With Mother’s Day happening this weekend, I’m excited to introduce a series about being better together in honor of Foster Care Awareness Month. When I asked for volunteers from our Adoption Together group, I loved seeing my friend Hailey be quick to want to share a piece of her story with y’all. She’s one of those friends I adore but don’t get to see enough of in everyday life. Welcome her to the porch today!
*****
They say it takes a village – and oh what a village the foster care system can bring about you.
When we signed up to foster and committed to the many hours of trainings and stacks of paperwork, we did not go around and ask our friends and family to foster with us. As our foster journey began, it was the village who prayed for us. It was the village who put together a surprise shower to help us have a supply of items ready when we got a call for a placement. It was the village who showed up on those nights we found out we had kids coming to stay in our home and we needed to redo the room setups quickly. It was the village who sent money to help get clothes for kids. It was the village who dropped food off in the midst of the crazy season of transition. It was the village who called and sent a text, who listened to our hearts, our hurt, our anger, and our frustration. It was the village who stepped in and loved whatever kids that entered our home with the love of Jesus. It was the village who offered to keep the kids for a little while so we could take a breather. It was the village who called us over for playdates. It was the village who helped shuffle kids from place to place.
We have been foster parents for more than two years but started this journey three years ago. We have fostered infants to teenagers. During this time, we have walked through some of our darkest days and yet God has still shown us how faithful He is. We aren’t foster parents, or biological parents, or adoptive parents. We are just parents trying to love the kids God has given us in the best way we know how.
Our village isn’t a thing of the past. It is actually still very real and very alive, surrounding us and supporting us in the highs and lows of the fostering journey. This village is the real deal. These people are the cheerleaders. They are the shoulders to cry on. They are the prayer warriors.
When you are a foster parent, you will learn sometimes the ones you thought would be key people in your village won’t be. You will also quickly see how God brings in new people to your village you might not have known otherwise.
The foster care system is made up of many people and sometimes the path isn’t clear. There are so many heroes in these stories, but I can’t help but feel the village may just have the biggest impact. They didn’t sign up for this, but they stepped up and showed up in a mighty way. That is love. That is a village. What a blessing our village is, to us, and to every kid who enters our home.
*****
Hailey Roach has been married to her high school sweetheart, Jordan, for the five years. They live in western Kentucky on Hailily Farms, the place where many wonderful dreams are being fostered. She’s an elementary special education teacher and he is the preacher at a local church in our sweet little town.
Leave a Reply