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

Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by life that words escape you and all you can do is cry? I’m here to assure you that every tear you shed speaks volumes to the God who created you.  Hi Neighbor, Even in moments when your emotions are stretched to the breaking point and words fail you, rest assured that you’re not journeying through your struggles alone. In this episode of Anchors of Encouragement...

Do you know an adoptive parent who is heartbroken? Feeling overwhelmed? Maybe this person can’t think straight, or maybe they are struggling with their faith. They might even feel lost, lonely, and afraid. Do you want to know how you can encourage this person? May I suggest you say a prayer? Hi Neighbor,  In this episode of Anchors of Encouragement, I’ll share a powerful way to support adoptive pa...

On March 2nd, many years ago, a devastating tornado hit my hometown. As the anniversary approached, painful memories flooded back, but also valuable lessons. Hi Neighbor,  Memories of tragedy can be overwhelming, but facing them head-on can lead to healing and growth. Join me in this unplugged episode of Anchors of Encouragement as I talk about the importance of processing difficult experiences by...

I’m imagining there is an adoptive parent reading this who is heartbroken and feeling overwhelmed. You can’t think straight. Maybe you’re struggling with your faith. You feel lost, lonely, and afraid. And you’re wondering, how can I ever get past this? I’m here to tell you I’ve been there, and I want you to know tomorrow is a brand new day. Hi Neighbor,  In this episode of Anchors of Encouragement...

What is something that can cause you anxiety, but also reduce your anxiety? Answer: For me, it’s snow. Hi Neighbor, In this unplugged episode of Anchors of Encouragement, I want to share one of my favorite anxiety grounding techniques with you. It’s something I’ve been doing for years. I also share a happy memory of doing it when I was in college. Daily Doable: Identify those anxiety grounding tec...

Some days are easier than others. Some days don't go as expected. What do you do when there is ONE curve ball after another thrown at you?  I’ve discovered a lot of things are out of my control. But there’s ONE thing I can control, ONE thing I do almost every day. That ONE thing helps me to prepare for the unpredictability of any day. Hi Neighbor,  To journal or not to journal? Five questions to c...

It’s easy to get tripped up journaling. Trust me, I know. There are so many different ways you can journal, and you’re left wondering, “Is there a right or wrong way to do it?” I’m hoping by sharing my experiences, using the WRITE way, that will help liberate you and help you to choose the way or ways that are best for you. Hi, Neighbor.  To journal or not to journal? Five questions to consider. T...

Those who know me know I love to draw. I’ve been doing it all my life, from scribbles on my grandma’s wallpaper to drawings of buildings. For almost 30 years, I was an architectural illustrator. I’ve drawn buildings located all over the world. From this podcast, you probably know I love to journal. I’ve been journaling for over 5 years. But there’s something about me I bet you didn't know. I have...

My dad had a heart attack at 45. It was scary. Thankfully, it was the warning kind of heart attack… This was a wake-up call for him and a wake-up call for me. Dad began riding an exercise bike, I began cycling. I understood this was a process. There were benefits to doing what I was doing. Just like I've experienced the benefits of cycling and later hiking. I've also experienced the benefits of so...

At first, I wasn’t a believer. You might even call me a doubting Thomas. It wasn’t until I saw with my own eyes the power of this simple practice. Now I’m a believer too. Hi, Neighbor.  To Journal or Not to Journal? Five questions to consider. This is the first of a 5-part series that I want to share with you about journaling. Question Number 1: What Are the Benefits of Journaling? In today's epis...

As an adoptive parent, do you ever second-guess yourself? What did I do wrong? Do you listen to critics and let them get you down? Have you responded to negative criticism and it didn’t go well? Hi, Neighbor.  I’m here to tell you, don’t beat yourself up. In this episode, I’ll share 3 ways adoptive parents can navigate these challenges in their adoption journeys. Verses mentioned in this episode....

Do you worry about your children’s future? Will they make wise choices? Will they be successful? And most importantly, will they remain faithful? Hi Neighbor, I’m here to encourage you. Don’t give up! In this episode, I want to offer you some biblical encouragement with a time-tested proverb and share a personal story of how that was manifested in my life. Proverbs 22:6 NLT – “Direct your children...

