Eleven years ago (February 2005) two little souls came into our home, our heart and our family. A 13-month-old toddling boy and his 12 day old baby brother still detoxing from birth. Being new to the world of foster care, we were timidly anxious. God had His plan for these boys in our lives as they would begin our ministry in foster care, the very moment they arrived.
After twenty-one months of loving them, coddling, cradling, teaching them to walk, talk, form sentences, find a sleep routine, ABCs and 123s... we realized God's greater purpose was we were walk through our obedience as we serve the children in foster care. These two bright-eyed little boys so full of wonderment were adopted to a couple unable to birth children of their own. It truly was a God-created family and all to fulfill His will. We are forever changed, as God allowed us to foster them until their forever home.
After the boys adoption, our family had everyone in our home to celebrate this newly formed family. We invited everyone who actively had a part in helping us in their lives. Yes, everyone from their Case-manager who dropped them off on our doorstep at 8:30 am. on a Saturday morning, to the babysitters who rocked them to sleep, so we could sneak away for a date night. We joyfully celebrated this new family to close our chapter in their forever story!
I spent countless hours creating a priceless gift for this mommy and daddy of a DVD. Sorting through 100s of pictures and precious memories, I wanted to capture every moment their mommy and daddy had missed. I chose pictures of when they were mischievous to those adorable cuddle moments. I needed a perfect song to back up pivotal moments of their sentimental journey. "When love takes you in...", sweetly and sentimentally gave life to this compiled life-movie. I never could listen to that song again without seeing the sweet little boy's faces!...And sadly never saw them again, but I knew this was not the end of our story. It was just the first chapter to our family's life narrative.
The eloquent words of this song have never spoke more clearly than it has Today! "When love takes you in, it takes you in for good!! February 2015, we accepted the call to take two more into our home. Number sixty and sixty-one were two broken, tortured and abused siblings.... "from adopted". Yes, I said adopted children.
The six-year-old boy was the targeted child. A therapeutic boy, with DMD (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy) who was never touched with love, locked in a room and denied food. He came to us with an animalistic nature, - a "caged soul" never wanting to trust anyone, but only trusting his 13 months older sister (his constant protector). His only expressions were to scream, hit himself and spit blood on us. We saw, and even felt his broken spirit and knew he needed a miracle to be whole again. After eleven years and sixty-one children, this was the hardest placement we have ever endured as a foster home. After months of constant love, proper discipline and a structured daily life, he began to trust. He is now a funny, bright and mischievous little boy! It took him six months to say he loved me, and I will cherish those words forever.
As for our baby girl- She is a vibrant soul, who is full of life, natural beauty, who shares her love for others through her positive light. We call her, Supergirl! A Hero to her brother! Have you ever met a girl who was put on this earth to bring joy, happiness, and love to others? Well, that is our sweet princess. She was meant to do great things for the Lord! And her first call to action, was sharing their abuse with her teachers.... I love her courageous spirit!
As of April 5, 2016, these precious children became apart of a family... forever! Which brings an end of our foster care journey and to the beginning of our family. Also, this is another reason why this beautiful song means so much to me.... We recently had OUR adoption celebration! We invited all our friends and family who had an active part in our children's lives over the last 12 months! I created a movie put to life by this sentimental song with all our children's pictures. I am truly blessed by their love for our family. As the pages turn to our next chapter of our story - from the chapter titled "The end of foster care" to the final chapter titled "The Beginning of Forever"!
This takes us to where this song began! The song that impacted on our family's journey, to our path in His Purpose! It begins, and it ends with this sentimental lyrical, "When love takes you in... it takes you in for good"! They became our final foster children who stayed forever! Now a forever family of six!
The end to our beginning...
Please watch this beautiful video from Steven Curtis Chapman "When love takes you in..."
In His Service,
Tammy
Hope to the broken, Help for the Fatherless,
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