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For each Camp Create we have companies that sponsor our event.
They send their product as gifts for our campers and it’s like christmas morning – grown up style!
We are so grateful to all our sponsors!
Thank you for always being so generous to Camp Create!



KatyGirlDesigns.com makes beautiful artwork in the form of prints, greeting cards, notecards and calendars.
I love her style!
I love having Katy’s art in my home – it’s cheerful and fresh!
use the code: CAMPCREATE for 15% off your order

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AllenDesignsStudio.com is artist’s Michelle Allen’s whimsical art shop.
She designs all the products – handpainted clocks, bags, house wares, dish towels and more.
I have several of her shopper bags that are covered in her artwork and I LOVE THEM!
everything in her shop would make an excellent gift!
Use the code: whatever15 for 15% off your order good through May 15

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EleventhCandleCo.com is a new sponsor and I couldn’t be happier!
Their candles smell amazing but their mission is AWESOME!
This company employs women who have been trafficed or incarcerated while simultaneously supporting a village in Ethiopia.
Listen to the company’s founder on the Mom Struggling Well podcast to hear more.
But definitely use the code: CREATE for 20% off your purchase.

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Makewells.com is Megan Wells’ website and shop filled with so much color!
Megan was the artist instructor who taught at Camp Create this April.
She taught her Funky Florals class that you can take at home!
AND it’s on sale right now too!
Click Here to be taken to that class link!
Use the code: SPRINGSALE for 30% your order in her shop.

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Illustrated Faith is such a cool company!
They make all kinds of supplies to help make Bible Journaling even more amazing.
Washi tapes, journals, pens, paints, stickers and even the bibles!

Use the code: IFSHIPSFREE for free domestic shipping on your order.

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Feather & Birch makes the best wood cut outs!!!
I love their fonts!
Feather & Birch sent their mini word cut outs for us to use on a project we completed at camp.
They have big words too! And signs and all kinds of neat stuff!
they are cut with heavy duty wood too – it is a true quality product!
Use the code: HAPPY15 for 15% off your order.

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Our speaker for April’s Camp Create was Jenny Randle, author of 31 Day Create.
Jenny is a Jesus-loving, book-writing, storytelling communicator who loves to make stuff with her creative-ninja like ways.
This book is really fun to dig into and learn about creativity through lots of different exercises while spending time with God.
Order her book HERE: 31 Day Create

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Author Meagan Rotan and illustrator Rhonda Elder sent a copy of the book “Goldie” to each of our camp guests.
You can purchase your own copy HERE: Goldie – the parable of a broken heart made whole

 

Dayspring is the best!!!
I love working with such a great company with pretty gifts, wonderful books and great resources.
They make gift giving so EASY!
Sign up for the Dayspring newsletter to find out about their special offers!

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april 2018 Camp Create

another wonderful camp is done and i am loving looking through all these photos.
i asked all the women to send me their pics from our time and that’s what most of these are.
i wish I’d taken more myself – i think i had one too many things on my mind.
but thankfully we all have phones and sharing pictures is so easy!

all the heart eyes for these ladies!!!
they made it look EASY to just show up to a house they’ve never been to and hang out with 16 stangers!
they all seemed like they’d known each other for years!
i love watching the groups that God brings together at each camp.  🙂

one of the first things we do at camp is talk about all of our Camp Sponsors.
i love getting to share all these beautiful gifts with our ladies from some fabulous companies.
i will post about our sponsors in a seperate post very soon.
katygirl designsfeather & birchdayspring makewellsallen designs studioeleventh candle co.illustrated faithgoldie –  jenny randle


our camp speaker was Jenny Randle, author of 31 Day Create.
she spoke about creativity and faith, what fuels us and what holds us back.
Jenny was a lot of fun to be around and was super easy to talk with!
I am so glad she was there!

Megan Wells is an artist and taught a workshop of her “Funky Florals”.
you can find her class online and you can take it yourself!
her technique of painting freely is really relaxing.
Megan is a great teacher!

