Fostering Journey: The begging

 Well, we have started something crazy over here. We are now foster parents. It is crazy, insane, magical, trying, complicated, and rewarding. A few years ago, our family saw a movie called Instant Family. It was about a foster family. We all came out of the movie feeling like we should do it. My girls kept bugging us for quite a few months after to get on it. I also kept having things happen that pointed me in that direction. Co workers brought it up, I would hear about the huge need Colorado Springs had for foster families, and it kept tugging on my heart. 

I finally called an agency and the women who answered the phone was awesome. We hit it off and talked for an hour. I went in that night to tour the building. I took my daughters and we all just felt so strongly that we needed to do this as a family. Nate and I started the classes and got everything done pretty quick. Covid happened and we pushed pause. I had so many changes with home schooling, I didn't think I could add more on top of that. Covid was so unreal and scary in the beginning, we didn't know what was even happening, so we just dealt with that.

Covid finally became the new normal and we got back on the foster train in April 2021. We finished everything about June/July, right after Mckenna left for her mission. I knew we would be getting girls, Kenna felt that too. I wanted to sale our kid furniture and every time I posted it on Facebook, someone would want it and I would get a sinking feeling. I would cancel the add and feel that I needed to keep it for the "girls" we would be getting. Nate kept wondering why we didn't get a call right away. We had a big trip planned at the beginning of August and I felt we would get a call when we got home. And that is exactly how it happened. 

On August 10th 2021 we got the call. Nate and I got the call and the woman said "Katie, I know you don't  want babies, and multiples but we have these 4 little girls and you are our only hope. We don't have another family in Colorado Springs that can take all 4 and they will be split up. She sent us a picture and we had about 10 minutes to decide. We pulled the truck over and looked at the picture of them. Our hearts melted and we thought, we can at least try right? I had to go to work and Nate had to work that night as well. We told them we would do it. They said a home supervisor would bring them to our house until I could get home.

I will never forget that day at work. I was training someone and I was trying to stay focused. It was impossible, I was so scattered. I remember texting friends that it all happened and a friend went straight to my house and dropped off a ton of toys and cloths. Nate met them for a few minutes on his way out the door to work. He called me a said "They are the most beautiful little girls, they have these big brown eyes." We both had no idea at that moment, how much our lives were about to change. I remember walking into the house and seeing 4 little girls sitting in my living room, playing perfectly well mannered with all the toys. I remember wondering where in the world I would even start. 

In the next few days, the stuff started rolling in from Hope and home (our agency) and our community. Car seats, high chair, toys, cloths, play pens, and everything in between. I remember the second night vividly. We had to tell the girls their "rights" as foster kids. I remember sitting on the bottom trundle with 4 little girls huddled around me. I explained that they could call if they didn't feel safe, that they had a voice and all the other things on the list. I told them I loved them. 

They told me about their baby brother John, how he had died, and how he was in heaven. They wanted to know if God was taking care of him. I told them that I had a really pretty picture of God with children and that I could hang it in their room. They were excited. I hung it on a nail that was already their. I told them that they could pray to God for comfort and peace. In that moment, I could feel the veil so thin. I could feel that their guardian angels were surrounding us. These girls walked into my home and brought their angels with them. In that moment, I knew this was all so much bigger than me and that I was not in it alone. Not on this side or the veil, or on the other. 

Little did I know how hard it would get, how challenging, and how it would break me in so many ways. It has been as Nate says "the hardest, most rewarding thing we have ever done".

The first night we got them. 

We took them boating with in the first week of having them. Everything has been a first for them. 

Sage was in Texas doing summer sales. I called him about the girls and he packed and came home that night to help and meet them. 

Our new favorite hobby....Rock climbing!1

I kept telling Nate I wanted to get into rock climbing and that he would LOVE it. I tried and after several attempts, I got him out with my boss. Verdict....he is obsessed. We now have all the gear and have gone a few times. I am so excited about it because we do a lot of mountain biking trips and this goes so well with that! We can't wait for Sage to come home form his mission and climb with us! He worked at a bouldering gym before his mission, so I know he will love it too. I am terified of heights, so it's pretty big of me to be doing this!

