A week for the books, which is saying something for us with our relatively high tolerance for crazy. Dakota's mom got in a bad spot and I ended up offering for her to stay with us for a couple nights. I won't share much of it here, but it was a week. So much hurt in this world. And so much to be thankful for.
August 9
Its something I've done dozens of times...at a moment's notice, putting clean sheets on a spare bed (or one that's made spare by a kid, usually Aiden, sleeping on the floor). I always spend the room prep time praying, reminding God that I'm in over my head, that I'll face things too big for me unless He steps in and helps me (to be clear, that's pretty much most of my life).
When someone new comes, I'm acutely aware of what it might seem like from their perspective. Dakota's mom, K, came to our home and I introduced her to the only person there, Avery's friend Sarah, who doesn't normally live with us. We chatted in the kitchen for a while as I was making lunch for the crew. At one point she stopped and said, "where's Dakota?". "Oh, he's at "the building"." Then I have to open the house door to look out in the garage/driveway to check which one of about five cars are available for me to take so I can grab keys. Welcome to your first 15 minutes in our world, K! 😳
I paused in the driveway of the building, breathing in the gorgeous morning light.
Our "third daughter", Sarah, stayed at our house for the week...she worked on a couple college classes during the day and went to youth group camp with the kids every evening. She was the only one home around noon and she texted me saying someone had come to the door, she thought maybe a social worker? In two minutes I was home from the office to find an unannounced social worker I had never met. After four hours of conversations with me, Dakota's mom (who arrived later), a supervisor, etc, it was decided that Dakota needed to stay with us and his mom had to leave.
I've never been on the removal part of the foster care transaction and it was brutal. I was taken completely by surprise and there were many tears.
I have so much to say about it all and have such a different perspective on the whole thing than I did when we started out 13 years ago. Its all just really hard for all involved.
My dad invited Aiden out for some fishing on the boat. We met him at the water with a toddler and dog. Even the few quiet minutes there were life-giving.
Cleaning, packing, laundry...
It was such a lovely event and beautiful day! We got to sit with family and play some silly games and honestly, it felt like such a normal person thing to do....a short reprieve from the nonsense that has been my life. So excited for them and for all the festivities these next 40 days. Our family table was doing some math about all the showers, graduations and weddings to come. We didn't come up with a number but its significant. We decided when we find dresses on clearance, it would be a good idea to snatch them up. ;)
Then we went home, showered, loaded the car and set off for a couple days in Maine.
Your life is nuts!!! What a week! Even by your standards, that is just a whole lot! You continue to die to self and offer yourself a living sacrifice, a wiling vessel. God continues to use you in the biggest of ways and the mundane. I'm sorry for all the feelings, pain, hurt, fear that came about this week. Proud of you for continually stepping into scary roles. Thanks for the amazing shower pix.....and I LOVE the pic of Dad's boat.
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