Praise and Prayer

Esther’s Hope Festival
Sunday, November 4, 2012
3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

The festival is a celebration of all foster and adoptive families in the Valley. All current and potential foster or adoptive families are invited to attend. Those seeking resources and information on ways to support these families are also invited to attend this free event.

 

The girls and I have been excited about Esther's Hope Festival at our church for several weeks now. There is going to be cotton candy, live music, bounce houses, photo booths, face painting, obstacle course, pony rides, etc. We decided a few weeks ago to have the girls where their EVERY shirts that got from CFCA the night of the 30th anniversary event.

Then this week, the Lord laid on my heart to invite the girls' mom to come and join us. I sat on the prompting for a few days because I honestly was trying to figure out the logistics in my mind - trying to play out the scenarios in my mind. Trying to control whatever I thought I could control.

 

Background - I have been asking the CPS caseworker to set up an official 'ice-breaker' meeting with the girls' mom since August 21st. Nothing has happened. At our CFT last week, I decided I wasn't leaving until I had that meeting arranged. In the end, the CPS caseworker left it up to me to meet up with the girls' mom whenever, wherever I wanted due to the relationship she and I have built through letters/journals and now bi-weekly phone conversations. 

 

I had been picturing our first time together with her, the girls, and I to be at a park with maybe a picnic lunch. This isn't what I had pictured in my head. (Yet - after the the park, my next thought was about inviting her to my house for Thanksgiving dinner.) 

 

The festival? Really, Lord? 

 

Will she be comfortable? Will the girls know who to listen to? Will the girls behave? Will she want to come? Will we have comfortable conversation? Will the car ride to pick her up and then drop her off be too long and too uncomfortable? Will it be too much for the girls to handle? 

 

I played the questions in my head a million times, a million ways, and it didn't matter. I knew I was supposed to invite her. No doubt about it. Invite her! Tonight at dinner I just had to do it. I sent it via text, asking her to join us. (I would have called, but I have two girls who NEVER listen to me when I WANT them to listen to me, but then hear EVERYTHING I say on the phone that WASN'T for them or to them! Sigh.) She responded immediately with a YES! She'd love to join us!

 

Praise God! Holy crap!

 

Yeah - it basically went in that order for me in my head and in my heart and back around again. 

 

I can't even begin to express my joy in getting to be able to meet her face to face. To spend time with her and with her and the girls. I truly love her and I tell her that when we talk on the phone. In many ways, I feel like I am temporarily taking care of a friends' kids - a dear friend who just needs a helping hand for a time in order to get some things in line, some things straightened out. I want to fast forward to Sunday. 

 

At the same time...I am nervous. Will I say the right things? How will I maintain my expectations with the girls, yet allow her to be mom. How will the girls handle it all? Did I bite off too much for our first visit? 

 

URGH!

I have to stop.

I have to LET GOD!

I have to have FAITH!

I have to have HOPE!

I have to TRUST!

 

Praise God for this next step in my relationship with this family that means so much to me.

 

Please pray for us ALL on Sunday.