What's it gonna take....

I am writing this with a heavy heart. I spent the day in Birmingham filming profiles of children waiting to be adopted, like every time we do this, and have for the last 11 years, I always meet great kids & with amazing stories. Today was different.

I have been in a place the last couple of months where I have been trying to be still and listen to God for his guidance and direction. I am in a place I call 'clouded counsel'. I know he is putting pieces together for a bigger picture, but he hasn't revealed it all to me. As a planner with no patience, this is a hard place for me to be. I am learning to relax and listen and not get in the way of his plan, but rather be used to fulfill his plan.

Today as I met great kids, there were several common themes. A lot were older, a lot liked Math! A lot made good grades. None of these traits are typical with the stereotype of a foster child. I met a teen girl that uses Art to express herself. A teen boy who plays the saxophone, and uses his music to escape the reality that is his life in foster care.
But there were heart breaks, A beautiful teenage girl, who makes good grades, but was taken from her family because of sexual abuse, separated from her 4 younger siblings, (they have all been placed) she waits.
Another girl who is in care with her brother and sister. She was a happy child. I was numb when I found out later that she witnessed her mother kill another sibling. Devastating.

So I come back from spending the day with these kids, still in 'clouded counsel', but with a refocused purpose. I have no doubt I am right where God needs me to be, but I have got to do more.

It's not ok these children are living a life in foster care, without knowing what it feels like to be part of a family forever!

Now the challenge of how do I make other people care about these kids?