Meet the McSwains

Meet the McSwain family from Tuttle, Oklahoma – an outgoing, sports-loving bunch
with a deep-rooted passion for making a difference in the lives of others. The McSwain family began their fostering journey in the summer of 2019, inspired largely by an eye-opening mission trip to Africa that confirmed the inner calling that Randi McSwain, devoted wife and mother of two, has
felt since her own childhood “I wasn’t in foster care, but it’s always been a part of my life,” said Randi. “My grandma had over 500 foster kids that she took care of throughout her lifetime. I don’t think she holds the record anymore, but she most certainly did when she was alive. “Growing up around her grandmother’s devotion to fostering left a profound impact on Randi, and several years later, with her husband, Brandon, and two young children on board, she was ready to open up her own home.

“We wanted it to be a family decision,” said Randi. “We would always have open conversations with our kids about helping other families and what it would be like to welcome other kids into our home. I had heard of the Anna’s House Foundation from a family who went to our church, so I knew what the next steps were, but I wanted to wait until everyone was ready. When the day came that we all said yes, I immediately reached out to Anna’s House to start our training.” The McSwain family finished their foster home onboarding with Anna’s House Foundation, a faith-based foster care organization based in Edmond, in May.

Less than two months later, the family would find themselves sitting at their front porch, eager to welcome home their first placement – two young brothers, ages two and four, who would live with the McSwains for three years and ultimately become a permanent part of the family, along with their biological mother and other siblings. “We’re coming up on a year since they went back home,” said Randi. “I still call them ‘our boys,’ they still call us almost every day, and we still see them every school break.” Through the dedicated support that the McSwain family received from the Anna’s House Foundation, they were able to provide the structure, care, and hope that the family needed to give them the best shot at a second chance together, which Randi says is always the goal, even though it isn’t always easy.

With two sisters now in their care, the McSwain family looks forward to supporting them with as much love and dedication as they did the brothers before them. “We don’t want to just be a home,” said Randi. “These families have been through so much by the time we come into their lives, and it can be hard, but it’s a ministry we feel called to. We want to be able to take care of the kids and help their families be successful by being there for the parents through love and guidance, and thanks to Anna’s House, we’re able to do that.”

Thank you to the Tuttle Times for this amazing article!