Carol made us a rainbow cream tart.
it was a labor of love for sure!


our mugs at the craft house make your morning coffee so happy! 
i’m hugging this lady like my own kiddo because i used to be her youth leader when she was in high school and she babysat my kids when they were little!  So it feels like she IS one of my kiddos!  She is a mom to three boys now and came all the way from seattle to get crafty with us!
Jessica you are AWESOME!


this map is filling up but we obviously need some more women from nevada, wyoming & north dakota!


we took our field trip out to the antique shop and barn in Marion, Kansas.
i always love to see what people collect or find interesting.
and the weather was absolutely PERFECT for us that day which made the whole trip more fun.

the cutie in the denim jacket with me is my bestie from high school!
we lived across the street from each other… were on swim team together… we were cheerleaders together… double dated with our high school sweethearts and married them!  It was special to have her at camp with me.  And WOW can she clean up a kitchen like no one else!  She’s amazing!

Carol Spenst of @WillFlowersBakeShoppe taught us how to decorate cookies with royal icing.
it was so fancy!
i loved learning how simple it was and at the same time how time consuming and detailed it is.
i said “i will never complain about the price of a fancy cookie again! these take forever!”
it almost felt wrong to eat them.
ALMOST.
😉

i taught how to make these covered button necklaces.
and we made the wood signs with the word cut out from Feather & Birch.
i LOVE to see how each sign was different and each so colorful!
we decorated the wood pieces with decoupaged paper and fabric, washi tape and paint.


the rainbow stairs make for a great photo!

Kimberlee Jost fills us up with delicious meals at every camp.
she makes the kitchen feel so welcoming and smell so good!
how can you not be happy when you get cinnamon rolls AND crafts?!


strangers just days before and we all leave camp as friends!
the craft house brings people together!!!

i wish i’d remembered to take photos of every single person before we said goodbye but i missed a few – darn it!

i’m so thankful for the women in this picture!  we were a great team together!  Megan – sorry we missed taking a team photo with you in it!
thanks for teaching & cooking & cleaning & speaking & praying & traveling all weekend with me and the campers!
it is such a joy to be able to share the house and the camp experience with each of you!!!

now… how about Spetember’s Camp Create?!
do you want to come?
details coming very soon!  I will hopefully open registration beginning May 11 or 12th!

 

Camp CREATE coming september 2018 - Lizzie Arden - […] Camp Create spring 2018 […]

meg duerksen - the mug is from http://www.rockscissorpaper.com/ 🙂

jill - where in the world did you get the awesome mug from? thanks

Stephanie - OMG! I would love to be the first person from North Dakota! I’ll have to work on that!

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let’s have a baby shower!

I know I still need to write the q & a about foster care.
I have started to write it several times but I get overwhelmed!
But I will definitely get to it!

Today I have something super special that I already know you’ll want to be a part of.
Mr. Tiny is transitioning to go home with his Mama in the next few weeks!
She has worked so hard to get to this day and I am so proud of her!
She loves him beautifully.
Foster care is new to me and it has been a roller coaster of emotions all along the way but right now I am filled with hope for his future and hers!


Let me tell you how rad this kid is:
1. He is happy ALL THE TIME!
2. He loves life from sun up to sun down.
3. He smiles at everyone he meets.
4. He rarely cries and he sleeps all night.

He has been the biggest JOY for our entire family.

I know that so many of you are in love with him just from his pictures!
I thought one way to show love and support for his mom, for Tiny and for me as his foster mom would be to throw her a baby shower!
Soooo…. you are invited to a virtual baby shower!
All of the gifts with none of the cheesy baby games.  😉


I made an Amazon “registry” for all kinds of things that would be a blessing to Tiny and his mom.
It’s got big items like a crib all the way down to little bitty baby socks.
There are clothes for the coming summer & winter, books and toys.
And even the very practical items like formula and diapers.


I want Tiny’s mama to know that she has support and that she is loved.
Let’s bless her socks off!

CLICK HERE FOR TINY’S BABY SHOWER REGISTRY

********YOU GUYS BOUGHT EVERYTHING!!!*********

If you see something on the list that you’d like to give you click Add to Cart and purchase it.
It will be shipped to me.  I will not see your credit card information.
I don’t even know if I see who did the purchasing.

My family will make sure everything is given to Tiny’s mama.

Thanks for being a part of my life through this blog!
I hope you feel inspired to help others today.
Giving generously is the best feeling!!!
This verse was the focus of the sermon at my church on sunday and I’m gonna leave it here for you too.


I want to be that kind of giver… “always ready to share with others”.

