WEBVTT 00:00:05.730 --> 00:00:10.480 We met David and Katie Kelly, and they can come on and make their way up if you would. 00:00:10.890 --> 00:00:15.720 We met them, um, a month or two ago and had them come into the staff. 00:00:15.949 --> 00:00:27.559 They have a tremendous story of the faithfulness of God in their lives and the, and the request that he made of them when it came to taking care of foster children. 00:00:28.339 --> 00:00:30.120 And so I want to interview them. 00:00:30.120 --> 00:00:46.920 I want us to, to listen for a few things, first of all, I wanna show this verse, if you want to put that up, James 1 27, religion that is pure and unfiled before God, the father is this to visit orphans and widows in their affliction. 00:00:47.340 --> 00:00:51.039 And to keep oneself unstained from the world. 00:00:51.728 --> 00:01:01.600 It is the heart of Jesus to minister, to people who find themselves in the margin either by their own doing or by, by nothing that they have done. 00:01:02.469 --> 00:01:02.960 Okay. 00:01:03.250 --> 00:01:06.799 So we're going to be talking about that this morning, and I'm really excited about that. 00:01:06.801 --> 00:01:23.879 I hope that you open your heart up, not just to fostering, but to how can we support those who do take a chance on and, and risk everything in order to welcome children into their home that are going through difficult times. 00:01:24.450 --> 00:01:28.480 So Lord, we pray for this time, we ask Lord that you would lead and guide our discussion. 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:41.959 We pray that you would massage our hearts, that you would open us up, um, so that we can see your heart for those who are in the margin Lord, that we would, um, that we wouldn't feel an obligation. 00:01:41.959 --> 00:01:59.159 That's not from you, but that we would feel a sense of, of, um, urgency to connect with those who are serving or who desire to serve, um, those children that just like we said before that you said, come to me, just like children. 00:02:00.049 --> 00:02:04.480 We pray for, for this time we pray for David and Katie, as we share their story. 00:02:04.700 --> 00:02:09.120 And we asked Lord that it would be inspiring for everyone who hears in Jesus name. 00:02:09.669 --> 00:02:10.159 Amen. 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:11.039 All right. 00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:12.000 Wanna see? 00:02:13.969 --> 00:02:17.039 So why don't you tell us who you are. 00:02:17.040 --> 00:02:24.800 I know your names, but tell us a little bit about where you're from and how you met match.com, right? 00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:28.520 No, E oh, E actually, um, 00:02:30.039 --> 00:02:31.280 Funny story, Katie. 00:02:31.719 --> 00:02:32.639 Katie was my bank teller. 00:02:32.930 --> 00:02:33.560 Oh really? 00:02:33.629 --> 00:02:34.120 Yeah. 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:35.120 Yeah. 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:35.680 Interesting. 00:02:35.681 --> 00:02:38.560 He was bringing in lots of Benjamins and you said she knew how 00:02:39.879 --> 00:02:39.879 Yeah. 00:02:40.069 --> 00:02:41.879 I saw his bank account and still married. 00:02:42.599 --> 00:02:42.599 Okay. 00:02:42.600 --> 00:02:43.159 That's true. 00:02:43.161 --> 00:02:43.319 Love. 00:02:43.509 --> 00:02:44.400 That is true. 00:02:44.401 --> 00:02:44.599 Love. 00:02:44.600 --> 00:02:45.039 Yeah. 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:45.960 She felt sorry 00:02:45.960 --> 00:02:46.280 For me. 00:02:46.479 --> 00:02:46.479 Yeah. 00:02:46.680 --> 00:02:46.680 Okay. 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:48.879 whatever it takes, right? 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:49.199 Yeah. 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:50.080 yeah. 00:02:50.300 --> 00:02:54.080 But, uh, yeah, again, I'm David and this is my beautiful wife, Katie. 00:02:54.300 --> 00:02:57.680 And, uh, just before we dive in, just thank you so much for yeah. 00:02:57.750 --> 00:03:11.080 Having this and, uh, just wanting to hear a little bit about our story and, uh, you know, why God is doing, um, doing, doing our lives and hopefully it inspires some of you to, uh, to dive in, in some capacity as well. 00:03:11.270 --> 00:03:11.759 Yeah. 00:03:11.760 --> 00:03:13.520 But, uh, we met 10 years ago. 00:03:14.030 --> 00:03:14.599 I don't know. 00:03:14.600 --> 00:03:15.800 No, it was like 12 years ago. 00:03:15.800 --> 00:03:17.360 We started dating 10 years ago. 