June 18, 2025 • 37 mins
Ever felt like the gap between what you know about trauma and how you respond to it is impossibly wide? In this soul-nourishing conversation with Katrina Campbell, Director of Training at FaithBridgeU, we explore how continuous learning transforms not just our parenting but our spiritual lives.
"Suffering moved in with me," Katrina shares, capturing the profound reality of what happens when foster children enter our homes. The theoretical suddenly becomes intensely personal, challenging us at our core. Throughout our discussion, we unpack how this ministry reveals both our limitations and God's faithfulness in extraordinary ways.
We dive into the difference between knowledge and wisdom in trauma parenting—knowing facts versus knowing how to apply them when a child is in crisis. Katrina brilliantly explains this as "knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit basket." This practical wisdom comes through intentional learning and community support, both available through resources like FaithBridgeU.
Perhaps most compelling is our exploration of how this journey deepens faith. Those moments when we have no strength left become sacred opportunities to experience God's provision. As Katrina says, "When foster care, which is mission work, moved in with me 24-7, that's when I started to see... I had to start relying on my faith so much more."
Whether you're gathering required training hours or simply seeking wisdom for your adoption journey, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on learning as spiritual formation. The challenges may be significant, but the community, resources, and divine support available make this sacred work not just possible, but transformative.
Ready to approach your parenting journey with renewed purpose? Subscribe to the Foster Parent Well podcast for more conversations that blend practical wisdom with spiritual encouragement.
FaithbridgeU Training Platform: https://faithbridgeu.com/
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Connect with me on Instagram: @Fosterparentwell
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Website: https://nicoletbarlow.com/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey friend, welcome back to the Foster Parent Well
podcast.
We're doing something specialthis summer because, let's be
real, summer is loud andschedules are wild.
So, in the spirit of keepingthings simple and soul-filling,
we're hitting rewind All summerlong.
I'll be sharing some of myfavorite episodes from the past,
conversations that encouragedme, challenged me and reminded
(00:22):
me that God is still workingeven when life feels messy.
If you're new here, it's theperfect time to jump in, and if
you've been around for a while,think of this like a little
refresher, like your spiritualiced coffee on a hot summer day.
So let's soak in some truth,lean into God's grace and keep
showing up for the hard and holywork that we've been called to.
(00:43):
Let's jump into this Rewindepisode.
Welcome to the Foster ParentWell podcast, where we have real
candid, faith-filledconversations about all things
foster care, adoption and trauma.
(01:04):
I'm your host, nicole T Barlow.
I'm a certified parent trainer,a certified health coach and an
adoptive parent myself.
This is a space where you canfind support so that you can
care for your kids with asteadfast faith, endurance and
joy.
I want you to foster parentwell, so let's jump in.
Welcome to the Foster ParentWell podcast.
(01:43):
My name is Nicole T Barlow andI'm going to be your host Today.
We're going to be talking abouttraining as a foster and
adoptive parent.
We are going to be chattingwith my good friend, katrina
Campbell.
Katrina is the Director ofTraining at FaithBridgeU.
Faithbridgeu is an onlinelearning system.
It is your one-stop shop forall things training for foster
(02:07):
and adoptive parents.
They offer on-demand trainingand live trainings.
As a foster parent, most likelyyou are going to be required to
have training hours everysingle year, and as an adoptive
parent, we might not be requiredto have those training hours,
but we still need those trainingresources.
(02:28):
Faithbridgeu has been a hugeasset for me and a great place
for me to go to get theresources that I need when I am
parenting my own kids.
I am an adoptive parent of asibling group of five that I
adopted from foster care.
Adoptive parent of a siblinggroup of five that I adopted
from foster care, so I don'tneed training hours anymore, but
(02:48):
that continuous learning is soimportant.
I think you're really going toenjoy my conversation with
Katrina.
She is very wise.
She has been pouring into me,both spiritually and through my
foster care journey, for many,many years and she has been such
a gift to me.
I know this conversation isgoing to be a gift to you as
(03:10):
well.
Welcome everybody, welcome tothe show.
Katrina Campbell, we are sohappy to have you here today.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Thank you, nicole, I'm so happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got
into the foster care andadoption world to begin with.
You know in 2009,.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
This was exposed to me the need and how important it
is for the church to step in.
So Chuck and I just steppedright into foster care and even
started working in this space.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Okay, awesome, and tell us a little bit about your
role now, because you're notfostering now, correct, correct?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
So in 2009, I started just working in the space, but
in 2014, I went full time intohelping others through training.
I went full time into helpingothers through training and so,
whether it was before and forthem to consider foster care and
adoption, or afterwards, andthe need, not just for hours but
(04:14):
also really to learn, becauseyou start to get really
desperate in such a toughministry.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Yeah, it definitely.
I mean, we definitely see thosechallenges and feel them as
foster and adoptive parents,where we get to places where we
don't know what to do or whereto turn.
So what, in working with fosterand adoptive parents, what are
some common struggles that yousee them experiencing on their
(04:43):
journey, you know?
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Nicole, I think we don't understand the complexity
of suffering that the childrenthat we serve face, and with
that becomes all of thedifficulties in their behavior
and in their emotional struggleto even move forward as a child.
(05:08):
You know, you hear the sayingthey get stuck.
But I don't think we realizehow much the impact of suffering
has on children.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Yeah, and how do you think that that impacts us as
parents that are trying to helpkids?
Right, we're stepping intothese spaces.
We want to be a help, but youknow how do we do that?
How do we take on some of theirstruggle for ourselves.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Well, if you could just look at the lens of how
Jesus sees it, you know it doeschange us.
It changes the way we think andthe lens of even how we read
the Bible and how we infiltratethat into our lives, I would
have told you that I understood,you know hardship and all those
(05:57):
things until I went into fostercare and suffering moved in
with me.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
And.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I would say I had some times in my own life that I
suffered, but not to the degreethat I saw when children came
into my home and then I startednoticing.
I had a tendency to look atjust what was coming out of a
child, not the deep root of itall.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Yeah, yeah, that's such a good perspective.
It all, yeah, yeah, that's sucha good perspective.
So how can, how can we stay ina place where we are serving our
kids like Jesus served, right?
How do we, how do we stayencouraged?
How do we stay, you know, doingthe work that we've been called
to do.
You know, for the long haul,you know for the long haul, yeah
(06:44):
.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
The triggers that we face.
If we can get in that rhythm ofstopping and going.
Jesus, what should I do rightnow?
