Wednesday, January 28, 2009
You CAN do this !!!!
This post has been lurking in my head and heart for a while and I hope I can put into words what I really want to say ... I have had so many people fall in love w/ my 3 interim care babies (Gracie Lou, Ally Kat, Lola Belle) and everyone says "I could NEVER do it." Well I am here to tell you that you CAN do it, if God calls you ... You CAN become completely sleep deprived, You CAN fall hopelessly in love w/ a child that will not be your own, you CAN have more laundry and dishes to do than is humanly possible to get done in a day, you CAN wake in the middle of night for feedings and have that alone time to pray over God's precious child, you CAN gain a few pounds cause you can't go to the gym w/ an infant, you CAN pack everything, but the kitchen sink to attend 3 basketball games in one day w/ a new born, you CAN cook, hold a crying baby, settle an argument w/ your two middle children and wipe a bottom all at the same time, you CAN look into her eyes and tell her she belongs, is loved, and safe while she is with you, you CAN answer the hard questions from your children on why you can't keep her forever, you CAN hand her over when everything in your heart is crying NO, and you CAN give of your whole self IF THAT IS WHAT GOD CALLS YOU TO DO ...
Believe me this is never easy on our family, but it also such a blessing and an unbelievable glimpse into the Father's heart ... Honestly, what would you do if someone called you and said I have a child that has no where to go for a few weeks CAN you take her ?????
I am thankful for all of you who have come along side me to pray for my family, Lola Belle, her birth mother, and her new forever family ... Your prayers are shaping so many people ... Your encouragment to me is invaluable ...
Lola Belle will be going to her forever family on Friday at 3:30 ... I am already preparing my heart as I cuddle her and pray over her sweet body ... I am so excited to meet the birth mother and Lola's mommy ... AND YES AFTER I LEAVE THE AGENCY THERE WILL MUCH CHOCOLATE EATEN THAT NIGHT !!!!
I am learning the more I walk towards the things God is calling me to do the more I am shaped for His work and the more clear His voice is becoming to me ... Some people love the thought that we have already named Joseph and Abigail ... I can honestly tell you that Joseph and Abigail are as real to my heart as Jeremiah, Elijah, Emily, and Maggie ... God has placed them there and I have many hopes and dreams for them ...
So my thought for today is You CAN do this ... whatever your THIS may be !!!!
Love You All
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36 kind words.:
Thanks for always being such an encourager, Gwen!!
SOOO amazing!! I am always so inspired by your posts. Bless you, dear one!
Oh Gwen, you are such an awesome person and mom. I will be praying for all of you tomorrow at 3:30. I know Lola Belle's forever family will adore and love her to pieces. Having you love her before them is such a blessing.
Like I have said a million times..
you are a true inspiration...
And I WOULD DO THIS...
I know Abigail and Joseph are real and they are true to me..
I have their 1st present coming soon..
Can't wait..
Love ya girly..
I will be thinking of you...
I know it will be hard.. but think what GOOD you have done for her..
You ARE AMAZING..
Gwen-
AMEN!
What a beautiful post! And I am one of those who has said, I CAN'T do that to what you do. What if I get too attached. But if not us, then who?
so well said. Love it!
I will continue to keep her in my prayers, and you as well, especially at 3:30 on Friday.. and I will consume my fair share of chocolate, right along with you,you know to support you, cause I am that good of a friend. ;). Will be thinking of you that bittersweet day.
hugs~
Amie
As you live your life...know that you are inspiring mine and leading me to be a better child of God.
Your encouragement is just what I needed at this very moment. Thank you so much for sharing your heart. You are an unbelievable woman. I love you dear friend.
May you continue to find the strength and energy to continue foster parenting. You are making such a huge difference in these tiny lives. Your heart is so generous and I continue to be awe of you. Continue blessings to you and your sweet family.
You continue to amaze and inspire me. I'll be praying for you and Lola Belle on Friday. Love you.
You're absolutely right!! I think if any one of us got a call tomorrow and was asked if we can take in a child while a forever family was being found, we'd do it in less than a heartbeat...
I'll be praying for you all on Friday
Oh girl....I so need a visit with you....I need to pray with you, eat chocolate, stop at Coldstones and eat chips n salsa.....see Suzanne and her beautiful boys....sigh.....remind me of Miss Maggies surgery again....can we make this happen in Feb or I am too late?
So overwhelmed with all the things to do for Drew....we also have a huge addition happening at the moment which is going at full speed to get done.....
