Guided By Her Faith to Foster
Faith is a priority in Judy’s life. She’s the secretary at her church, attends Bible study regularly and says being a foster parent is her calling from God.
“This is a ministry. It’s a blessing,” she says.
Judy and her husband, Jim, have provided foster care for more than 50 children over the past three decades, mostly babies.
Recently, she thought of shifting gears, and going to Madison in advocacy, but before she could leave, something stopped her.
“I was on vacation, walking the beach early in the morning and praying about what to do,” recalls Judy. “I truly felt God say there’s somebody waiting for you when you get home.”
It was foster baby #56.
Meant to Be
Judy and Jim always wanted a big family. They had three biological children, with an eventual plan for eight. But when doctors discovered a tumor wrapped around their youngest daughter’s optic nerve, their world shattered.
When her daughter went through 10 hours of surgery, Judy began to struggle with many questions in life, specifically her faith. She noticed the alarming number of stories in the news about children who were abused or neglected.
“My heart was crying,” she said. “Why didn’t they just bring that baby to me? I would have taken care of them until mom or dad got better.”
So, she went to Jim and suggested the idea of fostering. After an initial period of uncertainty, he eventually agreed that he felt it was God’s plan for them.
The First of Many Placements
Enter Judy and Jim’s first placement, a baby named JJ with bad asthma, but a big heart. The family was thrilled to have him. He stayed with them for four years until they adopted him in July of 1991.
“I think we were supposed to be available for him,” Judy says.
Now all grown up, she calls her son a walking Testament. “He has scripture (tattoos) here, blessings there. He has his adoption date with praying hands over here (on his arm).”
Dedicated for Life
Judy currently serves as a mentor for new foster parents, and always hands out her contact information whenever someone shows interest in foster care.
“People always say ‘I could never foster because it would hurt too much to give the kids back,'” She says. “I tell them, ‘You would make a perfect foster parent, because it should hurt.’”
Children have cycled in and out of Judy’s home for the last three decades, but each one will always have a special place in her heart.
In her office, her desk and file cabinets are lined with dozens of smiling faces. Every year, Judy and Jim have a picnic for the kids. She’s the godmother to one of her former foster children, she went to see another perform in their school play, she also visited one in jail.
After 56 children and 29 years, Judy has no plan to stop. Pointing to a photo of a baby in a polka dot onesie, she smiles and says, “The kids are why I do it.”
There are kids of all ages currently in need of foster care. Whether you feel a calling similar to Judy and Jim’s or if you have your own reasons for helping, we want to hear from you. Call 855.GROW.HOPE or email us at [email protected] today.