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:17.680 Okay. 00:03:18.099 --> 00:03:19.840 And, uh, been married for eight years. 00:03:20.460 --> 00:03:22.840 And, um, yeah. 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:23.400 Uh, 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:24.159 How, how 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:25.360 Did you, we live here in Knoxville. 00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:26.479 We live live in Knoxville city. 00:03:26.759 --> 00:03:26.759 Yeah. 00:03:26.760 --> 00:03:27.039 Okay. 00:03:27.040 --> 00:03:27.680 Very good. 00:03:27.860 --> 00:03:30.560 And how did you, how did each of you come to know the Lord? 00:03:31.189 --> 00:03:34.000 What is your, your abbreviated testimony? 00:03:34.110 --> 00:03:34.599 Yeah, 00:03:34.599 --> 00:03:38.319 Well, uh, um, my parents who actually here today as well. 00:03:38.370 --> 00:03:39.039 Awesome. 00:03:39.040 --> 00:03:39.360 Welcome. 00:03:39.639 --> 00:03:42.680 You know, they, they modeled that for me as a child, so okay. 00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:47.560 Uh, knowing Jesus is something that has been, uh, a huge part of my life since I was very young. 00:03:47.561 --> 00:03:47.960 Yeah. 00:03:48.139 --> 00:03:52.520 And, uh, got a little stupid when I was in my early twenties, but in that shocking, 00:03:52.550 --> 00:03:54.319 Nobody else has ever done that. 00:03:54.919 --> 00:03:54.919 Yeah. 00:03:55.699 --> 00:03:59.879 But that really, that really, um, increased my faith. 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:00.400 Awesome. 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:04.199 And as a whole, I could spend an hour talking about that, but that's not what we're here to talk about today. 00:04:04.330 --> 00:04:05.039 So, uh, 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:06.360 But y'all just have to come back. 00:04:06.919 --> 00:04:07.280 Yeah, yeah. 00:04:08.039 --> 00:04:08.039 Maybe 00:04:08.189 --> 00:04:09.879 It's a, it's a doozy 00:04:10.199 --> 00:04:10.199 . 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:13.319 Um, and same for me. 00:04:13.389 --> 00:04:22.040 I grew up with two parents that were, um, first generation Christians themselves, and they had kind of plowed that ground. 00:04:22.060 --> 00:04:25.759 And, um, I was just blessed to grow up in yeah. 00:04:25.761 --> 00:04:33.959 In that home where Jesus was just a normal part of life and, um, you know, had my ups and downs too, but sure. 00:04:34.278 --> 00:04:51.160 Um, yeah, we, we were blessed to find each other through, you know, mistakes and yeah, we, we always say, um, we, we Dodge some bullets there, you goly and, uh, very blessed to found each other. 00:04:51.519 --> 00:04:51.519 00:04:51.519 --> 00:04:52.199 That's awesome. 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:52.720 So, yeah. 00:04:52.829 --> 00:04:53.319 Yeah. 00:04:53.321 --> 00:05:09.600 I think, I think it's great when, when the Lord brings two people together and it's obvious that you're supposed to be together mm-hmm, um, and especially juxtaposition against maybe former situations that weren't quite, so quite so perfect. 00:05:09.620 --> 00:05:14.319 And so I'm, I'm really, it's obvious that you guys belong together and that's really good. 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:14.800 So, 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:21.278 Yeah, we, uh, we knew pretty early on that Katie actually, um, before we started, they moved to moved to Texas to go ministry school. 00:05:21.300 --> 00:05:21.720 Wow. 00:05:21.721 --> 00:05:24.079 And so our first nine months was long distance. 00:05:24.081 --> 00:05:28.278 And so, um, you know, we didn't have the, the fun date nights to go on. 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:28.560 Sure. 00:05:28.759 --> 00:05:29.639 There was a lot of phone calls. 00:05:30.240 --> 00:05:30.240 Yeah. 00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:33.560 Um, overnight, you know, a lot of, a lot of communication. 00:05:33.800 --> 00:05:37.000 And so, um, you know, we got to know each other really well in a very 00:05:37.230 --> 00:05:37.838 That's 00:05:37.838 --> 00:05:39.800 Awesome time and do pretty quickly yeah. 00:05:39.800 --> 00:05:40.920 That we were gonna be together. 