Did you know that May is National Foster Care Month? At Moms Take Ten, we seek to raise awareness of foster care and adoption every month. In this month's episode, I was honored to be joined by Annika Marek-Barta. She is a young woman who grew up in an abusive home and entered foster care in her teens. Having aged out of the system, she was adopted in her twenties by a family from her church. Through her relationship with the Lord and the love of friends and family, Annika brings a message of hope to those who have been impacted by foster care. I know you will be blessed by this conversation ..read more

I don't know about you, but it seems like sibling conflict has greatly increased since spring break. From minor annoyances to full fledged hurts, it can be hard to know how to navigate the conversation. Katie Wetsell, a fellow Connected Families certified parent coach, joins me today to talk about the Connected Families' peace process: Calm, Understand, Solve, and Celebrate. These steps guide us as parents in how we respond to our kids, and eventually guide them to handle these conflicts on their own. Learn about Katie and her parent coaching. Take the Connect Families Sibling Conflict course ..read more

Following on the heels of my conversation with Erin in last week's episode, the life of Samson's mom reminds us that God, not us, is responsible for our children's salvation and walk with him. She did what she was supposed to do. She followed the commands he gave her. Things should have worked out, right? And yet, she had to watch as he made choice after choice that she didn't understand. That wouldn't be easy for any mother. It would be easy for us to get discouraged in that situation. Our hope doesn't lie in what we see but in who we believe. Listen to how God worked through Samson's life to ..read more

Listen in on a conversation between myself and my friend Erin Muehlfeld regarding our children's salvation. Recently I saw some content on Instagram that emphasized the importance of our children's salvation, which as believers in Christ that is absolutely something we care deeply about, but it was discussed as something that parents could make happen. Statements like, "If my kids get into Harvard but don't love Jesus then I have failed" popped up on my Instagram feed in reels and posts. Erin and I discuss how those statements made us feel and also what we see in Scripture.  If you want t ..read more

I was challenged by Proverbs 3:27-28 to consider how often I withhold good from my children through the no's that I say. I feel like I have been in a rut lately, and when I get tired or insecure or stressed, I say no a lot more frequently. I'm not actually thinking about my child, or what is good for them in that moment. I'm more often thinking of myself, or not really even thinking at all. The Scriptures call us to be more like God and one of the ways we can do that is by giving and showing good to those around us when we can. His heart bent towards us is incredibly generous. Let's grow in ge ..read more

Speaking from the perspective of one who grew up in kinship care, is a birthmom in an open adoption, and is also parenting a child through kinship care, Raquel McCloud brings so much to this conversation. Her life has not been easy, and there continue to be challenges to navigate. While she acknowledges the grief in that, she also highlights the hope and healing as well. As she puts it, "You can endure hard things and still come out of the other side thriving." Listen and be encouraged in your own journey, and as you support others in theirs. Connect with Raquel via Instagram ,grab one of her ..read more

Resharing episode 57, "Kneeling with Jesus in the Garden" in preparation for Good Friday.  Motherhood is hard. It can bring us to our knees asking God for a different way, an easier way. Jesus was familiar with that request as he himself pleaded with God for a different way in the Garden of Gethsemane. Both our struggle and Jesus' find their roots in a different garden, the Garden of Eden.  References: "The Pain in Childbearing" by Tim Challies, https://www.challies.com/articles/pain-in-childbearing/ Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full by Gloria Furman Every Moment Holy by Dou ..read more

Have you found yourself struggling after a new foster placement or your adoption was finalized? The adjustment just feels harder than it should and your mental health seems to be struggling? My friend, Natalie Stage, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, joins me for this episode to talk about post placement mental health. It is a real thing. It happens to many of us. And there is hope and help when we experience it.   Book Recommendations:  Foster the Family by Jamie Finn Reclaim Compassion by Lisa Qualls and Melissa Corkum To learn more about Natalie, visit https://natalies ..read more

We are diving into the Moms of the Bible series a week early this month with a look at Rahab. She's often thought of as the woman who saved the spies, not as a mom. But she was both. Her act of loyal love towards the spies not only helped the Israelite people enter the promised land, but paved the way for her descendants to enter into the loyal love of God through his son Jesus Christ.  Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/ Want to say hello? Follow me on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko Email me at momstaketen@gmail.com Help other ma ..read more

Kayla North, of One Big Happy Home, shares with us some of her journey with foster care and adoption. Through it all, she has seen God working in her own life and heart, calling out lies and declaring his truth. She encourages all of us moms to be willing and open to let him do the same in us. Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/ Want to say hello? Follow me on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko Email me at momstaketen@gmail.com Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thanks ..read more