Time to focus on the positives

It is the 6th week of home school for Miss Sarah.  It is time to focus on some positive happenings that are happening in her life right now. 

• Sarah seems happier most of the day
• Sarah has not been to the hospital
• Sarah has only ran off once
• Sarah has been completing her school work
• Sarah has been attending youth group Surge on Tuesday nights
• Sarah has been going to enrichment on Thursday mornings
• Sarah has been attending gymnastics at Break the Barriers
• Sarah has started piano
• Sarah went to a home school play group
• Sarah attending church on Sunday mornings - Surge 11:30
• Sarah started a 3D printing class at InnovEd
• Sarah loves doing unboxing and YouTube videos
• Sarah started a blog and vlog
• Sarah is happy!!!

God has been working in Sarah life.   

James 1:2 consider it pure JOY, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds

#15for15

I saw a post today of a local pastor that wants 15 kids to be placed in foster care this fall.  #15for15.  Amen!!  I read the article as fostering kids has been on my heart lately.  Crazy right?   If you know our story!!  I was reading through the article and the pastor stated, "Pastor Criner says the qualifications are simple - all you need is love."   Pastor Criner's heart is in the right place.   I just cringed when I read that post because when we first went into adoption that is exactly what I thought.  Most people think it, too. Social workers try to tell you otherwise in classes.  I believed all you need is love and God.  I truly believed everything else would work out.   It is definite requirement that you will need love, but it is definitely not everything.    Kids from hard places require everything from you.   Love, kindness, patience, trust, finances, willingness to seek out the best medical care, and prayer.    You better be prepared to be on your knees daily begging God for healing for them and you.   Fact: you can not love mental illness away.   Can God heal them?   Absolutely!!   Will it be in your time?   Possible Not!!   I beg you to follow your heart if you are being called into fostering.   I just really don't want anyone disillusioned into thinking that "all you need is love".

I pour out my heart because after 12 years into an adoption of a foster child I am amazed at the amount of trials, issues, love, and joy we have experiences.   We started the journey over 16 years ago.   I have learned and experienced, so much along the way.   God continues to work in me and change me daily.  God lifts me up daily and guides me through each day.   God continues to work in Sarah.   I pray for healing for her daily.   I have a whole army of people praying for her healing daily.   #15for15  I pray now for these 15 families that will take on fostering this kids. 

James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brother and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds

Corinthians 12:9  But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."   Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 

Week Three in the Books

I love her!!!

Yes, week three of homeschooling is in the books.   I definitely knew that there would be some challenges.   Has there been some challenges?   Oh yes!!  Loneliness seems to be one of my biggest challenges.  I am social and like to be around people.  FYI, you are not around other people when you home school .  I really can't talk to anyone because I have to sit with Sarah, so she will complete her work.   She basically has a one-on-one teacher.   I am hoping that she will eventually catch on and become more independent.   Praises:  she has had some good moments.   She will be working really hard some mornings and some other mornings...well not so much.  I am happy to say that she seems happier.   She hasn't had any outbursts during our school day.    She does look forward to the extra curricular activities.   She is enrolled in gymnastics, horses, piano, youth group, enrichment morning, and 3D printing class.   Sarah has also started her own blog and she loves doing YouTube videos. 

 It is Monday at 9:00 and she asked me when she was finished, if we could go on a field trip, and when she could have her break.  She also said she was hungry.   She started at 8:00 a.m.  Ummm how about you finish some of your school work and we can take a scooter break?   We were out on her scooter break (I'm walking) and we run into a lady with a Pit bull.   I'm scared of Pit bulls and she knows it.   She usually tells everybody that I'm scared of them and I don't like Pit bulls.   Well, today she talked to the lady and didn't even try to touch the Pit bull or tell the lady about me being scared of them.   I was so proud of her.   She did yell at me within ear shot of the lady and her dog, "Mom aren't you proud of me.   I didn't touch the Pit bull or tell her you don't like them."   Oh Sarah!!!   

Up next, challenge is to find lots of ways to motivate Sarah to complete her work.   I already have a chip reward system in place. 

The Lord is always with me. Palms 16:8