SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Becoming a foster parent is a big responsibility, one that many people don't know if they have the time or strength to do. David and Jennifer Bauchspiess already had 3 children of their own, when they decided they wanted to become foster parents. "We just felt like when the day came that we were done having kids, that maybe there's something we could do to help others, to help other kids that needed it at home and so we just we started learning more about foster care and learn more about the need and job and how to how to help kids," David Bauchspiess said. Once their youngest child started school, they took foster parent classes. "It takes about a six-month process. I was ready to like jump in right away within the first number of weeks. And she's like, it's to take 6 to 8 months," Jennifer Bauchspiess said. It didn't take long after that for them to receive their first call. "But once we got approved with that, within two weeks we had a call for taking six kids and we couldn't do quite six kids. Got a call a couple of days later to take two little boys, a one and two year old. And we said yes," Jennifer said. Arrested shooter says Dec. 26 death accidental When the Bauchspiess took the classes, one thing they were asked is if they would be open to adoption. While they said yes, they didn't think it would necessarily go that way. "But in case of our hearts are connected, we'll go ahead and do it. So we always marked Adoptive every year since. We had a couple of other kiddos that we really wanted to go adoption the courts, the system had a different view and so we didn't," Jennifer said. Over the past 7 years, the Bauchspiess had fostered 11 children. Then they met number 12– Ellie. "We got a call in 2022 and in the late winter of 2022, and that there was a little baby that needed a home and we jumped at it. And so our, our family of five became a family of six with a little one," David said. "With her we didn't think it would be adoption because we were told Dad was involved and the mom would start to be involved eventually. They weren't. And this is it ended up for our benefit," Jennifer said. When the Bauchspiess were given the opportunity to adopt Ellie, their other children were all over the age of 13, which means they essentially would be starting over with her. "The longer that Ellie was living in our home, it just became harder and harder to not to imagine her living with us," David said. They officially adopted Ellie. Unlike other people's experiences, the adoption process was an easy one. However, fostering children comes with challenges of its own. Before Ellie, the Bauchspiess had other children they thought they would be able to adopt. However, some foster children aren't able to be adopted or end up going to live with other family members. "I think the biggest comment or the most common comment that I receive all the time is I could never do it. I could never have my heart broken. I can never say goodbye. And that's totally true. You get your heart broken all the time and you have to say goodbye," Jennifer said. "You bond with that child and realizing that you don't know how long they're going to be in your home. And so we would just really try to, you know, make the most of it and just help kids to experience love, joy and and safety," David said. "But God told me right away at the very beginning that this isn't about me, this is about the child, and this is about the time that I get to invest in him or her, to give them home, to love on them, to pray over them, no matter if it's going to be for a week or if it's going to be for a few years," Jennifer said. So whether you're interested in adoption in the future, or just want to help children in the short term, fostering might be a great route for you to try. "I think it's just so important to start somewhere and not let that, you know, the idea of, oh, are we going to have to adopt? Or, you know, what's it going to be like? Don't let that stop you from saying yes and offering love and care for for a child that that needs things," David said. "Just our seeing our kids through this whole process in these seven years and giving back to people because it's not about it's not about us. They're taken care of. So let's help some of the other kids and we'll definitely continue doing it. And we think Ellie does need to have a sibling, somebody else within her age group. We're just waiting to see," Jennifer said. There are over 1,200 children in South Dakota's foster care system each year, with around 300 available for adoption. Click here for information on how to become a foster parent in South Dakota.