Just asking that question, withthe help of the Holy Spirit.
In every single moment, we facefear of not knowing what to do
as a parent, and I would say andI know that you feel the same
(07:07):
way, but my faith grew in such away in foster care because
there were things that therewere not books out there to say
this is how you parent a fosterchild or a foster teen I had to
literally stop and go.
Okay, lord, what do I do?
You know in so many times, andwhen I did, the answers that
(07:31):
were revealed to me in my spiritwere so simple.
But yet, if I hadn't asked thequestion, I think I would have
been trying to solve and fixthings that didn't have to be
that hard.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Yeah, and don't I mean, don't you think that part
of the reason?
I know I felt this in my ownjourney but that the Lord has
brought me into this ministrynot just for the sake of the
kids, but for the sake of my ownfaith, so that I practice?
I have to practice, walking independence and reliance on him
(08:06):
for every step of the way.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Yes, and even empathy , nicole, I would have again.
I would have said I had empathyfor others.
But seeing people suffer andeven oppression that word I
don't think I understood until Istepped into foster care and
watched the generationaloppression in the parents' lives
(08:30):
and then in the children'slives, and most of the time even
beyond their parents, and howit's hard to overcome that and
it just gave me a deeper desireto learn.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Through scriptures and through knowledge, does that
make sense?
Been done.
All of that can be sobeneficial to helping us right
Not only feel more confident,but to be assured that we're
walking in the way that God hascalled us to.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Yeah, and I think the difference too.
A dear friend of mine used thisapplication in some teens and
I've really taken it throughlife.
But you know, people talk aboutknowledge and wisdom is the
head and the heart, and she saidin a simple term knowledge is
knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is knowing that you
(09:42):
don't put a tomato in a fruitbasket, and I loved that.
It was kind of like okay,Katrina, you may think you know
something, but until you canapply it in practical ways, then
you're not really living outthe word, you're not living out
knowledge.
And so I was really tested onknowledge versus wisdom in
(10:06):
foster care.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Yes, I think that is so huge because I think, how
many times do we go through lifeand we read the word right, and
we think we understand it, butwe are not really having to live
that way, right?
A lot of us live in a littlebit of a suburban bubble where
we're surrounded by people thatare more like us than not, and
(10:33):
so we walk in a way that doesn'tnecessarily understand what it
feels like to suffer or tosacrifice or to lay down our
life or take up our cross.
Right, like we can read thosethings, but until you actually
experience it, you don't reallyknow what it means.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
And I'll tell you a good example of that.
Going on mission trips reallyshook my faith, right, I mean to
understanding scripture, notjust flat but 4D.
But when foster care, which ismission work, moved in with me
24-7, that's when I'm like Ican't just go on the mission
(11:18):
field and then leave after 7 to14 days, and it's like it's just
in your face.
And that's when I started tosee, I mean I even remember
getting physically sick becauseI was trying to do it in my own
strength and then my body juststarted breaking down because I
(11:39):
was worn out and I had to startrelying on my faith so much more
.
So, when you hear people go, Idon't know how people do it
without their faith in Christ.
I literally don't realize.
I don't think people realizehow valuable and important and
vital it is to hold on to ourfaith when we do this.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Yeah, and I think that's true too.
When I hear people say I couldnever do that, I think what
people don't understand is thatwe can't either, that the way
that we are doing it is throughChrist, like we don't have the
strength to carry this out on aregular basis.
We don't have the capacity tolove a child and then see them
(12:25):
reunify with their family and tocelebrate that right, like all
of those hardships that we mayface as foster and adoptive
parents.
We don't have the strength forthat, for those things either.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
But I think what's surprising is when you don't
have the strength, but when youcry out to the Lord, all of a
sudden you're strengthened oryour hope is restored, or you
literally can come out of prayerand God gave you some
revelation and you're so excited.
But nothing changed.
But your hope was restored inyour faith.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Yes, yes, absolutely Well.
And you know, I think our faithgrows as we have to rely on the
Lord for those moments ofstrength or comfort or whatever
hope.
But then also we see Hisfaithfulness time and time again
to provide where we couldn'thave done it.
I mean, I remember when we wentthrough reunification the first
(13:24):
time, with our first placement,the boys had been with us for
two and a half years.
It was a really I mean, youknow, you saw us during that
time Like it was a really,really rough period for us.
And I remember calling my agencycase manager and I said you're
going to have to go with me todrop these boys off because I am
(13:46):
physically not going to be ableto leave them.
But in that moment the Lord'sstrength took over.
There was so much grace, right,like there was so much grace
for me and for them and for allof us in that moment that it's
not that it wasn't hard I don'twant to say that it wasn't hard
because it was but I would nothave been able to go through
(14:11):
with that in my own strength.
And so, seeing those momentsright and people always say I
don't know how you do thingslike that Well, I didn't know
how I was going to do it either,but the Lord was faithful to
provide in those moments, and wesee that every single time.
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
I remember, you know our men think they can hold it
together for their wives, right.
You know, like I've got thisand I can help manage any
emotions that my wife may have.
But I remember one time it wasa sibling group of three.
That was really, really tough.
And Chuck looked at me one dayand just said this is so hard.
(14:57):
But then, with like tears inhis eyes he said but it's worth
it.
And I don't know, there wassomething in me that moved me to
see my husband compelled tofeel that hard and not want to
give up, and see how God used usto make a difference in the
(15:19):
children's lives.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Yeah, yeah, I mean that.
It's just such a gift, it'ssuch a blessing to to have this
opportunity to work inpartnership with the Lord and to
know that he's going to supplyeverything that we need, and
there's an intimacy that growswith God.
In those moments, too, I thinkwe grow closer to God and I
(15:44):
don't know how you get thatoutside of hardship.
That has not been my experience.
Right that you get that?
Speaker 2 (15:58):
you experience that same level of intimacy and
dependency, without, without thehardship or the struggle.
Yeah, even I remember mybiological daughter said to me
one day I mean really kind ofhad a meltdown and I thought, oh
my goodness, what in the world?
And the words out of her mouthwere I cannot believe how
selfish I am.
And I'm like, oh, and I said metoo.
(16:19):
It was like this moment ofrelating like this is so hard,
but what I what I feel is thehardest, is having to sacrifice
things that are selfish in a way.
Does that make sense.
