ADOPTION STRUGGLES AND SUPPORT | Adoption, Adoption Trauma, Adoptive Parents, Biblical Encouragement, Journaling, Parenting

105 – Healthy Relationships of an Open Adoption With Terri Marcroft

When my daughter was five, we got a letter from her birth mother at Christmas time saying, “I started thinking about grad school but then, you know, 9-11 happened and we invaded Iraq... I’m planning on joining the army. I’m going to be going off to officer training school and in case I don’t come back, I want to come and spend the weekend with you and meet my daughter.”
Hi Neighbor,
Joining me today is my neighbor from San Jose, Terri Marcroft. Terri is an adoptive mom and a passionate advocate of open adoption.
You’ll hear Terri’s story and how it motivated her to create an organization to raise awareness of why adoption is the healthier solution to an unplanned pregnancy. 
Hope and healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim
P.S. Would you please consider leaving a review for the show? Here is a short video to show you how.
Terri’s Organization:Unplanned Good
Terri’s Books:Pro-Family Pro-Adoption: A Christian’s Guide to Unplanned Pregnancy Options
Pro-Choice Pro-Adoption: It's Time for a Loving, Positive Response to Unplanned Pregnancy
 
Disclaimer: As is the case with anyone that I bring on the show to talk to you, I encourage take notes and listen to the information. Then do your due diligence and use what you can in your adoption journey to parent your child the best way you can.
Some of the links I include in my emails may be affiliate links. That means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I could earn a small commission. I will only promote products I believe in and think you will enjoy. Thank you for being in my community.
 

104 – The Worries, Wishes and Desires of Adoptive Parents

Hi, Neighbor, 
Welcome to a special behind-the-scenes episode of Anchors of Encouragement. Over the past several weeks, I’ve had the privilege to speak to many adoptive parents. 
Even though I am an adoptive parent, it’s my desire to get to know you better so that I can create content and episodes that speak to you. 
After these conversations, I realized I needed to update the description for this podcast. I want it to reflect what I heard you say you want to hear on this show, and that’s what I want to share with you in this episode. 
Here’s the new description for the podcast. Some of it will sound familiar, but some of it will sound a little different.
Did you finally realize your dream of having a family only to have your happily ever after turn into a nightmare?
Are you constantly second-guessing your parenting, anxious about whether your child will make good choices and remain faithful?
Do you wish more than anything that your child would know Christ and just turn out "OK"?
Have you neglected yourself to the point that it’s taken a personal toll on you?
Hi Neighbor! Welcome to Anchors of Encouragement. I’m Tim Maudlin: Husband, Adoptive Parent, Disciple of Christ, and Ambassador of Encouragement.
I too felt the joy of having a family of my own and I wished we could be like other families. But I found myself up late at night, anxious about my child's future and asking myself, "Why is this happening? Am I a failure as a parent?"
It was only by grabbing a lifeline from God and my friends that I was able to navigate the challenges of adoptive life. 
And now I can't wait to share everything I've learned with you.
My mission is to be your friend and encourager, to throw adoptive parents a lifeline, and offer biblical mindset support as you partner with Christ, providing stability as your anchor when you need it the most.
If you’re ready for real and raw talk, with strategies and insights that lead to peace beyond comprehension so you not only survive but thrive in life’s storms, this podcast is for you.
Hope and Healing are on the way! 
I'm here for you, neighbor!
That’s the new description for this podcast, or maybe I should say the most current description.
This is something that will continue to evolve as I get to know you better and understand what kind of content you want and need in this podcast.
Daily Doable: I really want to hear from you. Listen and or read the description. Do these points that I'm making speak to you? If they do, let me know. 
If they don't, please let me know because it's my goal to create content that speaks to the challenges you're facing in your adoption journey.
Your Neighbor,Tim
P.S. Send your comments and feedback to AnchorsOfEncouragement@gmail.com
Would you please consider leaving a review for the show? Here is a short video to show you how.

103 – An Adoption Story About His Teddy Bear: From Trauma Trigger to Symbol of Love With Simon Benn

The most healing moment for me was actually getting my adoption file from the authorities and reading a letter from my birth mother about the teddy bear. It became abundant to me that the teddy bear was a symbol of her love, not a consolation prize.
Hi Neighbor,
Trauma can lie dormant for a long time, even decades. Unexpectedly, trauma can be triggered by the most seemingly innocent things.
Joining me today, is my neighbor from Great Britain, Simon Benn. Simon is an adoptee. The insights that he shares from his journey, I believe, will not only help those of us who are adoptive parents but will help our adopted children as well.
I want to encourage you to grab a pen and paper. There are so many nuggets in this episode, From the story about a teddy bear to a metaphor of a diamond. And then in the Daily Doable, Simon gives those of us who are adopted parents An amazing gift.
Hope and healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim
P.S. Would you please consider leaving a review for the show? Here is a short video to show you how.
Simon Benn Contact Information:PodcastWebsiteInstagramFacebook
 
Disclaimer: As is the case with anyone that I bring on the show to talk to you, I encourage take notes and listen to the information. Then do your due diligence and use what you can in your adoption journey to parent your child the best way you can.
 

