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

There has been something on my mind for quite a while, and I realized the only way I’m going to get the answers that I need is to ask you.

Hi Neighbor,

In this episode of Anchors of Encouragement, I talk about the ONE episode that has outpaced all the others. It’s Episode 17, Struggling Adoptive Parents? 3 Ways to Restore the Sparkle in Their Eyes.

This episode has been the top downloaded episode every month, and I’m not sure why. I have some ideas, but I don’t know with certainty why this episode is resonating with so many listeners.

That’s why I need your help and I’ll tell you how you can help me in the Daily Doable. The reason I'm asking for feedback is because it will help me to produce more content that will encourage you. 

This feedback is priceless for me because as I've said many times on this podcast, the goal of this is to be an anchor of encouragement for adoptive parents.

I want to thank you in advance for helping me understand what it is about Episode 17 that has spoken to so many of you.

Hope and Healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,

Daily Doable:

Biblically, we were not created to do life alone. We were not created to do it in silos, and unfortunately, so many families feel like they’re alone. They’re in a silo, and they don’t want to admit that things are hard and that things are messy. But the first thing and the first road to finding some relief and healing is to say, things are messy and hard and I need help.

Hi Neighbor,

Joining me on this episode of Anchors of Encouragement is Herbie Newell. Herbie is the president and executive director of Lifeline Children’s Services, the largest Evangelical Christian adoption agency in America.

He is the host of The Defender Podcast and author of the book, “Image Bearers: Shifting from Pro-Birth to Pro-Life.” He is a true expert in adoption and child welfare.

Adoption and foster care often come with their own unique challenges. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness or defeat. In fact, it’s a necessary step in supporting adoptive and foster families.

In the adoption world, life can be messy and hard, but with the right support and acknowledging your need for help, you can overcome any challenge.

As is the case with anyone that I bring on the show to talk to you, I encourage you to do your due diligence. Listen to the information. Check out the resources and use what you can in your adoption journey to parent your child the best way you can.

Hope and Healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

Tim

Lifeline Children’s Services

Website

205-967-0811

Herbie Newell: President & Executive Director

Lynn Beckett: parent coaching program

Angela Mains: Counselors

Ann Maura Hinton: Bridge Educational Services

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  Always consult your healthcare provider with your health questions and concerns.

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.

One of the biggest dreams my wife and a lot of women want to realize is to fulfill the desire that God put in their hearts to be a mother. When that doesn’t happen and infertility becomes a challenge in your marriage, husbands, please don’t do what I did.

Hi Neighbor,

In this episode of Anchors of Encouragement, I want to share a personal story. It’s a story I’m not proud of, but I think it’s a story that needs to be told. It’s my hope that by my sharing what I did wrong in my marriage, it will help other husbands to avoid doing what I did.

In addition to my blunder, we’ll seek Biblical guidance from passages in the books of Genesis, 1 Samuel, Psalms, Proverbs, and 1 Peter.

Hope and Healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

P.S. If this podcast has given you the courage and confidence to face storms in your life, the number one way you can thank me is to leave a written review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks, Neighbor!

Something wasn't right. I had all these mixed emotions and feelings running through my head. Things were going okay, but I found myself feeling gloomy, restless, and even anxious. It was so confusing. 

On top of that, I felt edgy. I knew something was off but I couldn’t put my finger on it, then it dawned on me. Oh, that’s what it is.

Hi Neighbor,

Have you ever felt gloomy, restless, or maybe even anxious at times? Or maybe you felt confused and even edgy. Maybe not all of these at once, but chances are you felt these at some point in your life. 

Recently, I was feeling all of these. Things were going well, and then it dawned on me. That’s what it is. My body remembered something I wanted to forget.

In this episode of Anchors of Encouragement, I want to consider with you 5 ways you can show grace to yourself when you’re feeling out of sorts.

Most people, me included, are willing to show grace to everyone but ourselves. When someone is going through a difficult time, be it trauma or grief or whatever, we’re willing to show grace to them, but not to ourselves.

Why is that? I'm not sure that I have a good answer for you, but I want to stress to you that whenever you're going through difficult times, trauma, grief, or whatever, you need to show grace to yourself. 

Hope and Healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

P.S. If this podcast has given you the courage and confidence to face storms in your life, the number one way you can thank me is to leave a written review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks, Neighbor!

