It's been toooooo long!

It truly has been way too long since I've posted on my blog and for that I apologize. Life has just gotten the best of me for awhile... lol

For those of you who are close to me, you know the reason. For the rest of you... let me give it to you in a nutshell. Children!

Last year, I was in a job where I was not happy and my boss was unbearable. I had a few of my church sisters praying that I would either get a new job, or a new boss.

In July of last year, after receiving a frantic phone call from my husband's nephew, we went to their house and rescued their 4 children. The kids were 5 (r), almost 3 (c), and 13 month old twins (a & k). I have struggled with posting pics of the mess they came out of but for now, I'll just show you three pics. The first is the bedroom that all 6 of them shared (yes... 4 kids and 2 adults shared one room). The view you see is where (S)&(A) slept with the 13 month old twins... on top of all of the stuff you see in the pics. There is a twin size mattress in there somewhere with some deflated air mattresses on the floor beside it... not sure who slept where but I know the 4 of them slept in this area. The second and third pictures are the stove that was used to feed this family. I may post the rest of the pics on another day but this will give you a good idea of what prompted Child Services to step in.





This is coming from a family of 6 as described above, all living in a two bedroom basement suite that had two small basement windows (with security bars over both). One was in the bedroom that they all shared and the other in the kitchen. The bedroom without a window was dubbed the "ferret room" and the father (S) would not allow anyone to sleep in there because there was no window. (Some things don't make sense but God knew what He was doing.) They shared this apartment with a cat, a tank of fish, a gecko, a hamster, 2 (huge) rabbits and 3 ferrets. I won't even begin to describe the stench but imagine all of this without airflow and all animals kept inside. There was feces and urine... well, you can just imagine!

Needless to say, it wasn't great. But... God had a plan! When we would go to visit, we struggled with the question, "Do we call Child Services?" It was a very difficult decision and when it's family, it makes it that much harder. We would pray... (a lot!) that God would keep his hands on the kids... and we would cry... a lot! We feared the system. We had no clue what would become of the kids and whether we would ever see them again if they were taken. They would most surely be seperated... if lucky, they twins would be kept together.

We struggled... big time! We kept in contact with them and visited regularly... but we would always call a day ahead and let them know we would be over the next day... so we never realized how bad it really was. I never went into the bedrooms... only used their bathroom in emergencies... was afraid to see more than what was already visible. We knew there were issues... but never knew the extent.

Then my God stepped in! We received the call from S one Friday evening stating that he and the kids needed somewhere to stay for the weekend because their house was being condemned. We rushed to help and they came for 'the weekend'. (S) and 4 kids. Mother (A) had been banned due to abusive attitude with investigators. Monday morning, they voluntarily signed the kids over believing that it would be for a short period... possibly up to 3 weeks. Hmmm.... God had a bigger plan.

One of the best miracles in this story was how Child Services had come about to be involved. Like I said, we struggled with whether or not to call... but (S) made the initial call that started this journey. Let me explain. They lived in an illegal basement suite as you can gather from the above. They had a lease and it was stated in there that they were not to put a tent up in the backyard. (S)&(A) erected a dining tent in the backyard and were subsequently issued a 14 day eviction notice. Instead of taking down the tent... (S) thought he would get one over on the landlord and report him for providing an illegal suite... so he called the Landlord & Tenant Board. They sent an investigator to talk to (S)&(A) and when he got to their house, he called the Health Board due to the stench coming from the apartment. Once the Health Board arrived, they condemned the house and called Child Services to come get the children. So, we didn't have to make that dreaded phone call... God looked after it!!!

I quit my job in order to take care of these 4 children. I not only got a new job which I had been praying for, but I got 4 new bosses!... lol A 3 week plan turned into a 3 month plan... which turned into an additional 3 months... which turned into Child Services taking over for an additional 6 months.

In the meantime, another child was born into the mixture (m) in June of this year. To this day, (A) denies that she knew she was pregnant but there are signs to prove otherwise. Regardless... now a 5th child is in the house.

In July, after 273 days in our custody, the 4 kids were returned to (S)&(A). They now were caring for 5 kids aged 6, 4, 2 (twins) and a newborn. Their lives consisted of watching movies and playing horrendous, violent video games. (r) was taking the responsibility of (m) and carrying him around and taking him to (A) when he was crying to be fed etc. They were all unkempt and (k)'s exzema was back as bad as ever. Her legs and feet were cracked and bleeding. But I just kept feeling to bide my time and that God was in control and that He would take care of it all in His time! I felt to keep my peace and stay silent. One of the sisters in the church kept giving me scriptures that confirmed this over and over again. My favorite of those was Exodus 14:14 that states, "The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." As a side note, I am SO thankful for my sisters in Christ. I am ever so thankful when they follow their heart and share messages that God has given them for me specifically. They have affected my walk with God in SO many ways. Hubby struggled BIG TIME but actually obeyed advice to keep silent and let God work!

