Hope for Tomorrow, Inc.

I started a new job about 3 weeks ago. I am the new clinical case manager at Hope for Tomorrow. HFT is a non-profit foster and adoption placement agency. They are extremely Christ centered in their approach to providing children removed from their homes by the state the kind of care they need.
My job to ensure that the treatment plans written on all the children are meeting the minimum standards set by the state and our licensing agencies. I also am in charge of contracting with therapists across the state to provide counseling for each child.

So far, I have really enjoyed my job. It is challenging at times because I read about why children are taken from their homes and the behavioral problems which are (in my mind) the direct result of not having positive influences in their life. It is rewarding to know that I have a part in helping them to know Christ through the team assigned to work with them. So many of these kids would certainly not have had the chance to develop a relationship with Him if they had not been taken from the home. The efforts of the HFT staff may not end in children having life-long relationships with Jesus, but hopefully they are able to see that there are people who are not going to take advantage or neglect them.

~JK

Hope for Tomorrow, Inc.

Enjoying the Journey

I say its not so bad...Perhaps that is because I am not getting up as much in the middle of the night as Krista is. Perhaps this is because, while I have emotional needs that are being met as I hold her and care for her, Miriam does not depend on me for anything she needs in order to survive. I do not seem to mind waking up in the middle of the night to change diapers or to burp her. Her crying is even cute sometimes when her little lip quivers. Its really not as bad as people make it out to be. Or perhaps...

I just love being a father.

I have not experienced anything so far that I have not enjoyed about having an infant. All along, since we found out we were pregnant (I say "we" because as a family systems theorist, when there is a change in one part of the system, there is always a change in the rest of the system....We were pregnant....We had a baby) we have tried to take everything that happens as an opportunity to learn something new. A good friend of mine once said to enjoy the journey. I think this approach to life helps me to not be bothered by the 3 am feedings or the wacky emotions of a pregnant woman. Looking at life as a journey, I see each moment as a chance to realize something new.

When Miriam cries at night and I wake her up, check her diaper and do not find anything, instead of getting frustrated that I got up for nothing, I get to see Krista - as tired as she is - wake up and feed her without complaining. She may even sometimes smile as I hand Miriam to her and say lovingly, "Are you hungry precious?" I am enjoying the journey. I love to see the joy that my daughter brings to life and the faces on others as she begins to cry. I am not in a hurry to see her grow up, I do not pine for the day she is sleeping through the night or for the day she says, "Daddy" for the first time. I loved today because I got to see her smile. I loved the five minute break I had just now so I could put her to bed.

I am enjoying the journey.

~JK

Enjoying the Journey

It takes a village...

There's an African proverb which says, "It takes a village to raise a child." The good news is that we now have a child. The sad news is that part of the vilalge left yesterday.

On August 28th at 8:49 am, Miriam Grace Kellar entered the world. Her dad, and her Mimi were both in the room as she entered it. It was beautiful. I never thought a greyish-blue, cottage cheese covered being could be so incredible....but she was. We spent the next 36 hours oohing and aahhing over her in the hospital. Then we brought her home and havent stopped the oohing and aahhing. Krista's mom was here all week with us to help adjust to having a third Kellar in the home. She left our home yesterday and it was a sad day. Krista cried, I sighed, Miriam just slept as if nothing was changing. The last 24 hours have been very interesting, just seeing how life is going to be as a family of three (for a while at least). It is wonderful having Miriam home with us now. I have commented several times about how in a matter of seconds, she went from being someone who needed rather little attention to someone who is in constant need of attention and supervision. It is a joy having her here. Krista will be staying home for a few months to further help us adjust. Since Sally (a.k.a. Mimi) was here, I realized how important it is to have a parent devote constant attention to their child. Everything went very smooth while she was here. They still seem to be going fine, although it will take a week or two before we run out of clean laundary and food that was brought by friends. It has been great seeing the support of friends and family in the first week of her life. It's a good feeling to know that there is a village that already loves her (almost) as much as we do.

~JK

It takes a village...