What does it actually take for a church to support foster and adoptive families well, not just in theory, but in real, practical ways?

In this powerful episode of the Dream Small Podcast, Jason and Whitney sit down with Deidra, a mom of 12 children (a mix of biological, adopted and foster) and a leader in a thriving foster care and adoption ministry. Deidra shares her family’s incredible story and sheds some light on how a grassroots church effort grew into a fully supported, staff-led ministry that has changed the lives of countless families.

From care communities and support groups to closets, meal trains, and trauma-informed training, this conversation offers a clear, hopeful blueprint for churches wondering how to step into foster care ministry, and for foster families longing to know they’re not alone.

Whether you’re a foster parent, church leader, volunteer, or someone simply asking, “What can I do?” - this episode will challenge and encourage you to dream small, love intentionally, and show up faithfully.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

1. How Deirdre’s family grew from 8 kids to 12 through foster care and adoption
2. Why foster care is impossible to sustain without community
3. How a foster care ministry can start small and grow over time
4. What “care communities” are - and why they matter
5. Practical ways churches can support foster families beyond good intentions
6. Why many foster families quit after the first placement, and how the church can change that
7. Encouragement for churches and individuals who feel overwhelmed but willing

Key Takeaway:

You don’t have to do everything but you do have to do something. Foster care ministry works best when the church commits to walking alongside families for the long haul.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it, following the show, and leaving a rating or review, it truly helps more people find the podcast and encourages us to keep going.

Want to support the Dream Small Podcast financially?

👉 https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Connect with us:

Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

X / Twitter: @DreamSmallShow

Music Credit:

“Paradise Found” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Foster care comes with paperwork, training, and background checks, but no one really prepares you for the surprise rules. In this episode of the Dream Small Podcast, Jason and Whitney pull back the curtain on the unexpected, confusing, and weird rules they’ve encountered throughout their foster care journey.

From needing court approval to take a foster child out of state, to regulations around haircuts, ear piercings, medical appointments, and even sleepovers, this conversation is equal parts informative, humorous, and eye-opening. If you’ve ever considered fostering, support foster families, or are already licensed and nodding along thinking, “Yep… that happened to us too,” this episode is for you.

The Smalls also explore why these rules exist, how much they vary by state and county, and how experience, relationships, and caseworker discretion often shape what actually plays out in real life. Along the way, they share real stories, from a surprise ear-piercing during a visit to the logistical headache of documenting every single dose of Tylenol.

In this episode, we cover:

1. Why you often need court approval to cross state lines with a foster child
2. The surprising rules around haircuts, hairstyles, and ear piercings
3. Medical appointment restrictions you might not expect
4. Medication rules (yes... even over-the-counter meds)
5. Why foster care regulations vary so widely by state, county, and caseworker
6. How trust and experience can impact flexibility
7. The emotional toll of navigating constant regulations while parenting kids from hard places

Whether you’re a current foster parent, considering fostering, or simply want to better understand the foster care system, this episode offers honesty, perspective, and plenty of “wait… WHAT?” moments.

Contact Us:

Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Support the Podcast:

If you’d like to help us continue sharing stories that encourage faithfulness in the small things, you can support the show here: https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

🎶 Music Credit:

“Paradise Found” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What does it really mean to parent fairly?

In this episode of Dream Small, Jason and Whitney dive into a powerful parenting truth that came straight from one of their own kids: fair doesn’t always mean equal. Inspired by an insightful conversation with their son Benny, they unpack why different children, especially those impacted by trauma, autism, ADHD, or other forms of neurodiversity, often need different responses, expectations, and support.

Through personal stories, humor, and hard-earned experience, Jason and Whitney explore:

1. Why parenting every child the same can actually cause harm
2. How trauma changes the way kids experience authority, correction, and safety
3. The difference between fear-based parenting and trauma-informed parenting
4. Why connection must come before correction
5. How shame shows up in kids with impulse control challenges
6. Why “different” doesn’t mean favoritism - it means love

They also share practical, real-life examples - from chores and video games to food insecurity and emotional regulation - that help explain how trauma-informed strategies don’t just help kids with big needs… they often benefit everyone in the family.

