MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich. — If you live in the Muskegon area and see a large passenger van rolling down the street, it's likely the Ashley family passing through.
In that van could be Colleen or her husband, and one of their 10 children.
Yes, the Ashley family is a big family, and it's made up of both biological and adopted children.
"My husband and I, it was our second marriage, so I had two children. He had two children. So we had the 'his and hers,' and we had one that we made together and our biological and that gave us five," said Colleen. "And we started doing foster care..."
In their first foster care placement, Colleen said they adopted two children. Two more placements later, and they have a total of five adopted children.
Some of their biological children have moved out of the house, but most of their 10 children still live with them.
"We asked one of our kids one time, do you like being part of a big family, or do you not like it?" said Colleen. "And they said, 'The best part about it is, I'm never alone. The worst part I'm never alone.'"
While the five under Colleen's roof have found their forever homes, there are still thousands of kids in Michigan's foster care system waiting for their turn for a place to call forever.
If you are considering adoption, Colleen urges you to check out the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange, or MARE.
"I guarantee it will go ahead and make you think, and you will realize exactly how many children are in the system," said Colleen.
On the MARE website, you can find resources for prospective adoption parents and check out the children who are waiting to be adopted.