In this really special episode for Foster Care Awareness Month, Nicole sits down with DiEmma, the biological mom of her three adopted kids—for an honest conversation about what it actually looks like to choose relationship in the middle of really hard things.

What started over ten years ago in the middle of addiction, loss, and the foster care system has slowly grown into something neither of them expected, a relationship built on respect, compassion, and a shared love for the same kids. Together, they talk about the fears that can keep foster families from connecting with biological parents, and gently push back on the idea that it has to be “us vs. them.”

From relapse to healing, boundaries to grace, it hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth it. DiEmma shares what it’s like from her side: not just as a biological mom, but as someone who was in foster care herself, and what it meant to feel supported instead of judged. Nicole talks about how important it is to stay grounded in who you are, choose empathy, and remember that loving a child means caring about where they came from, too.

At the end of the day, this episode is a reminder that foster care isn’t about swooping in to save the day, it’s about showing up, again and again. It’s messy, it’s hard, but it’s also where real healing can happen. And when it’s safe and healthy, connection between foster and biological families can be one of the most powerful gifts we give kids. This is what “For the One” looks like in real life.

Episode Highlights:

• Foster care awareness
• Bio family connection
• Standing in the gap
• Shared motherhood story
• Restoration is possible

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In this special episode of Restoried, we’re coming together as the four directors of HopeBridge to launch something that is deeply personal to us: our new campaign and heart posture, “For the One.” This conversation is really about what has been forming in us for a long time—how we see people, how we do ministry, and how we stay anchored in the middle of work that can often feel overwhelming in scale.

We talk about how easy it is to slip into a “numbers mindset,” especially in the nonprofit and foster care world, where outcomes, stats, and impact reports often take center stage. But over and over again, we come back to this truth: our work has never been about reaching everyone at once—it’s about being faithful to the one person in front of us. One child. One mom. One family. And ultimately, the One who leads it all—Jesus.

As we share, we reflect on how Jesus consistently modeled this for us in Scripture—stopping for the one, noticing the overlooked, and restoring individuals in deeply personal ways. That same heart is what we want to shape everything we do at HopeBridge: how we show up with churches, how we support foster families, how we care for single moms, and how we love each other as a team.

At the core of this conversation is a shared conviction: we are not called to fix everything or everyone—we are called to faithfully respond to the one God places in front of us. And in doing so, we reflect the heart of Jesus, who sees, knows, and loves each of us fully.

This episode is our way of launching the “For the One” campaign, but more than that, it’s an invitation—to slow down, to be present, and to believe that one act of obedience can carry eternal weight.

Episode Highlights:

• Foster Care Awareness Month
• For the One Campaign
• Foster Care
• Adoption
• Faith
• Our Heart Posture at Hope Bridge

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In this episode of Restoried, Brian Troyer discusses the power of scripture memorization as a key practice for spiritual formation. Moving beyond simply studying the Bible, he emphasizes how hiding God’s Word in our hearts transforms the way we think, respond, and live. Through personal stories, Brian shares how scripture became a source of strength, truth, and real-life change during both challenging parenting seasons and his cancer journey.

This episode is both an encouragement and a challenge to intentionally memorize and meditate on God’s Word, allowing it to shape your heart and guide you through everyday life and difficult seasons.

Episode Highlights:

• Spiritual Formation
• Memorizing Scripture
• Spiritual Discipline

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