This episode is especially helpful for:

1. Foster and adoptive parents
2. Parents of kids with autism, ADHD, or trauma histories
3. Parents feeling guilty for parenting kids differently
4. Anyone who wants to lead their family with more grace, understanding, and wisdom

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing it “wrong” because your parenting doesn’t look equal across the board, this episode is for you.

Contact us: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

Follow us:

1. Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast
2. Facebook: Dream Small Podcast
3. Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Support the podcast:

https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Music:

“Paradise Found” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What happens when you hand the microphone to your kids and ask them what Christmas is really about?

In this special Christmas episode of Dream Small, Jason and Whitney sit down with their three oldest children - Lia, Laney, and Benny - for an unfiltered, unscripted conversation about Jesus, family, foster care, and the meaning of Christmas. With honesty, humor, and wisdom well beyond their years, the kids remind us that Christmas isn’t about perfect traditions or perfectly wrapped gifts - it’s about presence, people, and the Prince of Peace.

From Lia’s simple yet profound declaration that “Jesus is the best present,” to Laney’s thoughtful reflections on authority, humility, and why Jesus came as a baby, this episode invites listeners to slow down and see Christmas through the eyes of children. Along the way, the Smalls reflect on what makes Christmas unique in a foster family - where welcoming others, embracing differences, and creating belonging are part of everyday life.

Whether you’re a foster parent, adoptive family, ministry leader, or simply someone longing for a quieter, more meaningful Christmas, this episode will encourage you to pause, listen, and dream small this season.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What kids think Christmas is really about (and why it’s not just presents)

• Why Jesus being born as a baby matters

• How foster care shapes the way kids experience Christmas

• The beauty of family, difference, and belonging

• Slowing down in a season that feels overwhelmingly busy

• Why small voices often carry the biggest truths

Pull up a chair, lean into the stillness, and let these kids point you back to the heart of Christmas.

Connect With Dream Small

If this episode encouraged you, challenged you, or reminded you of the true meaning of Christmas, we’d love to hear from you.

📩 Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

📸 Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

📘 Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

🐦 Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

💛 Support the Podcast:

If you believe in the mission of Dream Small and want to help us continue sharing stories of faith, foster care, and faithfulness in the everyday, you can financially support the podcast here:

👉 https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

🎶 Music Credit:

“Paradise Found” — Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this deeply personal episode of the Dream Small Podcast, Jason and Whitney discuss the unexpected day that changed everything - the day Whitney was diagnosed with cancer. Whitney walks through what she felt, how she told Jason, what it was like to hear the word carcinoma, and how faith held her through moments of fear, confusion, and waiting.

From navigating biopsies and PET scans to wrestling with the “unknowns,” Whitney shares openly about being a mom of seven in the middle of a cancer diagnosis—and how God met her in the middle of it. This episode is raw, real, emotional, and full of hope.

Whether you’re walking through cancer, supporting someone who is, or simply need encouragement for your own difficult season, this episode will remind you that God is present even in the waiting—and that small steps of faith matter, even on the hardest days.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• How Whitney first discovered something was wrong

• The moment she learned it was cancer

• How Jason and the kids processed the news

• What the waiting—between scans, biopsies, and results—feels like

• How fear, faith, and family collided

• What helped Whitney emotionally and spiritually

• What she wishes others understood about supporting someone with cancer

• The unexpected gifts that suffering brought

If this episode encouraged you, please consider supporting the show:

https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Connect with us:

Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Music:

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this heartwarming episode of the Dream Small Podcast, Whitney sits in the hot seat as her two oldest kids interview their own mom about life as a foster and adoptive parent. From chaotic sibling moments to chicken-nugget emergencies, from autism insights to deep conversations about faith and surrender, this episode gives listeners an inside look at the beauty and messiness of real-life foster parenting.

