We're Done!

Really, just beginning. I'm actually tearing up thinking about the past thirteen months of waiting, of papers. Of inspections. Of made-up deadlines that were never met. Of wondering if this is what God want's us to do. Of wanting to give up. Of wondering if there is a need. Of waiting more. Waiting longer than we ever thought we'd have to, all to get to this moment. Ok, not this moment, because we are ultimately waiting for the moment a state worker brings a scared, broken child to our door asking us to love them.

But this moment- where we are licensed. I mean, licensed and inspected. Licensed and not "pending" on the call list. Licensed....and there is nothing holding us back from getting a call for a child! We are finally done with the PROCESS. We are an "active" foster home! While I am extremely happy, relieved and excited...and I am also very aware of what is ahead of us...or what we think is ahead of us....

The wait.

We wait for a over a year...to wait some more. Who knows how long this wait will be? So far, it's been 11 hours. It's a different kind of wait, though. A more anxious wait, the "I'm keeping my phone with me and on at all times" kind of wait. A curious wait. I wonder when we will get a call? I wonder how many children it will be for? I wonder what they will look like. How old will they be? How long will they be here?

A friend of mine who was licensed the same day as us in our county has not had a call yet (it's been a little over a month). My logistic mind keeps telling me that means we will be waiting a while, but I know that God has this. I know that our criteria for the kids we can accept is different. I know that each child's circumstance is different. I know that the worker's don't go by a list of who has been licensed longer...but what family is the best match for this specific child. I know that the wait of any other foster parent or family has nothing to do with ours. Imagine the feeling when sitting in the FPA meeting on Monday and one lady said she waited for two years between placements. Two years?! Talk about discouraging. Come to find out it was because her home was under investigation. (huge sigh of relief)

His timing is perfect, he is never late. I do wonder how long he is going to keep us waiting this time. Isn't 13 months long enough? That was over a year for him to use to prepare us and grow us. But...

God knows what he is doing. His delays are always purposeful. When we dare to live by His timing, great things happen.

"Those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

So, we will wait for that call. For the first call, the second, and however many there are after. In waiting we can pray for the children who will enter our home, pray for our family when we take them in , and pray for their birth parents. Oh waiting, how did I get involved in such a big waiting game again? ;-)