Laura - Just love this. <3 Awesome!! Our local ministry #chosenforlife is having a fundraiser assisting adoption, fostercare <3. I'll commit the $ there since Tiny is covered in Love & diapers. Thanks for standing in the gap!

cornelia krahn - I live in Colorado but was in Kansas last weekend. I saw Meg and Tiny in a store and became like a stammering groupie. I actually asked Meg if I could approach her because I didn’t want to violate Tiny’s privacy. She’s right-he smiles at everyone and is a beautiful baby. He and his mother are very lucky!

Tracy - I have a feeling the reason Tiny is so happy and well adjusted is a tribute to you and your loving family!! His life (and his mama’s) have been blessed by you. <3

Jen Gallizzo - I was too late!! What an amazing idea of a virtual shower. You are full of love and this baby and mama clearly blessed to have your support!!

alice h - how amazing of you to do this and that everything has been bought!! I came to buy something and felt so happy for Tiny and his momma!!

Robin Allen - This is great, my friend is an amazing foster mom, this support is so crucial for everyone to be successful in reuniting…so proud of mama for working so hard…both of their smiles are priceless..you have been such a positive in their lives…

You make us all want to foster these precious kids..

Jill - Our sermon was based on the exact same verse!

jenn - MEG! TINY! i’m in freakin tears reading this news. way to go, tiny’s mom❤️ and way to go meg and friends…. what an amazing showering of love and hope. tiny, i love you. meg, i love you and i’m sending the hugest hug❤️

meg duerksen - They were there but already purchased. He’s got diapers forever! 🙂

meg duerksen - everything is purchased! It’s so cool!

Jerri - Meg how awesome the list was fufilled so quickly! I noticed even doubles
of many items. I was wondering if there is a Women’s Care Center near you that any extras could go to? Here locally the Center has a Shepher’s Fold and when the women come in for weekly Bible study they earn points to “shop” with. This is a wonderful ministry that has saved so many of the innocent unborn. Blessings! ❤️💙💚💛🧡💜💗

meg duerksen - I’m guessing another opportunity will arise at some point. Thanks!

meg duerksen - NO you aren’t challenged! I refilled the list several times and everything is purchased! It’s so awesome!

Laura - I a truly technically challenged or your list is empty. Want to make another one?

Amber - Hey Meg!

Everything is gone!! How awesome! Any way that I can still help?

Amber

B - Thank you for doing this!! My mother in law did more than 65 foster babies and one of them was at my baby shower for my first born. I was given everything for my son, and that poor baby had NOTHING of his own. My little one was celebrated and anticipated, and that little guy was at the mercy of kind strangers. It made me so sad about the injustice in the world. I am so happy mama is going to be reunited with her lovely little one!!!!!

Katie - I don’t see anything on the list – does that mean it’s all purchased?

Betsy Frost - Are there anymore items that could be added? The last thing that’s out there is the Desitin, but I’m guessing it’s not being ordered because it’s an “Add On” item and one must purchase at least $25 worth of items in order to buy it and send it. I’d love to help!

Kelly - What a beautiful gesture and I am happy to be able to participate. I am so glad that they are being reunited though I am sure that his absence will leave a hole in your hearts until the next little one that needs love comes your way. Thank you for sharing this journey with us all.

Kate - Meg,
I missed out and the list is already fulfilled, Can you add additional items? PLEASE!!! I really want to support this amazing Mom!

Monica - Meg-

What a wonderful idea! The list is almost fulfilled. Could you add more diapers, maybe in bigger sizes? You know he will need those soon!

rebecca - just a note…if you are trying to donate and get sent to Meg…make sure nothing else is in your amazon cart otherwise your non donated stuff will get sent too 🙂

Ashley - I could hardly check out fast enough! Had to keep removing and picking new items because someone already purchased them. 🙂 Hope to see the list totally wiped out shortly!!

Jennifer S - I love foster care moms and all of the good it can do, especially when families can be reunited! A little something is coming from us here in North Carolina. So much love and hope for Tiny and his sweet Mom!

Holly rice - I have a little boy that is 10 months old… would you accept gently used items from a boy who has way too much and would love to share?? I could easily come up with a box of toys and clothes to send your way if you’re willing to accept them! Let me know. Thanks!!

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three things


#1
I got to talk with Haley Williams on her podcast “Kindled”
we talked about creativity, the Craft House and lots of other stuff.
Click over and check it out.

