In this episode, we are discussing our next spiritual formation discipline: Pruning & Simplicity.

Pruning is about cutting back so we can grow more fruitfully. It’s recognizing the areas of our lives that are chaotic or distracting and making intentional choices to remove them. As we prune, we create space for God to work in us and in those around us.

Simplicity goes hand-in-hand with pruning. It’s about streamlining our lives so we can focus on who God is and what He wants for us. It’s a reminder that busyness does not equal productivity, and that true spiritual growth often comes from removing the unnecessary.

We’ll challenge you to ask: What is God calling you to prune in your life? and explore how simplicity can lead to a deeper connection with Him.

Episode Highlights:

• Spiritual Formation
• Pruning
• Simplicity
• Slowing Down to the Pace of God

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook
• Join our Prayer Network!
• Join The Bridge

We’re bringing back this episode because it’s the perfect one to revisit as we head into Thanksgiving and Christmas. The holidays can be really special, but they can also be a lot, especially for foster and adoptive families.

In this replay, we chat about why this season can feel extra sensitive for kids from hard places, how old memories and big feelings can pop up, and why all the schedule changes and family gatherings can make things harder than usual. We also share simple, practical ways to support your kids (and yourself!) through the chaos and emotions of the holidays.

Whether this is your first holiday season in foster care/adoption or you’ve been doing this for a while, we hope this episode gives you some encouragement, peace, and a few helpful ideas as you head into the next few weeks.

Episode Highlights:

• What’s Your Favorite Christmas Carol?
• Navigating Relationships with Bio Parents During the Holidays
• Setting Boundaries During the Holidays
• Trauma & Triggers
• Navigating Tough Conversations

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook
• Foster Our Community Instagram

November is National Adoption Month, and we’re taking some time to talk about the real, everyday side of adoption, from one adoptive mom to another.

We’re sitting down as two adoptive mamas, one a little more seasoned, one still new to the journey, to talk honestly about what life looks like after adoption. Because let’s be real… once the paperwork is done, everyone tends to assume everything’s smooth sailing. But adoption day isn’t the finish line, it’s just another chapter in a story that keeps unfolding.

We’re sharing some of the things we’ve learned along the way, the challenges that don’t always get talked about, and practical ways to find the support you need. We also get into mental health, post-adoption depression, and the importance of finding a community that truly understands.

If you’re in that post-adoption season, or walking alongside someone who is, this episode is for you.

Episode Highlights:

• Post Adoption Resources
• How Hope Bridge Supports Adoptive Families
• Support Groups
• Post Adoption Depression

Find More on Hope Bridge/Links Mentioned in this Episode:

• Episode with Lisa Qualls on Blocked Care
• Get Coffee with Mel!
• Email Mel at melanie@hopebridgeohio.org
• OhioKAN Website
• Find a Support Group
• Akron’s Childrens Adoptive Health Services
• OhioRISE Program
• OCWTP Free Educational Trainings
• Ohio Education Training Voucher
• FAFSA Financial Aid for Adopted and Foster Care Students
• College Adoption Grant
• PASSS Funding
• Ohio Adoption Grant Program
• Ohio Adoption Tax Credit
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook
• Foster Our Community Instagram

In today’s episode, we’re jumping back into our spiritual formation series and talking all about spending intentional time with God. This isn’t about following a strict formula or checking off a spiritual to-do list. It’s about genuinely connecting with Him in ways that feel natural and meaningful to you. Whether it’s through prayer, Scripture, stillness, or simply being aware of His presence during everyday moments, God delights in pouring into us and refreshing our souls. We want to become more like Christ, and being anchored in God’s presence is a key part of that journey. Tune in as we share some practical, down-to-earth tips for making time with God a more intentional and life-giving part of your day.

Episode Highlights:

• Spiritual Formation
• Time with God
• Practical ways to be more intentional with God
• Creating Habits

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Subscribe to our Prayer Newsletter
• The Power of Habit Book
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook
• Foster Our Community Instagram

RSVP for Thanksgiving Together Here!

This November, in honor of Adoption Awareness Month, we’re sharing real stories on the Restoried Podcast about foster care and adoption. Adoption isn’t just paperwork. It’s a journey of faith, trust, and transformation. In this episode, some of our Hope Bridge staff share their own adoption experiences, showing both the challenges they’ve faced and the incredible joys that have shaped their families.

