Please bathe this matter in prayer

[Brenda]

How do I make a long story short?

I have two nieces and nephew who, at the time, are in foster care because of horrible circumstances. I got an email tonight asking if any family back East would consider 'adopting' the oldest of the three so that she could have as normal a life as possible (right now, she's not allowed to be with her friends, do fun things, etc - not because of her siblings but because of the foster home she's living in). They feel that with her siblings she won't have any kind of life because they are considered high maintenance and have many issues...

They (socail workers) said that if someone would bring Amanda back home they would senf the other two back to a foster home here (if we couldn't take all three of them). If not, they will put her up for adoption and we may end up losing contact with her. As near as I can tell, my husband and I are the only ones who are in a position to bring her home (my younger sister works ALL the time, Mom is 57 and the paternal grandparents (who I thought were considering this earlier) have basically said they don't think they can handle it.

Here's the hitch... I'd take her in a heart beat (and my husband agrees with me about this). BUT because of the head injury my husband sustained in an accident, we ran into problems last fall and so we have had contact with the department of child services here (we weren't at risk of losing our children or anything like that, but because of what we were facing (because of a dumb moose) at the time we may not be candidates to bring Amanda home with us. Apearently prospective adoptive homes aren't allowed to have any 'marks' with the department in the last two years - don't know what this means, but right now it doesn't look good for getting Amanda home.

I can't do anything about this EXCEPT pray that God's will would be done in this situation. Would you guys please bathe this in prayer as well. Thank you.

Brenda

[Brooke]

Oh, Brenda.....know that we'll be praying. I can't imagine what the Lord must have in store for your family with everything you've endured recently. It's gotta be something big! (even bigger than a moose :wink: ) Keep us posted, and remember to praise Him through the trials....you never know just what He is working out right now.

[Trish]

Praying for the Lord's will to be done.

[Brenda]

I contacted Family and Community Services here this morning to see how our asking for support last fall would affect our ability to bring Amanda home with us. Because it was voluntary on our part and there were no real 'protection' issues (just support measures to cope with a new lifestyle), we may be able to bring Amanda home with us.

We were told to contact the department where they are and to start the process. I was told that they may ask why there was involvement and to explain the circumstances we were facing at the time. The social worker I spoke to this morning didn't think it would a barrier for us (PTL) ans sounded like it might be hopeful for us.

Thank you for continuing to pray and I'll continue to update you as the information comes to us. (Mom was saying last night that we would be the best option for her because our oldest son is almost the same age as Amanda (six months difference) and we are a Christian family - something Amanada needs - exposure to God). I'm trusting God to handle this one...

Brenda

On a (funny) side note, last weekend one of our youth who is training for full time ministry did a sermon on how everything we do in life and how everything that happens to us - good or bad it is used to teach us something. I should be a very well educated lady by the time the Lord brings me home. Can't wait to see what He's trying to teach me through all of this...

[Brenda]

My sister is on an airplane as we speak and on her way home. Her children are still on the other side of the country and are devastated that she came home without them (one of them said to me when she found out "You mean she's leaving us here?).

They had their visit with my sister last night and were all teary. I spoke to Amanda (the oldest of them all) and she was still crying when I spoke to her - the poor thing. The son is devastated thinking he'll never be able to see us again. I am in the process of writing individual letters to each of them - I was tempted to hide my feelings and put up a front for their sake but I've decided not to - they need to know we're all upset about the turn of events.

They will be able to come home In March and now we'll look into getting them home sooner because of all of this and I will offer again to bring any of them with us (I had originally said I woudln't take the boy because he has some issues, but right now I don't care and I will handle it if that's what God has planned for them and for us). I dread the thought of any of them being permanently placed in foster care for the rest of their youth because of their irresponsible mother (sorry - she really struck a nerve this time and its always the children who come out on the dirty end of the stick each and every time!).

Please continue to pray for Amanda, Brandon and Cailtyn.

Brenda

[KrisRV]

Brenda: We will keep praying for the children it's so sad. When the parents think of themself first and not those poor young ones who haven't ask to come into the world.
I know the you would do wonderful for them and at times it will be hard for them. But, they will be thankful to come home and be with family. I hope and pray your sister gets her act together so the kids can have there mother it would be the best. What about the dad, not in the picture either.
Hang in there and I hope and pray you get the children if that's what you all want. I hope and pray it works out for you all.

:lol:

[Lornaabc]

Praying here in SC.
Lorna

[Jackie]

Here in Ohio, too!

[Amanda]

:( I'll be praying too.

[becky]

Brenda, some years ago my sister also made some poor choices.
She actually got so wrapped up in what she was doing, she asked me to take her two youngest.
They were maybe 11 and 13 at the time.
I talked her out of it, but I still kick myself for not telling her to pack their stuff right then and there.
Things would have been so different for them, spiritually.

She straightened up, which is good.
I hope your sister does the same.

[Brenda]

Well, on another level. I received an email from Amanda (my oldest niece) tonight. She made a comment that made me wonder if she was saved so I ventured down that road and aksed her if she had made that committment. I just received a reply not long ago saying that YES she is SAVED!!! :D

To my knowledge Brandon and Caitlyn (the other two) have not reached that point yet, but with continued prayer I don't dount that they will.

Wanted to share this awesome news with you all.

Brenda

[Anonymous]

{{{Praying here for each of you.}}}
Tammy

[KrisRV]

Any news on the children or what is going to happen to them. We will keep praying
:lol:

[Brenda]

They're all coming home to live with their paternal grandparents - I had offered to take one of them, but in the end they're all going to be in the same home again and that's what matters.

Brenda