Actually, the kids are enjoying the slower pace of not being so involved. There last home was very scheduled. Here they are enjoying a bit more time as kids. We will be keeping our eyes open. We heard for example, that the church in a nearby town provides an after school Bible club once a week. We will be checking into that. But keep in mind, we are also some distance away from towns. The Pathfinders will keep two of them very busy. Oldest has no interest in things church but how much of that is self protection and how much is actual belief is yet to be determined. Youngest is happy with everything.

Report comment to moderator

I will be praying.

Is there any way you can get the kids in another young peoples group…..even though it might not be the ideal church?

Report comment to moderator

One of our difficulties is that the kids come from a foster home of an SDA family, at least the mom. They were there a couple of years so we want to be very careful of things contrary to what they have been taught and yet we want to expose them to the Truth. This is an area we definitely could use prayer as the Lord provides with learning moments, we want to be available. We also want to develop our own time of study as a family but have to tread very lightly, especially with the older daughter as she was quite attached and we can say nothing that might cast a shadow there. She was also in Pathfinders which we have allowed her to join here for continuity and I am unsure how much their belief system colors the club teaching. If we see any blatant problems we will have to pull her out. Our church is too small and these are about the only children so the church activity for the kids besides service is going to lunch or dinner or to the homes of senior citizens.

Report comment to moderator

Absolutely no reason to apologize. You had valid points, and if people want to get distracted, they’ll get distracted regardless. I was too snippy in my replies to both of you, however, and so I hope you’ll forgive me.

Report comment to moderator

I hope some of the kids can take advantage of those scholarships, that would be great.

Do any of the kids enjoy Church activities?

I told my husband about you and your husband and what you are doing. My husband did businss with a couple a few years ago who had taken in many children throughout their lives. What a blessing.

Report comment to moderator

We just have the four at home, the first batch is grown and gone. In the past we have had many foster children both officially and unofficially but it has always been our desire to provide a permanent home for those who do not have one. We want to offer a place where they can be comfortable coming home on vacation and a family from whom they might receive a care package at college.

Speaking of which, we have learned through our classes that there are full ride scholarships available to any child in the PACNW who has been in foster care but these scholarships have never come close to being used up as so seldom do kids that have had these issues ever make the leap to college. College is not for everybody (I did not go a full year before dropping out when I realized studying was required), but I do think it might be encouraged so that one whole segment of our society does not view minimum wage jobs as the peak of excellence for forty year olds.

Report comment to moderator

You certainly have a gift of mercy, LOVE, and kindness for these kids. Not everyone is called to do what you and your husband are providing these children, but you have heeded the call.

How many kids do you have now?

Report comment to moderator

We had to tell the social worker, that though we are very interested in taking in the older brother, it could not be until we get these firmly settled or we would be at much greater risk of losing all of them. Old habits must be set aside and that takes time, as new habits are developed. Meantime, older brother has settled down for a time and his grandmother is comfortable with continuing to keep him. So he is still with family, just not the younger ones.

Thanks for your prayers and those of the many others. We attribute any success we are having to a group effort with a lot of people holding us up in prayer, the local body giving hands on assistance and encouragement, and the Lord God molding His beloved children into the tools He wants them to be.

Report comment to moderator

I’m glad you have given the information, and how TRUE it is.

So many times people have no idea how this works or the fact that two, three or maybe four children from one family all needing to stay together.

If I remember correctly you said in one post, just the other day, perhaps another sibbling would be joining your family. Am I right?

I think of you often.

Report comment to moderator

Report comment to moderator