Soooo When Are You Going To Have Your Own Kids?

Definitely one of the most asked questions we get as Foster Parents is, "When are you going to have your own kids?" or something similar like, "Do you plan to have your own kids someday?"

We understand why people would ask us this question, but sometimes it would be nice if people could intuitively see that we are not young married empty nesters. Thus, we have given this question much thought and have begun not only answering it kindly, but tactfully, using our answer as a bit of a teaching moment.

Soooo, here is our answer:

A resounding YES! We do have our own kid! Carson is our kid! He is the child that God has given us to love unconditionally as our very own, to teach and disciple, to invest in and provide for. We treat him no differently than our own flesh and blood. We give him kisses and hugs. We cuddle him when he is happy and sad. We read with him and pray with him. We give him the FULL family experience! He is our son for as long as God allows us to have him in our home. We, as his current live-in full-time mom and dad, desire to show him what a mom and dad looks like with our lives, with how we treat him every moment of the day.

If/when he leaves, our love for him will not change. We love him as our son and if we didn't believe that, we would not be his biggest advocates. And boy, does he need advocates who look out for his best interests! If we didn't believe that he was our son, we would be missing out on the humbling and gracious perspective of God's adoption of us, as His own. We would also be missing out on all the incredible things Carson offers us! Just thinking about how he squeals with joy and runs to Paul when he walks in the door brings tears to my eyes.

He may not have our last name but he is (without a moment of hesitation) as important to us as each other. He is our family.

Soooo, yes, we have our own kid and we love him unconditionally. Will you please join us and see him as a part of our family too?