138- Called to Care: One Mom’s Journey Through Foster Parenting and Open Adoption with Kim Patton

On this episode of the Front Parking Spot podcast, host Jennifer Bosma speaks with Kim Patton — an adoptive and foster mom living in Ohio, author, and podcast host — about her winding journey from infertility to open adoption and two years of fostering teenage girls. Kim shares candid stories about the chaos and beauty of mixed family life, what open adoption looks like in practice, and how faith shaped her decisions along the way. Topics covered include: Kim’s personal adoption story and why she chose open adoption; the realities of fostering teenagers alongside young biological children; practical ways to get involved in foster care (from volunteering and respite care to becoming licensed); how to pursue fostering as a united couple and the importance of prayer; and simple, everyday ways to serve and teach children empathy and life skills. Kim also offers spiritual and emotional guidance for moms navigating hard seasons — infertility, marital struggle, grief, or parenting challenges — encouraging listeners to find identity in Christ (referencing Ephesians), to take negative thoughts captive, and to practice grace with themselves. She emphasizes keeping conversations positive about birth families, preparing kids for identity questions, and continuing to pray for foster children even after they leave your home. Practical takeaways and resources highlighted: start slowly if you feel called to foster (volunteer, provide respite, or support local foster families), keep your spouse involved and committed, use open adoption to maintain respectful relationships with birth families when possible, and prioritize prayer and honest conversations with your children. Kim recommends Rosaria Butterfield’s The Gospel Comes with the House Key for inspiration on radical hospitality and mentions her own work — the book Nothing Wasted Struggling Well Through Difficult Seasons and a Foster Mama Journal — plus her Book Therapy podcast and KimPatton.com as places to learn more. Listeners can expect a faith-centered, practical, and heartfelt conversation full of real-life examples, actionable next steps for getting involved in foster or adoption work, and encouragement for moms to rest in God’s identity and purpose during every season of family life. http://www.kimpatton.com/ https://www.kimpatton.com/published-works Book Therapy with Kim Patton: Encouraging Foster and Adoptive Families One Book at a Time • A podcast on Spotify for Creators Christian children's books for all kids! — Jennifer Bosma Follow Jennifer on Instagram @frontparkingspot Have you been trying to explain the Trinity to the little ones in your life? Order Jennifer's newest book, God is Three in One. Are you in need of a thoughtful gift for the next baby shower? Consider a copy of Jennifer's book, I Know the Plans. Its engaging storytelling and Christian values make it a perfect choice for the 'bring a book instead of a card' request. Do you have a child waiting for a sibling to join the family? Order The Baby Garden Christian children's books for all kids! — Jennifer Bosma Your reviews on Apple Podcasts are invaluable! They help us improve and reach more moms interested in Christian children's books and podcasts. Scroll all the way down to 'Leave a Review' written in purple at the bottom of the page to share your thoughts. Subscribe to Jennifer's website at www.jenniferbosma.com Thanks, Moms, for listening. Please share with others! Have an Ephesians 3:20 day as you go for the Front Parking Spot in your life today!