On the 27th we finally got the call. I’d been very impatiently waiting for. I've reminding myself that it was all about timing and
the right fit. We’d had a few calls but the kids were out of our demographics
so we had to say no.
When we finally got the right call I was so excited. A
little boy, 3 years old, - our first foster kid.
But immediately my excitement was conflicted with sadness. I
realized that a family had been torn apart that day.
I prayed for his Biological mother, the sibling, his little
heart. I couldn’t even imagine what that experience would be like.
I would soon find
out.
Little JT came to us that evening and we began the process
of settling in- which I realize is anything but settling. It’s a mad flurry or
introductions, immediate boundaries with a smile, trips to Meijer for
everything the child did not come with, calls to the Foster Closet to find out
when we can visit to get resources etc.
Saturday morning we did some errands and were driving home
with JT in the back. We were on a main street, and the traffic suddenly got a
bit congested. There were cars slowing and some switching lanes.
Garage Sale.
“Oh that’s weird, even a cop is at that garage sale.” Jon laughed.
Indeed there was. I leaned forward in my seat to get a
better glance at what they were selling that had so many people’s attention.
What I saw broke my heart.
A grandmother in the front yard fell to her knees. She
grabbed her grandchild in her arms, as the little girl sobbed hysterically.
She had a large bruise around her eye.
A police man stood behind them with his hand on her shoulder
as he gently tried to free her from grandma’s last goodbye.
I knew what I was witnessing.
“That little is being removed.” I said.
The deep sadness settled into my heart again. Everyday this
is happening around us, but rarely does it touch our lives. Families are being
torn apart every day.
And while I love everything about our little JT, part of me
wishes it could be different for him. I wish he could be in his family, happy
and whole. I wish things could be good for them, and they could be united. I wish he'd never had to experience the fear and sadness of being separated from his mother.
But I know for now that is not possible. So for now I will
try my best to give him those things in our Patchwork family.
