Friends, did you know that November is Foster Care and Adoption Awareness Month and National Adoption Month? A couple years ago I didn't know anything about these, or November's annual Stand Sunday observed by many American churches either. Honestly, I didn't know much about foster care at all.

All that changed when several of my friends became foster parents, and I have been on a journey to learn more and support this community ever since.

Listen in as I learn from my friend Mandi, a foster and adoptive mom who now works to support foster and adoptive families through an organization called Foster the Family. I can't wait for you to hear about the beauty and hardship weaved into foster care and Mandi's deep compassion and wisdom.

Here are some highlights: foster care 101, Mandi's experiences with 18 foster children and 4 adoptions, relationships with foster kids' biological families, and ways you can support and join the foster care community.

Mamas, you and I have a unique light to bring to the world to our children and also to other children around us. Some of them may come into our homes for a time or even stay forever. I invite you to think of the children and parents in the foster care world and consider, "How can I share this light that I have with others?"

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Happy holidays, friends! You're going to absolutely love this episode featuring my talk with a special family friend of mine, Mary O’Donnell. Mary's daughter is actually a good friend of mine who has inherited her gift for making people feel at home. I absolutely loved being at their house when I was younger, and counted it as a second home. And I wasn't alone - dozens of people from different ages and stages found refuge and even a long-term home with Mary and her family.

Listen in as we discuss Mary's international upbringing, how the art of welcome became a major part of her life, stories from her famously full house, and essential elements to communicating genuine care to the people who enter your life and your threshold. I know I’ll be reflecting on this conversation for a while to come. It’s easy to let excuses like not having the perfect home or the perfect time prevent us from inviting others in, but often that's not where we start.

I hope this episode encourages you (as it has for me!) to invite others into wherever you are and to share whatever you have this holiday season and new year.

As Mary said, "It was all worth it; it was all wonderful because we were sowing care into different people’s lives."

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This is my church's sermon series on the early Christian church's culture of deep care and connection which I highly recommend:

Welcome to episode #23 where my friend Rachel shares with us her deeply trying mama journey, one of infertility and in vitro fertilization (IVF). *Trigger warning: Our conversation does include the IVF process and miscarriage.*

After giving a great IVF 101, Rachel shares the physical and emotional difficulties she faced along the way. I appreciated hearing what was helpful and unhelpful for her, from resources to interactions with friends and family to Bible verses. As an outsider to the world of IVF, I got a glimpse of what it's like to go through infertility and how we can come alongside loved ones who are in the process of receiving fertility treatments. It is an honor to be able to share Rachel's (and little Mylo's!) story with you.

(Note: Occasional shrieks and squawks courtesy of Lyla, my almost 1-year old baby girl who co-hosted her first episode with me!)

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Here are the fertility treatment grants Rachel mentioned:

Here is the Shady Grove Fertility website: https://www.shadygrovefertility.com/.

These are the Youtube couple channels Rachel followed:

These are the Bible verses that got Rachel through difficult times:

Check out Rachel’s personal Instagram account to watch her in-depth IVF journey highlight and to connect with her: @ralzajohnson.

This episode is near and dear to my heart since the topic is a huge part of our family and one of my major focuses as a mom: fostering bilingualism in our children! My friend Kaila is both an expert in this field and also a fellow mama raising a bilingual child. She shares some incredibly helpful advice, stories and frameworks to guide and inspire you in your journeys.

Although we reference raising bilingual Spanish-English-speaking kids specifically, we also discuss many super helpful strategies and tidbits that apply to any bilingual family. I loved learning lots of ways we can cultivate a love for our target languages in our kids: "Link it to things that are fun: play and people." While it is ultimately their choice to embrace it or not, we can lay a foundation and show them how the language is beautiful, meaningful and worth embracing.

Kaila reminded us there are many family language plans, even more than you typically find online. You can customize a language plan that’s just right for your family “that is attainable and sustainable.” Each family is unique, so don’t compare your bilingual journey to others. Any bilingual exposure you can give your little ones is a gift!