But for even my teen to saythat I was like, yeah, I'm the
same way, but it helped me torealize that was some of my
(16:39):
struggle too is my selfishness.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Well, and I mean, I think so many people are scared
to enter this ministry becauseof its effects on our kids, this
ministry because of its effectson our kids, but I mean, you
know that realization that shehad most teens don't get to
experience that I mean most mostteens like the Lord is not.
They're not relying on the Lordenough to give them that
(17:05):
perspective Right.
And so what Give?
them that perspective right, andso what a blessing to be able
to walk with your teenager inthat way and to relate to them,
to connect with them in thatmoment, but also to really
(17:27):
disciple our kids into what itlooks like to follow Christ and
to rely on Him for everything.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
So true, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Well, we've talked about some of the struggles and
some of the things that couldbring fear or anxiety or
apprehension right.
How can trainings relieve someof that in us?
Speaker 2 (17:51):
I'm going to say this from professionally and
personally.
I do remember going totrainings at times because I had
to.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
I mean, I remember that We've all done it.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Yes, and what I find so interesting is our number one
training.
And what I find so interestingis our number one training,
number one on-demand trainingthat we have is called
challenging behaviors.
Of course it's our number one.
It has nothing to do withcontent, no offense against the
expert or the material, but it'sbecause we all struggle with
(18:28):
challenging behaviors.
But what I would say when itcomes to training and I mean
it's changed me personally asjust a human being, but, going
Lord, I want to be a learner allthe days of my life and even if
it's not something that I wouldchoose, help me find one thing
(18:49):
out of it.
But I even say, like, findthings that are connected with
your spiritual application aswell as professional application
.
And those have been the ones.
When they collide both, it goesdeep, and I remember it more in
training, and so do families.
(19:11):
So I hear families go.
I didn't even want to come tothis training.
I was hoping one of my childrenwould get sick or I was ready
to give up.
I mean I could list countlessquotes that I've heard over the
years and they said but when Ileft the training I was a
different person and I felt likeI could do it and I understood
(19:35):
why I was doing it.
So training really does.
If we just open our minds like,let me learn not I have to do
this, but let me learn you willcome out of it just really in
awe of our God too.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
Yeah, and how do we do that?
Right Like, how do we become alearner?
How do we desire, when ourlives are so busy?
Right Like, we have so manydemands on our time all day long
.
I mean, as a mom of six kids,right Five of whom come from a
lot of previous trauma, our daysare filled.
(20:15):
Now not as much.
I mean, my kids are a littlebit older, we're moving some out
of the house, but still ourdays are so full.
Sometimes, stepping outside ofthat and making time to sit down
for a training can bechallenging, and so how do I
(20:36):
change my mindset to be able tolook at that as a blessing
that's meant to make me betterfor what I'm doing every day,
versus it's just a chore becauseI have to get my 15 hours a
year, whatever.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Yes, Paradigm shift.
God says if you serve me, youwill be blessed.
I'm just using this one example.
You don't have time to give,but yet when you give your time
it's given back to you more.
(21:11):
That is impossible to explainand any logical mindset would
say you're foolish.
That's not logical, it's notpractical, it's impossible.
But when we test and challengeour faith by going, I'm
exhausted.
I will probably fall asleep inthe training, like all the
(21:33):
things.
But if you change it to say I'mgoing to test what God's word
says and I'm going to press intothis and go, god, just give me
one thing, just one thing out ofthis training, then all of a
sudden our minds are open to notjust learn from a person but
learn from the Lord, and he willnever let us down.
(21:54):
Because I've gone to trainings,I would say to you like, is
this a waste of my time?
If I have that attitude, I willnot walk out with anything.
But if I go, god, you bettershow me something in this
training.
I literally walk out withsomething huge, nicole, not just
for parenting but for mepersonally.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Yes, yes, absolutely.
Well, what kind of trainings doyou enjoy the most?
Like?
What are the trainings that arethe most impactful for you?
Speaker 2 (22:25):
The challenging ones.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
So I think of one title that was hard and holy, or
um commissional, uh, ministryfor your marriage, or like it's
things that, no, no, you know.
Or um rethinking the way youparent I don't want to rethink,
(22:50):
I'm just barely getting by orrhythms you know, peaceful
rhythms in parenting.
You know that just sounds socliche.
Or yeah, right, you don't livein my home.
I mean, how many times do youhear foster parents or adoptive
parents say that?
But the training that I knoweven just Faith Bridge U offers,
(23:15):
it's people who have lived it,who are living it.
So when they're coming at thosestatements, they're coming from
all of those understandings ofwhat foster families and
adoptive families are living,and it's not easy.
It is not easy.
So my point in saying that ischoose topics that maybe you're
(23:41):
not even interested in or itseems a little too cliche-ish.
Does that make sense.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
Yep, I love that you mentioned too about trainings
from people who have lived it,because I do think that that
makes a difference.
I do think that that makes adifference, because people that
understand the depths of thehard professionals may have head
(24:07):
knowledge right, but, just likeyou were saying with the wisdom
, it's hard to have that wisdomto impart to other people if you
don't know what it feels likein the day to day.
And I mean there are so manygood trainers and professionals
that really have lived this,they have lived this life, they
(24:29):
have lived some hard stuff and Ithink a lot of those people
have so much depth, not just onthe knowledge end but on the
spiritual depth of it and whatthey have to impart to people,
that can really be helpful.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
Yeah, and you know what I think too.
It's like when you're in a roomof people that have fostered
and adopted.
There are things a trainer maysay that people on the outside
would maybe gasp, but on theinside, with people who are all
in the same hard ministry, arelaughing.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
I mean laughter releases endorphins that we
actually need and you think thisis not funny and it's like,
well, it's funny because we'velived it and so there's just
something so refreshing to go.
You're not alone, this is notjust you.
Refreshing to go, you're notalone, this is not just you,
(25:37):
this is because this is hard,and just experiencing all of the
trauma that children andfamilies have faced it's in your
face.
So then when other people laugh, you're laughing because it's
like, yeah, I thought that.
Yeah, because it's like, yeah,I thought that, yeah, I've done
that, or that's so true, sothat's refreshing.
Just when people are comingfrom a place where they
(25:57):
literally have lived it, it willmake the whole room laugh.
The whole room, yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
I agree.
I, you know, I went to go seethe movie Instant Family when it
came out with a group of fosterand adoptive moms and there was
a point in the movie where allof us were dying laughing and
the rest of the theater wasappalled that we were laughing,
because whatever was said orwhatever from an outsider's
(26:23):
perspective did not look funny.
