Ugh! Who ever thought it was a good idea to plant bushes and trees and random plants, and then never upkeep them? Our former landowners, that’s who. We spend 4 hours early yesterday clearing out brush and debris (with the help of some great friends!) and we are still no where near done. It does feel good, though. 🙂 It will feel especially good when we get some real grass to grow! It is almost time for seed starting, too, and thanks to my dear friend Marina, we are going to start our babies off strong in her new beautful greenhouse. Countdown, t-minus 3 weeks until: tomatoes, peppers and cucumber! (I will keep you updated with pictures on our progress!)
We start our last few days of licensing classes this week, and while I am very excited about being one step closer, I can’t help but feel a little nervous about it as well. What if we aren’t good at it? What if it is too hard? How will this affect our family, and one day our children? I spoke with a friend today, and she said to me that she could never do foster parenting, for fear of how it would affect her children, and that scares me a little. I want all the best for my own children some day, but I don’t know if that means giving up helping to support other people’s children.. who is going to take care of them, if I don’t? Isn’t there always going to be a good excuse not to? (Lord, please give me the strength to be able to do it all!)
Roppo Farm 
Posted by Stephanie on February 15, 2011 at 7:47 am
God is lending you His strength my good friend! He will do more so as you need Him more, and you will!
You are doing the right thing, that is not saying there won’t be days that you regret investing hard work and sleepless nights into God’s vision for the Roppo Family Farm!
I am so proud to be friends with someone so selfless, I am learning from you and teaching Alexis the things I learn from you. The impact you will have goes beyond the little ones and their families. What you are doing is creating and teaching a community!
I was so honored that you asked me to get finger printed for being back up for your soon to be precious ones! That made my day that you trust me that deeply and value our friendship enough to do that! I am lucky to have you and Marina in my life! God is Good!
To show you support in your endeavors, Big Al’s is doing a fundraising for Foster Kids March 13th. Bowling in PJ’s, I think we should get all your friends and family together for that event! Maybe even make it a “Foster Shower” for you!
Posted by Danielly Nobile on February 15, 2011 at 9:13 am
Abbie,
As I read your blog post, a bible verse came to mind:
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:34-40
The Lord blesses those who feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, house the stranger, clothe the naked, take care of the sick and visit those in imprisonment. Really, what these verses describe is the love of God for those who are in need – independent of the need.
If God has called you and Joel to be foster parents – then I pray that you will love these children as your own – for they are God’s children, and by loving them you are loving the Lord.
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34
Posted by Mom on March 2, 2011 at 10:11 pm
Thought I’d check up on the doings on the Farm and came upon your concern – “who else will care for them” and “how will it affect our children”. I can’t help but smile with tears in my eyes.
You and Joel have the Lord on your side and he will supply all that you need, in all things…always. He will provide the strength and patience to “get through the day” with foster kids and/or your own. Your children and the FB’s (foster babies, as Meredy calls them) will be showered with love. They will all know that…even on the hardest days. Isn’t that what it is all about, after all?
Faith…you got it. 🙂
Mom