List of the most popular hashtags for theme #FOSTERCARE

On July 6 2017, we saw two little flickering heartbeats, 2 little babies that were growing in my belly but as we looked closer, we noticed one baby was significantly smaller but my dr wasn’t concerned and said to come back in a week to check on the babies sizes. We spent the next week worried but knew there was nothing we could do but wait. July 11 was the ultrasound day, Little did we know our entire life was about to take a wild and crazy turn. At 1:45 (just an hour before our ultrasound appt) my phone started ringing and it was a CPS number. My heart still ached after loosing our beloved foster son and I almost didn’t answer. I finally got up the nerve to answer and to my complete surprise, it was our formal adoption worker asking if we would take our foster son back and if we would become his adoptive placement. I was stunned and panicked. The words “yes bring my boy back” quickly blurted out of my mouth. I hung up and became overwhelmed with excitement and fear and that I almost forgot about the ultrasound appt in an hour. We walked into the cold sterile room, my heart was still overwhelmed with all that happened an hour prior. The ultrasound quickly picked up the first baby but then we saw it. An empty sac. No heartbeat. No baby. July 11 is the day we gained a son and lost a baby. There is no doubt in my mind that God orchestrated this perfect plan, he designed our family to welcome two boys, it just looked a little different than we were expecting.

Several months ago I went to go see “Instant Family” expecting it to be funny and lighthearted and though it was labeled as a “comedy”, I walked out of the theatre sobbing my eyes out. I couldn’t even talk about it... I sat with my friend & just cried. It lasted for days, you guys. The next night I was up for hours, crying and praying and grieving the reality of foster care when I decided that I didn’t want to forget this moment and the brokenness & tenderness that I felt. The rawness, the vulnerability was something that I wanted to hold on to. So I snapped this. With tears. At 1 AM. Because I just wanted to remember. This picture is not one that I am confident sharing with the whole internet☠️ and I kind of want to crawl in a hole as I press ‘share,’ but this picture represents a special sacredness and a deep hope that I always want to remember. As silly as it sounds to be so touched and so emotional over a movie, I think we need to pay attention to the things that prick and open the gateways of our hearts... even if it’s really, really uncomfortable and deep and scary and hard. We need to remember and capture the moments that mark something on our life, that change us, that deeply touch and move us. So I encourage you, whatever that is for you, savor it. Don’t move on and forget so quickly... the emotions you felt, the way your heart reacted, the way your thoughts swirled and gave form to something. Sit in it for awhile. Hold it close. Fight for the vulnerability and stay close to the things that simultaneously set your heart on fire and soften it all at the same time.

She’s already into all the girly things... dolls, hair, shoes, clothes, etc! And most of all, she’s clearly the caretaker of the three kids. She wants to be just like mama and it’s just precious . I love how she takes care of her brothers and is a lil mama herself! • : @bri.lamm • #fostercare #singlefostermom #thisisfostercare #chooselove #momlife #fosterlove #fostertoadopt #adoption #mightymamasbyadoption #adoptionrocks #fostermama #fostering #fosterbaby #thisisus #fostercareis #itsworthit #lovemakesafamily

We might look different or sometimes treated differently but a perfect fit. Truly blessed to call you my son! ‍♂️‍♂️ @eadeckerphotography #fosterdad #fostermom #fostercare #fosterparents #fostertoadopt #fostercareadoption #fosterthepeople #fosterfamily #foreverfamily #blackdads #dadsofinstagram #adoption #singledad #solodad #dadtribe #singledadlife #blackandwhite #waitingkids #fathersongoals #teendad #lookingtoadopt #fostermomlife

After having the opportunity to foster a little one last week and it fell through, Ty and I both came to the realization that God wasn’t done using us to serve His children. ⁣⁣ We welcomed this baby girl into our home yesterday with only 2 hours notice. It seems like she might not share our home for very long, but we plan to love her as long as she’s here. ⁣ •⁣ •⁣ •⁣ •⁣ •⁣ •⁣ #calledtofoster #thisisfostercare #fostercare #adoptionjourney #fosterlove #fosterhome #fosterparents #fosterchild ⁣ #fosterdaughter #fosterbaby #foster #fostermom #fosterdad #fostermama #fosterfamily #family #lovemakesafamily #blessed #greatful #thisislove #love #fostertoadopt #adoption

