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How Foster Parenting Has Changed Our Lives

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Have you ever thought about foster parenting? In this episode, my local friend, Fran, joins me to talk about how fostering has impacted their family in ways they never expected.

Missed previous episodes of The Crystal Paine show? You can listen to them here.

How Foster Parenting Has Changed Our Lives

On this week’s episode of The Crystal Paine Show podcast, not only do Jesse and I share some fun book updates, a hilarious podcast review we received, and something that’s saving my life, but I also am joined in studio by one of my dear local friends!

Fran Maynard and I got to know each other well over the past few years as our families were in Community Group together. Then, she and I got even closer two years ago as we were in a small group in our church’s Discipleship Program. This past year, Fran and I also had the privilege of leading a small group together through the Discipleship Program.

A Front Row Seat on This Beautiful Journey

During the past two years, I got to have a front row seat in watching Fran and her family go through the training and interviews required to become foster parents. Then, I’ve seen them open their home and hearts to a sweet little girl (see the precious blonde toddler in the photo above?) and also become passionate about the great need in our community.

As I have seen Fran’s heart expand, as I’ve witnessed how this journey has impacted their family in such beautiful ways, as I’ve watched her advocate for children who need a temporary or permanent home and family, my heart has been deeply touched. And it has deeply impacted our family in ways we never expected (more on that story in the months to come!)

In today’s episode, I asked Fran to share more of her story and how foster parenting has changed their families lives in ways they could have never dreamed or imagined. I hope that her words inspire and touch you as they have inspired and touched me.

Whether you have any interest in fostering at all, I urge you to listen to this episode and prayerfully consider where you are being called to step out in faith and obedience to be the hands and feet of Jesus to others — whether it is signing up for foster parenting classes, coming alongside other foster parents, advocating for children who are in the foster care system, helping walk with families who are struggling, serving single parents, or reaching out and serving in a completely different capacity.

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In This Episode:

[03:32] – Jesse did it! He inspired me to listen to the Killing Lincoln Audiobook by Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard.

[06:20] – Dear Bob & Sue, the book I actually picked to tell you about this week, chronicles the authors’ visits to all 58 (at the time) national parks. It is hilarious and made me want to go visit a lot of national parks — something I’ve never thought I’d want to do!

[08:26] – What’s saving my life this week? My eye mask! I talk about why I started using it, when I use it, and how it helps.

[10:33] – We are doing a #100DaysofSummerFun Family Challenge this summer! Check out my Instagram account to see all the fun activities we do! 

[12:29] – Meet my wonderful friend Fran, learn how we met, and hear about their path to foster.

[14:11] – Fran shares with us a little bit about her childhood, her journey, and how it affected her decision to foster.

[16:18] – I ask Fran how they were first led to consider fostering and whether they had fear going into it.

[19:46] – The biggest surprise for Fran and her family in this process was the unbelievably positive response from their kids and their community. The hardest part? All the unknowns. The most beautiful part? The growth that their children have seen in their hearts and their faith.

[24:14] – We talk about the great need for willing and able to foster families in every community and Fran shares some words of wisdom and recommendations for those who may want to foster in the future.

Links and Resources:

How to Listen to The Crystal Paine Show

The podcast is available on iTunes, Android, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can listen online through the direct player we’ll include in the show notes of each episode. OR, a much easier way to listen is by subscribing to the podcast through a free podcast app on your phone. (Find instructions for how to subscribe to a podcast here.)

Ready to dive in and listen? Hit the player above or search for “The Crystal Paine Show” on your favorite podcast app.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission — at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!

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  1. Julie says

    I love this!! We got licensed for Foster Care 11 months ago and we LOVE it! More people need to do it – they are missing out…and there are kids who desperately need a good, safe, loving home! Yes, it’s a LOT of work to get licensed. We obediently went through the steps… didn’t quite know what we were getting into 🙂 It’s quite the learning process even now that we are licensed with each child’s situation being so different. And it can be HARD… parenting someone else’s child is hard… dealing with difficult bio parents…being available for all the visits… getting to all the doctor/specialist appointments… But it’s SO worth it! As Fran said, one of the best parts is seeing your own bio kids love on these foster kids! Yes, there are LOTS of ways to help foster kids and foster families, but please realize that getting licensed might not be too far out of your reach. We live on basically one income, have a 3 bedroom/1400sf home, have 3 bio kids…and it works just fine!

  2. Mama B says

    We have cared for two foster children. One we have adopted, and one is still in foster care. One thing I think is often overlooked is the ministry you can have to the parents of these children as well. We are so grateful for the relationship we have been able to form with both of their mothers as we walked this path with them. The parents of these children are often just as broken as their children. We’ve been able to share Jesus with these parents, walk alongside them as they work (or don’t) to regain custody of their children.

        • Crystal Paine says

          We don’t know yet because we are still in the process of getting our home licensed (we’re about a 1/3rd of the way through the licensing process right now). 🙂 We’re excited to see what God has in store and are excited for the opportunity to get to walk alongside other foster families as well as children in the foster care system and birth parents!

  3. Victoria Huizinga says

    I read “Dear Bob And Sue” earlier this year and really enjoyed it too! Which reminds me they have a few more books that I think are on Kindle Unlimited and I got it for .99 cents for two months thanks to you letting your readers know it was available. I should go and add them to my list.