January 11, 2019

I don’t think I slept a wink Thursday night. Finally I gave up, made some coffee and started my day. I didn’t know what time the meeting would be or what would happen at it. I was really concerned about how the cousins would take the news that they would have to move from their pre-adoptive home. I just wanted to hug them. Finally I sent the caseworker a text asking them to give the kids a message from me, “No matter what happens  just please let them know that they are wanted by us and if we don't have them it's out of our hands. I think it's very important for them to know that someone does lose sleep over them someone does want them someone does love them and someone does pray for them every day.”  Twenty-four minutes later I got a message back, “Are you an adoptive home for them?” “I believe we are.” My mind was really racing now. This just got real.  Three hours later a caseworker was walking into my house with my 12-year-old. Things went downhill during the meeting that morning and all six children were removed immediately. The previous foster family was angry and wouldn’t let the caseworkers have any of the kids clothes or personal belongings, he came with the clothes on his back and his book bag from school. The cousins had been taken to a respite home until everything could be figured out, but I didn’t know where. It took 3 days before I got a phone call from them letting me know they were alright. They are such strong kids.  At 9:52am I was asked if I would be willing to adopt 2 children and by 1pm I didn’t know where they were anymore but I had gained another son. That’s a roller coaster of emotions packed into a short period of time. You would think I could sleep by now... nope.