Cody and Justin

So the boys have only been here for three days, and I already have so many cool "moments" to share. I use this blog as my own little personal journal, too, so I'm recording this for my own memory, as well as to share with you.

For some of you who might not know, we got two new foster boys Monday night, around 7:00 p.m.: Cody, who is 9 and Justin, who is 8. They are brothers, and came to us from a foster home that they had been in for five months. They were moved because they weren't being treated very well there. Previous to that home, they lived with their mom's sister, but she is a single mom who was working a lot, and she actually gave them up to foster care because she didn't feel she could care for them. Not sure about dad's situation, but mom has some issues she's trying to work out so she can get them back . . . that may or may not be possible. At this point, I think they are just happy to be out of the other home and seem to be liking it here. They are sweethearts, and I already am having a lot of fun with them. They were told right up front by their social worker that this is a temporary home, and they are looking for a more permanent place for them . . Cody has since told other people that (I think he's really guarding his heart since he knows that) but Justin really hasn't said much about it. Either way, I think it's good that they know that up front.

OK, so a few little "moments" I want to remember:
1. When they first arrived, they helped Jeremy bring their stuff in and took it to their room. Cody showed me his teddy bear and said, "This is my teddy bear that I sleep with. When I get scared at night, I just hug him and I feel better." An almost 10 year old boy who is the stoic one of the two and loves to play video games and skateboard . . . but has also been in now his third home in the past year and half . . heck, yeah buddy, you hug that teddy bear at night all you want! :)
2. The first night they were here, they were pretty hyped up and played with toys and Clara (they LOVE Clara . . more about that later) and we kinda had to make them go to bed at 9:30. I read them, "You are Special" in bed, with both of them snuggling up with their teddy bears and their blankets they have from when they are babies. They were riveted by the story. I told them I would tell them more later about a person who they can have a relationship with who is kind of like Eli in the book. They were very interested. Went to sleep within five minutes of me walking out.
3. They are both very into Clara, especially Cody. He just wants to tickle her, play with her, love on her all the time. Justin likes to read to her, too. Clara is equally into them and is glad to have new playmates here, as I think she really missed Darius all last week after he left. I took them both to school yesterday (they are staying at their home school in Puyallup for the time being) and both of them really wanted me to come in and meet their teachers . . . but really, I think they wanted their teachers to meet Clara. They took turns carrying her into their own classrooms, so they could show her off to their teachers. It was so cute! I was very impressed with both of their teachers, who were excited to see them after they had Tuesday off.
4. Finally, the best moment yet: We took both of them to AWANA at our church last night, and they both really enjoyed it. I lead game time there, so it was fun to see them get into the games. I honestly think it was the first time either of them had played organized sporting games like that, aside from school P.E. The best, though, was that Justin came home with his little Sparks pamphlet he got that is on John 3:16 and was just so eager to read it. He read it in bed a little last night, and brought it down first thing this morning to read while they waited to go to school. We made this decision to do receiving care because we want to affect more kids for Christ . . . and this morning, I am just so humbled by how easy God is making it for us. He is seriously doing all the work, at least where Justin is concerned. Justin this morning was reading his pamphlet, memorizing John 3:16, asking questions about what "eternal life" means and what "perish" means . . and so proud of himself when he was able to answer the little comprehension questions, like "Who does God love?" (Everyone!) Cody was a little less interested, but I think it is mostly due to his insecurity with his reading level, and just lack of interest in reading. However, when Justin asked Cody if he wanted to memorize the verse, I had Justin read one line at a time, and Cody and I repeated it together . . Cody got into that. What a great God we have!

I'm tearing up as I write this.

Pray for these boys . . we have no idea of how long they'll be here . . . their social worker seems to be wanting to find them somewhere within the 30 days allotted, which is the way it's supposed to be . . . but pray that it will be a Youth For Christ home, or a Christian home. And pray that, while they're here, that God will open their hearts to accept Him . . because it may be the only time they hear about Him.

Pray also for patience for us as the newness of being here wears off and we see more behaviors, especially from Justin. He is a sweety, but also has a huge potential for tantrums and anger problems, which we have seen a little already.

Oh, and I probably won't post pictures of them, as I didn't with Darius . . . I really wish I could, they such cuties, but I just don't feel comfortable with that. If someone wants to see what they look like, email me and I can send you a picture on email or something.