Family will always have reservations about foster care or adoption. Especially if you have other kids! Remember that God put this on your heart, not theirs. They will not only come around, but they will eventually wonder how they ever lived without that child. #thisisfostercare #familyandfostercare #thisisadoption #blendedfamily #interacialfamilies #mimiandsis

I’m so happy for Peanut. So sad for me. But foster care isn’t about our feelings as parents, but what is best for these kids. As much as I cried over making this letter board behind Peanut, I had to be happy for him at the same time cuz this little ol Peanut was going home to family. JUST LOOK AT THAT LITTLE HAND ❤️ #thisisfostercare #gettooattached . . . . . . . #fostertoadopt #fostercare #foster #fosterlove #fosterparents #fostertoforever #gettooattached #farmhouse #originalfarmhouse #northcarolina #wilmington #letterbord #newmom #adoption #fostermom #fostering #fostercareadoption #farmhousekitchen #mosesbasket #reunification #preemiemom

It was only a few posts back that I said we weren’t going to do it. But we did it- we said yes. Today is day 3 of our first official foster placements. It’s also court day, to decide if the girls will go back to their mama or stay with us. Will you pray for discernment for the judge, who only knows these girls as the next case number? I’ve got no insight after only 3 days (and no say in the matter regardless), but I hope those that do know more are able to advocate well for these little people and do the right thing, whatever that is. ⠀ ⠀ By the way, they are literal sunshine. The 4 year old can’t remember my name and no matter how many times I remind her, she always hears JimmyRae I’ve stopped correcting her because it’s my new favorite thing. My mother now refers to me as JimmyRae, and I overheard Callie in the playroom talking to her saying, “maybe you can just ask Ms. JimmyRae...” HAHAHA ‍♀️ The 16 month old hasn’t cracked a smile yet but we’re working on it. Stay tuned... . . . . . #getaftergrateful #smalljoys #liveintentionally #momcommunity #thepursuitofjoyproject #honestmotherhood #thehappynow #momlife #momtographer #blessedisshe #joyfulmamas #portraitsofmotherhood #letthekids #lifegivingsquares #mymamahood #motherhoodinstyle #momtogs #momswithcameras #4under4 #memoirsofmotherhood #thatsdarling #motherhoodslens #fostercare #fostermom #fosterlove #fostercareis #thisisfostercare #fosterparents #barnettfosterstory

WE HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT! Josh and I are going to be FOSTER PARENTS in the next few months! We are SO excited to parent kids in crisis, and we’ve been floored by the amount of support from our community and foster agency, Monroe Harding. So now that you’re excited with us, here are some common questions we’ve been asked a lot: 1. ARE YOU ADOPTING? We’re a pre-adoptive household, but we are doing conventional foster care. This means that we’ll have the opportunity to adopt if a child in our care become adoptable, but it also means the chances are that 80% of our placements will return to their birth families after their time with us. 2. WHAT AGE CHILDREN ARE YOU FOSTERING? Because it’s the greatest need, we’re going to foster teenagers! We’re also open to any kids outside of diapering age, but the chances are that we’ll foster teenagers exclusively. 3. BUT DON’T YOU REALLY WANT A BABY? Diaper doody? No thanks. Please read the answer to question 2. 4. WHAT IF YOU GET PREGNANT? If and when we conceive, Josh and I will continue to foster and work towards adoption unless we feel God tells us otherwise. 5. AREN’T YOU AFRAID YOU’LL GET ATTACHED? Yes, of course! We WILL get attached… that’s the whole point! It will also be hard to say goodbye to a child in our placement, and we know that up front. But we’re STILL excited! We have a chance to make a MASSIVE impact on a child by being their very first healthy adult role models. 6. WHEN DO YOU START? There’s no exact date for sure, but it looks like we’ll probably get our first placement in September. We can’t believe we’ll be parents in just a couple of months, and we are SO excited to share in this journey with our friends and family. We’ll need all the support we can get! Please pray for miraculous healing to take place for each and every foster child that comes through our home. Pray for peace for us as we go through the inevitable rough patches of messy fostering situations. Above all, we’re so excited that God will be glorified as we grow our family in this way. @evan.nickels