But from the inside it washilarious because you understood
exactly where they were comingfrom.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
And the emotion behind it, right, I mean, yes,
your emotions are literally likea roller coaster.
Your emotions why?
Because these kids' emotionsare like a roller coaster and
it's the same, but again it'ssomething that's a tragedy to
the world or appalling to theworld.
(26:58):
You're laughing because youwere faced with it and no, you
couldn't gasp.
You had to deal with it.
You know you had to deal withit.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Yeah Well, and if we don't laugh sometimes throughout
this, I mean just the idea.
I look at my life and I go.
Some of the things that havehappened or that we've
experienced or we've seen orwhatever are like Like I can't
believe that this is my life,that I am doing these hard
(27:32):
things not through my ownstrength, but that I am doing
these hard things.
But on the other end of it, Ican't believe that this is my
life and I get to do these hardthings.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
Yes, and you even realize like I'm thinking of
some particular courses in FaithBridge U and I'm like what you
adopted 11 kids, or you knowlike what and you really
actually become inspired thatyou're a part of something that
people are doing that God ispleased with.
(28:06):
You know, and not because itlooks good, but because it's
something that few people willeven take on you know, yes, yeah
, well, and it makes you feelnot alone, right, like you're in
a community of others.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
You're not.
Sometimes it can feel likewe're living on an island by
ourselves, because we're in ourhomes doing this hard work
without people around us on adaily basis, always.
And so, you know, sometimestrainings where you see somebody
who's living it, where they'retalking about their hard
experiences, can just help youfeel seen and understood and
(28:46):
like you're a part of you know,like you said, you're a part of
something bigger.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
Yes, I'm true.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
Well, explain to us a little bit about FaithBridgeU.
What is it and what type oftrainings do you offer?
Speaker 2 (28:59):
Yes, FaithBridgeU is a learning system where it's all
offered basically online, andso we will have live trainings,
we have even panels on there,and some are interactive, like
support group connection groups,while others are more expert
(29:22):
driven.
Even if they have lived it,it's more content driven.
And then we have on demandcourses, and so what those are,
let's say, you know, I may beexhausted, but maybe I can
lounge on the couch and watchsomething and really find that
in my peaceful moment at 10o'clock at night, I can learn
(29:43):
because I don't have all thesethings coming at me and I have
just truly been inspired.
Because I'm a part of staffingon FaithBridgeU, there's times I
have to watch the same trainingmore than once and what I can
tell you, nicole, like evenwatching it more than once, I
have learned second time aroundor third time around, and I'm
(30:07):
really encouraged because I'mlike, yes, this will encourage
others.
Yes, I wish I had had that inthe beginning years, that when I
started, and so it is wonderfulto have not only just
connection support groups butalso live trainings and also
interactive trainings, and thenthe on-demand library where I
(30:30):
can just sit back and relax andmaybe take something in, and
when I have less distractions onme and there's even trailers
where you can just get a glimpseof of the course, the on-demand
courses, and go, oh, I maybewouldn't have chosen that, but
watching the trailer.
(30:51):
How many times do we do that onjust even the TV we watch?
Speaker 1 (30:56):
Yeah, yeah, I know that that has helped me.
I don't have training hours.
We're not an active fosterfamily.
Our kids are adopted throughfoster care, but so I don't have
to have ongoing training.
But I've gone on there and I'vewatched a lot of the on-demand
trainings and a lot of them Ifound through the trailers.
(31:16):
But I love them and there's adepth to them.
The training space when itcomes to foster care and
adoption, that it's not just I'mtrying to give you A, b and C.
It's really connecting withother people, even on the
(31:41):
on-demand trainings, but it'sconnecting with other people who
really understand the life thatwe live.
Absolutely the life that we liveAbsolutely Well.
What kind, what final tips canyou give parents as they seek
out training that is really moreimpactful for them than them
just going through the motions?
Speaker 2 (32:02):
Yes, you know, I would say probably some of the
greatest tips is and I reallymentioned it before but go into
life learning, a life oflearning.
And it's not because I havewatched sometimes people foster,
then go into adoption, likeyourself, and then close the
(32:26):
door of learning and then theystruggle even greater through
the different cycles of thechildren growing up.
And I remember one of the it'sone of the on-demand trainings,
but they were talking aboutthere's different seasons of
lives in everyone's lives.
So don't think that you're notgoing to have that with even
(32:50):
children you adopt.
So I'm going to say live a lifeof learning period.
Secondly, whatever we face thatis hard, know that God is
speaking to us personally, notjust about the situation.
And if you do that in training,you will start to see what is.
(33:11):
What would God want me to learnin this training?
So it's taking on that.
What is God saying to mepersonally, not just
circumstantially.
And then, lastly, knowing thatGod wired even himself in
community from the beginning andthat we cannot do life alone
(33:35):
and I do feel like thatsometimes, when we're
overwhelmed, we tend to isolate.
And as what I would tell you,I've learned more sitting around
or even getting coffee at breakfrom other people, even in
trainings, than I have from thepeople themselves.
So community is probably one ofthe most key things that you
(33:58):
can take away from training.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Thank you so much for sharing those.
I think each one of those is so, so important, I do think, for
adoptive parents.
A lot of times, once theadoption is finalized, we're
like, oh well, we don't have todo these trainings anymore, we
are not required to do A, b andC, right, like it's kind of like
we can disconnect and wash ourhands of it.
But I mean, I talked on thepodcast last week like my kids
(34:24):
now are going through differentseasons.
We have kids that are enteringadulthood, we have kids that are
entering adolescence, right,and those things from their past
come up in different ways inthose different seasons, and so
we constantly have to belearning how to navigate each
(34:47):
season with our kids and how tosupport them through the
different things that they'redoing.
So I love that idea of being alifelong learner and, again, I
always love the spiritualcomponent, the faith component,
really learning to listen anddepend on God each step of the
way.
So, katrina, I appreciate youso much.
(35:11):
Where can people go to findFaithBridgeU?
Speaker 2 (35:16):
FaithBridgeUcom.
It is that simple.
If you were to type it in, itwould populate, it would take
you to our page and you couldeven look at trailers.
Look at what we have to offer.
And there's not even anycommitment like, oh, if I look
at this trailer, then I have towatch this, or if I see what
(35:37):
they have to offer, what'scoming up on live, I have to
commit to it.
No, you can just see it allright there on faithbridgeucom.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
I love that.
Thank you so much.
Well, thank you for being here.
We really appreciate you.