#2
this looks really good and fun to make too!
i like the Tasty site because of the videos!  I am a visual learner who enjoys instant gratification.
i love being able to see the whole recipe so quickly.
the recipe is here: Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie 


#3
i have been searching for inspiration to remodel our master bathroom so i have been thinking about allllllllll the tile.
the only thing i am almost sure about is a freestanding bathtub.
but everything else is still undecided.  
i am going to choose something white and maybe some black (but probably not).
but if i was the kind of lady that got to redo things majorly whenever i got tired of them… i would choose something really colorful.

i love all of those colors!
how fun is that pink vanity?!!!

Jill - Does Mr. Duerksen get a vote on a pink vanity in his master bath? ;-} Asking for a friend.

Tracy Koeppen - I like the green vanity! Paint is easy to change so you could easily change it once you decide to move on… green tile not so much.. Lots of pretty choices!

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happy pics

these are instagram accounts i follow that make me smile and inspire me.
click on the photo and it will take you to their IG account.   🙂













 

I am positive you are feeling more happy than you were one minute ago after seeing all these beautiful pics!
and i hope you enjoy following their instagram feeds.

 

Laurie - You make me smile!! Thanks for the inspiration! I love new feeds to inspire me to create

Alisa Workman - We follow some of the same accounts. It’s always great to have color in your life.

Heather - Love these! I love colorful pictures in my instagram feed, thanks for sharing! Do you follow @studiodiy? I feel like you would love it / it fits in with all these other ones!

Lorri - Such sunny goodness – thank you for sharing! They will be a definite lift, just like your IG feed is. 🙂

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reading – listening – eating

we just got back from a family vacation celebrating my parents’ 50th (almost) wedding anniversary to Roatan Island, Honduras.
it was AMAZING!
i will blog the photos and info about it all soon.
for a beach trip i try to always bring a new book.
the night before we left i went to walmart for all the last minute things (mike&ike’s, new backpack, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc) and i grabbed “The Glass Castle”.

Someone had mentioned it earlier that week and i recalled that i’d meant to see the movie last year but never did.
i brought it on the trip and finished it – I LOVED it!
i didn’t even realize it was a memoir since i didn’t read the back!  My mom had read it so she told me that as i was almost done with it.
it made it even better to realize it was true!
and i see now that it’s right there on the cover “A MEMOIR” but I was too focused on relaxing at the beach to see it.


i listened to Jen Hatmaker’s podcast last week with Becca Stevens from Thistle Farms.
soooo good!
definitely listen to this one!
here’s a video about Thistle Farms:



and i listened to Mom Struggling Well podcast with Sara Hagerty.
totally worth the listen!
🙂
i was struggling that day with some confusing feelings about foster care and some of their dialogue wondering and aching for the time they missed with their adopted kiddos before they were in their families reminded me how important caring for kids in the “inbetween” times is.  How they need to be loved in a BIG way even if it’s a short stay.  i was grateful for those reminders.


i made this recently and we decided it was really just goulash in soup form.
but we also hadn’t had goulash in…. forever.
it was yummy!  🙂
Beef & Macaroni Soup

Jen Gallizzo - I love following your life! The vacation looked awesome! Especially love your pics of “tiny” on insta!!! What an awesome story of faith.

Robin - If you loved Glass Castle, you have to read her other novel Halfbroke Horses. You’ll love it, too!

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let’s talk about foster care

i’m going to tell you how foster care came to be for us and then next post i will tackle the questions i received on my instagram post.

 

In 2016 i asked craig to seriously consider us becoming foster parents.
i have always had a heart for children.
i was a busy babysitter in my teens.
i was a nanny for awhile and i had my own daycare way back when my first two kids were little.
i remember the first time i put a baby to sleep by myself – i was probably 10 years old and i was so proud!
growing up I had dreams of having a BIG family filled with biological kids and adopted kids.
“big family” to me back then meant 10 – 12 children.
not kidding.
i drew pictures of them… i named all of them… i thought about it all the time.
fast forward 20 years –
that is not the same idea/dream that my husband had for our family.
and it turns out that raising “just five” kids is decently challenging on a daily basis.
i mean… when talby was little i remember i started crying at the beginning of the movie Cheaper By the Dozen because i realized in that moment i would never have 12 kids.
whaaat?

