2 Adoptive Mamas

The Main Thing:   For Episode 083 we're pleased to share the privilege of having a conversation with Sharon Denny. You name it, she's got the experience when it comes to foster care and adoption. Her heart is caring for the most vulnerable and her passion is helping us show up for our kids from hard places. Sharon is a wealth of knowledge and a breath of fresh air among challenging circu...

The Main Thing:   We’re taking a trip! Down memory lane to take a closer look at what it looks like to prepare and actually travel for both international and domestic adoption. There are so many moving pieces to the adoption process, and the more you can do to prepare in advance, the less chaotic it will be in the moment. Or at least we can try to make it that way, right?! During Episode 082 we ar...

The Main Thing: If there's one thing we've learned over the years, it's that through sharing stories we don't feel so alone. It's with this in mind that we recorded Episode 081 with Kelsey Knodel. She's sharing her mama-heart as she reflects on the adoption of their sweet girl and as they prepare their hearts and home to hopefully continue growing their family through...

The Main Thing: They're back! It's the dad-cast for Episode 080 and they're joined by Nate Smith to talk about finding perseverance and hope in the midst of foster care.  You'll remember our time with Melinda on the podcast, and hearing their family's story through foster care. We've been so encouraged by their insight and courage to step into the broken and trust God...

The Main Thing: We're back! With Part 2 of our Parenting Teens mini-series with Abby Keiser from COBYS Family Services. This week we're taking a closer look at what it means to help a teen find their voice and how to effectively facilitate this in your home.  Once again Abby starts with the basics and then takes us deeper to help with the day-to-day application of coming alongside our te...

The Main Thing: Two words that can inflict some uncertainty --- parenting teens . Even more so, is parenting teens from hard places. But here's the thing, they need us and we have so much to learn from them. For Episode 078 Abby Keiser from COBYS Family Services is joining us for Part 1 of a mini-series on parenting your teen. We're starting with the basics and then getting even more spe...

The Main Thing: Episode 077 is one that we could listen to over and over again. Ashley Mitchell is one of a kind. She's brought her heart, passion, and determination to tackle the tough stuff for this conversation and we're so thankful for it. Ashley is a birth mom, bio mom, wife, advocate, and so much more. Her story brings light to the parts of adoption that make us uncomfortable, and...

The Main Thing: Heidi Glick is so full of heart, and our conversation with her is like a warm hug from a fellow adoptive mama who has been in the trenches and holds so much hope for the future. She’s opening up about her family’s journey through adoption and embracing the promise of hope we have in Jesus amidst the heartbreak that accompanies any adoption journey.  In addition to her personal stor...

The Main Thing: We first welcomed Chelsea Sobolik during Season 2 to talk about her work in advocating for families at our nation’s capital. Her personal story of adoption, journey to international adoption with her husband, and her professional work allow Chelsea to share one-of-a-kind insight. During our conversation Chelsea addresses high-level matters in a way that meets us in our day-to-day a...

The Main Thing: These stories are hard to share. They open wounds, challenge our faith, and test our hearts. There is nothing simple, easy, or brief when it comes to adoption and foster care. There is beauty and brokenness ---- healing and grief ---- and together we hold it all with the hopes that we can remain centered on one thing. Our heart for Him and our love for them. The children who need u...

The Main Thing: They're the silent heroes behind the podcast, supporting us since day one and every step of the way. They're our other halves and have walked the joyful, painful, everyday moments with us. They're our beloved husbands, and they're taking over the podcast! We thought it was time for the dads to have a voice and bring their insight to the table. When Dan and Drew...

The Main Thing: This episode is terrific. That might sound very self-promoting, but it has nothing to do with us and EVERYTHING to do with Raquel's heart for adoption, kinship care, and transforming lives and families with her message. She is fantastic and joins us for a deep dive into shadow feelings, kinship care, and life as an adoptee and a birth mom. During our conversation, Raquel opens...

