A Holiday Weekend

My mom and sister flew to the island to join us in Mobay

for a few days getaway. 

After a rough start (The hotel wouldn't let me check

in, then called the cops on me because I couldn't prove

I was the foster mom of the kids I have. Thankfully

with the help of CPFSA the hotel got the proof they

needed and finally allowed us to check in.)

 because we are early risers our mornings were spent

on the beach... because nothing else was open yet.

 at first Big J wasn't to sure about 

the sand, but as soon as he had

a bucket and shovel he was content

to play as long as he was allowed.

 The ocean was nice and warm, and Big J became

a champion splasher.

 This lady spent most mornings sleeping in the stroller.

 The hotel had a splash pad that 

Big J loved. It was perfect for him

to get used to vacation life.

 These two spent most of their days

in the water.

 This little lady got in the water too if she wasn't 

sleeping.

 The splash pad was a big hit with her too!

On Sat. we hugged Auntie K and Mamaw so they could

fly home, then made the trip over the mountains back

to our house. We then spent the next few days transitioning 

out of vaca mode, and back to reality.

We were so thankful for the time away, but I am equally

thankful to be back home and in a normal routine again.

Little J

Please be prayerful for Little J.

Last week Monday we got a call that he has been released to his

potential adoptive family. He left an hour later to go for his initial week

visit with the family. We were informed yesterday that his visit has been

extended to a 3 month trial stay with the family and that he would not be

coming back to us.

Please be prayerful for Little J and his new family as they all transition to

this new life together. 

This is something new for us, we have never had a child go with an 

adoptive family before, and we are so excited that Little J got placed 

so quickly. We will miss him and his snuggles, but Rejoice that

he now has his forever family!

Everyday life.

 I am thankful for the help of Auntie Betty who

comes 3-5 days a week to help out in the mornings

or afternoons with the littles. It gives me a chance

to run errands and step away for a little bit each day.

This boy has made great leaps and bounds

in his time here. BUT he is still clumsy 

on his feet. Weds night he tripped and bit

through his lip and we ended up at the Dr.

Thankfully after an hour we had seen the Dr.

 who assured me it was not as bad as I thought, and given

a Rx to help seal the wound to help it heal.

 Thankful that after just 3 days things are healing nicely

and it doesn't seem to bother him at all.

 One of Neiahs 'jobs' that she has taken on is

reading nightly devotions and stories to the boys before

bed. She takes great pride in this, and gets excited

when she can read them to sleep:)

 This is one of the boys favorite places. We don't really have a 

nice place for them to play outside as they are still unsteady

on their feet, but they love standing here and watching 

Neiah and Minnie run around the yard.

 Minnie typically ends up sitting right next

to them trying to play with any part of them 

she can reach.

 This girl is doing awesome. She is eating better, but

is still just a little peanut. She has also started creeping

(aka scooting) and starts to move around as soon as

you lay her down.

Neiah LOVES the roll of big sister and is always ready 

to play with (mother) the littles as much as she can.

Happy Easter

So Thankful that He is Alive!

Blessings to you this Easter!

Now is already April...

I have not been doing a good job in keeping

up with the blog this year and for that I Apologize.

 Little Miss A is still here and she loves being social

with anyone who will talk to her.

 The end of February she got to go and

watch Neiah's Jamaica Day program at school.

 She is small but mighty. We have settled into somewhat

of a routine with her. Its still hit or miss on naps and eating.

Some days she does great, then the next is a battle, but she 

typically smiles through it all. She is teething big time 

and everything goes in her mouth. She loves to pull hair, or pinch

your face, or grab onto and yank anything she can reach. 

She has one level and thats loud

 The end of Feb. we were also blessed with a visit

from John. We were thankful for his willingness to

come visit us at En Gedi on Sat. Then the girls and I 

went down to Kingston for church with the HCJ

team on Sunday.

 Last weekend we celebrated Palm Sunday.

We got all ready for church only to be informed

(on the way to church) that church was cancelled.

We we had our own devotion time at home instead.

A few weeks ago we got a call from the head placement officer

for Jamaica. She informed us that the government is closing

another home and they had 4 1 year olds they needed to place 

in a new home would we be interested?

We them we were able to accommodate 2. We operate

as a foster home so our limit is 4 and since Neiah is still

under that label, and Ashely is already here... En Gedi

is at its limit with the 2 additions.

This past Monday we welcomed Big J and Little J to 

En Gedi. 

 This is Little J. He is 13 months old, very ornery, and 

loves to be held and snuggle. In less then a week he has

already become very protective/possessive of Momma, and will

yell " Hey!" at Neiah if she gets to close to me, and will also come running

if someone else is on my lap or in my arms.

 This is Big J. This Boy has made great strides already

in his short time here. He is 18 months old, but seems

to be delayed in many areas. His first day here he only

army crawled everywhere on his belly. The second day

he would crawl on his knees or walk along couches or other 

things he could hold onto. The 3rd day he was walking,

he still falls alot, but he is doing so much better!

 He has also already been to the Dr. and came

home with a bunch of meds to get him healthy.

