May goes blue

It's hard to believe it's May 1st already. The month of May is exciting because of Mother's Day, the end of the school year, and family summer vacations are upon us all. But it's also National Foster Care Month.


I heard a local pastor put it very simply and honestly that 'foster children are our local equivalent to orphans'. Psalm 82:3 says we are to Defend the weak and the fatherless. You don't have to look across the globe to find children in need. They are in your state, your town, and possibly right next door. Our orphans are the children without fathers, without families - foster children.

A glimpse at the crowd.

Anna and I participated in the Walk A Mile In My Shoes foster care awareness walk on Saturday and it was a particularly moving experience. As we entered the parking lots we witnessed masses of people pulling their suitcases or carrying duffel bags, headed for the event. It was our first "walk" as Mother-Daughter and the turnout was phenomenal! They'd anticipated about 200 attendees and God really moved mountains to bring more than 2500 people into downtown - most were entire families with their foster children and even Grandparents along. We were excited to see and walk along with our friend Tammy and two of her children, along with several other familiar faces, who are passionate about foster children at the event.



Anna pushes her Baby and
Monkey with our duffels
in tow as we await the walk.



Brrr! It was a chilly, windy morning
but the sun was out in full force.





The purpose of the event was to bring awareness to the community about the desperate need for Christian foster homes for the more than 8000 children in the state's foster care system. Participants were also asked to bring a new suitcase or duffel to carry along with them during the walk to signify the multiple moves foster children face. It is estimated that a foster child moves an average of 4 times in 20 months in the system. Often these children leave home with very little. In most cases their necessities are put into a garbage bag. The act of putting a child's most treasured items and clothing into a trash bag sends a very negative message to these children that they are not valued, their belongings are "trash". So each duffel/suitcase brought to the event was donated to a foster child so they can at least carry their personal items in a proper bag of their own.

A snapshot of the suitcases/duffels brought to
the walk for the foster kids. Amazing!

Below are some links to local organizations that are actively trying to help foster children. This May please visit their sites to learn more about some unexpected ways your time and talents can help foster children and their foster families. Fostering isn't for everyone but there are many other ways you can serve these children with Christ's love. Some examples are praying for the kids and their foster families, making meals to be delivered to foster families upon placement of a child, donating baby items or clothing, diapers or necessities, as well as books, backpacks, school supplies, and gifts for birthdays or Christmas, or possibly opening your heart and home to a child or sibling group via respite (short-term) foster care or bridge (long-term) foster care, as well as adoption through the foster care system. God bless!

Fostering Hope - A 31 Day Devotional

Angel's Foster Family Network

Christian Services of Oklahoma

Circle of Care (Child Share)

Citizens Caring for Children

The Anna's House Foundation

The Bair Foundation - Christian Foster Care


And I'll close with a favorite video of mine right now. Those of you who follow the blog regularly have already seen this but I encourage you to send this out to your email lists during May. We forward jokes and silly quizzes, why not forward something of purpose instead?

True Religion from Christian Alliance for Orphans http://vimeo.com/13831236

God bless!