Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast!

In this episode, I am joined by the founder of Finally Home: Kristin Orphan. Finally Home exists to walk alongside foster, adoptive, and kinship families with faith-rooted resources that bring hope, healing, and strength. They are a national non-profit that provide tools, courses, resources and community to families so they can find connection and confidence every day.

Kristin was inspired to start Finally Home after her own adoption journey and being devastated by the calling. God called her and her family to this but that didn’t make it easy. There was a lot of sacrifice, heartache, and learning through her journey–in fact, the journey isn’t over even though her children are adults! In this conversation, we discuss how God brings encouragement when you’re discouraged or depressed.

Here are a few key takeaways:

• The importance of unity in marriage when considering adoption.
• Adoption is a lifelong commitment that requires ongoing support and learning.
• Resilience is key in parenting adopted children, especially through challenges.
• Community support is crucial for families navigating adoption.
• Trauma-informed care focuses on relational connection with children.
• Distraction techniques can help manage challenging behaviors in children.
• Parents should seek to understand their child's unique needs and responses.
• It's important to give children a voice in family decisions without placing the burden of choice on them.
• The journey of adoption can lead to personal transformation for parents.
• God is WITH you in this calling!

Learn more about Finally Home and access all their parenting courses and more at https://finallyhome.net/

Email and mention Called to Love so the team can connect with you: info@finallyhome.net

You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com. 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 fan-girling out just a little bit because my special guest is Dr. Kathy Koch. Dr. Kathy has a PhD in reading and educational psychology from Purdue and is a former university professor now turned child advocate who founded Celebrate Kids. She has written several books, and her latest one (co-written with Dr. Jeff Myers) is called “Raising Gender-Confident Kids: Helping Kids Embrace Their God-Given Design”. This is the topic of our conversation, as many foster and adoptive parents may find their children especially vulnerable to the gender identity crisis.

Together, we discuss how to be bold in our parenting while also pursuing connection, trust, and relationship-building. God has given us the task of stewarding these kids and we cannot shy away from this reality. At the same time, if your child is coming to you already in a gender-confused state, it is important to show them love, compassion, and build trust so perhaps they can tell you what’s really going on. Dr. Kathy gives us powerful information and practical tools to equip us for this reality we face as parents.

Here are a few key takeaways:

• Parents need to be bold and honest about gender issues.
• Stereotypes can trap children in false beliefs about their identity.
• Churches must address tough topics to help guide youth.
• Creating a safe space for discussions is crucial for trust.
• Parents should affirm their children's identity and interests.
• It's important to teach children about the beauty of God's creation.
• Parents should not blame themselves for their children's struggles.
• Encouragement and support are vital for parents facing challenges.
• Identity formation is a lifelong process that requires consistent effort.

Learn more about Dr. Kathy’s organization, Celebrate Kids: https://celebratekids.com/

Dr. Kathy recommends one of her books, “Five to Thrive” and her latest release which informed a lot of this episode: ”Raising Gender Confident Kids”

You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com. 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 Bill High. Bill is the CEO of Legacy Stone and the author and co-author to many books. He is a counselor and public speaker, passionate about empowering families to leave a legacy for generations.

In our conversation, we explore the importance of building a lasting family legacy through faith, family values, and purposeful living. Bill shares practical steps for families to create structure and stability, emphasizing the power of repetition in instilling values. We hope this offers encouragement for parents navigating the challenges of foster care and adoption. You're playing a vital role in shaping the next generation.

Here are a few key takeaways:

• The calling of foster and adoptive parents is significant to the kingdom of God.
• Defining family values is crucial for protection and attraction.
• Kids are a heritage from the Lord, and families should treat them as such.
• Regular family meetings can help reinforce family values and vision.
• Structure and stability are essential for children from chaotic backgrounds.
• Repetition is key in teaching values to children.
• Parents should focus on being faithful rather than fixating on outcomes.
• God can turn broken situations into something good.

Connect more with Bill High on his website or social media. And the website for Legacy Stone: https://legacystone.com/

Bill High’s new book: THE LEGACY LIFE: BOOK AND DEVOTIONAL - A Paradigm Shift that Will Help You Build Your Family for Generations to Come, Guided by Biblical Values.

You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com. 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!