WHITNEY: ON INFERTILITY + TWEENS + DEALING WITH SOCIAL WORKERS
Whitney Bunker is a social worker, orphan care ministry leader, and adoptive mama of two beautiful girls. This week we talk about the ups and downs of infertility (including deciding when to adopt in the midst of it and how to help--and not help--a friend struggling through it), being a social worker and a foster/adoptive parent all at once, our shared love for TBRI and Empowered to Connect, parenting a tween, and all the fun things she doing/eating/reading/watching/listening to.
• The intro song, The Source, is brought to you by one of the best new worship bands out there, The Evidence. Yes, the frontman is my (talented, brilliant, adorable, Jesus-loving) cousin. No, that's not why I love them.
• The Connected Child by Dr. Karyn Purvis {THE book for parenting foster + adopted kiddos. If you don't have it, you need it.} Find a TBRI practitioner near you.
• Every foster and adoptive parent should attend an Empowered to Connect Simulcast. It's a two day intro to trauma informed parenting, and it will flat. out. change the way you think about and parent your foster and adopted kiddos. I'm hosting one right here in South Jersey. Whitney is hosting two in the southern valley of California. Otherwise, check this map for the location closest to you.
•Whitney didn't oversell her friend @legacyoflove_creations. Such. cute. stuff. I spent a few minutes contemplating buying a cute beginner's guide to calligraphy and then remembered: not me. at all.
• What the heck? Who else has known about Poke Bowls this whole time and hasn't shared?! NJ must be behind CA in the poke-bowl-department, but I'll be getting my hands on one with Whitney soon enough.
• Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero - Especially great for people who have been Christians for a long time and have a good understanding of doctrine, but wonder why they're not growing.
• I mentioned Mike Berry's blog, Confessions of an Adoptive Parent. Also check out his new book, Confessions of An Adoptive Parent, if you're weary or confused or need a good old fashioned pep talk (or Born Broken by his wife, Kristin Berry, if you appreciate more of a first-person narrative). It's good stuff.
• I can't stop talking about Refresh Seattle. It's THE gathering for foster and adoptive parents. Life-giving, encouraging, challenging, informative, fun. It is just plain, old great. Next year's conference is March 16-17, and you'll want to be there. You have a year to block the calendar and save and collect your childcare. Get on it.
• Whitney's watching Modern Family. I'm watching Parenthood. One will make you laugh, the other will make you (equal parts) smile and cry.
• I started listening to Whitney's church's worship band, Via Music, on Spotify. You guys, it's good stuff.
• Check out City Without Orphan's Exploring Foster Care and Adoption Course. It's a great resource if you're considering foster care and adoption personally, but would be especially great to explore and encourage as a church group.
• I'll be visiting my friends at City Without Orphans in Fresno, California in May for their "Further the Mission" Dessert Night. I'll be the keynote speaker for a night of celebrating and supporting all that God is doing through their beautiful organization!
