Join us as we welcome Lori Holden, an acclaimed author, speaker, and adoption expert, to our podcast. With her deep understanding of open adoption and her personal journey as a parent through adoption, Lori sheds light on the multifaceted world of adoption. Discover the emotional landscapes, challenges, and rewards that come with building relationships with birth parents. We delve into the concept of open adoption, urging for a more comprehensive adoption narrative that embraces the full range of emotions. Tune in for an insightful and thought-provoking conversation on adoption and parenting, and explore the power of love that knows no boundaries.

Viviana Colelli is a photographer, podcaster, and immigrant woman who experiences the joy of being a mother to two lively and energetic children. Having faced post-partum depression and anxiety for several years, she found herself contemplating her true purpose in life beyond being a mother and wife. It was during this time that she began encountering other immigrant mothers who, like her, struggled with mental health issues while striving to meet societal expectations of being a "good" mother, often facing judgment when seeking support. This realization sparked Viviana's determination to use her own journey to assist other mothers in finding their voices regarding mental health challenges, the trials of motherhood, and fostering a supportive community of women raising children in a foreign country.

Janell Hirschoff, a brave and resilient mother, shares her inspiring journey on the latest episode of the Raising Grace Podcast. From her daughter's battle with cancer to her own struggles with mental health, Janell's story of faith, strength, and acceptance will leave you feeling empowered. Don't miss this heartfelt conversation on the power of love and perseverance. Tune in now!

On this episode of Raising Grace Podcast, we have the privilege of speaking with Gabrielle Crichlow, the owner and director of A Step Ahead Tutoring Services. Gabrielle shares her journey from Trinidad and Tobago to the United States, and how her experiences in the American education system shaped her perspective on school. Gabrielle discusses the differences she noticed between the American and Trinidadian education systems, from date formats to spelling variations. She opens up about her parents' generation, who view school as simpler back in their day, and the challenges they perceive in today's education system. School-related issues, such as low self-esteem, anger, and yelling from parents, are plaguing many students. As an educator and tutor, Gabrielle's role is to help students navigate these challenges and understand the importance of education. While she acknowledges that not all students will love school, she teaches them to view it as important and helps them set and achieve their own goals. By understanding students' motivations and creating personalized strategies, Gabrielle supports students in their educational journey. Gabrielle emphasizes the impact of outside factors on a student's attitude towards education, such as family dynamics, social influences, and health. She believes in meeting students where they are and fostering an environment of love, grace, and patience. Using creative and fun methods, like incorporating videos and games, can help motivate kids to engage with homework. Finding a balance between being strict and flexible, Gabrielle encourages parents and educators to understand kids' motivations and create middle ground solutions, like allocating time for video games in exchange for completing homework. By meeting kids in their own space and understanding their motivations, we can create a better engagement with homework and ultimately support their overall well-being. Join us on this insightful episode of Raising Grace Podcast as we dive deep into understanding the challenges students face in their educational journey and how we can support them to achieve their goals.

In this episode, we will hear from Cheryl, a foster and adoptive parent who has dedicated her life to helping children in need of stability and care. From overcoming personal health challenges while taking care of her special needs children, to navigating the complexities of the foster care system, Cheryl has experienced it all. Along the way, she has learned valuable lessons about giving herself grace and supporting the emotional needs of the children in her care. Join us as Cheryl shares her inspiring journey and provides insights into the realities of foster care and adoption.

On this episode, Sandra Cooze shares her perspectives on parenting, overcoming trauma, and rebuilding relationships. She discusses how she and her husband teach their son about honesty and owning up to mistakes. Additionally, Sandra talks about bullying, both her experience and her son’s, sharing the importance of focusing on being with the child and handling trauma with a professional. She also speaks about how to deal with trauma triggers, breaking down past troubling experiences, and rebuilding trust. Overall, this episode offers a lot of helpful and useful information on overcoming trauma and parenting with understanding, compassion, and love.

In this episode of Raising Grace, Jessica Tagler shares her inspiring journey as a mother and her work at Naomi House, an emergency placement shelter and foster home for Native American children in Northern Arizona. She delves into her own experiences, including the challenging decision to give her daughter up for adoption as a teen, and later raising her two children as a single mom. Jessica highlights the importance of forgiveness, self-grace, and the need for children's homes on every reservation to support Native American kids facing significant trauma. She also reflects on her mistakes and offers encouragement to mothers grappling with self-doubt. Throughout the episode, Jessica's insights shed light on the vital role of mothers and the need for resources to uplift Native American children. Don't miss this heartfelt conversation on the struggles and beauty of Native American communities.

Dr. Kim Dwyer is a mother of three boys ages 14, 18, and 21. She owns her own therapy practice, is an author and an artist. Kims work as a mother and a counselor is rooted in the belief that by managing and tolerating uncomfortable emotions, we can live intentionally, in accordance with our value systems. Kim talks about her experience going through stressful pregnancies and dealing with hard emotions as a parent. Check out her website at www.drkimdwyer.com

There you will also find her books. My kids and I love her childrens' book called “Rocky’s Christmas Journey”.

