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

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,

P.S. Would you please consider leaving a review for the show? Here is a short video to show you how.

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 by Jefferson Starship. I pray this episode blesses you.

Hope and healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,

P.S. Would you please consider leaving a review for the show? Here is a short video to show you how.

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 domestic adoptee, and an identical twin. She explores the topics of finding out who you are, where you belong, and making sense of it.

A personal health crisis motivated Julie to pursue her story. A story she pieced together through conversations, genealogists, and journaling.

Julie has a powerful story to share with us.  

Hope and healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,

Get Julie’s Books:

Contact Julie:

Disclaimer: As is the case with anyone that I bring on the show to talk to you, I encourage take notes and listen to the information. Then do your due diligence and use what you can in your adoption journey to parent your child the best way you can.

Some of the links I include may be affiliate links. That means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I could earn a small commission. I will only promote products I believe in and think you will enjoy. Thank you for being in my community.

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 adoption agency in America.

Kathryn has a powerful story to share with us. A story that will inspire you. Kathryn’s birth mother changed her mind about having an abortion at the last minute. Years later, Kathryn was able to put the pieces together and see how God was working His plan all along.

“For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Hope and healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,

Lifeline Children’s Services

Online Learning Portal

Lifeline Pregnancy Counseling

Disclaimer: As is the case with anyone that I bring on the show to talk to you, I encourage take notes and listen to the information. Then do your due diligence and use what you can in your adoption journey to parent your child the best way you can.

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 Engagement at Lifeline Children’s Services, the largest evangelical Christian adoption agency in America.

Rick is also an adoptive parent of 3 children, all of whom were adopted internationally.

If you are considering international adoption, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Grab a notebook and pen. 

Hope and healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,

Lifeline Children’s Services

Online Learning Portal

Orphanology: Awakening to Gospel-Centered Adoption and Orphan Care

Disclaimer: As is the case with anyone that I bring on the show to talk to you, I encourage take notes and listen to the information. Then do your due diligence and use what you can in your adoption journey to parent your child the best way you can.

Some of the links I include may be affiliate links. That means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I could earn a small commission. I will only promote products I believe in and think you will enjoy. Thank you for being in my community.

Fostering is not about our own desires, but about serving children in need. How can foster parents manage their expectations and trust in God’s plan when it comes to fostering with the hope of adopting? 

Hi Neighbor,

In this episode, Trish Zenczak returns to the show to share her wisdom, experiences, and insights about navigating the foster system and adopting through it. 

Whether you’re interested in fostering or adoption, or simply looking for encouragement on your own journey, this episode is for you. 

Hope and healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,

Books mentioned in this episode:

The Connected Child: Bring Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family

Help for Billy: A Beyond Consequences Approach to Helping Challenging Children in the Classroom

Listen to Trish in Episode 89 – From Abuse & Rejection to Hope: The Story of a Foster & Adoptive Mom with Trish Zenczak

Disclaimer: Some of the links I include may be affiliate links. That means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I could earn a small commission. I will only promote products I believe in and think you will enjoy. Thank you for being in my community.

How can adoptive parents respond in a positive way to the trauma responses from their children? 

Hi Neighbor,

In this episode, David Dodd returns to the show to discuss ways adoptive parents can navigate some of the challenges parenting their children can present, especially when they are responding to their trauma in negative ways.

Sometimes their responses are directed at you and that can hurt. I know. 

But I also know that if you will put these principles we talk about into play, they will help you respond in a positive way to your children.

Hope and healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,

P.S. If this episode has inspired you, please share this with a friend. Would you also please consider leaving a review for the show?

Here is a short video to show you how.

We’ve got to learn to depend on each other. Find those anchors of encouragement that you can turn to when your day is crumbling and you begin to question, is it really me? Or is what they’re saying really true? And how do I do it? We can turn to each other and gain encouragement there. 

Hi Neighbor,

When your day is crumbling, how can adoptive parents effectively navigate trauma-related responses and let them roll off of them like water off a duck's back?

I'd like to explore two aspects of this question:

First, how to handle negative responses from people outside your family regarding your child or your parenting.

And second, when your child’s trauma responses manifest as negative behavior or when they aim hurtful comments at you.

These kinds of responses are discouraging. I know!

In this episode, we’ll look at the first aspect. Joining me to discuss this, is my friend, brother, and anchor of encouragement, David Dodd.

David and I have had hours of conversations like the one you’re about to hear. There have been times when my day was crumbling and David was there as my anchor of encouragement to pick me up.

Here are the scriptures David referenced in this episode:

Daily Doable: Pick one of these verses and sit with the text. Write it down in your journal. I know from my own personal experience, that this practice of meditating and journaling will give you peace beyond comprehension. And it will encourage you on those difficult days.

Hope and healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,

P.S. If this episode has inspired you, please share this with a friend. Would you also please consider leaving a review for the show?

Here is a short video to show you how.

It was important to me as a foster mom for my kids, if at all possible, and if it wasn’t dangerous to them to sacrifice my wants, needs, and desires to be able to let them know their story.

Hi Neighbor,

Today it is my privilege to share with you the story of my friend and neighbor, Trish Zinczak. Trish is a foster child, foster mom, and adoptive mom. 

Trish has the unique perspective to talk about fostering and adoption from both the child’s and parent’s perspectives. She has lived it and she understands it. 

This is a real and raw conversation from a very brave woman. Trish was willing to be vulnerable because she understands the importance of knowing and making sense of the stories of adopted and foster kids. 

Trish's story is compelling. 

Hope and healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,

P.S. If Trish’s story has inspired you, please share this episode with a friend. Would you also please consider leaving a review for the show? Here is a short video to show you how.

There have been times when I have said to my husband, I kind of feel like today somebody rubbed sandpaper on my soul. There’s just pain and I don’t always know how to deal with it… This just stands out to me as a way to put balm on that raw soul.

Hi Neighbor,

Today, I want to share with you a conversation I recently had with my friend Katie Keane. This conversation will be a little bit different than what you’re accustomed to hearing on this podcast. Because I was the one being interviewed. I was privileged to be on Katie's podcast, Her Home and Heart. 

You might remember Katie was on this show in Episode 78. Katie’s audience is made up of parents of special needs children. One of the things parents of special needs children desire just happens to be the same thing adoptive parents have told me they want. That thing is respite. 

In this interview, I share how it is possible to achieve respite through journaling. It can really be the balm to heal your hurting soul. 

Grab a pen and paper because Hope and Healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,

P.S. Would you please consider leaving a review for the show? Here is a short video to show you how.