Episode 37 - Courtroom Drama
We had three days in court this week. For once, there was an outcome. Listen for a play-by-play.
“We receive enlightenment only in proportion as we give ourselves more and more completely to God by humble submission and love. We do not first see, then act; we act, then see. It is only by the free submission of our judgment in dark faith that we can advance to the light of understanding. And that is why the man who waits to see clearly before he will believe never starts on the journey.” – Thomas Merton
Mentioned in this episode:
- Scriptorium Daily
- “Beauty of Your Peace” by Tim Hughes
David Scherer said,
June 1, 2008 @ 12:31 am
Hey Tim & Wendy,
I’m so happy for the both of you I can’t even tell you!!! Do we get to throw a party for you or anything?
Anyway, if you’re taking suggestions for middle names for the girls, I’d go with Rachel for Andrea (although it was a longer wait, Joseph had to wait for her just as you did), and Ruth for Linda (fiercely loyal to her adoptive mother and culture). Just a thought. Congratulations again!!!
Take care,
David
David Scherer said,
June 1, 2008 @ 12:34 am
Whoops, I meant Jacob, not Joseph.
Anonymous said,
June 1, 2008 @ 3:13 pm
About the pictures of you on the top- Tim looks like his voice sounds. Wendy, you look nothing like I had imagined (Wendy comes from the name Gwendolyn, so pictured you with reddish hair and a different face!)
Very cute picture.
Bye!
Wendy said,
June 2, 2008 @ 9:33 am
David, I love those thoughts!
Anonymous, if you can suggest a more appropriate name for me I’d be glad to consider it!
koo in MN said,
June 2, 2008 @ 12:21 pm
what a beautiful episode. i am so happy for your girls and you. i’d been thinking about you and the case all week.
Jessica said,
June 2, 2008 @ 7:19 pm
Hi Tim and Wendy,
I’ve been “lurking” out here for 6 months and following your podcasts each week. I finally had to write just to let you know how inspiring you are and that I am SO happy for you and the girls. It’s so funny to hear you talk about your listeners (all 3 of them) knowing that there are many just like me who just have been listening in and haven’t really made it known. I love that awareness month increased your listeners and will most likely encourage others to become foster parents as well. We are still in the “learning more about it” phase and trying to determine if it’s something that is right for our family (more about timing than anything). I just wanted to let you know you all are in our prayers. Congratulations again!!!
Amanda said,
June 7, 2008 @ 6:58 pm
Congratulations Tim and Wendy (and Andrea and Linda)!
I listened to your most recent podcast today at the gym and clapped out loud when I heard the result! Yes, a few people looked at me. Anyway, you really did not “give away” the ending. If anything, I feared the judge would put things off again or alllowed Carmen to claim change of status. I’m very happy for you.
My husband and I have 3 bio-boys, but have just met with our social worker for the first time a week ago to begin the process to get licensed for foster care and probably US foster care adoption is our goal. It may take a long while before we are ready and feel our family is ready (our kids are young), but thought it couldn’t hurt to start the process. Thanks so much for the information and inspiration! Hope you’ll continue to podcast on this new journey.
Lori said,
June 8, 2008 @ 7:19 pm
Hi!
Found you on the internet on a day that I was searching for foster parent encouragement. We have been foster parenting for one year now in Pa. For some reason we seem to only get temporary children…three months or less. We have two bio. children in junior and senior high. I just needed to hear about people facing the similar struggles and get a little more insight into the court system. We have three families now fostering from our church. I’ve considered a S.S. class to help encourage but do not know if there is any studies out there for foster parents from a Christian perspective…any insight?
Thanks for the podcasts…I listen when I can.
Lori
Mandi said,
June 10, 2008 @ 12:21 pm
Wonderful news!!!…couldn’t be any happier for both of you and the girls! Thank you for sharing your journey with all of us listeners. We are hoping for an outcome like yours with the little guy we have in our care right now. Please pray for us as we pray for you and your family.
Mandi
Groupie Laura V. said,
June 10, 2008 @ 7:32 pm
Hooray!! The new web format is not giving me a script error!
It’s your Chicago groupie here. I agree with Amanda… once again your podcast was “wonderfully crafted to keep us in SUSPENSE”. The whole thing with the change of circumstance was scaring me the entire time, and then in one quick decision by a judge with some common sense…. the fear was gone.
Congratulations. I am still listening even though our foster-adoption plans are on standby while we are growing a “homemade” big/little brother or sister for him/her. We are keeping our license up to date and making long range plans to either adopt through foster care or to move towards traditional foster care in a few years.
Still waiting for the posts about “when do you tell your agency that you are pregnant” and “how do you find out information about the outcome of specific foster children whom have crossed your path”. (Specifically, how can you be sure that a child that you were told WOULD be adopted by another family actually GOT adopted).
I have to say, if people learn about nothing else than about the risks and pitfalls of mediation, you have already done your job.
Go in Peace and Continue to Serve Our Lord!!
Lisa said,
August 2, 2008 @ 12:18 am
Wendy and Tim,
We let 4 of our 5 children each pick their own middle names. Our son picked a name that was his best friend’s name, which was also my husband’s name! That was that.
Two of our daughters were very young when the placement papers were signed and so we chose two names that we liked for each of them and they got to decide which middle name they wanted. Rachel was one of the names we chose but that daughter did not pick it! We found out years later that there was a Rachel in her preschool class that picked on her and she didn’t like the name because of that!
Our 4th child was 8 years old and she wanted a family name for her middle name. We made a list of all the female family names we had on both sides of our family and she chose from that list. She chose my name. Tear…
Our 5th child was 2 days old when we got her. The whole family picked her name. She was an infant relinquishment case and not a foster child case. Her middle name is her birth mother’s first name.
That said, naming is powerful. It is the gift God gave to Adam, naming the creatures on earth. It has special meaning to our children because we let them pick from names we approved of and had special meaning for us and it included them and gave them power over a part of the adoption process. Let’s be honest, the kids control so little in this whole process, we felt it was important to let them control this. They love telling the stories about how they chose their names. None of their friends can tell that story!