Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast!

For this episode, I am joined by an incredible family – incredible because this open adoption led to a family growing in a unique way! The three voices joining me on this episode are adoptive parents, Nick and Kelsey Lebos, and the biological mother of their adopted son, Mikayla Little. The three of them bonded immediately when meeting during Mikayla’s pregnancy as she was pursuing the open adoption of her unborn son, Shepherd. God brought them together for a unique purpose and to grow their family in this unconventional way. Mikayla is not only a part of Shepherd’s life but she is also a part of the broader Lebos family. There is so much redemption found in her story because of their love, generosity, obedience to God, and intentionality to build this relationship.

In this two-part conversation, they share their story and I ask questions about navigating the hard parts of adoption. It is never easy for a mother to make this decision and it was something Mikayla did with a lot of prayer and preparation and love for her son. There are a lot of assumptions or misconceptions about biological mothers which is so disheartening because we have the opportunity as adoptive parents to love them both: child and mother. Not every open adoption is going to look like this – this is their story – but it is good to know what is possible thanks to our amazing God, and what happens when we are faithful in this calling.

Let’s dive in!

Key topics in this episode:

• The emotional journey of adoption: both joy and grief.
• The role of faith and prayer in family decisions
• The importance of openness and transparency in adoption
• The significance of intentional relationship-building in open adoptions and maintaining relationships
• The role of faith and prayer during emotional moments
• Building a family through love and intentionality
• The importance of community and extended family in adoption

To submit your prayer requests, use this form by clicking here!

You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com.

I would love to connect with you on Instagram or send you my monthly newsletter with free resources and first access to episodes and more!

Called to Love is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To learn more, check out their other shows or resources, head to their website: https://www.christianparenting.org/

Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast!

For this episode, I am joined by the amazing Dr. David Thomas, co-author of the book, “Capable: How to Teach Your Kids the Strengths, Skills, and Strategies to Build Resilience” and I am so excited to learn with you from this wealth of knowledge! Dr. David and his co-author, Sissy Goff, are therapists at Daystar Counseling Ministries. Through their counseling, podcast, and books and speaking, they've made it their life’s work to offer practical help and hope to families through their resources and experience.

In our conversation today, Dr. David unpacks the anxiety crisis in our children across the country. Dr. David shares a brutal statistic that roughly 1 in 4 kids struggle with anxiety, but also 1 in 3 adults also struggle with anxiety as well! Dr. David and Sissy keep finding children in their counseling sessions saying they aren’t capable, but what’s worse is they actually don’t want to be. These kids are incredibly risk adverse, but healthy risk is a huge part of building that confidence and capability in life. Life is hard but it is also full of “good stories” as Dr. David puts it. Dr. David shares practical information to equip us as parents for not only how to better help our kids but to help ourselves too. We are capable of this calling God has given us!

Let’s dive in!

Key topics in this episode:

• The capability crisis among children and teens
• The impact of anxiety and trauma on resilience
• The importance of pacing in child development
• Building independence through chores and risk-taking
• The unique needs of foster and adoptive children
• The role of parental confidence and authority
• Practical tools for teaching emotional regulation
• The significance of experiential learning and hard things
• The influence of culture and technology on capability
• Resources for supporting resilient families

Learn more about Raising Boys and Girls on their website and purchase their new book and resource, “Capable: How to Teach Your Kids the Strengths, Skills, and Strategies to Build Resilience”

https://www.raisingboysandgirls.com/capablebook?srsltid=AfmBOoprP_aLWKPGFOynb8NdMiZ6wfHbAWaYy8tzk28GbW5HEEfWs6r4

To submit your prayer requests, use this form by clicking here!

You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com.

I would love to connect with you on Instagram or send you my monthly newsletter with free resources and first access to episodes and more!

Called to Love is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To learn more, check out their other shows or resources, head to their website: https://www.christianparenting.org/

Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast!

For this episode, I am joined with the founder of Lily Pad: Jennifer Tice. Jennifer worked for fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse and her husband worked for two decades in law enforcement. Together, they decided they would open their home to foster kids. It began with infants, since that was Jennifer’s background, but then they made the pivotal switch to teenagers… and it sparked Lily Pad. When they welcomed their first teenager, Jennifer and her husband realized these kids sleep in cubicles or cold office spaces while waiting for placement.

While we can’t change what has happened to these kids, we can try to minimize more harm by treating them with dignity, care, and providing comfort. That is how Lily Pad was born. Jennifer and her husband began creating spaces for these kids, a space that looks and feels like a home living room, so there’s just a little bit more comfort in these dark moments between the police station and DSS offices.

In our conversation today, Jennifer shares her story, the origins and mission of Lily Pad, but also how we as foster and adoptive parents can bring comfort and dignity to these kids coming from hard places.

Let’s dive in!

Key topics in this episode:

• The origin and mission of Lily Pad
• The impact of creating comfortable spaces for children in care
• The importance of dignity and love in foster care
• Stories of connection and healing in Lily Pad rooms
• Expanding support to law enforcement and beyond
• Practical advice for prospective foster families
• Ways you can make your own space at home filled with comfort and dignity

Lily Pad’s website: https://www.lilypadinc.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lily.pad.inc/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LilyPadInc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LilyPad.ASoftPlacetoLand

To submit your prayer requests, use this form by clicking here!

You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com.

I would love to connect with you on Instagram or send you my monthly newsletter with free resources and first access to episodes and more!

Called to Love is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To learn more, check out their other shows or resources, head to their website: https://www.christianparenting.org/