Episode 19 - Our Forever Yes: Saying Yes to Foster Care in the Middle of Cancer and Chaos

In Episode 19 of the Dream Small Podcast, Jason and Whitney open up about one of the most defining moments of their foster care journey — the return of their “always yes” child.

Years earlier, this little girl had entered their home as a scared toddler, quickly bonding with their family. But in a painful and unexpected turn, the foster care system sent her back home before it was safe, leaving their family grieving a sudden loss with no closure. For three years, Jason and Whitney prayed for her, never knowing if they would see her again.

Then, in the middle of the hardest season of their lives — Whitney’s cancer diagnosis and treatment, Jason’s dad quickly deteriorating from dementia, and the everyday chaos of raising five (at the time) kids — the phone rang late on a Friday night. It was DCS, and the little girl they had never stopped loving needed a home again.

In this powerful episode, Jason and Whitney share:

• The heartbreak of sudden reunification and how the foster care system sometimes fails children
• The reality of foster parenting in seasons of personal crisis
• How they wrestled with God’s timing when the call came during cancer treatment and grief
• The emotional homecoming — what it was like to see their “forever yes” walk back through the door three years later
• Why saying yes to foster care and adoption rarely makes sense logically, but always reflects God’s love
• How community support — friends, church, and even strangers — carried them through this season

This conversation is raw, honest, and full of hope. It’s a story of foster care, faith, obedience, and the power of saying yes even when life feels impossible. Whether you’re a foster parent, adoptive parent, or simply someone seeking encouragement in following God’s call, this episode will remind you that love is an action — and sometimes the smallest yes can change a child’s life forever.

We’d love to hear from you! Has God ever asked you to step into something hard when the timing made no sense? Message us and share your story — your obedience might encourage someone else to keep going.

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Music credit: "Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | Licensed under CC BY 4.0