A Place to Write

I got an email from our licensing agency letting me know they've been going through their applicants and may have a child who they think is a good match for us. They don't have many details about his past at this point. (They gave me some hints but that's his story to tell.) He's a 15-year-old Hispanic boy. He's on some medication. He's been living in a group home for just over a year. He has some siblings who have been adopted. It doesn't sound like he has lived with a family for a long time. The email actually had a lot of information but it still left a LOT of questions. I think I'll always have a million questions in these situations. I read it about a hundred times in a row. My mind is blank. I find myself piling up all the reasons it won't work. I find myself feeling guilty for that. I find my heart hurting for the life this boy has lived before. I feel hopeful about the life we could offer him. I sent it to Brendon. We haven't had ...

*This was originally written on January 5, 2017 2016 was a big year but mostly because it laid the groundwork for a HUGE 2017. We went away for Christmas. We left Thursday, Dec. 22 and stopped in Flagstaff to see the North Pole Experience. I give it 2 out of four stars. The décor was awesome and each room was really neat to see but it did not really work for my kids. Kaybree and Eisley, you both take a while to warm up to things and I felt like we were moved from room to room so quickly that you didn't really get a chance to take it in. We were also in a large group so a couple rooms (like the room with hot chocolate and cookies) there was no seat for you and then the elves were in such a rush to do their thing that they skipped you. I paid $40 per person to be there and then had to go grab my own stuff because no one was paying attention to us. Not cool. There was also a lot of talking from the elves. They had a skit to do in each room which I get but they just didn't seem...

I'm feeling depressed tonight and when I feel that way it's time to write. Today Brendon and I volunteered with Foster Arizona. We acted as guides to 10 kids in foster care as they explored Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium. We were randomly assigned to a group of kids. They were a group of older boys and then two teenage girls from a separate group home. There was also one adorable six year old boy. The main group of boys live in a group home for "at risk" and LGBT youth. That means they are kids with "behaviors" that no family has been comfortable with. We had a great day with the boys. They listened well, were patient when they needed to be and they all seemed to be enjoying each thing they experienced at the zoo. They were eager to be there and they enjoyed being together. And they were like that all day, yet, I'm feeling depressed tonight. Because I met a great group of kids and I still know they are highly likely to turn 18 without having found a ...