Figuring Out What Really Matters in Adoption & Fostering

Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast! In this episode, my special guest and friend is Cynthia Yanof, who has been featured on this podcast before. Cynthia is the biological mother to two kids who have flown the nest, one graduated from college and one just starting, and her family also adopted a son who is in third grade. Cynthia stays busy not just as a mom but as a podcaster, speaker, and author. Her latest book, “How’d I Miss That?” sparks a lot of today’s conversation. It is so easy to get distracted as a foster or adoptive parent by all the busyness and urgent tasks of life, and I wanted to take a minute with Cynthia to focus on what really matters in this calling. A lot happens in life, a lot of distractions or even too much information, so let’s get back to the basics. Somewhere along our journeys, God opened our eyes to loving children who are not our own. How do we do this well? Cynthia offers advice gained from her own experience, along with humor and gut-punches (the good kind!). Here are a few key takeaways: Understanding what really matters as parents is crucial. Little differences in our actions can lead to significant impacts. The urgent tasks in life often don’t have an eternal impact. Finding humor in parenting challenges can ease stress. If you’re going to laugh about it later, laugh about it now Community and support are essential for foster and adoptive parents. Being a 'namer' helps children understand their identity in Christ. A reluctant 'yes' to God's calling can still lead to great things. The Lord is faithful and will reveal Himself in our journeys. Life is short; we must not miss the opportunities God gives us. You can learn more about Cynthia Yanof on her website You can follow her on Instagram You can check out MESSmerized with Cynthia Yanof click here You can find her book on Amazon or wherever you shop for books! It is called, “How’d I Miss That?: Gas Pump Confessions, Drive-Thru Obsessions, and Figuring Out What Really Matters” Christian Parenting resource for you: Morning Minute Subscribe now at MorningMinute.org to receive each weekday morning a verse to strengthen your spirit, one parenting insight grounded in Christ-like wisdom, one short action item to guide your heart and your kids’ and one resource to help you go deeper. To submit your prayer requests, use this form by clicking here! You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at [email protected]. I would love to connect with you on Instagram or send you my monthly newsletter with free resources and first access to episodes and more!