Many of you know that Kelly and I have been involved in fostering children over the past two years. Since we began this journey, we have had five children in our home. Our first, Brie, is now our own. Six months after receiving Brie, we received Lizzy, she was five days old. We were told it would only be a one week stay. One week has turned to over a year and a half. A month and a half ago, we received her older sister into our home.
The Lord was very kind to give us opportunity to thoroughly share the gospel on more than one occasion with the birth father. Until this week, our relationship with him has been very positive. Due to our concerns about an immediate return of the children to his care, we did retain an attorney and wanted the court to hear our concerns. We have known that the county social workers and attorneys were pushing for an immediate return of the children to the birth father without transition. Yesterday we had our day in court. Today the Judge gave his ruling.
Here is the note we just sent to our church family in regard to our recent court activity to retain our foster daughters Lizzy and Jade. Thank you all for your wonderful encouragement and prayers.
Today the Judge presiding over Lizzy and Jade”™s future ordered that both of the girls be immediately placed with their birth father under what is called a Family Maintenance plan. This means the children will remain dependents of the county, but under the full time and constant care of their father The county will be providing all of the father”™s means of support for the next three months. We remain defacto parents for Lizzy and were granted 2 supervised visits per month with her to hopefully help with abandonment issues. The children will be taken from our home Friday morning.
Obviously, this is not what Kelly and I, and I”™m sure all of us, were hoping and praying for. We did everything within our ability to speak to the matter in court. We did all we could do in prayer. As Job said (though our situation is not even comparable to his loss), “. . . The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21).
We are deeply saddened, but confident in the Lord”™s goodness and very thankful for our church family. Thank you for every moment of prayer and every gift of affection and love you have provided the girls while they were under our care. You will never know what a blessing and joy it is to have had them exposed to such a loving people as we have in our congregation.
Continue to pray for us ““ pray much more for the girls and their birth father.
We look forward to seeing you all on the Lord”™s Day if not this evening at MIT.
Together for Christ,
Bret Capranica
That’s tough, and is one of the drawback to being foster parents. Even when your home is the best environment, you don’t have the authority on your side. You’ll have to find ways to be supportive, but don’t become jaded or guarded if you continue to take children in. They all deserve this level of love, and if you as adults must suffer loss, know that you loved them to the best of your ability while God gave you the chance. That matters. Love on their father when you can, even if it’s hard.
Brother, I’m heartbroken for your loss. It just doesn’t seem right although I am thankful to know that our heavenly Father is in full control and will work all this out according to his perfect plan for all involved. I am also thankful for you and Kelly and your faithful example to so many. I will be continuing to pray for your family during this adjustment period and will also pray for Lizzy, Jade and their and their birth father, that they would adjust easily and that ultimately this whole experience would point each of them to Christ.
Chris, you are right about the risks of foster parenting. We were fully aware when we began. You comments are spot on and are the continual reminders we think on. We really do look forward to loving the next next child to come in to our home. Thanks for your loving exhortation.
Chad, I appreciate you and Mindy more than you could know-having such friends who have shared in Lizzy’s life while she has been with us has been one of our great joys.
God bless you, Bret and Kelly. I am praying for you and for the girls. What a difficult time this must be. But thank you for trusting in God. Truly, His name is blessed, both in times of sorrow and joy. In times like these, we are reminded that God is firmly in control, and that He loves these girls even more than you ever could. May He work all these things out for His glory and for your good.