Called to Love: An Adoption Podcast for Christian Parents - Christian Adoption, Trauma and Healing, Foster Care, Parenting Ad

Christian Parenting
Christian Parenting
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Whether you seek to add to your family through foster care, private domestic adoption or you are called to travel internationally, every adoption story is uniquely beautiful. Yet, each shares a common language of calling, loss, and hardship. As Christian parents we have a deep desire to love and shepherd our children well, but it can be challenging to navigate loss, trauma and how to best love and guide our adopted children. One thing is for sure, adoption is more than a process, it is an invitation to go on a holy journey with the Lord and with your family. Like any journey, there will be valleys along with mountain tops and battles along with the beauty. The good news is, what the Lord calls you to, He will equip you for. Wherever you are in your journey, Called to Love is here to bring you a weekly dose of encouragement from the practical, clinical, and Biblical perspective along with personal stories from adoptive parents, adult adoptees and advice from various experts to help your family thrive in your journey and continue to say “yes” to your own call to love. Called to Love is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org

  1. 22h ago

    Protecting Our Daughters from Pornography

    Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast!  For this episode, I am joined by the author and child-protection against pornography advocate: Kristen Jenson. It all began with a phone call where Kristen heard her friend sobbing so hard, she couldn’t get a word out. Kristen drove to her friend’s house and learned how the oldest son had been abusing the younger children–and pornography had been involved. Kristen thought surely there were some resources she could find to provide for her friend–and there was nothing!  This set Kristen down her path of research and created “Defend Young Minds” which is loaded with curriculum and resources to keep your children not only safe but empowered with a plan for when they encounter “bad pictures.” Her first book, Good Pictures Bad Pictures was published and soon became a #1 bestseller on Amazon. Over 375,000 copies of this book, along with Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr., have been sold worldwide! And now Kristen has published one specifically for girls because they are often left out of the conversation and that does not protect them.  In our conversation today, we tackle:   The importance of early conversations about pornography with girlsHow girls encounter and are affected by pornographyStatistical trends in pornography consumption among women and girlsThe impact of pornography on girls' self-esteem and relationshipsPractical strategies for parents to address and prevent exposureThe concept of the 'no trouble bubble' for open communicationThe role of technology and social media in exposure risksRedefining success in parenting amidst exposure risks Let’s dive in!  Learn more about Kristen on her website https://www.defendyoungminds.com/  and order some of her amazing resources, like the new book, “Good Pictures Bad Pictures Guide for Girls”  To submit your prayer requests, use this form by clicking here!  You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com.  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! Called to Love is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To learn more, check out their other shows or resources, head to their website: https://www.christianparenting.org/

  2. Oct 20

    What Transracial Adoptive Parents Need to Know

    Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast!  For this episode, I am joined by an adult adoptee who is starting to share his story and educate parents on what it means to have a transracial adoption: Michael Gaither. Michael Gaither was born in 1972 and immediately given to white parents who lived in a predominantly white suburb in Nebraska. Growing up, Michael felt completely out of place and struggled with feeling emotionally secure at home, and especially at school – getting teased constantly for looking so different from everyone else. He had anger issues, would sneak food at night, and when he finally did meet other black kids like him, he didn’t know how to connect with them. He felt completely lost.  Flash forward to today, things are much different than the 70s when it comes to diversity and culture, but there is still so much that parents need to know. For myself, with an adopted Marshalleese child, I deeply want to make sure my child knows she is safe and loved and can embrace her roots. That is why I am so glad Michael shares his story with us and we discuss ways parents can create a healthy, safe dynamic with their kids in exploring who they are.  Let’s dive in!  Key topics in this episode:  The experience of being a transracial adoptee and feeling of not fitting inThe importance of understanding and discussing race and identity in adoptive familiesStrategies for parents to create safe and inclusive environmentsThe significance of representation and role models for Black childrenThe process and emotional impact of reuniting with biological familyThe need for ongoing education and intentionality in adoption Learn more about Michael and his book, https://beyondthemomentadoptionstudio.com/book  To submit your prayer requests, use this form by clicking here!  You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com.  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! Called to Love is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To learn more, check out their other shows or resources, head to their website: https://www.christianparenting.org/