I really appreciate you andyour investment in my own path,
my own journey and my own life,but I appreciate your investment
in the foster care communitytoo.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
Thank you so much.
It was an honor to be here.
Speaker 1 (36:06):
I will leave a link in the show notes for
FaithBridgeU.
You can check it out foryourself.
I know you're going to love itas much as I do.
Let me pray for us as we closeout, dear Heavenly Father.
Lord, we are so thankful foryour grace and your kindness and
your faithfulness.
You show up over and over andover again and you prove
(36:30):
yourself faithful time aftertime.
Thank you for the strength thatyou give us each and every day.
Help us to lean into that anddepend on you for each step of
our journey in foster care andadoption.
Lord, thank you for theseresources for these individuals
that have gone before us andhave been willing to share what
(36:51):
they have gained along the way.
Lord, we love you, we trust you.
Hey friend, welcome back to the Foster Parent Well
podcast.
We're doing something specialthis summer because, let's be
real, summer is loud andschedules are wild.
So, in the spirit of keepingthings simple and soul-filling,
we're hitting rewind All summerlong.
I'll be sharing some of myfavorite episodes from the past,
conversations that encouragedme, challenged me and reminded
(00:22):
me that God is still workingeven when life feels messy.
If you're new here, it's theperfect time to jump in, and if
you've been around for a while,think of this like a little
refresher, like your spiritualiced coffee on a hot summer day.
So let's soak in some truth,lean into God's grace and keep
showing up for the hard and holywork that we've been called to.
(00:43):
Let's jump into this Rewindepisode.
Welcome to the Foster ParentWell podcast, where we have real
candid, faith-filledconversations about all things
foster care, adoption and trauma.
(01:04):
I'm your host, nicole T Barlow.
I'm a certified parent trainer,a certified health coach and an
adoptive parent myself.
This is a space where you canfind support so that you can
care for your kids with asteadfast faith, endurance and
joy.
I want you to foster parentwell, so let's jump in.
Welcome to the Foster ParentWell podcast.
(01:43):
My name is Nicole T Barlow andI'm going to be your host Today.
We're going to be talking abouttraining as a foster and
adoptive parent.
We are going to be chattingwith my good friend, katrina
Campbell.
Katrina is the Director ofTraining at FaithBridgeU.
Faithbridgeu is an onlinelearning system.
It is your one-stop shop forall things training for foster
(02:07):
and adoptive parents.
They offer on-demand trainingand live trainings.
As a foster parent, most likelyyou are going to be required to
have training hours everysingle year, and as an adoptive
parent, we might not be requiredto have those training hours,
but we still need those trainingresources.
(02:28):
Faithbridgeu has been a hugeasset for me and a great place
for me to go to get theresources that I need when I am
parenting my own kids.
I am an adoptive parent of asibling group of five that I
adopted from foster care.
Adoptive parent of a siblinggroup of five that I adopted
from foster care, so I don'tneed training hours anymore, but
(02:48):
that continuous learning is soimportant.
I think you're really going toenjoy my conversation with
Katrina.
She is very wise.
She has been pouring into me,both spiritually and through my
foster care journey, for many,many years and she has been such
a gift to me.
I know this conversation isgoing to be a gift to you as
(03:10):
well.
Welcome everybody, welcome tothe show.
Katrina Campbell, we are sohappy to have you here today.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Thank you, nicole, I'm so happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got
into the foster care andadoption world to begin with.
You know in 2009,.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
This was exposed to me the need and how important it
is for the church to step in.
So Chuck and I just steppedright into foster care and even
started working in this space.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Okay, awesome, and tell us a little bit about your
role now, because you're notfostering now, correct, correct?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
So in 2009, I started just working in the space, but
in 2014, I went full time intohelping others through training.
I went full time into helpingothers through training and so,
whether it was before and forthem to consider foster care and
adoption, or afterwards, andthe need, not just for hours but
(04:14):
also really to learn, becauseyou start to get really
desperate in such a toughministry.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Yeah, it definitely.
I mean, we definitely see thosechallenges and feel them as
foster and adoptive parents,where we get to places where we
don't know what to do or whereto turn.
So what, in working with fosterand adoptive parents, what are
some common struggles that yousee them experiencing on their
(04:43):
journey, you know?
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Nicole, I think we don't understand the complexity
of suffering that the childrenthat we serve face, and with
that becomes all of thedifficulties in their behavior
and in their emotional struggleto even move forward as a child.
(05:08):
You know, you hear the sayingthey get stuck.
But I don't think we realizehow much the impact of suffering
has on children.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Yeah, and how do you think that that impacts us as
parents that are trying to helpkids?
Right, we're stepping intothese spaces.
We want to be a help, but youknow how do we do that?
How do we take on some of theirstruggle for ourselves.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Well, if you could just look at the lens of how
Jesus sees it, you know it doeschange us.
It changes the way we think andthe lens of even how we read
the Bible and how we infiltratethat into our lives, I would
have told you that I understood,you know hardship and all those
(05:57):
things until I went into fostercare and suffering moved in
with me.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
And.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I would say I had some times in my own life that I
suffered, but not to the degreethat I saw when children came
into my home and then I startednoticing.
I had a tendency to look atjust what was coming out of a
child, not the deep root of itall.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Yeah, yeah, that's such a good perspective.
It all, yeah, yeah, that's sucha good perspective.
So how can, how can we stay ina place where we are serving our
kids like Jesus served, right?
How do we, how do we stayencouraged?
How do we stay, you know, doingthe work that we've been called
to do.
You know, for the long haul,you know for the long haul, yeah
(06:44):
.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
The triggers that we face.
If we can get in that rhythm ofstopping and going.
Jesus, what should I do rightnow?
Just asking that question, withthe help of the Holy Spirit.
In every single moment, we facefear of not knowing what to do
as a parent, and I would say andI know that you feel the same
(07:07):
way, but my faith grew in such away in foster care because
there were things that therewere not books out there to say
this is how you parent a fosterchild or a foster teen I had to
literally stop and go.
Okay, lord, what do I do?
You know in so many times, andwhen I did, the answers that
(07:31):
were revealed to me in my spiritwere so simple.
But yet, if I hadn't asked thequestion, I think I would have
been trying to solve and fixthings that didn't have to be
that hard.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Yeah, and don't I mean, don't you think that part
of the reason?
I know I felt this in my ownjourney but that the Lord has
brought me into this ministrynot just for the sake of the
kids, but for the sake of my ownfaith, so that I practice?