Weekend with friends in Telluride

My friend Amelia Peirce invited us to her cabin in Telluride. We had the best time! We biked the bike park, rode the Gondola, hiked, and played night games. We went on a beautiful hike and I saw an Eagle right above us. 

Drew accidentally threw a ball through their cabin window by accident. They were really nice about it. They had a game set up outside and it was positioned where you throw the ball right by the window. Woops!

It was so much fun enjoying the outdoors and wonderful company, and I ate way too much candy.  Four different families were invited. The Baers, Peirces, Catons, and us. The Hawkers couldn't come because my friend Tagan got Covid and they had to quarantine. 

Drew is a great biker for his age. We biked a really hard blue and decided to take the lift up and enjoyed two fast easy green rides. He was so grateful the whole trip, easy, and never once complained. 

The views were absolutely incredible. We drove home the long way through Durango so we could drive on the "Million dollar highway".  It was incredible. It took us from Durango through Silverton and into Ouray. Ouray had the most beautiful mountains with incredible rocks that had the most colors I've ever seen in a stone. 

I told Nate I feel like a gypsy, or maybe wanderlust is a more appropriate term as I do like having a home to come back to. I just want to do all the things, and see all the places. I decided to take a picture of every city I go through. I want to see them all.  I'm dreaming of getting an RV and traveling and seeing all the states. 

Aspen was supposed to come but we left her home alone with the dogs. Her Jr year is overwhelming her with the load of homework. She's taking 3 AP classes and is basically in her room.....always. She's on a Hybrid schedule due to covid. She goes two to three times a week and the other days are online. I hate it for her. She's on the computer for hours during school, then has hours of homework. The realization hit me that we only have her two more years. I have two out of the house and two at home. I miss the kids little!!!

Julie, Amelia and I. I am grateful to know them. 

Our first college student!

McKenna is off to College!

She got accepted at BYU-Idaho. It was very bitter sweet dropping her off. Nate was supposed to come drive with me to take her, but the broiler in our house flooded so he stayed home to watch the dogs and Drew. That didn't turn out the best but thats another story. 

Aspen drove with me and McKenna, we had a great drive there. It took about 11 hours total. We stopped in Debois and stayed in the cutest little cabin. We headed the next day to see the Grand Tetons. We hiked around Jennys lake and had the best conversations. We saw a Grizzly bear, a huge Moose, Bison, and lots of cow on the drive. I love spending time with my girls.  After our hike we went into Jackson Hole and ate and looked at the shops. We made it to Rexburg that night. McKenna was a little shocked by the look of the place and wasn't to in love with it until we hit the campus. The campus is beautiful and all the housing lined the streets. There were college kids everywhere! It was so exciting. The following morning we went to her dorm and met her roommates. She has a darling girl named Monica that she shares a room with. She is sweet and a returned missionary. McKenna lucked out. All the girls she is rooming with are super sweet. There are six of them total.

Thank heavens we brought Aspen with us! She did a great job decorating her room!

 

This is her apartment complex called Heritage housing.

McKenna is lucky to have her childhood friend that she's grown up with at college too. They decided not to room with each other, but spend everyday together. They met two cute girls the first day on campus and "I" night. 

 Bria and her mom (my good friend Tina Johnson) invited us to stay the night at there cabin up in Island Park. The cabin was right on Henerys Lake. It was so stunning. The cabin was huge and had 11 beds upstairs. There Grandpa was there and I loved visiting with him and learning from him. I love the elderly!! We went canoeing and I loved every minute. 

Saying goodbye was HARD! Aspen cried when we left. Those two have always been together. They lifeguarded at the pool together this summer, did high school tougher, and early morning seminary. They always chose to sit by each other and be together. It will be hard on all of us having McKenna gone, especially me and Aspen. McKenna is our happy girl who is always so fun, ready to party, and a great person to sit with at night and visit with. Our home will defiantly not be the same without her. I broke down and cried three separate times while we drove around the campus. Not just because I would miss her, but because of the amazing person she has become and I can't help be excited for the memories she is going to make. It has been one week and she has been asked out on four date, has been to some type of party every single night, and is loving her classes. She decided this week she is also going to serve a mission like her brother for the Church. I can't wait to watch her life unfold. She's amazing.