On this episode of Restoried, Mel sits down to talk with Jen Zwick and Cat Tortola about hope, faith, and transformation. Cat isn’t just a graduate of the Hope Bridge Single Moms Program; she’s now the Single Mom Program’s coordinator, helping other single moms navigate life, growth, and family. She shares her journey from feeling stuck and overwhelmed to finding support, community, and confidence through Hope Bridge.

Cat shares about her experience moving into transitional housing, stepping into church for the first time, getting baptized, and even partnering with Habitat for Humanity to rehab her own home. Along the way, Cat learned practical life skills, discovered her potential, and gained the confidence to take bold steps forward. She also shares her hopes for the future: mentoring other single moms and creating a space where they feel truly seen, heard, and supported.

If you’re looking for inspiration or want to see how community and God’s faithfulness can change lives, this episode is for you. Whether you’re a single mom looking for support or just want to see hope in action, tune in to hear how you can get involved, get connected with Hope Bridge, or cheer for these amazing women on their journey.

Episode Highlights:

• Meet Cat!
• Overcoming fear and doubt
• Embracing community support
• Growth through guidance
• Faith-fueled transformation
• Empowerment for single mom

Find More on Hope Bridge/Links from this Episode:

• Single Mom Connection Form
• Empower U March
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook

Register for Mobilize Ohio 2026

In this episode of Restoried, Brian and Anne revisit the spiritual formation practice of Pilgrim Feast, a rhythm inspired by the biblical feasts where God’s people gathered to remember His faithfulness and celebrate together. Pilgrim Feast invites families to reframe vacations and special time away as gifts from God; moments to worship, reconnect, and intentionally celebrate His goodness.

Anne shares how her family prayerfully planned a focused trip with their four older children after a long fostering season, choosing unplugged time in the mountains to reconnect and reflect on God’s faithfulness. Brian shares about his family’s trip to Missouri and how shifting their mindset, seeing vacation as God’s generosity rather than something earned, changed the experience.

They acknowledge the realities of parenting, tight budgets, and blended family dynamics, encouraging listeners to lower expectations of perfection and focus on connection. Pilgrim Feast does not have to be expensive or elaborate. It can be a staycation, a weekend getaway, or even a single intentional day marked by rest, favorite foods, tech boundaries, and meaningful conversation.

The challenge is simple: dream about it, pray about it, put it on the calendar, and trust God to restore your family through celebration.

Episode Highlights:

• Celebrate God’s faithfulness.
• Receive rest as a gift.
• Choose connection over perfection.
• Intentional > expensive.
• Pray, plan, calendar it.

Links from this Episode:

• Pilgrim’s Feast with Young Kids
• Register for Mobilize Ohio 2026
• Register for the Pastor + Ministry Leaders Brunch

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook

Register for Mobilize Ohio 2026

In this episode of Restoried, we sit down with Jamie Fuller to hear her family’s unexpected journey into kinship care. It’s a story shaped by loss, faith, and God’s redemptive work. What Jamie thought would be a season of empty nesting turned into something she and her husband, JP, never imagined. They welcomed their two nephews after the tragic loss of their parents.

Jamie shares honestly about what it’s like to suddenly step into trauma-informed parenting while also grieving the life she thought she would have. She talks about the emotional weight, the impact on her whole family, and the loneliness that can come with caring for kids from hard places.

One of the most powerful parts of Jamie’s story is how finding people who truly understood changed everything. From her first Hope Bridge moms’ night to attending Mobilize Ohio, Jamie describes what it meant to finally be in rooms where she didn’t have to explain her story. It was a place where she and JP felt seen, supported, and less alone.

This episode is a reminder that healing takes time, that joy and grief can exist at the same time, and that community really matters. If you’re walking a foster or kinship journey or supporting families who are, this conversation is for you. Mobilize Ohio and Hope Bridge are places where your story can make sense, too.

Episode Highlights:

• Jamie’s Story
• Kinship Care
• Trauma Informed Parenting
• Mobilize Ohio
• Finding Community

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook
• Register for Mobilize Ohio 2026

Register for Mobilize Ohio 2026