Biscuit and Rye are more than just storybook characters—they're actually the nicknames of two of my sons. Their woodland critters weren't chosen by accident, either. Each animal was carefully selected to reflect their unique personalities, making Biscuit and Rye just as special on the page as they are in real life.

Rye is a hare on purpose! Hares and rabbits may look alike at first glance, but they're wonderfully unique in their own ways. Rye was inspired by our son, who is autistic. He experiences the world a little differently, and some of his greatest strengths come from seeing life through his own unique perspective. We wanted Rye the hare to remind readers that our differences aren't flaws—they're part of what makes each of us special.

Biscuit was intentionally written as a squirrel because his endless curiosity, boundless energy, and fast-paced thinking reflect the real-life inspiration behind his character, who has ADHD. He notices the little things others might miss and can become completely absorbed in the wonders around him. While his adventurous spirit sometimes gets him into trouble, his kind heart, loyalty, and bravery always help guide him back to what matters most.

It reads "Kari."

That's my wife's name, and it's one of the most meaningful hidden details in the entire book. It was Kari's response to God's calling that led us into foster care. Because she was willing to open her heart and our home, our family was forever changed. Every page of Finding Family exists because she chose to say "yes" when God called.

Biscuit chose to climb onto the moving truck. What he didn't realize was that it would take him somewhere he never expected.

For many children entering foster care, life can feel much the same. They don't choose the circumstances that lead them away from everything they've ever known, and the journey into the unknown can be filled with fear, uncertainty, and questions about what comes next.

The moving truck represents that unexpected journey. While the destination may not have been what Biscuit imagined, it led him to friendship, love, and a family he never knew he needed.

My hope is that every child who has experienced foster care remembers this: even when life takes you somewhere unexpected, you are worthy of love, you belong, and family can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.

At first glance, Biscuit and Rye seem very different. Biscuit doesn't know what happened to his parents, while Rye carries the pain of knowing he lost his. Their stories begin in different places, but they eventually lead them to one another.

That mirrors the lives of many children in foster care.

Every child enters care with a different story. Some know exactly why they were separated from their families. Others are left with unanswered questions. None of them chose the circumstances that brought them there.

Yet something beautiful often happens along the journey.

Children who may have never crossed paths become brothers and sisters. They laugh together, cry together, encourage one another, and discover that family isn't always defined by where you began—it can also be defined by the people who stand beside you when you need them most.

My hope is that Biscuit and Rye remind every child that while they cannot always choose the beginning of their story, they can still find love, belonging, and a family that helps shape the chapters yet to come.