Raising Grace

Lori Holden, a veteran parent of two young young adults, writes at LavenderLuz.com and hosts the podcast Adoption: The Long View. She’s the author of the acclaimed book The Open-Hearted Way to Open Adoption (recommended by People magazine in 2021), written with her daughter’s birth mom. Her book is featured on adoption-agency required-reading lists across the country. She has keynoted and presented at adoption conferences around the US and Canada, and she is available to coach families through tricky adoption situations. In 2018, she was honored as an Angel in Adoption® by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. Her new book, Adoption Unfiltered, co-written with adoptee Sara Easterly and birth mom Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard, will be available in late 2023. Lori and her family live in Denver, CO.

Viviana Colelli is a multi-talented individual with a passion for photography and education. As a mother of two young children, Viviana balances her role as a parent while pursuing her career. With a loving husband by her side for the past decade, she finds joy in nurturing her family and cultivating a strong bond. Viviana's versatile skills have led her to teach photography at a college level, sharing her expertise and enthusiasm with aspiring photographers. This new opportunity has sparked excitement in her life, motivating her to continue honing her craft. But Viviana's ambitions don't end there. She is also embarking on a new venture as the host of a podcast tailored to immigrant mothers. Through her podcast, she aims to address the challenges faced by these mothers in connecting with their true selves while simultaneously managing the demands of raising children. Originally from Colombia, Viviana takes pride in her cultural heritage. This Colombian-born mother, photographer, educator, and podcast host is determined to make a positive impact in the lives of immigrant mothers and beyond.

Janell opens up about her journey as a parent and her experiences raising a child with a chronic illness. She shares the challenges and emotions that come with parenting a child with cancer, as well as the strength and resilience she has found through her faith in God. She bravely discusses her own battles with mental health and how she has navigated the ups and downs of life while being a caretaker for her children. Through heartfelt storytelling and vulnerability, Janell imparts her wisdom and insights on how to find hope, acceptance, and joy in the face of adversity. She reminds us that there is no manual for parenting a child with a chronic disease, but by doing the best we can with the information we have, we can create a loving and supportive environment for our children. Join us as we dive deep into topics such as parenting, faith, mental health, and finding purpose in the midst of challenging circumstances. This episode is filled with touching anecdotes, relatable experiences, and a reminder that we are not alone in our struggles.

On this episode of Raising Grace Podcast, we have the privilege of speaking with Gabrielle Crichlow, the owner and director of A Step Ahead Tutoring Services. Gabrielle shares her journey from Trinidad and Tobago to the United States, and how her experiences in the American education system shaped her perspective on school. Gabrielle discusses the differences she noticed between the American and Trinidadian education systems, from date formats to spelling variations. She opens up about her parents' generation, who view school as simpler back in their day, and the challenges they perceive in today's education system. School-related issues, such as low self-esteem, anger, and yelling from parents, are plaguing many students. As an educator and tutor, Gabrielle's role is to help students navigate these challenges and understand the importance of education. While she acknowledges that not all students will love school, she teaches them to view it as important and helps them set and achieve their own goals. By understanding students' motivations and creating personalized strategies, Gabrielle supports students in their educational journey. Gabrielle emphasizes the impact of outside factors on a student's attitude towards education, such as family dynamics, social influences, and health. She believes in meeting students where they are and fostering an environment of love, grace, and patience. Using creative and fun methods, like incorporating videos and games, can help motivate kids to engage with homework. Finding a balance between being strict and flexible, Gabrielle encourages parents and educators to understand kids' motivations and create middle ground solutions, like allocating time for video games in exchange for completing homework. By meeting kids in their own space and understanding their motivations, we can create a better engagement with homework and ultimately support their overall well-being. Join us on this insightful episode of Raising Grace Podcast as we dive deep into understanding the challenges students face in their educational journey and how we can support them to achieve their goals.   Follow A Step Ahead Tutoring Services: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Eventbrite | Website | Podcast

In this episode, we will hear from Cheryl, a foster and adoptive parent who has dedicated her life to helping children in need of stability and care. From overcoming personal health challenges while taking care of her special needs children, to navigating the complexities of the foster care system, Cheryl has experienced it all. Along the way, she has learned valuable lessons about giving herself grace and supporting the emotional needs of the children in her care. Join us as Cheryl shares her inspiring journey and provides insights into the realities of foster care and adoption.

On this episode, Sandra Cooze shares her perspectives on parenting, overcoming trauma, and rebuilding relationships. She discusses how she and her husband teach their son about honesty and owning up to mistakes. Additionally, Sandra talks about bullying, both her experience and her son’s, sharing the importance of focusing on being with the child and handling trauma with a professional. She also speaks about how to deal with trauma triggers, breaking down past troubling experiences, and rebuilding trust. Overall, this episode offers a lot of helpful and useful information on overcoming trauma and parenting with understanding, compassion, and love.

