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

“Your road led through the sea, Your pathway through the mighty waters, a pathway no one knew was there.” ~Psalm 77:19 Hi Neighbor, Welcome you to another unplugged episode of Anchors of Encouragement. Today, I’m going to begin revealing what my words are for the coming year. Here’s a hint: I’m going to reveal these words slowly. We’ll dive deep into their meanings by breaking them down into acron...

Hi Neighbor, December is a month where a lot of us select our word for the coming year.  A word to provide a compass and guidance and direction as we anticipate the challenges and aspirations of the coming year.  Have you ever chosen a word to guide you through the year? As we enter the New Year, I want to encourage you to choose a word, or words, that will serve as your compass and guiding light....

“When the dark clouds of despair have darkened the pathway of life's progress, just remember that behind each cloud is a silver lining, if you will only learn to see it.” ~Napoleon Hill Hi Neighbor,   Adoptive parents sometimes face dark clouds of adversity in their adoption journeys, but remember: every dark cloud has a silver lining. In this journaling episode, we’ll consider the transformative...

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,   In this journaling episode, I’ll share a journaling prompt inspired by the story of one of my favorite Bible characters. I’ll also share with you an easy way to begin journaling even if you have never done it before. Plus how you can persist with pen-to...

The adoption journey can be difficult and adoptive parents often need support but won’t ask for it. What’s the solution? A kind gesture! Hi Neighbor, In this journaling episode, I’ll share a kindness quote and show how it can be used to support adoptive parents. We’ll consider how important compassion is in supporting adoptive parents through their unique challenges and struggles. If you are an ad...

Whenever life is interrupted, whenever you lose a loved one, or whenever you turn around and all of a sudden your kids are grown, it’s then that a lot of people understand just how precious time is.  Hi Neighbor!⁣ Are you grateful for the time you have? We all have a finite amount of time. We just don’t know how finite. Whenever life is interrupted, it reminds us of how precious time is. Reflectin...

If you’re an adoptive parent who feels like you’re all alone, I’m here to tell you there are other adoptive parents who feel the same way. They are going through the same struggles as you.  What can you do when you feel this way? I believe it’s important to hold on to and embrace an anchor of encouragement. Hi Neighbor!⁣ Adoptive parenting can often feel like you’re all alone with no one understan...

Have you ever had one of those days? A really hard day with your adopted child? You’re at your wit’s end! What do you do? Maybe it’s time to hit the Pause Button! Hi Neighbor! There are days when adoption can be really hard. In this episode of Anchors of Encouragement, we’ll consider 7 ways for adoptive parents to find support and achieve respite. And it all begins by hitting the Pause Button! Gra...

Have you ever had rain in your heart? Maybe you should seek shelter under the umbrella of a friend. Hi Neighbor! Have you ever had rain in your heart? Sometimes it can feel like a drizzle while other times it feels like a downpour. Where can adoptive parents go for shelter? I believe the solution is found under the umbrella of a friend. In this episode, I would like to share this idea of an umbrel...

Have you ever struggled with trusting that adoption is what God wants for you? May I suggest that you ask God for clues? Hi Neighbor! In this episode, I would like to respond to an answer a listener gave me to the following question... What would support you the most RIGHT NOW when it comes to adoptive parenting? We’ll consider this answer by looking at the clues God gave Gideon in Judges chapters...

Your body is the first to know. Know what? That it’s time to be still.  Hi Neighbor, Are you an adoptive parent struggling with a challenging storm in your life? You might feel out of sorts. You might feel a heaviness about you. You might even feel emotionally drained. It’s time to listen to your body, step back, step away, and show yourself grace. It’s time to be still. But how does an adoptive p...

For those times when life has you rattled and you find yourself needing to catch your breath, what do you do? May I suggest you look up and regulate yourself with the anchor of a pause. Hi Neighbor, In this episode of Anchors of Encouragement, I’ll share a couple of stories that happened in a span of just one week. Two remarkable events that gave me the opportunity to PAUSE.  When life feels overw...

