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What to Expect While Fostering and Adopting | Adoption, Foster parent, Foster care, Adopting

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by Christine Marie

4.9(10 reviews)

47 episodes

Updated Monthly

Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸

Podcast Authority

Beta

FairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more

Quality61

Social0

YouTube76

Engagement71

Learn more

Podcast Overview

The Go-to Podcast for Christian Women Who Want to Grow Their Family through Foster Care or Adoption: 　 Do you struggle with constant overwhelm or have way more questions than answers while navigating the foster care system? Are you feeling like you’re losing yourself while trying to help your foster child or heal your adopted children? Do you feel completely ill-equipped with the needs of the kiddos in your home or that you took on more than you should have? What if there was a way that you could navigate the complexities of the foster care system, gain powerful insights into the adoption journey and find more peace and less chaos while balancing it all? Hi new friend, I’m Christine Marie, Christian Biblical Mindset coach, Mom of 4- Adoptive Mom of 2 and previous foster parent of 77 children. I can’t wait to share with you everything I have learned in my 10 year journey as a Foster Mom… and now adoptive mom. 　 On this podcast, we are going to cover- -How to grow your family through foster care and adoption while fully trusting in Gods’ plan, timing and provision. -How to navigate a complicated foster care system without losing yourself or your mind in the process. -How to balance the needs of your birth children, foster kiddos and adoptive children. -How to balance your marriage, family, career and mental health. -How I found my own personal healing through all the brokenness. I am thankful you are here and can’t wait to get started. 　 So, go grab your cup of coffee, make sure to reheat it and let’s jump in! XO, Christine 　 Connect with me personally in our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fostercareandadoptionforchristianwomen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechristinemarieofficial Email: cmhartmann@fulhart.org

Language

🇺🇲

Publishing Since

8/4/2023

Visit Website View on Apple Podcasts RSS Feed

🇺🇸 Charts #3

Outreach generated

Apple 142

Spotify 827

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Podcast Authority

Beta

FairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more

Quality61

Social0

YouTube76

Engagement71

Learn more

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excellent

Episode Length

38 minutes

Performing excellently!

good

Show Experience

43 episodes over 2.0 years

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needs improvement

Publishing Consistency

Every 17 days

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Recent Episodes

May 22, 2026

Jen Lilley and Dr. John DeGarmo | Called to Foster — The Honest Guide to Foster Care and Adoption

Actress Jen Lilley and foster care expert Dr. John DeGarmo share their personal journeys and insights from their new book, "Called to Foster," with host Christine Marie, offering a candid guide to foster care and adoption.

February 19, 2026

The Heart Work of Foster Care: Adoption, Birth Family Relationships, and Trusting God Through your Fostering Journey

Welcome to the What to Expect While Fostering and Adopting podcast! I’m Christine Marie, adoptive mom, former foster parent, and biblical mindset coach. Whether you’re considering foster care, navigating adoption, supporting birth families, or trying to hold it all together in the middle of the unknown, you’re in the right place. In today’s episode, I sit down with Jeremy Walden, foster and adoptive dad, college professor, ministry leader, and co author of The Heart Work of Foster Care. Jeremy shares his family’s powerful journey through foster care and adoption, including adopting one child and later welcoming her siblings, building relationships with biological parents, and witnessing restoration, reunification, and healing unfold over years of faithful obedience. This is one of those conversations that reminds you foster care isn’t a moment. It’s a long road of love, patience, boundaries, and trust in God. Jeremy opens up about: • The real challenges of foster parenting and adoption• Supporting birth families with compassion and humility• How foster care impacts marriage and biological children• Saying yes, saying no, and protecting your family while keeping your heart open• Why foster care is truly heart work, caring deeply, loving deliberately, and trusting God when outcomes aren’t guaranteed Jeremy and his wife have adopted three children from foster care and have cared for many more over the past decade. With over 25 years of ministry experience and 15 years as a college professor, Jeremy brings both practical wisdom and deep faith to this conversation. He also shares about their book, The Heart Work of Foster Care: A Hopeful and Honest Guide to Foster Parenting, a Christ centered resource filled with real stories, encouragement, and practical insight for anyone walking the foster care journey. Jeremy is currently conducting an anonymous survey to better understand how fostering impacts foster parents’ marriages. If you’d like to participate, you can find it here:👉 https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_behFvYEixlsZ2kK You can also find Jeremy and Jara’s book here:👉 https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Work-Foster-Care-Parenting-ebook/dp/B0F7Z44NQY Whether you’re new to foster care, deep into adoption, or simply want to understand how faith sustains families through trauma and uncertainty, this episode will encourage you, challenge you, and remind you that God is always working, even in the waiting. ☕ Grab your coffee and settle in — this one will stretch you, strengthen you, and remind you why love is always worth it. 💕 PS Want to join a supportive space for women who are navigating foster care, adoption, or just want to love others well? Come join us here:👉 facebook.com/groups/fostercareandadoptionforchristianwomen

