Where the Future Lies

It seems like there now is some resolution, at least for the Erickson family.

The kids' caseworker came over this morning to chat over the weekend plans, especially with Big Sister, and to gauge how she takes the news about her going on the weekend visit with the twins' grandparents.

Big Sister took it pretty well, and was only a little bit quiet, but seemed to have a handle on her emotions throughout the day. She said she was looking forward to a whole 48 hours with her other two siblings. She also seemed a bit curious about these grandparents and how they would be, and what living in their home would be like.

While she was there, the caseworker also gave us some news. She told us that the home study is almost complete on the grandparents. It should be due Monday (the 11th), and as long as there are no red flags, which there haven't been up to this point, the kids will move there next week.

The kids will continue to have weekend visits with the cousins / previous caregivers until the judge makes a final decision as to their permanent placement. We hope, for everyone's sake, that that takes place sooner rather than later.

We were taken aback for a second, of course, for the abruptness of finding this out. However, we are fully supportive of the five siblings being together, provided it's in a healthy setting, obviously. The judge and the department really want the five of them together, and that's not something we can provide.

We will miss them, and it will be incredibly weird for a while to only have two kids again. But, on the human side, there is a lot of relief that at least we're getting off the crazy train of court appearances and delays. I think, emotionally, we definitely need some time to reign ourselves in and recover from the ups and downs that this past year has had for us.

What will the future hold for us as a family? We don't know. We haven't made a decision yet as to whether or not we'll stay in the foster care system and go another round. We are absolutely head over heals in love with our two kids and content with our family. But... we always said we wanted three or four kids. We'll put it in God's hands as to whether he adds more to our group, and when, and how.

Thanks again all, for the encouragement and prayers. God is good, all the time.