Through honest conversation and reflection, you’ll hear what it really means to trust God’s plan and step into the calling He has for your life. These stories aren’t about logistics. They’re about God’s heart, His love for every child, and the beautiful ways He brings families together.

Whether you’re a foster or adoptive parent, thinking about saying “yes” to this calling, or just want to understand the heart behind this ministry, this episode will inspire you to see the world, and children, through God’s eyes. It’s a reminder that while the journey has its challenges, it’s also full of joy, hope, and life-changing moments.

Episode Highlights:

• Adoption Awareness Month
• Sharing our adoption stories
• Adoption vs. Fostering to Adopt
• Community Involvement

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Connect with a staff member!
• Get Involved
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook
• Foster Our Community Instagram

RSVP for Thanksgiving Together Here!

We’re wrapping up our Aged-Out Youth Series with an important and practical conversation about how you can make a difference. In this episode, we’re sharing tangible ways to step in and support aged-out youth—one of the most vulnerable demographics in our community.

You’ll learn:

• Practical steps for getting involved with Hope Bridge
• How to use your time, talents, and treasures to make an impact
• Simple, meaningful ways to support aged-out youth right where you are

Join us as we close out this series with hope, action, and opportunities to be part of the story God is writing through Hope Bridge.

Episode Highlights:

• Wrapping Up our AOY Series
• Practical Ways You Can Step in and Help Today
• Join the Prayer Network
• Join the Bridge
• Volunteers/Mentors

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Join our Prayer Network
• Volunteer Application
• Join The Bridge
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook
• Foster Our Community Instagram

RSVP for Thanksgiving Together Here!

This October, for our series highlighting former foster youth, we’re talking with Ariana Rodriguez, Miss Kentucky and an incredible advocate for foster youth.

Ariana grew up bouncing between kinship placements and foster homes. After aging out of the system, she even experienced homelessness, living out of her car. Looking for ways to pay for college, she entered the pageant world, and everything changed. She became the first former foster youth to win the title of Miss Kentucky and went on to place in the Top 11 at Miss America.

Now, Ariana uses her platform to lift up other foster youth. She hosts The Lucky Ones podcast, where she shares stories from foster alumni and highlights the challenges of the foster care system. She also started The Lucky Ones nonprofit to provide resources and support for foster youth, helping them thrive and feel seen.

Tune in to hear Ariana’s story of resilience, hope, and how she’s making a difference for the next generation of foster youth.

Episode Highlights:

• Meet Ariana Rodriguez
• Miss Kentucky
• Former Foster Youth
• The Lucky Ones Podcast & Non-Profit
• Advocating for FFY

Find more on Guest:

• The Lucky One | Miss Kentucky 2025 Ariana Rodriguez
• The Lucky One Non-Profit
• Find Ariana on Instagram
• Find Ariana on Facebook
• The Lucky Ones Podcast

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Elev8:28 Support Group
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook
• Foster Our Community Instagram

In today’s episode, we sit down with Lyric, a former foster youth whose story is a powerful testimony of resilience, faith, and transformation. Lyric grew up in and out of foster care, navigating kinship placements, residential care, and multiple foster homes after the loss of her mom. Along the way, she experienced the heartbreak of instability, the pain of losing people she loved, including a foster mom she was very close to who became sick, and the fear of abandonment that shaped much of her journey.

Through all of this, Lyric wrestled deeply with her faith. After aging out of foster care at 18, she moved into an apartment through the Bridges program, but found herself lost and scared on her own. Eventually, she got connected to Hope Bridge, who helped her transition into a safer, more stable apartment and began building a supportive relationship with her from there. Her journey hasn’t been easy, marked by self-sabotage and seasons of heartbreaking loss, but it has led her to a place of restoration and purpose.

Today, Lyric is thriving. In just six months, she has been baptized, graduated, moved into a new apartment, got her license and her first car, and started college to pursue a nursing degree—all while working and growing in her faith. Her story reflects the goodness of God and the truth that healing is possible.

At Hope Bridge, we are committed to walking alongside young men and women like Lyric as they transition into adulthood. We’re launching Elev8:28, a new connect group for aged-out youth, and hosting Thanksgiving Together at the Compassion Center this year.

Learn more, volunteer, or give by checking out the links below.

Episode Highlights:

• Former Foster Youth
• Meet Lyric & Hear Her Story
• Trauma
• Thanksgiving Together
• Elev8:28

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Elev8:28
• Thanksgiving Together
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook
• Foster Our Community Instagram

RSVP for Thanksgiving Together Here!