LIfe's Ups and Downs

Sometimes I debate with myself about what to write about here. The fun, nice things are easy to write about, and other things are not appropriate for public sharing. Some bloggers write anonymously - they tell the foster care tales and other stories without hints of identification or location, and there are advantages to that freedom. Others blog directly for family and friends. Our readers are both -- and that sometimes presents problems. There are lots of things I'd like to write about relating to our experiences in foster care, but to protect our family's relationship with the agency, or to protect our children's privacy, I don't.

I wrote last fall about Teenager's medical illness, and asked for prayers. In January she received this award. In between, she experienced some emotional difficulties related to her times in her life before she joined our family. I didn't share that here, because I just didn't know what to say. One day things are wonderful, and the next, they may not be. Now, again, she is struggling with issues related to her past. I don't want to say too much, but also am not able to act as if everything is fine, because it definitely is not. Teenage years present challenges for all families, but for those who don't have the solid foundation of the early years to fall back on, it's especially challenging. Developing attachments and the feeling of security during adolescence is a difficult task for kids who've not experienced it early in their lives. Despite our training and experience, Father and I still experience the up and down emotions as well. Meeting the needs of individual family members, and the family as a whole is an ever-changing task. At the moment, teenager is not at home with us, and we're working on a plan for the future. We don't know yet what that plan will be. We love her, and she loves us. That much is certain. We know that God is in control, and if are open to His leading, He will show us a way; it is not necessary that WE have the answers. We pray for her, that He will keep her safe, and show her the way as well.