MAPP Class: Week Two

This past Thursday was our second adoption class out of ten that we will be attending. As mentioned before, there are 10 couples in this class and I would say about 5 of those couples are there to become foster parents and the other 5 (including us) are there seeking adoption. With that said, Thursday night's class really hit on fostering and not only how it works, but how easy it can actually become for a typical, normal family to really start on the downfall and lose their children. Most of the class consisted of a "role play" that almost everyone ended up having to participate in and it actually became very emotional, especially since you were in character. Basically, it started off as a normal, loving family and the dad lost his job. There was a snowball effect and things started going downhill fast. The parents starting fighting, both were stressed with their financial situation and were both handling the situation in their own different way. This eventually led to them hitting their children a couple of times, which led to going to the emergency room, which eventually led to their children being taken away and put in a foster care home. The foster parents helped the children with the issues they were facing while the caseworker worked with the parents to help them get counseling and get them back on their feet so that their family could eventually be reunified. All in all, it was a very eye opening and emotional experience. My heart has been touched and softened like never before for children who are taken away from their parents and placed in home with people they don't know and who are completely and totally confused as to what's going on. We watched a video with children who talked about their foster care experiences and another child who was finally adopted at the age of 15...these children just want to be loved and cared for. I don't know that Justin and I are called to become foster parents, but once again, it is confirmed in my heart and soul that we are on the right path that God wants us to be in seeking to adopt a child. It's such a peaceful place to be in. I'm also really loving the interaction that we're able to have with our caseworker and the other couples in the class. Speaking of other couples in the class...Justin and I have hit it off with a really nice couple in the class that lives there in Lakeland. We talked for a bit after class and we were invited to their house for dinner next week before classes start so we're really looking forward to that opportunity.

While this is only our second week in class, and while this is an adoption/foster care class, I believe that this would be an excellent class for any parent with children to take. I truly believe that these classes are not only going to help us in preparing our home for our future child, but they are going to help us to become better parents to the child that we care for and nurture daily right now.

I've really been working hard in getting our scrapbook done and maybe next week I'll be able to share a little "sneak peek" at a couple of our pages. So far I've completed 9 pages with several more to go. It's really starting to come together and I can't wait to see the finished product. In class last night, we turned in our "family profile" and with our family profile we had to turn in a page that Emilee had to draw and color, a floor plan of our house, pictures of our house as well as a letter to the baby (later on we will have to write a letter to the birth mom). Justin did most of the writing (I threw my thoughts in) but he did a lovely job of putting it together and writing the perfect letter about our family, town and church family to our soon-to-be little one. I may have to share it one day as a blog.

I think all of this just about sums up our class, as well as the progress on our scrapbook and family profile. We're really looking forward to next week and I'm looking forward to continuing to share in our journey with you...