We are still licensed as foster parents with the Kids Peace agency, even though we are only hosting occasional respite visits rather than a long term placement. This past weekend, Kids Peace hosted a Foster Parents Appreciation banquet with 2010 parenting awards and a prime rib dinner. The staff did a great job decorating and collecting donations for the meal and door prizes, and it was a very enjoyable event. Especially encouraging was the announcement that our group of foster parent households collectively adopted twelve children in 2010 who needed a home and family. Jeff was not able to attend and neither was the husband of another Hammond foster mom, so we escorted each other to the banquet. 
It was a delight to drive out and back to Valpo with Pat. Her husband is in Louisiana currently helping his parents evacuate, so she is doing her best right now to hold down the fort with a busy group of sisters and brothers. 
It is so hard to be a foster parent, but there is also such a desperate need in our county for households that are able to provide a safe environment, and necessities like food, bed and shelter. It was very encouraging to see a gym filled with tables that have regular people trying to make a place for homelost children in this way. The parents were encouraged by being nominated for and receiving awards for displaying various attributes of tenacity and hospitality even when the going gets really tough. Jeff and I were honored with one of the awards: Three Tots and A Cot, for hosting lots of respite visits in 2010.
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