Bringing Kids Home

Our guest today is Krystal Valdez, Ellis County Clerk, wife and mom of two. Krystal is sharing her story of how her life plans changed when she discovered she was pregnant at 17. We hope Krystal’s inspiring story of hope and restoration will be an encouragement for other women facing unplanned pregnancies to choose life. Give Today! Join our email list Podcast@tbhc.org

Our guest today is Neva McLaughlin. Neva grew up in Waxahachie, TX and now lives in Michigan for the summer and fall and in Maypearl, TX for the winter and spring months. She grew up being a part of TBHC with her dad Ted Stanley who was an administrator here. She is graciously open to sharing her story of her family and life growing up at TBHC. We know her story will inspire others and spread the message about bringing kids home. Give Today!

Our guests today are Susan and Scott Shinn. The Shinns have resided in Edom, TX for the last 30 years. They were high school sweethearts and live on the Cattle Ranch they run together. Scott is the Justice of the Peace in Van Zandt County and Susan runs a cleaning business. They have shared their testimony several times at church and are graciously here to share it with us today. The theme of their story is about trusting in “God’s amazing time.” The Shinns want to share their story to show how amazing adoption is and how God used TBHC to build their family into what it is today.

Our guest today is Charity Clayton. Charity grew up in Desoto, TX and has lived in Waxahachie, TX for the last 12 years. She and her husband have adopted both domestically and internationally. They also planted Remedy church almost 12 years ago. Charity has recently authored a children’s book for adoptive families, and she will be sharing more about the book with us today. Charity’s story demonstrates the theme that “Jesus is everything” and she hopes to encourage and relate to people through it. CharityClayton.com

Our guests today are Bobby and Stephanie Simons. The Simons have lived in Hurst, TX since 2016. They are currently foster parents and have one biological daughter named “Ella” who is almost seven. They both work full time and have a very busy schedule but felt the Lord calling them to minister through foster care. Despite their original plans to not have children, they heard the call from God and chose to listen and obey, trusting God to provide for their needs. The Simon’s story is about being the hands and feet of Jesus to kids and directing them toward him. They want to encourage people that no one can foster in their own strength but with the power of the Holy Spirit and trusting in Him anyone can do it.

Our guest today is Karly Pancake. She grew up in Middletown, Delaware and has lived in Denton, Texas for the last six years. Karly and her husband started out as foster parents and now they have two adopted children, Kendrick, and KK, and one biological son, Eli. She would describe her story as redemptive, challenging, sanctifying, and beautiful. Karly wants to share her story to let people know that “just because something is “hard” it doesn’t mean it has to be “bad.”’ She wants foster and adoptive families to know “that they are doing beautiful, holy, hard work that is incredibly important.” We can’t wait to dive deeper into her story today. Link to Karly's Blog: https://www.karlypancake.com/

Our guest today is Jeremy Trojacek. He grew up in Groesbeck and has lived in Midlothian, Texas for the last seven years. Jeremy has been married to his wife Amelia for 21 years and together they have 3 boys, Hunter, 18, Parker, 15, and Cooper, 12. He was a high school coach for 16 years and now owns Chick-fil-a in Red Oak. He has a passion for growing and developing people and wants to encourage and inspire others through his story. His wife, Amelia was diagnosed with breast cancer which is what led them to adopt their middle son, Parker. Jeremy wants to share his story to let others know “that no matter what obstacle they may encounter, there is hope!” Podcast brought to you by our very own Fostering Success Conference. Find out more information about our conference at www.tbhc.org/fostering-success-conference

Our guest today is Tiphany Hood. Tiphany is an Ellis County local and has resided in the city of Red Oak for the last decade. Her family growing up first came to the Home when she was six months old, and she spent her early years here. She has been married to her husband Andy for 25 years and together they have three boys: Andrue, Tyce, and Kase. Tiphany is passionate about her job at First Red Oak church. She says a lot has changed since her time here and we look forward to hearing her story and taking a closer look at how TBHC has developed along the way. Podcast brought to you by our very own Fostering Success Conference. Find out more information about our conference at www.tbhc.org/fostering-success-conference

Today we’re talking with Olivia Bentley, our Family Recruiter here at TBHC. Olivia has been with us for a year and a half serving in our PreService department. Olivia will be dispelling some common misconceptions about foster care, addressing what happens to a child if there are no available homes in their area, things to consider if you’re thinking about fostering and she tells a beautiful story of reunification. Podcast brought to you by our very own Fostering Success Conference. Find out more information about our conference at www.tbhc.org/fostering-success-conference

Our guests today are Mark & Chelsea Reidland. The Reidland’s have lived in Fort Worth for 17 years. Their family consists of 6 children: 3 were added through adoption, and 3 are biological. They are in the golden age of parenting where all of their children are fairly self-sufficient. On top of parenting, they also help run a faith-based organization that equips, inspires, and recruits foster or adoptive families. The Reidland’s story is about learning to be faithful and just doing what God has asked of us at the risk of our comfort and preferences. They would love to encourage others to take the journey of helping vulnerable kids and families. Podcast brought to you by our very own Fostering Success Conference. Find out more information about our conference at www.tbhc.org/fostering-success-conference The Reidland's faith-based organization is Hope Local, find out more about them here .

