Moolah Monday - Vacation Planning Series

One thing that is incredibly challenging as foster parents is to plan for what is to come.  I believe God has used this to teach Mie that His plans are better than my own and to rely on Him more, nevertheless there are practical things about not being able to plan that can make life difficult, as in planning for a vacation.

For example:

My hubby and I usually take 1-2 trips to visit California out-of-state each year.  We have been feeling the need to do this soon because we haven't been out in over a year and we'd like to see our family.  But how do we plan?  The decision about when to go is fairly simple, usually, but how many people will be coming with us?  We can't plan to fly because we can't be guaranteed we'd be able to purchase more tickets on the same flight if we purchase them separately, waiting makes tickets more expensive, and purchasing extra tickets now doesn't quite help since you can't very easily transfer tickets to others.  I was thinking about surprising my mom for Mother's Day by flying out, but what if the siblings are ready to come to our home before then?  Will the judge let them come after being in our home for a short time? ...

We try to go to Sea World each year.  It's close enough to drive but how many passes should we buy and whose name will they be in?  How many kids will need a pass and how many will be free (by age)?  How many hotel rooms will we need?  

This year we have a wedding to attend in Boston.  We haven't been able to confirm that we can attend because we just don't know if and who might be able to go.  Same issues as before - how many kids will we have and when will they be here and will they be able to go?

It is a big challenge.  There are other similar challenges like reserving spots at the summer childcare programs that are filling up quickly - will I have a child who needs a spot there?  Should I spend the $200 reservation fee (non-refundable) if I don't know for sure I'll need the spot?  Should I risk waiting and being out-of-luck in finding a program?

We usually try to plan and then be flexible if our family changes due to foster care.  As I said before we usually just plan to drive rather than risk flying anywhere.  It is made much more difficult right now though because we have the looming placement of Baby Baby's siblings.  We're still being told it can come any day now.  There is progress being made this week to get our license updated.  Folks are now more and more sure the kids will come to our home.  That being said we've been waiting for them now since the first week of January and it seems absurd to mie to be counting on them coming with any certainty.  Really.  

What I'm saying is that this whole planning thing has actually become more difficult now that we have specific children identified as a possible placement rather than living with the unknown.

I don't know if there's anything that can help solve our vacation planning dilemma in its entirety.  With foster care, we'll probably guaranteed to have a good degree of permanent uncertainty.  It's just part of the deal.

Nevertheless, I've found Small Town Joy's Vacation {Budgeting} Planning Mini-Sessions very helpful.  I highly recommend checking them out.  This girl has her act together (and I'm still trying...).

Whatever you do, make sure you do take some time out for your family to be together.  Rest, rejuvinate, have fun, and share...

What are your vacation plans this year?

Thankful Thursday - Random Things I'm Grateful For...

I was REALLY hoping today I'd be able to share with you that we got the call for the siblings to come or that our license had been extended so they can come or something equally as large and powerful that I've been waiting for.  Instead, you (and I) will have to settle for this list of random things I'm thankful for.

• Salvation - I made the mistake choice of starting a spiritual conversation with my son last night after he prayed at bedtime - note that it must be late.  Part of his prayer was well-intended but signified a common hard-to-fathom spiritual truth, namely the concept of grace for "bad people".  So - I led a discussion about how grace is free and no one, not even us, deserves it and the wages of sin is death.  I did it in an age appropriate way but nevertheless my 6 year old wouldn't go to sleep and eventually broke down that he was scared and not just regular scared but scared to go to hell.  This led to another spiritual conversation, more tears, some hugs, and finally reassurance that our price has been paid.  AMEN.
• My hubby - Though the stupid web game he's hooked on drives me nuts, I've been very impressed with my hubby lately in prioritizing the important things - like finishing the backyard fence and helping me with the kids during hospital week last week.  I love that man.
• Marie Calendar's Dutch Apple Pie & Breyers natural vanilla ice cream makes the world a better place at the end of a long day.
• Good friends - including all of you - I'm so grateful I know the people out there who will support mie with words of encouragement and even correction in love when I need it, like when the baseball coach ...well you get the drift.  What's that?  I need to forgive and move on...ok - thanks for the correction again.
• Dallas area Children's Medical Center - who cared for all of us while baby baby was sick and gave my kiddos unlimited popsicles with the option for sugar-free.  Because there's only so many popsicles a child should have in a day but that changes when they're in the hospital.  Right?
• My accidental haircut - the haircut itself was not accidental but the way it was cut was.  I went in to cut layers into my hair one night when I was tired of the way it was laying and accidentally cut one part of the layer on one side way to short with little room for correction.  I did what I could.  The next day (and since) I've had so many complements on my hair.  Many people thought I colored it.  I did not.  I was just a bit too snip happy and apparently it worked in my favor.
• Perennial Flowers in my front yard - last year we planted them.  I didn't take great care of them during the winter freezes and worried I'd lost them.  They have all bloomed BEAUTIFULLY this spring.  I'm amazed.
• My son's good report card - he did awesome! Finally tested more accurately for his reading level at 2.5-3.5 grade (he's in K) and met his reading goal at 177%.  Way to go buddy!
• Infertility - I missed the opportunity to post during National Infertility Awareness Week, unfortunately, but I'm so grateful for our journey through infertility.  If you're walking that way be encouraged - I hope you find solace and resolution soon so that one day you too can be grateful for that journey.
• Our new temporary FAD worker (our caseworker) - she's awesome!  I really appreciate her.  I haven't heard from her yet (should have yesterday) but every time I talk to her I leave the conversation content and impressed with her devotion to what she does.  
• The greek restaurant near work - I've had the Salmon Pita 2x this week.  Tough on the wallet and probably on my weight loss desires but man is it good.  Yum!

Have a great day everyone...maybe I'll have great news tomorrow.  Maybe...