Behind the Box

I’m a foster mom.

Hi, I’m Erica. My husband and I got married when we were 34. We tried to have babies, but it just didn’t work. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣Early in our marriage, we were at church and Preacher Andy Stanley was delivering a message about New Year’s resolutions. He challenged us to have a resolution that included bettering someone other than ourselves. The question he posed to help guide us to our own personal resolution was: “what breaks your heart?” And by answering that, we would be led to our own personal resolution of enhancing another person, another family, another community. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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After church, my husband and I went to lunch and talked about Andy’s message. The answer to “what breaks your heart” for me was: kids that don’t have stable, safe homes. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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And that led us to foster care 🧒🏻 🧒🏻 ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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After months of training, paperwork, home visits, implementing safety systems in the house, (and one speeding ticket 🚨) later), we were approved. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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Our first placement call came and it was for a little 5-yr old boy that was re-entering the foster system for the second time. It was December 23rd. His name was Troy. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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When we picked up Troy, my heart was forever changed. I’d never met anyone before that had nothing, had been ripped (literally) away from his parents and siblings, but had the sweetest & gentlest soul. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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I didn’t sleep that night. For 4 days, when anyone looked at me, I busted into tears. My heart was so broken for this sweet child. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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And then, he called me “Momma” on our first full day together. More tears 😢 ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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4.5 years later, 60+ kids, 2 kiddos who have been adopted and are officially-unofficially our honorary nephew + niece, and a family that was safely reunited and has now become our own family. It’s been a wild ride. We have some hilarious stories and some heart-wrenching stories. ⁣
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But one thing is consistent: we’ve loved each and every child that has been in our home. They all just want what we all want: to be loved 💕 ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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💜, Erica