Love and miss you.....have you emailed Em lately....did she ever email you her story.....?
Love and Hugs,
Steffie
You are SO very incredible...and I NEVER doubted that you could:) What an inspiration you are and my heart goes out to all of you - what a day Friday will be!
YES I CAN ... if filled with His Holy Spirit and encouraged by the example of sisters like you!
What powerful words and what life lessons you are teaching me!
Cannot wait to share some chocolate with you on Friday night!
Praying for you and LB!
Gwen, I am so encouraged and inspired by you. I'm sure many others are too. Thank you for posting! I am just wondering what agency are you working with? I hope you don't mind me asking:) I will be saying prayers for on Friday! May God POUR out his peace and blessings on you on that day.
beautiful pic and thanks for sharing your heart again with us
Beautifully written! Thank you for sharing a huge part of your heart both the joys and pains with all of us. You are truly an inspiration to me!
WOW! Dear God...Amen
I will be praying for you tomorrow. What a blessing to her forever family you must be! I can only hope and pray that should our little one need to be in interim care for a time before reaching our home that she will have been loved, cherised, and prayed for as Lola has.
What a precious picture! You are in my prayers; especially tomorrow.
Carrie
What an inspiration you are to so many of us! Thank you for such a wonderful post. My husband & I have thought numerous times of being foster parents. Our answer always comes down to the same thing - Could we do it? By reading your post, I see fostering as so much more than just "temporary parenting". Thank you for opening my heart to the idea.
You are amazing, Gwen. God bless you for being such a wonderful woman and mom.
Oh yes you CAN!!!!!! You go sistah!
Thanks for the reminder, Gwen, that whatever it is that God is asking of me...of us...Yes, I Can! Praying for your heart today that Jesus will fill that little hole left by this sweetie pie. HUGS!
Paige once had a foster mommy for 2.5 years. I thank God that she loved my Paigee before I did and kissed her and made her feel loved and safe. She has always held a special place in my heart, but more importantly in Paiges.
Gwen, you are giving these angels such a gift. They might not be able to tell you thank you, but I know that there mommy's will carry you in their hearts forever.
God bless you, sweet girl!
Gwen, I will be thinking of you and your family and sweet Lola Belle and her new family as well as her birth mother.
I cannot fathom what you will go thru tomorrow... I will be thinking of you...
My heart strings are always so overwhelming on infants....
:)
Marci
Oh Gwen, that pic is just beautiful and says it all, the love you have for her and the prayers you have sent to heaven for Lola is shown perfectly in that picture, it warms my heart...We lift Lola up and you as well and the birthmom and new Mommy as well, may tomorrow bring much love, much healing, and new beginnings and may the Lord be in the midst...
Gwen thank you for always, always, saying the right thing. You are not only beautiful you have an amazing heart.
When you get a chance go to my blog, I gave you something. I know you are busy, you do not have to follow through, just know that you deserve this.
Love you, Kristy
Gwen,
It is almost 3:30 on Friday....praying for you, Lola's birthmother and Lola's forever family.
Hugs!!
thank you so, so much gwen. through your heart Christ is loved so well. you are an inspiration!
"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, Announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, 'Your God is King!'" -Isaiah 52:7
"Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it." -Luke 18:16&17
with love,
nicole
Oh my, what a beautifully written, heart-stirring post. I pray that God is granting you His perfect peace and strenght tonight.
Blessings,
Robbie
Encouraging and inspiring, as always.
"I'll take that!"
(I actually really needed that tonite).
Love you, my sweet friend!
I love this post! What an inspirational blessing you are to so many.
Beautiful post!!
As I reac this is brought tears to my eyes as what you're talking about doing with these precious little ones is what I pray for my daughter daily! You are such a blessing to these little ones and I am so happy to hear how God is using you in their little lives.
awesome...yes, we can all do it...and we're so thankful that you're not afraid to always try...I'm right there with ya..I'm up for any challenge..kj
I loved this post. We did interim foster newborn care for 4 years. 6 newborns later we are adopting form Ethiopia. Each baby that we had was wonderful. i loved your post because the "this" changed for us.... His plan is even more amazing than we can imagine.
Wow wow wow, my heart is so encouraged by this post. Thank you, Gwen! I been through this and had my heart broken, too, for the love of two baby girls and it is indeed an honor to be used by God in such a beautiful and painful way. Thnaks for this.