Well, we finally got the notice to vacate our property. Some of you may know that we have been renting from a family member, who with the major housing market melt down, ended up letting the house go back. It's been such a blessing to be able to live here for as long as we have and we can see the hand of God in all of it. I couldn't say that everyday, but looking back, I should have been able to! On Monday we got the letter in the mail and yet another huge blessing came along with it! If we will move out immediately they will pay for our moving expenses. We figured it would be a couple hundred, maybe (and that was a big maybe) a thousand dollars. When Eric talked to them they asked us how soon we could be out. He told them he wasn't sure maybe 3 weeks, and she said, well I can offer you $1500. Eric says, what if I can get out in 2 weeks? She says I can offer you $2000! AAAHHHHHH!!!!!! Okay, we can do that! The scramble is on-but so worth it! LOL We had no idea!
Here is the link if you want to look at the outside: http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/apa/756948960.html
The house we found is still in Woodland. It's in a nice neighboorhood, yet a little intimidating. It's been a while since we had anyone living so close to us. There are other kids right across the street-we think they have FIVE boys! Yikes, that makes me nervous! The house is 5 bedrooms with a living, dining, family room and a cool nook upstairs for a total of 2709 sq ft! The bad news is that there is no bathtub in the master bathroom, but I will survive-I've made it this long without one and I'm still kickin'. The laundry is also downstairs, but it is an actual laundry room instead of a nook off the kitchen, so that will make a difference. The family room will be the school room and the formal living room will be just a regular living room for us-there's nothing formal about this family! LOL
Our plan is to continue fostering while proceeding with the adoption process. I still haven't gotten a "permanent" placement, but we are doing respite for 2 weeks for another foster family. Cute little boy and girl who get to go home. They visit their parents on the weekends and for a full day twice a week. It's nice to see a success story! With the extra bedroom we are contemplating becoming an emergency home. I have my reservations. This means we would get kids strait from a drug bust or wherever the police get them from, and it could be any time of the day or night. Most of them will probably need cleaned up and de-liced! Then they will only be with us for 24-72 hours. Sometimes they will go home after the parents get out of jail, or they will go to a long term foster home. I keep teasing Eric that he will have to buy me a 15 passenger van if he wants me to say yes! The state will pay us a stipend for any beds we keep open for the ER care, so that's a nice bonus- but not the purpose of doing it. Even though we get paid for providing that service, we still see it as a ministry-kids are protected, prayed over, cleaned up and hopefully they will see the short time with us as a positive one even though it was scary. There are many ministry positions that are paid positions-that doesn't make it ministry. It's really annoying when people ask us if we need the money and that's why we do it!! And YES, people do ask that question! Stepping off my soap box now LOL!
We will also continue to do respite for other foster families. We have been told since we are in Woodland we can do it for both counties. Woodland is split down the middle by a river and that is the county line. Half of Woodland is Clark County and the other half is Cowlitz County. I still need to call and verify that with the people who are in the know!
And for all of you out-of-towners-Luke's room will be turned back into a guest room when you all come through! he's looking forward to having his own room again.
Well, as usual this turned really long! I am off to get boxes, a check for the deposits and start moving! Pray for us! We will probably be tired and grouchy LOL!
Love Always,
Natalie and co.
Comments
Posted by JLee74 
Posted by brownie I have to give you a lot of credit for continuing to foster kids - that takes a real strong heart. I don't know if I could do that. It was hard enough with my one. Great foster parents are so needed. I've known some very good ones - and then some who were just doing it for the money (truly) and their hearts weren't there for the kids.
Emergency foster care sometimes also results in a permanent placement - sometimes those newborns just can't go home.
And a comment about your desire for a tub in the master bathroom... you are so fortunate to have more than one bathroom!!! We only have one bathroom in our old farmhouse - and with the possibility of adding two more children that could get very very interesting!!