My husband came home from work and found me facedown on the floor of our walk-in closet. I wish I could say it was my prayer closet and I was storming the gates of heaven War Room –style. But I wasn’t. I was having a meltdown. Life was closing in. I felt overwhelmed by the demands of raising two teenage boys with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, managing a growing nonprofit, and caring for my dad with Alzheimer’s—on top of everyday responsibilities. For decades, I’ve carved out a morn

Control freak. Perfectionist. Dictator. Or, according to PowerThesaurus.org , “Bossy Boots.” Whatever we choose to call it, as a mom, I like to control outcomes.  In Control I’ve been a parent for nearly forty years. My children—biological and adopted—range in age from twenty to thirty-seven. For decades, I parented as if I were in control. I assumed that if I did all the right things, I would raise perfect kids. Our family went to church every time the doors were open. The

By the end of December, foster and adoptive parents can feel like we’ve crossed the finish line of a marathon—exhausted, depleted, and running on fumes. The presents are put away, the cookies are gone, the decorations are down—and often, so is our energy, mood, and attitude. The day after Christmas, I found myself tired, cranky, and short on patience. Weeks of preparation and celebration had led to too much sugar, too little exercise, poor sleep, and neglected quiet time. I w

Do you find the Christmas season a time of celebration or struggle? The holidays are supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, yet they can become a mix of joy and sadness. Christmas is meant to be a joyous jubilee celebrating the birth of Christ. Yet the season can also trigger loss, trauma, and grief for our kids—and for us. So how do foster and adoptive parents navigate both hope and hurt during the holidays? We begin by praising God and pouring out our hearts to

Many children in foster care or adoptive families struggle in school. Two of the biggest barriers to learning are trauma  and prenatal exposure to substances . Children who’ve experienced trauma often don’t feel safe — and felt safety  is foundational for learning. Prenatal exposure, especially to alcohol, impacts brain development and affects memory, impulse control, and emotional regulation. Because of these factors, our kids often struggle in traditional educational system

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—backpacks, books, and… big behaviors. While many parents look forward to the start of the school...

When you first pursued adoption or started fostering, did you dip your toe in the water—or dive right in? My husband and I waded in...

Are you counting down to summer with excitement—or bracing yourself for the chaos ahead?

Rooted & Fruitful: Growing in Every Season “But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about His Word....

"They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail." Psalm 1:3 NLT In order to bear fruit each...

Are you flourishing or feeling withered? By the end of 2024, I was pretty parched—stretched way too thin with not much left to give. As...

My husband and I have eight children, four are married and one is engaged. We currently have eight grandchildren and one on the way. This...

Giving and receiving Christmas presents is fun and exciting! I’ve always cherished the anticipation and excitement of my children when...

I love all things cozy—fleece blankets, warm pjs, hot coffee, twinkle lights, scented candles, gently falling snow, and early morning...

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; My hope comes from Him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken....

Today we wrap up our series on the Primary Symptoms of FASD by focusing on the individual’s strengths. Over the past ten posts I’ve...

We’ve covered a majority of the primary symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder over our last ten blog posts. Today, we’ll dive...

“You can leave the scene of an accident and not get in trouble,” declared my volunteer fire fighter son after a late night fire call. He...

My family loves to play board games. Yahtzee is one of our favorites. Slava, my teenage son is a champ. We’ve bonded over countless rolls...

What do school fire drills, pep rallies, and barking dogs have in common? They are sudden loud intrusions that cause my son to become...