2024 Highlight: Infertility & Adoption - Does One Lead to the Other?

Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast! 

In this episode, my special guest is the amazing Nicole C. Mullen, a Grammy-nominated, Dove Award-winning American Christian singer, songwriter, actress, and author of the new book, Its Never Wrong to Do the Right Thing: Courageous Stories to Inspire Godly Decisions. She also has an incredible story of overcoming domestic abuse, adopting her two sons, choosing life for her daughter, and a story of choosing life from her grandparents. 

Our conversation spans stories of the Bible to Nicoles own personal journey to how it is relevant for us as adoptive and foster parents today. We may not see the total impact of saying yes to this calling, but it can ripple through generations. 

Here are a few key takeaways: 

• God is with you in the dark seasons of life, as Nicole puts it the night seasons and often He works a lot in the dark. 
• The impact of choosing life may never been seen earth-side but it is full of rewards from God 
• The impact of saying yes to life can continue for generations, like Nicoles personal story and the story of Moses
• Nicole worked through a dark season of domestic abuse. She encourages parents to children from abusive homes to model Jesus the Good Shepherd in being patient and gentle. 
• Even if we are Christians, we are not immune to the hard things of this world. Nicole points out how God is with us even when we sin, suffer the consequences of our actions, or the consequences of other peoples sin and actions, and how He is good in that. 

You can learn more about Nicole on her website

Here is her new book, Its Never Wrong to Do the Right Thing: Courageous Stories to Inspire Godly Decisions

Connect on instagram! 

Christian Parenting resource for you: Morning Minute

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To submit your prayer requests, use this form by clicking here! 

You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at [email protected]. 

I would love to connect with you on Instagram or send you my monthly newsletter with free resources and first access to episodes and more!

Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast! 

Thank you for joining me on the very first episode of Season 4! It is a privilege and gift from God to be able to share the practical, clinical, and Biblical information with you every week about adoption and foster care, which is a calling so near to our Fathers heart. In this episode, I am sharing with you the power and significance of praying for your child, whether theyre with you for a brief season or a long one, and a list of prayers you can use. 

Here are a few key takeaways: 

• The most important practice of the Christian faith is prayer.
• Prayer carries over the course of a lifetime.
• We need the power of prayer as adoptive and foster parents.
• More is caught than taught; let children see you pray.
• Prayer is about communing with God, not just asking for things.
• We should pray for our children's specific needs and concerns.
• Prayer is our greatest weapon against the enemy.
• Let's gather together in prayer as a community.

In this episode, I also share some big and exciting news! I am working on a book! I have been working on a book based on my adoption journey for a few years now, so to finally partner with a publishing company to make this a reality is amazing. The book is coming in the Fall 2027, which seems far away but it will come before we know it. 

To submit your prayer requests, use this form by clicking here! 

You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at [email protected]. 

I would love to connect with you on Instagram or send you my monthly newsletter with free resources and first access to episodes and more!

Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast! 

This is the end of season three. The team here at Called to Love are so grateful for you joining us every week to learn practical and Biblical tools and knowledge for adoption and foster care, a calling which is so reflective of Gods adoptive love for us. As we look forward to another year and a new season, we wanted to share with you the five top moments from 2025.

#1 is from Trusting God With What We Cannot Control: Waiting for Adoption released on February 25th. The clip chosen is about how to wait with God for adoption.

#2 is from Tools for Self-Regulation, Anger Management and Coping Mechanisms released on April 8th. The clip chosen is about helping regulate your child. Somer is joined by Kimberly Dubose. Kimberly is a Family Centered Therapy Clinical Caseworker with Connected Families.

#3 is from You're Not Too Late: Trusting God's Timing for Your Adoption Story released on June 3rd. The clip chosen is about the challenge of trusting Gods timing. In this episode, Somer was joined by a special guest: Rebecca George, a dear friend, author, speaker, and host of the Radical Radiance podcast. 

#4 is from Understanding Blocked Care with Lisa C. Qualls released on March 25th. The clip chosen is about the result of high need care-giving. In this episode, Somer is joined with Lisa C. Qualls. Lisa is the proud mother of both biological and adopted children, twelve in fact, and is an accomplished author, speaker, and Enneagram coach with TBRI training.  

 #5 is from Adopted By God: The Spiritual Healing in Adoption & Foster Care released on May 20th. The clip chosen is about parenting while being broken yourself. In this episode, Somer is joined by author and adoptive father, Matt Lambert. Matt and his wife live in the UK with their two adopted children. 

Please join us in a prayer over Called to Love, that it will continue to serve and reach families in need of support, encouragement and resources. 

You can email Somer your questions about adoption and foster care at [email protected]. Somer would love to connect with you on Instagram or send you her monthly newsletter with free resources and first access to episodes and more!

Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast! 

This is the second part to my special episode where my husband, Corey, and I reflect on ten years as adoptive parents. We share stories from when God first placed this calling on our hearts, the messy beginnings to bringing our baby daughter home, the changes in our marriage, and how God always had a plan. 

Corey shares valuable insight from his perspective as the head of our household and a calming technique he uses in his practice as an occupational therapist. Corey says you will never be ready to say yes because there are simply too many question marks, so you have to take a leap of faith. He also encourages parents to equip themselves with two things while proceeding in this calling: wisdom and bravery. 

Here are a few key take aways: 

• Adoption brings out both the best and worst in parents.
• Communication is key in navigating parenting and marriage.
• Faith is essential in parenting and decision-making.
• Every child has unique needs that must be understood and met.
• Parenting is a form of discipleship, not just a task.
• It's important to seek God's guidance in parenting.
• The journey of adoption is filled with challenges but is rewarding.
• Parents should not wait for the perfect moment to adopt.
• Learning to communicate effectively can strengthen a marriage.
• It's okay to not have all the answers as a parent. 
• Seek the Lord and pray. 

Want to keep Christian Parenting going? The network is listener-supported! Consider giving an end-of-year gift that provides resources to Christian parents. Check out cpgive.org 

You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at [email protected]. I'd love to connect with you on Instagram or send you my monthly newsletter with free resources and first access to episodes and more!

Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast! 

This is a very special episode, split into two parts, where my husband Corey and I reflect on ten years as adoptive parents. We share stories from when God first placed this calling on our hearts, the messy beginnings to bringing our baby daughter home, the changes in our marriage, and how God always had a plan. 

Corey shares valuable insight from his perspective as the head of our household and a calming technique he uses in his practice as an occupational therapist. Corey says you will never be ready to say yes because there are simply too many question marks, so you have to take a leap of faith. He also encourages parents to equip themselves with two things while proceeding in this calling: wisdom and bravery. 

Here are a few key take aways: 

• Adoption brings out both the best and worst in parents.
• Communication is key in navigating parenting and marriage.
• Faith is essential in parenting and decision-making.
• Every child has unique needs that must be understood and met.
• Parenting is a form of discipleship, not just a task.
• It's important to seek God's guidance in parenting.
• The journey of adoption is filled with challenges but is rewarding.
• Parents should not wait for the perfect moment to adopt.
• Learning to communicate effectively can strengthen a marriage.
• It's okay to not have all the answers as a parent. 
• Seek the Lord and pray. 

Want to keep Christian Parenting going? The network is listener-supported! Consider giving an end-of-year gift that provides resources to Christian parents. Check out cpgive.org 

You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at [email protected]. I'd love to connect with you on Instagram or send you my monthly newsletter with free resources and first access to episodes and more!