...but I'll say it again - God bless you and your wife for what you do. You, and anyone willing to provide a foster home to children, are saints.

I honestly don't know how you respond to that letter. I have been so troubled by what's been going on in our country over the past couple of months, and I almost always come back to the lack of a stable childhood for so many kids in their formative years. I honestly believe that we are seeing the consequences that a lack of parenting can have on people as they reach adulthood. I commend you for helping to try to break that cycle for some kids.

With all of that said, I don't fault you one bit for not wanting to expose your biological children to the potential bad influence of this young girl again. I think the most important thing is to make sure you provide stability for your own children...if you can also provide shelter to a troubled child without affecting your own kids, then great, but when doing so begins to affect your family life, I think it's time to part ways. Our daughter has been a student in the Richmond Public Schools system, because we love our neighborhood and we wanted to try to support the community. However, I've reached the point where I feel like I'm potentially gambling her own well being, safety, and education for the benefit of others, and I'm not comfortable with that. In no way is that even close to the same amount of commitment that you have showed by serving as foster parents, but I mention it because I feel I can identify with what you're feeling. It's tough trying to balance a desire to help others with your feeling of obligation to protect your family and give them the best opportunities to succeed.

Sadly, those who want to help can't overcome the collective dereliction of parental responsibilities by so many other folks. I commend you for doing all you can to help this young girl, but in the end, I think you have to protect your own family. If you're not comfortable bringing her back into your home, then I think that is your answer. I'm not sure how exactly you let her down - it truly breaks my heart thinking about that - but as difficult as that may be, if it's what's best for your family, then I think it's the right decision.

Good luck...and I'm glad the colonoscopy went well.