I don’t know about you, but my heart jumps a little when I find the time to sit down and read Melissa’s blog Full Circle.
Let’s get right to the update. I know y’all are an anxious bunch! 
If you missed the Melissa’s previous posts, I linked to them here for your reading pleasure. Post 1. Post 2. Post 3.
****************************************
Just as the workers anticipated, Mannie and Sunshine were with us for six weeks. That in and of itself (them being totally on the ball) was a complete miracle. It was a bittersweet goodbye, but we were all thrilled with their Mom’s progress and so happy they got to go home. Their mother was young, in need of guidance and loved her children dearly.
It was very healing for me to be appreciated (and prayed for!) by a bio family literally on the heels of Jack and Jill’s case with a completely opposite Mom (bitter, finger-pointing, trouble-making).
And then we would rest. Finally.
Four sleep-filled months later we got a call for a 2 year old girl. ONE child. We were shocked they would even consider us (as they usually kept families that take siblings in their back pocket for emergencies). We said YES and waited.
The phone remained silent and we continued recovery.
Nearly two months later they called back on the same little girl. Now 2 1/2, no family had been located and it was a fost/adopt placement. We were healed, excited and raring to go.
JuneBug was a beautiful blond haired, blue eyed angel-girl. She was smart, sweet and (at times) a snuggle bug. But she also had a dark side. Our little pixie had a temper (that made Mannie’s fits seem normal) and escalated well beyond that of a typical toddler. She had survived horrific experiences and was truly in need of stability, therapy and love.
After being with us a for a few months, mom realized JB was not going back to her. She started to comply and gave names and numbers. We were notified there was now bio family stepping up for her and I have to admit, I was heartbroken.
Reality Check: I’m human and selfish.
At this point you’ve got to put the shoe on the other foot and focus on what is best for the child. If it were my niece, I would bend over backwards, walk through fire and do whatever I had to do to get her back. And they did (from out of state, no less). They were relieved she was safe (as you can imagine) and anxious to bring her home.
At the end of May, JuneBug left to be with her family. We had the opportunity to meet on several occasions and absolutely adored them. They cherished JuneBug and we knew without a shadow of a doubt, our Princess was well on her way to her Happily Ever After. They have kept in touch and she is flourishing.
The following month our re-certification had rolled around again. Darling Husband and I needed to decide what to do next. Stay the course or call it for good. We both agreed that if all we ever did was foster, we were okay with it. Five beautiful kids and two years later, we all wondered if we would ever make it to adoption.
The answer may have been just a few months away…
****************************************
Melissa will be back again next week to share some more, but if you want to read more about her daily adventures you can go here. Her heartfelt blog shares more detail on how the beautiful children she has fostered have touched her life.
If I have any spare time, that’s where I go.