00:05:41.110 --> 00:05:41.600 Yeah. 00:05:41.910 --> 00:05:56.920 I, I feel obligated whenever somebody says something like that to thank my parents again, for paying at and T for months upon months and phone calls that I made to long this in a long distance scenario to my now wife of 29 years. 00:05:57.170 --> 00:05:58.120 So yeah. 00:05:58.120 --> 00:06:00.639 I definitely can, can relate to that fully. 00:06:01.329 --> 00:06:05.079 So been married for a little while, considering family and 00:06:05.389 --> 00:06:05.879 Yeah. 00:06:06.160 --> 00:06:10.040 Been, uh, it'll be eight years, excuse me, years in November. 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:24.399 Um, we, uh, kind of had this, um, well, independent of one another before we even met, um, adoption was something that was very, um, very real to us. 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:28.519 Mm-hmm, something that we, that we both felt like we were called to in some capacity. 00:06:28.521 --> 00:06:29.639 We didn't know what that looked like. 00:06:29.838 --> 00:06:36.278 And our, our plan, what we wanted to do was to, uh, have a couple of biological children and then sure. 00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:39.879 And then adopt, and, uh, the Lord had very different plans for us. 00:06:39.880 --> 00:06:40.278 Yes. 00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:44.360 Um, you know, with, uh, fertility journey, that again is another very long story. 00:06:44.360 --> 00:06:44.838 Yeah. 00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:50.079 Um, but, uh, but then ultimately leading us to, to become foster parents. 00:06:50.149 --> 00:06:50.639 Yeah. 00:06:50.778 --> 00:06:55.959 And, um, it really, it was not something that was on either one of our radars. 00:06:55.961 --> 00:06:56.319 Sure. 00:06:56.410 --> 00:06:57.079 We, um, 00:06:57.079 --> 00:07:01.120 Foster care was like my line in the same, like, no, like I, we're not doing that. 00:07:01.189 --> 00:07:02.680 Like that was the one thing. 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:03.759 Yeah. 00:07:03.761 --> 00:07:05.079 You know, mm-hmm, mm-hmm 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:06.079 Yeah. 00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:06.519 It's 00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:06.720 Real messy. 00:07:06.721 --> 00:07:13.319 What do you think the reason for that, for that thought was because I'm sure other people share that same kind of feeling, 00:07:13.660 --> 00:07:17.560 You know, I think it was that I'd heard all the horror stories. 00:07:17.560 --> 00:07:17.959 Yeah. 00:07:17.961 --> 00:07:23.600 You know, like we all have, and, um, it seemed daunting and scary. 00:07:23.670 --> 00:07:24.160 Sure. 00:07:24.161 --> 00:07:25.839 It seemed outta my comfort zone. 00:07:25.841 --> 00:07:26.240 Totally. 00:07:27.220 --> 00:07:33.750 And, um, I think, I think it, I think it was a fear. 00:07:33.819 --> 00:07:57.000 I think it was a fear of the unknown and not wanting to, um, I don't know, like be uncomfortable, I guess I was really familiar with my comfort zone and I liked it and I just wanted things to be predictable and I wanted to be able to know, you know, what was gonna happen and, you know, so God's dealing with me on some control issues, but anyway, 00:07:57.339 --> 00:07:58.680 All of us, all of us. 00:07:58.800 --> 00:07:59.199 Yeah. 00:07:59.300 --> 00:08:04.439 And I think, I think that's really a, a fair thing to say, there's, there are a lot of misconceptions, I think. 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:04.720 Yeah. 00:08:04.870 --> 00:08:06.920 That surround foster care. 00:08:06.920 --> 00:08:12.120 And so one of the things we want to do today is maybe kind of DEIT some of those things, for sure. 00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:16.519 I mean, there are horror stories, obviously there are things that happen that are very difficult. 00:08:16.521 --> 00:08:24.759 We know people even now who are dealing with those kinds of things, but, uh, but there is also this other side to it, which you guys have experienced. 00:08:25.290 --> 00:08:26.639 So yeah. 00:08:26.641 --> 00:08:40.080 So once you kind of began to, to talk to each other about the idea of, did you start with, with the idea of fostering or did you start with the idea of adoption after the, um, after attempting, you know, to have biological 00:08:40.558 --> 00:08:40.639 Children? 