Take Heart

In the struggles of daily life, it can be difficult to believe God, His Word, His will, and to relinquish control. In Advent, we see the example of Mary, who chose small steps of obedience and surrender while facing many obstacles. May we follow her pattern and choose belief in small ways each day. This is a replay of Episode 65, which was originally aired on December 14, 2021. The original record...

Mary, Jesus’ mother, had to embrace the unknown and the unfamiliar to welcome life.  Amy shares how saying yes to the unknown can draw us into the deeper meanings of this season and our relationship with God.  This is a replay of Episode 64, which was originally aired on December 7, 2021. The original recording and transcript are available on our website HERE .  Key Moments: [0:37]  Luke 2:8-19 [2...

In this collaborative episode, Amy, Sara, and Carrie talk about their own recent experiences and vulnerabilities- feelings of worthlessness, lack of control, and fear that often accompany these calmer seasons. They talk about how to recognize and process these emotions and offer practical advice and wisdom to help listeners navigate the unsettling emotions of transitions and change. They encourage...

Finding rest as a caregiver can be just another thing on our to-do list, but it's a vital part of sustaining our long-term well-being. Host Sara Clime talks about the benefits of putting in the effort to make space for rest in our lives. Discover the 7 different types of rest and learn how to engage in restorative activities that suit your unique needs and lifestyle. From physical and mental...

In this week's podcast episode, "Where Do You Find Comfort," Carrie shares the delicate balance between positive and negative emotions while exploring the need for comfort.  Carrie talks about the emotional journey of special needs parents, explains some essential truths about comfort and discusses the constant place we can go to find it.  Eps. 149; November 14, 2023 Key Moments:  [...

Episode 148:: November 7, 2023   How to Be Content When Your Life Isn’t Easy Summary: In this episode, Amy discusses the concept of contentment and how it can be challenging to achieve when life isn’t easy. Amy explores the impact of unmet expectations, "if only" thinking, and comparison that contribute to our discontent. She shares personal stories and offers practical steps to help you...

Amy speaks with Jodie Gerling, an advocate for families facing medical challenges. They explore the transformative role of creativity in healing and processing emotions. Drawing from her personal experiences, Jody uses creativity as a tool for grounding herself, finding strength and the comfort of home even when she’s in the hospital and embracing gratitude. She has found that creativity leads her...

In this collaborative episode, Carrie, Amy, and Sara discuss how best to support friends and family members who are going through difficult times. Speaking from personal experience, they talk about the blessings and difficulties of walking through suffering with others. This episode practically discusses how to provide compassionate care to others, alongside what is and isn’t helpful when walking...

In this episode, Sara shares stories from her personal journey of raising a child with disabilities, and how she found a deeper faith through her times of struggle. Through sharing her own experiences, she teaches a framework listeners can use to not only acknowledge pain but also shape it into fulfilling God’s purposes in their lives. Pain is inevitable. So we invite you to learn how to transform...

Carrie M. Holt dives into the complex emotions and challenges that come with being a special needs mom but even just a person experiencing suffering. Carrie draws parallels between running and suffering, the tension that arises from both experiences. Carrie shares her insights on how past suffering can strengthen our faith and prepare us for future sorrows. She gives some helpful mindset shifts by...

Eps. 143:  October 2, 2023  God’s Faithfulness in the Midst of Daily Suffering Summary: In this episode, Amy explores the complexities of faithfulness in the midst of suffering as a special needs parent. She shares her own experiences of feeling betrayed and angry at God as she faced challenging behaviors daily from several of her children. Amy discusses the disconnect between her expectations of...

In this collaborative episode, all three hosts answer listeners’ questions. They discuss the importance of embracing the present moment and finding joy in the little things while navigating the journey of special needs parenting. They share personal experiences and reflections on how their own dreams and expectations have shifted over time. The episode highlights the need to grieve the loss of old...

