Where's your buddy?

My daughter has been a part of girl scouts for the last three years.  She has a wonderful troop and an incredible troop leader.  I love those girls and their moms like they are part of our extended family.  Her troop leader demonstrates a really great balance of keeping the girls safe while fostering their individuality, independence, and  curiosity.  A big part of girl scout rules is to always have a buddy.  For safety reasons obviously, but our girls have gained so much more than safety from our constant insistence that they have a buddy.  They have learned to be compassionate and patient with one another, and learned to get along with personalities different  from their own.  I love to hear the call when we are on outings, "where's your buddy?" because it reminds me that my girl is not alone.  She is learning to look out for others and lean on others as well.

For nearly the first year of this foster care journey, I really did not have other foster mom friends.  I really didn't have anybody in my life who fully understood what my life was changing into.  I have sweet friends who have supported me, and listened to me share the few things I was able to share.  Privacy issues prevented me from truly baring my heart and concerns.  It was incredibly isolating.  I felt like my heart was screaming, "where's your buddy?"

So I started to pray.  I needed someone with tangible arms and a real understanding of life as a foster family.  

My husband and I went away for our anniversary in the fall.  For the first time we used respite, and I really got to know one of the other foster moms at our agency.  She turned around and introduced me to several others.  

Over the past several months I have been able to get to know those foster moms better.  I have been able to reach out in the tough times to people who have more understanding of the things we are facing. I have been able to share in more detail what is going on with cases because I am talking with foster moms from our agency.    I have been able to listen to the testimonies of God's faithfulness even when dealing with very difficult circumstances.  I have heard folks who look like they have got this foster mom thing down say, "this stuff is hard and it's okay to need help".  I have felt less alone.

Right about the time that our journey is picking up speed on the roller coaster, God has given me my buddies.  To Him be the glory.


9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?
12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him-a threefold cord is not quickly broken.  (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)