In this episode of Raising Grace, Jessica Tagler shares her inspiring journey as a mother and her work at Naomi House, an emergency placement shelter and foster home for Native American children in Northern Arizona. She delves into her own experiences, including the challenging decision to give her daughter up for adoption as a teen, and later raising her two children as a single mom. Jessica highlights the importance of forgiveness, self-grace, and the need for children's homes on every reservation to support Native American kids facing significant trauma. She also reflects on her mistakes and offers encouragement to mothers grappling with self-doubt. Throughout the episode, Jessica's insights shed light on the vital role of mothers and the need for resources to uplift Native American children. Don't miss this heartfelt conversation on the struggles and beauty of Native American communities.

Dr. Kim Dwyer is a mother of three boys ages 14, 18, and 21. She owns her own therapy practice, is an author and an artist. Kims work as a mother and a counselor is rooted in the belief that by managing and tolerating uncomfortable emotions, we can live intentionally, in accordance with our value systems. Kim talks about her experience going through stressful pregnancies and dealing with hard emotions as a parent. Check out her website at www.drkimdwyer.comThere you will also find her books. My kids and I love her childrens' book called “Rocky’s Christmas Journey”.  You can find more information including the show notes at my website www.sheilakchester.com Please follow me on social media. Facebook or InstagramThank you listeners! If you liked this podcast, please rate and review wherever you listen to your podcast. If you loved this podcast, donate to my patreon account.

Taylor Multz is the mother of two children including one special needs child. Taylor was thrown into parenting at the age of 21 when she gave birth to her child alone in an Italian hospital while her husband was deployed. There she found out through a translator that her child had some pretty serious medical issues. She talks about the strength she has had to build over the past seven years in parenting a special needs child along side a great husband, close family and great friends. You can find more information including the show notes at my website www.sheilakchester.com Please follow me on social media. Facebook or InstagramThank you listeners! If you liked this podcast, please rate and review wherever you listen to your podcast. If you loved this podcast, donate to my patreon account.

Marjie Hadad is an international public relations expert, the general manager of Must Have Communication & Consulting, an Amazon Number 1 bestselling author, an award-winning TV producer, as well as a coach and a speaker on how to apply public relations strategies to parenting, life and careers. The Power of PR Parenting is her first book. Marjie holds a BS in Broadcast Journalism and an MA in International Relations both from Boston University. She is married and is the mother of three children. She lives in Israel and the United States. For more information: www.mhc-pr.com and www.PRFor.LifeThe Book: Purchase book on Amazon | Free book portal  medical pr websiteSocial ChannelsLinkedIn |  Youtube | Instagram | Facebook | TikTokYou can find more information including the show notes at my website www.sheilakchester.com Please follow me on social media. Facebook or InstagramThank you listeners! If you liked this podcast, please rate and review wherever you listen to your podcast. If you loved this podcast, donate to my patreon account.

Austin Andersen is the mother of four children including boy/girl twins. Her second daughter has a anaphylactic peanut allergy as well as an egg allergy. The twins also have food allergies. Austin talks about living her dream as being a stay at home mom of these four amazing kiddos and navigating serious food allergies in her children. You can find more information including the show notes at my website www.sheilakchester.com Please follow me on social media. Facebook or InstagramThank you listeners! If you liked this podcast, please rate and review wherever you listen to your podcast. If you loved this podcast, donate to my patreon account.

During my interview with Savanna Simmons, she turned it around on me! Here is a short episode on my life as a mother. Sheila Chester is the became the mother of three children through an 11 year journey with infertility. Her children come to her through adoption and fertility treatments. She talks about her openness with her adopted childrens' biological parents and siblings. We also talk a lot about the differences of raising kids in a rural area vs the city. Sheila lives with her husband and three kids in the suburbs of Denver, CO. You can find more information including the show notes at my website www.sheilakchester.com Please follow me on social media. Facebook or InstagramThank you listeners! If you liked this podcast, please rate and review wherever you listen to your podcast. If you loved this podcast, donate to my patreon account.

Sarah Spurlock is a mother of a 10 year old boy through adoption, a family and marriage therapist, the owner of a multi-therapist counseling business, the wife of a pastor, and a long time friend of mine. Sarah is the kind of person I would describe as being a bulldog - she doesn’t take no for an answer and that comes especially with her child. She will teach us how to become advocates for our kids and our loved ones through never accepting no for an answer. We could all benefit from becoming a little more like Sarah. You can find more information about sarah’s company on her website at denvercounselingsolutions.com Resources for adoption related services whether you are beginning the process or are a seasoned guardian:  https://www.raisethefuture.org/https://growbeyondwords.com/You can find more information including the show notes at my website www.sheilakchester.com Please follow me on social media. Facebook or InstagramThank you listeners! If you liked this podcast, please rate and review wherever you listen to your podcast. If you loved this podcast, donate to my patreon account.

