1657 My Strength Is My Story with Heather Avis

In a world of divisions and margins, those who act, look, and grow a little differently are all too often shoved aside. Heather Avis reminds us to scoot over and make some room for those we are prone to ignore and challenges us to listen and learn. Heather Avis: A wife of 17 years to Josh and mom to their three children: Macyn, Truly, and August. She is a popular speaker, podcast of The Lucky Few, and Instagrammer. Heather's family story has been featured by numerous outlets, including Time, Today, PopSugar, and most recently in a Disney World Commercial. Heather is a two-time author. Her first book is The Lucky Few. Her brand new book is Scoot Over and Make Some Room. "We need to embrace who are kids fully are, even if they're totally different from everybody else." ~ Heather Avis   CONNECT with Heather Avis BOOK: Scoot Over and Make Some Room Enjoy the multitude of topics discussed including infertility, adoption, the dance recital, and diversity, plus so much more. Feet under the table Adoption Infertility Womanhood Rest Self-care Fitting In Down Syndrome What's your name? Limitations Jesus, the Mold Breaker The Orange Couch Seed's Success Sriracha and Marmalade Mamas Know my babies Come as they are The Dance Recital Hip Hop Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars Diversity and Race Intentionality Racial Reconciliation Questions & Curiosity Who's missing? Step in the tension Typical Day Advocate for children Self-worth Posture of the Heart The Church   CONNECT with Heather Avis BOOK: Scoot Over and Make Some Room   "We weren't going to raise our daughter who's black to be like a white girl." ~ Heather Avis #MyStrengthIsMyStory #CreateYourNow #HeatherAvis   Quotes and statements within the interview: "We tried to have kids naturally and couldn't. But still wanted to be parents. And so adoption made the most sense for us." "The end goal was to be parents. It wasn't to have a child who looked liked us or who shared our genes. That doesn't feel super important to my husband and me." "There's brokenness in infertility." "You can't know what you don't know." "I really didn't start thinking about my need for rest until my thirties, until I was already three kids in." "I started finding for myself that the idea of self-care felt like another to-do on my list, and it felt burdensome." "My oldest is eleven, and when she shows up in a space, she shows up as she is." "And now I just watch it unfold and embrace it, and see what beauty there is there. And I learn so much from her constantly." "We're just so concerned about ourselves that it stops us from showing up fully as who we are and understanding who it is God made us to be." "Jesus showed up to the scene breaking all of the molds." "And they should be welcomed in every space that we are in, and not just welcomed, but invited into every space we are in." "My research was the closest, most affordable class." "I want to dance with Macyn!" "It just takes everybody adjusting a little bit for her to be successful; and it's not too much to ask a hundred people to adjust a little bit for one person." "And to see the fullness of humanity and to see the fullness of God in that humanity, that's come from my motherhood." "But I want to be available to help Truly navigate life as a person of color." "Truly has helped to push us into that space where we're learning and listening, and learning and listening and trying to show up and be aware of our blind spots." "Proximity and relationship are really important." "It's a pretty normal life over in our neck of the woods." "We will keep shouting their worth as long as people are listening. And even when they stop listening, we will keep shouting." "Every human being is an image-bearer of God." "I need my kids to be fully included in a church environment."   What has your story gifted you? Relationships "Relationships with people that I never would have been in relationship with."   Resources mentioned in the episode: CONNECT with Heather Avis BOOK: Scoot Over and Make Some Room Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLuckyFewOfficial/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theluckyfewofficial   "One step at a time leads to miles of greatness!"   Subscribe to Create Your Now TV on YouTube. Listen to Create Your Now on Spotify and Pandora. Listen to Create Your Now on iHeart Radio. Click here. 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This is a free 30-45 minute call for those serious about coaching with me. 12. Newsletter and Library: If you desire to get weekly emails, be sure to sign up here so you can stay connected. http://createyournow.com/library   Cover Art by Jenny Hamson   Music by Mandisa - Overcomer http://www.mandisaofficial.com Song ID: 68209 Song Title: Overcomer Writer(s): Ben Glover, Chris Stevens, David Garcia Copyright © 2013 Meaux Mercy (BMI) Moody Producer Music (BMI) 9t One Songs (ASCAP) Ariose Music (ASCAP) Universal Music -  Brentwood Benson Publ. (ASCAP) D Soul Music (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.