Joy in the Journey
2015 Retreat Speakers
Airick Leonard West
Raised in and out of foster care from birth until high school, Airick bounced around enough to have attended 11 schools prior to graduation. Airick attended urban, suburban and rural schools; private, public and parochial schools; lived with white families and black families; lived in racist communities and inclusive communities; experienced loving homes and homelessness. Drawing on his intimate familiarity with the triumphs and terrors of America's safety nets for children, Airick has devoted much of his adult life to advocating for the well-being of Kansas City's and Missouri's children.
Breakout Session: On a Bike in the Car Lane: A glimpse Through Your Child's Eyes
From foster families to international adoption-have you wondered what it is like from your child's perspective? Here is a glimpse from two people who lived it themselves. How did their identity develop racially/spiritually/emotionally and what advice would they give from further down the road? Join us to hear the unique insight and joy from a brother/sister black/white team.
From foster families to international adoption-have you wondered what it is like from your child's perspective? Here is a glimpse from two people who lived it themselves. How did their identity develop racially/spiritually/emotionally and what advice would they give from further down the road? Join us to hear the unique insight and joy from a brother/sister black/white team.
Meri Rogers
Raised with a family who fostered over 80 kids, Meri grew up to marry a guy who is adventurous with his facial hair and gather her tribe from Taiwan, Haiti, and even one homegrown surprise. She now spends her days feeding and schooling the growing bodies around her.
Breakout Session: On a Bike in the Car Lane: A Glimpse Through Your Child's Eyes
From foster families to international adoption-have you wondered what it is like from your child's perspective? Here is a glimpse from two people who lived it themselves. How did their identity develop racially/spiritually/emotionally and what advice would they give from further down the road? Join us to hear the unique insight and joy from a brother/sister black/white team.
Breakout Session: On a Bike in the Car Lane: A Glimpse Through Your Child's Eyes
From foster families to international adoption-have you wondered what it is like from your child's perspective? Here is a glimpse from two people who lived it themselves. How did their identity develop racially/spiritually/emotionally and what advice would they give from further down the road? Join us to hear the unique insight and joy from a brother/sister black/white team.
Nikki Pauls DeSimone
Nikki, MSW, is an adoption social worker, turned adoptive momma, who resides in Prairie Village, Kansas with her husband Brian and daughter Yiyi. Nikki also serves as an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri.
Main Session: An Intentional Approach to Grief and Loss {With Something Special Just For YOU}This session will examine the common theme of grief and loss as it pertains to adoption. In this session we will see how grief and loss issues can manifest themselves in your child though sleeping issues, eating issues, self-confidence issues, maturity, and their educational journey. We will look at trigger events and see how grief and loss issues will be lifelong. We will also take a look at our own grief and loss issues and see that by dealing with them proactively we may be able to avoid the common Post-Adoption Blues phenomenon. Come to this session with an open mind, ready to learn, perhaps put some pieces of your child's puzzle together, and examine the importance of self-awareness.
Breakout Session: Sharing Their StoriesThis session will examine the common theme of grief and loss as it pertains to adoption. In this session we will see how grief and loss issues can manifest themselves in your child though sleeping issues, eating issues, self-confidence issues, maturity, and their educational journey. We will look at trigger events and see how grief and loss issues will be lifelong. We will also take a look at our own grief and loss issues and see that by dealing with them proactively we may be able to avoid the common Post-Adoption Blues phenomenon. Come to this session with an open mind, ready to learn, perhaps put some pieces of your child's puzzle together, and examine the importance of self-awareness.
Main Session: An Intentional Approach to Grief and Loss {With Something Special Just For YOU}This session will examine the common theme of grief and loss as it pertains to adoption. In this session we will see how grief and loss issues can manifest themselves in your child though sleeping issues, eating issues, self-confidence issues, maturity, and their educational journey. We will look at trigger events and see how grief and loss issues will be lifelong. We will also take a look at our own grief and loss issues and see that by dealing with them proactively we may be able to avoid the common Post-Adoption Blues phenomenon. Come to this session with an open mind, ready to learn, perhaps put some pieces of your child's puzzle together, and examine the importance of self-awareness.
