Number Twenty

We have a little girl with us this week and she marks the 20th foster child who has walked through our door.  Now, Ava has been our only 'official' placement, the other 19 have been respites ranging in length from one day to two weeks.  I share this with you not to brag or gloat in ANY way, we are far from extraordinary people, no, instead I share this with you because the need is always there, for whatever you can do!  I have had several people tell me that they could never do foster care because they could never say 'Goodbye' to a child who has been in the home for a long time.  I am beyond thankful that we have never had to do that, so I can't honestly even answer that question.  (Not to say we haven't had some sad 'Goodbyes', there have been tears shed at the end of some of our longer respites.)  But, I do know that we have had these 19 kids, who have come and gone, touch and enrich our lives in ways I could never have imagined.  There is always a need for respite homes, police protective custody homes and 4 hour hold homes.  Even if you don't think you could take a long term kiddo, but feel a tug on your heart to help, consider becoming one of these!  The process is still the same (you would have to become a licensed foster home), but once you are licensed, you are never committed at that point to take a 'long term placement'.  I have said "No" to FAR more respite calls than we have accepted (far more), so there is always room for more foster homes.  Of course, the need is also great for homes who can take longer term placements, especially older kids and sibling sets.  As always, if you ever have ANY questions about fostering, ask away or call and ask your local foster agency.  

These 20 kids (one of whom is now our 'forever daughter') have touched our family in beautiful ways.  I am happy to have met each of them.