Host Sandra Flach is a mom of 8 children, 5 through adoption—one kinship and 4 international. Her youngest 2 are teens diagnosed with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). With over 30 years of parenting experience and 20 plus years as an adoptive and kinship parent, she’s made mountains of mistakes and learned loads of lessons. She understands the difficult road of parenting children with trauma histories—and she is still in the trenches! The Adoption & Foster Care Journey is a podcast to encourage, educate, and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care, and kinship care. We aim to support adoptive and foster families by sharing encouraging real-life stories and equipping them with modern-day research and parenting techniques.
Episodes
Monday Jan 10, 2022
Monday Jan 10, 2022
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37
The responsibility and complexity involved in raising someone else’s child can seem overwhelming. Regardless whether you’re an adoptive, foster, kinship or stepparent, it is on you to take on the challenge of caring for them, helping them to move forward while also meeting their unique emotional needs.
This week on our Orphans No More Podcast, host Sandra Flach speaks with Debbie Ausburn. Debbie is author of Raising Other People’s Children—What Foster Parenting Taught Me About Bringing Together A Blended Family. Debbie has worked with at-risk children for more than 40 years. She has served as a juvenile court probation officer, criminal prosecutor of crimes against children, a single foster parent, and a stepparent.
Listen as Debbie draws from her vast experience as she shares how to navigate the complicated world of raising other people’s children. Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
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Monday Jan 03, 2022
Monday Jan 03, 2022
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20
This week marks fifteen years since Sandra and Wayne Flach adopted three children from Ukraine. In honor of this milestone, Sandra reads two chapters from her book Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father and shares some thoughts about what she’s discovered as an adoptive mom.
Listen to Episode 306 and please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
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Friday Dec 24, 2021
Friday Dec 24, 2021
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end…” Isaiah 9:6-7
Welcome to the last episode in our Advent series. Each week in December we released an advent focused show to help weary adoptive, foster and kinship caregivers survive the holiday season.
This week host Sandra Flach wraps up our Advent series with supernatural peace from the Prince of Peace.
Episode 305 includes an Advent Assignment, Song, and Prayer to help you survive the holiday season. Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Friday Dec 17, 2021
Friday Dec 17, 2021
Mission: Joy
“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:10-11
Advent means arrival—a time to prepare for the coming of Christ. My hope is that each week leading up to Christmas, I will help point your heart toward hope, faith, joy, and peace as we prepare for the arrival of Jesus.
This week host Sandra Flach shares about the supernatural joy we can experience when we, like the wise men—stop, drop and roll into the presence of Jesus.
Episode 304 includes an Advent Assignment, Song, and Prayer to help you survive the holiday season. Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Friday Dec 10, 2021
Friday Dec 10, 2021
“A voice of one calling:
In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
Isaiah 40:3-5
Advent, meaning arrival or coming, is a time to prepare for the arrival or coming of Christ. Our hope is that each week leading up to Christmas, we will help point your heart toward hope, faith, joy, and peace as we prepare for the arrival of our King.
This week host Sandra Flach shares about Christmases past from her 22 years of experience parenting kids with trauma and FASD. She offers a glimmer of hope as she tells how God does indeed make crooked paths straight.
This episode includes an Advent Assignment, Song, and Prayer to help you survive the holiday season. Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
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Friday Dec 03, 2021
Friday Dec 03, 2021
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2
Advent means “arrival” or “coming” in Latin. It’s a time to prepare for the arrival or coming of Christ—the birth of Jesus. Each week in December, we will be bringing you an Advent episode to help you prepare your heart for Christmas.
This week host Sandra Flach shares about hope and offers listeners an advent assignment, a Christmas song, and a prayer to help listeners find some solitude with the Savior through the Christmas season.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
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Monday Nov 29, 2021
Monday Nov 29, 2021
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6
We are wrapping up National Adoption Month with adoptive mom and FASD advocate, Debbie Raymond. Deb is a single mom of two adult children—Lydia, who was adopted from China and is now a college graduate and Wyatt who has an FASD was adopted from South Korea and lives at home with Debbie.
Listen in as host Sandra Flach talks with Debbie about her adoption journey and how she courageously faces each day as a single mom of an adult son with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
@pawssibilities.withFASD
Monday Nov 22, 2021
Monday Nov 22, 2021
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5
As National Adoption Awareness Month comes to a close, we are celebrating the 300th episode of Orphans No More!
Joining host Sandra Flach is former co-host, Mary Slager—pastor’s wife, biological mom of two adult children, adoptive mom of seven, grandmother, and foster mom to countless children over the past forty years.
Listen in as Sandra and Mary reminisce about their favorite guests, their early radio days, and offer encouragement for fellow foster and adoptive parents.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
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Monday Nov 15, 2021
Monday Nov 15, 2021
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:16-19
In honor of National Adoption Awareness Month, all of our November episodes focus on adoption. And since December is right around the corner, we’re combining this week’s adoption story with some Christmas gifts.
This week we talk with adoptive mom, Jennifer Elwood. Jennifer is the author of Counting Up to Christmas—Twenty-Four Gifts from the Gospel of Luke.
Listen in as host Sandra Flach talks with Jennifer about her family’s adoption journey as well as her book. Counting Up to Christmas is truly a gift for stressed out moms trying to find joy in the Christmas season.
Like/comment/share this episode's corresponding Facebook post on our Justice For Orphans page by 11/18 for your chance to win a FREE copy of Jennifer's book.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
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Monday Nov 08, 2021
Monday Nov 08, 2021
"Whenever you are able, do good to people who need help." Proverb 3:27
November is National Adoption Awareness Month. To celebrate, all of our November episodes are adoption focused.
This week we will be talking about the forgotten adoption option—adopting through the foster care system with adoptive mom, Marcy Bursac. Marcy and her husband adopted two children through foster care. She is also the author of The Forgotten Adoption Option—A Self Reflection and How-to-Guide for Pursuing Foster Care Adoption.
Listen in as host Sandra Flach talks with Marcy Bursac about how to navigate adopting through the foster care system.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
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