Breakout Session: Sharing Their StoriesThis session will examine the common theme of grief and loss as it pertains to adoption. In this session we will see how grief and loss issues can manifest themselves in your child though sleeping issues, eating issues, self-confidence issues, maturity, and their educational journey. We will look at trigger events and see how grief and loss issues will be lifelong. We will also take a look at our own grief and loss issues and see that by dealing with them proactively we may be able to avoid the common Post-Adoption Blues phenomenon. Come to this session with an open mind, ready to learn, perhaps put some pieces of your child's puzzle together, and examine the importance of self-awareness.
Pam Cope
Pam is the author of Jantsen's Gift and the Co-Founder of Touch A Life Foundation. She has been married to Randy for 32 years, is mom to Jantsen, Crista, Tatum and Van, and is a great fan of and advocate for adoption.
Breakout Session: The Impossible BirthAdoptive parents have been called to help birth the impossible. I often compare the experience of adoption to the experience of a photographer entering her dark room with a mysterious roll of undelveloped film. You don’t know what you are going to find, to recieve, to uncover. Often, we find that the process of developing this precious, unknown gift is far more complicated than we’d anticipated. After all, if it were not for the fact that something had gone terribly wrong at some point, adoption would not be necessary. And it’s true: when an adoptive parent steps out in obedience and answers the calling of James 1:27, they will undoubtedly get familiar with words like trauma, abandonment and rejection. But, under all the fear, and after the complicated process is over, there is such beauty to be discovered. As an adoptive mother of three children from very different backgrounds, I know that you will see so much joy and hope unfold. Because the day you said yes and opened your home and heart to one of God’s children, you have done all that He required. What you have been given is perfect in itself — even with the bumps and imperfections you will find. My prayer is that I can help adoptive families walk in confidence and freedom as a parent without judgement. Everyone needs to believe and embrace that no matter what challenges you might face, love will win in the end.
Breakout Session: The Impossible BirthAdoptive parents have been called to help birth the impossible. I often compare the experience of adoption to the experience of a photographer entering her dark room with a mysterious roll of undelveloped film. You don’t know what you are going to find, to recieve, to uncover. Often, we find that the process of developing this precious, unknown gift is far more complicated than we’d anticipated. After all, if it were not for the fact that something had gone terribly wrong at some point, adoption would not be necessary. And it’s true: when an adoptive parent steps out in obedience and answers the calling of James 1:27, they will undoubtedly get familiar with words like trauma, abandonment and rejection. But, under all the fear, and after the complicated process is over, there is such beauty to be discovered. As an adoptive mother of three children from very different backgrounds, I know that you will see so much joy and hope unfold. Because the day you said yes and opened your home and heart to one of God’s children, you have done all that He required. What you have been given is perfect in itself — even with the bumps and imperfections you will find. My prayer is that I can help adoptive families walk in confidence and freedom as a parent without judgement. Everyone needs to believe and embrace that no matter what challenges you might face, love will win in the end.
Terrica Joy Smith
Following a decade of travel and speaking across North America, Terrica Joy Smith reigned it all for a slow and deliberate season of intentionality. A passionate wife and mother she now spends her days toddler-chasing, chicken-keeping, kitchen-cleaning and garden-tending in the rolling hills of Tennessee. Aside from traveling the world with her husband and daughter, her most savored calling rests in gathering friends far and wide around the table to be nourished mind, body, and spirit. For more of the journey visit www.terricajoy.com
Main Session: Living With IntentionIn our social-media-obsessed, productivity-focused, never-a-moment-without-our-cell-phone culture... we've lost sight of what living with intention even means anymore. We've forgotten what it means to be present, to be engaged with our children, to actually sit and savor a meal. And we've absolutely lost sight of what it means to rest, the deeply profound and necessary kind of rest that actually heals and restores us mind, body, and spirit.