00:08:40.889 --> 00:08:44.440 So we, um, the idea was always to adopt. 00:08:44.441 --> 00:08:44.879 Okay. 00:08:45.019 --> 00:08:49.200 And yeah, we, we didn't, we didn't know exactly what that was gonna look like. 00:08:49.201 --> 00:08:56.879 Mm-hmm um, but, uh, you know, we, we also didn't want to adopt to fill void. 00:08:57.139 --> 00:08:57.558 Yes. 00:08:57.559 --> 00:09:04.519 We didn't want to be, well, we're having trouble conceiving, so we're just gonna settle, you know, and, and, and go adopt a child. 00:09:04.520 --> 00:09:09.440 We wanted, we wanted it to be the perfect situation that was ordained by the Lord. 00:09:10.058 --> 00:09:20.139 And, you know, we didn't, we didn't want to put ourselves in a position to where we were not able to love that child or those children as if they were our own flesh and blood. 00:09:20.140 --> 00:09:20.620 Sure. 00:09:21.299 --> 00:09:23.740 Um, you know, no child deserves to be that's right. 00:09:23.740 --> 00:09:27.980 Second, you know, they all deserve every inch of love that we can give them. 00:09:28.759 --> 00:09:32.019 And so fostering wasn't on our radar at all. 00:09:32.230 --> 00:09:34.379 We, um, it's, it's funny actually. 00:09:34.928 --> 00:09:37.700 We'd had many conversations about not doing it. 00:09:38.080 --> 00:09:43.860 And, uh, and then all of a sudden, one day the Lord was like, Hey, how'd you feel about fostering? 00:09:43.980 --> 00:09:44.980 And I'm like, Nope, Nope. 00:09:44.980 --> 00:09:45.700 Not doing it. 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:47.299 And, and if I'm gonna do it, 00:09:48.058 --> 00:09:49.620 Um, anybody else ever said no to God? 00:09:49.620 --> 00:09:50.100 Yeah. 00:09:50.740 --> 00:09:51.860 How's that working for you? 00:09:52.299 --> 00:09:52.460 yeah. 00:09:52.461 --> 00:09:52.860 Sorry. 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:55.740 And if you want me to say yes, then you need to talk to my wife about it too. 00:09:55.980 --> 00:09:56.178 There you go. 00:09:56.460 --> 00:09:56.460 Right. 00:09:56.461 --> 00:09:56.740 Yeah. 00:09:56.740 --> 00:10:05.700 And so, um, so Katie apparently had been hearing the same thing, but we were scared to talk to each other about it. 00:10:05.730 --> 00:10:06.220 Sure. 00:10:06.221 --> 00:10:07.820 Because both of us were like, no, we're not doing that. 00:10:07.980 --> 00:10:08.460 We're that we're not doing that. 00:10:08.519 --> 00:10:12.100 And so we're driving down the road one day and Katie says, Hey, I need to talk to you about something. 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:16.299 And a lot of guys can probably relate to me when I say I was terrified. 00:10:16.301 --> 00:10:16.740 What 00:10:16.740 --> 00:10:17.379 Did I do now? 00:10:17.380 --> 00:10:18.139 What did I do? 00:10:18.139 --> 00:10:19.178 Meaning to talk. 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:24.299 And, uh and I'm like, oh boy, here we go. 00:10:24.860 --> 00:10:37.220 Um, but, uh, but she says, this is, this is kind of coming outta left field, but, but I just, I felt like I needed to tell you that the Lord has been asking me to, uh, to foster. 00:10:37.221 --> 00:10:39.539 And I was like, oh, wow. 00:10:40.049 --> 00:10:40.539 Okay. 00:10:40.541 --> 00:10:40.940 Yeah. 00:10:40.941 --> 00:10:42.139 Well actually me too. 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:44.100 And, um, wow. 00:10:44.100 --> 00:10:48.700 And so we talked about it, you know, and, and, and really felt like we needed to say yes. 00:10:49.379 --> 00:10:49.379 Yeah. 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:50.860 And so we did, we said yes. 00:10:50.860 --> 00:10:55.899 And, uh, and then we dove in, started doing our classes, uh, but a month later. 00:10:56.019 --> 00:10:56.299 Yeah. 00:10:56.301 --> 00:11:02.820 What is that journey look like once you decided we're gonna become candidates for this, then, then what does it look 00:11:02.820 --> 00:11:02.980 Like? 00:11:02.980 --> 00:11:09.259 So we got on the DCS website and filled out the, you know, interest form or whatnot. 00:11:09.260 --> 00:11:11.379 And then they have, and 00:11:11.379 --> 00:11:13.100 DCS is I'm sorry, is 00:11:13.178 --> 00:11:15.620 It department of children's services, department of children's service. 