Evidence of God's grace in my life: This morning as I was getting up and ready for the day, I was talking to God about how hard foster care is. After only a week, I am coming face to face with my own selfishness and wanting my life and my comfort level and my family "back to normal." And then I hear some little voices talking in the back bedroom, 30 minutes earlier than I was supposed to be hearing voices. I headed back there frustrated that my coffee and quiet time was not going to happen this morning, and determined to try and put little bodies back in their beds. I see Skylar there, and I asked her what they were doing. She said little bit had gotten up and woke her up and was playing with her stuff. So instead of coming to get me and whining about how she didn't want her in there, she got up and turned on the light in her room and opened her toy box so they could play together.

I was floored. Here I was complaining to God about things, and here was my daughter, joyfully serving, despite her inconvenience.

People, let me tell you. Foster care is hard indeed. But it is also good. It is good for the children who need good homes, and it is good for the children, (and mommas) who already have them. It is not natural at all. And it is sad that it is necessary, but "where the ideal is lacking, grace abounds."

So....... If you've thought about foster care, but are worried about how it will affect your own children, let me encourage you to think harder. It WILL affect your children! And that might just be a good thing!