  3. Oct 13

    When Loving Our Kids Reveals What Needs Healing in Us

    Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast!  For this episode, I am joined by Stasi Eldredge. Stasi Eldredge loves writing and speaking to women about the goodness of God. She became a Christian her junior year in college and dove into the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ.  After graduating, Stasi joined Youth for Christ, heading up a ministry to pregnant teenagers and teen mothers. She has been active in ministry ever since, including theater ministry, crisis pregnancy center ministry, women’s ministry, and children’s ministry. She is married to author, counselor, and teacher John Eldredge, and she herself is an author and podcaster. Her recent book is titled, “The Ladder of Love: A Pathway to Emotional Healing and Spiritual Intimacy With Jesus.”  In our conversation today, we discuss how knowing just how much God loves you can truly change how you approach life. We dive into how much healing needs to happen within us and how it can happen through relationships and challenges in our life. One of the biggest things Stasi encourages us, as foster and adoptive parents, is to never isolate because isolation leads to decay! God doesn’t want you alone, He wants you in both His presence and in the presence of others who also love you.  Let’s dive in!  Key topics in this episode:  Healing from wounds and lies believed about oneselfThe importance of vulnerability and trust in relationshipsHow relationship with God reveals our true identityThe impact of secondary trauma on foster and adoptive parentsPractical steps to deepen intimacy with GodThe significance of small daily moments in spiritual lifeEncouragement for women feeling overwhelmed and exhaustedThe role of secure attachment in healing and trust Learn more about Stasi, her ministry Wild at Heart, and her new book on her website: https://wildatheart.org/the-ladder-of-love  To submit your prayer requests, use this form by clicking here!  You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com.  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! Called to Love is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To learn more, check out their other shows or resources, head to their website: https://www.christianparenting.org/

  4. Oct 6

    God Knew Her Father and He Had a Plan For Her Life

    Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast!  For this episode, I am joined by Phyllis Robertson Thomas, author of the book, “I Never Knew” which centers on her relationship with her biological father, Phil Robertson from Duck Dynasty. Phyllis had no idea Phil was her father till very recently after her son took a genealogy test for fun! It has answered so many questions in her life and also powerfully revealed God’s goodness.  In our conversation today, we discuss Phyllis’s story but also her experience growing up in a broken, dysfunctional home, and her experience now as a nurse and licensed child therapist working with social workers and foster kids. There is so much insight Phyllis shares from her background and also her testimony.  Let’s dive in!  Key topics in this episode:  The importance of honesty and transparency in foster and adoptive familiesUnderstanding the concept of felt safety and its role in healingThe significance of attachment and family systems in a child's sense of stabilityThe role of faith, prayer, and discernment in navigating family secrets and traumaThe impact of dysfunction and resilience in shaping identityPractical advice for creating safe spaces for children to explore their feelingsThe importance of patience, waiting, and God's timing in healing processesThe concept of lament and embracing discomfort as part of growthGod's ability to bring beauty from ashes and heal broken pieces Learn more about Phyllis, here is her website where you can also purchase her book: https://phyllisrobertsonthomas.com/  To submit your prayer requests, use this form by clicking here!  You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com.  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! Called to Love is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To learn more, check out their other shows or resources, head to their website: https://www.christianparenting.org/

  5. Sep 29

    Grieving the Story You Didn't Want

    Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast!  For this episode, I am joined by author, social worker, and licensed therapist, Nicole Langman. Nicole’s entire world was turned upside down when she walked through a devastating divorce which filled her life with grief. She was shocked to find a vacuum of support from her church and community.  No one seemed to understand this grief – the loss of dreams and the story you thought you had. This is something we are all too familiar with as adoptive and foster parents. In our conversation, we discuss honoring the broken dreams and stories we prayed for and how to move through it in faith.  Let’s dive in!  Key topics in this episode:  The crickets of grief and the absence of support in non-death lossesHow to honor and validate grief that isn't related to deathCarrying grief in a healthy way that honors the loss and trusts God's sovereigntyThe importance of community, prayer, and support in grief workPractical tools for managing overwhelming emotions and embracing the story that isThe role of faith and biblical examples like Job in enduring sufferingHelping children process grief and loss in a healthy wayThe significance of shifting focus from pain to hope and trust in God's planThe importance of being a good student of your story and learning from itEncouragement for adoptive and foster families to trust God's purpose Learn more about “This Isn't the Story I Wanted: Grieving the Life You Lost and Trusting the God Who Stays” by finding it on Amazon.  To submit your prayer requests, use this form by clicking here!  You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com.  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! Called to Love is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To learn more, check out their other shows or resources, head to their website: https://www.christianparenting.org/

  6. Sep 22

    When Living in God's Yes Is Harder Than You Expected

    Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast!  For this episode, I am joined by Melissa Miller. Melissa is the mom to five kids, biological and adopted, and she is an advocate for vulnerable children in foster care. Besides being a busy mom, Melissa is also a Reboot Retreat facilitator in her home state Tennessee, the author of “But I Prayed for This” and a contributor to sites such as Mother.ly, Her View from Home, and the YouVersion Bible app. In our conversation today, we unpack all the emotional complexities that come with this calling. This is something we prayed for and yet there is so much pain and grief when the child finally enters our home, and it is hard to wrestle with. It can be hard to share those feelings with others, thinking they will say, “But you prayed for this. This is what you wanted.” The guilt and shame that can come with this feeling, thinking we should be grateful and happy God answered the prayer, but it feels nothing like we imagined. We get into all of this as Melissa shares her story and elaborates more on how we can walk this out in our families.  Let’s dive in!  Key topics in this episode:  Constant changes can cause fatigue and impact familiesThe importance of validation and compassionBalancing grief and gratitude in difficult seasonsBuilding rhythms and routines for stabilityThe role of faith and God's sovereignty in healing Learn more about “But I Prayed for This: What to Do When Living in God's Yes Is Harder Than You Expected” by going to Amazon https://www.amazon.com/But-Prayed-This-Living-Expected-ebook/dp/B0G1K3WXLQ/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=8RtdU&content-id=amzn1.sym.171c1bd3-e559-4de5-8b1c-2e86c02e2e84&pf_rd_p=171c1bd3-e559-4de5-8b1c-2e86c02e2e84&pf_rd_r=134-3507095-9710632&pd_rd_wg=82bqN&pd_rd_r=6756e9e7-82c9-47ee-aae0-a6813988647b  Or Mellisa’s website: https://www.melissamillerwriter.com/  To submit your prayer requests, use this form by clicking here!  You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com.  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! Called to Love is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To learn more, check out their other shows or resources, head to their website: https://www.christianparenting.org/

