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Join us to welcome Katie Cruice Smith back for the final episode in her three-part series on foster care and adoption.

Did you know approximately 500,000 children are in the US foster care system? We can all do our part to help support those in the system, and it doesn't have to be intimidating or overwhelming. Listen in as Katie shares insightful ideas and encouragement on how to support foster care.

Katie is a freelance editor and writer who resides in the Upstate of South Carolina. She is an adoption and foster care advocate and handles the marketing for an adoption attorney. When Katie isn't working as the senior editor for Ambassador International or writing her next book, she is busy homeschooling her three kids, spending time with her family outdoors, or enjoying a good book and a cup of coffee on her porch swing. Katie is the author of the children's adoption book, Why Did You Choose Me? and loves to share with others the joy she has found as a foster and adoptive mom.

For more information about Katie, her books, and resources for foster care and adoption, visit her website

https://katiecruicesmith.com/

Adoption resources link:

https://katiecruicesmith.com/adoption-grants-loans/

Love this episode? Leave a positive rating/review by scrolling down to the bottom of this page. Your reviews are so important and so appreciated! Please share this episode with a friend ❤️

For more information and helpful resources, visit our websites at:

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Sandra Chambers: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sandra-Chambers/author/B00OHLARMO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1740085397&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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Today we welcome Katie Cruice Smith back to the show for episode two of a three-part series on foster care and adoption.

Have you considered adoption (or know someone who is) but feel like it's just too big and overwhelming, or perhaps you don't even know where to begin. Listen in as Katie debunks the myths of adoption, offering expert insight on how to overcome common obstacles to finding and growing a forever family. It's a fascinating show you won't want to miss!

Katie is a freelance editor and writer who resides in the Upstate of South Carolina. She is an adoption and foster care advocate and handles the marketing for an adoption attorney. When Katie isn't working as the senior editor for Ambassador International or writing her next book, she is busy homeschooling her three kids, spending time with her family outdoors, or enjoying a good book and a cup of coffee on her porch swing. Katie is the author of the children's adoption book, Why Did You Choose Me? and loves to share with others the joy she has found as a foster and adoptive mom.

For more information about Katie, her books, and resources for foster care and adoption, visit her website

https://katiecruicesmith.com/

Adoption resources link:

https://katiecruicesmith.com/adoption-grants-loans/

Love this episode? Leave a positive rating/review by scrolling down to the bottom of this page. Your reviews are so important and so appreciated! Please share this episode with a friend ❤️

For more information and helpful resources, visit our websites at:

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Sandra Chambers: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sandra-Chambers/author/B00OHLARMO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1740085397&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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Today we welcome Katie Cruice Smith to the show for the first episode in a three-part in-depth series on foster care and adoption. Listen in as Katie shares her heart-warming and inspiring adoption story, filled with bold steps of faith and miraculous provision from God! For those considering adoption (or those who know someone who is), Katie is the perfect resource and we are excited to have her on the show to encourage and help guide those wanting to find their forever family.

Katie is a freelance editor and writer who resides in the Upstate of South Carolina. She is an adoption and foster care advocate and handles the marketing for an adoption attorney. When Katie isn't working as the senior editor for Ambassador International or writing her next book, she is busy homeschooling her three kids, spending time with her family outdoors, or enjoying a good book and a cup of coffee on her porch swing. Katie is the author of the children's adoption book, Why Did You Choose Me? and loves to share with others the joy she has found as a foster and adoptive mom.

For more information about Katie, her books, and resources for foster care and adoption, visit her website at: https://katiecruicesmith.com/

Adoption resources link: https://katiecruicesmith.com/adoption-grants-loans/

Love this episode? Leave a positive rating/review by scrolling down to the bottom of this page. Your reviews are so important and so appreciated! Please share this episode with a friend ❤️

For more information and helpful resources, visit our websites at:

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Sandra Chambers: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sandra-Chambers/author/B00OHLARMO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1740085397&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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Statistics show that anxiety in children is on the rise, which is why I'm thrilled to welcome Laura Kuehn to the show to offer expert advice and insight, along with practical ways we can help our kids win the war on worry and anxiety.

Did you know that kids can develop an "anxiety habit?" This means if troubling thoughts are not dealt with, their brains can become wired to worry! But, it doesn't have to be this way. Listen in as Laura approaches this topic from both a practical and a biblical view as she explains the nature of worry and how the human brain is wired, plus provides encouragement and practical exercises to help.

Laura is a licensed clinical social worker with experience working with children, teens and adults with issues related to anxiety, trauma, grief and life transitions. She currently runs her own virtual private practice providing therapy to women and moms across Connecticut. She is the owner and founder of Cornerstones for Parents, an online resource with parenting articles and tips and is the author of More than a Conqueror, A Christian Kid’s Guide to Winning the War on Worry. She is the parent of two young adult children and lives in Connecticut with her husband of 26 years.

