The Text Message That Changed Our Summer

What happens when you say yes to foster care more than 250 times? How do you keep loving through the heartbreak, the difficult goodbyes, and the seasons when you're simply exhausted?This week on the Dream Small Podcast, Jason sits down with Dave and Dana Williams, who spent more than 13 years caring for vulnerable children through foster care and serving as house parents at a children's group home.What began as a desire to adopt turned into a journey neither of them could have imagined. More than 250 children. A house that was rarely quiet. Countless goodbyes. And a deeper understanding of God's mercy, unconditional love, and faithfulness.Dave and Dana share openly about the joy and heartbreak of foster parenting, the importance of having people who understand your journey, and why sometimes the most faithful thing you can do is recognize that God is calling you into a new season.We also hear about their newest adventure, Snail Mail Bible Tales, a creative ministry bringing the stories of Scripture to life for children through personalized letters delivered right to their mailboxes.This conversation is a powerful reminder that God doesn't measure our faithfulness by how long we serve in one particular role, but by our willingness to follow Him wherever He leads.In This Episode✓ How Dave and Dana's desire to adopt led to fostering over 250 children✓ The emotional weight of saying goodbye and why loving deeply is always worth it✓ What foster care taught them about God's mercy and unconditional love✓ Their experience serving as house parents at a children's group home✓ Why marriage, community, and support are essential for foster families✓ Recognizing burnout and understanding that taking a break doesn't mean failure✓ How Snail Mail Bible Tales is helping children discover the truth of ScriptureScripture to Reflect OnGalatians 6:9 (NLT)"So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up."Dave and Dana's story reminds us that faithfulness takes many forms. Sometimes it means continuing to say yes, even when it's difficult. Other times, it means trusting God enough to follow Him into a different season.Learn More About Snail Mail Bible TalesDave and Dana Williams are the founders of Snail Mail Bible Tales, a monthly subscription that brings Bible stories to life through letters written from the perspectives of biblical characters.Each mailing encourages children to engage with Scripture and creates opportunities for meaningful conversations about faith within the family.Website: https://snailmailbibletales.comDave and Dana also share their desire to make these letters accessible to foster families, including offering sample letters for families interested in learning more.Support the Dream Small PodcastIf Dream Small has encouraged you, challenged you, or helped you feel a little less alone in your journey, would you consider supporting the podcast?Your support helps us continue sharing real stories of faith, foster care, adoption, and everyday faithfulness.Support Dream Small:https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/supportInvite Dream Small to SpeakJason and Whitney are passionate about encouraging families, churches, foster parents, and communities to live faithfully in the everyday moments that matter most.Interested in having us speak at your church, conference, foster parent event, or ministry gathering?We'd love to connect!Speaking inquiries: [email protected] With Dream SmallWebsite: https://dreamsmallpodcast.comEmail: [email protected]: @dreamsmallpodcastFacebook: Dream Small PodcastYouTube: @dreamsmallpodcastX: @DreamSmallShowIf This Episode Encouraged YouShare it with a foster parent, adoptive family, or someone who needs to be reminded that their faithfulness matters.Follow the Dream Small Podcast on your favorite listening platform, leave a rating or review, and help us reach more families who need encouragement.Because God does big things through the small and everyday faithfulness of His people.Keep Dreaming Small!Music Credit"Paradise Found" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons.

