeping on. Love and keep loving. And as you do you’ll continue to make the world a better place.