For Cori and her husband, the decision to become foster parents was a commitment to open their home and hearts to children navigating the most uncertain times of their lives. They understood the core tenet of foster care: it is a temporary, safe harbor, not always a final destination. In the span of just one year, their home became a revolving door of love, laughter, and learning as they welcomed and cared for eight different children. Each child brought a unique story, a unique personality, and a unique set of needs, and with each one, Cori and her family invested their love completely, knowing that a goodbye was always on the horizon.
This emotional cycle of welcoming and releasing is the difficult, beautiful reality of foster parenting. The ultimate goal is often reunification—a happy ending where a child can safely return to their biological family. Recently, the family was preparing for one such success story. A little girl who had been in their care was ready to go back to her mother. It was a moment of celebration for the child and her mom, but for Cori and her family, it was also a bittersweet farewell to a girl they had grown to love deeply.
On the little girl’s final day with them, the family shared their goodbyes, a mix of hugs, tears, and well wishes for her future. After she had left and the quiet settled back into the house, Cori discovered something that stopped her in her tracks. On the family’s chalkboard wall, a space typically filled with doodles and reminders, the little girl had left a final, heartfelt message.
In a child’s careful handwriting, the note read, “You are the best family I have ever had in my life.” She went on to write about how much she would miss them and what a good time she had had in their home. Alongside her words, she had drawn a picture of their family, a simple but profound depiction of the connection she felt.
Cori described the moment of discovery as completely “undoing” her. In the face of the emotional exhaustion and the ache of saying goodbye, this simple, pure message was a powerful affirmation. It was undeniable proof that their love, their effort, and their temporary home had made a lasting, positive impact on a child’s life. It wasn’t just a roof over her head; it was a place where she felt she belonged to the “best family.” The chalkboard note became a treasured memorial, a beautiful and poignant reminder of the little girl who had left an indelible mark on their hearts.