BRIGHT SKY SPOTLIGHT: THE OSBORNE FAMILY
When Brian and Sandy Osborne were told they wouldn’t be able to have children of their own, they embarked on a journey that would change their lives forever. After eliminating every other possible alternative, it became clear that foster care was the course they were supposed to take.
“We discussed…all of our options for about three to four months. We came to the conclusion that there were so many kiddos out there that deserved good homes,” Sandy said.
Eager and full of hope, the Osborne’s embarked on their new journey to bring joy and love to children’s lives. After several months, however, their expectations were being challenged with a reality like they’d never experienced before.
“We thought, ‘Oh, we will just take these kiddos into our home, and it will be so much fun playing with them and giving them a home when they need one,’” Sandy said. As time passed, they quickly began to see that this was not always going to happen. “…these poor kids have been through so much in their short little lives that no one could ever imagine,” she continued.
Sandy said each child requires special training on how to handle their situation as well as therapy to work through the trauma. “It is very challenging to get their routines in order, provide structure, and get them to a place where they trust us and understand that we will not let anything happen to them while they are with us,” she said.
Despite its challenges, the Osbornes feel foster care has been a wonderful and fulfilling experience. “I think the most rewarding part of foster care is watching these kiddos finally understand what love and affection is really like,” she said. “When we see those smiling faces, the belly laughs, the love in their eyes and hearts…that is rewarding knowing that they finally have felt love and feel safe in the home they are living in with us.”
Through foster care, the Osbornes were able to adopt their now nine-year-old son. “Our hope is that our son will learn that you should always be kind and have an open heart because you never know what someone else is going through,” she said.
As for any newbies looking to hop on board the foster care train, the Osbornes advise preparing for the most challenging yet wonderful, experience. “There is a lot of therapy and patience that a foster parent has to have when taking on this role.”
Taking the good with the not-so-good into consideration, the most difficult journey has become the most rewarding. “Fostering has pushed me to my limits, but I know in my heart that God will not give us more than we can handle and that He chose us to help these kids,” she said. “He can guide us through anything.”