This episode is packed with top-notch content, so here are some time markers to guide you as you listen:

* 1:37 - Kaila's bio

* 11:30 - linking language learning to fun

* 15:15 - the importance of how we present target language (not shaming or forcing them)

* 18:08 - the evolution of my family's Family Language Plan

* 20:50 - strategies for encouraging kids to respond back in target language (not just listening and understanding)

* 33:29 - tips for parents starting a bilingual journey

* 36:56 - what to do if kids become indifferent or resistant to target language

* 38:23 - the danger of shaming and the power of positive feedback

* 41:51 - how to introduce early academic concepts

* 43:05 - the importance of teaching safety terms in majority language

* 46:22 - mention of several of the resources listed below

* 47:31 - encouragement for bilingual parents

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Here is Kaila's podcast (a great place to start, especially if you're new to this topic!): Bilingual Parenting Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bilingual-parenting-podcast/id1456193421)

You can find Kaila's company, Bilingüitos, at @bilinguitos on Instagram or the following website link for Spanish language immersion programs, playgroups, and online resources: https://bilinguitos.com/

This is Kaila's freebie! Ten methods of bilingual parenting with benefits & obstacles: ⁠https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TyVDvkNcUB-d92rvzgqafrq0sSRr6IIF/view?usp=drive_link⁠ 

MamaLlamaLinguist has free song playlists and fun printables: https://mamallamalinguist.com/

Here is the free virtual Spanish storytime I mentioned: @msroxanaspanish (Instagram) and https://www.facebook.com/MsRoxanaSpanish/

Viva Kids Bookstore: https://viva-kids-tiendita.myshopify.com/ 

Here is the book Kaila recommended: The Bilingual Edge (https://www.amazon.com/Bilingual-Edge-Teach-Second-Language/dp/0061246565)

Wow, I am so grateful to be sharing my conversation with my friend (and former landlord!) Stacey about parenting teens. Yep, she confirms those years can often be tough and trying. But she also shares the beauty that can be found in this raw and real stage of kids' lives and some rock solid practical advice on walking with them as they grow in independence.

I'll share some bytes to summarize and also whet your listener's appetite: Take a long-term view especially in hard seasons. Listen often. Keep lines of communication open even through conflicts. "You have to take the initiative sometimes… I think that’s our job as parents, to be the one that takes the initiative.” Show interest in their interests. Share your struggles and what you’re learning. “Normalize the fact that we all go through difficult things… but you’re never going to be alone, we’ll always be here for you.” Have a battle plan to prepare them for the worlds of technology and social media. Reinforce your love even when they push you away. “There will always be a safe place for them to come.”

Extra Stuff:

Here is my podcast episode I mentioned about creating family traditions: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/5n2bik0GcUKltMR6CAvWw1?si=c319bbf12f0a40af

These are the Bible verses Stacey shared on the topics of persistently asking God for help and waiting for change to come: Luke 18:1-8, Lamentations 3:26.

I know Valentine’s Day has passed, but I’ve still got love on the brain. I've been thinking about ways to bless my husband, how to get creative with limited time for date nights, and the like. Maybe you are too. Sometimes it’s easier to focus on the kids and connecting with our significant other can end up by the wayside and we can drift apart. This episode features my conversation with my friend Chelsea Klotz about caring for your spouse and working through co-parenting and conflict (which often go hand in hand). She and her husband Will have been married for 13 years and they actually counseled Diego and me before we got married, so believe me when I saw she's got some gold to share. And if you’re listening and your life looks very different than ours, I’d encourage you to listen anyway and consider the things we touch on: conflict, prioritizing a committed relationship, and finding joy in everyday life.

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This is the first in the 4-part podcast series Chelsea shared on choosing what type of school is best for them: https://www.risenmotherhood.com/podcast-episodes/ep-93-how-should-we-educate-our-children-the-case-for-freedom-part-1?rq=freedom%20in%20education

These are the Bible verses she referenced about patience, forgiveness, and hope in relational conflict: Proverbs 19:11, Revelation 21:23.

