Understanding and Overcoming Blocked Care

Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast! 

This week I am joined with an adult adoptee and new author, Emmanual Jean Russle. Emmanuel grew up in Haiti with his grandmother before being adopted into the United States. In our conversation, we briefly discuss his upbringing and transition to the states and then Emmanuel shares his passion for sharing this message: God has a plan for  every child. Emmanuel also offers encouragement to adoptive families navigating their unique journeys.

Here are a few key takeaways: 

• Emmanuel's story highlights the importance of purpose in every child's life.
• Adoption can bring about significant changes, but love and support are crucial.
• Quality time spent with children fosters a sense of belonging.
• Every child's experience with adoption is unique and should be respected.
• Parents should treat adopted children as they would biological children.
• It's essential to acknowledge and celebrate a child's heritage.
• Prayer and guidance are vital for families considering adoption.
• Books can be powerful tools for understanding and discussing adoption.

Connect more with Emmanuel on social media. 

Check out his book: Hello! My Name is Emmanuel - An inspiring true story of adoption, celebrating new

Christian Parentings latest resource: Friday Favorites Newsletter 

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 week I am joined with Dana Hargrus, a mental health counselor with over twenty-five years of experience in trauma-informed care. We discuss the innovative approach of biofeedback in helping foster and adoptive parents navigate the challenges of caring for children from hard places. Dana shares her personal journey as a foster and adoptive parent, emphasizing the importance of connection and healthy attachment in mental health. The conversation highlights the need for alternative solutions to traditional medication and discipline methods, advocating for a more compassionate and understanding approach to parenting.

Here are a few key takeaways: 

• Biofeedback is a form of brain exercise that helps improve mental health.
• Connection is essential for healing trauma in children.
• Punishment and discipline are often ineffective for children from hard places.
• Healthy attachment is crucial for mental health and can be developed at any age.
• Parents should focus on building connections rather than enforcing strict discipline.
• The current mental health system often fails children in foster care.
• Biofeedback can be a beneficial alternative to medication for managing mental health issues.
• Understanding a child's trauma history is key to effective parenting.
• Parents need support and resources to navigate the challenges of foster care and adoption.
• It's never too late for healing and change in a child's life.

Learn more about Danas practice Restore of Ada by calling 580-453-1076 or email them at [email protected] or you can find their website https://restoreofada.com/about-restore 

Check out Danas resource, a brief podcast about trauma: Find it on Apple or Spotify. 

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!

Hey friends, today weve got something special for you: a bonus episode straight from the Pardon the Mess podcast!

Every Monday, host Courtney DeFeo shares a short prayer to help you lift up your kids. This years series follows Christian Parentings brand new prayer journal, A Great Cloud of Witnesses. 

Each week highlights a biblical hero of the faith, paired with Scripture-based prayers for your kids. Here is a sneak peek into week one:

This first week is all about Noaha man of incredible faith and obedience. While the world around him turned away from God, Noah walked in righteousness. Building the ark probably looked foolish to everyone else, but Noah trusted Gods word even when it didnt make sense. Thats the kind of faith we want for our kids: to listen to Gods voice over any others and walk confidently with Him even when it means standing apart.

If you love this episode and dont have your copy of A Great Cloud of Witnesses yet, its not too late to get yours! Go ChristianParenting.org to get your copy and follow along. And dont forget to tune in to Pardon the Mess every Monday for more prayer episodes. 

Order A Great Cloud of Witnesses today

Follow Pardon the Mess on Apple or Spotify

Called to Love is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast! 

This week I am joined with Abby Halberstadt, whos been on the show before. Abby is a busy mom of ten biological kids, homeschools all of them, builds houses with her husband, and works as a fitness instructor, but most importantly she is a woman firmly planted on a Biblical foundation. In this conversation, we unpack the myth she shares in her recent book You Bet Your Stretchmarks which is a myth that your motherhood is wasted. Even though Abby has biological kids, all of us as foster and adoptive moms have the scars of motherhood and often the mundane and thankless jobs of wiping bottoms, sleepless nights, and sweeping cheerios can make us ask, Is this worth it? Abby reminds us that our motherhoods are eternally significant and callings from God. Even if our acts of love are unthanked and unseen, those sacrifices have an immeasurable impact. 

Abby also walks us through some of the lies in our culture that prey upon moms and their identities. She strongly encourages us to find our contentment in God and not in comparing ourselves to others. Our culture, and the Enemy through it, are feeding lies to moms that they are alone and the motherhood experience is all negative. We know, however, through scripture that nothing is wasted. 

Here are a few key takeaways: 

• Motherhood is a calling of eternal significance.
• The 'wasted mother myth' undermines the value of motherhood.
• Daily sacrifices of mothers are meaningful and sacred.
• Creating rhythms in daily life can help manage overwhelm.
• Contentment comes from focusing on God's word, not worldly standards.
• Community support is essential but not always available.
• Every act of motherhood, no matter how small, has value.
• Mothers should not compare their journeys to others.
• Recognizing the mundane as sacred can transform perspective.
• Motherhood is a legacy that impacts future generations.

Learn more about Abby on her website and social media or buy her new book You Bet Your Stretchmarks! wherever you get your books, like Amazon. 

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 week I am joined with author and busy mom, friend of the show, Molly DeFrank! Molly is the proud mom of six kids, ages ranging from teenagers to young ones, both biological and adopted. Her family has also fostered children, and her two adopted kids came first from fostering. 

In this episode, we are talking specifically about raising Godly sons as we live in a world that is telling them their masculinity is toxic and they just need to sit still. Anyone with a little boy knows they have so much energy and cant focus, and while this may be frustrating it is also how God made them. Molly wrote a book titled, Mothering Boys: 8 Things Your Son Needs From You Before He Turns 10 which has inspired this conversation. Especially if you have children in your home who come from foster care, they may have negative relationships to masculinity, either from bad male role models, failed father figures, or even abuse. 

We have such an important role as parents to train up these kids, help shape and root their identity in God, and establish their worldview. Lets talk about the practical ways we can help them be empowered young men for Christ! 

Here are a few key takeaways: 

• Boys face societal pressures that can negatively impact their self-worth.
• Building connection and trust is essential for effective parenting.
• Simple moments can create meaningful connections with boys.
• Unconditional love is crucial for boys to feel safe and accepted.
• Storytelling can help boys understand their identity and values.
• Creating safe spaces for boys to fail fosters resilience.
• Moms should focus on their own well-being to better support their children.

Learn more about Molly on her website or connect with her on social media! 

Interested in her book? Click here to learn more! 

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!