Taylor Multz is the mother of two children including one special needs child. Taylor was thrown into parenting at the age of 21 when she gave birth to her child alone in an Italian hospital while her husband was deployed. There she found out through a translator that her child had some pretty serious medical issues. She talks about the strength she has had to build over the past seven years in parenting a special needs child along side close family and great friends.

The Power of PR Parenting is an essential read for every working parent, in and outside of the house. Marjie Hadad, a global public relations expert, shares her personal and professional journeys as well as her successes and mistakes, to illustrate how to mirror her wins and avoid the same hiccups. Step-by-step, with humor and straight talk, Marjie shows you how to use strategic public relations techniques to help your child:

Part with their pacifier willingly

Develop superior writing, language and presentation skills

Build self-confidence, self-love, resilience, respect & tolerance

Deal with bullies and sexual predators—online and on the street

Handle crises in today’s post pandemic world—small and large

Make the effort and enjoy the journey

and you to:

Look at time differently

Strike a more harmonious work-family balance

Keep your cool with 10 balls in the air and the pressure rising

Be more present for your child

Carve out mommy me time

Grant your child the opportunity to soar on their own

Austin Andersen is the mother of four children including boy/girl twins. Her second daughter has a anaphylactic peanut allergy as well as an egg allergy. The twins also have food allergies. Austin talks about living her dream as being a stay at home mom of these four amazing kiddos and navigating serious food allergies in her children.

After my interview with Savanna Simmons, she turned it around on me. This is a short window into my world.

Sheila Chester became the mother of three children through an 11 year journey with infertility. Her children come to her through adoption and fertility treatments. She talks about her openness with her adopted childrens' biological parents and siblings. We also talk a lot about the differences of raising kids in a rural area vs the city. Sheila lives with her husband and three kids in the suburbs of Denver, CO.

Sarah Spurlock is a mother of a 10 year old boy through adoption, a family and marriage therapist, the owner of a multi-therapist counseling business, the wife of a pastor, and a long time friend of mine. Sarah is the kind of person I would describe as being a bulldog - she doesn’t take no for an answer and that comes especially with her child. She will teach us how to become advocates for our kids and our loved ones through never accepting no for an answer. We could all benefit from becoming a little more like Sarah.

Kalyn Wright is my aunt, though she felt much like an older sister since she is only 10 years older than me and spent many of her summers at my home. She had a completely different childhood from the rest of her family which set her on a life trajectory much different than any of her brothers and sisters. She was the youngest of 7 children, with her oldest sibling being 20 years older. She was raised mostly as an only child after her father died when she was just 12. From spending her early childhood raised on a farm in rural South Dakota to graduating High School in a large city in Arizona. She talks about how the fatherless teen years shaped her and made her who she is today. She has and deeply loves four biological children, but only able to know two of them. She lost contact with two of her children due to incarceration in her 20s and was never able to get reconnected with them after being released from prison. I could go on and on, but I want you to hear this interview. This interview is proof that you just can’t predict life on genetics alone and you can’t judge a person on their past. She currently lives with her husband and 2 kids in an RV somewhere in the lower 48 United States as an entrepreneur and home schooler.

Kate Schwindt is an entrepreneur, a step mother and the shared guardian of her step daughters children. Kate came into a family after their mother had died of cancer - she helped raise teens with a traumatic past. She now helps raise the children of those children. Her journey has not been an easy one, but her love for these kids goes beyond anything you could imagine. Blood doesn’t make a mother, love does.

Happy Valentines Day! I think nothing shows love better than the acts of a mother or parent. So this morning I'm reading a piece I wrote when my children were ages 3 months, 3 years, and 6 years old. This was a morning just like every other morning - not one dull moment.

Kelly Fullerton is an entrepreneur, chronic pain warrior and mother. Kelly has dealt with a an invisible and painful auto-immune disease most of her life. In the midst of that she worked to become a mother and has learned to parent through her physical pain. She speaks to us about her journey through chronic pain, infertility, motherhood, and finding peace. She now runs a business helping others on their complicated journeys through life. “When the world feels dark, let your soul shine.”

Rev. Justin Spurlock has been a good friend of mine for over 10 years now. He is a father, pastor, theologian, business mastermind, and an all around great person. Justin has been in ministry most of his life - in fact he gave his first sermon at age 14. Justin's faith has changed over time and while he is a Christian pastor, he talks a lot about faith in general terms - not just in Christian terms.

Savanna Simmons is a cowgirl and creative entrepreneur living in very rural wyoming with her husband ( a real life cowboy) and two boys. She talks about the challenges and joys of country living. she is a self-published author and artist. She gets inspiration from her two sons, Brindle and Roan, who live for adventures and exploring on the ranch. I know my son loves playing with these boys when we are back visiting my parents. Savanna is really living her best life on the great plains.

Micah Bowers is a military wife, entrepreneur, outspoken mother of 2 very sassy girls. She talks about their time living in Japan as well as the transition back to the united states during a pandemic and a cancer scare. Micah discusses dealing with post partum depression and how she now works with new moms to find peace through pregnancy and post partum.