10/06/2026
*Shared from current Benchmark Crawfordsville foster parents who celebrated a successful reunification this week*
“232 days for sweet baby K and 168 days for her big brother K. This morning was a bittersweet one in our home as we said our goodbyes—and hopefully our “see you later, alligators”—to these two sweet babies.
After 232 days in our home, sweet baby K went home with her mommy this morning. As hard as it was to say goodbye, we couldn’t be more excited for her and her parents. Her going home means her family is together again, and that is exactly what we have prayed and hoped for all along.
She was our second little baby, and we got to watch her take her very first steps, discover her little personality, and grow into the funny, sweet girl she is today. She absolutely adores Gavin, and watching the two of them together has always been one of my favorite things. Her funny little faces, her sweet personality, and all the little things that make her her are going to be missed more than she’ll ever know. We love you so, so much, sweet girl. 🤍
And after 168 days, her big brother K is going home with Mommy, too! These past several months with a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old while being pregnant have definitely humbled me in ways I didn’t know were possible. 😂 From brother K pretending to puke with me during my first trimester, to now coming up and talking to my belly and checking on “the baby,” we have gotten to see just how sweet of a big brother he already is.
There is such a strange mixture of emotions that comes with foster care. Our hearts are heavy because we are going to miss the giggles, the cuddles, the chaos, the routines, and all of the little everyday moments that became so normal to us. But at the same time, our hearts are so full knowing these babies are going home to be loved, safe, and surrounded by their family.
We may not get to be the ones who tuck them in every night anymore, but we will always be part of their story. We will always remember their first steps, their funny faces, their little personalities, and the countless memories they left behind in our home. Most importantly, we will always be cheering them on from wherever life takes them.
So today, we are choosing to be grateful. Grateful that we got to love them. Grateful that they trusted us. Grateful for every messy, exhausting, hilarious, beautiful day. And grateful that, for a little while, our home got to be their home. Be loved, be spoiled, grow like weeds, and know that you have a whole extra family here who will always love you.”
Thank you, Jalyn & Gavin! 🩵💙