The Main Thing: There's nothing like a good book! But what about when you're looking for one to help tell your family's story, and you just can't seem to find the right narrative? Adoption is beautiful, messy, hard, complicated --- difficult to put into an appropriate amount of pages that won't take days to read.  But we're in luck! For Episode 071 we're hanging...

The Main Thing: Sometimes it's difficult to articulate the challenges we face as foster and adoptive parents. As we navigate the needs of our children, our own feelings, emotions, and needs often fall to the wayside and when we finally come up for air we might find ourselves feeling disconnected and deflated by our circumstances. If this sounds familiar to you, you may be experiencing somethi...

The Main Thing: Can you believe it?! Season 4 is HERE! It's been 68 episodes since we introduced ourselves, so we figured for Episode 069 (and for all the new listeners!) we'd take a step back into our stories, our shadow feelings, and how we ended up in this space together. Since day one, we have remained committed to creating a community centered around love, trust, and respect for the...

The Main Thing: The Two Adoptive Mamas Podcast is signing off with a salute to Season 3 for Episode 068. It’s been a really special season filled with dynamite conversations, and we’re just so thankful for the gift of time and insight that our guests have shared. We’re taking a few minutes to reflect on the past 6 months, review some of our favorite moments, and also share our vision for the futur...

The Main Thing: This week we’re sitting down with Kelly Mahler to talk all things interoception . Do you know what that is? We had a more general idea and this has quickly become one of the topics we wanted to highlight with a deeper dive! There’s a lot to understand, acknowledge and embrace when it comes to interoception, so while we’re highlighting it for Episode 067, we’re not able to unpack ev...

The Main Thing: It's par for the course of adoption to have unknowns. Add on top of that international travel, and that adds a layer. But then there was the addition of a global pandemic --- and all bets were off. Our hearts ache for the children and their forever families that still await placement because of the restrictions over the last two years. Adoption has always been complicated ---...

The Main Thing: Adoption is changing. If you've been in the process and engaged in conversation among the adoption community, adoption today is a lot different than the adoption of yesterday . There's so much to navigate once you immerse yourself into this process. It's overwhelming, there are lots of questions to be answered, plenty of paperwork to complete --- but in the end one g...

The Main Thing: So you’re in the process of adopting, you’re thinking about beginning the journey, or you’ve been matched and you’re wondering how it’s all going to happen, right?! And when we say how it’s all going to happen , we don’t mean the travel or even the parenting — we mean the mountain of financial responsibility that stands between you and bringing that precious child home. It’s a real...

The Main Thing: Greer Cooper's story leaves us in awe of God's plan when we step aside and allow Him to do the math. She started her role as a foster parent long before meeting and marrying her now husband. Now, they continue to open their home together. Join us for Episode 063 of the Two Adoptive Mamas Podcast for a conversation on the day-to-day of foster care, what it looks like to na...

The Main Thing: To know the work of The Sparrow Fund and the heart of Director, Kelly Raudenbush is to understand their passion about caring for caregivers. We were so thrilled to have Kelly join us for Episode 062 to talk about the important work happening within this organization and also address the mental load that comes with all parts of adoption. Too often we're not talking about the to...

The Main Thing: If you look up "super dad" in the dictionary, you'll see Peter Mutabazi's name as part of the definition.  We can assure you you've never heard a story like his (at least we hadn't!) and that he is one you'll never forget. For Episode 061 Peter joins us to share his personal story of becoming known and his life's mission to make the children...

The Main Thing: Here's the thing about an awesome "mom story" --- it meets you right where you're at. Your trenches likely look different and your family structure unique,  but no matter what, the love of a mama --- and an adoptive mama at that --- hits right at the heart. Melissa Telesco's story does just that in Episode 060. Her story of heartbreak, trust, hope, and pray...

The Main Thing: Surprise! If you didn't catch it on our Instagram, Sarah and her family are awaiting placement in their second domestic adoption process. If you listened to our very first episode, you know how quickly placement occurred with their daughter. This time has been very different and allowed for an opportunity to build a beautiful relationship with a birth mom. If you're open...