Here are the marriage books she recommended:

For the first full episode of 2023, I am thrilled to present a super fun and enlightening conversation on the topic of creating meaningful family traditions! My friend Taye and her husband Dave have created a whole year-round ensemble of unique celebrations for them and their 4 kids, so she's basically a pro. Trust me, you're gonna wanna hear about the spectacular fun they get up to together.

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My tip was to use Mixbook to create yearly calendars that double as Christmas gifts and/or family scrapbooks! They often have special deals, so be sure to check their website or emails when you can: https://www.mixbook.com/photo-calendars.

Happy 2023, friends! This podcast is officially 2 years old and I'm celebrating by sharing a brief recap of this year's mamahood stories, the birth story of our second baby Lyla who joined us on Halloween, and how our family has been doing in our new reality as a family of 4. Check out the super fun resources I mention below.

This new year, stay tuned for exciting new stories! I can't wait to share them with you and introduce you to new guests. Cheers to you, hard-working mamas! To a year full of growth and peace wherever you are.

Extra Stuff:

Here are the nursing latch videos that helped me have a successful breastfeeding start with Lyla:

This is the super helpful visual birth plan template we used: https://www.mamanatural.com/birth-plan-template/

Here is the recipe for my sourdough cinnamon rolls plus a beginner's guide to sourdough:

Feast your eyes on the beautiful and delicious Latin American food cookbook I'm working through (The Latin American Cookbook by Gill Gill Nicholas and Virgilio Martinez Veliz): https://www.amazon.com/Latin-American-Cookbook-Virgilio-Martinez/dp/1838663126

This is the book on habit-setting and habit-breaking (Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear):

And finally, this is the journal I'll be using this year during my (hopefully daily) Bible reading times (Give Me Jesus Journal by Well-Watered Women):

In this episode, my friend and neighbor Allison Keeler joined me to talk about the major and often scary transition from 1 to 2 kids. This conversation was especially exciting because my own family is growing - we are expecting a baby girl at the beginning of November! I really enjoyed hearing about Allison’s journey into the world of having 2 little ones and everything she has learned so far.

She shares about the best and worst moments she's seen so far and life lessons she's learned along the way. You'll also hear about the strategies she used to prepare her toddler emotionally and practically for the arrival of a younger sibling. If you are one of those mamas currently in the transition to 2, we are with you and we are cheering you on. Just like any other mamahood transition, remember to give yourself grace and celebrate all the victories - even the little ones!

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Allison recommends the "Oh Crap! Potty Training" book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Oh-Crap!-Potty-Training/Jamie-Glowacki/Oh-Crap-Parenting/9781501122989.

She also loves the "Mothers of the Village" book which talks about leaning in to all the mamahood community support: https://www.amazon.com/Mothers-Village-Motherhood-Community-Yourself/dp/1942934378.

I had such a fun conversation with my cousin Amanda Tucker all about her journey to becoming an artist and how she makes time to create while being a mama to two littles! Tune in to hear how she got her business off the ground and how she finds ways to involve her kids in her art. You'll also hear about her favorite paintings, the stories behind them, and what they mean to her and her clients. 

I loved hearing Amanda's passion for making meaningful art that inspires, communicates and connects, especially the beautiful pieces in her mama series. Her colorful artwork celebrates the strength of women and portrays their varied stages and experiences, including pregnancy, post-partum challenges, caring for children, and loss. This nugget gives you a great preview of the insights and encouragement she shared: “Sometimes art will make us uncomfortable and sometimes it’ll get us talking, but at the end of the day it’s connecting us, so do it!” We hope you listen in on our fascinating chat about the intersection of mamahood and art.

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And here is her lovely website:

Check out the "Cosmic CEO" podcast she recommends for aspiring entrepreneurs: