Fostering & Adoption Podcast with Nikki & Sam

This heartwarming episode features April Walker as she shares her family’s remarkable path through eight years of hope, heartbreak, and unwavering faith on the road to parenthood. After she and her husband were told by doctors they might never have children, they explored foster care and adoption—only to be met with setbacks, losses, and challenging moves. April’s story unfolds with emotional honesty as she recounts the initial loss of a beloved child she cared for in a hospital, their move out-of-state, and the long wait to start a family.

Listeners will follow April and her husband through their surprise pregnancy after years of waiting and their heartfelt longing for a daughter, only to be delightfully turned upside down with the joyous arrival of sons. Just as they moved past diapers and let go of expectations, an unexpected opportunity appeared: a baby girl in need within their extended family.

This week’s episode features Emily Hindman, a remarkable leader in the Ellis County foster and adoption community who truly wears many hats. Emily is a licensed professional counselor with 24 years of experience, a practicing attorney specializing in family law and adoptions, and the secretary of the Ellis County Child Welfare Board. Through her private counseling practice, she primarily serves foster youth and teens, while her law office focuses on helping families navigate CPS cases, custody, and—her true passion—adoption, having completed over 225 adoptions since becoming an attorney.

In this episode, Linda opens up about her incredible story: how her foster parents’ bold prayers and relentless pursuit led to a divine intervention, how trust and compassion built unlikely bridges between families, and how God’s grace transformed even the most broken circumstances. She shares the heartbreak of her early years, the challenges of navigating adoption and identity, and the joy of witnessing her birth mother’s own redemption story.

 In this episode, Kyle shares how his path took surprising turns, from youth ministry to CPS investigator to group home director, and how every step prepared him for his current mission: equipping parents with the tools and compassion they need to truly connect with their children. He opens up about the challenges and rewards of implementing trust-based relational intervention (TBRI), why understanding the “why” behind a child’s behavior matters, and how even seasoned parents can be surprised by what foster care brings. 

Not everyone is called to foster or adopt, but everyone can help fill a need in the foster care community. Listen to founder and president Janna Horn as she shares how God called her to leave her full time job (and excellent income) to create "Standing in the Gap" from the ground up.  if you've ever wondered if there is a place for you in the foster care community, the answer is a resounding "Yes!" Janna's story will both educate and inspire you as you take your first brave step towards God's call on your life.

Aged out of the system, Daniel found himself without a family and without hope. Overcome with grief he felt there was only one way out. Until God showed him He had so much more in store for him.  From jail cell to living a life dedicated to the LORD, listen to Daniel's powerful story of redemption and how his years in the foster care system have paved a way for him to help others facing his former reality.

Sometimes God's calling on your life is undeniable. For Lydia and Josiah, it was clear from the very beginning they were meant to foster and adopt. Laugh along with us, as Lydia shares one story after another of how God showed up in a very big way to bring their family together.

Today we hear from powerhouse Alyssa Aldrich-Hooks who began her fostering journey when she was only 26 years old. If you're someone out there wondering if fostering is right for you, then you don't wan to miss this episode. Full of practical advice and valuable insights, Alyssa lays it all out on the line.