I share this with you….because it lays heavy on my heart and never feels like I’m doing enough. Our oldest is adopted after he lived in our home for 2 yrs through foster care (he was 3 1/2 when we first met him!). We have had other children live in our home for a year or so…and others we’ve had for a few days or weeks and will never see again. I won’t lie – it’s hard…but, has anything meaningful or rewarding in your life ~ ever come easily???

Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

This is Crystal…she lived with us for a year when she was 10. I would like to think we totally rocked her world, and she will never be the same because of her time at the Ruffhouse! Crystal and I talk and text many times a week. …and she is an amazing girl. She has overcome so many obstacles…and is now a senior, and has already earned college credits for her nursing degree!! I am so proud of her. I pray we always stay this close, even though she’s not mine- I am so glad God placed her in our lives. It’s a relationship that constantly reminds me of how much God loves us all and is watching and does care about each and every life.

ps* isn’t she stunningly beautiful???? you would never know we laughed almost through her entire session…I seriously thought they were all going to be her funny faces!!

Love you Crystal!!

At any given time there are about 4,000 children in Michigan’s foster care system who are available and waiting to be adopted.

Adopting a child out of Michigan’s foster care system is not expensive. In most cases, you will only need to pay court costs, an average of $150 or less per child.

Most families who adopt are also licensed foster parents or relatives. In fact, last year in Michigan 93 percent of children adopted from the foster care system were adopted by a foster parent or relative.

Your first step in the adoption process is to get a home assessment completed. Contact your local adoption agency – or call the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange at 1-800-589-6273, we can help explain the entire process. The adoption process can approximately nine months.

Because the needs of each child are different, many different types of families are needed. You don’t have to married to adopt and you don’t need to be wealthy or own your own home.

Many of the children waiting for adoption are 10 years old or older, may need to be adopted along with siblings, or may have special placement needs..