Daily Life

I have found that I do not play well with others. This may come as a surprise to some of you who know me. I appear to be the one who has the world by the tail. That is true- to a point. I do enjoy life and the people that I am walking with every day. I see no other way to live. Yet, there are hard times. Life is tricky. It is difficult to maneuver. The children in my home can wear me out. They are a constant drain on my emotions. I work harder keeping this family afloat then I have ever worked at anything. That is why I do not play well with others. When I get time… [more]

That is the question that I am mulling over currently as I look to the new school year. I have one child that has not 'got it' educationally. She doesn't read yet. She doesn't write well. Her math skills are mediocre. So, do I put her to work on an I Pad? I just don't know. Most of the kids that come out of foster care have been surrounded by the television and other screens. This is not always the case but often. The I Pad has a lot to offer. The technology is great but my concern is that unless I 'unplug' her- she won't get it. I realize that I could potentially be sparking a huge debate here. I am not… [more]

Today, I have been thinking about the mass number of foster children I have routine contact with and wonder how in the world things have gotten to this point. It seems that in my area, the need for foster parents grows on a daily basis and the suitable homes are overflowing with kids. This is not a good thing. I worry about a world that has so many kids in need of rescuing. The good news is that there are many people stepping up to the plate. They want to make a difference in a child's life and are willing to invest themselves in the greater good. I love that. I heard a quote recently that put everything in perspective for me. It… [more]

I am snuggled up on the sofa with two of my favorite people. It is just that kind of day- the snow is falling and wind blowing. It is cold. So the family is reading, blogging, watching, puzzling and cooking. Everyone is at their respective 'favorite' activity. I can't think of a better way to spend a long and lazy Sunday. It's the lazy days that get me thinking about how lucky I am to be where I am. My kids are not actually all my own, I have some on loan at this point. I am trying to work at capturing these moments in my heart because I know that some of my kids will not always be here. That is one of… [more]

Having an exchange student in my home has given me another perspective on life. Things in America are definitely different from in other countries. The things that we take for granted are not often not true in other parts of the world. One of the biggest differences is the Foster Care System. Those of you involved know that a lot of legalities go into the protection of children- sometimes it can feel as though there are too many hoops to jump through. If a child falls into an unsafe situation in America, the foster care system gets involved and tries to do what is best for the family. I know that this does not always seem to occur but it is the stated goal. In… [more]

Recently I've been using a visual schedule with my "littles." A visual schedule is just that; simple pictures, photographs or drawings show a child what is happening now and what is coming up next.  A web search of "visual schedule" will give you some great examples.  It is a fairly common tool for kids with autism. We began the schedule as an attachment tool for our 3 and 4 year olds but I have realized how helpful it would be for pre-reading-aged foster kids as well.  When new children come to the family, we always take care to let them know the routine, what's coming next, etc.  I think them being able to see and manipulate it for themselves would be a tremendous… [more]

I remember Christmas at my house. It was very hard. I was a child that was not a foster child but maybe should have been. There were a tremendous amount of issues that inhibited a normal life at our house. I think that is why I focus so fully on making sure that the holidays are casual but busy. The casual comes from trying to help everyone focus on the reason for the season and the busy? That just comes with the territory. It's like a zoo around here. This time of year is a difficult one for foster children. There is so much hurt and want in their lives. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the holidays, they miss the people who are important… [more]

I am sitting on the front porch in the dusk of one of the most beautiful days of the year. The colors are in full bloom with muted reds, vibrant yellows, oranges and the occasional green poking through. The sun is setting- streaking the sky with blues, gold and oranges. It is one of the prettiest places I have ever seen and I get the joy and privilege of living amongst it. Life seems to get very busy this time of year with the farmers hurrying about gathering their crops, the children's involvement in school activities and holidays [seemingly] quickly approaching. Yet, I can vouch for the value of 'sitting a spell' and enjoying the general splendor of the season. This is one of those… [more]

I get a little sentimental when it school time comes around. The summer time just seems to fly by. The flowers grow, bloom and then start to fade. My heart aches just a little at the sight of those beautiful flowers beginning to wilt from the dramatic change in temperature. Yet, there are flowers everywhere in our lives. The smile of a child. The smell of fresh baked cookies. All of these are things that bring joy to life- just like the flowers of summer. I have to tell you about some flowers that I encountered yesterday while I was out and about with my daughter. They were pretty and sweet, yet functional and practical- a must have for every young lady. I… [more]

I realized this morning that we are living in a  time when compassion and sacrifice are truly making a difference. When minds are being opened to the reality that children can be rescued- lives are being restored. Many of you who read my posts may be thinking, "Oh no, here she goes again. Pollyanna is blogging again." Yet, I do believe with all of my heart what I say in my blogs. I believe that there is a pervasive good in the world that people are grabbing a hold of and I love to talk about it. I have met so many people just this week who have stated their interest in foster care and/or foster care adoption. They see a need in… [more]