June 2026 Newsletter

Trusting God in the process of restoration and reunification.

Author

Tracey Albrecht
June 24, 2026

June is Reunification Month.

Celebrating Reunification When it Happens & Still Grieving the Loss of Children Who Leave

June is Reunification Month, a time set aside to celebrate one of the most important goals of foster care: helping families come back together. It is, at its heart, a month of hope. Hope that healing is possible, that change can happen, and that children can safely return to the people they love.

But if you have walked this road, you know that reunification is not a simple celebration. It is a “both and” experience.

We celebrate children going home. And we grieve the quiet spaces they leave behind.

We cheer for parents who have done the hard work to rebuild their lives. And we sit with the ache of goodbye, knowing how deeply we have come to love the children in our care.

Foster care is filled with these tensions. It asks us to hold joy and sorrow in the same breath. To love fully, even when we know the ending may not be ours to keep.

Loving a child through transition is no small thing. It means showing up every day with patience, consistency, and compassion, even when the future feels uncertain. It means becoming a safe place in the middle of a storm, knowing that your role is to support not just the child, but the entire story they come from.

And sometimes, reunification does not happen during a child’s time in care. Sometimes the story takes longer to unfold. A parent may not be ready now, but that does not mean healing is impossible. There are moments years down the road when a young adult may reconnect with their biological family in a new and healthier way. The love, stability, and identity you helped build can be part of that future too.

When reunification does happen, whether now or later, it means choosing to celebrate that story, even as your own chapter with that child changes.

To those who are already fostering, thank you for living in that “both and.” Your willingness to love children through both connection and goodbye is what makes reunification possible.

And to those who are considering this journey, know that foster care is not about replacing families. It is about restoring them. It is about stepping into a child’s life for a season and making that season one of safety, care, and belonging.

You may not be part of their whole story, but you can be a meaningful part of their healing.

This month, we honor reunification, not just as an outcome, but as a reflection of what is possible when people are willing to show up, love deeply, and let go when the time comes.

With gratitude,
Tracey

IN OUR HOUSE

Father’s Day 2026.

Summer is a Season of Movement

Summer always feels like a season of movement for our home, even when we are trying to slow down.

With the girls home more, the rhythm of our days begins to shift. The structure of school fades and something a little looser takes its place, but not without some intention. Between different camps the girls are attending throughout the summer, our schedule still has shape to it, and I am able to carve out pockets of time to work. It is not every day, and it is not always predictable, but it is the rhythm we are finding in this season.

There is a mix of beauty and challenge in that. Some days feel full and connected. Other days feel a little stretched or undone. Summer has a way of bringing both to the surface, especially in homes like ours where transitions and big feelings do not pause just because the calendar changes.

We have been trying to anchor our days in simple things. Time outside, small moments of creativity, and space to be together without rushing to the next thing. These are the rhythms that seem to steady us the most.

One thing that has been especially meaningful in this season is having something consistent the girls can return to. We have been using the Summer Craft and Activity Pack, and it has created quiet moments of focus and connection in the middle of otherwise shifting days. It is not about staying busy, but about offering something familiar and calming. If you would like to learn more about it, you can find additional details at the end of this newsletter.

As we move through the summer, we are also preparing for something we are all looking forward to. At the end of July, we will head back to Illinois to visit who the girls lovingly call “the brothers,” our four boys, now ages 20 to 26. We are planning a camping adventure together, and it feels special to return to shared history while continuing to build new memories.

It feels, in many ways, like what this season represents for us. Movement and connection. Holding structure loosely while still tending to what matters most. Making space for both where we have been and where we are going.

Summer, like so much of this journey, is not perfectly ordered. But it is full of opportunities for connection, creativity, and quiet moments of healing along the way.

BOOKS I’M READING

God Gave Us Family

By: Lisa Tawn Bergen

One of the sweetest books on our shelf is God Gave Us Family by Lisa Tawn Bergren. Through the loving conversation between Little Cub and Papa Bear, children are reminded that families come in all shapes and sizes, but every family is part of God's beautiful design.

What I love most about this book is its gentle reminder that family is about more than where we live or who shares our last name. It points children back to the truth that God created us for connection, belonging, and love. The story explores how families can look different while still reflecting God's care and purpose for our lives.

As we recognize National Reunification Month, this message feels especially meaningful. Foster care is often a season of transition, healing, and restoration. We celebrate the families working hard to reunify and the children who are navigating big changes along the way. Books like this help open conversations about family, belonging, and God's faithfulness through every chapter of a child's story.

No matter where a child is on their journey, they can rest in the truth that they are deeply loved by God and never outside His care.

👉🏻 Get your copy of God Gave Us Family here: https://amzn.to/4gcUbgn

FEATURED BLOG POST

Celebrating the heart of a foster dad.

Interview with a Foster Dad

In honor of Father's Day, I'm highlighting a special post featuring my husband, Garon, and his perspective on foster care.

Foster dads play such an important role in helping children feel safe, loved, and supported during seasons of uncertainty and change. In this interview, Garon shares what foster care has taught him and why showing up with love and consistency matters, no matter how long a child is in your home.

As we recognize National Reunification Month, his story is a reminder that every caring adult can make a lasting impact in a child's life, even when they are only part of the journey for a season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

This is a digital PDF download. No physical product will be shipped.

Helping Kids Stay Grounded Through Summer Transitions With My Summer Craft & Activity Pack

Summer can bring a lot of mixed emotions in foster and adoptive homes. For some kids, it is fun and freedom. For others, it can feel unstructured, uncertain, and overwhelming without the consistency of school routines and familiar rhythms.

In those in-between seasons, simple structure can make a big difference.

That is why I wanted to highlight the Summer Craft & Activity Pack. Created by our Creative Assistant, Katrina Rauch, this resource was originally designed to help families create meaningful moments through simple, hands-on activities. We have adapted it for the Hope To Home community because we know how valuable those moments of connection can be.

These are not just "keep them busy" activities. They are intentional tools that help create rhythm in days that can sometimes feel unpredictable. When kids are able to sit, create, and engage in something familiar and fun, it can help them feel more settled and secure.

Inside the Summer Craft & Activity Pack, you'll find:

✔️ Easy, ready-to-use summer craft activities
✔️ Creative projects that help kids stay engaged and focused
✔️ Simple ideas that work well for a wide age range
✔️ Activities designed to support calm, connection, and routine
✔️ Low-prep options for busy summer days

This is especially helpful for children who are adjusting to new environments, navigating transitions, or simply needing extra stability during a season of change.

Summer does not have to feel chaotic or overwhelming. With a few simple tools, it can become a season of connection, creativity, and even healing through everyday moments.

Do you know someone that is thinking of fostering? We would love it if you would forward this email to them so they can sign up!

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