Think I'll sit down here for a bit... (10)

[Studeclunker]

Due to the rules we have to follow (freedom of religion), I'm happy they made the choice they did.

Bloomer, I'm a bit confused here. Was the above comment in referrence to Martin Luther, Martin Luther King Jr., or the Founding Fathers?

Whomever would like to, I'm in need of a few prayers here. There are several opportunities opening up for me and I need all the (divine) help and guidance I can get. I'll be more specific later. Just a touch superstitious about presenting fruit before it's ripe. thanks in advance though!

 

[RadMan]

Due to the rules we have to follow (freedom of religion), I'm happy they made the choice they did.

?????

ANyway---how's Tiger doing?



.

 

[latebloomer]

Stude, sorry if I confused you or anyone. The girls were confused about the names, they thought MLK JR started the Lutheran church. I think we have them sorted out now, 400 years, language, nationality, why they became famous. Because of the state's rules for foster parents, we are not allowed to force them to attend any church. That's where the freedom of religion comes in. They could have chosen any church or none. They chose to attend the Lutheran church with us. Last thing they said last night was to be sure to wake them in time for Sunday School. As we are not their parents or legal guardians, we have to clear everything with the social worker. We even have to get permission to take a kid for a haircut. If we should adopt them, then we get to make the decisions that are now made by someone else. Anyway, so far, so good. Everyone is getting adjusted. Sibling war and teenager-itis should be kicking in anytime now. Millions of other families have survived middle school and I think we will, too. However, any and all prayers will be appreciated.

And Stude, prayers for your situation. Our Father knows your needs and has plans for you.

 

[latebloomer]

?????

ANyway---how's Tiger doing?



.

He's doing great. First grade, football at the Y, waiting for his first Cub Scout meeting, getting to be a pretty good swimmer. He had his last monthly oncologist appointment and starts every 2 months next appointment. Learning to read. He wants a dog. Typical 7-year-old boy. I think he's torn between being a "little" kid and a "big" kid, and between the desire to have sisters and wanting to have mom & dad to himself. We're all in family counselling to ease the transition. He sang in cherub choir at church this morning, and afterwards, I saw him showing his Sunday School papers to his school teacher. He enjoys being tour guide for the girls. This morning he showed them where the donuts are before Sunday School. Growing like crazy. His hands are as big as mine and he can wear my sneakers.

 

[Flipper]

Stude, sorry if I confused you or anyone. The girls were confused about the names, they thought MLK JR started the Lutheran church. I think we have them sorted out now, 400 years, language, nationality, why they became famous. Because of the state's rules for foster parents, we are not allowed to force them to attend any church. That's where the freedom of religion comes in. They could have chosen any church or none. They chose to attend the Lutheran church with us. Last thing they said last night was to be sure to wake them in time for Sunday School. As we are not their parents or legal guardians, we have to clear everything with the social worker. We even have to get permission to take a kid for a haircut. If we should adopt them, then we get to make the decisions that are now made by someone else. Anyway, so far, so good. Everyone is getting adjusted. Sibling war and teenager-itis should be kicking in anytime now. Millions of other families have survived middle school and I think we will, too. However, any and all prayers will be appreciated.

And Stude, prayers for your situation. Our Father knows your needs and has plans for you.

Gotta love foster and domestic adoption rules. Because we adopted internationally, we were able to get trans-racial adoption training. If we adopted domestically, and I think even if we were in the foster system, we would not have been able to get any of that kind of help and training, though I think there are people working to change that.

I heard that rule on church and religion - praise God your kids will go with you and are willing to learn and grow in their faith. Most of all, thank you for being a Foster mom! You are a very special person, and a much better person that we could ever be.

 

[RadMan]

Stude, sorry if I confused you or anyone. The girls were confused about the names, they thought MLK JR started the Lutheran church. I think we have them sorted out now, 400 years, language, nationality, why they became famous. Because of the state's rules for foster parents, we are not allowed to force them to attend any church. That's where the freedom of religion comes in. They could have chosen any church or none. They chose to attend the Lutheran church with us. Last thing they said last night was to be sure to wake them in time for Sunday School. As we are not their parents or legal guardians, we have to clear everything with the social worker. We even have to get permission to take a kid for a haircut. If we should adopt them, then we get to make the decisions that are now made by someone else. Anyway, so far, so good. Everyone is getting adjusted. Sibling war and teenager-itis should be kicking in anytime now. Millions of other families have survived middle school and I think we will, too. However, any and all prayers will be appreciated.

Is that a new ruling for a foster parent? To give them a choice of religions? I don't remember the rules being so stringent when I was a foster parent. I dodn't remember asking permission to do anything. The only restrictions that I remember were given to me when they had their quarterly visit. I made all the choices and the foster child had to follow my rules. Maybe they are different for each individual state?. If there was these "rules' they never notified me of them. Only rule I remember was getting permission to take the child out of state.

 

[seajoy]

Good stuff, Bloomer. I'm so happy for your family.

Stude, you will be in my prayers.

 

[Flipper]

Is that a new ruling for a foster parent? To give them a choice of religions? I don't remember the rules being so stringent when I was a foster parent. I dodn't remember asking permission to do anything. The only restrictions that I remember were given to me when they had their quarterly visit. I made all the choices and the foster child had to follow my rules. Maybe they are different for each individual state?. If there was these "rules' they never notified me of them. Only rule I remember was getting permission to take the child out of state.

I know it's gotten stricter in the last few years - part of that went into our decision to not become foster parents.