We are a broken culture. But we don't have to live this way.
Let's refocus. Let's define what intention actually is, what it looks and feels like. Because if we are to live well and daily rise to the calling of wife, mother, sister, and friend... living with intention is not optional. It is necessary.
Breakout Session: The Intention ProjectAs with all great revelations, the concept for 'The Intention Project' occurred to me in the shower. Not just any shower, but one where only moments after finally getting the baby down, my darling husband made an asinine comment. And then I threw a temper a tantrum before the God of the universe. And then all defensive and resentful-like climbed exhausted into the shower. It would be truer to say I was provoked to the revelation of 'The Intention Project.'Join me in this break out session as I share the humorous and incredibly honest story of how this whole thing came about, how it effected me to the core, and most importantly, how it made way for God to turn our entire life upside down and absolutely astound us with His goodness.
Main Session: Living With IntentionIn our social-media-obsessed, productivity-focused, never-a-moment-without-our-cell-phone culture... we've lost sight of what living with intention even means anymore. We've forgotten what it means to be present, to be engaged with our children, to actually sit and savor a meal. And we've absolutely lost sight of what it means to rest, the deeply profound and necessary kind of rest that actually heals and restores us mind, body, and spirit.
We are a broken culture. But we don't have to live this way.
Let's refocus. Let's define what intention actually is, what it looks and feels like. Because if we are to live well and daily rise to the calling of wife, mother, sister, and friend... living with intention is not optional. It is necessary.
Breakout Session: The Intention ProjectAs with all great revelations, the concept for 'The Intention Project' occurred to me in the shower. Not just any shower, but one where only moments after finally getting the baby down, my darling husband made an asinine comment. And then I threw a temper a tantrum before the God of the universe. And then all defensive and resentful-like climbed exhausted into the shower. It would be truer to say I was provoked to the revelation of 'The Intention Project.'Join me in this break out session as I share the humorous and incredibly honest story of how this whole thing came about, how it effected me to the core, and most importantly, how it made way for God to turn our entire life upside down and absolutely astound us with His goodness.
Jen hasn’t sat still in 38 years. It’s a problem. She is learning to sit at her Savior’s feet and that “doing” is not nearly as important as “being” his dearly loved daughter. This is a hard lesson for this busy and driven mama of 3, but it is proving to be the most important one yet. Growing up in an adoptive family herself, God gave Jen a passion for supporting and equipping adoptive families. She, and her husband Loren, are Empowered to Connect trainers in Kansas City, where Jen is the director of an area foster and adoption ministry.
Main Session: EnoughAs in ENOUGH ALREADY! As women, wives, moms, and moms-to-be it often seems like the whole world has placed on us a set of expectations, approved Christian methods and magic formulas. And we, wanting to be our best, try to apply all of it so we can guarantee the outcome:
Parent this way and have well attached and adjusted kids. Pray this way for your spouse and have the marriage of your dreams. Do this, don’t do that, sprinkle in some grace and voila. As if this whole thing rests on us.
The truth is, this is hard stuff. All of it. And God says His grace is sufficient and HE is enough. Notice how the magic formulas are not what Jesus spends his time teaching? His message is simple. He is the redeemer, He is our hope, in Him, sister…you are enough! Let’s let that soak in…it isn’t all on your shoulders…lets talk about how to start living that way.
Breakout Session: Connecting While CorrectingEver walk away from handing a child’s difficult behavior feeling defeated and discouraged? Do you ever think? “I hate how that went down. I had no idea what else to do.” Does it seem like the ways you were parented don’t work on your kids and almost seem to have the reverse effect? If so, join us for this breakout. Learn how to establish new goals when correcting behavior and some effective strategies that leave you more connected with your child. This is a very empowering breakout for anyone who has children who misbehave. If you have perfect children…do not come to this breakout!
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