Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast!

In this episode, I discuss what to do and how to respond to the choices our adopted or foster children make. This topic is one of the first inspirations for this podcast as many families have asked me what to do when a situation arises where your child is making problematic, concerning, even destructive and harmful choices.

It is important to always remember that God is in control and we cannot control our children. Even in the most loving Christian homes, children will be led astray and make bad choices. The question in this episode is how do we respond to it in a loving and protective way. I encourage you to acknowledge your weakness, embrace your role as the parent, and understand that your child’s choices do not define you as a parent, nor do they define your child.

Here’s a few key takeaways you’ll find in this episode:

-Trusting God is essential when facing challenges in parenting.

-Parents should not lose confidence in their role due to children's choices.

-Love should be confident and not fearful.

-It's okay to acknowledge weaknesses and seek support from God.

-Perfection in parenting is unrealistic; mistakes will happen.

-Children's identities are not defined by their parents' successes or failures.

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

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

Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast!

In this episode, I discuss the complex and multifaceted issue of trusting God in the face of abusive situations within the foster care system. This episode topic was inspired by a listener’s question - this is a very real issue that so many foster parents face. That is why this episode is focused on some practical advice and how to lean into the Lord when we don’t understand the “why” behind these situations. I emphasize the importance of focusing on what can be controlled, such as prayer and education, while advocating for children's rights and safety.

It is incredibly important that foster and adoptive parents provide a safe environment, create a safety plan, and be a voice for the children in their care. Empower these children beyond their trauma and trust in God's sovereignty over their circumstances.

Here’s a few key takeaways you’ll find in this episode:

-Focus on what you CAN control (Like prayer! Specific prayer!)

-Teach your children proper body anatomy, safe touch, and boundaries with adults

-KNOW your rights as foster and adoptive parents!

If the children in your care do not have a history of sexual abuse, it is still super important to stay informed and create a safety plan to prevent it. I hope this episode has been empowering and informative.

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

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

Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast!

In this episode, I discuss what it means to trust God with what we cannot control when it comes to adoption and foster care. I am honest with you, sharing my personal journey through failed adoptions, especially my emotional struggles. I wrestled a lot but also learned about control, God's sovereignty, and the importance of relationship over results. Even when you succeed in adopting your child, it isn’t a fairytale “...and they lived happily ever after…” Part of my story is how I cared for a traumatized baby who screamed every single night because she was separated from her birth mama.

Here’s a few key takeaways you’ll find in this episode:

-Failed adoption is NOT cruelty or punishment from God!

-Failed adoption does NOT mean that God isn’t in control!

-Failed adoption does NOT mean you have missed your calling!

-To walk through failed adoptions, can teach you a lot about the adoption system, yourself, and God.

-This is about a relationship, not a result.

Ask yourself this as you wrestle failed adoptions:

*Am I closer to God because of this?

*Have I grown in Biblical wisdom and knowledge because of this?

*Do I have new insight and opportunities that I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t said “yes” to this calling?

*Has my understanding of God’s ultimate fulfillment to His plan changed?

I hope this has been an encouraging episode! You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com.

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

Welcome to the Called To Love Podcast.

In this powerful episode, I am fortunate enough to welcome back advocate, speaker, author, and foster mom Tori Hope Petersen. Drawing from her journey through foster homes, aging out of the system at 18, and overcoming labels like "self-sabotager," Tori shares how destructive patterns rooted in past trauma can be recognized and broken.

This conversation dives into the challenges of foster and adoptive parenting, offering encouragement to love and guide children in survival mode with grace and perseverance. Tori emphasizes the importance of living with integrity, proclaiming biblical truth over oneself and others, and trusting God’s timing for healing. We also explore why dysfunction often feels familiar, the power of rewriting personal narratives, and how to embrace healthy relationships with resilience and faith.

Whether you’re a foster or adoptive parent or navigating personal challenges, this episode offers wisdom, practical tools, and faith-filled encouragement to break free from cycles that hold you back and embrace a life of hope and healing.

To learn more about Tori, her work, and her resources click here.

You can also purchase her book Fostered or preorder her upcoming book Breaking the Patterns That Break You.

