The goodbye, Part 4

Missed any of these 'goodbye' posts?
Part 1 is HERE
Part 2 is HERE
Part 3 is HERE.
And Part 4 is right here:


And that was that. Our time with her was suddenly over.

My mom headed home, the kids scrambled about to play, and Mark was holding Addie, so I asked him if I could slip away for awhile. I just wanted a bit of solitude with which to think without interruption. So I got in the car and drove away. I made a few stops- some errands for stuff we needed for Addie, but while I was in the car I cried and talked to God.

He's very understanding, He is.

When I glanced at the clock at 11:15, I wept in earnest. She would never come "home" to our house again.

It was a little later that day that God did something, in His great compassion, that eased the ache in my heart a little.

The phone rang. Mark answered it, and passed it off to me.

A woman was on the other end, and she introduced herself, and as she did, I *knew* who she was. And she confirmed it: she was Baby's new foster mom.

She had seen my note, and at the bottom of it I had included my phone number. So she called me, out of the kindness of her heart, to let me know how Baby was. She told me when Baby had last eaten (and how much), what she was doing at that moment (in the bouncy seat at her new foster home), and how Baby had been smiling and cooing for her already. I was able to tell her how dear this little girl was to our family; how much we loved her, how we hoped she would love her as much as we had.

Then I took the opportunity to ask a few questions, such as: How many other foster children did she have? She answered, "I do one at a time." And then- (and dear readers, I *so* cannot wait to tell you this. I wish I could do so in person)- she told me that she was in her seventies. YES, that's right. I did not mistype. SEVENTIES, people! This is what she told me about that:

"My daughter is a foster parent, too, and she has been involved with training other foster parents. And here I was, a seventy-something granny, off to play bridge three times a week. One day my daughter came to me and said, 'Mom, I know of something you could do with your time that would be so much more meaningful.' And then she encouraged me to become a foster parent. So I did! And I've never looked back. At the end of each day I know that I have done something of value."

I was so touched by her words. And then she said this, "So when you think of Baby, you just think of old granny, here, rocking her."

She shared a bit more about some of the other children she'd fostered over the years (two of which her daughter ended up adopting; they loved them so much!), and then she said that she'd call me again if she had any further questions, but not to worry about Baby a bit. She would be able to keep her for a month or several, as long as was needed until the birthparents were ready to take her back.

I offered a tearful thank you, and told her how *much* her call had meant for my heart. It was so good to "picture" where Baby was, and to know a little bit about who was caring for her.

And now when I think of her, I can imagine her snuggled up in the arms of a loving, doting seventy-year old grandma.

Is your heart as incredibly blessed by that as mine was?

And-- isn't God so wonderfully kind to prompt her to call me, to give me that peek in to where she is now; to remind me of how He has continued His care of this sweet Baby?

Oh, He is good.

***

Next up: I'll be closing this series with Part 5, which will entail some final thoughts on this chapter of our lives.

And then I suppose I'll return to "regular" blogging. It's been so long since I've written a "normal" post that I forget what I write about on this here blog. I'm sure I'll come up with something. It may just take me a bit to get back into the regular swing of things.

Thank you, dear readers, for sharing this journey with me, for offering such encouragement through your comments and emails, so many prayers, and so much love. I am so appreciative.

23 comments:

  1. ~sniffling~

    ...and feeling blessed by how good our God is.

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  2. Definitely Blessed by that!
    Thank you Father, for prompting dear old Granny to call and calm our wondering thoughts!

    Still praying for you.

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  3. Our God is so good!! Prompting that Grandma to give you a call. Thank you Jesus for taking care of our needs.
    ...April :)

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  4. Sooooooooo blessed! Wow, our God sure is a wonderful Heavenly Father. So caring in all of the details. So lovingly tending to our hearts. :) Thank you for sharing this journey with us, Stacy. Each time I read more from you my heart is encouraged and my view of God is enlarged. What a God-glorifying road you are walking!
    ~ Camee

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  5. Stacy, that's a precious story. Isn't God so good to have given you (and Baby) that sweet granny?

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  6. What an incredible blessing!! Our God leaves "no stone unturned". He is so good!

    ~Amy Crawford

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  7. I am floored ... God so wonderful!!
    And I am so thankful you are able to take the time to share the story, here. To his glory!
    Dana

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  8. Ok, reading your post has my crying. Yes of course because I am thankful for how good God is and how you were able to get peace and speak with Baby's new Foster Mom, but also for me because Kevin and I have been thinking about doing this for over a year, I have 3 different packets of info from 3 different places, have met with 2 different agencies to ask questions and then we are still sitting here thinking about it!!!!! I know Im ready its just the logistics are different for us with no family around, we dont know how we can be gone on a Saturday from 8-5 for training and not be able to take Rachel. We have no one to watch her and Kevin with his tourney bowling, he feels bad about being gone alot of weekends...it would be hard on me.......cant let that stop us though, God wouldnt put the desire in my heart to do it, if there wasnt a way.
    Thanks for this post to get the fire burning again in me.

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  9. Wow, I am so glad she called you. God is so good to work it out that way.

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  10. What a doubly blessed baby, to have you and now this precious lady. So glad God gave you the gift of that phone call!

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  11. I LOVE this 'ending'! Thank you for sharing the whole story.

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  12. Wow. That was incredible. So like our wonderful God.

    I can't tell you what a blessing it was to read this post. I can't stop thinking about how amazingly God works things out! And I just love to picture Baby being held and rocked and loved by this dear grandma.

    We continue to pray for you all, including Baby.

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  13. okay, yeah. my heart is BURSTING with joy because I, too, can picture Baby in Granny's arms.

    What a blessing!

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  14. Wow! God is so very good! A grandma. How wonderful and what a comfort to know she's with a great foster grandma.

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  15. God is incredible. This chapter of your life has been such a blessing to me. I feel like I know you and baby. I'm so thankful you have peace knowing where baby is and how much she's being loved.

    looking forward to the next chapter :)

    blessings,
    missy

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  16. Hi Stacy :) What a beautiful answer to prayer! I love that the Father isn't just holding us - He's wrapping us up in His arms. I love that He knows how to bless us so perfectly, with such love.

    Rejoicing with you! Love, Q

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  17. God is so good. What a blessing for the baby to have undivided attention from a Granny. (Now, I don't mean anything negative about you by that). What a great opportunity for all of you.

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  18. I think Ihave read it all, then I read another entry from you! Amazing!! The Lord is truly beautiful.
    What a wonderful image for your heart... Baby in the arms of grandmother.

    God bless-
    Amanda
    http://iammommy.typepad.com/

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  19. Oh sweet Stacy, Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. I have been moved by your bravery. Not many have the strength of heart to do what you have done. Your openness in this whole process, your willingness to feel and love, it is truly inspiring. Though I am so sad for your loss, I am relieved to read of the loving care Baby is now receiving.

    Bless you!
    Charlotte

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  20. God is amazing! I love what He did! Thank you for sharing that. Even when these little ones leave our hands they are still in His! I can't think of a better place for baby right now.

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  21. Just sitting here imagining a sweet grandmotherly figure rocking your precious foster baby brings comfort. I had no idea this goodbye story would have a part four - and such a lovely one at that. What a precious woman she sounds to be!

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  22. Oh how very kind of this foster mom to call you and let you know how Baby was doing! And how neat that she's fostering at 70 years old! God knew exactly where Baby had to be placed since she couldn't stay with your family any longer. I'm sure she'll be just fine. What a blessing that call must've been for you!

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  23. Thank you so much for this post. I am completely choked up and thanking God for the sweet granny that Baby was placed with.

    80)
    Mary Beth

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