Our Foster Care Journey

Discovering a passion

We discovered our mutual love of foster children while volunteering with a local Youth for Christ ministry chapter. Through YFC, we created a one-week summer camp for foster kids called Camp Discover. I used my experiential learning background to lead the recreation activities, and Alice was one of the camp counselors—mentoring students after the summer. Serving together, our friendship evolved into a relationship and then marriage.

When our daughter Peggy was two-years-old, we actively considered becoming foster parents. We committed to limiting our biological family to only one child—leaving space in our home for children with nowhere to go. And in God's perfect timing, we learned that WinShape Homes created a child placement agency. We were excited and jumped into the first IMPACT foster parent training. We knew caring for kids from hard places would be a challenge and wanted the extra support that WinShape could offer.

The first placement

At 10:30 pm on a Tuesday, we learned of a four-week-old girl needing an immediate placement. We had a precious but traumatized child in our home within the hour. After caring for her through the emergency, we learned that her future with us would not likely be permanent. Regardless of how long she stayed, we immediately embraced her as one of our daughters.

“Whoever was in our home was our child.”

After eight months in our home, one of her family members claimed custody. Our goodbyes were both sad and joyous. Even though we knew the situation beforehand and anticipated reunification, seeing her go was still painful.

The second placement

After a short recovery break, another infant girl was placed in our home. We had more information this time and understood that she would become a permanent member of our family. After almost a year, with the case trending towards adoption, DFCS found a biological family member capable of caring for her. We were filled with mixed emotions at the sudden change of outcome. Surprised, shocked, and devastated that this wonderful child would not be a member of our forever family. Once the shock wore off, we were genuinely thankful for the reunification to happen. Her biological father goes out of his way to keep us connected to his daughter as she grows up.

“It’s been good to be able to see her grow up — hard, but good.”

The third placement

We took time to grieve before baby Lucy was placed in our house. Even though we knew that this placement was more likely to result in adoption, it took time after our loss to warm up to her. I guarded my heart, not believing it was final until we signed the final papers.

One of Alice's most challenging parts of the foster care journey was how to love the children where they are, love their parents for who they are, and understand that God is in control of the whole thing.

“God has taught me that the world is very broken. Kids who come to foster care need love more than anybody else, so try to figure out how you love them where they are and love their parents for where they are.”

The kids who come to foster care need love more than anybody else. We cared for Lucy for a year and a half before adding her to our forever family.

Adoption

The day finally came for us to adopt Lucy, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the process had to be completed virtually. Having the adoption conducted over a Zoom call didn’t seem ideal initially. Still, it allowed us to invite friends and family from all over the world to be part of their celebration, making the occasion even more special.

Final Thoughts

Throughout this journey, many family, friends, and coworkers commented that we must be exceptional people to welcome strangers into our homes and love them like our children. Spoiler Alert: We aren’t special. Instead, we are flawed and imperfect followers of Jesus trying to live out our faith. This journey was not our idea; it was His.

Jesus loves kids and wants them to have a home and a family, a purpose, and a future. Don’t praise us, praise Him.

Thank you to WinShape Homes, Promise 686, Floyd County DFCS, YFC, Restoration Rome, Three Rivers Church, Seven Hills Fellowship, and our friends and family who supported us throughout our time as foster parents.

Suroviec Family on Adoption Day — The Suroviec Family: Mark, Alice, Peggy, & Lucy