we did not agree on growing our family by adopting and i felt that the door was shut on discussing it further.
i prayed often for God to change him (ha ha ha!) but that if that wasn’t the best plan that he would change me so that we were both on the same page and growing together.  (as if God needs my help…)
i would pray those words but at the same time i couldn’t imagine how the desire to help a child find a home would NOT be what God would want.
i wasn’t discontent with my family as it was – i just felt a strong pull towards helping kids in need on top of caring for my children at home.
foster care didn’t really enter my mind for the same reasons it probably hasn’t entered many people’s minds –
“it would be too hard.”  “i would get too attached.”  “i couldn’t give them back”
but after the door was closed (and locked?) on the adoption discussion… God began to change my heart.
He opened my eyes and heart to fostering in a whole new way.

i was driving by myself, i turned onto the gravel road just before our home and i had this thought so clearly “you CAN give them back.  your kids are nearly grown.  you don’t want to start completely over.  a baby becomes a toddler.  you CAN do this!”
it felt like God was saying He would be with me and that it was time.
the fear of foster care that i had experienced up to that day was GONE.
i felt peace about it.  i felt confident in the Lord’s timing.
but… there are two people in this marriage.
over the next few months i brought up becoming a foster family several times and talby & annie did too.
they had been askting us to adopt or foster for many years.
when i would bring it up i kept going back to these points – we are loving parents.  we have a stable home.  we have enough money.  we have enough time to help.
then one day while we were out on a walk he said “i guess if you really want to look into it – go ahead.”
happy tears came to my eyes because that sentence was HUGE!!!
game changing sentence!

i set out on my quest to find out about foster care in my area.
i talked to several foster moms over the phone.
i met with two different agencies to see what is involved and how to get started.
since i was so new to all of this, i asked if it was even a possibility to only take in certain ages… is that allowed?
the answer was yes we could choose the ages of children we were willing to foster.
with our schedule as busy as it is i felt that taking in babies under one year was the best option for us.
babies go where you go and don’t really mind eating or sleeping anywhere.
and i truly love caring for babies!

after about 2 months of research, we had our first meeting with one of the social workers for our agency.
it did not go the way i had hoped.
i was totally ready to get going but my husband was having a serious case of cold feet.
the social worker basically told us everything that could go wrong.
every. possible. thing.
it was pretty grim when you looked at it from that side.
i understand that she had to be realistic and honest about what we were getting ourselves into.
i kept saying “let’s remember… that situation wouldn’t happen with a baby” to bring us back from scarytown.
but at the end he wouldn’t even schedule the next meeting.
i know my husband well enough that i did not bring up that meeting or foster care again for almost four weeks!
he likes to think about things very thoroughly.
he plans and saves and prepares and takes his time.
we are complete opposites.  🙂

we went on a date on new years day 2017 and over dinner i worked up the nerve to ask “can we talk about foster care again?”
i wasn’t afraid of him – i was afraid of the door being closed again… that i had gotten my hopes up for nothing.
i asked what he was having the most trouble with and in the end it was my heart being broken – that it would be too much for me emotionally.
he knows me & i love that.
i have soooo many feelings.
and i cry A LOT.
all my emotions – happy, sad, nervous, tired, angry, inspired, empathy – all come with a side of crying in my world.
it’s annoying but i can’t make it stop.

i assured him that i was going to be ok.
i had the peace and confidence from God that this was the path to pursue.
he said he knew all his reasons to say no were not good reasons – too busy, too tired,  not wanting to be woken up at night, past that stage of raising kids, wanting to go on trips with just me, or last minute date nights, etc. etc.
i can’t remember exactly what i said but this is close:
“i know you are worried that i will break but i am not afraid of that.  I feel ready for this.
one positive thing about foster care is that it is not permanent.  if it’s not a good fit for our family then we can stop!
if we do not do this then WHO WILL?! why do we expect anyone to help these kids if WE do not?
we are good parents with big hearts.  we have the space in our home.  we have the time and enough money.
because we are too busy?  because it might hurt too much?  because we will get too attached?
God does not call us to live in fear of being hurt.  God calls us out and says he will be alongside us when we struggle and when we hurt.
he will carry that for us.  it will be hard, our hearts will hurt but we will be okay.
even if the worst thing does happen – God will be there with us.
there are kids that need people to love on them.

he said he’d do it for me.
he is a protector and wants to keep all of his people away from harm of any kind.
i am so grateful for that amazingly comforting quality because i always feel safe with him.
but we also need to push through the fears and allow God to be our protector with hard stuff.
we can’t save ourselves.  we can’t plan everything.  we can’t control life and feelings and all of the outcomes.
i am not saying craig doesn’t want that too… i am saying he is more cautious than i am.  🙂

we started the MAPP classes shortly after that night.
to become licensed for any type of foster care (at least in kansas) you have to complete the MAPP classes.
these classes are free and usually provide childcare.  we actually found an agency near us that came to our home and taught the classes privately because we live over 25 miles from a group class.  That was so wonderful for us and our ridiculous schedule!