00:11:15.820 --> 00:11:15.820 Yeah. 00:11:15.821 --> 00:11:16.058 Sorry. 00:11:16.059 --> 00:11:19.178 It's all these, you're all these, these acronyms that are so normal for us. 00:11:19.179 --> 00:11:19.539 Yeah. 00:11:20.019 --> 00:11:30.340 Um, and then they have a case worker, um, call you and, um, you can sign up for their next classes. 00:11:30.700 --> 00:11:31.899 They have different ones all over. 00:11:32.129 --> 00:11:33.659 This is where Knox county. 00:11:33.909 --> 00:11:46.980 So all over Knox county, um, we ended up going, there's a church in, I don't remember what church it is, but anyway, north Knox somewhere, um, that hosted the classes and I believe it was eight weeks. 00:11:47.850 --> 00:11:48.340 Yeah. 00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:51.539 And we would go once a week and, um, and do that. 00:11:51.541 --> 00:12:01.159 And we started our home home study process, which is, you know, a bunch of paperwork and like putting outlet plugs in and like, you know, baby proofing and all of that. 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:09.519 Um, and so, yeah, I mean, that was, I, we, I always like to I'm so real. 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:13.360 I'm like, I need to let you know it was not without the fear. 00:12:13.450 --> 00:12:15.360 It was like we were stepping. 00:12:15.509 --> 00:12:21.720 I mean, the fear was still there and all the doubts and all the, like, I don't think I'm equipped for this. 00:12:21.721 --> 00:12:24.759 Like, I don't think, I don't feel like I can handle this. 00:12:24.760 --> 00:12:34.759 I don't honestly deep down really want to, but I trust God enough to know that I can walk through this with him and he's gonna be with me. 00:12:34.940 --> 00:12:37.159 And I don't wanna say no to him. 00:12:37.160 --> 00:12:38.399 I've learned the hard way. 00:12:38.400 --> 00:12:39.240 I don't wanna do that. 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:41.558 So, um, I don't know. 00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:47.678 I just like to put that out there, cuz I think sometimes when people hear these stories, they think, oh, well, everything just changed. 00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:49.519 And they were all excited and happy to do this. 00:12:49.520 --> 00:12:51.600 And it was like, no, we were scared. 00:12:51.940 --> 00:12:57.240 And we just kept taking steps forward and steps forward and like, okay, I guess we're doing this. 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:07.879 And um, just kind of growing with God in that and learning to trust him more and more with, um, you know, just our family, not looking like we ever thought it would look. 00:13:08.220 --> 00:13:12.440 And, um, that was a hard thing to let go of. 00:13:13.399 --> 00:13:13.720 Um sure. 00:13:14.259 --> 00:13:20.919 But again, we were learning to trust God that he's good and faithful and knows exactly what we need. 00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:25.039 And um, so, so yeah, we, we took steps. 00:13:25.041 --> 00:13:27.759 We became foster parents. 00:13:27.909 --> 00:13:31.519 I think we took a little longer than most people do usually. 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:31.799 Yeah. 00:13:31.801 --> 00:13:36.558 One thing you mentioned to the staff was that you guys took some time to focus on your 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:36.840 Marriage. 00:13:36.850 --> 00:13:37.360 We did. 00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:37.720 Yeah. 00:13:37.721 --> 00:13:39.320 So you wanna share, that's a good about that. 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:40.159 Yeah, we did. 00:13:40.250 --> 00:13:57.720 So we, um, you know, we really wanted to make sure that we were, um, well equipped to step into this because it's, uh, there's so many different things that come with it and, and they're all wonderful things, but they're, they can be, uh, sometimes difficult to navigate. 00:13:57.721 --> 00:13:58.080 Sure. 00:13:58.081 --> 00:13:58.360 Right. 00:13:58.419 --> 00:14:05.519 And also bringing children into your home, um, you know, is, is gonna put some, some stress on your marriage. 00:14:05.520 --> 00:14:07.919 I mean, it's just natural, natural part of it. 