Blog
Foster Thoughts…
Posted by Shaylee on August 23, 2010 at 7:27 am
This morning I would like you to meet Shelly, one of our newest transitional foster moms. We are thankful the Lord sent Shelly and her husband our way and I have a feeling you will be blessed by reading Shelly’s thoughts on fostering.
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As long as I can remember, I have been a baby-lover! The idea of fostering newborns first occurred to me over 15 years ago. It became a reality this past year. Our two children were grown, out of college, and both working in Dallas. For 6 years, we had become very comfortable in our empty nest. Our church began to challenge each of us to find our “mission field.” For most of my life, missions meant “doing something I really didn’t want to do, but did it anyway.” During this time, God placed people in our lives who guided us in the direction of Christian Homes & Family Services. My dream to foster newborns became a reality.
Matthew 25 talks about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, taking care of the “least of these.” Hebrews 1:1-2 tells us “Continue to love each other with true Christian love. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!” Hospitality simply means making other people feel comfortable and at home. If anyone is the “least of these,” it is a newborn baby who comes to us in the night, with nothing at all. Our love for others, love for strangers must run deep! Every birth mother has a story, and we need to have empathy for these courageous ladies.
In June 2009, I finally got the call! A baby boy had been born and would be coming to our home in 2 days. I was so ready, and instantly felt so much love for this little guy. He arrived at our home around 8:30 at night, and I just cried when I saw him. So many emotions hit at once…the incredible life being entrusted to us…the sacrifice that his birth mother made…his new family who didn’t know about him…how all of this was part of God’s plan for his little life…and what an incredible honor to play a part! The love I felt for him compares to the love I felt when my own babies were born. When I finally let my husband hold him, that sweet baby boy reached up and touched his face. Yes, this was definitely right! We immediately called both of our kids to describe him, and they also felt like he was part of our family. They came home as soon as they could get here, and continued to make many trips during the 10 weeks we had him. The night before he was placed with his “forever” family, we had the privilege of hosting them in our home and introducing him to members of his new family. His wonderful parents have chosen to keep in touch, have become dear friends, and we have seen them several times during the past year. We truly feel as if our family has grown to include them, and we are still in love!
Within a week of our first baby’s placement, we received a call about another baby boy. He was in NICU, and expected to be there a while. I asked if I could start visiting him in the hospital, and was given an enthusiastic “yes!” I began making trips to NICU 3-4 times a day. Although I could not hold him, I was encouraged to touch him and talk to him. When he was about 2 weeks old, I began feeding him every 3 hours in the hospital. I could not wait to get there each time! Finally, when he was 18 days old, we brought him home. Again, the gratitude was overwhelming, and the love continues to run deep! He was also with us for about 10 weeks. When we met his adoptive parents, there was an instant bond and a friendship that continues to grow. We get to see him every few months, and that is such a joy!
We had our 3rd baby, another boy, during Easter. Although we only had him 4 days, we still love him deeply! His family has spent time in our home, and they even let us babysit! They are very unselfish with him, and we are so blessed they have also chosen to keep us “in the loop.”
I cannot imagine my life without these people, and this year, Mother’s Day took on a whole new meaning. I celebrated the birth mothers, who chose life for their babies, and the adoptive mothers, who loved these babies before they even knew them! Many people have said “How can you let a baby go? Doesn’t it hurt?” That answer is “Of course, it hurts! Like crazy!” Loving deeply can hurt, but we know these babies were not “hurt” by our love for them.
Every day, I wake up hoping and wondering if we will get a call…we are always ready!
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