Being a foster parent can be rewarding in ways that are amazing. For one specific foster mom, the experience has totally changed her life.

Katie Holstein decided in 2017 that she was ready to be a foster mom in Kentucky.

Katie articulates in an article that she wrote for Love What Matters,

“I started the process to become licensed as a foster parent in January of 2017. I wanted to be a mom, and I was tired of waiting around for Mr. Right to make it happen. I figured I would foster for several years, help reunite some families, and maybe eventually get to say yes to forever.”

After filling out an application, Katie waited 8 months before she was approved for foster care. She didn’t have to wait too long before receiving her first two children to care for.

The day she was approved, she learned there were two siblings that needed a home.

“Overnight, I became a first-time mom to a newborn, 1-year-old, and 2-year-old. It was terrifying and also everything I imagined it would be and more.”

For the next few years, Katie ended up fostering 16 different children and adopting one, Thomas “Tiny” Holstein.

This was a difficult road to walk. Adoption isn’t ever easy, but Katie added Thomas to her home just a year after starting as his foster mom.

But Katie’s story is just getting started.

While the mom was working with Thomas, she began fostering another child.

“I got the call on March 9, 2019, from my favorite social worker. Katie mentioned, ‘I know you don’t do teens, but I have this girl. She’s great, her and her current foster family just need a break. What about just for the weekend?’”

Katie didn’t know, but her life was about to change- she was going to meet Akyra, or Okra, as she is lovingly named.

The foster kids loved her, and Katie instantly connected with her as well.

Katie had a full house and Thomas. Caring for four foster kids and her own child, all under 5-years-old, meant that Katie couldn’t quite take on a full-time child.

Okra stayed for the week and then bounced around different homes for almost a year. Finally, after almost a year of knowing Okra, Katie decided to foster her for real. But the teen just wanted to live with Katie until she could get out of the system.

The 16-year-old didn’t want to be adopted…at first.

Katie writes,

“The plan became for her to stay with me until she graduated in about a year and then go into independent living, which is an amazing program our state runs. It allows teens who are going to age out to choose to recommit themselves to the cabinet until they’re 22. They get set up with housing, a stipend, mentors, help with jobs, school, etc. Basically, it allows them to have a slow, guided transition into adulthood instead of being expected to fend for themselves at 18.”

As time went on, however, Katie and Okra became even closer, and one day, Okra asked Katie if she ever thought about adopting a teen. Katie finally knew what she was going to do.

A few days before Okra turned 17, Katie adopted her as her own.

Katie leaves us with this final thought,

“If our story does anything, I hope it inspires more people to open their homes to fostering. You don’t need to have it all together. God knows I didn’t. If I had waited for the ‘right time,’ I would have missed my kiddos. I promise you, there are children in your community right now who need a safe place to land and they’re not going to care you’re on a budget, have a small house, aren’t married, or are still trying to figure this whole parenting thing out. They need willing families, not perfect ones.”

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By Andrew Rysta

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Andrew Rysta is a contributor at SBLY Media.