Our guests today are James and Tiffany Burns. James grew up in Florida and moved to East Texas when he was 12 while Tiffany was raised in Arlington Texas. Since 2020, they have lived on our Waxahachie campus as a foster family. They have 2 preteen boys and have almost always had the max number of foster kids in their home. Tiffany has always homeschooled the children and this year they are challenging themselves to play outside for 1000 hours. The Burns have seen the hand of God through their entire fostering journey as well as what support from other Christ-followers can do. They are passionate about foster care and the need for churches to step up and surround foster families. Podcast brought to you by ImagiNation Learning Center. Find out more at imaginationcenter.com

Our guests today are David and Heather Poole. They both grew up in the DFW area, David in Ferris and Heather in Mesquite. For the last 15 years, they have been in the small town of Palmer, Texas. They have a beautiful blended family that includes step, half, bio and foster siblings and hopefully someday adopted! David’s photographic memory and the ability to never forget a face allows him to be a great communicator. Heather’s background helps her relate to our foster children, which inspires them to take “God’s next step for us is to go even more out of our comfort zone into sharing about foster care, advocating and even recruiting with in local churches.” The Poole’s story started because of one question: “Why would we need to experience the Great Comforter if our lives are already comfortable?” Podcast brought to you today by Linebarger Attorneys at Law. Find out more at lgbs.com

Our guest today is Doug and Holly Yount. They both grew up in East Texas, Doug in Carthage and Holly in Jacksonville. Since 2021, they have lived in Granbury. Both have served the general public, Doug as a police officer, and Holly loves to teach. They have 3 children, a son, and twin daughters. Evan (23) and the twins, Andi and Alex recently turned 18. Andi and Alex are the first set of twins that were adopted through TBHC’s Private Infant Program. Holly has a history of twins that run on her side of the family, so you could say God had prepared their family for this adoption. The Yount’s story shows the ‘perfect picture of God’s love for us.’ They join the podcast today because “there are so many children who need the love of a parent dedicated to raising them… What better way to demonstrate God’s love?” Podcast brought to you by ImagiNation Learning Center. Find out more at imaginationcenter.com

Our guests today are Amber Mullenax, our Adoption Case Manager, and Dana Holt, our Regional Foster Care and Adoption Director, who is stationed in Odessa. We have a super interesting and touching story to share today. Amber has been with TBHC since November 2021. She came with the personal experience of being a birth mother herself. Dana became acquainted with Amber shortly after the adoption was completed. She joins the podcast to share her passion for reaching birth moms who feel that they have no options.

Our guest today is Alisha Woodall and Dana Stenson. Alisha grew up in Texas, where she currently lives, and Dana grew up in California. Alisha is the Creative Marketing Director for First Look in Waxahachie. They join us today, united by the love of Jesus and their love for Alisha’s adoptive daughter Selah. Each is sharing a story of how family is always big enough for adoption. Her story is one of redemption and God's gracious gifts. They join the podcast today because they want resources to be available and a way to share that God is surprising in his blessing, even in the face of loss. Podcast brought to you today by Linebarger Attorneys at Law. Find out more at lgbs.com

Our guest today is Bonnie Jorzig. She and her husband Jeff have been married for 33 years. They have 4 children and one additional child coming through adoption. They are also grandparents with one grandbaby and one on the way soon. I’m excited for Bonnie to share her experience of fostering with you today. Bonnie and Jeff have been foster parents with TBHC for over 20 years. She is interviewed by Jami, Vice President of Programs, who was the Jorzig's former foster care case manager. Their story is one of being missionaries in your community. Bonnie joins us today furthering TBHC’s mission and hoping to encourage foster parents in the trenches of caring for kids and involve those thinking of accepting the call of foster care.

Our guest today is Kristi Arrington. Kristi and her husband Larry began organizing a gift drive 14 years ago for TBHC. Through their friends, family, and coworkers, they have blessed over a hundred children in our care over the years. They have a special heart for teens that are sometimes forgotten in the excitement that people feel when participating in a Christmas toy drive. Join us as Kristi shares her heart for children and what motivates her and her husband to do so much. Learn how you can be a Christmas Blessing by visiting TBHC Christmas season here .

Our guest today is Amara Bratcher “Maurie”. She lives in Odessa TX. And serves her church Mission Dorado Baptist Church in Odessa TX, in a multitude of capacities but chiefly working with youth and children! Maurie is serving as a Trustee for TBHC and she volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate better known as CASA. I invited her today to come and share her family's story and talk about the book she wrote "The Bridge that Love Built". Her family has a heritage of adoption. Her parents adopted and now several other siblings have fostered and adopted. Her story is one of tracing God's hand of redemption in the missing pieces of our story. She joins the podcast today because she: “I want to help people with hard adoption stories be able to tell their story with dignity and meaning.” "The Bridge that Love Built" by Amara Bratcher: https://www.facebook.com/thebridgethatlovebuilt/

Today’s guest is Cashlee Fox, Adoption Supervisor for TBHC. Cashlee has been with TBHC for over 3 years and works to help match children with families, and helps expectant mothers walk through the process as they choose life for their child. She loves traveling abroad doing mission work, and her favorite mission trip was to Nicaragua. She’s visiting with us today, about some lesser-known details of private infant adoption and matched adoptions, and shares some of her favorite memories from her years working in adoption.

Join us today as we talk with Julie Farrar and Doug Barnes. Julie is the Vice President of the Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce and Doug is our former mayor. Julie & Doug were fierce competitors in our Dancing with the Ellis County Stars competition this past February, raising nearly $10,000. Hear all about their journey, their practice sessions, and the relationship they formed with their instructor, Candice Grouse. Podcast brought to you by ImagiNation Learning Center. Find out more at imaginationcenter.com