LANSING — Thousands of Michigan children have an early holiday wish list — a wish for a family.

National Adoption Day was Nov. 23, with official adoption ceremonies to take place in many Michigan courtrooms, including Cassopolis.

Even so, about 4,000 kids in the state are lingering in the foster care system, waiting for what Sarah Melick, adoption specialist for Lutheran Adoption Service, calls their “forever family.”

“The 16-year-old on my caseload is just longing for that family, a dad to take him fishing and a mom to give him hugs. Every time you ask him, ‘What kind of family are you looking for?’ that has been his answer for the past three years that he’s been on my caseload.”

While some Michigan foster kids initially have special needs, she claims they make dramatic improvements once they’re in a stable family, which is good news compared to some of the challenges in adopting from foreign countries.

Melick says most of Michigan’s children waiting for their “forever family” are between the ages of 8 and 16.

She adds that adopting a child from Michigan’s foster care system is not expensive, and families receive resources to help both the child and family make the adjustment.