Sara Clime talks about transitions in this week's episode. As a caregiver, transitions are something that is common, yet rarely easy. Join Sara as she gives some practical (and unapologetic) steps that she has implemented over the years to help reduce the overwhelm, decision fatigue, and general anxiety that comes with inevitable change. Getting practical through a transition (big or small) d...

Carrie Holt discusses how to spiritually and practically navigate hospital stays with our children. Drawing from her own experiences, Carrie talks about the importance of recognizing the armor we put on in these situations, such as control, withdrawal, and cynicism, and how they can hinder our ability to trust in God. She encourages listeners to invite God into these spaces and remember that He is...

In this first episode of season 4, Amy Brown kicks it off with a topic close to her heart: resourcing yourself as a caregiver. Amy shares her personal journey of learning to listen to her own life and prioritize self-care. Drawing from her experiences and the insights of women like Jennifer Dukes Lee and Taylor Elise Morrison, Amy explores the importance of asking ourselves questions like, “How am...

In this episode, Carrie welcomes guest author and therapist Cathy Loerzel to discuss the importance of embracing grief and negative emotions in order to heal and move forward. The conversation draws from three archetype characters of past wounding and how it shows up in our lives and relationships with others. The episode emphasizes the necessity of dealing with past wounds which leads to healthie...

Join Amy and therapist and author of “Try Softer” and “Strong Like Water,” Aundi Kolber, as they delve into the concept of "try softer," the idea of giving compassion to navigate the challenges of parenting children with complex medical or emotional issues. They recognize the validity of responding from a place of danger or crisis while also exploring the transformative power of paying c...

Amy welcomes writer Jennifer Dukes Lee as she reflects on a picture from 20 years ago when she and her husband made the bold decision to leave their successful careers behind and embark on a journey of farming. Amidst the doubts from others, Jennifer’s journey of slow growth vs. hurried comparison taught her how to relinquish control. They discuss the cultural pressure of progress, achieving resul...

Carrie is joined by guest Marissa Bondurant, author of the Bible Study “Who Cares for You? ”  Marissa draws parallels between her own experiences as a caregiver for her daughter undergoing medical treatments and the humble acts of service performed by Jesus.  They discuss living out our faith through everyday tasks and self-sacrifice, allowing others to see Jesus at work in us. Marissa also talks...

On this episode, Amy speaks with author, Lisa Qualls, who is an adoptive mom and shares her experience parenting children with trauma and the resulting blocked care. She talks about the challenges they faced and how their family has changed because of their children's needs. Lisa also discusses her book, The Connected Parent,  which provides practical and honest tools for parenting children w...

Sara talks with writer and professor, Dr. Lynne Baab, who shares her wisdom on carrying both grief and gratitude in one's life. Lynne offers practical tips and advice for nurturing a gratitude practice, improving listening skills, and navigating difficult emotions such as sadness and anger. The conversation also delves into the challenges of receiving unsolicited advice and the importance of...

Carrie talks with author Johnna Hensley, a mother of three biological and three adopted children, including her firstborn son, who has a trach and a ventilator. We hear the thought processes behind their decision to foster, then adopt more children with an open-handed willingness to follow God’s leading.  They call it walking in "yes" and being open to what God has, even if it leads to d...

Amy Brown talks with Emily P. Freeman, author, and podcast host of The Next Right Thing, about what happens in the space between when we have a decision to make and when the decision is made. Emily talks about the importance of doing one thing at a time and how decluttering our inner life can help us make clear and confident decisions. Emily’s journal, the Next Right Thing Journal, helps her in he...

When Sara, Amy and Carrie met, they discovered a shared sense of determination and drive to care for their children and support each other. In their new book, The Other Side of Special, they share their individual stories and hope to offer encouragement and hope to other special needs families. Sara discusses her struggles with emotions towards God, the challenges she faced in caring for a child w...

Take Heart’s host, Carrie, shares her personal experience as a mother to a child with Spina Bifida, who has undergone 61 surgeries. She talks about how having a child with a disability can feel like being in a pit and how God sustains and loves us even in the hardest times. She encourages us to let God write our own story, even the painful parts, and to let go of unrealistic expectations and havin...