ADOPTION STRUGGLES AND SUPPORT | Adoption Trauma, Safety, Peace of Mind, Biblical Encouragement, Respite, Journaling

What if my child reaches out and gets rejected for a second time? 💔 Has your adopted child ever searched for their birth family with hope in their heart, only to face silence, disappointment, or outright rejection? It’s a kind of pain that shakes both the child and the parent who longs to protect them. 💭 Hi Neighbor, In this episode, I continue my conversation with my friend and trusted adoption...

When the path ahead feels unclear and your heart feels heavy with “what ifs,” it can seem like you’re walking through a fog that just won’t lift. Hi Neighbor, In this episode, we talk about what it means to trust God when you can’t see what’s next in your adoption journey. I’ll share 5 anxiety Bible verses—timeless truths from Scripture to help you find peace, courage, and direction when everythin...

When your story begins in loss, can it still lead to hope? 💛 What does it look like to let God rewrite your story of abandonment, identity, and belonging? Hi Neighbor, Sometimes the most powerful stories of faith begin in the hardest places. That’s true for my guest, Ayden Lincoln, an adoption advocate, author, and adult adoptee who was found abandoned in a shoebox in China and adopted into a fam...

Are you in a season that feels more like survival than hope? What if healing doesn’t look like getting through it but learning to meet God in it? 🌿 Hearing God’s voice isn’t always easy, especially when life feels heavy and faith feels quiet. 💔 Hi Neighbor, In this heartfelt conversation, Jenny Fulford shares how God met her in a season of silence and loss, and how journaling became the tool tha...

Healing isn’t a quick fix! Patience is the real work of adoption. 💛 How can adoptive parents and adoptees apply these principles in their own journeys? Hi Neighbor, I’ve learned when I wrap up an interview to keep the recording going. Because more often than not, something unexpected and meaningful happens once the microphone should have been turned off. 🎙️ That’s exactly what took place after my...

“If your own mother won’t fight to keep you, what does that say about you?” Has your adopted child ever asked a question that stopped you in your tracks? Something so deep and painful, you weren’t sure how to answer?💔 Hi Neighbor, In this powerful episode, I sit down again with my friend and trusted adoption professional, Jane Baker. Jane brings decades of experience walking with children and fam...

Imagine a group of compassionate adoptive parents. A safe place where people GET IT, share encouragement, and offer practical, faith-rooted support. Sounds amazing, right? 💛 Hi Neighbor, I’d like to take a moment to invite you into something special I built for adoptive parents. Something described in three words: compassion, connection, and community. If you’ve ever sat in the quiet after a hard...

Has your child started asking questions about their birth family? 🤔 Do you worry about what to say or how much to share? 💬 What if your honesty could actually strengthen your child’s trust and sense of belonging? 💛 Hi Neighbor,  In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down again with my friend and trusted adoption professional, Jane Baker.  Jane has walked alongside countless families navigating...

❗Are you constantly rushing, feeling like there’s never enough time in the day? 💭Do you long for real peace, but life’s chaos keeps pulling you away? 🌟What if slowing down could actually help you experience God’s presence more fully? Hi Neighbor, A simple card on my cabin door inspired this unplugged episode. “Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.” ~Dallas Willard I reflect on how embracin...

He experienced one tragedy after another 💔. If that wasn't enough, he then experienced the ultimate act of betrayal 😢. How could a son do this to his father? Life would never be the same. Yet through it all, he was still able to find peace. Hi Neighbor, As an adoptive parent, have you faced sleepless nights filled with fear, wondering if peace will ever come? Adoption can bring heartbreak no one...

He faced one discouraging obstacle after another. Yet through it all, he persisted. How did he do it? First, he partnered with God.  Hi Neighbor! Do you ever feel like you’re facing one discouraging obstacle after another in your adoption journey? You’re not alone. 💔 As an adoptive parent and coach, I know exactly what that feels like and how to persist through it. So, what’s my secret? Partnerin...

It was the worst advice I ever received as an adoptive parent and, strangely enough, it turned out to be the best advice too. Hi Neighbor, If you’ve ever felt crushed by unsolicited advice 😣 or wondered if you’re failing your kids 💔, you’re not alone. Some words sting and stay with you—but sometimes, with time and perspective, they can also become lifelines. In this episode, I share the story of...