I have to practice, walking independence and reliance on him
(08:06):
for every step of the way.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Yes, and even empathy , nicole, I would have again.
I would have said I had empathyfor others.
But seeing people suffer andeven oppression that word I
don't think I understood until Istepped into foster care and
watched the generationaloppression in the parents' lives
(08:30):
and then in the children'slives, and most of the time even
beyond their parents, and howit's hard to overcome that and
it just gave me a deeper desireto learn.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Through scriptures and through knowledge, does that
make sense?
Been done.
All of that can be sobeneficial to helping us right
Not only feel more confident,but to be assured that we're
walking in the way that God hascalled us to.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Yeah, and I think the difference too.
A dear friend of mine used thisapplication in some teens and
I've really taken it throughlife.
But you know, people talk aboutknowledge and wisdom is the
head and the heart, and she saidin a simple term knowledge is
knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is knowing that you
(09:42):
don't put a tomato in a fruitbasket, and I loved that.
It was kind of like okay,Katrina, you may think you know
something, but until you canapply it in practical ways, then
you're not really living outthe word, you're not living out
knowledge.
And so I was really tested onknowledge versus wisdom in
(10:06):
foster care.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Yes, I think that is so huge because I think, how
many times do we go through lifeand we read the word right, and
we think we understand it, butwe are not really having to live
that way, right?
A lot of us live in a littlebit of a suburban bubble where
we're surrounded by people thatare more like us than not, and
(10:33):
so we walk in a way that doesn'tnecessarily understand what it
feels like to suffer or tosacrifice or to lay down our
life or take up our cross.
Right, like we can read thosethings, but until you actually
experience it, you don't reallyknow what it means.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
And I'll tell you a good example of that.
Going on mission trips reallyshook my faith, right, I mean to
understanding scripture, notjust flat but 4D.
But when foster care, which ismission work, moved in with me
24-7, that's when I'm like Ican't just go on the mission
(11:18):
field and then leave after 7 to14 days, and it's like it's just
in your face.
And that's when I started tosee, I mean I even remember
getting physically sick becauseI was trying to do it in my own
strength and then my body juststarted breaking down because I
(11:39):
was worn out and I had to startrelying on my faith so much more
.
So, when you hear people go, Idon't know how people do it
without their faith in Christ.
I literally don't realize.
I don't think people realizehow valuable and important and
vital it is to hold on to ourfaith when we do this.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Yeah, and I think that's true too.
When I hear people say I couldnever do that, I think what
people don't understand is thatwe can't either, that the way
that we are doing it is throughChrist, like we don't have the
strength to carry this out on aregular basis.
We don't have the capacity tolove a child and then see them
(12:25):
reunify with their family and tocelebrate that right, like all
of those hardships that we mayface as foster and adoptive
parents.
We don't have the strength forthat, for those things either.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
But I think what's surprising is when you don't
have the strength, but when youcry out to the Lord, all of a
sudden you're strengthened oryour hope is restored, or you
literally can come out of prayerand God gave you some
revelation and you're so excited.
But nothing changed.
But your hope was restored inyour faith.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Yes, yes, absolutely Well.
And you know, I think our faithgrows as we have to rely on the
Lord for those moments ofstrength or comfort or whatever
hope.
But then also we see Hisfaithfulness time and time again
to provide where we couldn'thave done it.
I mean, I remember when we wentthrough reunification the first
(13:24):
time, with our first placement,the boys had been with us for
two and a half years.
It was a really I mean, youknow, you saw us during that
time Like it was a really,really rough period for us.
And I remember calling my agencycase manager and I said you're
going to have to go with me todrop these boys off because I am
(13:46):
physically not going to be ableto leave them.
But in that moment the Lord'sstrength took over.
There was so much grace, right,like there was so much grace
for me and for them and for allof us in that moment that it's
not that it wasn't hard I don'twant to say that it wasn't hard
because it was but I would nothave been able to go through
(14:11):
with that in my own strength.
And so, seeing those momentsright and people always say I
don't know how you do thingslike that Well, I didn't know
how I was going to do it either,but the Lord was faithful to
provide in those moments, and wesee that every single time.
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
I remember, you know our men think they can hold it
together for their wives, right.
You know, like I've got thisand I can help manage any
emotions that my wife may have.
But I remember one time it wasa sibling group of three.
That was really, really tough.
And Chuck looked at me one dayand just said this is so hard.
(14:57):
But then, with like tears inhis eyes he said but it's worth
it.
And I don't know, there wassomething in me that moved me to
see my husband compelled tofeel that hard and not want to
give up, and see how God used usto make a difference in the
(15:19):
children's lives.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Yeah, yeah, I mean that.
It's just such a gift, it'ssuch a blessing to to have this
opportunity to work inpartnership with the Lord and to
know that he's going to supplyeverything that we need, and
there's an intimacy that growswith God.
In those moments, too, I thinkwe grow closer to God and I
(15:44):
don't know how you get thatoutside of hardship.
That has not been my experience.
Right that you get that?
Speaker 2 (15:58):
you experience that same level of intimacy and
dependency, without, without thehardship or the struggle.
Yeah, even I remember mybiological daughter said to me
one day I mean really kind ofhad a meltdown and I thought, oh
my goodness, what in the world?
And the words out of her mouthwere I cannot believe how
selfish I am.
And I'm like, oh, and I said metoo.
(16:19):
It was like this moment ofrelating like this is so hard,
but what I what I feel is thehardest, is having to sacrifice
things that are selfish in a way.
Does that make sense.
But for even my teen to saythat I was like, yeah, I'm the
same way, but it helped me torealize that was some of my
(16:39):
struggle too is my selfishness.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Well, and I mean, I think so many people are scared
to enter this ministry becauseof its effects on our kids, this
ministry because of its effectson our kids, but I mean, you
know that realization that shehad most teens don't get to
experience that I mean most mostteens like the Lord is not.
They're not relying on the Lordenough to give them that
(17:05):
perspective Right.
And so what Give?
them that perspective right, andso what a blessing to be able
to walk with your teenager inthat way and to relate to them,
to connect with them in thatmoment, but also to really
(17:27):
disciple our kids into what itlooks like to follow Christ and
to rely on Him for everything.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
So true, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Well, we've talked about some of the struggles and
some of the things that couldbring fear or anxiety or
apprehension right.
How can trainings relieve someof that in us?
Speaker 2 (17:51):
I'm going to say this from professionally and
personally.
