ADOPTION STRUGGLES AND SUPPORT | Adoption Trauma, Parenting Guides, Biblical Encouragement, Respite, Anxiety Bible Verses

Imagine a group of compassionate adoptive parents. A safe place where people GET IT, share encouragement, and offer practical, faith-rooted support. Sounds amazing, right? 💛

Hi Neighbor,

I’d like to take a moment to invite you into something special I built for adoptive parents. Something described in three words: compassion, connection, and community.

If you’ve ever sat in the quiet after a hard day with your adopted child and th...

Has your child started asking questions about their birth family? 🤔 Do you worry about what to say or how much to share? 💬 What if your honesty could actually strengthen your child’s trust and sense of belonging? 💛

Hi Neighbor, 

In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down again with my friend and trusted adoption professional, Jane Baker. 

Jane has walked alongside countless families navigating the tender emotions of adoption reu...

❗Are you constantly rushing, feeling like there’s never enough time in the day?

💭Do you long for real peace, but life’s chaos keeps pulling you away?

🌟What if slowing down could actually help you experience God’s presence more fully?

Hi Neighbor,

A simple card on my cabin door inspired this unplugged episode.

“Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.” ~Dallas Willard

I reflect on how embracing God’s gifts can help us ruthlessly...

He experienced one tragedy after another 💔. If that wasn't enough, he then experienced the ultimate act of betrayal 😢. How could a son do this to his father? Life would never be the same. Yet through it all, he was still able to find peace.

Hi Neighbor,

As an adoptive parent, have you faced sleepless nights filled with fear, wondering if peace will ever come?

Adoption can bring heartbreak no one else sees💔. In Psalm 3, David pou...

He faced one discouraging obstacle after another. Yet through it all, he persisted. How did he do it? First, he partnered with God. 

Hi Neighbor!

Do you ever feel like you’re facing one discouraging obstacle after another in your adoption journey? You’re not alone. 💔 As an adoptive parent and coach, I know exactly what that feels like and how to persist through it.

So, what’s my secret? Partnering with God and using journaling as ...

It was the worst advice I ever received as an adoptive parent and, strangely enough, it turned out to be the best advice too.

Hi Neighbor,

If you’ve ever felt crushed by unsolicited advice 😣 or wondered if you’re failing your kids 💔, you’re not alone. Some words sting and stay with you—but sometimes, with time and perspective, they can also become lifelines.

In this episode, I share the story of how a piece of “terrible” advice w...

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” 🌿 Ecclesiastes 3:1 

Whatever season you’re in on your adoption journey, we can get through it together. 

If you’re feeling lost as an adoptive parent, THIS could be your lifeline. Remember, you’re not alone! 

Hi Neighbor,

Solomon in Ecclesiastes reminds us: there’s a time for everything. Whether you’re grieving 😢, celebrating 🎉, or searching for answers ...

How do you navigate through the fog of life? I would like to suggest you consider relying on Someone with a better vantage point ✨. Someone who can shine the light on your path.

Hi Neighbor,

Adoptive life can feel foggy, uncertain, and overwhelming. Sometimes the best way forward is to slow down, trust a higher perspective 🙏, and let go of needing to see every step ahead. What would it look like for you to drive with “low beams” t...

Why do bad things happen to good people?  Sometimes the answer can only be seen through the perspective of time ⏳.

Hi Neighbor!

In this episode, we’ll dive into the story of Joseph in Genesis 📖 and see how time gave him clarity on why he suffered the things he did.

We’ll also explore 1 Corinthians and Romans to discover 3 powerful benefits of why good people and especially adoptive parents walk through seasons of suffering. 💔

Anc...

As an adoptive parent, the way you were parented may or may not be the best approach in parenting your adopted child.

Hi Neighbor!

When what you’re doing as a parent 🚫 isn’t working, how do you flip the script 🔄 and approach parenting differently? 🤔

In this episode, one of the individuals who helped my son Jonny navigate the challenges of residential treatment joins the show.

My neighbor 🏡 Erich Nelson shares a script 📝 that a...

When connection feels impossible, is it still love? (Yes! Here’s how.)

Hi Neighbor,

Today, I’m joined by my neighbor from West Africa by way of Nashville, Jackson TerKeurst. Jackson opens up about his journey from civil war in Liberia to Tennessee, and what it was like to be an adopted teenager with walls built for survival.

He brings a powerful perspective on what love felt like on the receiving end of trauma… and what helped him ...

If you’ve ever felt like no one truly understands what you’re going through as an adoptive parent, you’re not alone and you’re not broken.

Hi Neighbor,

Today marks not only our 200th episode, but also the third anniversary of this podcast. What started as a simple idea and a backyard walk has now grown into a global community of adoptive parents seeking encouragement, connection, and biblical hope.

In this milestone episode, I’ll t...

Have you ever been so frustrated by things going on around you that you couldn't see clearly, you couldn't think clearly, your judgment was impaired? What's a person to do about that? May I suggest you work on raising your awareness?

Hi Neighbor!

In this episode, I share a personal story about a time when I became so frustrated that I almost missed a positive opportunity that was right in front of me.

It’s something I need a consta...

Is adoption life chaotic for you? Is it even possible to find peace in the middle of meltdowns, uncertainty, and daily struggles?

I believe it is. Not just to see calm from a distance but to actually experience it, even in the middle of the storm. 

But first, you’ll need to become a copycat.

Hi Neighbor,

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious as an adoptive parent, you’re not alone. Anxiety Management is a real need in the trench...

Have you ever felt completely alone—like you were the only one facing something so hard it seemed no one else could understand? What do you do in those moments? Who do you turn to?

If you’re an adoptive parent feeling that way right now, may I gently suggest this: it’s time to grab hold of an anchor.

Hi Neighbor,⁣

I’m imagining an adoptive parent listening to this episode, feeling isolated and overwhelmed. I know that feeling well ...

“By the time he left, I felt like I was close to a mental breakdown. And I would tell my husband over and over, I can’t do this much longer. I just can’t. 

You know, I would go sit in the Walmart parking lot for three hours until he went to bed. And so I was avoiding my whole family. That affected my husband because here my husband is supposed to be my protector, but legally he can’t protect me against this thirteen-year-old who’s ...

Could it be that the very struggles you've walked through have prepared you to encourage someone else?

Hi Neighbor!⁣

Why do bad things happen in life?

Some might say, “That’s just life.” But I believe there’s a deeper meaning behind that question, something worth pausing to reflect on.

In this episode, let’s reframe that narrative together. I’ll share a moment from David’s life in Psalm 13, a powerful example from Paul in 2 Corinth...

Even adults who haven’t been through trauma can tell you that it’s sometimes difficult to talk about our feelings. I think that is the beauty of music therapy. Because clients can come. They don’t necessarily need to say exactly what they want to explore. We can just explore in music.

Hi Neighbor,

Did you know that music can be a powerful tool for healing in the lives of adopted children navigating trauma?

Today, I’m excited to wel...

Sometimes, life has a way of knocking the wind out of us, suddenly and without warning.

Hi Neighbor,

How do you navigate those unexpected changes or losses that shake your world?

Over time, I’ve learned to find steady ground through simple practices, prayer, journaling, or even a quiet walk outside. In the midst of grief, these anchors have become pockets of peace.

I’ve also come to lean on the people in my life, my anchors. Friend...