Let’s be real — fostering and adoption come with a unique set of challenges… and sometimes, even more challenging conversations. In this episode, we share the top awkward, cringey, or unintentionally hurtful things people have said to us as foster and adoptive parents — and we unpack why those comments can be difficult, and how to say something more helpful instead.

We’re talking about real-life phrases we’ve heard like:

• “Are you going to keep them?”

• “Which ones are yours?”

• “What happened to their real parents?”

• “You’re such a saint!”

• “I could never do that.”

• “You look tired.”

• “Everything happens for a reason.”

• “At least....”

But this episode isn’t just about the hard stuff — we’re keeping it funny and honest too. You’ll hear about:

• Whitney’s traumatic bathtub corn dog incident during a hair-washing session (yes, it’s as wild as it sounds)

• Our mini bernedoodle’s attempt to save the day

• The beauty and chaos of a full house

• And the sweetest moment when our little one says, “Mommy, tonight was really fun…”

We’re not here to shame anyone — we know most people mean well. But we hope this conversation helps others better understand how to support, speak to, and love on foster and adoptive families.

Whether you’re a foster parent, someone who loves one, or just want to be more thoughtful with your words — this episode is for you.

Let’s Connect:
📧 Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com📸 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/

In this real-life conversation about foster care and faith, Jason and Whitney share what it’s looked like for them to love biological parents through their years of foster care. From fear and tension to empathy and friendship, they walk through the emotional and spiritual journey of learning to honor the first families of the children in their care.

Whether you're just starting out in foster care or years into the journey, this episode will challenge and encourage you to take one more step toward grace.

In This Episode:

• Why loving bio parents didn’t come naturally at first

• The power of perspective: hearing the backstory behind a parent’s pain

• How to protect dignity, even when it’s hard

• Real stories of handwritten notes, bubble bottles, and grace-filled gifts

• Why loving their child well is one of the best ways to love them

• A reminder from Scripture that it's not about us—but about how we love

Key Scriptures:

• Romans 12:10 (NLT): “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”

• Romans 12:9 (NLT): “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them.”

• Matthew 25:35–40 (ESV): “As you did it to one of the least of these… you did it to me.”

Challenge of the Week:

Pick one small way to show grace to a biological parent — even if it’s just a prayer or a kind word in your own heart.

Connect with Us:

• Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

• 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/

In this heartfelt episode of Dream Small, Jason and Whitney open up about one of the most emotionally complex topics in their lives: adoption. With vulnerability and honesty, they reflect on the bittersweet layers of adopting their daughter, in honor of her recent gotcha day anniversary—a celebration marking four years since she officially became part of their family.

💡 Key Themes:

The Dichotomy of Adoption

Adoption is both joyful and heartbreaking. While it's a celebration of redemption and new beginnings, it's also rooted in profound loss and brokenness. The Smalls share how this tension has shaped their journey.

Real-Life Adoption Stories

Though they respect their children's privacy and don’t share full details, Jason and Whitney walk through how each of their two adoptive children's stories began—with a weekend of "TLC" that turned into a lifetime, and a pre-birth call that changed their lives.

Emotional Complexity

Whitney reflects deeply on the emotional turmoil leading up to and following their daughter's adoption—especially the bittersweet pain of her birth mother losing parental rights. Jason offers insight into the more even-keeled perspective that balanced their emotional responses.

Theological and Personal Perspective

They connect their experience to the biblical theme of adoption as a picture of God’s redemptive love. Still, they resist simplifying adoption as "God's plan" without acknowledging the trauma and human failure that necessitate it.

Challenging the “Lucky” Narrative

The Smalls explain why well-intentioned comments like “she’s so lucky to have you” fall short. Adoption is not about luck—it’s about healing, trauma, redemption, and a long journey of trust and love.

A Letter from a Mother’s Heart

Whitney reads a powerful, emotional letter she wrote to her daughter the night before the adoption. It’s a raw reflection on hope, fear, and the overwhelming love of a mother who waited so long to make her child “forever hers.”

💬 Listener Takeaways:

• It’s okay to feel conflicted emotions about adoption—both joy and grief can coexist.

• Adoptive families need compassion, support, and space to process the ongoing challenges of trauma and attachment.

• Understanding adoption as part of a broken world in need of redemption creates room for grace—for the child, the birth family, and the adoptive parents.

📌 Resources & Next Steps:

• Follow or subscribe to Dream Small on your podcast platform.

