Take a look at this...........

Those of you who are interested in how the Church could get more involved in Fostering and Adoption, take a look at these links! So exciting!

http://www.northpoint.org/foster#home

www.careforthefamily.org.uk/adopt

Father's day.

Father's day is fast approaching. I remember our first Father's day as adoptive parents. I had spent some time helping our little girl to make a card for her new daddy. But come the day, she wouldn't give the card to him. On my insistence that the card be given, she threw it at him! We were so shocked! How little we understood back then of how difficult it is for damaged children to trust the new parents they have been given. It's been a steep learning curve.
But hey, why should they trust us? They have been so let down so many times by the very people who should have been caring for them and keeping them safe. How are they to know we are going to be any different? We have to prove it........over and over again.

4 years on, last Father's day in fact, I left the same little girl wrapping a gift and writing a card for her not so 'new' daddy. I returned a few minutes later, to find her cutting out little stars from a piece of wrapping paper and sticking them on the envelope with sellotape. Underneath she had written,
 'you're a star' Wow! What a difference.

I have no idea what will happen this year.....it could go either way! But I really want to salute all you adoptive dads. You do such an amazing job, and you are so needed.
No matter how much our little girl tries to push her daddy away and pretend she doesn't need him, she is always so lost when he is away from home. She really misses his protection and affirming presence.

I love it that our Heavenly Father loves us so unconditionally. Even when we mess up, behave really badly and push him away, He is always there, ready to forgive us and welcome us back.
So many times I have seen David model that too: Pick up the pieces of whatever the latest outburst has been, and begin again with love and affirmation.

So, whatever comes your way this Father's day, whatever might be thrown at you, (maybe quite literally!) remember, your Heavenly Father loves you deeply, and I believe commends you greatly for loving against all the odds, the children who are so dear to his heart.

Happy Father's day!