[SuzBerg]

I am very new to posting. I have read alot of posts but I have been reluctant to join in. So I hope y'all will bear with me.

But I wanted to share the quick (as quick as I can) version of our story in response to the original question. We are in the processing of adopting a two year old girl from our state foster care system. We were licensed to adopt (but not considered a foster home) because we were open to legally free (parents rights already have been terminated) children. We have three biological sons and really felt that if we did foster it would be hard for them if the children didn't stay, that's why we chose straight adoption.

We took the same classes as foster families take and we had a private non-profit agency represent us and do our home-study. We were the only family at the staffing (our new daughter has some significant medical needs), so at least in this case they didn't wait to have more families presented.

We went to staffing four times previous to our placement and were the alternate family three of those times. It was so difficult, but now looking back I see why those children were meant for the other families because we needed/wanted to be available for our little Emily (she just got here last Wednesday and it's as if she's always been a part of our family). Anyway I wanted to share my experience in case it helps anyone else consider adoption through foster care. I know it was the right thing for us.
I hope I am making sense?

- Suz
Mom to Ty-13, Cal-9, Coop-6 and Em-2