Kalyn Wright is my aunt, though she felt much like an older sister since she is only 10 years older than me and spent many of her summers at my home. She had a completely different childhood from the rest of her family which set her on a life trajectory much different than any of her brothers and sisters.  She was the youngest of 7 children, with her oldest sibling being 20 years older. She was raised mostly as an only child after her father died when she was just 12. From spending her early childhood raised on a farm in rural South Dakota to graduating High School in a large city in Arizona. She talks about how the fatherless teen years shaped her and made her who she is today.  She has and deeply loves four biological children, but only able to know two of them. She lost contact with two of her children due to incarceration in her 20s and was never able to get reconnected with them after being released from prison. I could go on and on, but I want you to hear this interview. This interview is proof that you just can’t predict life on genetics alone and you can’t judge a person on their past. She currently lives with her husband and 2 kids in an RV somewhere in the lower 48 United States as an entrepreneur and home schooler. You can find more information about Kalyn and her husbands businesses at www.surroundsoundSEO.com You can find more information including the show notes at my website www.sheilakchester.com Please follow me on social media. Facebook or InstagramThank you listeners! If you liked this podcast, please rate and review wherever you listen to your podcast. If you loved this podcast, donate to my patreon account.

Kate Schwindt is an entrepreneur, a step mother and the shared guardian of her step daughters children. Kate came into a family after their mother had died of cancer - she helped raise teens with a traumatic past. She now helps raise the children of those children. Her journey has not been an easy one, but her love for these kids goes beyond anything you could imagine. Blood doesn’t make a mother, love does. Learn more about Kate on her websiteYou can find more information including the show notes at my website www.sheilakchester.com Please follow me on social media. Facebook or InstagramThank you listeners! If you liked this podcast, please rate and review wherever you listen to your podcast. If you loved this podcast, donate to my patreon account.

Happy Valentines Day! I think nothing shows love better than the acts of a mother or parent. So this morning I'm reading a piece I wrote when my children were ages 3 months, 3 years, and 6 years old. This was a morning just like every other morning - not one dull moment. You can find more information including the show notes at my website www.sheilakchester.com Please follow me on social media. Facebook or InstagramThank you listeners! If you liked this podcast, please rate and review wherever you listen to your podcast. If you loved this podcast, donate to my patreon account.

Kelly Fullerton is an entrepreneur, chronic pain warrior and mother. Kelly has dealt with a an invisible and painful auto-immune disease most of her life. In the midst of that she worked to become a mother and has learned to parent through her physical pain. She speaks to us about her journey through chronic pain, infertility, motherhood, and finding peace.   She now runs a business helping others on their complicated journeys through life. “When the world feels dark, let your soul shine.”You can find more about Kelly at her website here What is her disease "EDS"? Link HereYou can find more information including the show notes at my website www.sheilakchester.com Please follow me on social media. Facebook or InstagramThank you listeners! If you liked this podcast, please rate and review wherever you listen to your podcast. If you loved this podcast, donate to my patreon account.

Rev. Justin Spurlock has been a good friend of mine for over 10 years now. He is a father, pastor, theologian, business mastermind, and an all around great person. Justin has been in ministry most of his life - in fact he gave his first sermon at age 14. Justin's faith has changed over time and while he is a Christian pastor, he talks a lot about faith in general terms - not just in Christian terms. About five years ago I reluctantly started working for him at a church in the suburbs of Denver, CO. I had been burned by religion before and wasn’t confident I could trust another church - let alone work for one. Justin has guided me personally on my faith journey and I couldn’t be more grateful. I love my job and have grown in ways I didn't think possible. I think you will enjoy this episode - no matter where you are in your faith journey. You can find more information including the show notes at my website www.sheilakchester.com Please follow me on social media. Facebook or InstagramThank you listeners! If you liked this podcast, please rate and review wherever you listen to your podcast. If you loved this podcast, donate to my patreon account.

Savanna Simmons is a cowgirl and creative entrepreneur living in very rural Wyoming with her husband ( a real life cowboy) and two boys. She talks about the challenges and joys of country living. she is a self-published author and artist. She gets inspiration from her two sons, Brindle and Roan, who live for adventures and exploring on the ranch.  Savanna is really living her best life on the great plains. Find out more about Savanna at her website.You can find more information including the show notes at my website www.sheilakchester.com Please follow me on social media. Facebook or InstagramThank you listeners! If you liked this podcast, please rate and review wherever you listen to your podcast. If you loved this podcast, donate to my patreon account.

Micah Bower is a military wife, entrepreneur, outspoken mother of 2 very sassy girls. She talks about their time living in Japan as well as the transition back to the united states during a pandemic and a cancer scare. Micah discusses dealing with post partum depression and how she now works with new moms to find peace through pregnancy and post partum. You can support Micah through her website at Use The Clutch  You can follow her on her Instagram page: The Pink Haired DoulaYou can find more information including the show notes at my website www.sheilakchester.com Please follow me on social media. Facebook or InstagramThank you listeners! If you liked this podcast, please rate and review wherever you listen to your podcast. If you loved this podcast, donate to my patreon account.