We're a Family of Seven. SEVEN. Part 1

Our world was turned upside down about two weeks ago. The Mitchells are now a family of SEVEN. You have to know that this was not on our radar at all. If you’ll remember from my last post we were going to take a break...It’s funny how the Lord works! 

We have stayed in touch with Round 1’s mom since they returned in April. We would meet up for dinner or lunch or hang out and all play together. We enjoyed still being able to be a part in R and Z’s life. We have walked through several struggles with their mom and have helped where we could. 

I’ve known their mom for almost a year now. I’ve celebrated some momentous victories and been there to pray with her when she was down in the valley. Trying to take every opportunity to share the gospel and God’s grace with her. About a week ago I knew something was going on that she wasn’t letting me in on. We had had an interaction about a week ago that just didn’t sit right with me. I told Jonathan my concern and he said “maybe she is bipolar” and for whatever reason I replied with “what if she’s using?”

The story began to unfold days later. She had been using and as a result was kicked out of the shelter where she and the kids were living and lost her job. She tip toed around it and we had to basically pull it out of her. Jonathan stopped by where she lived to check on her (she wasn’t returning my calls or texts) and she admitted everything to him. He asked where the kids were and she said day care. When Jonathan sat down to talk to mom she told him that Z and baby sister were at day care but R was somewhere else.

That somewhere else was the meth house where all the distributing and transactions take place. I was on the phone with him at this point when we found out where she was. Hand of the Lord moment, it was the best thing in the world that Jonathan was there having that conversation with mom and not me. When I heard where R was I saw red. I have never been that angry in my life. It took a toll on me physically. My arms started shaking and my hands were going numb. Mom tried to talk Jonathan into letting her have one more night with R before CPS took her away and Jonathan calmly said, “I think that choice has already been made. She can’t stay there.” He followed mom over there to pick R up. 

As he was getting prayed up to be prepared for whatever was ahead of him...I went in to a frenzy trying to leave the house to pick up the other two kids at daycare. I called my mom sobbing trying to explain things. She told me I needed to call CPS and let them know what was happening so no one thought we were trying to snatch these kids. She also told me, “You have got to calm down or CPS won’t give you these kids either!” Ha! So true! My boys were napping, I’m sure I scared the life out of them, and I ran into their room yelling, “Get up! Get up! Put your shoes on! We’ve got to go!” While they were stumbling around in their groggy slumber I called my neighbor to borrow a car seat. She brought it over as I was trying to move car seats around in our car. Seeing me in my frantic state she said, “Do you want me to just keep the boys?” Yes! What a great idea! We have a great support group!! Have I said that before?! I can’t say it enough! 

I headed toward the day care and called my sister in law. I was a wreck. I could not stop crying but finally got out what was happening with Jonathan and where I was headed. I was able to calm down and she began to pray for Jonathan’s safety. 

Read Part 2 here.