Wherever They Go

Things are still going wonderful with our little three-year-old foster girl, so great in fact that we are taking in a couple more foster kids this weekend. One girl is eleven and the other is seven. It's respite care so it won't be a permanent placement but I'm extremely happy that in this case we are in a position to take them.

My heart hurts for our former fosters who left a few months ago. I think about them every day and wish that conditions would have been such that they could have stayed. I love them both very much and it's hard to see the family they are with now struggling worse than we were. I offer my help and bring my former fosters to my home about once a week but it just makes me more aware of how much they've digressed since they left. They've been living with their mom on the weekends and should be living permanently with her soon. I can't help but wonder which roads they will choose in life.... I wonder the same thing about my bio children.

No matter where any of my children go and what choices they make, I hope they all know that we love them so much and wish for them the very best.

-Alicia

First Week

Yesterday, marks one week since our foster daughter arrived. We are absolutely loving this sweet little girl. There are still no clear answers with how long she will be with us but what an amazing and completely different experience this has been for our family! I'm so glad this placement has been going so well.

-Alicia

Amazing Little Soul

When we got the call from the crisis care worker asking if we could take you in, I didn't know what to expect. I knew very little: only that you were a three-yr-old girl and that they were still trying to find someone in your biological family who could receive you permanently as their own. Tomorrow they will have a meeting with your grandparents. I have no doubt they love you very much! I'm certain they wish with all their hearts they could keep you and raise you. Unfortunately though, there are some very strict guidelines and criteria the State has in place that could possibly prevent them.  None of us know what will happen yet.

 If things fall through with the State being able to find biological family members who meet their criteria, they will most likely look to us as a permanent option for you. That's still something we are waiting for more information on but our whole family feels like we would accept if it became the case. One thing I do know is that you have an amazing little spirit. We all have fallen in love with you! Even Chandler has opened up to your presence in our home. What a miracle!

It's strange, because this foster placement hasn't felt like much of an adjustment at all... you seem to fit so well and so perfectly here.

This will be your fourth night with us. Every evening, you have wanted to snuggle next to me on my bed and listen to me sing you songs as I stroke your hair. You have fallen asleep so quickly and have been so peaceful. As I lay there with you and review the adventures of the day in my mind, I keep thinking how you're an incredibly smart little girl, how you communicate really well. I'm surprised at your affability and natural obedience.

Maybe part of the reason this placement feels so great is because we've learned some things from our other placements, we've learned from some of our mistakes and know more this time better ways to handle certain difficulties. But I really believe most of the difference and ease of your placement in our home comes from you. You really are an incredibly bright and conscientious child! There is something so wonderfully different about you. We all can sense it! It's been a privilege to have you here. What a darling and sweet little girl you are! We're glad to keep you as long as we can.

-Alicia

Bonus Child

We received another crisis placement yesterday. She's a three-yr-old girl with a very sweet personality. Kaylee spent the whole afternoon entertaining our new bonus child - she loves playing the role of a big sister.

Our bonus child is prone to terrible gushing nose bleeds. I don't know what causes them but she had an episode last evening that scared her pretty bad. She clung to me for 45 minutes as tight as her little body could hold. When the bleeding stopped, she had almost fallen asleep in my arms. I was glad she was able to relax.

We spent almost the entire rest of the evening  making purple donuts, candy, ducks, and ponies out of play-dough. She giggled with excitement at each new creation. Given all she's been through, she seems to be a very happy child. All of the kids seem to like her, including Chandler - which is huge!

We don't know how long we will get to keep her, that's up to the State and the court to decide. We're happy to have her though!

- Alicia

A Cause for Celebration

 Joseph and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary and Joseph's 42nd Birthday on Sunday, October 8th.

We had a great time celebrating over the weekend. We went out to eat, I reserved tickets to a play Friday night, and then we went to Joseph's favorite Brazilian restaurant for lunch on Saturday.