What if one of the hardest parts of your story could become the thing that makes life a little easier for someone walking behind you?This week, we're joined by Ashlyn, a former foster youth whose story helped inspire Lily Pad, a faith based nonprofit creating trauma informed spaces for children experiencing foster care and others experiencing crisis.Ashlyn first entered foster care as a young child. Years later, after being adopted, she found herself back in the system after having the courage to report abuse in her adoptive home. At 15 years old, she sat in a DSS office for hours, eventually falling asleep at a desk while she waited to find out where she would go next.That experience would eventually become part of something much bigger.When her foster mom, Jenni Tice, asked Ashlyn what entering foster care was actually like for a child, Ashlyn told her about sitting in offices, overhearing conversations children shouldn't have to hear, wondering where she would sleep and whether she would be separated from her siblings.That conversation helped inspire Lily Pad.Today, Lily Pad creates what Ashlyn didn't have: a soft place to land during one of the most uncertain moments of a child's life.But this conversation is about more than Lily Pad.Ashlyn gives us an honest look at foster care from the perspective of the child living through it. She talks about attachment, constantly having to start over with new adults, finding permanence and family, and what foster parents can do to help a child feel genuinely seen.And her advice is surprisingly simple.Listen. Pay attention to the little things.Remember their favorite food. Their favorite color. The things they tell you about themselves. Give them something that feels like it is truly theirs.Because those small things tell a child, "I heard you. I see you. You matter to me."Ashlyn also shares how her relationship with Jesus has shaped the way she sees everything she's been through. When we asked what she would say to a child in foster care who might be listening, her answer was simple:"The Lord loves you. He's always watching you. He knows your story."Ashlyn's story isn't finished. At just 19 years old, she's studying business, interning with Lily Pad, dreaming about helping more children, and determined to use what she's lived through to make a difference for the kids coming behind her.As she puts it:"That's why I do what I do. It's for the girls like me."If you're a foster parent, adoptive parent, caseworker, or someone who wants to better understand what foster care feels like from a child's perspective, this is an episode we hope you'll take the time to hear.In This Episode• Ashlyn's experience entering foster care as a child and teenager • Finding the courage to advocate for herself after experiencing abuse • How Jenni Tice became "Aunt Jenni" and another aunt eventually became Mom • The conversation that helped inspire Lily Pad • What children experience while waiting in child welfare offices • Why attachment and turnover can be so difficult for foster youth • What Ashlyn wishes foster parents understood about teenagers in care • Why listening and noticing the little things matter • How God has worked through the hardest parts of Ashlyn's story • What Ashlyn wants other children in foster care to knowLearn More About Ashlyn & Lily PadAshlyn's Story: https://www.lilypadinc.org/ashlyns-storyLily Pad: https://www.lilypadinc.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lily.pad.inc/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LilyPad.ASoftPlacetoLandListen to Episode 49Before listening to Ashlyn's story, you can also hear our conversation with Lily Pad co founder and Executive Director Jenni Tice about how Lily Pad began and the mission to ensure no child has to spend one of the hardest days of their life sitting in a cubicle.Episode 49: "No Child Should Spend Their Worst Day In A Cubicle | Jenni Tice of Lily Pad"https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/episode/no-child-should-spend-their-worst-day-in-a-cubicle-jenni-tice-of-lily-padSupport Dream SmallIf Dream Small encourages you, one of the best ways you can support the podcast is by following the show, leaving a rating or review, and sharing an episode with someone who needs to hear it.Support the podcast: https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/supportConnect With Dream SmallInstagram: @dreamsmallpodcast Facebook: Dream Small Podcast X: @DreamSmallShow YouTube: @dreamsmallpodcast Email: [email protected] RequestsJason and Whitney are available to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, and finding purpose through small acts of faithfulness.For speaking inquiries: [email protected] Credit"Paradise Found" by Kevin MacLeod incompetech.com Licensed under Creative Commons.

Episode 56: Parents, Raise Kind Kids: When Words Follow Our Children HomeOur seven year old went to school excited about her new hairstyle.She came home with most of it undone.A classmate had told her it was ugly and looked like spiders, so she took it out. The next day, the same child ruined a self portrait she had drawn.Then, later that week, we were called into the principal's office and shown a picture our daughter had drawn.Across the top she had written:“How can I be dead if kids be mean to me?”She's seven.This week we're having a conversation we never wanted to have. We're sharing what happened, what we learned after talking with our daughter, the heartbreak and anger we felt as her parents, and what we believe our responsibility is now.We're also talking about something this experience forced us to confront: our kids can be carrying far more than we realize. Sometimes the bubbly, energetic kid is hurting too. Sometimes “school was good” isn't enough. Sometimes behavior is telling us something, and we need to slow down long enough to notice it.But this conversation isn't only for parents whose children are being bullied.It's also for the rest of us.Because sometimes our child is the one doing the hurting.Our kids will get it wrong. They'll say something cruel. They'll hurt someone's feelings. When that happens, our job isn't to get defensive or blame somebody else. Our job is to own it, correct it, model something better, and teach our children to be kind.Don't just raise successful kids.Don't just raise athletic kids.Raise kind kids.Raise kids who notice the child sitting alone. Raise kids who don't make fun of someone because they look different. Raise kids who understand their words have weight. Raise kids who apologize when they get it wrong. Raise kids who understand that kindness isn't weakness.Because we can't control every voice our children will hear. But we can teach them which voices deserve to be believed, and we can raise children who use their own voices to build others up.In this episode:• Recognizing when behavior may be communicating something deeper• Why we shouldn't minimize our children's emotions• Listening before trying to fix the problem• Taking concerning language seriously• Advocating for and protecting our children• Grounding our kids in their identity in Christ• What to do when your child is the one being unkind• Raising compassionate kids in an increasingly unkind worldSupport The PodcastIf Dream Small has encouraged you, please consider rating, reviewing and sharing the show.Support Dream Small:Support the Dream Small PodcastSpeaking Requests:Jason and Whitney are available to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership and finding meaning through small acts of [email protected] & Contact:Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcastFacebook: Dream Small PodcastX: @DreamSmallShowYouTube: @dreamsmallpodcastEmail: [email protected] Credit: “Paradise Found” by Kevin MacLeod, Creative Commons.