over the course of these classes i watched my husband’s heart soften & open up, seeing families in crisis in a whole new way.
i am pretty sure i’ve never been more attracted to him then when he was completing his MAPP homework!
🙂

it took us from January – September to complete the class, the home inspection and receive our license.
that timeline was mostly because our schedule/calendar is so full. It may not take others that long to finish.
we chose to be a foster family not foster-to-adopt.
we are licensed for 2 children ages 0-5 but plan to focus on infants.
there were several things we needed to do to pass the home inspection but nothing ridiculous… just precautions you’d want others to take if they had your child in their care like baby gates, handrails and cabinet locks.

i said no to four placements before we said yes to Tiny.
i hated saying no to helping any children but i have to think of what would be best for my family too.
going into this i knew we needed clear boundaries and to give myself permission to say no.
i prayed God would make it clear when it was the right fit and he did.
i was at a high school volleyball game when i got the call for Tiny.
and that was it – there was no hesitancy – “YES we will take him!”
we drove to target after the game to buy a carseat, diapers & formula.
At 9:30 pm we picked up this itty bitty baby and drove him back to our home.
it was completely surreal.

and now here we are four months later!
i am so incredibly happy that we are on this new adventure of learning to love in new ways.
we knew this placement could possibly be many months and of course YES we are all attached to him!
but isn’t that the only way to be?! especially with an infant?!
we have to be all in – full hearts!  this is such a crucial time for development in his life!
we have to love him with all we’ve got while he’s here.
when we bring children into our home they need to know that they’re important and worth our time and energy.
they need to feel safe.
we can’t change the situation that caused them to be in put into care.  we can’t take away the past.
we can’t guarantee the future.  but while they are here with us – we can love them and provide safety & security.

everyone asks me everywhere i go “are you going to adopt him?”
most children in foster care have families that want to be together but mom or dad need some time to get out of a tough spot, learn new parenting skills, need help to get back on their feet or tools to deal with addiction.
foster care allows the children to be cared for while those things are happening for the parents.
the goal is to help keep families together… getting kids back with their parents whenever possible.
if after all measures have been attempted and the parents are still not able to provide a safe home then more permanent decisions begin to be made.
of course there are also foster care cases that are severe and reuniting with parents shouldn’t happen at all for the children’s safety.
sooo… foster care does not automatically mean every child is up for adoption.
a foster parent needs to be a team player in reunification with the parents, supporting the efforts parents are making and be willing to see that people can change.
it is not always easy but if it all works… it’s worth it.

since this is our first placement, it’s all new to me – the ins and outs of the system, the visits, court dates and all these feelings.
the “ending” is unknown and i wrestle with the not knowing.
but you know what?  the “ending” is unknown for ALL of us.
we fool ourselves into thinking we know what’s going to happen with our families.
we have an illusion of control but nothing is certain.
so i pray about all of it.
it’s all in God’s hands.  He already knows about all of it.  He knows.

i am sharing all of this here not to make you think i am so great for helping kids or that craig isn’t great for not wanting to do this in the beginning.
which is funny now because he is so totally goo-goo over Tiny!  He is definitely not “doing this for me” anymore.
he’s participating whole heartedly.
he told me “you can write on your blog that i wasn’t always on board” before i even asked.
i am sharing the whole story so that you see that we struggled to get here.
it was not a quick or easy decision.
but we are both so blessed by getting to care for Tiny these past four months.

the REAL reason i want to talk publicly about any of this is because the need for fostering is SO BIG!
there are over 7000 kids in foster care in kansas right now and no where near enough homes for them.
i am guessing your state is no different.
wouldn’t it be amazing if foster parents were on a waiting list for kids… instead of kids waiting for a home?!
foster care can look many different ways too.
there is long term placement, short term, strictly overnight care for kids that don’t have their placement family yet, respite care to give foster parents a break for a weekend, emergency care that is needed immediately or you could be a CASA volunteer which is where you would advocate for abused and neglected children, to make sure they don’t get lost in the legal and social service system.

you can be married or single, stay home or work full time, have your own children or not, college degree or not, home owner or not… kids need you!

i’ll be answering more foster care questions from Instagram followers in my next post.
but feel free to ask questions in the comments here as well.

and here are some scenes around our house since Tiny entered our lives…

Heather - That name tag though. 😍😍😍😍

Chelsea - Just wondering if he gets to see his birth Mom while you are caring for him? How does it work with all the things he needs, financially I’m assuming you are responsible for paying for him? Such a fun journey- thanks for sharing!

