What's next? How do we say "yes" again?

After O moved back with her Aunt and Uncle we were undecided about the next steps in our foster care journey. We knew we needed to wait a little while before we said "yes" to another child, so our home remained closed for a few weeks. When we started this crazy ride, we had agreed only to a little girl under five years old. We wanted Brody to always be the oldest child, and we just knew a little girl would complete our family perfectly. While we had O we never even discussed opening our home for another child. We had our little boy and precious girl and life was great...just the way WE planned it. Little did we know all the plans God had in store for us. Once again I was reminded that His plans are always greater than our best dreams!

For I know the plans I have for you, "declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. -Jeremiah 29:11

Eric and I discussed our next move and agreed to open our home back up for a boy or girl and JUST be "foster parents." This time we weren't setting ourselves up for another heart break. This time we were going to take a step back from trying to adopt a special little girl and just be a home for any child to stay while they needed us. This time would be temporary and would help us heal from O leaving. This time would prepare us even more on how to say "goodbye." This time would be different! I remember exactly when and where I was when we got the call for our next foster child. It was the middle of summer, and I was attending an in-service workshop at school. Jessica text me first, then I made my way to the hall so I could talk to her on the phone. Jessica explained that he was a five year old Caucasian boy from Alba, who had been removed for domestic violence. This would probably be a short stay for him because the reason for his removal wasn't very serious. A five year old BOY! The same age as Brody and a boy! Against everything we originally agreed to we still said "YES" to this little boy. When I called Eric to explain his case Eric said, "I don't know why, but for some reason I think we need to say yes!" I agreed and told him I felt the same way.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:5-6

Jessica agreed to meet us at home that evening, so we could all do paperwork with the CPS transporter. We didn't have a picture of this little boy and knew very little about him. We had absolutely no idea what this child would be like. I was a bit nervous pacing around the house just running all the what ifs through my head. O was two when she was placed with us. She was a baby. This was a boy the same age as Brody. Would he be angry? Fearful? Sad? Happy? How would we answer all his questions about his reason for being at some strange house with people he had never met before? I asked Eric if he was nervous and with no hesitation at all he said, "No, not really." Okay, maybe this was a great sign I thought. If Eric wasn't nervous why should I be, right? Finally the car pulled up. We walked out on our front porch and out jumps this beautiful, dark-skinned child with gorgeous black hair half way down his back. He was wearing brand new stiff jeans and Spider-Man snow boots. Remember this is July!! My first thought was "they got it wrong...they brought me a girl who's a tomboy!" I greeted him. As happily and excited as can be he said with a loud voice, "I'm a Mexican, I'm a Indian, and I'm American! And I'm a boy!" Well alrighty then little guy nice to meet you too! I didn't prepare for this scenario at all in my head. We all looked at each other with big eyes as he ran off through the back yard 90 miles an hour. The transporter told us that he didn't seem upset at all and had talked non-stop from Tyler to our house. I could tell from the first 5 minutes of being around this little guy he was a live wire. Brody's first question to him was, "Are you a girl?" He screamed back, "No, I'm a boy! I'm Indian!" Brody looked at him with the most puzzled look for a few seconds then shrugged his shoulders and ran off playing in the yard with "Andrew." The transporter, Jessica, Eric, and I sat down at the kitchen table to complete the paperwork on this child. The transporter knew very little about the case. He said the CPS worker would be out in a week or two to check on him. At that time she would give us as much information as she could about him and the case. I remember us all looking at each other and thinking "what in the world just happened?" There were no words needed for what was happening. The transporter even laughed a little like he knew we were in deep with this little boy. "Andrew" didn't seem to be bothered by being at our house in the least bit. He told us many interesting stories about his mom and dad the first night he was with us. We had to really watch and monitor the story telling because we were never sure what was coming next. This little boy had very few table manners and reminded me so much of Mowgli from the Jungle Book. Such a happy child, and paid no attention to the hardship he was going through at the time. He was just happy to play, eat, and watch TV. He showed very little emotion towards us and needed little from us emotionally as well. This was a totally different experience and feeling from the night we got O. He called us "Sir" and "Ma'am." He treated us like he was just staying a few days and nothing more. He went to sleep in his own bed with no problems at all. We had no idea what was next. Our only thoughts at this point was to take it day by day! Our only job was to do the best we could with this little boy while we had him. Surely this would be a short lived case we thought, and this little boy could go home to his parents soon. Little did we know this child would spend THIRTEEN months in our home! Over a year of Loving on Borrowed Time!