Summer is supposed to be the season of slowing down, making memories, and enjoying extra time together as a family.

But for many foster, adoptive, and biological families, summer can quickly feel overwhelming. The routines disappear. The schedules change. The snacks never end. The laundry piles up. The house is never quite clean. And somehow everyone is hungry again twenty minutes after they just ate.

In this episode, Jason and Whitney share an honest conversation about navigating summer as foster parents raising a large family. From managing camps, appointments, technology, and chores to handling emotional dysregulation, changing routines, and the unique challenges children from hard places often face, they discuss practical ways to survive the summer season while still enjoying it.

Summer can be especially challenging for children who thrive on predictability. For many foster and adoptive families, the structure provided by school creates a sense of safety and stability. When that routine suddenly disappears, children may struggle with increased anxiety, emotional outbursts, boredom, or behavioral challenges. At the same time, parents often feel pressure to create the "perfect summer" filled with activities, trips, and memorable experiences.

Jason and Whitney challenge that mindset by encouraging families to focus less on perfection and more on connection. Some of the most meaningful memories are often found in the simplest moments: family walks, backyard adventures, jumping on the trampoline in the rain, or spending uninterrupted time together.

In This Episode:

• Why summer can feel more difficult than expected for foster and adoptive families

• The importance of balancing freedom with structure

• How routines create safety and stability for children

• Why boredom can actually be healthy and productive

• Managing technology and encouraging creativity

• Practical tips for camps, appointments, transportation, and scheduling

• Pool safety reminders every parent should hear

• Setting healthy boundaries and protecting your family's peace

• Why children often remember simple moments more than expensive experiences

• How to create meaningful summer memories without exhausting yourself

Our Challenge For You This Week

Take a few minutes as a family and ask a simple question:

What do we want this summer to feel like?

Not what you want to spend. Not what you want to accomplish. Not what everyone else is posting on social media.

What memories do you want to make? What family rhythms do you want to build? What moments of connection do you want to create?

Then choose one simple step this week that moves your family in that direction.

Maybe it's a family walk. Maybe it's a backyard movie night. Maybe it's a tech-free evening. Maybe it's simply being more present with your children.

The most meaningful summers are rarely the busiest ones.

Support Dream Small

If Dream Small has encouraged you in your foster care, adoption, parenting, or faith journey, would you consider supporting the podcast? Your support helps us continue creating conversations that encourage families and shine a light on the realities of foster care.

Support the podcast at: https://www.dreamsmallpodcast.com/support

Invite Dream Small To Speak

Jason and Whitney regularly speak at churches, foster parent groups, conferences, and community events about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, and building strong families.

For speaking inquiries, contact:

dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

Connect With Dream Small

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

YouTube: Dream Small Podcast

Music Credit

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons.

What Happened After We Said Yes To Foster Care

Eight years ago, we said yes to foster care.

At the time, we had no idea how much that simple decision would change our lives. We couldn't have imagined the children who would come through our home, the adoptions that would follow, the reunifications we would celebrate, or the lessons God would teach us along the way.

For our 50th episode, we're taking a step back and sharing the story behind Dream Small.

What began after the heartbreak of a miscarriage eventually led us into foster care. We talk about how we first became licensed, what it was like welcoming our very first placement, the trauma that opened our eyes to realities we had never fully understood, and the moments that shaped our family over the past eight years.

Along the way, we've welcomed 14 foster placements into our home, adopted three incredible children, experienced both heartbreak and joy, and learned that God often works through ordinary acts of obedience.

In this episode, we share the hardest parts of foster care, the beautiful moments that made it worthwhile, the importance of community, and why we continue to trust God with whatever comes next.

Whether you've been listening since the beginning or you're brand new to Dream Small, this episode is the most complete version of our story we've ever shared.

In This Episode

• How a miscarriage helped launch our foster care journey

• Why we chose foster care before adoption

• The story of our first placement and the lessons that changed us forever

• What we've learned from eight years of foster care

• The hardest realities foster families face

• The beauty of reunification, adoption, and healing

• How community carried us through difficult seasons

• Why saying yes to God changed our family forever

• The Scriptures that sustained us throughout the journey

• The story behind the name Dream Small

Key Scriptures

Galatians 6:9

Luke 16:10

2 Corinthians 4:18

Romans 12:1

Support The Podcast

Speaking Requests

If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

Join our weekly devotional newsletter here:

https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b

Follow & Contact

Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Music Credit

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons.

What happens to children in the hours after they enter foster care?

Most people never think about it.

They picture courtrooms, foster homes, case workers, and placements. But before any of that happens, many children spend hours and sometimes even nights sitting in government offices, conference rooms, and cubicles waiting to learn where they will sleep, whether they will stay with siblings, and what comes next.

In this episode, we sit down with Jenni Tice, co founder and Executive Director of Lily Pad, a faith based nonprofit creating trauma informed spaces for children experiencing foster care and victims of trauma. What began as one foster family's desire to do something better has grown into dozens of transformed spaces across South Carolina with expansion now reaching other states. Lily Pad creates living room style environments inside DSS offices and law enforcement agencies so children and vulnerable individuals have “a soft place to land” during some of the hardest moments of their lives.

Jenni and her husband Ben have fostered more than 40 children over fourteen years. Their own foster journey included adoption, reunification, heartbreak, and eventually meeting Ashlyn, a former foster youth whose story helped inspire the creation of Lily Pad.

During our conversation we discuss:

• Jenni and Ben’s foster care journey and how saying “yes” changed their family
• The heartbreaking moment that sparked Lily Pad’s mission
• What children actually experience while waiting in DSS offices
• Why trauma informed environments matter
• The role churches and volunteers play in maintaining Lily Pad spaces
• How Lily Pad expanded from one room to more than 40 locations
• Expansion into law enforcement spaces supporting children and victims of trauma
• The power of dignity, compassion, and creating safe spaces

This conversation is emotional, hopeful, and deeply practical. It is also a reminder that not everyone is called to foster, but everyone can help create a softer landing place for children and families in crisis.

Learn more about Lily Pad, see room transformations, donate, or volunteer here:

Website: Lily Pad Official Website

Room Gallery: Lily Pad Before & After Rooms

Instagram: @lily.pad.inc

Support The Podcast

Speaking Requests

If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

Join our weekly devotional newsletter here:

https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b

Follow & Contact

Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Music Credit

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons.