KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- She's 71-years-old and still takes in children who need a home. Flo Charles was recently widowed, but she has a full house, with four foster children now, and about 200 over the last four decades.

She recently discovered that the children she's helped haven't forgotten home and are around a lot more now, to help mom out.

"I had said in my heart, if I ever get married and my husband will, I'd like to take in children," Flo remembers.

Flo says she knew her life's mission at a young age. From first grade to sixth grade, she lived in a children's home, because her mother couldn't care for her.

Since that time, she's wanted to step in for other children who have a similar story.

"God's word says comfort those who are by you," Flo says, "do for others as you'd have them do for you."

For 40 years, she's opened up her home, her family and her heart. She can't put a number on how many she and her husband have cared for, joking that it's somewhere close to "umpteen-eleven."

"And you just kind of lose count, because you're not thinking about counting them," Flo said. "You're just thinking about caring for them and giving them an emergency home and love for the season that you can."

Flo said church pews were perfect for such a large family at dinner time. She's made countless meals for the children, and that's why the kids got together to re-do her kitchen.

"They just stripped the whole thing. pulled all the cabinets out."

Flo lost her husband last year. She says her children stepped in, took over the farm work. maintenance and, now, re-modeling.

"And from what they did with the kitchen, you know that you've imparted love and appreciation and gratitude," Flo said.

That, she says, is what families do for each other.

"I've been walking around here--it sounds crazy to a lot of people, and I don't care--but I walk around and stand in my kitchen and I think, 'Oh, God, I just thank You,' and I name all the ones that came out and helped and ask God to bless them."

Charles has four biological children, but says she doesn't distinguish. The four foster children she has now , are all under 14.