Before you welcome a child, whether it be your first or third, having your marriage in a strong place sets the tone for a healthy home.  Whether you’ve been married 5 or 15 years, marriage takes work!

In this episode, I talk about ways you can better connect with your spouse, from continuing to prioritize date night (or date day!), to attending marriage retreats, to doing something your spouse enjoys, to planning a trip together. They key is connectedness and staying fully invested in one another, as that is God's design for marriage.

“What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matthew 19:4-6

Marriage Conference: Get $100 OFF using group name: HEARTGROWNMAMA

For Women Only by: Shaunti Feldhahn

Table Topics Card Game for Couples

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Check out the blog: heartgrownmama.com

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Check out our digital adoption journal: https://heartgrownmama.com/waiting-well-journal/

Hey friends! We are starting a BRAND NEW series today called A Series on Waiting Well. Over the next few weeks, we will dive into different aspects of our body, faith-walk, finances and home.

I’m a firm believer in using this time wisely. How can we improve every area of our lives while we wait? Because the waiting part…that’s inevitable. What we do with this time matters. And I believe we can intentionally wait WELL!

On the very first episode of our new series, I want to talk about how we can bring our focus to our physical bodies as we prepare to grow our families. Our body is a temple. We’ve only been given this one body and we’re supposed to honor the lord with it. 

Let’s dive in and discuss feeding our body more whole (unprocessed) foods, getting as much gentle movement as possible, prioritizing sleep, and getting checked out by a professional when needed. Let’s front-load our body with the good stuff so when life changes, we will be better equipped to handle what comes our way!

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Check out the blog: heartgrownmama.com

Find our community on Facebook: Heartgrown Mama

Check out our digital adoption journal: https://heartgrownmama.com/waiting-well-journal/

Ever feel like self-care is selfish and unnecessary?  Ever say something like, “Oh, I’d love to do that but I just don’t have time!”

Today I want to challenge you to shift your mindset. What if self-care was more like a vitamin, taken to benefit your overall health? What if I said taking care of yourself, both physically and emotionally, would help you pour into others in a more impactful way?

Whether you’re a mom or not, it’s a great time to look at how you’re spending your days and prioritizing the hours you’ve been given. We make time for what’s important. I challenge you to track a week in your life and see where more margin might be created for you to fill your cup. I also share ideas for how to incorporate this into your already busy lives!

Hope this episode inspires you, friends.

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Check out the blog: heartgrownmama.com

Find our community on Facebook: Heartgrown Mama

Check out our digital adoption journal: https://heartgrownmama.com/waiting-well-journal/

In this heartfelt (and sometimes teary-eyed) episode, I talk about losing my daddy just a few months ago, followed by the loss of my son’s biological grandfather. Two wonderful grandfathers: one by biology and the other by adoption. Two significant losses for our family in such a short time span.

I discuss how we told the kids, how we are continuing to navigate things as they start to sink in, and how we aren’t shy about crying around here when we need to.

Our children’s birth families are the keepers of memories, traditions, genetic predispositions, and family lineage, so losing such an important person in your child’s story is heartbreaking. The heaviness of this loss is not lost on my husband and me, but our kids are too young to understand it. It’s our job to gather and save everything we can, so that when we do lose these loved ones, we still have the stories and information to share.

One legacy my daddy leaves behind is to love your people deeply and make it a priority to spend time with them while they’re here. Invite them over and feed them! I miss his hospitality, his hugs and his generosity so much. We love you, Boompa!

One legacy my son’s biological grandfather leaves behind is….my son. I wouldn’t be a mama without his marriage, child and grandchild. What a blessing he was to know for such a short time, and what a gift it is to be part of his family!

Here are the books I mentioned:

The Memory Box: A Book about Grief by Joanna Rowland

The Invisible String by Patrice Karst

When Someone You Love Has Died by Stephanie Seidler

You’ll Find Me by Amanda Rawson Hill 

Email Me: [email protected]

Check out the blog: heartgrownmama.com

Find our community on Facebook: Heartgrown Mama

Check out our digital adoption journal: https://heartgrownmama.com/waiting-well-journal/

Welcome back, everyone! In this episode, I’m talking about the BEST children’s adoption-related books to stock your nursery while you wait, add to your registry, buy for your child, or gift a friend!

I go through a summary of each book, the look of the cover, the content, and how “giftable” each one is.

I’ll also go over a few of the benefits of reading to your child, especially as it relates to forming new neural pathways and increasing the parent-child bond.

Grab my list below for an easy book shopping journey:

1. Wish by Matthew Cordell

Did I leave any great ones out? Send me an email and tell me your faves!

Email Me: [email protected]

Check out the blog: heartgrownmama.com

Find our community on Facebook: Heartgrown Mama

Check out our digital adoption journal: https://heartgrownmama.com/waiting-well-journal/

Do you struggle with feelings of sadness after you’ve adopted your long-awaited, very prayed-for child?

Or maybe you feel grief or guilt that won’t let up. Mamas, I’m here to tell you that you’re normal and it’s okay to feel sad post-adoption.

In this episode, I’ll share a few examples as to WHY you might be sad, from reality and expectations not aligning, to sleep deprivation, to PADS, to trauma, to analysis paralysis of being thrust into NEW motherhood (with a twist).

