Dream Small Podcast

Adoption day is often imagined as a magical finish line. A perfect moment where everything suddenly changes. But the reality is both simpler and deeper than that.

In this deeply personal episode of the Dream Small Podcast, Jason and Whitney share the real story behind the day their daughter’s adoption became official. Just four hours after leaving the courthouse, they sit down to reflect on the logistics, emotions, surprises, and sacred moments that marked the day she officially became theirs forever.

This episode pulls back the curtain on what adoption day actually looks like, from the sudden call announcing the date, to the courtroom experience, to the unexpected realization that in many ways, nothing changed at all because she had already been their daughter in their hearts long before it became legal.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

The Surprise and Waiting Leading Up to Adoption Day

After months of uncertainty, court dates, and waiting on the system, the adoption date finally arrived with only about ten days' notice. What had felt distant and uncertain suddenly became real overnight.

We talk about:

• Living in the uncertainty of the foster care system

• The emotional rollercoaster of waiting for permanency

• How quickly everything can suddenly change

• Preparing your heart and your home for adoption day

What Adoption Day Actually Looks Like Logistically

Many people imagine adoption day as a dramatic life-changing moment. But the reality is often far more practical and surprisingly ordinary.

We walk through:

• What happens at the courthouse

• Who attends and what roles they play

• How the judge interacts with the child and family

• Funny, unexpected moments during the hearing

• The waiting, the photos, and the practical flow of the day

The Small Faithfulness That Changes Lives Forever

Adoption day is not the beginning of love. It’s the recognition of love already lived out in ordinary, faithful, daily moments.

This episode is a reminder that God often works through small yeses, quiet obedience, and everyday faithfulness to change lives forever.

Because forever families are built one small act of faithfulness at a time.

This Episode Is For You If:

• You’re a foster parent wondering what adoption day looks like

• You’re considering foster care or adoption

• You’ve adopted and want to reflect on your own story

• You love hearing real stories of God’s faithfulness

• You want encouragement that small acts of obedience matter

Support the Dream Small Podcast

If this episode encouraged you, you can help us continue sharing stories of faith, foster care, and everyday obedience:

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

Contact and Follow Dream Small:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Music credit:

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

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

Foster care is hard. Not just emotionally, but practically. Kids often arrive with nothing. Families are stretched thin. Support can feel fragmented or temporary.

In this episode of the Dream Small Podcast, we sit down with Renae, Executive Director of Resources of Hope, a nonprofit based in Whiteland, Indiana, that is quietly and faithfully wrapping around foster, kinship, and adoptive families with the kind of support that actually meets real needs.

Renae shares her own foster care journey, including the painful experience of stepping away from fostering after a difficult placement, and how God used that story to shape her deep empathy and leadership today. From there, we dive into the heart of Resources of Hope and the many ways they are serving families across Indiana.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

Renee’s Personal Foster Care Story

Renee opens up about her lifelong desire to foster, how she and her husband stepped into foster care in 2017, and the difficult reality that led them to step back. That painful season became the foundation for how she now leads Resources of Hope with compassion, understanding, and a deep respect for foster families.

What Resources of Hope Really Does

Resources of Hope exists to wrap around foster families for the long haul, not just in a one-time moment of crisis. Their programs are built by listening to foster parents and responding to what families actually need, not what outsiders think they need.

The Clothing Boutique (Not Just a Closet)

Their largest program is the clothing boutique, which serves an average of 82 children per month. Children receive up to two weeks worth of clothing, including pajamas, socks, shoes, underwear, diapers, hygiene items, bedding, and more.

Families can return as children grow or change sizes, because foster care is not static. This ongoing access is a lifeline for families navigating constant change.

Teen Connect

A Friday night program for youth ages 12 to 17 in foster, kinship, or adoptive care. Teens share meals, talk through highs and lows, and participate in practical life-skill activities like car care, self-defense, and basic home skills. It is not therapy, but it is meaningful connection and support.

Birthday Blessings

Every child deserves to be celebrated. Resources of Hope provides a full birthday experience in a bag, including new toys, books, clothing or pajamas, party supplies, and a birthday dinner. These bags are intentionally customized and affirm each child’s identity and dignity.

Foster Parent Training and Support Groups

Resources of Hope offers DCS-approved trainings and monthly support groups that count toward required foster parent hours. One huge differentiator is that they provide childcare, removing one of the biggest barriers foster parents face when trying to attend training.

Recharge Events

These events offer foster parents a few hours of childcare so they can rest, reconnect, or simply breathe. Resources of Hope partners with churches and youth groups to make these nights possible.

Butterfly Blessings

Recognizing the lack of support in many rural areas, Resources of Hope launched Butterfly Blessings to bring clothing and resources directly to families up to an hour and a half away. Partnering with churches, they set up pop-up boutiques so families can shop locally and with dignity.

Holiday and Community Events

From the annual picnic to Hope for the Holidays, these gatherings go far beyond a simple event. Families share meals, shop for every child in their home, receive holiday food, and experience community with others who understand foster care life.

Teen Shopping Spree

Each May during Foster Care Awareness Month, teens new to care receive a $200 shopping spree focused on essentials first. Sponsors make this possible by directly funding individual teens.

All In for Foster Youth: Casino Night Fundraiser

Resources of Hope’s largest annual fundraiser is the All In for Foster Youth Casino Night, held each March. This event is not only a fun night out, it is a critical source of funding that supports nearly 25 percent of the organization’s annual budget.

Casino Night is designed for adults to gather, enjoy great food, play casino-style games, and rally around foster youth in a meaningful way.