February 11, 2026

Adopting a Child with High Needs: Mental Health, Medications, and Trusting God Through the Unknown with Donna Kirkwood

Welcome to Season Two of the What to Expect While Fostering and Adopting podcast! I’m Christine Marie — adoptive mom, former foster parent, and biblical mindset coach. Whether you're navigating foster care, adoption, or parenting a child with trauma or mental health challenges — you’re in the right place. In this season premiere, I’m joined by Donna Kirkwood — former special education teacher, adoptive mom, author, and woman of deep faith — as she shares her family’s journey of saying “yes” to adopting a child with high needs. From the early days of behavioral challenges and medication decisions to the later diagnosis of schizoaffective bipolar disorder, Donna walks us through how faith, structure, and community helped them navigate trauma-informed parenting and deep unknowns. We talk about: Adopting a child with high needs and complex diagnoses Parenting through mental health challenges with grace and structure Medications and behavioral support through a trauma-informed lens Why boundaries, faith, and consistency matter Donna’s book, He Is the Vine, as a source of spiritual encouragement during hard seasons Whether you're parenting a child with trauma, navigating mental health in adoption, or walking through uncertainty with God — this episode will speak to your heart. ☕ Grab your coffee and settle in — this one will stretch you, strengthen you, and remind you why love is always worth it. 💕 PS — Want to join a supportive space for women who are navigating foster care, adoption, or just want to love others well? Come join us here:👉 facebook.com/groups/fostercareandadoptionforchristianwomen Connect with Donna Kirkwood:📘 He Is the Vine: From the Vineyard to the Tasting Room📔 Companion Study Guide also available📧 Email: Donna@DonnaKirkwood.com🌐 Website: www.DonnaKirkwood.com

47 total episodes available with 1 transcripts

Recent guests on What to Expect While Fostering and Adopting | Adoption, Foster parent, Foster care, Adopting

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Jen Lilley

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Dr John DeGarmo

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What is What to Expect While Fostering and Adopting | Adoption, Foster parent, Foster care, Adopting?: The Go-to Podcast for Christian Women Who Want to Grow Their Family through Foster Care or Adoption: 　 Do you struggle with constant overwhelm or have way more questions than answers while navigating the foster care system? Are you feeling like you’re losing yourself while trying to help your foster child or heal your adopted children? Do you feel completely ill-equipped with the needs of the kiddos in your home or that you took on more than you should have?

What if there was a way that you could navigate the complexities of the foster care system, gain powerful insights into the adoption journey and find more peace and less chaos while balancing it all? Hi new friend, I’m Christine Marie, Christian Biblical Mindset coach, Mom of 4- Adoptive Mom of 2 and previous foster parent of 77 children. I can’t wait to share with you everything I have learned in my 10 year journey as a Foster Mom… and now adoptive mom. 　 On this podcast, we are going to cover- -How to grow your family through foster care and adoption while fully trusting in Gods’ plan, timing and provision. -How to navigate a complicated foster care system without losing yourself or your mind in the process. -How to balance the needs of your birth children, foster kiddos and adoptive children. -How to balance your marriage, family, career and mental health. -How I found my own personal healing through all the brokenness.

I am thankful you are here and can’t wait to get started. 　

So, go grab your cup of coffee, make sure to reheat it and let’s jump in!

XO, Christine 　

Connect with me personally in our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fostercareandadoptionforchristianwomen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechristinemarieofficial Email: cmhartmann@fulhart.org
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates monthly.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 10 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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