102 – POOF! How to Clear Your Mind of Negative Thoughts

Hi Neighbor,
Do you ever feel weighed down with negative thoughts running through your mind? Maybe you even feel overwhelmed or even stuck.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could do something and poof, those negative thoughts would just go away? 
Grab a pen and paper, because today, I’m going to share with you a tool that will let you do just that.
Hope and healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim
P.S. Would you please consider leaving a review for the show? Here is a short video to show you how.

101 – Every Adoption Begins With Trauma, Loss, and Grief! With Author Anna Maria DiDio

“My message to parents is this is okay. These things will work out over time. This is going to happen. This is not personal. That's not a personal attack on your cooking or anything. These are messages. These are ways in which the child perhaps needs to assert herself or communicate her initial reluctance.... 
(Today) she’s a college graduate. She has a wonderful job, and she’s a productive member of this community. She’s loving and caring.
All of these things took time, but these were the hurdles that we were seeing and not reacting very well to.”
Hi Neighbor,
Today, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to my neighbor from Philadelphia, Anna Maria DiDio. Anna Maria is an adoptive mother and children’s author whose adoption-themed books encourage open and honest conversations between parents and children. 
Grab a notebook and pen. This is a much-needed conversation in the adoption space. Check out the links below to connect with Anna Maria and purchase her books.
Hope and healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim
Website and Free Resources
Love at the Border: An Adoption Adventure and Memoir
Many People to Love: Understanding Adoption Trauma (L.I.F.E.* Adventures series Book 1)
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
 
Disclaimer: As is the case with anyone that I bring on the show to talk to you, I encourage take notes and listen to the information. Then do your due diligence and use what you can in your adoption journey to parent your child the best way you can.
Some of the links I include in my emails may be affiliate links. That means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I could earn a small commission. I will only promote products I believe in and think you will enjoy. Thank you for being in my community.

100 – Are Your Holidays Sad? Remember God’s Faithful Love Endures Forever

Hi Neighbor,
Are your holidays ever sad? I understand. Mine have been too.
In this episode, I want to share Psalms 136 and 143 with you. I lean on the truths in these Psalms to shift my perspective when life gets tough and the holidays are sad. I pray this blesses you.
Hope and healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,
Tim
P.S. Would you please consider leaving a review for the show? Here is a short video to show you how.

99 – From Hard to Hope: 4 Ways to Find Help in the Adoption Journey

Hi Neighbor,
In this third of a 3-part series, I want to consider with you an audio clip taken from my interview with Dr. Rick Morton of Lifeline Children’s Services. You can hear that interview in Episode 93.
Today, I’m going to share a story with you about why the easy part of adoption happens before the papers are signed. The hard part actually begins when you bring your child home. 
We’ll also consider 4 ways to flip the script on hard and make it doable by following the invitation of Jesus in Matthew chapter 11, verses 28-30. I pray this episode blesses you.
Hope and healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim
P.S. Miss part 1? You can catch it here. Miss part 2? You can catch it here. Also, would you please consider leaving a review for the show? Here is a short video to show you how.

98 – From Grief to Relief: 5 Steps to Process Loss Through Journaling

Hi Neighbor,
In this second of a 3-part series, I want to consider with you an audio clip taken from my interview with Dr. Rick Morton of Lifeline Children’s Services. You can hear that interview in Episode 93.
Today, I’m going to share with you a tool that can help adoptees revisit and process their grief. It’s a tool I’ve talked a lot about on this podcast… journaling. We’ll consider 5 steps to apply this tool. I pray this episode blesses you.
Hope and healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim
P.S. Miss part 1? You can catch it here. Also, would you please consider leaving a review for the show? Here is a short video to show you how.

97 – From Hurt to Hero: 4 Reasons to Encourage Adopted Children

Hi Neighbor,
In this first of a 3-part series, I want to consider with you an audio clip taken from my interview with Dr. Rick Morton of Lifeline Children’s Services. You can hear that interview in Episode 93.
Today, we’re going to consider adopted children as heroes and 4 different ways to apply this concept. I pray this episode blesses you.
Hope and healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim
P.S. Would you please consider leaving a review for the show? Here is a short video to show you how.

96 – Count On Me: Are You an Anchor of Encouragement?

Can people REALLY count on you?
Hi Neighbor,
I want to share with you a bonus episode of Anchors of Encouragement today. You might be able to tell that I’m outside. It’s a fall day. The leaves are falling. It’s raining. 
I’m one of those individuals who likes to actually walk in the rain. There's something soothing about it. 
The question I asked at the beginning is based on the song, Count on Me by Jefferson Starship. I pray this episode blesses you.
Hope and healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim
P.S. Would you please consider leaving a review for the show? Here is a short video to show you how.