Lindsay and Bryan's Story: Advice for Prospective Adoptive and Foster Families

Read Lindsay and Bryan’s Story to see how it all began!

Read Lindsay and Bryan's Story: Foster Care to learn about their care for kids in foster care, and support for the children's birth family.

Read Lindsay and Bryan’s Story: Adoption to find out how their family grew through adoption, unexpectedly.

We asked Bryan and Lindsay to share their advice for families considering adopting or fostering. Here is what they had to say:

• Our church planted a seed, and then the topic of fostering surfaced every 2 to 3 years. We always sensed it was something we would do someday. It’s important to remain open to that sense of calling, even if you know it isn’t the right season to move forward.
• You’re not risking anything by going to an informational meeting! Go and learn so you can think, pray, and learn about the right things until it is the right time for you.
• You will probably feel unsure about different things as you move through the process. I would sometimes get overwhelmed with all the requirements, and I wasn’t always sure I was okay with bringing trauma into our family; I definitely wanted to protect our sons. You have to just put one foot in front of the other and take it one day at a time. God never told us to stop moving forward, so we kept going.
• Seek community. There is immeasurable value in relationships through our church, school and neighborhood. Our church is very pro-adoption, but we are the only adoptive family, and we only know of one other foster family in our neighborhood. Even though most people around us don’t have experience with foster care, we have found that everybody wants to help. Some people have become approved as babysitters, offered their hand-me-downs or supported in other ways. People just seem to want to help ensure these kids are safe and loved and have all they need.
• It can feel strange to be receiving help and support from others, and it can sometimes feel like we have to be hyper-responsible with our money because we have been so blessed by other people‘s generosity, but accountability is a good thing, and everyone has been so kind to us. It’s been a lesson in humility and letting other people join in to be part of adoption and foster care in the ways that they can be involved at this time in their lives.

Bryan and Lindsay’s story is remarkable. Adoption was not even their first goal, yet they cannot imagine their life without adoption now. They can’t imagine their life without foster care, either. Seeing what God can do in and through families who make themselves available and step forward in faith to ensure kids are safe and loved is incredible.

Continue Reading...

Lindsay and Bryan’s Foster Care Journey

Lindsay and Bryan’s Adoption Story

If you have ever thought about adopting or fostering, PCHAS offers weekly Online Info Sessions. They are a great way to learn how it all works. As Bryan and Lindsay said, “You’re not risking anything by going to an informational meeting!” CLICK HERE to sign up for an Online Info Session, or contact a Foster Care & Adoption Guide to learn more.

If you or someone you know is experiencing an unintended pregnancy, we offer free, non-judgmental counseling to explore the complexities of parenting and making an adoption plan. Call (713) 522-2800 for info. 

*Information about children in foster care and their families is confidential. We celebrate Kristi’s success and are grateful for her permission to share her story to help PCHAS find more safe, loving families who will partner with birth families with compassion and respect.