Here we go........

We had experienced such an incredible loss with the tubal pregnancy and the chances of me getting pregnant again seemed so incredibly slim. We decided to look into other options. Adoption through a private agency was just so expensive and really didn't appeal to me. Something about having to pay for the ability to adopt a child rings of a business transaction to me. We never really considered this an option for us but i definitely understand this option as a legitimate one for some families. We looked into foster care when we were in greeley, we went to an informational meeting and at that time the information we received seemed to be focused on the monetary gain and not the children. It wasn't the right time for us. We moved to longmont in 2005 and i met someone at work who had adopted three children through the boulder county foster care system. We talked several times, brian and i discussed it and we decided to look into it again. We attended our first orientation meeting, so much information and such honesty. What a difference in foster care philosophies! We fell in love with the idea of adopting through foster care. We started the process and believe me........it is a process! We attended the 2 day orientation classes, these were fun, uncomfortable, exciting and LONG! We went through scenarios, lots of role playing and information, information, information! At the end of all this, we decided; Yes, we still want to do this. We started the paperwork and meetings at our house. There is a lot of paperwork: fingerprints, financial, background checks, insurance, pet vaccinations, home study and many personal questions just to name the ones i can remember. The home study worker comes to the house and we go over all the information, she asks more personal questions, checks out your house to make sure it is safe and then asks more personal questions. Normally this process takes about 3 months and you should be certified. Unfortunately, brian hurt his ankle at work a month after starting this process and we chose to put it on hold till he could go back to work, so this process took us about a year. It was a long process, the people we met during the certification process were wonderful and so helpful. I would do it all over again if i had to. It was most definitely worth it. I love the boulder county foster care system, i believe they have some of the most wonderful staff and they have some incredibly big hearts. I am thankful we moved to longmont and discovered foster care through boulder county. I would hope that people faced with the ability and desire to adopt would seriously consider adopting through foster care. Check it out for yourself and see if it is the right fit for you and your family. So many kids need the love of a family.