Friday, December 16, 2011


Early morning, 6 AM December 16, 2011- A-Day. Gotcha Day. Adoption Day.

We can’t call it Foster day, even though we are the Fosters. This is the day we have been awaiting for months, or as Alyvia put it, ALL OUR LIFE. We knew early on that Alyvia would one day be our child and that we would be a forever family, but the waiting has been arduous. We DO understand that the state has to be careful with these arrangements. We DO know that there are many dangers, toils, and snares for at risk children in the world we live in. We thank the Lord that there was a protective system in place that rescued our little girl from peril, but at times it seems that extracting her from that system has become the larger task.

Yet we would do it again, ten thousand times over for the sake of the love that has been built and is building strong bonds and a future and a hope for her success in life. That is our prayer, every day. It will remain so for as long as we live.

What has changed? Everything, and yet not the essential elements of our family’s one-flesh relationship. The love we shared has now opened up to receive another, one whose main need intersected with our main strength to result in a calling to intercede in her life. This is the basic cycle of blessedness designed into the universe God created: It is more blessed to give than to receive. Cast your bread upon the waters and it will come back to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over.

Here is what we wrote to each other on Alyvia’s whiteboard last evening:

Adoption Day is here, Thank you, Lord!- Mama

¬¬I can't wait tille Adoption Day, I cant believe my Adoption is on my Birthday. I’m so happy I’m finally getting adopted, I’v been waiting all my life for this. THANK YOU LORD JESUS- Alyvia

We are three of God’s children becoming one family
We are three separate branches becoming one tree
Two with a strong root, and one grafted in
Together we’ll bear much fruit, and so we BEGIN!- Daddy

We are the FOSTER’s!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Ephesians 2:13

Christ is all and in all
Christ alone can purify
This alone the clarion call
To live is Christ, ‘tis gain to die.

I was lost and gone astray
But now I walk within your way
Brought near by the blood of Christ
Brought near by the blood of Christ
The only hope that can suffice
Brought near by the blood of Christ

Christ is all and in all
Christ alone can purify
This alone the clarion call
To live is Christ, ‘tis gain to die.

This I pray Lord this I pray
Ever in your presence I would stay
Brought near by the blood of Christ
Brought near by the blood of Christ
The finished work in a final sacrifice
Brought near by the blood of Christ

Anthony Foster
November 30, 1011