She is on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok with the handle @ToriHopePetersen.

So glad you're here to join us! You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com.

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

Welcome to the Called To Love Podcast.

In this powerful and heartfelt episode, I get to dive into a topic of deep significance: the sanctity of life and the journey of redemption after abortion. I am joined by Robin Gerblick who is the founder of the Exodus Women’s Retreat, author of Giving Up Grace, and an adoptive mom.

Robin candidly shares her journey from a point of crisis, navigating feelings of abandonment and loss, to finding profound healing through faith, grace, and forgiveness. We discuss the emotional, physical, and spiritual consequences of abortion, shedding light on the real struggles women face and the importance of creating a safe, grace-filled space for them to heal. Robin also shares practical insights for adoptive and foster parents seeking to minister to women in crisis and children from difficult backgrounds.

This episode is a call to Christian parents to understand the complexities women face in times of crisis and explore how to extend grace-filled support. Whether you carry abortion as part of your story, or you're parenting children touched by these realities, Robin’s testimony is a beacon of hope and a reminder of the redemptive power of God’s love.

You can learn more about Robin and her work here.

Her book Giving Up Grace: A Spiritual Rebranding of the Soul can be found on a wide variety of sites such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Redemptive Press.

Other resources mentioned include the Exodus Women’s Retreat and Focus on the Family Post-Abortion Resources.

So glad you're here to join us! You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com.

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

Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast.

In this powerful episode, I had the opportunity to sit down with Bradley Pierce, attorney and co-founder of Abolish Abortion Texas, to discuss the church’s role in addressing the issue of abortion. We explore the challenges faced by pro-life advocates, the importance of equal protection legislation, and how the body of Christ can truly step up to make a difference for the unborn.

Bradley unpacks the resistance to equal protection laws, even within pro-life circles, and shares insights from his experience drafting and advocating for abolitionist legislation across the U.S. We highlight practical ways Christians can engage, from educating themselves and influencing legislation to supporting families and fostering meaningful conversations within their communities.

This episode is a call to action for believers to live as "living sacrifices" and step boldly into their role as defenders of life. Whether it’s advocating for change in the legal system or offering tangible support to families, everyone has a part to play in this fight for life.

Let’s move from simply saying we are pro-life to living it out with conviction, compassion, and purpose.

You can watch the "Abortion-Free" docuseries here to learn more about the current state of abortion, biblical perspectives, and actionable steps for individuals and churches.

Learn more about Bradley Pierce and his work at Abolish Abortion Texas or Foundation to Abolish Abortion.

So glad you're here to join us! You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com.

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

Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast.

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Nicole Wilke, author and director at the Christian Alliance for Orphans Center on Applied Research for Vulnerable Children and Families. Nicole helps to explore the powerful intersection of scripture and science in building resilience in children and families.

Her passion for helping vulnerable children and connecting research with frontline practice shines through as she discusses her new book, Overcoming: What Scripture and Science Say About Resilience. We discuss practical ways for parents, caregivers, and communities to become agents of change and support children through adversity.

Nicole's books are available for purchase from Amazon or the Christian Alliance for Orphans page.

Here's where you can learn more about Nicole and the Christian Alliance for Orphans.

She is also present on Linkedin and Instagram.

So glad you're here to join us! You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com.

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

Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast.

As 2024 comes to a close, Somer wants to highlight one of the best episodes from this year -- in case you missed it!

Often people think infertility leads to adoption. It isn't always the case, but it can be for some. Joined with Somer on the podcast are authors Jenn Hesse and Kelley Ramsey who were connected from miles apart thanks to social media. They both share similar infertility stories which is what dawned their friendship and eventually collaborating on this book, "Waiting in Hope: 31 Reflections for Walking with God Through Infertility"

In this episode, they tackle the emotional rollercoaster that is infertility. There is hope and there is pain, and it can be isolating. Kelley and Jenn remind us how important marriage is, community, and leaning into God who has the plan we may not understand.

Something beautiful can come from this grief, and something beautiful can also be different from what we expect.

So glad you're here to join us!

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

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