A Smiths Grove couple has had over fifty children over the years, with 48 of those being through foster care.

"You would think it's been a lot of work, but it hasn't. They've taught us more than we've taught them."

Dick and Phyllis Bessette brought together two families.

"My mom had two kids, myself and my brother, and Richard had three kids of his own. When they got married they had two kids."

Then the family started getting bigger and bigger.

"Once we started jumping out of the nest, they started getting foster kids."

Just last week, they received their 47th and 48th foster children into their home.

They first became foster parents in February or 1987, and it's an experience they describe as interesting, with kids who have found their way into everyone's hearts.

"You never know when they come in what kind of mood they're going to be in, what kind of situation they've come out of. Sometimes when you get them the only thing you know is their names, and you find out a lot as you go along."

In 2003, the couple even adopted one of the children.

"They generally change peoples' lives, such as mine. They've changed mine a lot. Had it not been for them, I don't know exactly where I would be."

They love how tight knit all of them, over fifty foster and biological children have become.

"They're all very close, and when the foster children come in, they accept them as if they were their brothers and sisters. It's just a good life."

"The word foster child, we never used that. We never use the word stepbrothers, half-sister, whatever. We've never used those words in this house. They were always brother, sister, and they were very close."

We honor Dick and Phyllis Bessette as this week's Hometown Heroes.

The couple says they aren't sure when they will stop being foster parents, but as long as people call in need, they'll keep going.