First walk through with Social Worker!

Wow...ok, so we had our very first "home visit" from the social worker who will license us for Foster Care. (Step one!)  It went well! It's a bit nerve wracking to have someone come in and inspect your home for safety and qualification to care for a child! 

God has been speaking to our hearts in recent weeks...and we sense that our call is to love the children He places with us, regardless of the likelihood that we will be able to adopt them. Our call to care for infants who have been exposed to drugs in utero has grown all the stronger...and so, now we prepare with the desire to give those little ones what every little one deserves...a wonderful welcome into a safe and loving home...and a beautiful place to sleep and play and a family to love them. If that is only for a season until God reunites them with their parents, so be it. I don't think there is any way for us not to open that we will be given the privilege of adopting a little girl of our own. But, I have sensed a real shift in perspective for myself and for our family. 

We now have a list of what exactly is left for us to do in order to be licensed by the  State of Washington to foster children! =) First on that list is egress windows in the basement, two of them to be exact! Once we have those installed and take care of a few other requirements(fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, a crib and carseat, etc) we will be ready to turn in our paperwork and the licensing will begin! Once we turn the papers in, within 90 days our home will be licensed!! (She told us there would be NO problem with licensing our home what-so-ever! Phew! Just need to get these requirements completed!) 

So, now we wait on the Lord...several of these items that we must have to be licensed are going to cost a significant amount of money! =) So, those of you who have been *thinking* of turning in your used cell phones for recycling in our fundraiser, or buying a t shirt, please do!! We have a collection box in the volunteer office at WFMC(Becky's office area) that is just waiting for those old phones! =) If you can't get to that collection box, please let us know at the email listed below and we will be happy to pick them up from you, wherever is most convenient!

Here is what we need and where we are at this point!

Our minimum goal is $3000.00...those funds will provide: 

Two safe egress windows in the basement
Fire extinguishers and smoke detectors
A lock box for medications.
A gun safe.
Furnishings for the nursery:
A crib
A dresser
A safe car seat that ranges from 5-35 pounds in weight limit.
And,
A few items of basic clothing in various sizes (newborn - 3 years) so that we are prepared for a last minute call to pick up a little one who needs  a safe place to stay right away!

We are *more* than happy to accept donations of infant clothing(for girls) in any of those sizes and if anyone has any of the other items on that list that they would like to donate, please contact Jeanene ASAP! (welcomingme@ymail.com) We are open to whatever means that God uses to meet the needs listed above!

We are hoping to raise further funds to make a donation to the agency that is helping us so that they can keep their doors open and help other families answer the call to serve in this manner! But, we need to meet this goal in order to become licensed to care for the children that God would send to us, to begin with! 

Please *do* pray for increased work for Kelly and I both, as that would help us in moving towards this goal as well! 

Thanks again for your prayers! And, thank you for reading.