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:08.120 Yeah. 00:14:08.678 --> 00:14:15.919 And so we wanted to do the work and put in the work to make sure that we were, um, in a really good place with our marriage and well equipped. 00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:26.600 And so we started doing some counseling with, um, uh, with these couples who, uh, or this couple rather who specifically counsels people in ministry great. 00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:29.039 And foster care is absolutely a ministry. 00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:29.320 Absolutely. 00:14:29.321 --> 00:14:32.039 They took us on and uh, we ended up going to Colorado. 00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:35.519 Uh, we, it was, it was all via zoom. 00:14:35.520 --> 00:14:42.240 We went to Colorado, uh, did a, an intensive week, which was one of the craziest weeks of my life. 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:42.639 Sure. 00:14:42.640 --> 00:14:46.279 Just all the things that were being exposed, you 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:46.399 Know? 00:14:46.400 --> 00:14:46.679 Yeah. 00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:54.720 It's, it's interesting how throughout life, we have all of these things that happen and we either deal with them or eventually they deal with us. 00:14:54.721 --> 00:14:55.200 Right. 00:14:55.679 --> 00:14:55.679 Yeah. 00:14:55.681 --> 00:15:07.440 And so having a, a, a focused time to really look inside, not to just stay there, but to evaluate where I'm at and where I need to be is really a healthy thing. 00:15:07.610 --> 00:15:09.320 It was, it was wonderful for us. 00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:09.639 Yeah. 00:15:09.860 --> 00:15:11.919 And, and really set us up for success. 00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:12.279 Sure. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:14.120 With, with inviting children into our home. 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:14.679 Yeah. 00:15:14.681 --> 00:15:17.679 Well, and with marriage, it's like, it's never gonna be perfect. 00:15:17.830 --> 00:15:20.720 It's never gonna be like, you can fix all your problems. 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:45.039 Um, I thought so at one point that I could fix all the problems, but anyway, um, found that out the hard way, but, um, you know, it's like going into being foster parents, we, you know, we had been through four or five years of struggle with fertility stuff and whatever, and we were just weary and sure. 00:15:45.990 --> 00:15:59.200 I think we wanted to make sure that we could walk into this next phase of life knowing that there wasn't anything like festering between us, that we could walk forward on the same page, on the same team. 00:15:59.201 --> 00:16:08.600 Like there wasn't resentment and bitterness that was like built up between us and like the big stuff that's gonna kind of like mess you up, you know, that's gonna trip you up. 00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:22.919 And so, um, I think that was why we wanted to do that because we just wanted to make sure, like we're a team and we wanna feel like we can trust each other and, you know, have that love and support for one another through 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:23.919 That's 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:25.480 So good parenting and all that. 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:31.559 So I think that, you know, they knew, I guess you guys knew you were gonna be dealing with external stressors. 00:16:31.561 --> 00:16:33.519 I mean, this is a brand new thing. 00:16:33.520 --> 00:16:44.919 Everything is changing, but you wanted to deal first with the internal stressors to make sure that when you did face the external, your heart and everything was ready to deal with that as much as it could be. 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:45.279 Yeah. 00:16:45.280 --> 00:16:45.559 Yeah. 00:16:45.649 --> 00:16:52.840 So, and then how did your journey kind of go from there as far as your first fostering or your, you know, uh, 00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:53.600 You want me to share? 00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:53.960 Sure. 00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:54.279 Yeah. 