I do remember going totrainings at times because I had
to.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
I mean, I remember that We've all done it.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Yes, and what I find so interesting is our number one
training.
And what I find so interestingis our number one training,
number one on-demand trainingthat we have is called
challenging behaviors.
Of course it's our number one.
It has nothing to do withcontent, no offense against the
expert or the material, but it'sbecause we all struggle with
(18:28):
challenging behaviors.
But what I would say when itcomes to training and I mean
it's changed me personally asjust a human being, but, going
Lord, I want to be a learner allthe days of my life and even if
it's not something that I wouldchoose, help me find one thing
(18:49):
out of it.
But I even say, like, findthings that are connected with
your spiritual application aswell as professional application
.
And those have been the ones.
When they collide both, it goesdeep, and I remember it more in
training, and so do families.
(19:11):
So I hear families go.
I didn't even want to come tothis training.
I was hoping one of my childrenwould get sick or I was ready
to give up.
I mean I could list countlessquotes that I've heard over the
years and they said but when Ileft the training I was a
different person and I felt likeI could do it and I understood
(19:35):
why I was doing it.
So training really does.
If we just open our minds like,let me learn not I have to do
this, but let me learn you willcome out of it just really in
awe of our God too.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
Yeah, and how do we do that?
Right Like, how do we become alearner?
How do we desire, when ourlives are so busy?
Right Like, we have so manydemands on our time all day long
.
I mean, as a mom of six kids,right Five of whom come from a
lot of previous trauma, our daysare filled.
(20:15):
Now not as much.
I mean, my kids are a littlebit older, we're moving some out
of the house, but still ourdays are so full.
Sometimes, stepping outside ofthat and making time to sit down
for a training can bechallenging, and so how do I
(20:36):
change my mindset to be able tolook at that as a blessing
that's meant to make me betterfor what I'm doing every day,
versus it's just a chore becauseI have to get my 15 hours a
year, whatever.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Yes, Paradigm shift.
God says if you serve me, youwill be blessed.
I'm just using this one example.
You don't have time to give,but yet when you give your time
it's given back to you more.
(21:11):
That is impossible to explainand any logical mindset would
say you're foolish.
That's not logical, it's notpractical, it's impossible.
But when we test and challengeour faith by going, I'm
exhausted.
I will probably fall asleep inthe training, like all the
(21:33):
things.
But if you change it to say I'mgoing to test what God's word
says and I'm going to press intothis and go, god, just give me
one thing, just one thing out ofthis training, then all of a
sudden our minds are open to notjust learn from a person but
learn from the Lord, and he willnever let us down.
(21:54):
Because I've gone to trainings,I would say to you like, is
this a waste of my time?
If I have that attitude, I willnot walk out with anything.
But if I go, god, you bettershow me something in this
training.
I literally walk out withsomething huge, nicole, not just
for parenting but for mepersonally.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Yes, yes, absolutely.
Well, what kind of trainings doyou enjoy the most?
Like?
What are the trainings that arethe most impactful for you?
Speaker 2 (22:25):
The challenging ones.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
So I think of one title that was hard and holy, or
um commissional, uh, ministryfor your marriage, or like it's
things that, no, no, you know.
Or um rethinking the way youparent I don't want to rethink,
(22:50):
I'm just barely getting by orrhythms you know, peaceful
rhythms in parenting.
You know that just sounds socliche.
Or yeah, right, you don't livein my home.
I mean, how many times do youhear foster parents or adoptive
parents say that?
But the training that I knoweven just Faith Bridge U offers,
(23:15):
it's people who have lived it,who are living it.
So when they're coming at thosestatements, they're coming from
all of those understandings ofwhat foster families and
adoptive families are living,and it's not easy.
It is not easy.
So my point in saying that ischoose topics that maybe you're
(23:41):
not even interested in or itseems a little too cliche-ish.
Does that make sense.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
Yep, I love that you mentioned too about trainings
from people who have lived it,because I do think that that
makes a difference.
I do think that that makes adifference, because people that
understand the depths of thehard professionals may have head
(24:07):
knowledge right, but, just likeyou were saying with the wisdom
, it's hard to have that wisdomto impart to other people if you
don't know what it feels likein the day to day.
And I mean there are so manygood trainers and professionals
that really have lived this,they have lived this life, they
(24:29):
have lived some hard stuff and Ithink a lot of those people
have so much depth, not just onthe knowledge end but on the
spiritual depth of it and whatthey have to impart to people,
that can really be helpful.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
Yeah, and you know what I think too.
It's like when you're in a roomof people that have fostered
and adopted.
There are things a trainer maysay that people on the outside
would maybe gasp, but on theinside, with people who are all
in the same hard ministry, arelaughing.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
I mean laughter releases endorphins that we
actually need and you think thisis not funny and it's like,
well, it's funny because we'velived it and so there's just
something so refreshing to go.
You're not alone, this is notjust you.
Refreshing to go, you're notalone, this is not just you,
(25:37):
this is because this is hard,and just experiencing all of the
trauma that children andfamilies have faced it's in your
face.
So then when other people laugh, you're laughing because it's
like, yeah, I thought that.
Yeah, because it's like, yeah,I thought that, yeah, I've done
that, or that's so true, sothat's refreshing.
Just when people are comingfrom a place where they
(25:57):
literally have lived it, it willmake the whole room laugh.
The whole room, yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
I agree.
I, you know, I went to go seethe movie Instant Family when it
came out with a group of fosterand adoptive moms and there was
a point in the movie where allof us were dying laughing and
the rest of the theater wasappalled that we were laughing,
because whatever was said orwhatever from an outsider's
(26:23):
perspective did not look funny.
But from the inside it washilarious because you understood
exactly where they were comingfrom.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
And the emotion behind it, right, I mean, yes,
your emotions are literally likea roller coaster.
Your emotions why?
Because these kids' emotionsare like a roller coaster and
it's the same, but again it'ssomething that's a tragedy to
the world or appalling to theworld.
(26:58):
You're laughing because youwere faced with it and no, you
couldn't gasp.
You had to deal with it.
You know you had to deal withit.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Yeah Well, and if we don't laugh sometimes throughout
this, I mean just the idea.
I look at my life and I go.
Some of the things that havehappened or that we've
experienced or we've seen orwhatever are like Like I can't
believe that this is my life,that I am doing these hard
(27:32):
things not through my ownstrength, but that I am doing
these hard things.