**I am not a medical professional, but want to tell anyone out there: if you are struggling with depression that hasn’t improved, or you fear hurting yourself or your child, please seek help immediately. This podcast is intended for intermittent grief or sadness that comes with a big life change. Clinical depression should be treated by a professional**

If you're seeking an intimate group of like-minded women to talk about all things adoption, check out my private Facebook group: Heartgrown Mamas: Thriving in the Wait.  Answer a few simple questions and you’re good to go.

See you next week, friends!

Email Me: [email protected]

Check out the blog: heartgrownmama.com

Find our community on Facebook: Heartgrown Mama

Check out our digital adoption journal: https://heartgrownmama.com/waiting-well-journal/

In this episode, we discuss positive adoption language – in other words, are you choosing your phrases or terms wisely when speaking about your child or child’s birth family? Maybe YOU are, but what about your inner circle?

We’ll discuss common phrase mistakes and what to say INSTEAD. We will even talk about really sweet things people say that actually aren’t true or helpful!

In Proverbs 31:26, the Bible says, “When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.” Let that verse be a guide for this episode as we lovingly and gently teach by words or by example so we don’t inadvertently hurt the people we love.

Proverbs 15:28 says, “The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking. Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” When we’re in relationship with a child’s birth mother, father or extended family, it is imperative that we choose words that lift up or value versus words that are insensitive or minimize the situation. This is not just a “politically correct” way of thinking, but rather a loving and respectful gesture to your child’s first family, and a step in the right direction for minimizing the negative talk or stigmas attached to adoption.

Thanks for listening today, friends! I hope this was helpful!

Some verbiage we discussed on today's show: 

Put up or give up for adoption, adopt out ---> make an adoption plan, choose adoption, place a child for adoption

Real child ---> biological child, child

Real parent ---> biological parent, birth parent

Adoptive mom/dad –--> mom, dad

Own child or one of my own ---> child, biological child

To keep her child or changed her mind ---> she decided to parent her child

IS adopted --- WAS adopted

Email Me: [email protected]

Check out the blog: heartgrownmama.com

Find our community on Facebook: Heartgrown Mama

Check out our digital adoption journal: https://heartgrownmama.com/waiting-well-journal/

In On It by Elisabeth O’Toole – great book to gift family/friends

Calling all moms with sensitive or easily overwhelmed kids!

Is your child highly sensitive, have anxiety, ADHD, a sensory processing disorder, or just seem to have a hard time transitioning to the home environment after school?  We had a hard time with this, too.

Between the uncertainty as to what we were *supposed* to be doing, to our constant meltdowns from being over-tired and over-stimulated, we found a few simple systems we could implement to make the transition go much more smoothly.

And the best part is, it doesn’t cost a thing!

Tune in to today’s episode for 6 easy ways you can make coming home a little less overwhelming and a lot more restful and supportive. And that goes for you too, mama!

What would you add to this list? Email me!

Email Me: [email protected]

Check out the blog: heartgrownmama.com

Find our community on Facebook: Heartgrown Mama

Check out our digital adoption journal: https://heartgrownmama.com/waiting-well-journal/

Waiting to grow your family through adoption can be lengthy, hard, or just downright frustrating some days. In today’s podcast, I want to share some mindfulness and gratitude practices, and even some physical habits you can implement today to make this wait just a little more bearable.

From gratitude journaling, to body scans, to nature walks, to finding your tribe – we’ve got a whole lot to cover! So, buckle up and get ready to take some notes!

Don’t forget, we have the perfect journal for such a time as this. It’s called the Waiting Well journal. I poured my whole heart into this after I adopted my first child. What I needed during my season of waiting didn’t exist….so I created it. It’s a digital journal you can use on a tablet or print out and put pen to paper (my favorite method!).

Whatever you do, use this time wisely because it’s a time for massive growth and transformation, mama! You’ve got this. I see you and I’m here for you.

Email Me: [email protected]

Check out the blog: heartgrownmama.com

Find our community on Facebook: Heartgrown Mama

Grab the Waiting Well digital journal: https://heartgrownmama.com/waiting-well-journal/

Hey friends! This episode was a fun one to record. It takes me back to the excitement (and even uncertainty!) I felt when we had completed the mountain of paperwork, finished the home study and were officially a “waiting family.”

It was hard not to go crazy and buy a lot of baby items, or allow loved ones to throw us a baby shower, but we held off, and instead got only the essentials so we could be ready-ish when we got The Call.

In hindsight, I can see what items were pretty important from the get-go. This list, while certainly not comprehensive, is a way to let other mamas-in-waiting sift through the chaos and just get the few things you need for the first week or two. The rest can usually wait.

Pop in those earbuds and listen in for the 9 items you can bravely purchase while you wait to adopt an infant.

Here are a few links for easy shopping:

Please note, by clicking the links below, I may earn a small commission, which will help support the continuation of this podcast! 

Carseat - this is the one we loved for both of our babies

Portable Crib/Bassinet 

Sound Machine - truly the bees knees!

Avent Bottles

Glow in the Dark Pacifiers - you'll thank me later ;) 

Solly Wrap - the exact one I have. Looooooove.

I’d love to hear from you! What would you add to this list? Did this help any waiting mamas out there feel a bit less overwhelmed? 

Fun fact: Did you know that Amazon has a baby registry program now? Yep! It’s free, you get an extended return period, they have EVERYTHING (because, well, it’s Amazon), and you can do it from home in your jammies. 

Email Me: [email protected]

Check out the blog: heartgrownmama.com

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