You’ll hear Whitney share:

• How her early career with DCS led her toward foster care

• What it felt like to receive her first foster placement within hours of being licensed

• How fostering has shaped her faith and taught her the art of surrender

• The lessons she’s learned raising seven kids, including two with special needs

• Why she sometimes wishes she could “clone herself into four people”

• The funniest, wildest kid moments that happen in a house full of little personalities

• Honest reflections on parenting through chaos, exhaustion, and pure joy

Listeners will also get to meet Bennett and Laney - two of the Smalls’ oldest kids - who bring humor, curiosity, and sweet sincerity as they ask everything from, “What’s your funniest foster care memory?” to “Which Disney character would make the best foster parent?”

This episode is perfect for foster parents, adoptive parents, big families, anyone considering foster care, or listeners who love authentic parenting stories filled with faith, humor, and honest emotion.

Connect With Us

We’d love to hear from you, pray for you, or cheer you on in your own foster or adoptive journey!

Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Support the Podcast: https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Music Credit

“Paradise Found” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In the Thanksgiving episode of The Dream Small Podcast, Jason and Whitney open the door to their joyful, loud, messy, and love-filled home. Whether you're driving to family gatherings, prepping holiday meals, or simply needing encouragement this week, this conversation is full of warmth, humor, and reminders of God’s goodness.

This episode dives into:

• The joyful chaos of parenting seven kids
• Why gratitude matters — even in seasons that feel overwhelming
• Their daughter’s hilarious 6th-grade teacher and the viral “because he’s fat” family joke
• The emotional, courageous decision that allowed their 2-year-old foster daughter to officially become adoptable
• The story of saying an unexpected “yes” that changed their family forever
• The unique privilege of being a dad (and mom) to kids who didn’t share their DNA
• How foster care has strengthened their marriage, stretched their faith, and shaped their children into more compassionate humans
• Remembering that gratitude doesn’t ignore hardships — it reframes them
• The beauty of being chosen to love children for a season or for a lifetime
• Learning to see God’s faithfulness in everyday “small” moments

If you are a foster parent, adoptive parent, or someone considering taking that step, this episode will encourage your heart, make you laugh, and may even bring a few tears (Jason included!).

Scripture of the Episode:

“Be thankful in all circumstances.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

Perfect for listeners searching:

foster care stories • adoption encouragement • Christian parenting • family joy • trauma-informed parenting • Thanksgiving gratitude • foster parent podcast • adoptive family podcast

🔗 Connect With Us

Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Support the show: https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Music: “Paradise Found” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The holidays can be magical… and they can also be really hard — especially for kids who carry deep histories, big questions, or painful memories. In this episode, Jason and Whitney get honest (and hilarious) about what it really looks like to navigate Thanksgiving and Christmas with foster and adoptive children.

From unexpected triggers (yes, even turkey and side dishes), to family dynamics, to overstimulation, to kids suddenly melting down in the middle of the “perfect” holiday moment — this episode is packed with real stories, practical strategies, and a whole lot of grace.

Whether you’re a new foster parent, a seasoned adoptive parent, or just someone trying to love kids well during the holidays, this conversation will encourage you, equip you, and remind you: you’re not alone, and you’re doing holy work.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Why holidays can trigger big emotions in foster and adoptive kids
• How smells, sounds, family traditions, and even snow can bring up unexpected memories
• Real-life stories from our home (including plate-throwing, pajama-dress snow adventures, and our hatred for the elf)
• How to honor your kids’ past traditions while building healthy new ones
• Prepping foster kids — and prepping extended family — for holiday gatherings
• Balancing grace and boundaries
• Practical ways to build in quiet moments when the overstimulation hits
• Gift ideas, coordinating with bio parents, and navigating DCS resources
• Why flexibility over tradition is the motto for surviving the holidays
• How the hope of Jesus reframes the entire season for our families

Practical Tips You’ll Walk Away With:

• How to reduce sensory overload
• Scripts and ideas for preparing kids ahead of time
• Ways to talk to extended family before a holiday gathering
• Trauma-informed gift-giving ideas
• How to create space, margin, and “trauma room” during busy days
• What boundaries matter most — and which traditions can bend
• How to keep Christ at the center of the holiday mess

Connect With Us - We’d love to support you on your foster care or adoption journey!

• Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

• Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

• Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

• Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

• Support the show: https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

• Music Credit: "Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/