TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
“It was like getting ready for a new family member. We would go shopping because most children arrived with little to nothing. Our own kids would be just as excited, waiting eagerly to meet their new sibling.” Over the years, the family grew as they adopted some of the children, turning what began as a family of three into a family of 11. Each addition taught Freeman’s biological children compassion, understanding, and the power of acceptance. “Fostering taught us how powerful stability, kindness, and patience can be for a child,” she says. “When they lived with us, they were family through all the ups and downs.” Angela Coston, executive director of For The Sake of One, a local Texarkana organization that supports families who foster children in our area, shared how vital foster families like the Freemans are. “At any given time here in Texarkana, we have anywhere from 200 to 300 kids in care across Miller, Bowie, Little River, and Cass counties,” Coston explains. “We have about 20 open foster homes in those counties currently. We support foster, kinship, and adoptive families. We provide support through Parents’ Night Out to give foster parents a three-hour break. We provide monthly support groups and physical supplies in our Blessing Boutique.” Coston emphasizes that fostering is a challenging journey. “I would tell someone to pray about becoming a foster parent and talk to all members of their family. Fostering affects the entire family, and everyone needs to be on board. We have a huge need in our area and definitely need more foster parents, but I would not say that everyone should foster because it is a hard job.” For The Sake of One’s mission is to share God’s love with local children and families before and after foster care by walking alongside them on their healing journeys. As Coston sees it, fostering isn’t just a service—it’s a calling. The Freemans didn’t escape the challenges of fostering. Their experience was not without its challenges. Regarding discipline, they were a family who believed in consistency. For the little ones, “no- no” was simply enough. For the older children, explaining the reason behind any punishment was important. Over time, each learned boundaries and structure.
Pat and the late Russ Freeman’s eleven children pose together for a family photo in 1979.
A t age 82, Pat Freeman has opened her heart and her home to over 100 children in need, fostering them, loving them, and, in some cases, adopting them. Through each foster placement, she has shown that family is truly where love, stability, and kindness are found. “Our foster children were given the same love, care, and attention as our biological children,” Freeman recalls. “If you do it right, every foster child is truly yours, even if it’s just for a short while.” Freeman began her story as a military child born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With a younger sister and an adopted brother who had special needs, she was no stranger to the idea of family beyond blood. Her father’s service kept the family moving until they settled in Hot Springs, Arkansas, a place where Freeman would return repeatedly. She and her high school sweetheart, Russ, were inseparable. “We met in high school, started going steady, and got married after he returned from boot camp on November 3, 1960,” she said. The couple shared 51 years of marriage before his passing in 2011. Together, they built a family that went far beyond their three biological children.
The inspiration to foster began while the Freemans were stationed in White Sands, New Mexico. “We thought our family was complete, but I always enjoyed having a baby in the house,” she said. When a friend mentioned her adopted child came from foster care, something inside Freeman ignited. Before long, she and Russ were certified foster parents. Their first child, Patty, was a little girl with rosy cheeks who adored mashed potatoes. “We had her for a year and even took her on vacation back to Hot Springs. Though we hoped to keep her, she eventually found her forever family.” For the Freemans, every child who joined their family became a beloved part of it, bringing their own stories and creating cherished memories. Some were marked by moments like a teenager sneaking out the window for a midnight adventure, while others were as tender as a baby’s first coo of “I love you.” Among them was Angie, a little girl with spina bifida who disliked shoe fittings but loved being told she was pretty. The Freeman’s home was not just a place for children to sleep and eat. It was a haven, a sanctuary of sorts where they could heal and belong. “Preparing for a new child was always exciting for us,” she explains.
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LIFE & STYLE
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