06/22/2026
This post was written and is being shared with permission by a Benchmark foster parent!! 🩵
One year ago today, our lives changed. We officially became licensed foster parents through Benchmark Family Services - Crawfordsville, Indiana, and what an incredible, challenging, rewarding, and life-changing year it has been.
Since then, we’ve had the great privilege of loving and caring for 4 sweet babes who have forever stolen our hearts, along with a few respite kiddos here and there. Each child who has come through our home has left a footprint on our hearts, and we are so grateful to have been a small part of their story.
Looking back, I can see how much we have grown from our very first placement to the sweet babes we care for now. We’ve learned that foster care is so much about advocating—but advocating in the appropriate way. We’ve learned patience, flexibility, grace, and how to navigate a system that isn’t always easy. There are things that can feel unfair, and while we wish some things were different, we’ve also learned that real change takes time.
One thing we hear all the time is, “I could never do foster care because I’d get too attached.” The truth is, these children deserve foster parents who get attached. They deserve someone to love them wholeheartedly while they’re here. They need someone to celebrate their accomplishments, comfort them when they’re hurting, kiss the boo-boos, cheer them on, tuck them in at night, and remind them every single day that they matter. Saying goodbye is hard, but it should be hard. It means they were loved. It means they had someone in their corner.
We truly could not have made it through this first year without Benchmark. From day one, they have been our biggest support system. Whether it’s a late-night phone call, a question we aren’t sure how to handle, a difficult situation, a reason to celebrate, or simply needing someone to listen, they have always been there. Foster care can feel overwhelming at times, but Benchmark has never made us feel like we’re doing it alone. The support, guidance, encouragement, and advocacy they provide for both foster families and children is something we are incredibly thankful for.
This year has taught us so much about resilience, compassion, and what it means to show up for children during some of the hardest moments of their lives. It has stretched us, challenged us, and blessed us in ways we never could have imagined.
Lately, we’ve been asked a lot if we plan to stop fostering now that we’re expecting our own baby boy. The short answer is no. Foster care has become such an important part of our lives and our hearts. Making a difference in the lives of these children is one of the most rewarding things we’ve ever done. We hope our son grows up seeing the importance of loving others, helping those in need, and opening your heart to children who need a safe place to land.
Here’s to one year of foster care, countless memories, many lessons learned, and so much love. We can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds. ❤️🏡✨
