Lamonte Family
Tell us about your family.
Where to start? Being a family of 6 means a few things… first, the volume is always turned on and up. Whether it is listening to Spotify and singing while we clean the kitchen, screaming as we fly on our tree swing, or arguing over a board game, we seem to always be moving and talking. God has blessed us with four kiddos (13, 11, 9, and 4 and half) that love each other AND like each other. As a result, we are extremely close and enjoy being active together inside and outside of our home. Furthermore, we are a family united in our desire to know and follow Jesus together. That said, we are far from perfect (often our 4 year old has to remind his “pastor” dad to pray at meals and we deal with the normal fits and selfishness that all families experience), but that means that we seek to walk humbly with each other, to forgive one another, and love God and others together.
What motivated you to be foster parents?
My wife, Lynne, spent much of her youth overseas and serving in orphanages resulting in a love and desire to serve those in orphan care. I (Danny) never considered fostering/adoption until I met Lynne, but even then, while I felt “sad” for orphans, I didn’t feel a “call” or responsibility towards those separated from their families or abandoned. That was until I spent 2 hours with and witnessed my then 18 month old son play with a foster child. It was then that I began to see beyond the statistics that had been quoted at me and the “guilty” feelings lectures gave me. Instead I saw a real life little one with no one to love, protect, and guide him. My heart was changed, and Lynne and I began, with the help of experienced friends, to research the needs in our own community.
Share a highlight of your fostering experience.
Our obvious highlight is the adoption of our son who we fostered since he was 9 days old. Nothing could match the day we adopted him and heard the judge pronounce him as “our son”.
We have been blessed with the opportunity to foster (for a variety of time periods) over 8 children during our time as foster parents, and with each, the highlight is that moment were they smile for the first time. In that smile, you are reminded that there is a hope and future for everyone, and you as a foster parent are going to be part of that child’s journey towards hope.
Tells us something about your fostering experience that you didn’t expect or anticipate happening?
It’s harder than you expect to enter into the lives of these precious children (and harder than you expect when they leave). They are worth the hard.
What would you say to other families who are considering foster care?
Fostering is not for everyone, but it is for more than think they can; don’t let fear be the reason for saying no.