Episode 22

Episode 22 - Faith, Family, and Fostering: A Dad–Daughter Conversation on Love, Grace, and Trusting God Through the Chaos

Published on: 14th October, 2025

In this heartfelt and joy-filled episode, Laney takes over the microphone to interview her dad for a special father-daughter conversation about faith, family, and the wild adventure of fostering. From learning patience through parenting to seeing God’s hand in every twist and turn, this candid discussion will inspire you to trust God even when life feels chaotic.

What You’ll Hear About in This Episode:

  • How parenting reveals God’s grace and deepens faith
  • What it’s really like to raise a big family — the chaos, the laughter, and the love
  • The story behind their family’s call to foster and adopt
  • Moments when God showed up in powerful, miraculous ways
  • How to keep trusting God when life doesn’t go as planned
  • Lessons learned from each of the kids — and how children can shape a parent’s faith
  • Why saying “yes” to hard things can bring the deepest fulfillment

Key Takeaways:

  • Faith in Action: Parenting and fostering are daily opportunities to live out Romans 12 — being a living sacrifice and trusting God in every challenge.
  • Grace on Repeat: Just as God shows us grace, parents must extend it constantly, even when life is messy.
  • Purpose in Chaos: A big, busy family may be chaotic, but it’s also a picture of love, laughter, and sanctification.
  • Obedience Over Comfort: There’s never a perfect time to foster, adopt, or say “yes” to God’s call — but obedience leads to eternal impact.
  • Dream Small: God can use the small, faithful steps of everyday obedience to do extraordinary things.

Memorable Moments:

  • Laney’s thoughtful questions that reveal a young heart full of wisdom and compassion.
  • Stories of miracles — from health scares to unexpected blessings.
  • Heart-to-heart reflections on trusting God during miscarriage, cancer, and uncertainty.
  • Laughter over dad jokes, family chaos, and the beauty of imperfection.

Scripture Highlights:

  • Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…”
  • James 1:27 – “Pure and genuine religion means caring for orphans and widows in their distress.”
  • 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you…”
  • Romans 12:1 – Living as a sacrifice that honors God.
  • Ephesians 3:20 – “He is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.”

Call to Action

If this conversation encouraged you, please subscribe, rate, and share the Dream Small Podcast! You can also connect with us on social media or visit our website to learn more about fostering, faith, and family.

Support the Dream Small Podcast:

If this episode encouraged you, consider supporting our mission to inspire others to live faithfully in the small things. Your generosity helps us keep sharing stories that matter.

👉 Support the podcast here.

Connect with Us:

📧 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 License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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About the Podcast

Dream Small Podcast
The Dream Small Podcast is a foster care and adoption podcast hosted by Jason and Whitney Small, foster and adoptive parents who have welcomed more than 14 children into their home and adopted three. Through honest conversations and real life stories, the podcast encourages foster parents, adoptive families, and those considering foster care.

Each episode explores the realities of foster care, adoption, and parenting children from hard places, offering practical encouragement and hope for families navigating the foster care journey. Jason and Whitney share lessons from their own experience, faith, and conversations around trauma informed parenting, family life, and supporting vulnerable children.

Whether you are a current foster parent, an adoptive parent, considering becoming a foster parent, or someone who supports foster families, the Dream Small Podcast exists to encourage and equip you along the way.

Jason and Whitney believe that changing a child’s life rarely happens through big moments. More often, it happens through small, faithful acts of love lived out every day.

If you're thinking about becoming a foster parent or walking the foster care journey, this podcast will help you navigate the challenges, celebrate the wins, and stay encouraged along the way.
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