Cousins

Tonight we had the privilege of meeting our boys' biological cousins. I brought them big batches of cookies. We met at the CPS office since the brothers live in two different foster homes. She said that the boys had been raised in their first home with J, like brothers, and had been asking about him. Their mother is the sister of my boys' birthmother. Isaac walked in the room and stuck out his hand introducing himself (which was so sweet!). The brothers remember him as his birth name. Even though the last time they saw Isaac he was 5 months old, I had been sending photos to his birthfamily so they remembered seeing he and Vivi on the beach, and various other scenes.

I don't think Billy and I were prepared for how much we would instantly love these boys when we met them. K (the 13 year old) shared a ton about J's living situation, which I won't share here. they said J was very independent (getting his own food out of the fridge). We knew that as we have had to train that out of him. I asked who cared for him mainly and K said that the two of them did and their grandmother some. K was quick to say he wanted our phone number and wants to come visit, which we are so happy about. They were very polite and very outgoing, like we had all known each other for years.

The part of the visit that had the most impact on me was where K asked a lot about J...if he was talking yet, if he was potty training, telling me how J loves cereal and pasta, and other little things he knew about him like how he doesn't like hats. Almost like a parent would. It struck me that this child raised my baby.

The other part is that K told us about the night of the removal. How the cops were there and how he cried when they said he would have to leave. I said to him, "how scary it must be to leave the only home you have ever known and move in with strangers." He nodded. He said they didn't even get him to the foster home until after midnight because they had to make all these stops first, various agency offices and such, and how all 5 kids were seperated. It seemed to have a big impact on him.

I wrote a little note to their foster parents with Billy's cell phone and an email address and asked if the boys could spend Thanksgiving with us. They are not in adoptive homes, so their best bet is that they will atleast get to age out of the foster care system in the same home and not be bounced around. I told the boys that we are their family since we adopted Isaac- his family became ours too. They smiled. The ten year old and Isaac goofed off and played around like the best of friends. We are really praying that God will use us in these boys lives as extended family. They have not seen a single member of their family or friends since the day they went into the foster care system. To lose your whole life in one moment...

I just can't imagine it.

They may have lost them...but we will do everything to make sure they don't lose us.