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” 🌿 Ecclesiastes 3:1  Whatever season you’re in on your adoption journey, we can get through it together.  If you’re feeling lost as an adoptive parent, THIS could be your lifeline. Remember, you’re not alone!  Hi Neighbor, Solomon in Ecclesiastes reminds us: there’s a time for everything. Whether you’re grieving 😢, celebr...

How do you navigate through the fog of life? I would like to suggest you consider relying on Someone with a better vantage point ✨. Someone who can shine the light on your path. Hi Neighbor, Adoptive life can feel foggy, uncertain, and overwhelming. Sometimes the best way forward is to slow down, trust a higher perspective 🙏, and let go of needing to see every step ahead. What would it look like...

Why do bad things happen to good people?  Sometimes the answer can only be seen through the perspective of time ⏳. Hi Neighbor! In this episode, we’ll dive into the story of Joseph in Genesis 📖 and see how time gave him clarity on why he suffered the things he did. We’ll also explore 1 Corinthians and Romans to discover 3 powerful benefits of why good people and especially adoptive parents walk...

As an adoptive parent, the way you were parented may or may not be the best approach in parenting your adopted child. Hi Neighbor! When what you’re doing as a parent 🚫 isn’t working, how do you flip the script 🔄 and approach parenting differently? 🤔 In this episode, one of the individuals who helped my son Jonny navigate the challenges of residential treatment joins the show. My neighbor 🏡 Eri...

When connection feels impossible, is it still love? (Yes! Here’s how.) Hi Neighbor, Today, I’m joined by my neighbor from West Africa by way of Nashville, Jackson TerKeurst. Jackson opens up about his journey from civil war in Liberia to Tennessee, and what it was like to be an adopted teenager with walls built for survival. He brings a powerful perspective on what love felt like on the receiving...

If you’ve ever felt like no one truly understands what you’re going through as an adoptive parent, you’re not alone and you’re not broken. Hi Neighbor, Today marks not only our 200th episode, but also the third anniversary of this podcast. What started as a simple idea and a backyard walk has now grown into a global community of adoptive parents seeking encouragement, connection, and biblical hope...

Have you ever been so frustrated by things going on around you that you couldn't see clearly, you couldn't think clearly, your judgment was impaired? What's a person to do about that? May I suggest you work on raising your awareness? Hi Neighbor! In this episode, I share a personal story about a time when I became so frustrated that I almost missed a positive opportunity that was right in front of...

Is adoption life chaotic for you? Is it even possible to find peace in the middle of meltdowns, uncertainty, and daily struggles? I believe it is. Not just to see calm from a distance but to actually experience it, even in the middle of the storm.  But first, you’ll need to become a copycat. Hi Neighbor, If you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious as an adoptive parent, you’re not alone. Anxiety Mana...

Have you ever felt completely alone—like you were the only one facing something so hard it seemed no one else could understand? What do you do in those moments? Who do you turn to? If you’re an adoptive parent feeling that way right now, may I gently suggest this: it’s time to grab hold of an anchor. Hi Neighbor,⁣ I’m imagining an adoptive parent listening to this episode, feeling isolated and ove...

“By the time he left, I felt like I was close to a mental breakdown. And I would tell my husband over and over, I can’t do this much longer. I just can’t.  You know, I would go sit in the Walmart parking lot for three hours until he went to bed. And so I was avoiding my whole family. That affected my husband because here my husband is supposed to be my protector, but legally he can’t protect me ag...

Could it be that the very struggles you've walked through have prepared you to encourage someone else? Hi Neighbor!⁣ Why do bad things happen in life? Some might say, “That’s just life.” But I believe there’s a deeper meaning behind that question, something worth pausing to reflect on. In this episode, let’s reframe that narrative together. I’ll share a moment from David’s life in Psalm 13, a powe...

Even adults who haven’t been through trauma can tell you that it’s sometimes difficult to talk about our feelings. I think that is the beauty of music therapy. Because clients can come. They don’t necessarily need to say exactly what they want to explore. We can just explore in music. Hi Neighbor, Did you know that music can be a powerful tool for healing in the lives of adopted children navigatin...

Sometimes, life has a way of knocking the wind out of us, suddenly and without warning. Hi Neighbor, How do you navigate those unexpected changes or losses that shake your world? Over time, I’ve learned to find steady ground through simple practices, prayer, journaling, or even a quiet walk outside. In the midst of grief, these anchors have become pockets of peace. I’ve also come to lean on the pe...