We love foster care. We love the children God has brought into our home, we're grateful for the privilege of loving them, and we know this is something God has called our family to do.And sometimes, we're just tired.Actually, weary might be the better word.Because foster care can wear on more than your body. There's the interrupted sleep, appointments, therapies, visits, diapers, school schedules, medical needs, and the constant juggling of everyday life. But there's also the mental load of keeping everything straight, the exhaustion that comes from constantly advocating, the frustration of navigating a complicated system, and the emotional weight of loving a child deeply while knowing you may eventually have to say goodbye.In this episode, we're having an honest conversation about that weariness and the guilt that can sometimes come with admitting it.We chose this life. We said yes. We know these children didn't choose what happened to them. So sometimes it feels like we don't have the right to say that it's hard.But gratitude and weariness can coexist.We talk about what foster parent weariness has looked like in our home, from the mundane tasks that pile up to the mental load of managing seven kids, therapies, visits, court hearings, school schedules, and medical appointments. Whitney shares about the exhausting work of advocating for our children and a recent win after weeks of pushing for one of our foster children's needs to be accurately recognized.We also talk about the emotional side of foster care that can be harder to see. Foster parents are asked to fully love and attach to children while knowing reunification may mean eventually saying goodbye. We're walking alongside children through pain we can't fix while also helping the other children in our home process the brokenness they're witnessing.That's heavy.But weariness doesn't mean we're doing something wrong. And it doesn't mean we're no longer called.Galatians 6:9 reminds us, "Let us not become weary in doing good."So what do we do when we are weary?We acknowledge it. We talk about it. We ask for help. We allow our community to step in. We bring the burden to God instead of convincing ourselves that being strong means carrying everything alone.And sometimes, like the bison facing a storm, we simply turn toward the hard season instead of running from it.If you're a foster parent who is tired right now, we hope this episode reminds you that you're not alone. The small acts of faithfulness still matter. God sees the appointments, the late nights, the phone calls, the advocacy, the waiting, and all the things nobody else sees.Don't give up.You're not meant to carry this alone.Support the PodcastIf Dream Small has encouraged you and you'd like to help us continue sharing stories about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, and living faithfully right where you are, you can support the podcast here:https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/supportSpeaking RequestsIf your church, conference, foster care organization, or event would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, we'd love to hear from you.Email us at [email protected] & ContactInstagram: @dreamsmallpodcast Facebook: Dream Small Podcast Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow YouTube: @dreamsmallpodcast Email: [email protected] this episode encouraged you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.Music Credit"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons.

