The Simmons family’s story: Two boys, one calling and God’s perfect timing
Since getting married in 2021, Grace and Foster Simmons felt called to foster care.
Even while living in a small apartment in Ellijay, Georgia, they knew the need in their county was great and wanted to help.
“Jesus is passionate about serving the least of these and wants us to do that,” Grace said. “We felt like it was a very convicting thing for both of us, and we wanted to open our home.”
The biggest barrier to getting involved was the lack of agencies supporting their part of the North Georgia mountains. So, instead of opening their home right away, they patiently and prayerfully waited.
About a year later, Families 4 Families visited their church for an information session, and “it just clicked right away,” Grace said. “We wanted to be part of this ministry.”
In fall 2023, they welcomed their first placement.
“We were a bit out of our depth,” Grace said. “We told Families 4 Families we were interested in 5- to 10-year-olds. My husband is an elementary school teacher, so that seemed like the right fit.”
But when the agency called asking if they could instead take a 3-month-old and a 3-year-old, the Simmonses said yes.
“It was wild,” Grace said. “I’d never changed diapers, never had an infant in our home, sleep deprivation, all the things. But it was so awesome and so rewarding.”
During that time, Grace said the support and prayers from Families 4 Families were invaluable.
“They’ve been very hands-on,” she said. “They’re so willing to serve and so selfless. And that made all the difference knowing that I could call and ask a question, or I could have them stop by the house and bring diapers or bring a meal. Families 4 Families were like the hands and feet of Jesus.”
The two children stayed with the Simmonses for a year as they prepared them for reunification with their biological mom.
After the boys went back to their mother, the Simmonses still felt called to serve. While they weren’t ready to immediately take on another long-term placement, they kept their home open, offering respite care for other foster families.
Looking back, Grace said they view that period as God’s way of preparing them for the future.
They did feel a sense of guilt for not providing full-time care but found comfort from their pastor, who reassured them there was no shame in stepping back while they sought the Lord on what should come next.
Then, about a year later, the Simmonses started hearing that the two boys were not in a safe situation and would potentially be re-entering foster care.
“So we were praying about whether we should open back up for them,” Grace said. “Both my husband and I felt really strongly that they were meant to be with us; we just didn’t know what the timing would look like.”
She said they put their trust in the Lord and waited to see what He wanted to do with the details and opened their home to be available for full-time care if the children needed it.
Ultimately, the boys were not able to stay with their mother, and in August 2025, the Simmonses adopted them.
Grace said that for other families considering foster care, it’s important to have a “home base” — a community network — for support. She noted how instrumental it was for her and her husband to have the support from their church family, other foster families in the area and Families 4 Families.
“It felt like we weren’t going it alone,” she said.
Since the adoption, the Simmonses have decided to close their home to fostering — a decision that Grace said has made her a little sad because of how much she loves it.
“We thought it was important to spend this time bonding with our new boys and meshing together as a family until we get the direction from the Word that it’s time to pursue that again,” she said.