When my daughter was five, we got a letter from her birth mother at Christmas time saying, “I started thinking about grad school but then, you know, 9-11 happened and we invaded Iraq... I’m planning on joining the army. I’m going to be going off to officer training school and in case I don’t come back, I want to come and spend the weekend with you and meet my daughter.” Hi Neighbor, Joining me tod...

Hi, Neighbor,  Welcome to a special behind-the-scenes episode of Anchors of Encouragement. Over the past several weeks, I’ve had the privilege to speak to many adoptive parents.  Even though I am an adoptive parent, it’s my desire to get to know you better so that I can create content and episodes that speak to you.  After these conversations, I realized I needed to update the description for this...

The most healing moment for me was actually getting my adoption file from the authorities and reading a letter from my birth mother about the teddy bear. It became abundant to me that the teddy bear was a symbol of her love, not a consolation prize. Hi Neighbor, Trauma can lie dormant for a long time, even decades. Unexpectedly, trauma can be triggered by the most seemingly innocent things. Joinin...

Hi Neighbor, Do you ever feel weighed down with negative thoughts running through your mind? Maybe you even feel overwhelmed or even stuck. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could do something and poof, those negative thoughts would just go away?  Grab a pen and paper, because today, I’m going to share with you a tool that will let you do just that. Hope and healing are on the way. Your Neighbor, Tim P.S...

“My message to parents is this is okay. These things will work out over time. This is going to happen. This is not personal. That's not a personal attack on your cooking or anything. These are messages. These are ways in which the child perhaps needs to assert herself or communicate her initial reluctance....  (Today) she’s a college graduate. She has a wonderful job, and she’s a productive member...

Hi Neighbor, Are your holidays ever sad? I understand. Mine have been too. In this episode, I want to share Psalms 136 and 143 with you. I lean on the truths in these Psalms to shift my perspective when life gets tough and the holidays are sad. I pray this blesses you. Hope and healing are on the way. Your Neighbor,
 Tim P.S. Would you please consider leaving a review for the show? Here is a short...

Hi Neighbor, In this third of a 3-part series, I want to consider with you an audio clip taken from my interview with Dr. Rick Morton of Lifeline Children’s Services. You can hear that interview in Episode 93. Today, I’m going to share a story with you about why the easy part of adoption happens before the papers are signed. The hard part actually begins when you bring your child home.  We’ll also...

Hi Neighbor, In this second of a 3-part series, I want to consider with you an audio clip taken from my interview with Dr. Rick Morton of Lifeline Children’s Services. You can hear that interview in Episode 93. Today, I’m going to share with you a tool that can help adoptees revisit and process their grief. It’s a tool I’ve talked a lot about on this podcast… journaling. We’ll consider 5 steps to...

Hi Neighbor, In this first of a 3-part series, I want to consider with you an audio clip taken from my interview with Dr. Rick Morton of Lifeline Children’s Services. You can hear that interview in Episode 93. Today, we’re going to consider adopted children as heroes and 4 different ways to apply this concept. I pray this episode blesses you. Hope and healing are on the way. Your Neighbor, Tim P.S...

Can people REALLY count on you? Hi Neighbor, I want to share with you a bonus episode of Anchors of Encouragement today. You might be able to tell that I’m outside. It’s a fall day. The leaves are falling. It’s raining.  I’m one of those individuals who likes to actually walk in the rain. There's something soothing about it.  The question I asked at the beginning is based on the song, Count on Me...

The ability to have conversations with the different groups that make up the adoption triangle was very beneficial for me in forgiving my birth mom for this initial rejection. I think it also helped us when she did change her mind and we entered reunion. I had a lot of compassion for what she went through. Hi Neighbor, Joining me in this episode is, Julie Ryan McGue. Julie is an American writer, a...

Had my birth mother chosen abortion, I would not be sitting here talking to you… the reality is had she gone through with that decision, I would not be here nor would I have a son or a daughter… her decision is a generational decision. Hi Neighbor, Joining me in this episode is, Kathryn Barnhill. Kathryn is a pregnancy counselor at Lifeline Children’s Services, the largest evangelical Christian ad...

I look at my kids and the things that they’ve had to adapt to in culture and learn language. It’s heroic to do what they’ve done. And so as a parent, I really felt our responsibility as parents is to step into that challenge and to just try to help them to negotiate that as much as we possibly can. Hi Neighbor, Joining me in this episode is, Dr. Rick Morton. Rick is the Senior Vice President of En...