when you think you know everything...

...i will pipe up and tell you that you don't.

i was given a huge dose of "new perspective" yesterday.  i'm sure you all remember those crazy 3 years that we were foster parents.  what were we thinking?  don't deny you asked yourselves the same question.  while doc macgyver was away, we decided we weren't being tortured enough.  so we asked for more.  well, it just didn't seem that way at the time.  we felt strongly that God was asking us to help.  so we tried our best and went with it.  it wasn't easy.  but it was definitely an experience.  i know we learned a lot and we're better for having done it.  it took a toll on our own children that we hadn't expected, but i think they are better off for the experience also.

okay...getting to the point.  yesterday we had a discussion with some friends about the other side of the scene.  the one that you don't typically get to see.  all the children that came through our home seemed to be deprived of something or another.  they had been neglected or abused or whatever.  did we know the parents?  no.  did we know the circumstances?  not really.  we just knew what we were told.  we only heard one side of the story.  yesterday, our friends told us the other side.

these friends of ours have been foster parents for a few years.  they have taken about 5 placements so far.  they have a 4 year old son that they adopted privately.  back in november, they had an infant placed with them.  they were in the process of changing a diaper, when they heard what they thought was a bone snap.  they called their doctor, and took the baby to the ER.  xrays were taken.  they were told that there was a break and not just 1 fracture, but several; and all in various stages of healing.  the radiologist immediately reported it as child abuse.  the infant foster child was taken from their care, and their own son was taken from them.  the state has done no further testing to determine what happened and continues to make accusations.  the state is pressing charges.  they are only allowed to see their son periodically.  they have retained attorneys, of course.  but one small voice against an entire system?  it's not looking hopeful. 

one small step

sorry i left y'all hangin' for so long.  (see, i'm practicing my southern accent).  i just got back from a reconnaissance mission in alabama.  i spent mucho hours driving around looking at schools and houses.  no i do NOT want to put the kids back in school.  but in trying to find a good solution for luigi, some other changes might have to be made in order to keep the home dynamic livable.  no decisions have been etched in stone yet.  i'll keep you posted as things progress.  i found a house to fall in love with.  we can't buy because of the nastiness we went through with jersey.  but this place is available for lease until we can save up a down payment, so we're excited about that.  contracts haven't been signed yet, but once they are, i'll send y'all a link to some pics.  it was a long, exhausting week, but all in all it was productive and enjoyable.  i had a full week of sunny 85 degrees, had great food, met great people, discovered a fantastic art museum, visited a couple farmers markets, attended the birmingham temple, and made fabulous memories with an irreplaceable friend!

i was so glad to be able to visit with the practice a couple of times.  no matter what worries or hesitations or fears i have regarding this move, talking to them always brings me peace.  i am definitely grateful for that.

new challenge to myself

i'm publicly announcing a goal.  i NEVER do this.  i usually stay pretty private about my personal challenges as i typically fall short and don't finish.  i'm a great starter and planner and researcher.  i just have trouble with the endings.  but i agreed to do this challenge with someone and it has become fun (of course, because it's only the beginning).  my main goal is to get back down to pre-pregnancy weight (pre-4th pregnancy weight, to clarify) before the cruise in august.  i've been dying for some new swim gear and that's my reward to myself if i make it.  anyway, a relative said she was doing this and i thought it would be helpful for the end result:

check it out for yourself!

just around the corner

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