[michelleb]

WOW!! You remind me of the woman in the book I just read, "Another Place at the Table" she had such a heart for foster care and the children she opened her home to that she barely EVER said "No!"

God Bless you!
I am sure you are such a blessing to those children you take in! You are a true inspiration to those of us just getting our feet wet!
Where are you from? I am in PA.
Nice to meet you!
Michelle

[Cobb]

Welcome Michelle! So great to be able to see your enthusiasm...

Around here, short-term placements are for emergency basis (less than 30 days) and in great need. Usually there's not alot of info on the kids, so you have to deal with everything as it comes. It sounds like you have a really balanced idea of what to expect.

We became foster parents a year ago, specifically for a sibling group we had hoped to adopt. It's a long (and painful) story, but they are no longer with us. I'm in NE and had traveled to PA (where are girls are from) for a court hearing. It was at that point that it hit that it was over... I had been grieving for months and finally had the beginning of closure. Once I started opening my mind and heart to moving on, I was given a wonderful surprise on Christmas Eve. We are now foster parents for a special little girl who is recovering from a liver transplant. My point is, you never know what to expect. I too believe that what you are meant to experience comes your way... I can see now that I had to go through that painful experience to be open to this new little one...

Sorry a little rambly. While so many of us go into this with the hopes of helping a child, I found that really we end up getting back as much as we give. Not only the joy of having the time with our kids, but also the journey of self-discovery that the whole process takes us on...

Best of luck! Looking forward to hearing about your first placement!

[tlc4kidz]

Welcome Michelle!
We gave up our foster license in December when we adopted our two sibs. I was so sure at the time and didn't want to get calls and have to say no, but I'm already starting to miss it. I'm looking into things like becoming a CASA or mentoring. My dh is something like yours. Likes structure and predictability. I, on the other hand, feel like the more the merrier!

We got the call for our daughter (LOVE calling her DAUGHTER now ) at a soccer game. My husband was coaching, so therefore on the other side of the field. I said yes and screamed across the field..."We're getting a baby today"....raised more than a couple eyebrows, I'm sure ! Her little brother joined us 14 months later and the rest is history.

So glad you're here, and looking forward to hearing your placement story. Hope you hang around for the good times and the bad, because with fostering there are sure to be plenty of both!!

[Dmommab]

Oh so true Cobb that we very much going into this to "help a child" but end up getting so much ourselves from these little guys. We had absolutely no intention of adopting when we began this journey. HA! HA! Now we're in the process of adopting the 2nd and 3rd. I need to read that book - it sounds good. Good luck on your "journey" Michelle and if you need anything just ask - I'm sure you'll get plenty of advice. LOL

[leenab]

HAng in there the phone will ring. I'm still waiting for mine to ring.....So we'll see. But we recently moved from northern NJ to Southern NJ and it's a completely slower process down here. Fewer calls, fewer children to be placed. So it looks like we'll be waiting a while. Hopefully we'll have a fost/adopt daughter before the end of April (it would be a great brithday gift for me). My sons are still driving me crazy for a sister. Today we bought pink sheets for her bed. I think it's easier to wait this time around, compared to waiting for my first child. Because I have my sons to keep me busy.

Let me know when the phone rings for you.

-LeenaB

[tancee]

I have been licensed since 10/04 and just received my first placement 1/20/05. Be patient your call will come and it will feel like you never waited.