We began our journey to become a foster family in July of 2011. We had always thought we wanted to foster but always pushed it aside for one reason or another. In May of 2011, a friend from church who is a foster parent and knew I was interested said to me one Sunday, "are you still going to be a foster parent?" and I said "I don't know" and she said, "yeah you are! The Bair Foundation will be here in June to do a presentation, make sure you are here!" That brought the desire back to the forefront, but I didn't say anything to Steve right away, I wanted him to do this because he wanted to and not because I wanted to. The desire just grew stronger and stronger for me and I just prayed that Steve would feel the same way.
June came and they were announcing that our JBQ (Junior Bible Quiz) team won 1st place for the national competition and that the kids on the team were all foster kids, who had since been adopted!! I was so emotional when I heard that, that is why I love the idea of fostering, to hear where these kids have come from and see the difference their foster families make in their lives! So after that the foster parent recruiter from The Bair Foundation came up to speak and I just kept crying the whole time and for anyone that knows me knows that I NEVER cry, not sure why, I just don't! Well, I still didn't say anything to Steve and he was in there for the presentation and as soon as she was done he says, "do you want to go talk to her?" and of course I said "yes!" We were the first ones at her table when church was over and we signed up. We got our packet of information the following Tuesday saying the classes started in July! Steve was ready to start classes the very next month!
Since then, we have learned so many things, many of them very difficult, causing us to question whether we are able and willing to do this. Still the answer from both of us is yes! We have completed all but 1 class so far, submitted our application, questionnaires and autobiographies. We have had the 1st visit out of 3 for our home study and have alot of other "busy" work to complete. The process is moving along wonderfully and is actually alot easier than I anticipated. In the next few months we should be licensed as a family level home and then will work towards becoming a treatment level home. That is where we are up to this point in time and I pray the rest of this goes as smoothly as the beginning. I will try to keep this updated as we progress.
