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

How can a person realize peace in their life? I believe it can be as simple as listening! Hi Neighbor! This episode of Anchors of Encouragement is going to be different than most that you hear. It’s very similar to Episode 22 where I talked about having too much noise in your life. What I want to do in this episode is share some of those sounds that bring peace to my life. These sounds help me to...

Have you ever been so frustrated by things going on around you that you couldn't see clearly, you couldn't think clearly or 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 of Anchors of Encouragement, I share a personal story about a time when I became so frustrated that I almost missed a positive opportun...

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! In this episode of Anchors of Encouragement, we’ll consider 7 ways for adoptive parents to find support and achieve respite in their life. And it all begins by hitting the Pause Button! Hope and Healing are on the way. You...

Discover the mental peace that comes from financial peace. A conversation with Debt-Free College Coach, Kara Walker. Hi Neighbor! Joining me on this episode of Anchors of Encouragement, is my friend, Kara Walker, host of the podcast, Money and Mental Peace. Kara tells her story of how she graduated college, loan, and debt-free. She delivers one mic-drop after another as she shares her expertise an...

He experienced one tragedy after another. And 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! In this episode of Anchors of Encouragement, we’ll consider the story of this man from the book of 2 Samuel. And we’ll also look at the psalm he w...

Imagine a peace that is beyond comprehension. This kind of peace is… Real! It’s Possible! And You CAN Experience it! Hi Neighbor! In this episode of Anchors of Encouragement, we’ll set the intention for the podcast in the upcoming year.  I’ll also share my word for the year and why I believe it will be an anchor of encouragement for you. Hope and Healing are on the way. Your Neighbor,⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Tim P.S...

Your friend is hurting. What do you say? Hi Neighbor! In this episode of Anchors of Encouragement, we’ll consider a quote by an ancient storyteller as a way to comfort a hurting friend without saying a word. Hope and Healing are on the way. Your Neighbor,⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Tim P.S. I hope you’ll consider connecting with me in my free and private Facebook Group: Anchors of Encouragement. You don’t have to say a...

It’s like the last kid picked at recess feeling. Just because we “grow up” doesn’t mean that feeling ever goes away. Hi Neighbor! In this episode of Anchors of Encouragement, we’ll explore what it means to hold space for others. It’s a gift you CAN give to someone else. Hope and Healing are on the way. Your Neighbor,⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Tim P.S. Please consider connecting with me in my free and private Facebook...

They’re called yes-men, flatterers, and fair-weather-friends. While it might feel good to have your ego constantly stroked, do “friends” like these really serve you well? Shadow friend… you’ll NEVER measure up! Hi Neighbor! In this episode of Anchors of Encouragement, we’ll contrast the idea of a shadow friend and being the kind of friend your friend REALLY needs. Hope and Healing are on the way....

Have you ever been so upset about something bad going on in your life that you wish you could fly away? Fly far away to somewhere safe? That’s not unusual. Around 3,000 years ago, the psalmist David felt the same way. There were a lot of bad things going on in his life. He wished for wings like a dove so that he could fly to his safe place. Hi Neighbor! In this episode of Anchors of Encouragement,...

“I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” Hi Neighbor! In this journaling episode of Anchors of Encouragement, I will combine the quote by Stephen Grellet with the principle in Proverbs 27:17 and share 3 journaling prompts to...

There is Beauty in Brokenness, especially when one friend shows kindness to another. I would like to encourage you to consider your fellow human beings as your fellow human friends. Hi Neighbor! Consider the following with me. Deliberate acts of kindness. Our broken world could use more of them. But how can this happen? In this episode of Anchors of Encouragement, let’s consider how to go from ran...

How would it feel to face your struggles with courage and confidence? If that's something you would like to do, may I suggest you surrender to God? Hi Neighbor! In this journaling episode of Anchors of Encouragement, I will share 3 affirmations based on the story of the day I became a Dad from Episode 29 and text from the book of Deuteronomy. These affirmations will help you touch your feelings an...