Quinn (Harper) Jones - Hi Meg! This had me tearing up something fierce! Tiny is so lucky to have you and your family loving on him and helping him grow! You ve always been great with kids and you have the biggest heart! ❤️
P.S. can you come help me get my 7 week old to sleep?? 😊

Shannon - Congratulations! What a rewarding yet challenging experience! And thanks for mentioning CASAs. I was one for a few years. More people need to help!

Lisamarie - Congratulations! We’re foster parents also, amd have had over 35 kids in ten years. We’ve adopted two so far and want to,adopt more if possible ❤️

Toni :0) - This warms my heart to no end! I think it’s so wonderful what you’re doing. If I didn’t work full time and run full speed ahead raising my family, I’d seriously consider this but man it would pull on my heartstrings to give them back. God bless your family. Those babies are lucky to find you and get loved on by your family. Keep lovin them up as our doc always says. You can never love on kids enough I say. 😍💜👶🏼

Theresa - Thank you for sharing! What a gift for Tiny to have a loving start in life!

Myriah Mae - Meg!! I wondered where you have been and what you have been up to…as I have frequently checked this space!! Now I am reading this post in tears…tears of joy…tears of understanding in a way…tears of desire…tears of memories. My husband and I too went through foster care training many years ago, BUT GOD ended up leading us onto the foreign mission field, where several years later we ended up adopting our precious little girl here in Budapest, Hungary. Adoption and fostering will always hold a super special place in my heart, we so desire to adopt again…and I often dream about fostering (I know its not all dreamy) and loving on some kids in need. Its funny cause my husband says NO WAY to fostering now, because he just remembers all the scary stuff they said in those meetings and classes, but I keep praying and asking that one day that NO WAY will again be softened! God bless you and your sweet family and precious Tiny…I can see you are loving him well!

marcie - Meg, All of my friends who have adopted express such great thanks for the people who fostered their children before they joined their family. Often they didn’t meet them or know them in any way but they knew someone was out there loving on “their” child and it comforted them. One of my friends once told me that she prays specifically for her childs’ former foster parents and for people who are fostering everywhere. What amazing servants you and your family are.

Arlene - Meg, thank you so much for sharing this post. I’ve been reading your blog for 9+ years and I admire you for being so open and honest about your experiences. My husband and I have always talked about adopting (our first child is about to turn one so we’re not quite there yet) and fostering sounds like a wonderful service to these children and the world. I loved reading about this. Thank you!

Lori - Thanks for sharing your story. Wishing you all the best with Tiny 💙

Mrs. Bailey - Thank you for sharing. I have followed you since your kids were pretty little. I love that I found hope for my husband changing his mind someday. ❤

Becky Fouts - May God continue to bless you, your family, and Tiny! He has put you together for now and for only He knows how long… what a great God Hebis to “match” you!!

Nicole - Yes, yes, a thousand times, YES! I am a treatment foster care specialist in WI and part of my job is recruiting foster families. The need is so great…and the rewards are greater! I cannot tell you how much your post warms my heart. You are wonderful people and I am so proud of you.

Jennifer - Thanks for sharing Meg! It’s very enlightening to read about your experience. Tiny is blessed to have you all. Thank you saying yes.

Patty - Thank you for sharing! I didn’t know how “flexible” being a foster parent could be, as far as the age of children, etc.

ellen patton - you are wonderful.

Emily - I have been following your blog forever and am so proud of you! You are doing a great job. (And Tiny’s room is gorgeous just like everything you touch.) Thanks for sharing this part of your journey with us.

lisa @hooplapalooza - i have 2 adopted kids and like you wanted a huge family. to get to the point of adopting took 8 years and i never considered foster care until reading your post…you know God heard you when you wanted 10-12 kids. now you are on number 6 and i do believe that number will continue to grow beyond what you asked. because your hearts are SOOO big and your love is rare, raw, and inspiring, i know every child that comes into your lives is truly blessed. God bless your big wonderful family! <3

Kay Bonikowsky - What a great time of life you are in! Thank you for sharing your faith and love. For those of us, like me, who dislike childcare, but still want to help children, becoming a CASA is a great alternative. Thank you for mentioning that! A CASA needs a whole different skill set in advocating for children, and it is a great way to volunteer and make a difference in the family courts system. I became a CASA last year and only have one case, a beautiful baby girl. I just love being about to work with social workers, judges, foster parents, and the parents working hard to get their children back home. In becoming a CASA, I have more patience and understanding with “the system,” and am so impressed with the compassion of those working in the system for the care of children. Thank you for being a great foster mom!