What to Expect

1. Dinner catered by a local Greenwood caterer
2. Casino-style games including poker, blackjack, craps, and more (no experience required)
3. Professional dealers who teach you how to play
4. Silent auction with high-quality items and experiences
5. Prize drawings at the end of the night
6. Powerful stories about the impact Resources of Hope is making

How You Can Participate (https://www.resourcesofhope.org/casinonight)

1. Purchase an individual ticket or a full table
2. Sponsor the event or a specific program
3. Donate an item or experience for the silent auction
4. Attend, invite friends, and help spread the word

Even if you are not local to Central Indiana, you can still support Casino Night through sponsorships, auction donations, or direct giving.

Why This Episode Matters

This conversation highlights what meaningful foster care support looks like when it is done with humility, listening, and long-term commitment. Resources of Hope is a powerful example of how small, faithful acts can create real stability for families walking a hard road.

Whether you are a foster parent, church leader, volunteer, or someone wondering how to help, this episode offers a clear picture of how community can step in and make a difference.

How You Can Help

• Volunteer your time

• Donate clothing and supplies (quality matters)

• Sponsor a teen shopping spree

• Partner as a church or organization

• Spread the word about Resources of Hope

Connect with Resources of Hope

Renae’s email: [email protected]

Website: www.resourcesofhope.org

Casino Night: https://www.resourcesofhope.org/casinonight

facebook.com/resourcesofhope

instagram.com/resourcesofhope

Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/17077V7EW8QXW/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex

Connect With Us

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Love the show and want to help us keep it going?

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/

There’s a common myth that foster parents “do it for the money.” In this episode of the Dream Small Podcast, we walk through the real financial support foster parents receive in Indiana, including per diem rates, reimbursements, adoption subsidies, and why none of it comes close to covering the true cost of caring for a child.

If you’ve ever wondered:

1. Do foster parents get paid?
2. How much money do foster parents receive?
3. Is foster care financially sustainable?

This episode gives honest, firsthand answers based on real-life experience.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Foster Care Per Diem Rates in Indiana

Foster parents receive a daily per diem intended to offset basic living expenses. Rates vary by age and level of need determined by a CANS score.

Approximate daily rates:

- Level 1: $27 - $35

- Level 2: $36 - $43

- Level 3: $48 - $55

- Level 4: $72 - $79

These funds cover essentials like food, clothing, and hygiene items, not income.

2. Initial Clothing Allowance

Indiana provides a one-time $200 clothing voucher when a child is placed, helping cover immediate needs like clothing, shoes, and baby supplies. No sales tax applies.

3. Annual and Special Allowances

1. $300 annual personal allowance per child
2. $50 birthday allowance
3. $50 Christmas allowance

(Some agencies may supplement these amounts.)

4. Medicaid and WIC

All foster children receive Medicaid coverage. Children under five may also receive WIC benefits to help cover formula and basic nutrition.

5. Adoption Through Foster Care

Adoptive families may continue to receive:

1. Ongoing per diem support
2. Medicaid coverage
3. Partial adoption legal fee coverage
4. A federal adoption tax credit

6. Kinship Care vs Licensed Foster Care

Kinship caregivers often receive fewer benefits unless licensed. Licensing unlocks additional financial supports.

7. The Big Takeaway

Foster care payments are reimbursements, not income. Families who do foster care well almost never break even.

Who This Episode Is For:

1. Prospective foster parents
2. New foster families
3. Kinship caregivers
4. Anyone curious about foster care finances

If this episode was helpful, please consider sharing it with someone who has questions about foster care or who may be considering becoming a foster parent.

You can support the Dream Small Podcast by following, rating, and reviewing the show on your favorite podcast platform.

To financially support the podcast, visit: https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Music Credit:

“Paradise Found” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

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

Some weeks feel like a year. And for foster and adoptive families, those weeks often come with sick kids, missed church services, packed calendars, emotional exhaustion, and moments where you wonder how everything is going to get done.

In this episode, Jason and Whitney invite you into one very long, very real week in their home. From fevers and stomach bugs to basketball games that start early, overlapping school schedules, missed Bible studies, and late night cleanup, they walk listeners through the day by day reality of life in a large foster and adoptive family.

But this episode is not just about the hard stuff.

It is also a heartfelt reflection on the beauty and necessity of community. Jason and Whitney share powerful examples of people who stepped in during this exhausting week and made a tangible difference. A former teacher pouring into their son’s creativity, church members offering transportation and childcare, and friends quietly showing up in faithful, practical ways.

This episode is raw, honest, and deeply encouraging. It offers a realistic glimpse into foster care life while reminding listeners that no family is meant to do this alone. Whether you are a foster parent, adoptive parent, part of a church community, or someone wondering how you can support vulnerable children and families, this conversation will help you see that small acts of faithfulness truly matter.

In this episode, you will hear:

1. What a typical overwhelming week can look like in a foster and adoptive home
2. How sickness and packed schedules multiply stress for large families
3. Why authenticity matters when sharing foster care stories
4. Real examples of community stepping in and serving in meaningful ways
5. How people can answer the biblical call to support vulnerable children without fostering themselves
6. Encouragement for parents who feel exhausted, unseen, or stretched thin

This episode is a reminder that dreaming small looks like showing up, lending a hand, and being faithful in the everyday moments.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider following the podcast, leaving a rating, and writing a review. These small actions help the podcast reach other families who may be looking for encouragement and hope.

If you would like to support the Dream Small Podcast financially, you can do so here:

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

We would love to connect with you.

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

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 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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

📸 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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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/