Standing in the Gap

The Johnson family wanted to be a voice for the voiceless, but more than anything they wanted to give all the love too.

FOSTER FAMILY

Aimee Larsen

8/11/20243 min read

Foster Family together for a picture
Foster Family together for a picture

Meet the inspiring foster family who opened their hearts and homes to children in need. Discover the touching Johnson Family journey of compassion and commitment as they share why they chose to embark on the rewarding path of fostering. Join us at Flourish Foster Care Closet & Support as we celebrate this incredible family's dedication to making a difference in the lives of vulnerable little ones.

Crissy shares their story and their WHY…

“In 2009 I felt like the Lord was leading us to parent again. The only problem with that was that I’d had a hysterectomy in 2007 and already had 4 kiddos. So, I spent the next year questioning if or what God was trying to have me do. Finally, in 2009 I brought up what I’d felt had been laid on my heart a year earlier to my husband and to my surprise his response was, 'Me too!!' I spent the next few months reaching out to adoption agencies (because we thought that was the only way to go) only to find out that it was too expensive to go that route.

Foster care had always come to mind, but we pushed it away because we had heard horror stories about fostering. We all have 'heard" them, DFCS would just drop any kid out at your door, we’d heard that letting DFCS into your home would only create issues for your family, and the saddest misconception we’d heard was that all foster kids were damaged beyond saving.

For months I’d seen an ad in our local paper that foster parents were needed. This ad we’d looked at many times, but after looking into every other avenue. We decided foster care it is. We finished our training and inspections and we were officially approved in March of 2010. We wouldn’t get our first placement until November of 2010."

During the Johnson's time as foster parents they took in a total of 11 children, eventually adopting 6. During their time as foster (resource) parents they helped children and families navigate loss, trauma, the devastating repercussions children face after physical, sexual, emotional, and mental abuse; even the death of an infant sibling.

Crissy shared, "God definitely showed up and out in our foster care calling." Helping to lead these little ones on a path to healing and wholeness.

In 2014, they closed their home, feeling as though their house was full to the brim, but God had other plans.

"In 2016, we received a phone call about a little brother to our youngest adoptee who’d been born. Baby Boy was only 2 days old weighing 5 pound and 12 ounces. We said 'yes' to taking him in and after a year and a half we were blessed to have adopted him as well.

Soon after the adoption, the Johnsons received word that a sweet baby sister to the boys had been born, but due to the circumstances surrounding her short little life, she passed away at just 7 days old before she ever got to come to the Johnson home.

Crissy shares, "She (birth mom) would cross state lines to give birth in an attempt to go avoid DFCS. We, on our own, had to go across state lines to the juvenile court both times and were granted emergency custody based on their siblings previous cases; and eventually we adopted them as well."

"There is such a great need for good, loving families. I’ve had people approach us and say things like, 'It would break my heart if they left!!' Or, 'I worry about not loving them like my own.' I say to them, 'How can you not?!?

She goes on to share "Yes, when they leave it hurts…but the security, love, and family they get to experience, if only for a little while, will mean everything to them."

In August of 2024, the Johnson family, once again reopened their home. They stated that "God once again knocked on our hearts and nudged our family to stand in the gap for another."

As Crissy goes on to share, "Our 15 year old, that once little two year old we welcomed into our home years ago, asked me, 'Mom, why are we still not fostering?' We have room.' And when I couldn’t give her an answer I knew what we had to do. Saying yes is the first step and you won’t regret it. God has blessed us more than we could ever imagine and He was with us each step of the way!! And these kids aren’t just adopted kids. They’re my heart and soul and my babies!!" ❤️