The weekend before Christmas has become the time when we host our annual get together with my children’s former foster parents. I’ve posted about them before but for those of you that are new to our blog or adoption forum, let me backtrack a bit.
When we adopted our children, they were 5, 8 and 11 and had been in the foster system for 4 years, the last three being spent with foster parents Pat & Bill. Over the several months spent getting to know our kids, before we finalized the adoption, we also got to know Pat & Bill quite well. They were a source of information and insight into these three children, each of which had their own story to tell. Early on I felt it was important to keep ties with them, if for no other reason but to stop the cycle of caregivers coming in and out of my children’s lives. I’ve written about this in more detail so I won’t get to far off track here but out of that came our annual Christmas get together. What makes it even more special is that a boy, Lance who lived with Pat & Bill during the same time, got adopted by a couple that lives in our city and they come also. 
They have since adopted Lance’s biological brother and Pat & Bill always bring their current foster children so this year we had six adults and eight kids. It would have been nine but my son won’t be home until later this month. More about that in another post.
If you are a foster parent, please know that you are making a difference in that child’s life. Nurturing and love can go a long way for a child that is hurting and by providing that, you are helping to heal their heart. You have my admiration and my thanks.
Okay – on to the festivities!
I take a picture of each of my kids with Pat & Bill every year and it’s really something to see the change from year to year! Here’s Jacqueline (11) and Shawna (14).
That’s me poking my head out around Chris. He’s the dad that adopted Lance and Michael.
That’s my husband Billy talking with Chris.
I hope you had a wonderfully joyful holiday!
Tags: Adopted, Adoption, adoption forum, foster parent, foster parents
I would just like to comment and say that my husband and I also adopted children that were with foster parents for a while. We have the best experience and our children also get to see their “nana and papa” every year. What a blessing to know the blessing have not only birthparents, forever parents and wonderful foster parents. God Bless you and your family.