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:54.559 Okay. 00:16:55.090 --> 00:17:10.759 So, um, we had kind of laid out, um, had gotten some good advice from some, uh, some friends that had, um, been foster parents and we kind of laid out some like, Hey, these are the types of scenarios that would work for our family. 00:17:10.760 --> 00:17:12.118 And this is what would not work. 00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:14.160 This is what we feel equipped for. 00:17:14.161 --> 00:17:32.279 And this is what we don't, as far as just the, the children and their backgrounds and maybe ages or whatever, you know, if you already have, um, you know, children in your home, sometimes you feel like, okay, we have all girls, we just wanna take girls or, you know, just things like that, just dynamics that work for your family. 00:17:32.280 --> 00:17:42.839 And so we had kind of laid that out and, um, used that kind of as a guideline, but we started getting calls, I mean, Knox county needs foster parents. 00:17:42.990 --> 00:17:43.480 Yeah. 00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:53.480 And so we started getting calls and calls and, um, we ended up taking, uh, our first, um, placement was a little guy, little newborn baby. 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:57.200 And, um, he was with us for a couple of months. 00:17:57.579 --> 00:18:04.039 And then, um, he suddenly left our home and, um, I was really painful. 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:06.559 It was really, it's one of the things of foster care. 00:18:06.560 --> 00:18:14.400 That's like, you know, we chose to love hard and know that like our hearts might be broken, but sure. 00:18:14.401 --> 00:18:15.039 That's okay. 00:18:15.099 --> 00:18:16.200 You know, it's okay. 00:18:16.201 --> 00:18:17.279 It's part of the process. 00:18:17.420 --> 00:18:28.400 And, um, so we, we said goodbye to him and, um, a few days later we got, was it how a week later? 00:18:29.118 --> 00:18:31.799 Uh, yeah, no, this I did 10 days something. 00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:32.039 Yeah. 00:18:32.040 --> 00:18:43.559 A week or 10 days later we got, uh, a phone call and, um, for two, um, a nine month old and a two and a half year old boy and girl. 00:18:44.059 --> 00:18:50.759 And, um, I was a little bit like, ah, am I ready to, you know, take more two? 00:18:50.760 --> 00:18:51.680 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:52.000 Two. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:54.240 And I mean, cuz we're brand new at this. 00:18:54.240 --> 00:19:07.960 Like we didn't have a clue on how to parent and um, so we ended up saying yes and um, they came into our home and then we quickly found out that their biological mother was pregnant. 00:19:08.329 --> 00:19:11.960 So we thought, okay, we might be, we might have three under three. 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:15.118 Um, so that'll be fun. 00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:15.960 And, 00:19:16.339 --> 00:19:18.319 And then that's one word for it's fun. 00:19:18.320 --> 00:19:18.759 And then, 00:19:19.380 --> 00:19:38.319 And then side note, um, not through foster care, uh, like a week after we said yes to the two year old and nine month old, we got a phone call at like 10 o'clock at night from, um, an acquaintance of a neighbor of ours who was in a really low place. 00:19:38.320 --> 00:19:45.279 She was really struggling and pregnant and wanting someone to adopt her, uh, baby that she was pregnant with. 00:19:45.280 --> 00:19:49.279 And it was like just this bizarre out of left field kind of scenario. 00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:53.599 And we were like, uh, yes. 00:19:54.200 --> 00:20:01.358 um, because we, we just, we just felt like, wow, this is like, God's bringing this to us. 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:02.680 And we just wanna say yes. 00:20:02.681 --> 00:20:04.240 And so we said, yes. 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:17.519 So we ended up, um, so the first two came to our home in July and then in November, both of the babies, the one that was the biological sibling of the ones that are in foster care. 00:20:17.520 --> 00:20:19.680 And then the other one that's a private adoption. 00:20:19.681 --> 00:20:21.118 They were born five days apart. 