On Sunday, I walked in late to the marriage class, scanned the room and couldn't see Joseph anywhere so I just took an open seat in the front. The instructor asked questions about the role of the father in the home and I suddenly heard a familiar voice answer from the very back. (There he was! I didn't see him when I walked in.) I raised my hand after Joseph finished speaking to share a comment and also gave a quick hello to him, "Hi honey! I didn't see you when I walked in."
"Oh, hi! I didn't see you either." The class laughed. Joseph got up and walked to the front, taking the seat next to me. I put my arm around him.
Others in the marriage class gave an audible "ah"... because it was cute.

After church we enjoyed an nice family ride through Provo Canyon, it was freezing outside. We ate a simple dinner at a park, and then drove the Alpine Loop to take in all the gorgeous fall colors. Joseph and I got out of the van for a quick photo with memorable places of our courtship and proposal in the background. (Timp trail and Theater in the Pines.)

On our drive, Joseph reflected on our marriage class earlier that day and asked me if the comment he made seemed to make sense at all.
I smiled because I didn't remember exactly what he had said in class.





I turned to him and replied, "Honestly honey, when I recognized it was you talking in the back of the room, I lost focus because I began to think to myself:
 'Oh... there he is! I was looking for him, I'm glad he came to the same class! Whatever comment Joseph is making right now is a really good one because he's such a wonderful father. I'm so proud of him. Man, I hope that these people are listening to what he has to say because he's right. I'm so glad I have him in my life.'" I grinned sheepishly and batted my eyelashes... "So, the short answer is. I'm sure it made sense."

Joseph chuckled at my response. That wasn't the feedback he was looking for but he couldn't argue with it. Normally, he might have been a little irritated that I had spaced out when he was talking (because I do that so much with everyone. It's a terrible habit and I'm really working on changing... really) But this time my lack of an answer was perfectly okay because he could see it was a very good kind of "spacing out." :)

Here's to 18 years of marriage and 42 years of Joseph! I love you! 'Tis ne'er e'er o'er m'lo'er o' clo'er! ;)

Chandler was too cool to sing happy birthday or be in the picture. He's sitting behind me out of the camera's view
...right where I could easily kick him in the butt. ;)

Thoughts and Impressions

My heart is full of gratitude and love for those called and set apart as Prophets, Seers, and Revelators in our day. In the closing and final talk given by Elder Neil L. Andersen, I felt a tangible spirit flood the room as he testified that this Church is guided and directed by our Savior, Jesus Christ. With the absence of two Apostles, Elder Andersen shared a portion of the talk Robert D. Hales had originally planned to give and also a portion of some of President Thomas S. Monson's counsel. As he shared these dear brother's words, the Spirit was strikingly powerful and undeniable, as if the Lord had blessed Elder Andersen with a full investiture of authority to speak in behalf of President Monson and Elder Hales. Tears streamed down my face as the choir sang these stirring words of the closing hymn;

"Israel, Israel, God is speaking.
Hear your great Deliv'rer's voice!
Now a glorious morn is breaking
For the people of his choice."

I always look forward to General Conference! All of the sessions have been wonderful to listen to.  If I were to summarize in just a few short words the overall messages that struck me the most, it would be these;

No matter how many times you have read the Book of Mormon, continue to make it part of your daily scripture study. Pray always and be believing. Trust that hard times are shaping and molding you in ways you cannot see. Miracles come in shapes and forms that we often fail to realize as miracles. Pray to trust that a bigger picture will one day be revealed. Be humble. Remove distractions from your life that keep you from focusing on truth. Forgive offenses. Repair the breach. Assume the good in others and swallow your pride. Take time every day to listen to or read a recent conference talk. Knowing and applying the words of the Living Prophets will direct you right personally and in your family in every circumstance. Don't worry so much about what happens to you - don't live your life in fear. Learn what the Lord is trying to teach you to learn and choose faith every time!

-Alicia

Click here to read, watch, or listen to October 2017's General Conference.