On July 15, 2019, I got a text from a friend who worked at a teen shelter: “Hey, Autumn. Are you still interested in foster care? I think I have someone who might be a good fit.” Months earlier, I had told her that my heart was set on fostering teenagers, even though I still had a young child at home. I worried, like many people do, about how a teen might affect a younger sibling.
But I also knew teens weren’t scary, they were just kids who still needed love. That text was about Mara. I talked with her caseworker and then headed out shortly afterward for a Rachel Hollis conference.
When asked to write down my biggest dreams, I put “foster a child” at the very top. For as long as I could remember, I believed every child deserved to be seen, loved, and cherished. All weekend, I couldn’t stop thinking about the girl in the shelter with no place to call home.
The challenge was convincing my husband, Josh. We had discussed fostering before, even met with an agency, but while I felt it was my calling, he didn’t. That weekend at church, the movie “Instant Family” played during a sermon series. One look at my tear-streaked face and Josh finally said yes, we could start the process. Six days later, I met Mara. She was nervous but open, telling me about her years in the system and the homes she’d been through.
I stopped her mid-story to tell her she was already chosen. God had made it clear she belonged with us. Three weeks later, she moved in. At first, we were strangers figuring each other out, but soon, things felt normal. She got a job, did well in school, and became part of our family banter. One day, on the way to dinner, I glanced in the mirror and saw her laughing with us, and I knew, this was how it was meant to be. When Mara was 17, she had the option to be adopted.
She’d once given up hope of having a forever family, but eventually she said yes. On May 8, 2020, over Zoom, she became a Moore. Fostering a teen isn’t without challenges. The hardest part for me is knowing I missed the first 16 years of her life and that her journey to us came with deep loss.
But watching her prepare for her future, graduating early, saving money, and planning college, fills me with pride. She says she’ll probably spend the night once a week after moving out because she’ll miss us. I’ll miss her too, but I’m excited to see her soar. And as for me, I’m not done fostering. There’s still an abundance of love to share, and many more children who need it.