But on the other end of it, Ican't believe that this is my
life and I get to do these hardthings.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
Yes, and you even realize like I'm thinking of
some particular courses in FaithBridge U and I'm like what you
adopted 11 kids, or you knowlike what and you really
actually become inspired thatyou're a part of something that
people are doing that God ispleased with.
(28:06):
You know, and not because itlooks good, but because it's
something that few people willeven take on you know, yes, yeah
, well, and it makes you feelnot alone, right, like you're in
a community of others.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
You're not.
Sometimes it can feel likewe're living on an island by
ourselves, because we're in ourhomes doing this hard work
without people around us on adaily basis, always.
And so, you know, sometimestrainings where you see somebody
who's living it, where they'retalking about their hard
experiences, can just help youfeel seen and understood and
(28:46):
like you're a part of you know,like you said, you're a part of
something bigger.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
Yes, I'm true.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
Well, explain to us a little bit about FaithBridgeU.
What is it and what type oftrainings do you offer?
Speaker 2 (28:59):
Yes, FaithBridgeU is a learning system where it's all
offered basically online, andso we will have live trainings,
we have even panels on there,and some are interactive, like
support group connection groups,while others are more expert
(29:22):
driven.
Even if they have lived it,it's more content driven.
And then we have on demandcourses, and so what those are,
let's say, you know, I may beexhausted, but maybe I can
lounge on the couch and watchsomething and really find that
in my peaceful moment at 10o'clock at night, I can learn
(29:43):
because I don't have all thesethings coming at me and I have
just truly been inspired.
Because I'm a part of staffingon FaithBridgeU, there's times I
have to watch the same trainingmore than once and what I can
tell you, nicole, like evenwatching it more than once, I
have learned second time aroundor third time around, and I'm
(30:07):
really encouraged because I'mlike, yes, this will encourage
others.
Yes, I wish I had had that inthe beginning years, that when I
started, and so it is wonderfulto have not only just
connection support groups butalso live trainings and also
interactive trainings, and thenthe on-demand library where I
(30:30):
can just sit back and relax andmaybe take something in, and
when I have less distractions onme and there's even trailers
where you can just get a glimpseof of the course, the on-demand
courses, and go, oh, I maybewouldn't have chosen that, but
watching the trailer.
(30:51):
How many times do we do that onjust even the TV we watch?
Speaker 1 (30:56):
Yeah, yeah, I know that that has helped me.
I don't have training hours.
We're not an active fosterfamily.
Our kids are adopted throughfoster care, but so I don't have
to have ongoing training.
But I've gone on there and I'vewatched a lot of the on-demand
trainings and a lot of them Ifound through the trailers.
(31:16):
But I love them and there's adepth to them.
The training space when itcomes to foster care and
adoption, that it's not just I'mtrying to give you A, b and C.
It's really connecting withother people, even on the
(31:41):
on-demand trainings, but it'sconnecting with other people who
really understand the life thatwe live.
Absolutely the life that we liveAbsolutely Well.
What kind, what final tips canyou give parents as they seek
out training that is really moreimpactful for them than them
just going through the motions?
Speaker 2 (32:02):
Yes, you know, I would say probably some of the
greatest tips is and I reallymentioned it before but go into
life learning, a life oflearning.
And it's not because I havewatched sometimes people foster,
then go into adoption, likeyourself, and then close the
(32:26):
door of learning and then theystruggle even greater through
the different cycles of thechildren growing up.
And I remember one of the it'sone of the on-demand trainings,
but they were talking aboutthere's different seasons of
lives in everyone's lives.
So don't think that you're notgoing to have that with even
(32:50):
children you adopt.
So I'm going to say live a lifeof learning period.
Secondly, whatever we face thatis hard, know that God is
speaking to us personally, notjust about the situation.
And if you do that in training,you will start to see what is.
(33:11):
What would God want me to learnin this training?
So it's taking on that.
What is God saying to mepersonally, not just
circumstantially.
And then, lastly, knowing thatGod wired even himself in
community from the beginning andthat we cannot do life alone
(33:35):
and I do feel like thatsometimes, when we're
overwhelmed, we tend to isolate.
And as what I would tell you,I've learned more sitting around
or even getting coffee at breakfrom other people, even in
trainings, than I have from thepeople themselves.
So community is probably one ofthe most key things that you
(33:58):
can take away from training.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Thank you so much for sharing those.
I think each one of those is so, so important, I do think, for
adoptive parents.
A lot of times, once theadoption is finalized, we're
like, oh well, we don't have todo these trainings anymore, we
are not required to do A, b andC, right, like it's kind of like
we can disconnect and wash ourhands of it.
But I mean, I talked on thepodcast last week like my kids
(34:24):
now are going through differentseasons.
We have kids that are enteringadulthood, we have kids that are
entering adolescence, right,and those things from their past
come up in different ways inthose different seasons, and so
we constantly have to belearning how to navigate each
(34:47):
season with our kids and how tosupport them through the
different things that they'redoing.
So I love that idea of being alifelong learner and, again, I
always love the spiritualcomponent, the faith component,
really learning to listen anddepend on God each step of the
way.
So, katrina, I appreciate youso much.
(35:11):
Where can people go to findFaithBridgeU?
Speaker 2 (35:16):
FaithBridgeUcom.
It is that simple.
If you were to type it in, itwould populate, it would take
you to our page and you couldeven look at trailers.
Look at what we have to offer.
And there's not even anycommitment like, oh, if I look
at this trailer, then I have towatch this, or if I see what
(35:37):
they have to offer, what'scoming up on live, I have to
commit to it.
No, you can just see it allright there on faithbridgeucom.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
I love that.
Thank you so much.
Well, thank you for being here.
We really appreciate you.
I really appreciate you andyour investment in my own path,
my own journey and my own life,but I appreciate your investment
in the foster care communitytoo.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
Thank you so much.
It was an honor to be here.
Speaker 1 (36:06):
I will leave a link in the show notes for
FaithBridgeU.
You can check it out foryourself.
I know you're going to love itas much as I do.
Let me pray for us as we closeout, dear Heavenly Father.
Lord, we are so thankful foryour grace and your kindness and
your faithfulness.
You show up over and over andover again and you prove
(36:30):
yourself faithful time aftertime.
Thank you for the strength thatyou give us each and every day.
Help us to lean into that anddepend on you for each step of
our journey in foster care andadoption.
Lord, thank you for theseresources for these individuals
that have gone before us andhave been willing to share what
(36:51):
they have gained along the way.
Lord, we love you, we trust you.
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