Meet a Resource Family
We've been fortunate enough to work with some of the most wonderful, caring people. Hear first-hand about the journey from our resource families.
What made you decide to become a foster parent?
I, Katie, have always had a heart for fostering/adoption starting in my teens. It was just something that was always heavy on my heart and I really wanted to pursue it when the time was right for our family. I had always wanted to foster babies just because I love babies! My heart is always drawn to them and I wanted to love on these little ones that needed a safe place. We had begun the process of becoming fost/adopt certified in Nevada as a way to add to our family but then I became pregnant with our third baby so we stopped pursuing it. A few years after moving to Redding and being surrounded by such a great community of foster families in the church we decided it was time to pursue it again as a way of giving back to the community.
What made you decide to become a foster parent?
We always knew if we had one kid, we’ve have two. Well, we had one, but as the months, and then years came and went, it became apparent that it wouldn’t happen according to our assumed plan. We had always been open to adoption and had even discussed it early on in our marriage (many years before our first son was born) but it had always seemed like a far off idea. With friends that had fostered and adopted, the conversations became more and more frequent. We finally decided, as a couple, to pray about the possibility of fostering (with hopes of adopting, but of course that’s never guaranteed) until we had an clear leading. We both reached a point of feeling that not only is this how we would bring another child into our home, for as long as possible, but also that this was something God was calling us to, and was in fact the reason for our secondary infertility.
What made you decide to become a foster parent?
“We never planned on being foster parents. We found Ready for Life for the purpose of adding to our family. I even said, “I will happily adopt, but I will never do foster care!” As we completed our training our hearts began to change. A phrase continually rang through my mind, “There is nothing more unnatural than removing a child from his/her parent.” It is necessary at times, most definitely, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s traumatic for a family.
We began to think about who we are as a family and the gifting’s we possess. Family has always been our number one priority. We have been told by others countless times that we make people feel safe instantly and that we welcome people into our family with ease. What a high compliment right? Could this gift we have be for us to give to children and families in crisis? We could no longer say no to foster care so we agreed to take ONE placement. That “YES” has changed our lives forever!
Will we still adopt a child or two or three one day? Maybe, Maybe not. For now, we find ourselves living in a community where families are in crisis! They need help and support. We have been given a gift, a gift of family where anyone who comes through our door feels safe and secure. How can we waste this gift?
We no longer can, so we say yes to any child that needs a home because we long to see healthy, thriving families be the norm in Shasta County. We have seen one family restored already. Our yes to do something that terrified us, brought a family back together. Do we miss those children? Of course, but we do what we do for them, for their family. It’s not about us and if our hearts break when they go home to their family, we know we have done WELL! Ready for Life is changing the lives of children in our community. We are so thankful to be a part of this “family.”
What has been your most rewarding experience as a foster parent?
The adoption of our medically fragile foster baby. We didn't take her in as a fost/adopt placement and truly expected it to be short term. As time went on it became clear that she wasn't going home and that was fine with us because we had fallen in love with her and knew she was "our" baby. We have struggled daily in caring for her but to see her overcome many of her medical problems has been so rewarding! I am so thankful that I didn't fall into the fear of not wanting to foster because I would have to give a child back. If I had, we would have missed God's plan for our family and our little girl.
What has been your most rewarding experience as a foster parent?
For our family, it is the adoption of our son through foster care. We’ve been through some rough patches, but when I look back, they pale in comparison to the JOY he brings our family. Knowing that God chose this child to be a part of our family is so beautiful. He is only 2.5, but he knows that he has another mommy, his “tummy mommy.” Yet I get to be the one he runs to, with unabashed happiness, hugs my legs, and says “I luh you, Mom!”
What advice would you give someone considering foster parenting?
To not be afraid to love. I know it hard to think of giving a child back after you have loved and bonded with them but if you don't put that fear aside you will miss out on some really amazing blessings that fostering brings. Fostering isn't about us and fulfilling our needs, it is about the children and meeting their needs. These kids may never experience someone loving them like you can even if it is just for a few months. The love and safety that you can provide them will be life changing for them!!
““Working with a Foster Family Agency like Ready for Life makes me feel like our family has an advocate in this journey of being a voice to the voiceless. They hear us!”
Sarah | Redding, CA”
