Take Heart

 Jealousy is seeing only one side of the story. It keeps us focused on what we don’t, rather than what and how God has provided. In her humorous way, Sara shares her story of jealousy, and five practical strategies for dealing with the feelings of envy, jealousy, resentment and bitterness. October 19, 2021; Episode #57 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:21-    Intro 1:05-    Hatchback of Emotions 6:26...

It doesn’t take much effort to look at others’ situations and feel despair, envy, and discontentment when we judge their circumstances as easier than our own. In this episode, Carrie shares our common struggles with jealousy, and encouragement on how to positively compare.  October 12, 2021; Ep. 56 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:22-    Intro 1:04-    Defining Terms 3:03-    Jealousy Struggles 5:59...

Feelings of jealousy and comparison are common, especially in our lives as special needs moms. In this episode, Amy reminds us that jealousy never serves us well. She offers three practices to help us open our hands and see the life God has given us with gratitude and joy. October 5, 2021; Ep. 55 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:18-Intro 1:03-   The Green-eyed Monster 3:57-    Cup Half Empty 5:15- ...

Advocacy happens in everyday situations with our children. Most importantly it’s helping others see your child, setting the tone for his or her diagnosis, and using your experiences to inform you. While standing in the gap for them, it’s imperative that you lean into who God created you to be and don’t walk this journey alone.  September 28, 2021; Ep. 54 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:20-    Intro...

Learning to be an advocate for your child means leaning into how you’re created. In today’s episode, Sara gives some wildly practical tips for when to engage and when not to engage with others’ stares, looks of judgment, or comments. She gives us the three “C’s” of advocacy along with encouragement about how Jesus is our advocate. September 21, 2021; Ep. 53 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:22-    In...

It can be a difficult balance between fight or flight when it comes to advocating for our children with special needs. With Christ in us, we can learn to fight for what our child needs, or rest and wait. Today, Carrie reminds us of nine practical tips for advocating, the greatest to remember is that Jesus is our advocate. He will equip you with what you need. September 14, 2021; Ep. 52 Timestamps...

How do you feel about advocating? Do you feel unqualified, overwhelmed, or intimidated? Amy shares how her first experiences advocating for her child with invisible disabilities left her frustrated and tearful, and seven lessons she’s learned to help you advocate with calm and confidence. September 7, 2021; Ep. 51 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:23-    Intro 1:05-    Advocacy Attempts 5:00-    The...

Author, blogger, and special needs parent, Jolene Philo, joins us to share a little bit about her thoughts on God’s provision, connecting with others and how to discover your child’s love language. Don’t miss it. July 27, 2021; Ep. 50 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:01-     August Announcement 1:29-     Meet Jolene Philo 2:51-     Jolene’s Story 7:14-     Convincing Others 10:30-   Giving Up Contro...

Jess Ronne, the author of Blended with Grit and Grace, mom of eight, and a special needs mom reminds us that in all situations God is in control, the importance of mental health for caregivers, and some excellent advice about not borrowing trouble from tomorrow.  July 20, 2021; Ep. 49 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:01-     August Announcement/Intro 1:42-     About Jess Ronne 5:58-     Unseen 7:55-...

Jennifer Magnano is a special needs mom, a doula, and also struggles with her own chronic illness. She speaks life into the hard spaces and encourages us to be gracious to ourselves, find the moments to look for God's goodness, and be open with your struggles. You are loved, seen and known in this wild life as a special needs mom.    July 13, 2021; Ep. 48 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:20-   ...

Author and podcast host, Sandra Peoples shares her perspective on filling two roles in a special needs family, being both the sibling and a mother. Her insights regarding three different stages siblings of special needs children experience and how parents should support their children in these stages is encouraging and perceptive.  July 6, 2021; Ep. 47 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:22-    Intro 2...

Mark Arnold, the Additional Needs Blogfather, shares about how his faith has grown as a special needs dad, how we can be an inclusive church, and some of the joys he’s experienced raising his son with additional needs. Don’t miss this dad’s perspective.  June 29, 2021; Episode #46 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:21-    Intro 1:04-    About Mark Arnold 5:29-    Relying on God’s Strength 7:36-    Cap...

As a mother to two kids with special needs, today’s guest, Jenn Soehnlin, struggled with anxiety and depression. While she questioned God, He gave her the word “embrace”. She invites us to embrace our journeys as special needs moms, surrender control, and see the beauty in this life. June 22, 2021; Ep. 45 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:22-    Intro 1:54-    About Jenn Soehnlin 5:10-    Embrace &am...