Only a handful of people know the story you are about to hear. After several prank calls and one ALMOST missed call, we finally connected with a birthmother. Everything was going smoothly or so we thought. Then one day, our attorney called me and said the adoption was OFF! Hi Neighbor! Have you ever struggled to trust that adoption is what God wants for you? In this episode, I’ll share the story o...

Would you like Hope and Healing during the struggles of life? May I suggest that you anchor yourself to the text? Hi Neighbor! What does anchoring yourself to the text mean? In this episode, I will answer that question and share 2 journaling prompts based on the story of Joseph from Episode 27. We’ll also consider a couple of verses from the book of Romans. Hope and Healing are on the way. Your Ne...

Why do bad things happen to good people? Perhaps to understand the answer to that question, requires the perspective of time. Hi Neighbor! In this episode, we’ll consider the story of Joseph in Genesis and how the perspective of time helped him to understand why he suffered the things he did.  We’ll also look at passages in the books of 1 Corinthians and Romans to understand 3 benefits why good pe...

I See You! We were miles from where we started. At this point, we were tired but there was no turning back. Then I looked down and saw the encouragement we needed to finish. Hi Neighbor! In this episode, I want to share two stories of simple things someone did to encourage me. And how it made me realize I wasn’t alone. Hope and Healing are on the way. Your Neighbor,⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Tim P.S. If this podcast h...

Do you feel lonely, or overwhelmed? Do you struggle to trust God? Would you like to feel differently? May I suggest you can replace those negative feelings by counting your blessings? Hi Neighbor! In the first episode , I shared the story of my son Jonny and the ONE thing he did to learn to like himself again. He journaled. I would like to begin what I'm hoping will become a regular feature for th...

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...

Do you ever feel overwhelmed? Of course who doesn’t? A better question might be this... When you do feel overwhelmed, what are some ways that you can implement in order to reduce those feelings? May I suggest that you consider taking some micro steps? Hi Neighbor, I want to welcome you to a special episode of Anchors of Encouragement. This is going to be a different episode than you’re accustomed...

Could you use some more noise in your life? I didn’t think so!  Hi Neighbor!⁣ I don't want to add any more noise to your life. If you're like me, you've got enough noise to go around and then some. What I would like to do in this episode is to share with you 5 ways you can begin to neutralize the noise in your life starting today. We’ll reframe the acronym NOISE and consider it in light of scriptu...

Does life ever feel foggy to you? There's no clear path to take. There’s a lot of uncertainty. It’s hard to see your next step. It can get frustrating and at times even depressing.  Hi Neighbor!⁣ How do adoptive parents navigate through the fog of life? In this special mindset episode of Anchors of Encouragement, I would like to suggest you consider relying on someone with a better vantage point,...

Have you ever felt like you were all alone like you were the ONLY one going through a difficult situation? What do you do? Who do you turn to? Hi Neighbor!⁣ In this episode, let’s consider why there can be times when adoptive parents feel like they are all alone and WHY they should consider grabbing hold of an anchor. NEW FEATURE... I’m also introducing a listener participation section. It’s a way...

Imagine the ONE voice you feel the deepest connection with suddenly goes silent. Hi Neighbor!⁣ In this episode, let’s explore that question. I’ll share a personal story about a voice in my life that went silent and how a message from Psalm 139 became a source of healing for me. I believe adoptive parents can use this same message for healing, comfort, and encouragement with their adopted children....

Could there be a connection between adoption trauma and sugar addiction?  Hi Neighbor!⁣ In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Joan Kent. Dr. Kent has a Ph. D. in Psychoactive Nutrition. She was the very first to document the brain chemical pathways of sugar addiction, and to explain the sugar/fat seesaw hormonally and chemically.   Joan has helped hundreds and hundreds of clients with metabolic cond...