This book was so amazing to read as a foster parent. Jamie Finn puts my emotions into words and I was crying and nodding my head in agreement the whole time.

I needed this book. As a foster parent I needed the gospel centered perspective on the important work of foster care. Jamie nailed this one!

This is the book I wish I had had when actively fostering! It gives clear vocabulary to how the Gospel applies specifically to the foster situation. I wish my friends and family had had this book to help remind me of the Truth when I was feeling overwhelmed. However you are connected to families in foster care/adoption, this book is a tremendous resource!

After following Jamie Finn for a few years in social media, I was excited to read her first book. It did not disappoint! Jamie uses her experiences as a biological, adoptive, and foster parent to inform readers about the brokenness of the foster care system, and how Christians can be a force for good within it. She views foster care as a ministry to the children and their biological families. It is truly inspiring!

This book hit home so many times.... There are so many truths here about both the heart break and the blessings of fostering children. The importance of trusting in God being of importance too.

Fellow foster parent, Jamie C. Finn, wrote the book she wished she would have had when she started out as a foster parent. I enjoyed her perspective because she writes to us from the trenches.

I love how she highlights the rewards of being a foster parent, while being honest about how it can also be challenging when you feel alone, depleted, or even discouraged.

She understands the burdens of foster care— trauma, relationships with biological parents, kids who are hurting, and the brokenness of the system. Jamie offers compassion for those of us in the trenches. She helps us see our struggles through the lens of the gospel. She brings biblical truths to bear on foster care’s unique everyday realities.

Her book is easy to read and I found her stories relatable and encouraging.

Amazing. I loved the rawness and the truth that was shared, it was so beautiful and something I'll go back and look at over and over again.

I loved the stories and how encouraging it is for a new foster parent.

This book is essential reading for Christian foster parents.Jamie gives practical wisdom for all aspects of foster parenting (trauma, attachment, visits with biological parents, dealing with workers, etc) - but more than that, she offers a gospel-centered framework for approaching foster care and everything that comes with it. This marriage of sound theology and “in the trenches with you” perspective is priceless.

Jamie is honest and realistic without a hint of bitterness. I saw myself and my family (even the darker, harder parts of us) in these pages - what a gift it is to feel seen and understood. But the real gift of this book is how Jamie points constantly back to the Bible, urging you to find true hope and encouragement in the truth of Scripture. This is not a “how-to” book with some Bible verses thrown in. Jamie carefully applies biblical principles to the everyday challenges of foster care.

Though this book is primarily for foster parents & those specifically interested in foster care, I would not hesitate to recommend it to any Christian. It paints and beautiful, convicting picture of knowing the Lord and loving people well.

Incredible book!! Perfect for anyone who’s fostering, adopting, or anything in between. Jamie is raw and honest. It’s a beautiful book. You won’t want to put it down.

This is the book on foster care I have been waiting for! I’ve read many on the topic and nothing compares. The difference is the honest and raw perspective from a Christian foster mother. Being a foster parent is often lonely and can feel like nobody can understand your experience-This book is so relatable, and at times, it felt like she was writing about my personal experience-I felt seen. Finn does a phenomenal job of presenting the truths about foster care while focusing on the Truth about God’s purpose for our lives. This is truly a must read!

I can't say enough good things about this book and how it impacted me and my thinking! We were thrust in to the world of fostering and it can be a lonely and isolating journey. This book encouraged me so much and gave me so much more to think about! I am going to include some of my favorite quotes below! This book should be read by foster families and anyone that is supporting a foster family!



"Worrying about getting too attached takes away from our ability to love and serve our foster children the very best we can" (Location 1025 in Kindle)



This is another important idea for me to remember when I am taking care of my foster kids--"Therefore, the ways you parent kids from hard places may look very different from the methods of the friends and family you're parenting alongside" (Location 1489 in Kindle)



The foster journey is a very difficult one and this quote speaks to me: "I so want to do this foster thing well, and then every day my weakness touches it all" (Location 1632 in Kindle)



This was something that helped me when thinking about my own kids and the emotional toll of foster care, "One of the reasons we do foster care is for our children, so they'll learn about sacrificial love and service and following Jesus in hard ways" (Location 1911 in Kindle)



This last quote really helped me to think about loving the biological parents more, "I know that God loves these biological parents. That He adores their souls, that they are deeply precious to Him. That before being one who shows grace, I'm one who has received grace" (Location 3209 in Kindle)



These are my 5 favorite quotes, there are so many more, which is why you need to buy the book and check it out!!

Amazing read full of wisdom, heart, and practical tips for foster parents of all ages and stages. Whether you're a current foster parent, supporting someone in care, or considering fostering, this book has something for you.

Filled to brim with gospel encouragement that can speak to any parent, Foster the Family reminds us of truths that help us to focus on the right things as we parent any children in our home, our bio children or children we're fostering. I feel the book would encourage moms of kids who have been through any types of trauma or heartache, regardless of whether those experiences were related to foster care. I'm so thankful that the Lord has encouraged Jamie to share her stories and encourage others on this walk.

"This book isn’t advice for foster parents; it’s truth for foster parents. Advice may not apply to every situation, may not work even if it did, but truth from God’s Word is always for you, all the time. Even when you’re not sure what to do, His Word directs us in how we are to do it."

This book was everything I hoped it would be. It is, first and foremost, absolutely saturated in Scripture. While nothing in this book caused a life-changing, light bulb style moment; it is a what I so often need - a sister in Christ reminding me of what I already know to be true when the chaos of foster care can lead me to forget. I foresee many a trip back to this book for single chapter reminders when the days are hard. I cannot wait to pass it around to fellow foster parents and our community alike.

Chapter topics include: Knowing your "why"; God's love; Fear; Prayer; Control; Guarding your mind while giving your heart; Treatment of bio family, workers, and judges; Waiting; Trauma and discipline; Impact on forever children; Self Care; Heartbreak; and Encouragement to continue on.

From one foster mama's heart to another, Jamie is
open and honest about her foster care journey by
sharing a variety of ups and downs one might
experience. Reading this book felt like I was sitting
down with and talking to a wiser foster mama sharing
all her knowledge. I'd readily gobble up another book
that she writes and would recommend as
encouragement to foster parents or those considering
foster care.

I am not a foster parent, although I am incredibly interested in being so in the future and want to support friends who already are. Here’s what I can tell you: even if you are not a foster parent, this book will teach you, convict you, and inspire you to better love everyone in your life, especially those who are hard to love. I have found that reading and learning more about all kinds of things — disability, neurodiversity, foster care, etc. — only serves to make me a better mother, teacher, friend, and human being.

Jamie Finn has given the foster care world a gift in this gem of a book. Rather than telling people what to do, she shares the deeper need, and that is what the position of our heart needs to be. This book will be highlighted and dog eared and read over and over again. She has beautifully woven scripture into the areas foster parents need it. I sort of felt like she picked me up, dusted me off, and sent me back to love my kiddos armed with Gods word and the advice and love of a good friend.

This book is phenomenal. Jamie’s heart for God, people, and vulnerable families comes through so clearly and beautifully. Her perspective on all things foster care and adoption bring tears, laughter, and head nods throughout.

For Christian foster parents, this is an essential book to dig into and read. I know that I’ll hold onto it like a survival guide for the rest of my fostering journey.

For those who are considering fostering/adopting OR who have close family and friends who do, this book provides so much perspective and insight into the world of foster and adoptive parents.

What a beautiful book.

A peek inside the heart journey that accompanies foster care/adoption; this book is the real deal. Be challenged, encouraged and heartbroken all together as you read this book.