Today, I needed to call KidsNet (read DHS) about the informational meeting on Thursday in Cedar Rapids regarding fostering. I called and found out you have to sign up for the classes (who would have thought that a state agency was so organized???) and that this specific class was full. ***This is going to seem random but bear with me... when I was VERY pregnant with Emily and had been told for 3 weeks that I was 4 cm dilated and wouldn't make it to my next appointment, I went into the hospital with contractions. They sent me home and told me I would be back the next day. I bawled and bawled because I was so ready to have my baby!*** That is how I felt today when I was told I would have to wait until the October class! But what could I do? I couldn't yell at the lady because then she would just put a note in her file... "Psycho Lady! Do not allow to become a foster parent!!!". I am frantically searching other sites as I am talking to her and realize there is a class TONIGHT in Ottumwa, a town about and hour and a half away that I have only been through twice before in my life- once on Friday on the way to the cabin and yesterday on the way home. Odd. At this time, it is 4:00. The meeting is at 6:00. More importantly, Tim and I are coaching Abby and Sophia's soccer team that just happened to have a game at 6:00. I did what any sane person would do... I called one of my best friends, Kelly Jones, and promised her a jar of homemade dill pickles if she would coach for us with Emily helping out. Oh, yeah, and she also needed to give the kids a ride to the game. (Definitely worth another jar of pickles!) Because she is awesome, she said yes! I called Tim to make sure he would be home within oh, about the next 5 minutes. I quickly printed off the information that we needed and with instructions to Emily (our FABULOUS babysitter) off we went. We even had time to stop by Wendy's for dinner which included five 99 cent items plus a $2.19 medium lemonade for Tim (he said it was good but can any lemonade really be worth $2.19???). The meeting was rather uneventful except I was concerned that the teacher would have a heart attack at the beginning when she couldn't catch her breath. All I could think was, "My CPR needs to be renewed! Can I still perform CPR???" Fortunately, she did NOT have a heart attack. After the meeting, we hung out and talked briefly with another couple that was in a similar predicament with older kids and not wanting to take any child older than their youngest. They were also not from the area and while the teacher was looking up classes close to them, we have her look up classes close to us. Lo and behold, there is a class starting in Williamsburg next week! She said it will be pushing it to get the paperwork through by then but she is going to e-mail the DHS worker that we really want to get into this class. After the other couple left, I asked the teacher about this little one that I have my heart set on and she said that the DHS worker that this child has would be up front with me- whether it is even a possibility or not. I told Tim on the way there that I think I am setting myself up for a broken heart because I want this specific child so bad. I am praying that this is what God has in store for us and that if it is not, I am patient and understanding- two qualities that I struggle with!
In response to the coaching, Kelly says I owe her FIVE jars of pickles and Emily said she is worth DOUBLE what she was supposed to get for babysitting. This is what I have to say to that... Kelly, I would have given you 5 jars of pickles had you not taught my kids what the phrase "road rage" means. Love you, my Pocket Kelly! Emily, the counters are still messy (your chore), Sophia was not showered (part of babysitting tonight), and you "forgot" some homework- you may not get paid at all. Or maybe you will get a medium lemonade from Wendy's as payment. Love you, Em!!!
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