We have taken our first step to becoming foster parents!

I am so excited. I am literally shaking. I just got off the phone with the new foster parent coordinator for Southern Oregon. We have signed up for the first part of the process, which is a series of 8 classes. After we take the classes, we will begin the application process. That's the hard part. They will do home inspections, run background checks, and check our references. It can take up to 6 months before a child is placed in the home. I'm not sure I can explain how much I want this. In my time of active addiction I witnessed children in horrible situations.  I helped where I could but it was never enough. Children without food. Kids with mean screaming abusive parents. Children left alone...for way too long. Dirty and frightened little babies. It was heartbreaking. No Christmas tress. No birthday parties. No security. No love. When I left that life, I swore I would pay back all the wrong I had done. I decided shortly after getting clean that I wanted to be a foster parent. My husband and I tried in San Diego after we got married. I was told more time needed to pass between me and my past for me to be considered. Even then it was unlikely. At the time, I was pretty devastated. I learned that policies for foster care were different in Oregon, which made just another reason to move. Anyway, I'm here now and I'm trying again. I want this so badly. I have done my share of procreation, I think it would be awesome to spread the love. There are so many children out there in need. I am apprehensive. It is possible I wont qualify. I'll keep my fingers crossed that Oregon will bring yet another dream come true. If not, I may just have to pop out one more.