[mj77]

Hi All,
We have a review hearing set up for tomorrow afternoon. Our son will have been in foster care for 1 1/2 months shy of 1 year now. We have had him almost 5 months. (Keeping your faith) tells of our situation. I haven't heard from the grandma now for 3 weeks and don't know what she is going to do, have him placed with her, or allow us to be his mom and dad forever and have openness with her.

*My fear is we will go to court and nothing will happen at all. No direction of where things are headed. No finality. Just a routine explanation of what we already know.

*Another fear is that the grandmother will speak up and ask for Baby (if she attends as she has attended each hearing this far).

*My hope is that we will have a more clear direction and that Baby will remain with us. I don't know the likelyhood of this. I really do believe it is in his best interest.

I think going through this has distorted my view of what is going on. I just want some answers. I love Baby more and more everyday. He calls me mama and my dh dada. He wants me to console him when he cries, laughs at me when I sing to him... I just ache in my heart at the thought of loosing him.

I should say, last I spoke with his cw, she really felt he might end up remaining with us but, of course isn't able to say for sure.

I would just appreciate any and all your prayers, please. When you eat breakfast or lunch, or anytime, would you remember our family in your prayer? Might you also remember Baby's grandma in prayer as she has a difficult decision to make? I can't see why God would allow us to loose Baby, but I really do want His will to be done.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you,
Melissa

[bumpkin]

prayers going out to you today.

Bumpkin

[mj77]

Thanks bumpkin and everyone else who has kept us in prayer. The hearing went alright. The grandmother never showed up. Baby's attorney sounds confident of us keeping him though there is so much left to happen still. I really am not a pessemistic (sp?) person. I am just so, so afraid of loosing our son. A permanancy hearing is scheduled for the end of the year. So the waiting continues. I just want to be normal again. This is a very difficult labor. I do understand there is a bigger picture beyond what we see.

Thanks again,
Melissa

[mj77]

Hi All,
I wanted to provide an update for all of you who know our story. We went to a current caretaker committee at the begining of this week. They made the decision that we would make the best home for our son (was foster) and that they would NOT concider any other family to parent him. This means that as soon as TPR is complete, we can file with the state for his adoption!! Praise Jesus!! This has been the most difficult and emotional experience we've ever been through. Was it worth it? Of course. God never gave us more than we could handle, but He didn't spare us pain and heartache. Would I ever do this again? No way! I am so thankful for both of our boys but foster-to-adopt was just too difficult on our whole family. I am so glad now to be able to tell everyone that our son is ours and not have to expain the foster part of it. Thank you everyone that prayed.

Blessings to you all,
Melissa

[L-A-J-C-R-C]

Congratulations Melissa.

Michelle

[hissecondmommy]

Hey Melissa,

That is wonderful news. I bet it feels great to be there at last!! Praise the Lord!!

The waiting can be trying though. Please pray for us, we have had ds for four years since he was 2. Right now we are waiting to go to court on May 4th to terminate bmoms parental rights. We have also sent her the paperwork to sign to terminate her own rights which will make it easier all around. She has never signed before, but may this time since the court date is right around the corner. Please pray she does, because if she does we could be adopting as early as that May 4th date!!!

A blessing already---The court has waived the homestudy in our case!! So I think this year is all in God's timing!!

I agree that the waiting and the wondering is at times unbearable, but I also know that God wanted us to be this little boys parents--for better and worse--and its the greatest job I could ever have. I too wouldn't want to go through all of this again, but you never know what God has planned

Hopefully I will be posting again really soon with adoption papers in my hands!!!

Again Congrats! And God Bless!!
Dena