• Share this episode with a friend walking through adoption or foster care.

• Stay tuned for future episodes where the Smalls may invite their kids to share their stories—when they’re ready.

📬 We’d love to hear from you!

• Email: ⁠dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com⁠

• Instagram: ⁠@dreamsmallpodcast⁠

• Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

• X (Twitter): ⁠@DreamSmallShow⁠

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

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

In Part 2 of our deep dive into the most common objections to foster care, Jason and Whitney bring humor, truth, and lived experience to the table—literally. From “What if it costs too much?” to “What if the child is a different race than me?” they tackle the fears, the practical barriers, and the misconceptions many people wrestle with when considering foster care.

This episode is honest and real, covering topics like:

• Financial and emotional cost

• Partner disagreements

• Connecting with kids

• Lack of energy, time, or support

• The brokenness of “the system”

• Interracial foster/adoptive families

• Fear of regret

• And the belief that it “takes a special person”

You’ll laugh, maybe tear up, and definitely walk away more equipped and encouraged to say yes to God’s calling—whatever that may be.

📍 Action Steps This Week:

• Pray boldly: “God, if You’re calling me, I’ll say yes—even if I’m scared.”

• Reach out to someone who fosters.

• Attend a local info session.

• Support a foster family near you (even dinner or a yard cleanup goes a long way).

🎧 If you missed Part 1 (Episode 5), we recommend starting there!

📬 We’d love to hear from you!

• Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

• Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

• Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

• X (Twitter): @DreamSmallShow

🙏 Thank you for listening, sharing, and living a life of small faithful yeses.

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

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

In this powerful episode of Dream Small, Jason and Whitney dive into the top hesitations people have about foster care. From concerns about their biological children to the fear of getting too attached, they unpack each objection with personal stories, biblical encouragement, and a dose of humor. If you've ever whispered "maybe we could foster…" but were stopped by a "what if," this episode is for you.

What You’ll Hear:

• Why “What if it’s hard on my biological kids?” is a valid but manageable concern

• The tension between comfort and calling—and how the Gospel calls us to sacrifice

• The reality of getting too attached (and why that’s actually a good thing)

• Stories of heartbreak, healing, and hope from their own foster journey

• Biblical encouragement for feeling unqualified or fearful

• Honest moments (and a few laughs) from life with six kids, garage sales, and broken vans

Key Quote:

“If God is calling us to it, He’s already factored in our inadequacy and our stupidity.”

Encouragement of the Week:
Call someone. Speak life into them. Let them feel seen.

Scripture Mentioned:
📖 Isaiah 41:10 — “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God…”

• Book Recommendations: The Body Keeps the Score and What Happened to You?

• Interested in fostering or supporting a foster family? Start here:

  https://josiahwhites.org/

  https://handsofhopein.org/

Enjoyed this episode? Please follow or subscribe, leave a rating or review, and share this with a friend who needs encouragement.

📱 Follow us on

Instagram / Facebook — @DreamSmallPodcast

📩 Contact:dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

In this courageous episode of Dream Small, Jason and Whitney welcome a very special guest — their oldest daughter, Delaney “Bug” Small. What starts as a casual, laughter-filled chat in their brand-new “luxury” basement studio quickly blossoms into a deeply moving story of resilience, purpose, and the power of small dreams.

In this reflective Father's Day episode of Dream Small, Jason and Whitney honor the life and legacy of Jason's dad, who passed away in December 2024. Through simple, consistent acts of love and service—like driving an elderly woman to church for over a decade and faithfully visiting a paralyzed Marine—he modeled what it means to "dream small" and live a life that truly matters.

In this heartfelt episode, Jason and Whitney open up about the moment that changed everything: their decision to step into foster care. After a heartbreaking miscarriage in 2016, they found themselves searching for purpose in the pain—and chose to say “yes” to the call of fostering.

With honesty and vulnerability, they share the highs and lows of the licensing process, the emotional rollercoaster of welcoming their first placement (a toddler they affectionately call “Number One”), and the 2,353 days that followed with foster children in their home.

Whether you're considering foster care or just wondering what it looks like to “dream small,” this episode offers a powerful reminder that small, faithful steps can change lives.

✅ Action Steps:

• Reflect on your own “dream small” moment. Where is God asking you to say yes—even in something that feels small?

• Share this episode with someone who may be exploring foster care or needs encouragement in saying yes to God’s call.