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:22.358 Um, wow. 00:20:22.450 --> 00:20:27.440 So we brought home basically twins and they had four under three, um, 00:20:27.829 --> 00:20:29.000 Four under three 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:31.519 During, in 2020 during COVID. 00:20:31.809 --> 00:20:33.079 So it was crazy. 00:20:33.080 --> 00:20:33.480 Can 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:35.358 We just say a prayer for blessing? 00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:35.880 Yeah. 00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:38.079 energy encouragement. 00:20:38.080 --> 00:20:38.319 Okay. 00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:41.000 The, the crazy thing, all that happened in four and a half months. 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:41.400 Yeah. 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:41.599 Woo. 00:20:41.650 --> 00:20:44.400 So zero to four under three and four and a half months. 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:44.720 Yeah. 00:20:44.970 --> 00:20:46.680 So we, uh, we dove in. 00:20:46.681 --> 00:20:48.319 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:20:49.329 --> 00:20:50.279 So they're yeah. 00:20:50.280 --> 00:20:52.480 And, uh, David's parents are back here. 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:59.079 We can thank them and my parents for stepping in and helping because, we, we needed it bad. 00:20:59.599 --> 00:20:59.599 Yeah. 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:02.960 Um, and we still have all four with us today. 00:21:02.961 --> 00:21:06.400 They've been us for, with us for, um, almost two and a half years. 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:09.559 Um, and they're still in foster care. 00:21:09.560 --> 00:21:10.920 It's a long process. 00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:12.599 Um, 00:21:13.309 --> 00:21:13.799 Yeah. 00:21:13.800 --> 00:21:21.440 And just quickly on that, it's interesting cuz you guys shared something that I wasn't aware of and that is the ultimate goal of foster parenting. 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:21.839 Yeah. 00:21:21.840 --> 00:21:24.480 If possible, if things could get right. 00:21:24.650 --> 00:21:25.799 Is, is for what 00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:27.839 Reunification with your family. 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:28.079 Yeah. 00:21:28.170 --> 00:21:33.480 So the priority is always family first and biological family. 00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:33.799 Yes. 00:21:33.800 --> 00:21:34.118 First. 00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:34.440 Yeah. 00:21:34.441 --> 00:21:39.200 And so that's, that's something that you, you talk a lot about when you're going through your classes. 00:21:39.470 --> 00:21:39.960 Sure. 00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:49.720 And um, you know, and that's, that's something that we firmly believe into mm-hmm the family unit and we didn't, we didn't want to get into this to adopt a child. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:50.000 Right. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:58.720 You know, we look at this as, um, as, as a ministry, you know, to, to bring people in whatever capacity, uh, that we can closer to Jesus. 00:21:59.240 --> 00:21:59.240 Sure. 00:21:59.339 --> 00:22:03.400 And so, um, our goal has always been reunification first. 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:03.920 Yeah. 00:22:03.921 --> 00:22:09.200 You know, and not being very, very intentional to not demonize the parents. 00:22:09.230 --> 00:22:09.720 Yeah. 00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:12.880 Um, you know, because the parents are a huge part of this as well. 00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:13.400 Sure. 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:18.079 And they need love and they need support and they need all the things that the kids need. 00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:28.400 You know, it's going not, not really being familiar with foster care prior to, to becoming a foster parent and just saying yes to the Lord. 00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:47.000 Um, you know, it's really easy to, um, to think worst case scenario about families, you know, the reason that these children are in care to begin with mm-hmm