Well... we’re back.When we recorded our last episode in June, we were literally getting ready to leave for vacation with our three oldest kids. We had been consistently recording for more than a year, and we decided it was probably time to take a little summer break.Turns out the break lasted a little longer than we expected.We came home from vacation, started looking ahead to the last few weeks of summer, and thought we had a pretty good idea of what life was going to look like.Then, at 7:06 one Thursday morning, Whitney got a text from someone she hadn’t talked to in about six years:“Any chance you are looking for a pre-adoptive or foster baby boy?”First of all, are foster parents ever looking for another foster placement? But after a phone call, a lot of conversation, and realizing we didn’t really have a good reason to say no, we said yes.So... we have seven kids now.In this episode, we’re catching you up on everything that has happened since we disappeared for the summer. We talk about welcoming our newest little guy, adjusting to life as a family of nine, adding another G tube to the family, getting four kids back to four different school situations, dealing with hand, foot and mouth disease at possibly the worst possible time, and why our plans to start recording again kept getting pushed back.We also talk about something really cool God was already putting into place before we ever got that text.Our church recently launched care communities to support foster and adoptive families, and ours was coming together at almost exactly the same time we were being asked to consider another placement. Since then, people have helped with meals, school drop offs, activities, babysitting, mowing the lawn, and a whole bunch of other things that make a huge difference when you’re juggling seven kids.And somehow, the couple who volunteered to give us a date night once a month includes a pediatric nurse who already knows how to use a G tube.You can’t make this stuff up.We also share a really encouraging update about Lia, talk about what the first few days of a medically complex foster placement actually look like, and share one of the sweetest compliments we’ve received as foster parents.Mostly, though, this episode is us catching up with you.Life has been full. It has been chaotic. There have been a ridiculous number of diapers. And for the last couple of months, instead of talking about Dream Small, we’ve mostly just been living it.Toward the end of the conversation, Whitney shares something this season has been teaching us:Hold your plans loosely.Sometimes the thing you never planned for ends up being the thing God was preparing you for all along.We’re glad to be back.In This EpisodeWe talk about:Where we’ve been since JuneThe 7:06 a.m. text that changed our summerWhy we said yes to foster placement number 15Becoming a family of nineWhat adding another medically complex child actually looks likeG tubes, therapies, visits, school schedules, diapers, and general chaosThe unfortunately timed hand, foot and mouth outbreakHow our church care community has stepped up around our familyA huge milestone for LeahWhat our newest little guy’s case manager recently told WhitneyLearning to accept help instead of trying to do everything ourselvesWhy we’re learning to hold our plans a little more looselySupport The PodcastIf you enjoy Dream Small and want to help support the show:https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/supportSpeaking RequestsIf 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, contact [email protected] the Dream Small CommunityJoin our weekly devotional newsletter for Biblical encouragement connected to the conversations we’re having on the podcast:https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130bFollow & ContactEmail: [email protected] Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast Facebook: Dream Small Podcast Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow YouTube: @dreamsmallpodcastMusic Credit“Paradise Found” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons.

The Freedom To Parent Your Family DifferentlyWhat happens when the best decision for your family doesn't make sense to everyone else?In this episode, we share the story behind a vacation decision that surprised some people: taking only our three oldest children on a family trip while our younger children stayed home. What started as a practical choice became a powerful reminder that parents have the freedom and responsibility to make decisions based on the unique needs of their own family.Too often, parents feel pressure from culture, social media, friends, family members, and even other Christians about how they should raise their children. But many parenting decisions are not about right versus wrong. They are about wisdom, season, calling, and faithfully stewarding the children God has entrusted to you.We discuss how foster care helped us become more confident in making unconventional decisions, why healthy families must adapt as seasons change, and how to seek God's wisdom instead of the approval of others.If you've ever felt judged, second guessed yourself, or wondered whether you're doing enough as a parent, this conversation is for you.In This Episode• Why we chose to vacation with only our three oldest children• The difference between cultural expectations and biblical wisdom• How comparison can undermine confidence in parenting• Why healthy families adapt as seasons change• Practical examples of parenting differently in our own home• How foster care shaped our perspective on family decisions• Why every child may need a different parenting approach• The importance of seeking wisdom instead of approval• Learning to be comfortable being misunderstood• Trusting God with the results of your parenting decisionsKey Takeaways• Different does not mean wrong• Every family has unique needs, challenges, and seasons• Parents are called to steward the children God entrusted to them• Not every parenting decision is a moral issue• Comparison often leads parents away from wisdom• Confidence grows when decisions are rooted in prayer and Scripture• Healthy families remain flexible as circumstances changeMemorable Quotes"Other people may not understand your parenting decisions. Other people may not agree with your parenting decisions. And guess what? They don't have to.""We get to decide what works best for the family God has given us.""Healthy families have to adjust with the seasons.""Different doesn't mean wrong.""God has entrusted your children to you. Do what's best for your children."Scripture Referenced1 Corinthians 12 The body of Christ has many parts, each serving a unique purpose.Question For ReflectionWhat parenting decision have you been delaying because of pressure from culture, social media, friends, or family?What might change if you sought God's wisdom before seeking everyone's approval?Resources & ConnectResources & ConnectSupport Dream SmallIf Dream Small has encouraged you and you'd like to help us continue creating content that supports foster families, adoptive families, and parents, you can support the podcast here:https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/supportInvite Us To SpeakJason and Whitney are available to speak at churches, foster care events, conferences, retreats, and community organizations on topics including foster care, adoption, parenting, faith, leadership, and serving right where you are.For speaking inquiries, email: [email protected] With Us [email protected]: @dreamsmallpodcastFacebook: Dream Small PodcastX: @DreamSmallShowYouTube: @dreamsmallpodcastIf this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use a little encouragement today.Music Credit"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons.

