Thankful for children

I shrugged off the idea of daily proclaiming what I'm thankful for on Facebook for a month, but as I read through these link-up posts, I was convicted.  I've been working on memorizing Psalm 34, and I've realized "His praise will always be on my lips" is not true in my life.  So, maybe it's not a month, but here are a few posts of thankfulness for different parts of foster care.  Today I'll focus on how I'm thankful for the children.



Oh how I've loved the baby time.  Sniffing their warm little heads, snuggling them in a carrier.  And that the door is not shut on possible future baby time.  And there is nothing like the joy on Dinosaur's face when we had a new baby to hold and love, even if it was just for a week.  They work so hard on the little things they do: holding their heads steady, grabbing that toy, rolling over.


And the toddlers.  The two we have had the privilege to foster have been bold, joyful personalities, amazing me in their strength, speed, and independence.  It honestly just makes me marvel at how quickly tiny humans learn and grow.  I am thankful for their affection, their determination, and their funny little ways.  They are the reason I have lengthy conversations about pee in the library and that just keeps me from taking life too seriously. 


You get to redo traditions over and over, and in different ways, and watch them find comfort or joy in those traditions.  I've sung the same songs to many different little ones, and I've sung a new song that is just for that child.  I get to witness the joy over the first snow of the year, the first mug of hot chocolate after playing in the snow.  I get to learn their strange little phrases and be their interpreters when no one else knows that "swim" actually means "swing."  I get to watch them learn what to expect here, to learn the routine, to learn that they are safe and cared for.


Lately Crocodile has especially touched my heart in the way that he comes across a toy that he knows is a favorite of a foster brother, then grabs it and runs it over to that foster brother, eager to give it to him.  He is a very loving little guy, and his sweetness inspires me to be more loving.


P.S. I'm sorry for my weird string of empty posts!  I intended to start this series and save drafts of potential topics, but apparently I published them all.  Oops.