Fostering Newborns

"I have come to realize more and more that the greatest disease and the greatest suffering is to be unwanted, unloved, uncared for, to be shunned by everybody, to be just nobody (to no one)." Mother Teresa of Calcutta

We have both agreed at long last (years of waiting for me!) to become foster parents. We'll do the foster/adopt training just in case we fall in love.

Alot of people have told me it's crazy. I have a full life here on the ranch with four kids, and one of them, adopted as an older child from Africa, disrupted after 3 months by her original family, has not been easy to live with. That adoption did not turn out like I had thought and hoped...the first six months I adored her even though I could see she was a potential monster...and she eventually confirmed that thought. But the truth is, she has come a long way baby, and so have we. We have learned alot, and I know that fostering newborn babies would be beneficial for all of us, as well as good for the babies. I also realize we will have our hearts broken a time or two...or three. But better to live with a broken heart than to not live at all, eh?

Maybe.

1. I think of  those little newborns in the hospital, with no home to go to, maybe suffering drug withdrawal,perhaps nobody willing snuggle them close and pray for them. Nobody willing to bond with them because they aren't their own little babies.Nobody to bath them with Johnson & Johnson's and make them smell so good you can't help snuggle them. Babies need to bond with somebody to be healthy. If they leave my home and break our hearts- bound to happen- at least they will have been loved, cherished and prayed for. That's my heart.

2. I want all of my childrn to learn to care for babies. Especially the one mentioned above. It's important for her to see healthy mothering of an infant. In her culture...well, let's just say that's lacking. All children should learn empathy.

3. Both my husband and I spent time in foster homes as children- he as an infant. I think somehow us doing it for some other child is right.

4. This one is really selfish maybe, but since I didn't have a father around, or even ever met my own biological father, and I never had brothers, I always loved and adored males. I always wanted brothers, and was very close to my uncles, grampa, and cousins. I adore boys and want to have more...but Doug and I are done having our own. so maybe one of the little sweeties that comes to us will end up becoming a permanent member of the family. I'm hoping that when I'm old, I'll be surrounded by loving children...my own of course, and others who were mothered by me even if I wasn't really their mother.

5. That leads me to the last one, and it's this. I always wanted nothing more than to have a husband, children, and live on a farm when I grew up. As a kid that little fantasy got me through alot of hard times, and now, as a gift from the LORD, totally undeserved, just because He is good and cares about all the details of our lives- I have that fantasy. I can't help thinking about sharing my good life with others. Especially little newborn babies. I love them!

When I worked at a hospital on the mother/baby unit I was never so happy. I had my fill of newborn babies for 8 hours. I loved it. Some people are nervous and not confident with newborns, so there's a big need for foster parents for these little ones, and my husband and I both adore newborns. So...it seems good. Besides, I need to get over my fear of more children after the last one...she made life miserable for a couple years but I can't allow that to stop us from taking a chance again. Even if we don't adopt, but end up fostering only...we will be touching lives in a way only a believer can. With love, security (even if it might be temporary) and prayers.

What do you think? Will you pray for us? Am I nuts? Wait...don't answer that.

And isn't it a way of "Serving the least of these"?