they needed. They asked God to reveal how they should use the extra space and felt God was pushing them toward foster care. Not knowing exactly how foster care worked, they went to an informa- tion meeting at Buckner. Afterward, they both were convinced foster care was the next step for their family, but their first placement in September 2011 was difficult. “We went in with the foster-to-adopt intent,” Jeralee says. “That was our illusion that it was very easy to adopt out of foster care because that’s what it makes it sound like.” They attached very quickly to their foster child assuming they would adopt him, but after nine months, he returned to live with his aunt.
it so clear so many times that this is what we’re supposed to do.” •••
Ayden and Cheyenne yawn and give sleepy smiles as Jeralee and
Joshua carry them to the breakfast table. When they bow their heads to pray, they shut their eyes tight and clasp their hands in their laps. Jeralee brings them bowls of oatmeal and peach slices as Cheyenne crawls into Joshua’s lap. “I want to sit with Daddy,” she confidently declares. “Do you know what today is?” Jeralee asks as she sits next to Ayden.
Ayden studies Jeralee’s face and then exclaims, “We see God?” A ripple of laughter echoes through the kitchen as Jeralee responds, “Well, God will be there for sure, but today we’re going to court for your adoption.”
Cheyenne begins to pout when she
doesn’t get her juice box right away, but Joshua leans close to her ear and whis- pers as he hugs her. Cheyenne’s eyes are focused and concentrated on listening to Joshua. Slowly, the tears cease and she calmly and politely asks Jeralee for her drink. Jeralee hands her the juice box with a smile.
“Cheyenne, you can wear your new shoes today,” Jeralee tells her. Cheyenne’s eyes sparkle as she exclaims over the prospect of new attire.
Behind the Redmons on the oppo- site wall, there is a circle of 11 framed photos, each of a different child. In the middle of the photos, painted on the wall is a simple phrase: “Every child is a story yet to be told.” At first, no one thought Ayden’s and
“We probably attached harder to him than to any others we had,” Joshua says. “He was the hardest one to let go.”
Jeralee admits they almost quit foster care after their first child returned home, but God began working on their hearts and helped them understand that foster care is not just an outlet to expand their family but a ministry for providing a safe and encouraging living environment for children in need. “It’s a calling,” Joshua explains. “I’ve been in and out of the ministry for the past 13 years, and I would say this is one of the most difficult things I have done, yet one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.” “Even though it gets incredibly hard,” Jeralee adds, “even though it’s tough, even though loss is huge on our end and the biological family – loss is an awful, awful thing in foster care – that doesn’t mean it’s time to quit, and it doesn’t mean it’s time to close our door because the Lord has made
Cheyenne’s story would include this moment, sitting at the breakfast table hours from adoption.
•••
After housing eight foster children in a two-year span, Joshua and Jeralee were accustomed to the system. They welcomed a child into their home and at some point the child would leave. The Redmons understood their calling to be foster parents, but still the Lord did not remove their desire to adopt. “I remember sitting on the kitchen floor crying and saying, ‘Lord, why not? Why can’t we adopt?’” Jeralee says. “‘You put this desire in our hearts so why not? We would love, love, love to adopt, and we’re OK if we don’t {continued on page 24}
WINTER 2015 ISSUE • Buckner Today 21
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