Bridge of Hope - Foster Home

06/17/2026

Hellos and goodbyes in foster care are loaded with so many feelings.

Hellos are feeling blessed to know these wonderful kids, while also knowing they had enormous goodbyes and their loss has been so great.

Saying goodbye is sad, but also often a joyous occasion where reunification is happening.

Each moment, and all of the moments in between are filled with conflicting emotions of sadness, joy, growth, loss, celebration, longing, grief, and happiness.

Foster care is an emotional ride for foster families, bio families, and the kiddos they all love. This time we are happy to be saying “See you later!” So often foster care doesn’t end when children leave this home, the journey continues as we build relationships with bio families and all work together to build bright futures for these kiddos!

06/14/2026

Mimi wanted an all girls camping trip so I(Jessica Patten) loaded up the girlies, met up with the aunts and girl cousins, and we hit the lake! Tornado warnings sent us home early but it was a great time of more snacks than you can imagine, swimming, bracelet making, and learning to hang hammocks. 😍

06/10/2026

06/06/2026

Sometimes people wonder what it’s like for kids to have so many siblings and if they get to do “normal” kid things. The answer is, of course! Tonight we have friends over. There’s 11 kids running around eating walking tacos and making more noise than you can imagine. 😂

06/05/2026

Summer isn’t just for swimming, though we do that almost daily! We have ourselves quite the fisherman these days!

05/30/2026

Besides the 10 people in the house, Bridge of Hope is home to two 55 gallon fish tanks thanks to dad(Joey Patten)! Besides being fun to look at, they are quite therapeutic!

“Stress Reduction: One of the most frequently-cited benefits of watching fish in aquariums is the reduction of stress and anxiety. The slow, fluid movements of fish combined with the gentle murmur of water can induce a meditative state, helping to lower cortisol levels, and increase feelings of calm.

Improved Focus and Attention: Observing the intricacies of an aquarium – from the behaviour of fish to the sway of aquatic plants – can improve concentration and attention span. This can be particularly beneficial in educational or therapeutic settings.

Decrease in Blood Pressure and Heart Rate: Several studies have indicated that observing fish in aquariums can lead to reductions in blood pressure and heart rate, which are physiological markers associated with relaxation.

Enhanced Mood: The aesthetics and beauty of a well-maintained aquarium, with its diverse range of colours and species, can be a mood enhancer. Engaging with this form of nature indoors can help alleviate feelings of sadness or depression for some individuals.”

05/25/2026

Yesterday we went roller skating, today we tried the pool! Summer is in full swing at the hope house! ❤️ There is an endless question “hey mom, I’m hungry! What’s for breakfast/lunch/snack/dinner?” 😂

05/24/2026

Summer adventures have begun! We love to explore outside.
Please comment your favorite places to visit/things to do in the area!

05/22/2026

We had a birthday in the house yesterday! We had a fun trip to Chuck E. Cheese and Barnes and Noble and then a unicorn party! 🦄 The girls weren’t quite ready to stop partying and made root beer floats at 10 am this morning with leftover party ice cream 😂❤️

02/02/2026

Thank you to all of our donors and sponsors for the 2026 Hope Ball! Our Foster Home could not survive without you!

We appreciate everyone that purchased raffle tickets and online auction items. Even though we were unable to have our event in person this year, your generosity was still overwhelming.

Please support these local businesses as you are able.