Our New Little Unknown

 We received a call from a state far away letting us know that a couple of our kids have a biological brother who is in the care of that state as a foster child.  They are looking for an adoptive home for him.  They look into family resources first for adoption, and that includes possibly placing him with his siblings.  Without a doubt, we have always been open to adopting siblings of our children.  We have always been open to adopting siblings.  I don't know how to explain it, but he's a BROTHER to our kids.  Of course, he is welcome here!  Jon feels the same way without hesitation.   We said yes.

That said, it will still be months before they terminate the parental rights.  They are also looking into another family resource.  Also, a Texas higher court judge just ruled on a case brought against the state by a child welfare group on behalf of foster children.  Part of the ruling means that group homes have to be phased out in Texas.  Group homes are any home with more than six children, so our home will not be allowed to be licensed once everything goes into effect.  For all those reasons, this little guy is maybe 35% likely to come.  I'm guessing there is a very good chance they will terminate the parental rights.  I have no idea whether the case worker is more likely to want to place him with a great aunt or his siblings, though I have my own opinions :).  I also don't know how things will work with the state of Texas.  Will they grant a waiver to have siblings together?  I really don't know.  Our agency (former agency since we aren't currently licensed) will do all they can, and we have seen them successfully work with licensing to get permission for a sibling that otherwise would have been denied because of the size of our family (Hello, Asa!).  We were told that we don't have to start over with becoming foster parents, thankfully, so that's helpful.  

For now he is "our new little unknown."  We were given an address to send him holiday gifts, so I'll mail out his Valentine's gift today along with a lot of cards made by little hands.  My kids ask too many questions about who this package will go to, and I'm not sure how to answer.  I'm not about to get their hopes up, so I just told them that this is a gift of a little boy who doesn't have a family.  Of course I should have thought that out better.  They all asked if he could just come live with us.  I told them that I don't know but that they could pray for him to go to the very best home for him.  Zade told me that he will pray that he comes here.  Soren said he was already praying right then for him to come live with us.  Edison just wants the truck for himself, and Asa wants that fox in a big way.  

Life is good.  I am going to keep from going crazy with wonder by enjoying this time in life without being foster parents.  Life will just go on like this if we are not able to adopt him for one reason or another.  That's not a problem.  This may be our only chance to send him gifts and show we care, so we will.  If he gets to come and be our son and little brother, we will be so excited and love him like crazy.  

He's 2, by the way.  Pray for him.  His life has been too rough already, and we pray that he gets to be raised in just the right home for him, no matter whose home that is.