The Little Engine That Could - A Gift From My Mom

When my mom attends baby showers, she only ever gives two things: diapers and books.  That is her thing.  Well, she extended that habit to us and sent us a sweet package a few weeks ago. 

At first I smiled and teared up a little.  My mom, who treasures books and read so, so, so many to us as children, had given us the beginning of our kids' library.   It is special.  It is surreal.  And then I thought about this particular little book a bit more.  And I began to cry.   I don't know if Mom picked this one out for this reason, but how appropriate is this title and this story for our situation?

For those of you who don't know the story (which is a tragedy), a train full of toys and good food is trying to make it over a mountain so that the toys can be delivered to children on the other side, but the train breaks down. Several engines pass by and the toys ask them to help them over the mountain, but these engines come up with all kinds of excuses and don't help them. Too important, too busy, too tired, too unsure whether they could even do it.  A little blue engine comes along and they ask her to help them get over the mountain.  It's a lot to ask since she is small and it's a big mountain.  But the little engine gives it a try and perseveres..."I think I can. I think I can."  And you know what?  She is successful.

We can put ourselves in the tracks of the little blue engine.    I think I can tackle this paperwork.  I think I can handle the hard issues that we'll encounter.  I think I can be a good parent.  I think I can deal with the unknowns. I think I can...I think I can...

Our future foster children or forever children can put themselves in her tracks as well.  I think I can persevere through this rocky time.  I think I can trust this foster family.  I think I can...I think I can...

I so hope Trent and I can emerge on the other side of our first placement or two and be able to say "We thought we could.  We thought we could."  It probably won't be easy.  It may be a hard struggle to get up the mountain.   But we want to be the Little Couple That Could.

I also hope so much that whatever children come into our home can emerge and think "I thought I could. I thought I could."  I hope we are able to give them the help and security they need, for whatever time frame that may be, to help them climb the scary mountain looming in front of them.