Becoming a Foster Mom – A True Journey of the Heart
Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to adopt. I couldn’t stand the idea of children not being loved. It kept me up at night, even as a kid.
Years later, after 12 years of marriage and having three kids of my own, the feeling came back stronger. I wrote in my journal one day, “God, should I adopt from overseas or do foster care here in my town?”
That same week, I got a call from the police station. A woman told me that my “God children” needed a home. Her words caught me off guard; I wasn’t even sure who she mean. Turns out, they were kids of a woman who had visited our church months earlier.
Thirty minutes later, three scared little boys were at my door. They had nothing with them, just the clothes on their backs. Two of them ended up with their dad, but I had the 6-year-old for over a year. I helped his dad get him back. That might sound strange, but when a parent wants to do right and loves their child, it’s worth helping them reunite.
It wasn’t long before the phone rang with news of a 5-year-old girl. She came with lice, pinworms, and a trash bag full of dirty clothes. Within minutes, I was chasing her down the street as she screamed. That’s how we met. She’d already been in five homes in six weeks.
A couple weeks later, her 2-year-old sister came to me with a broken arm and open sores. She didn’t talk much but looked at the pictures on my wall and said one word: “Addy.” She recognized her sister. That moment made me realize how important it is to keep siblings together.
The older sister struggled at school. She was in first grade but couldn’t trace a single letter. She had accidents and didn’t know how to care for herself. With the help of a teacher who partnered with me, she caught up and learned to read. They called her a miracle child.
Three years later, their birth mom signed over her rights. Their dad, who was in prison, fought to keep his, but he couldn’t parent from behind bars. We still let their birth mom visit when she’s doing well. I think it’s important.
A few weeks ago, we got the call that we could adopt. The younger one asked if it could happen on her birthday and it did.
People often tell me they couldn’t foster because they’d get too attached. My response? “That’s the kind of love these kids deserve. ”The kids need someone who will love them that much.”