Two unannounced visits later and on September 15th, I receive a call from the caseworkers supervisor.

Let me back up just for a minute. July 12th was the date they were returned to (S)&(A). On Sept 11, Bro. Cody Marks preached a message that touched me deeply. He preached that God will give back what the devil has stolen from you. But, not only will He give back what was stolen, but will give so much more. Why do we settle with just what was stolen?

I was praying about this message the next morning (Sept 12) and thinking about the kids as it was the 2 month anniversary of them being returned to (S)&(A). I was praying and asking God if it was His will that they be in the place they were and telling Him that if He would return them to me, I would raise them in the truth and that I would personally make sure that they knew about Him and would take them to every service that I was physically able to. But... if He seen fit to give them back to me, I wanted them permanently (the back and forth was too hard emotionally) and I needed them with funding because raising kids is EXPENSIVE these days.

On the phone with my sister the next day (Sept 15), we were talking about it. I've been trying to keep her up to date with revival etc so I can convince her that she needs to move to Calgary...lol My phone beeped with an incoming call but I didn't recognize the number so I ignored it. My phone beeped again about 20 minutes later and it was my brother so I told my sister I had to take his call and I would call her right back. I dealt with my brother and started to call my sister back when I decided to check my voice mail. You have to know me to know how much this was a God thing. I can ignore voice mails for days. I've actually thought of having that feature taken off my phone because it's such a pain. 99.9% of messages are "Hey... call me" but for some reason (actually for a God reason!), I decided to check my messages and then call my sister. It was the supervisor... "Call me as soon as you get this and if you get my voice mail, hit 0"... I knew it was urgent. Called her back... got her voice mail... hit 0... they paged her. She says, "So, what do you think about what's been going on with (S)&(A)? Are you at home? Where are you? Can I call you back in a minute?" "Yes, I'm home... and yes, you can call me back!"

What a way to have a conversation. Called my sis back and told her what happened. She said, "I was just praying in my living room while I waited for you to call me back! I was shadow boxing and fighting the devil, saying 'TAKE THAT!' and then you called!" She was EXCITED. We talked a few more minutes and then disconnected so that I could wait for the supervisor to call me back.

Few minutes later she did... "Tell me what you think..." but I could tell she wasn't really listening to me. And I was very conservative in my statements as Exodus 14:14 kept coming back to me. I knew it didn't matter what was happening or what I thought because God was in control and His will was being done!

"If we reapprehend, are you available to take the kids?"

"ABSOLUTELY!"

"What about the baby?"

"Ouch, that's a hard question, but..... ok, we'll take him too"

"Ok... We've got a police escort and we'll be at their house by 3:30... we should be at your house by 4:30. You'll need formula, diapers, a crib, .... I'll bring a voucher with me. What else can you think of? Just let me know and I'll get you whatever you need."

I'm shocked... TODAY??? I had heard "If" we reapprehend... I thought they were just thinking about it... lol

My hubby walked in while I'm making a list with questioning eyes. I got off the phone and said, "The kids are coming home... they'll be here about 4:30."

I could've knocked him over with a feather. I didn't even have to... he almost fainted... lol

So... long story (wouldn't be me if it wasn't long... lol), we have them until this goes to court in Nov to be set for trial in the spring sometime... and Child Services has filed for PERMANENT CUSTODY! If PGO (Permanent Guardianship Order) granted at trial, we can then apply to adopt all 5 kids... WITH FUNDING!!! Paperwork has already been started for adoption... just waiting for the judge to hear the case. Oh... that reminds me... In the year that we had the 4 kids, we were praying for the right judge... "God, open his eyes" etc. But when the kids were returned, they were able to do it without going before a judge because the TGO (Temporary Guardianship Order) expired on July 12 so they were able to just go back. We were frustrated with the system because all along, we'd been praying for the right judge... and it didn't go before a judge! First instinct was to question God. But... I had learned early on in the year not to question God and I just felt that they had to return to (S)&(A) for everything to work in God's plan. Besides, it gave me the summer off to spend with my sister and her kids. God was just giving me a little break before the REAL fun began... lol

So... I'm sure there are 100 details that I've forgotten to post but I thought I'd get most of it out there for now.

If you ever start to doubt God's ability, His Grace, His Mercy, His Fullness, His generosity... etc etc... just come see me! I can reassure you that HE IS GOD and HE IS STILL ON THE THRONE!!!

Looooovvvve my JESUS!!!