When family ties are strained and your role feels unclear, the path to stability begins by reclaiming the God-given authority that rests upon your heart. True leadership in your home starts with spiritual self-governance, a discipline that silences external noise and anchors you in Truth. Discover seven non-negotiable, biblically grounded keys that empower you to filter your counsel, establish safety, and love with compassionate boundaries. By shifting your focus from managing chaos to walking in divine obedience, you can navigate the complexities of adoptive parenting with renewed confidence. It is time to stop questioning your position and start owning the specific purpose God has ordained for you in this season.

In today's digital age, sharing our children's lives online has become second nature, yet there are hidden perils that demand our attention. Behind every cute photo and shared milestone lies a digital footprint that can expose our families to privacy risks and unintended consequences. From facial recognition technology and geotagging to cyber-grooming and identity theft, the online world presents threats that can affect our children's safety and well-being. But there's hope—by adopting privacy-first practices, educating our kids about digital footprints, and leveraging secure platforms, we can share family moments thoughtfully. Join us in exploring how to strike the perfect balance between celebrating life’s joys and safeguarding our children’s futures.

 You may know that my tagline is “standing in the gap for second moms“ — so you may wonder, what gap? Where is this gap? Do you know what the gap is in your life? See if this rings a bell:ENTERING THE GAP...The gap I have recognized is when you know something is wrong, and as mom you have identified that there’s a real problem that needs to be addressed and you begin to reach out for information, for resources, for help.  You may not know exactly what to call it. You may not know if there’s something diagnosable…or what the cause is…even where to look for answers. But that doesn’t stop you. You’re told not to worry or given trite responses or over-simplified advice. You don’t know exactly what to do...

🎧 Listen to episodeToday we’re talking about acceptance.Acceptance may seem like a given in your family; of course you accept your children!  You accept all your children — your bio kids, your adopted kids, your step kids —  that should just be a given…right? Let’s look at the example of marriage. 

🎧 Listen to episodeDo you think of yourself as trustworthy? On a scale of 1-10 where do you think you are? Where on that scale would you say most people would put you back before your child/children came along? In our complex adoptive and blended families trust can often be lacking from our non-biological children, not because we aren’t trustworthy, but due to their own backgrounds. And that can bleed over onto others.

🎧 Listen to episodeYou May Be at Greater Risk for Burnout, Compassion Fatigue or Secondary Trauma!As an adoptive mom you may be at a heightened risk for burnout, compassion fatigue or secondary trauma as primary caregiver for high need children and teens.  In many adoptive families the children have suffered an enormous degree of trauma and in particular the loss of not only their first mother but other caregivers as well in their formative years. This can impact them long-term in various ways, complicating your role as their parent-caregiver. 

Listen to episodeSeason 4, Episode 3Have you ever been to the eye doctor and found out that your vision prescription has changed? Similarly, there are factors that can limit our relational vision, and it can change over time as well.  It can be helpful to our vision of our relationships to look through different lenses.  Below I share some thoughts on different types of lenses for you to consider - especially if there are any hints or clues that your current lens might be causing you to miss something. 

🎧LISTEN TO EPISODE Season 4, Episode 2 Four Foundational Responsibilities of Christian Adoptive Parents Today we're discussing the foundational responsibilities of parenting: protection, provision, and guidance. Plus, particularly if you are a Christian it is crucial to pray for each of your children and your family persistently. #1 - Protection is about keeping your children safe from physical or psychological harm. It can involve a variety of issues that can come up such as shielding them from dangers such as drugs and alcohol, protecting their innocence in terms of exposure to inappropriate topics or activities, providing physical boundaries around the home, enforcing rules that keep your kids away from potentially dangerous situations, setting limits on screen time and internet usage, and more. If this all sounds overwhelming, I totally get it. And I’ll remind you of the old saying, “Don’t borrow trouble”  a biblical principle found in Jesus’ famous “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 6:34 –“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” 

🎧 Listen to episodeWouldn’t you agree that parenting is sometimes hard work? How about when the dynamics of family life change with the addition of adopted children or stepchildren? In my experience as an adoptive mom, it can be difficult to navigate through conflicting advice, unreasonable expectations, and ever-evolving relationships in a bustling household. 

🎧 Listen to episode[S3E10]Always feeling behind? When all of you is still not enough…Being an adoptive or step mom can feel like you’ve embarked upon a daunting task to try to fill the void that your child already has. I know those types of feelings. It can feel like a tremendous responsibility. But as adoptive or step moms we must remember that we cannot make up for any losses in our children's lives – but instead can focus on providing stability for all of our children. Even as they push against that very stability they need.