New RVA Group for Adoptive Moms (or Moms to be) and Foster Moms

Calling all women whose families have grown through adoption (or going to!) and/or involved in foster care! Regardless of where you call your church ‘home’, we welcome you! 

The purpose of this group is to encourage women to fellowship together, be reminded of the gospel and love of Christ, and share some tangible ways to love our families and children in light of our unique family stories. 

We will have an initial kick off time on September 22 at 9am at West End Presbyterian Church (WEPC)*, rm 35 basement level.
Going forward, mark your calendars for every 3rd Sunday of the month (again 9am at WEPC).

We will be using the Created to Connect: A Christian’s Guide to the Connect Child. You may purchase the guide online, place your order at our kickoff or download a free pdf at: http://empoweredtoconnect.org/guide .

Excited for this opportunity and hope you will be too! Invite your friends and join us!

Questions/Comments, please email Cindy at 1blessedfam@gmail.com
*feel free to use the nurseries and Sunday school available at the same time

Adoption Day

Our family has been doing interim foster care for Bethany Christian Services since June, 2010.  Since then, we have had 9 children; 8 of whom were adopted, and one who was reunited with birth mom.
Our placements have ranged in age from 2 days old to 4 years old.  They have lived with us anywhere from 7 days to 7 weeks.
Interim foster care allows time for the birth mother to make a final decision as to whether she will place or parent her baby.  It also allows her time to choose an adoptive couple, if she hasn’t done so already.  Typically, the little ones in our care are newborns, and we keep them until the birth parents’ rights are legally terminated, and the baby is ready to go to its adoptive family. 

I don’t think we’ll ever forget our very first adoption day.  The adoptive couple had chosen not to meet or see pictures of Aaron, guarding their hearts for fear that the birth mother would change her mind and choose to parent at the last minute.  So, when I placed that 10 day old baby into his forever mom’s arms, it was equivalent to being in the labor and delivery room (yes, with some obvious differences!)  They were seeing their son for the very first time, and a new family was formed before our eyes.  To be a part of an event like that? There are just no words to describe it.  What an honor!!! 

 

We have since been a part of several more adoption days, and although no two are alike, they’ve all had one thing in common- TEARS. Not just from the adoptive parents but also from me. Tears, as I’m saying “see you later” to the precious child I’ve been having lots of 3a.m. parties with and have loved like my own. Tears, because what we are witnessing is so beautiful. It is a picture of God’s heart.  He sets the lonely in families (Psalm 68:6). Thank you, Jesus, for adopting ME!
And sometimes there are tears because the birth mom is there, and she is making a decision that is so painful and sacrificial, out of pure love for her baby. 

 

So, what is adoption day like from the perspective of an interim care family?
It is JOY.

By Tracy Scoggins, group member, interim care mom