Becky Davidson from Rising Above Ministries shares about raising her son, the loss of her husband, and how she’s dealt with both types of grief. Practical tips for connection with God and others as well as reminders that as mothers, we set the tone for how others perceive our children with special needs will leave you encouraged. June 15, 2021; Ep. 44 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:21-    Introduc...

Today Ellie Sanazaro, the author of the book Image Bearer, shares her story of misdiagnosis and adoption. She encourages us to remember that the value of our children with special needs depends NOT on what they do, but rather how they have been created fearfully, wonderfully, masterfully, and purposefully by God. June 8, 2021, Ep. 43 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:21-    Intro  1:45-    Ellie’s St...

Laura Hernandez from Mama Systems shares about the victories and struggles of parenting children with fetal alcohol syndrome and reactive attachment disorder. She shares advice for parents including: being an advocate, getting someone in your corner, learning vulnerability, and creating systems for peace in a chaotic situation. Don’t miss it. June 1, 2021: Ep. 42 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:21-...

Amy, Sara, and Carrie dive into the topics of mom guilt over their child’s diagnosis, doubting their faith, and balancing the needs of siblings. It includes encouraging reminders about listening to the right voice, seeing a therapist is about having another wise adult speak into your life, and focusing on the little joys in every day.  May 25, 2021 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:22-    Intro 1:06-...

Guilt and shame are very different. Guilt convicts, but shame makes us feel worthless, unworthy, and doesn’t come from God. Sara encouragingly reminds us of who we are in Christ, and a beautiful practice of taking our thoughts captive when Satan whispers shame in our ear. May 18, 2021 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:21-    Intro 1:02-    Reasons for Guilt 3:11-    Guilt’s Origin 5:05-    What God s...

Discerning the difference between accusation and conviction requires us to rely on the Holy Spirit. God wants us to bring our burden of guilt to Him. In this episode, Carrie encourages us to remember that as believers, we have been given the power of the Holy Spirit to be the mother perfectly equipped for your children. May 11, 2021 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:23-    Intro 1:02-    Struggles wi...

Guilt is a common feeling we have as special needs moms. In this episode, Amy considers the stories we tell ourselves around guilt. She provides pratical insight on how to reframe our stories.  May 4, 2021 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:21-    Intro 1:02-    Inner Critic 3:01-    Defining Guilt 4:26-    Stories We Tell Ourselves 10:52-  Changing the Narrative 13:52-  Prayer 15:00-  Outro Episode L...

The grief of a special needs mom is unique, isolating, overwhelming, and continuous. Today, Amy, Sara, and Carrie discuss how it changes throughout the special needs journey, practices for processing it, mindsets for dealing with its constancy, and important hopeful reminders how God is near to the brokenhearted.  April 27, 2021 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:20-     Intro 1:03-     A Unique Grief...

Today’s episode is a gentle reminder that grieving our circumstances doesn’t mean we don’t accept and love our current life as special needs moms. God will not leave you in the broken places of your grief. You can run to Him with your sorrow, letting Him write new dreams for your life.  April 20, 2021 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:19-     Intro 1:01-     Grieving 3:29-     Fear Disguised 5:24-   ...

Grief is an ongoing part of the special needs parenting journey. Today, Carrie reminds us that it’s important not to rank grief, what grief looks like, and how God is sovereign through all types of loss. Her eight practices for processing grief as a special needs parent will greatly encourage you.  April 13, 2021  Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:20-     Intro 1:05-     Grieving Cycle 3:14-     Pers...

As special needs moms we are familiar with grief. We have the big losses that change our lives in a moment and the little griefs we often fail to recognize.  This week, Amy shares her experience with grief and the lessons she has learned.  April 6, 2021 Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:20-    Intro 1:02-    Griefs: Big & Small 2:59-    Two Losses 5:01-    Acknowledge It 7:06-    Allow It 9:35- ...

This collaborative episode wraps up part two with sharing some practical tips for self-care. This includes some advice on planning and protecting the time, and how important it is to ask for help. Most importantly is the idea that we cannot wait for life to be calm to take care of yourself. March 30, 2021  Timestamps & Key Topics: 0:20-    Intro 1:12-    Don’t Wait on Self-Care 9:49-    Practi...