Dear Birth Mother, our relationship began with a letter nine years ago… So as we continue to realize our dream of a family, I find myself again writing to someone I don't know to try and convey our thoughts and dreams.

Hi Neighbor,

As I look back on my life, some of the most significant things that have happened to me began with a handwritten letter. 

In this episode of Anchors of Encouragement, I want to share with you five different stories in my life, all paralleled with events that were affected by letters.

By the end, I hope you’ll consider writing a letter to yourself.

Check out the episodes mentioned about my son, Jonny: EP 1, and EP 47.

Hope and Healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

P.S. I would like to encourage you to write a letter for the show. For those of you who haven’t left a review yet, just think of it as writing a letter for the show. It will not only bless me, but it will bless those who haven't heard the podcast yet.

What do you do for respite? Sometimes for me, respite means I’m walking in the rain.

Hi Neighbor,

In this unplugged episode of Anchors of Encouragement, I want to encourage you to identify times in your life when you need to take a moment for respite. Whatever respite looks like for you and whenever you need respite, make sure you make the time to do that for yourself. 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and need a break, I hope this message finds you at the perfect time.

Hope and Healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

P.S. If this podcast has given you the courage and confidence to face storms in your life, the number one way you can thank me is to leave a written review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks, Neighbor!

What do you do when life is coming at you from all different directions? Life is tough. Storms in life are inevitable. What do you do when those storms are bearing down on you? May I suggest you sit with the text?

Hi Neighbor,

Welcome to an unplugged episode of Anchors of Encouragement. The fact that we are living on this planet means that we can’t escape storms. They’re a fact of life. But how do you deal with those storms? 

In this episode, we’ll sit with the text and consider verses from Psalm 31, Psalm 121, and Psalm 143.

Hope and Healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

P.S. Join our amazing Facebook Community.

If this podcast has given you the courage and confidence to face storms in your life, the number one way you can thank me is to leave a written review on Apple Podcasts. Here is a short video to show you how.

He was called son. He was called grandson. He was called nephew. He was called cousin, and he was called brother.

But he was never called husband. He was never called daddy, and he was never called grandpa because he never came home.

I hope when I’m finished telling you his story, you might consider calling him hero.

Hi Neighbor,

This episode was recorded as we prepare to celebrate Memorial Day in the United States. The federal holiday for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

In this episode, I share the story of my hero, Uncle Lloyd. A hero I only knew from a picture on a wall.

Hope and Healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

P.S. If this podcast has given you the courage and confidence to face storms in your life, the number one way you can thank me is to leave a written review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks Neighbor!

When we recognize something in our environment that is not only harming us but causing anxiety, stress, and overwhelm in our lives, we want to remove it. Whatever it is.

What about when that same thing is affecting our children in a negative way? We will do whatever it takes. Period!

Hi Neighbor,

I’m pleased to bring you my friend and podcasting sister, Emily McDermott.

Emily hosts the top 1.5% globally ranked podcast, Moms Overcoming Overwhelm, where she helps moms declutter their homes, heads, and hearts.

In this episode of Anchors of Encouragement, Emily will discuss a topic that may initially seem unrelated to adoptive parents. 

However, it holds relevance for many individuals in our society and particularly resonates with adoptive parents who face unique challenges associated with adoption.

I pray you’ll be encouraged by our conversation.

Hope and Healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

P.S. If this podcast has given you the courage and confidence to face storms in your life, the number one way you can thank me is to leave a written review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks Neighbor!

Connect with Emily:

Say it to Mom While You Can. Discover the words inside you to share with the woman who holds your heart forever.

Hi Neighbor,

Welcome to a special episode of Anchors of Encouragement. Today you’re going to hear a coaching session I recently had with my neighbor Kim. Kim is a lifelong friend and the closest neighbor I’ve ever had on the show.

In this coaching session, I asked Kim a series of questions and then gave her time to write down her answers.

I would like to invite you to grab a pen and paper and participate too. Feel free to pause the episode when the music starts, and once you have your answers written down, resume the episode. 

Make sure and stay until the end because I have a special gift not only for Kim but for you too.

Hope and Healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

If you would like to receive the Heartbook I gave Kim, click this LINK. It has the prompts I read to Kim, space to write your answers, and a script to compose your message. There’s also a special card you can print and write your message on.

By downloading your Heartbook, you’ll also become a member of our Anchors of Encouragement Community and receive regular updates about the show.