Be sure to check out Laura's links for helpful resources, articles, and free downloads on anxiety and other parenting topics:

Parenting Website: https://www.cornerstonesforparents.com/ (articles, free printables, monthly newsletter)

Counseling website: https://www.laurakuehnlcsw.com/

Book: https://a.co/d/01LvGKO

Love this episode? Leave a positive rating/review by scrolling down to the bottom of this page. Your reviews are so important and so appreciated! Please share this episode with a friend ❤️

For more information and helpful resources, visit our websites at:

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Sandra Chambers: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sandra-Chambers/author/B00OHLARMO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1740085397&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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Welcome to today's episode of 5-minute Parenting! Join Host Karen Ferguson as she shares 3 practical ways you can help your child grow strong and secure in who they are and their purpose in life.

There are many confusing and conflicting cultural messages about identity inundating our children these days. But YOU as a parent have incredible influence on your children’s lives! Take just five minutes to listen in for 3 simple ways you can help shape their identity for good and for God.

Psalm 139! Your kids are fearfully and wonderfully made ❤️

Be sure to download the Biblical Affirmation Cards for free! https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/o8p5n7

Love this episode? Leave a positive rating/review by scrolling down to the bottom of this page. Your reviews are so important and so appreciated! Please share this episode with a friend ❤️

For more information and helpful resources, visit our websites at:

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Sandra Chambers: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sandra-Chambers/author/B00OHLARMO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1740085397&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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In this episode Host Karen Ferguson welcomes special guest, Valerie Fentress, award-winning author and host of the Bookworthy Podcast. Listen in as Valerie shares insight into finding suitable, worthwhile books for kids, based on her real-world experience as mom to three growing boys.

There has been a clear cultural shift away from Judeo-Christian values and it's had a tremendous impact on the media our children consume, including books! Valerie shares practical strategies to help parents discern good books for their kids. Valerie considers books a love language and loves talking about children's books on her BookWorthy Podcast, which makes her the perfect resource on this topic. Enjoy the show!

You can find out more about Valerie and her books by visiting her website:

https://www.valeriefentress.com/

Download the Reclaiming Valentine's Freebie:

https://tellmethenews-2846.kit.com/871ae32a26

Love this episode? Leave a positive rating/review by scrolling down to the bottom of this page. Your reviews are so important and so appreciated! Please share this episode with a friend ❤️

For more information and helpful resources, visit our websites at:

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Sandra Chambers: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sandra-Chambers/author/B00OHLARMO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1740085397&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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Today we welcome back Trisha Poole for the second part of her discussion on Embracing Routines: How. As a homeschooling parent of six children ranging from grades 6 to 12, Trisha provides insights into how establishing simple routines can significantly impact the orderliness and efficiency of a home. In this segment, she focuses on the 'How' of creating routines, stressing the importance of prioritizing tasks for both parents and children.

Key Takeaways:

• Prioritize and Plan: Understanding and defining your priorities, whether in personal development or household management, can lay the foundation for creating effective routines.
• Routine Consistency: Establishing clear routines at set times, like starting school at 9 AM and cleanup at 5:30 PM, helps manage the day efficiently, bringing order to daily chaos.
• Foster Independence and Life Skills: By implementing simple tasks like morning checklists and pre-meal cleanups, children learn essential life skills such as time management and personal responsibility.

Listen to the full episode for detailed insights, and don’t forget to let us know what routines have worked best in your family!

Be sure to check out Trisha's website to learn more about Trisha, homeschooling and her business: Homeschooling With Confidence.

Love this episode? Leave a positive rating/review by scrolling down to the bottom of this page. Your reviews are so important and so appreciated! Please share this episode with a friend ❤️

For more information and helpful resources, visit our websites at:

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Sandra Chambers: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sandra-Chambers/author/B00OHLARMO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1740085397&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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In this episode of 5-Minute Parenting, Trisha Poole, who been homeschooling her six children through various grade levels for 12 years, shares her insights into why routines are vital. In today's discussion, Trisha outlines six reasons to embrace routines, highlighting their role in saving time, fostering independence, developing good habits, providing consistency and predictability, creating order, and helping parents be intentional.

Here are three key takeaways:

🕒 Time-saving & Independence: Routines help children learn sequences of daily tasks independently, saving parents valuable time.

🌱 Habit Building: By incorporating tasks like teeth brushing into routines, children develop healthy habits that last a lifetime.

🔄 Consistency & Predictability: Routines provide a stable environment, crucial in our unpredictable world.

Be sure to check out Trisha's website to learn more about Trisha, homeschooling and her business: Homeschooling With Confidence.

Love this episode? Leave a positive rating/review by scrolling down to the bottom of this page. Your reviews are so important and so appreciated! Please share this episode with a friend ❤️

For more information and helpful resources, visit our websites at:

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Sandra Chambers: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sandra-Chambers/author/B00OHLARMO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1740085397&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM!

@karenfergusonauthor

@sandrakaychambers.com