 

[Studeclunker]

Well... I suppose if my children went into a JW or Mormon foster family, I'd want the oversight of a sensitive Social Worker. However, the system seems to be more bent to preventing children from going to church at all. I've seen terrible abuses of the system in the past twenty or thirty years that have left me very leery of it. Here in California, it's common for drug addicts and other lowlifes to be involved. the system is really messed up here. It would scare the hell out of me to have my children placed in a foster home. Thank God for the people like you, Bloomer and Rad.

 

[RadMan]

Well... I suppose if my children went into a JW or Mormon foster family, I'd want the oversight of a sensitive Social Worker. However, the system seems to be more bent to preventing children from going to church at all. I've seen terrible abuses of the system in the past twenty or thirty years that have left me very leery of it. Here in California, it's common for drug addicts and other lowlifes to be involved. the system is really messed up here. It would scare the hell out of me to have my children placed in a foster home. Thank God for the people like you, Bloomer and Rad.

At one time I thought it was unfair that grand parents received no special attention or would not be given any advantage over, say, a stranger in getting custody of their grandkids. Until I realized that the gparents could show favor towards an offending parent. I thought surely the opposite would be true, but then I found out that is not necessarily true. I had a hard time with this when I was trying to get custody, but after awhile I could see their (DFS) point.

The one legitimate complaint I had was when they tried to separate my twin granddaughters into two different families. I fought that tooth and nail because I remember when I was adopted and they tried to separate my sister and I. I remember feeling sever angst and would have been devastated if they had been successful.



.

 

[seajoy]

This talk of separating siblings is beyond anything I could imagine. What are these people thinking? Makes me teary.

 

[seajoy]

I'll be leaving for a Minnesota wedding tomorrow night. Hubby's niece. I don't know how much I'll be on here....but as always, I will miss you guys. You are like my 2nd little family.
Please say a prayer for our niece and her, soon to be, husband. They are wonderful, kind people......but rarely, if ever, go to their ELCA church. I pray they put God first in their marriage. The bride's parents just got divorced 6 months ago.

 

[Matt Faith]

An emotional morning for me today. My oldest dog which I've had since I was a little kid looks as if shes going to die. I've had this dog since probably 1996 I think, she was alive through all of high school, middle school, most 5 years of college, maybe even my elementary school days. Shes been doing pretty bad the last 2-3 years, but this morning is the worst I've seen her. Her eyes are squinted, she just lays there, she will barely drink or eat. I've seen her bad before, but I think this is more than her just being sleepy and really old. My dad said my mom gave her a bath and she is still not acting normal. I cried alot this morning but now I have to compose myself because I have 3 classes today and work at night time. I just hope that if she dies today I am not at my house when it happens.

@seajoy I hope you enjoy the wedding.

 

[DaRev]

but rarely, if ever, go to their ELCA church.

That could be a blessing in disguise. Pray that the Spirit moves them to a Confessional church.

 

[seajoy]

That could be a blessing in disguise. Pray that the Spirit moves them to a Confessional church.

Amen.

 

[QuiltAngel]

This talk of separating siblings is beyond anything I could imagine. What are these people thinking? Makes me teary.

I know what you mean. I think it has more to do with kids are easier to place if it is one child, not a sibling group. Though I am in favor of keeping them together.

 

[seajoy]

An emotional morning for me today. My oldest dog which I've had since I was a little kid looks as if shes going to die. I've had this dog since probably 1996 I think, she was alive through all of high school, middle school, most 5 years of college, maybe even my elementary school days. Shes been doing pretty bad the last 2-3 years, but this morning is the worst I've seen her. Her eyes are squinted, she just lays there, she will barely drink or eat. I've seen her bad before, but I think this is more than her just being sleepy and really old. My dad said my mom gave her a bath and she is still not acting normal. I cried alot this morning but now I have to compose myself because I have 3 classes today and work at night time. I just hope that if she dies today I am not at my house when it happens.

.

Awww, Matt....this is so sad. Our family is real dog lovers too. I once saw my dear Max hit by a car right in front of me. Cried my eyes out.
I am so glad you have had a great time with your dog. It sounds like it's time to let go. That's not easy to do. Hang in there.

 

[Studeclunker]

Matt, my heart goes out to you. I've been there, having lost my dearest Nana this past spring. She was fifteen years old, ancient for an Old English. I'm still adjusting to it. In my case, I was thankful to have been there for her at the end. She... well it was hard. It's still... hard. I hope and pray it goes easily with your beloved friend. May our Gracious Lord bless and comfort you.

 

[Matt Faith]

Matt, my heart goes out to you. I've been there, having lost my dearest Nana this past spring. She was fifteen years old, ancient for an Old English. I'm still adjusting to it. In my case, I was thankful to have been there for her at the end. She... well it was hard. It's still... hard. I hope and pray it goes easily with your beloved friend. May our Gracious Lord bless and comfort you.

Thank you, I really appreciate the support. Yeah its tough. I just got home from school and they wayI would describe her state is alive/dead at the same time. Shes practically unresponsive but shes still breathing. I love this dog so much because its been part of my life since I was a kid. Shes either going to die today or tommorow at the latest. I think today, I cant believe shes still alive as it is. I just keep petting her and crying, telling her that I love her. I know it seems over dramatic but again I had this dog since I was like 10 years old.

Awww, Matt....this is so sad. Our family is real dog lovers too. I once saw my dear Max hit by a car right in front of me. Cried my eyes out.
I am so glad you have had a great time with your dog. It sounds like it's time to let go. That's not easy to do. Hang in there.

Thank you seajoy. I appreciate your support. That must have been tough to see that, its hard because as human we develop emotional attachements to our pets.

 

[Matt Faith]

Im so emotionally drained right now. I tried to call out of work tonight but they wouldnt cut me a break. I feel like someone took a vaccum and sucked the life out of me.