Its nothing major just little things but prayers appreciated

as we get him healthy, and get both boys into the Dr. next

week to get them up to date on their immunizations.

Ashley doesn't seemed phased by them. Neiah LOVES

having them and is constantly mothering (smothering) them.

Prayers appreciated as we figure out this new normal.

Thanks

Blessings

Erin 

Happy New Year.... In February.

Its been a while since I have updated. 

This past fall was quiet here around En Gedi.

We didn't have any littles sent to us, so I was

able to spend some time at another local 

children's home investing in the kids there.

This past month, we sadly had to put down 

our beloved Brita dog, after a freak accident 

where she got under the car and run over.

 We have since welcomed Minnie, a Rottweiler/

Mastiff mix. 

 Neiah was thrilled to once more have a pup to play

with outside.

And last week we welcomed Little A

to En Gedi.

 Neiah quickly and smoothly transitioned

once more into the roll of big sister, and 

loves to play the part.

 The babies get along nicely so I am 

able to get little tasks down around the

house :)

 And we are trying to figure out a new routine

now that Little miss A is part of the 

family. I was told she is 3 months,

then 2 months, but after spending

the last few days with her, I am guessing

she is just a peanut (she swims in size 1

diapers and 0-3 mos. clothes). 

By her behavior and abilities I would 

guess she is at least 4 months or older

and was a preemie at birth or just

malnourished and hasn't been growing

as she should. 

Prayers for wisdom (any any info we can get on

her) as we continue to run alongside this

little lady.

Thanks

This is a hard one.

 Baby K Feb 2018

Baby K July 2018

This post is a hard one that I have been putting off for this

long because it was a big hurt that took time to heal. Its still a 

little tender but God is good and I Praise Him.

We were blessed to run along side this boy (our boy)

for 5 months. He was a Joy. This was the first time I

had a baby bond so quickly and fully to me. When we 

got baby K we were told he is going to be adopted so he

may be with us a while and that was fine with us. We did 

all the court visits as mom was given chances to change her

mind, after the first court visit mom stopped coming. We

would still go, make an appearance, then be excused 

until the next court date ( CPFSA was doing all 

the needed work between dates to get rights terminated

so he could be placed with his forever family.)

The end of May was the termination hearing. They wanted

to move him into a long term home at that time (as we

are just a short term place of safety), but my momma heart

said no, and I fought to keep him. They let us.... fast forward to July.

 I keep checking in with CPFSA (didn't know if

I should make travel plans as usual or not if we

would still have Baby K with us) and they are telling

me it will be probably 3-4 months for him to be placed with his

forever family, so we let them know we are willing to keep him

until he is placed. But then we learn the mom is dragging her feet, 

she doesn't want to sign off on the papers to terminate rights. 

Come to find out, after

the monthly placement meeting in July, That the bio mom has

changed her mind and wants him back. CPFSA then gives her a year (so

from now until the summer of 2019)

to find a place to live and get a job so she can care for him. Visitaion

would start this fall to help with the bonding. 

Then they turn to us. They are willing to let us keep him, but it will be another

year.... I wasn't ready for that. I didn't expect ever getting a choice.

Every time before we would get 

 a call and get a baby, we get another call the baby goes.

My mommas heart was crying out YES! keep him, protect him

love him, don't let him go to another children's home.

But then God spoke up reminding me "you can't pour out of 

an empty vessel" and I knew thats where I was at. I had been feeling

guilty about the 'leftovers' Neiah had been getting that summer because 

there was a lot going on and a lot of back and forth with Baby K's situation.

I had to think of her and how another year loving on Baby K would effect 

her and him. Would he be able to bond fully to his bio mom if he was already

bonded to Neiah and I? How would it effect Neiah (and me) to have him for

15 months then have to let him go.... what if after the year the bio mom still

didn't have her things together and we were back at square one him being 

put in a long term home... What if.....

Then I opened up and read in Samuel and it specifically talked 

about David staying at En Gedi and how Saul was chasing him, but

David stood firm that he would not kill Saul because God 

had placed him in authority, and David respected that authority. 

What that spoke to me is I am David at En Gedi, CPFSA is 

the authority. They see the big picture in these situations 

with the babies and families, they know things I do not.

I need to respect that and not try to fight them for what 

I think is best for the child, when I can't see the big picture.

So after a lot of tears and a hard goodbye, Baby K was 

taken and placed in a different home, so he can start

visiting and bonding with his bio mom.

I am so thankful for a great big God who loves our Baby K

so much more then Neiah and I. I am so thankful that I 

can turn to him and He can grant me the peace and healing/calm

that only He can. He knows, He understands. This is the first

time things have gone this way and it was hard, BUT I know all

the babies placed with us will not be "ideal' situations, and that we

must Trust God even in the hard, even when we want to muscle it

on our own and do what we think is best. God is Good. Always. 

The End.

Prayers appreciated for Baby K and his bio mom as they start

visitation this Sept. Prayers appreciated for Neiah and I as we

get ready (after a much needed break) to head home and take

in any others that Jesus needs us to love and run along side.

Thanks.