Some weeks feel like a year. And for foster and adoptive families, those weeks often come with sick kids, missed church services, packed calendars, emotional exhaustion, and moments where you wonder how everything is going to get done.

In this episode, Jason and Whitney invite you into one very long, very real week in their home. From fevers and stomach bugs to basketball games that start early, overlapping school schedules, missed Bible studies, and late night cleanup, they walk listeners through the day by day reality of life in a large foster and adoptive family.

But this episode is not just about the hard stuff.

It is also a heartfelt reflection on the beauty and necessity of community. Jason and Whitney share powerful examples of people who stepped in during this exhausting week and made a tangible difference. A former teacher pouring into their son’s creativity, church members offering transportation and childcare, and friends quietly showing up in faithful, practical ways.

This episode is raw, honest, and deeply encouraging. It offers a realistic glimpse into foster care life while reminding listeners that no family is meant to do this alone. Whether you are a foster parent, adoptive parent, part of a church community, or someone wondering how you can support vulnerable children and families, this conversation will help you see that small acts of faithfulness truly matter.

In this episode, you will hear:

1. What a typical overwhelming week can look like in a foster and adoptive home
2. How sickness and packed schedules multiply stress for large families
3. Why authenticity matters when sharing foster care stories
4. Real examples of community stepping in and serving in meaningful ways
5. How people can answer the biblical call to support vulnerable children without fostering themselves
6. Encouragement for parents who feel exhausted, unseen, or stretched thin

This episode is a reminder that dreaming small looks like showing up, lending a hand, and being faithful in the everyday moments.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider following the podcast, leaving a rating, and writing a review. These small actions help the podcast reach other families who may be looking for encouragement and hope.

If you would like to support the Dream Small Podcast financially, you can do so here:

https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

We would love to connect with you.

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: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What does it actually take for a church to support foster and adoptive families well, not just in theory, but in real, practical ways?

In this powerful episode of the Dream Small Podcast, Jason and Whitney sit down with Deidra, a mom of 12 children (a mix of biological, adopted and foster) and a leader in a thriving foster care and adoption ministry. Deidra shares her family’s incredible story and sheds some light on how a grassroots church effort grew into a fully supported, staff-led ministry that has changed the lives of countless families.

From care communities and support groups to closets, meal trains, and trauma-informed training, this conversation offers a clear, hopeful blueprint for churches wondering how to step into foster care ministry, and for foster families longing to know they’re not alone.

Whether you’re a foster parent, church leader, volunteer, or someone simply asking, “What can I do?” - this episode will challenge and encourage you to dream small, love intentionally, and show up faithfully.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

1. How Deirdre’s family grew from 8 kids to 12 through foster care and adoption
2. Why foster care is impossible to sustain without community
3. How a foster care ministry can start small and grow over time
4. What “care communities” are - and why they matter
5. Practical ways churches can support foster families beyond good intentions
6. Why many foster families quit after the first placement, and how the church can change that
7. Encouragement for churches and individuals who feel overwhelmed but willing

Key Takeaway:

You don’t have to do everything but you do have to do something. Foster care ministry works best when the church commits to walking alongside families for the long haul.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it, following the show, and leaving a rating or review, it truly helps more people find the podcast and encourages us to keep going.

Want to support the Dream Small Podcast financially?

👉 https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Connect with us:

Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

X / Twitter: @DreamSmallShow

Music Credit:

“Paradise Found” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Foster care comes with paperwork, training, and background checks, but no one really prepares you for the surprise rules. In this episode of the Dream Small Podcast, Jason and Whitney pull back the curtain on the unexpected, confusing, and weird rules they’ve encountered throughout their foster care journey.

From needing court approval to take a foster child out of state, to regulations around haircuts, ear piercings, medical appointments, and even sleepovers, this conversation is equal parts informative, humorous, and eye-opening. If you’ve ever considered fostering, support foster families, or are already licensed and nodding along thinking, “Yep… that happened to us too,” this episode is for you.

The Smalls also explore why these rules exist, how much they vary by state and county, and how experience, relationships, and caseworker discretion often shape what actually plays out in real life. Along the way, they share real stories, from a surprise ear-piercing during a visit to the logistical headache of documenting every single dose of Tylenol.

In this episode, we cover:

1. Why you often need court approval to cross state lines with a foster child
2. The surprising rules around haircuts, hairstyles, and ear piercings
3. Medical appointment restrictions you might not expect
4. Medication rules (yes... even over-the-counter meds)
5. Why foster care regulations vary so widely by state, county, and caseworker
6. How trust and experience can impact flexibility
7. The emotional toll of navigating constant regulations while parenting kids from hard places

Whether you’re a current foster parent, considering fostering, or simply want to better understand the foster care system, this episode offers honesty, perspective, and plenty of “wait… WHAT?” moments.

Contact Us:

Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Support the Podcast:

If you’d like to help us continue sharing stories that encourage faithfulness in the small things, you can support the show here: https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

🎶 Music Credit:

“Paradise Found” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/