  7. Sep 15

    When Open Adoption Becomes Family Part 2

    Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast!  For this episode, I am joined by an incredible family – incredible because this open adoption led to a family growing in a unique way! The three voices joining me on this episode are adoptive parents, Nick and Kelsey Lebos, and the biological mother of their adopted son, Mikayla Little. The three of them bonded immediately when meeting during Mikayla’s pregnancy as she was pursuing the open adoption of her unborn son, Shepherd. God brought them together for a unique purpose and to grow their family in this unconventional way. Mikayla is not only a part of Shepherd’s life but she is also a part of the broader Lebos family. There is so much redemption found in her story because of their love, generosity, obedience to God, and intentionality to build this relationship.  In this two-part conversation, they share their story and I ask questions about navigating the hard parts of adoption. It is never easy for a mother to make this decision and it was something Mikayla did with a lot of prayer and preparation and love for her son. There are a lot of assumptions or misconceptions about biological mothers which is so disheartening because we have the opportunity as adoptive parents to love them both: child and mother. Not every open adoption is going to look like this – this is their story – but it is good to know what is possible thanks to our amazing God, and what happens when we are faithful in this calling.  Let’s dive in!  Key topics in this episode:  The emotional journey of adoption: both joy and grief. The role of faith and prayer in family decisionsThe importance of openness and transparency in adoptionThe significance of intentional relationship-building in open adoptions and maintaining relationshipsThe role of faith and prayer during emotional momentsBuilding a family through love and intentionalityThe importance of community and extended family in adoption To submit your prayer requests, use this form by clicking here!  You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com.  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! Called to Love is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To learn more, check out their other shows or resources, head to their website: https://www.christianparenting.org/

  8. Sep 8

    When Open Adoption Becomes Family Part 1

    Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast!  For this episode, I am joined by an incredible family – incredible because this open adoption led to a family growing in a unique way! The three voices joining me on this episode are adoptive parents, Nick and Kelsey Lebos, and the biological mother of their adopted son, Mikayla Little. The three of them bonded immediately when meeting during Mikayla’s pregnancy as she was pursuing the open adoption of her unborn son, Shepherd. God brought them together for a unique purpose and to grow their family in this unconventional way. Mikayla is not only a part of Shepherd’s life but she is also a part of the broader Lebos family. There is so much redemption found in her story because of their love, generosity, obedience to God, and intentionality to build this relationship.  In this two-part conversation, they share their story and I ask questions about navigating the hard parts of adoption. It is never easy for a mother to make this decision and it was something Mikayla did with a lot of prayer and preparation and love for her son. There are a lot of assumptions or misconceptions about biological mothers which is so disheartening because we have the opportunity as adoptive parents to love them both: child and mother. Not every open adoption is going to look like this – this is their story – but it is good to know what is possible thanks to our amazing God, and what happens when we are faithful in this calling.  Let’s dive in!  Key topics in this episode:  The emotional journey of adoption: both joy and grief. The role of faith and prayer in family decisionsThe importance of openness and transparency in adoptionThe significance of intentional relationship-building in open adoptions and maintaining relationshipsThe role of faith and prayer during emotional momentsBuilding a family through love and intentionalityThe importance of community and extended family in adoption To submit your prayer requests, use this form by clicking here!  You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com.  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! Called to Love is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To learn more, check out their other shows or resources, head to their website: https://www.christianparenting.org/

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Whether you seek to add to your family through foster care, private domestic adoption or you are called to travel internationally, every adoption story is uniquely beautiful. Yet, each shares a common language of calling, loss, and hardship. As Christian parents we have a deep desire to love and shepherd our children well, but it can be challenging to navigate loss, trauma and how to best love and guide our adopted children. One thing is for sure, adoption is more than a process, it is an invitation to go on a holy journey with the Lord and with your family. Like any journey, there will be valleys along with mountain tops and battles along with the beauty. The good news is, what the Lord calls you to, He will equip you for. Wherever you are in your journey, Called to Love is here to bring you a weekly dose of encouragement from the practical, clinical, and Biblical perspective along with personal stories from adoptive parents, adult adoptees and advice from various experts to help your family thrive in your journey and continue to say “yes” to your own call to love. Called to Love is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org

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