Lee Ann - Meg, I could have written the first half of this post in first person. Almost verbatim. Event the parts where my two girls and I talk about it and are on board, but my husband isn’t. I just emailed him your post 😉 Continuing to pray!

Juli - So happy for you! You and Craig are wonderful to do this.

Beth - Great post. Thank you for sharing.

Sam - I feel so inspired. Thank you for writing this.

Shannon - Oh Meg you make me cry! Your journey and hearts are so Big and B
Beautiful! That Tiny is absolutely precious! God Bless!

Lucy - Thank you so much for writing this!

Barbara - Meg,

What a beautiful story of faithfulness and obedience to the Lord, respect for your husband and lots and lots and lots of love!

Blessings to the Duerksen Family!

Jenna - I love this! Thank you so much for sharing!! He’s precious beyond belief. And you got to decorate another room!!

Kris - What a wonderful peek into your journey…as amiddle school teacher I know how many children need foster homes!
And sharing your faith through this journey! Amen. Amen. Amen!

Rachel - Thank you so much for sharing! Can’t wait for the next post about it.

Corinne - I have been a reader for many years. Thank you for sharing your story with us. We started our family through adoption and then had 3 “home grown” . It is all good.

stephanie ackerman - YOU and Craig are super hero’s in my eyes. Thank you for sharing your whole heart and for being open, honest and transparent. You guys are almost my favorites in the world but I have to admit that I sorta love Tiny a tiny bit more. #teamtiny

Holly Clark - Love this post and love how you and your husband worked through “all the feelings” and concerns together. Even though we can not see all of Tiny, he is adorable!!!! I have been a camp counselor for older foster kids through “Camp To Belong” that has volunteers around the US. I have also been a CASA and would love to do that again. The foster care crisis is big and I love that we can all do something to help.

I think this is also great for your older kids to learn how to care for kids in crisis. God is burdened for those in need. How wonderful when kids “get it” at an early age and start thinking of their own gifts and how they can give back as adults. How neat for them to be able to picture the love you poured into each one of them as well.

God Bless your family and little Tiny’s future.

Dana - LOVE THIS! I am so happy to finally hear the whole story of how Tiny came to be and what you said was so true. If we aren’t willing to do it, who is? I have 2 adopted brothers and they were abused by their foster parents after having horrible starts with their biological parents. We need to step up! You are right- it is worth the heartache. Off to pray now…Oh, and I knew we were alike in many ways! What you said about the emotions and crying…totally me! (and probably a lot of other women, but still. 🙂 ) Sometime if you get time in your busy schedule, I would love to hear your thoughts on teens and backtalk/disrespect and if it gets better after a certain age or if you’ve found ways to make it better? We have a lot of kids as well and this teenager stuff has thrown us for a loop!

tere - Much of the first paragraph resembled me. Thank you for sharing your foster story here. God knew that your patience and passion would lead you to Tiny. You inspire me in so many ways. All my love.

Megan - So great to hear from someone advocating for foster parenting but being real about the realities of it at the same time. I work for a public children services agency and the need is great! My husband and I adopted three from foster care, and I wonder if down the line we might be open to fostering again. The thought of having a precious little thing like your Tiny in my home for awhile makes me what to think about it!

Amy jupin - Proud, proud, proud!
And I love the pic of Tiny with craig!
And of his rainbow name tag!
Love you and your big ol’ heart!!

Alice H - Foster care is on my heart and has been for awhile. My youngest son (just turned 8) always tells me “you don’t have to be the perfect parent to be a foster parent” because he has seen that on a billboard and then he follows it up with “you aren’t a perfect mom, can we foster?” LOL! My 17 year old son isn’t very big on it but I think eventually his heart would soften as well. I have a daughter in college. I think it is great what you and your family are doing for Tiny. Thanks for sharing.

Kristin S - Meg, thank you so much for sharing this!

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