In life’s hustle and bustle, how can adoptive parents regulate themselves? May I suggest? There are times when you need to retreat.  Hi Neighbor, Welcome to a special hiking episode of Anchors of Encouragement.  Today, let’s talk about something crucial for adoptive parents navigating life’s hustle and bustle: self-regulation. Retreating to a place where you’re genuinely understood can work wonder...

As an adoptive parent, for those times when you feel anxious or overwhelmed, what can you do to regulate yourself? Sit with that question for a moment. Hi Neighbor, Welcome to another walking episode of Anchors of Encouragement.  Feeling anxious and overwhelmed as an adoptive parent? It happens to all of us. But today, I have a simple yet powerful tip to cope with anxiety and regulate those feelin...

Why can't we be like other families? Hi Neighbor, Welcome to another walking episode of Anchors of Encouragement.  I have a personal confession to make, something I have wrestled with my entire life. And something that causes me anxiety. But it pales in comparison to the anxiety I want to address in this episode. Many adoptive parents struggle with this question. I know because you’ve told me. It’...

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” ~The Serenity Prayer Hi Neighbor, Welcome to another walking episode of Anchors of Encouragement.  Ever feel overwhelmed by things beyond your control? I understand because I’ve been there. Let’s talk about how to find peace and calm in the storm. To ill...

“Who are the kids that actually need permanency? Who are the kids that actually need permanency through adoption? It tends to be kids with disability, kids that are older, sibling groups...” ~Brandon Stiver Joining me today is my neighbor from Seattle, Brandon Stiver. Brandon has worn several hats, but has one vocation, to see God’s kingdom come to Earth through proclamation and demonstration.  A...

Is it possible for adoptive parents to feel gratitude even during the struggles they may encounter in their adoption journey? The answer is yes. Grab a pen and paper, and let’s explore the concept of gratitude together. Hi Neighbor, In this journaling episode, I want to consider with you the concept of gratitude, and how it applies to adoptive parents who are facing the struggles their adoption jo...

Hi Neighbor, Welcome to another walking episode of Anchors of Encouragement.  Do you ever feel like you’re not good enough as an adoptive parent? Maybe you feel like a failure, or perhaps in extreme cases, you don’t even feel worthy to be an adoptive parent.  I understand because I’ve been there. For those times when I didn’t feel good enough or I felt like a failure or even when I didn’t feel lik...

He faced one discouraging obstacle after another, yet through it all, he persisted. How did he do it? Grab a pen and paper and I’ll show you how he first partnered with God. Hi Neighbor, In this journaling episode, I’ll show you how you can persist in your adoption journey with a story inspired by one of my favorite Bible characters. We’ll consider encouraging Bible verses from the books of Genesi...

When you discover a process that works for you, it makes sense to do it over and over. You’ve probably heard the old adage, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That’s certainly the case with the concept I share in this encore episode, and the main reason I’m bringing it to you again. Because It Works!  It’s a process I use on a regular basis, and it’s a process that has helped me navigate the challen...

Do you ever feel like a failure as an adoptive parent? If you answered yes, I know how you feel because I’ve been there. Grab a pen and paper, and I’ll share 3 affirmations to restore your confidence as a parent. Hi Neighbor, In this journaling episode, I want to help you navigate your adoption journey for those times when you feel like a failure as an adoptive parent. I know how you feel because...

Hi Neighbor, Is it possible to experience hope and healing after a tragic decision? Today’s episode features an incredible story of faith, healing, and advocacy for life. Joining me is my neighbor from North Texas, Jeff Bradford. Jeff serves as president of Human Coalition , one of the largest Pro-Life organizations in America.  He and his wife, Tricia, have personally experienced the trauma of ab...

Hi Neighbor, Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you had at your fingertips the ability to heal yourself? Well, you do. It’s something I like to call the self-help jackpot.  Grab a pen and paper, and let’s explore the self-help jackpot with journaling.  This is the seventh and final episode in our 7-part series on journaling. Journaling can act as a filter and aerator for your negativity. Before I continu...

Hi Neighbor, Do you find yourself thinking the same thoughts over and over, especially negative thoughts? Imagine if there was a way to purge those negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. There is.  Grab a pen and paper, and let's explore how to go from a stagnant mind to a new mind through journaling.  This is the sixth episode in a 7-part series on journaling. Journaling can act a...