Just when you've finally built trust with a case worker, therapist, or visit supervisor...they're gone.If you've been in foster care for any length of time, you know the feeling. You're explaining the history all over again, rebuilding relationships, and wondering if anyone else remembers what your child has already been through.In this episode, we share some very real frustrations from our own current foster care journey and talk honestly about the constant turnover that seems to define the system. We discuss why it happens, why it hurts so much, and some practical ways foster parents can survive the revolving door without becoming cynical.Most importantly, we remind ourselves that while people come and go, Jesus never changes. Your consistency may be one of the greatest gifts a child ever experiences.Whether you're a foster parent, adoptive parent, or someone who simply wants to better understand the challenges families face, we hope this conversation encourages you to keep showing up faithfully, right where you are.In This Episode• Why turnover is so common in foster care• The emotional toll of constantly rebuilding relationships• Why documentation can become one of your greatest tools• Leading with grace while still holding people accountable• The importance of staying child focused• How new people can sometimes bring fresh perspective and renewed hope• Why Christ remains our foundation when everything else changesScriptureHebrews 13:8"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."Resources & Ways to ConnectSupport the Dream Small PodcastIf this podcast has encouraged you or helped you on your foster care or adoption journey, we'd be honored if you'd consider supporting the ministry. Your generosity helps us continue creating free, hope-filled content for foster families and those considering saying yes.Support the show: https://dreamsmallpodcast.com/supportInvite Us to SpeakJason and Whitney love encouraging foster families, churches, ministries, and community organizations through honest storytelling and practical encouragement rooted in faith.If you're interested in having us speak at your church, conference, foster parent support group, or event, we'd love to connect.Speaking inquiries: [email protected] to Our NewsletterJoin our email community for weekly encouragement, devotionals, and updates from the Dream Small Podcast.Subscribe:https://dreamsmallpodcast.comConnect With UsWebsite: https://dreamsmallpodcast.comEmail: [email protected]: @dreamsmallpodcastFacebook: Dream Small PodcastX: @dreamsmallshowIf This Episode Encouraged YouPlease follow the show, leave a five star review, and share this episode with a friend or fellow foster family. Every share helps us reach more people with the hope that small, everyday faithfulness can change lives.Music Credit"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons.

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 yourselfOur Challenge For You This WeekTake 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 SmallIf 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/supportInvite Dream Small To SpeakJason 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:[email protected] With Dream SmallFacebook: Dream Small PodcastInstagram: @dreamsmallpodcastYouTube: Dream Small PodcastMusic Credit"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons.

What Happened After We Said Yes To Foster CareEight 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 SmallKey ScripturesGalatians 6:9Luke 16:102 Corinthians 4:18Romans 12:1Support The PodcastSpeaking RequestsIf 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: [email protected] our weekly devotional newsletter here:https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130bFollow & ContactEmail: [email protected]: @dreamsmallpodcastFacebook: Dream Small PodcastTwitter/X: @DreamSmallShowMusic 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 familyThe heartbreaking moment that sparked Lily Pad’s missionWhat children actually experience while waiting in DSS officesWhy trauma informed environments matterThe role churches and volunteers play in maintaining Lily Pad spacesHow Lily Pad expanded from one room to more than 40 locationsExpansion into law enforcement spaces supporting children and victims of traumaThe power of dignity, compassion, and creating safe spacesThis 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 WebsiteRoom Gallery: Lily Pad Before & After RoomsInstagram: @lily.pad.incSupport The PodcastSpeaking RequestsIf 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: [email protected] our weekly devotional newsletter here:https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130bFollow & ContactEmail: [email protected]: @dreamsmallpodcastFacebook: Dream Small PodcastTwitter/X: @DreamSmallShowMusic Credit"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons.