Fostering & Adoption Podcast with Nikki & Larry

S1 Ep. 16: Nurturing Creativity and Confidence — The Power of Art and Music with Heather Tipps

In this vibrant and heartfelt conversation, Heather Tipps, owner of En Route Academy of the Arts, opens up about the transformative role of creativity in children’s lives—and how a single supportive environment can ignite lifelong growth.
Drawing from a rich family legacy of music, ministry, and teaching, Heather and her sister envisioned an academy that would reach beyond technical mastery to nurture the soul, confidence and resilience of every student, no matter their background. Learn about Heather’s musical childhood, the origin story of the Academy and the unique ways her team weaves faith, artistry and individualized encouragement into every lesson.
Heather recounts how the Academy’s offerings have evolved: what began as a handful of piano lessons now branches out into group toddler classes, private instruction in voice, guitar and drums and a flourishing art department where children experiment with drawing, painting and even digital media. Heather says the academy is a “second home” for many kids—especially those navigating insecurities, trauma or the challenges of foster care.
Visit En Route Academy of the Arts by clicking here ➡️ https://www.enrouteacademy.com/
Are you a foster or adoptive parent who would like to share what God has done in your life? We would love to hear from you! Click the link below. https://cherishedimphttps://cherishedimpressionscpa.com/our-podcastressionscpa.com/ 
Learn how we help families in our community through SWAGG: https://www.facebook.com/swaggprograms
Listen to Sam's The One Called Mama podcast by clicking here:
https://onecalledmama.org/one-called-mama-podcast

S1 Ep. 15: Miracles and Newfound Missions | Part 2 of Eric Porter’s Story

In today's conclusion of Eric Porter's story, we continue to hear the miraculous ways God is showing up in his ministry Backyard Orphans. As Eric continues his efforts to save orphans, both here and around the world, he also shares what God is stirring in his heart for the crisis happening at our border. The shocking reality and desperate state of those in our community calls for our immediate action. The first step being prayer. Are you the next missionary to reach our local orphans and change the world one child at a time?
Visit Backyard Orphans here: https://backyardorphans.org/
Pray with Eric and his team by visiting here: prayer.backyardorphans.org 
Volunteer, donate or invite Eric to speak at your church by clicking here: https://backyardorphans.org/next-steps/ 
Are you a foster or adoptive parent who would like to share what God has done in your life? We would love to hear from you! Click the link below. https://cherishedimphttps://cherishedimpressionscpa.com/our-podcastressionscpa.com/ 
Learn how we help families in our community through SWAGG: https://www.facebook.com/swaggprograms
Listen to Sam's The One Called Mama podcast by clicking here:
https://onecalledmama.org/one-called-mama-podcast

S1 Ep. 14: Until There's None Left | Interview with Eric Porter Part 1

"Eric, you're flying over kids to reach kids." That was the message Eric Porter received from God one day 14 years ago. As a pastor, he heard story after story of kids in his local community being neglected, abandoned and abused. When he began to witness it firsthand, he knew something had to change. So, when God said "go", he packed up his wife and kids and set out on a new mission: to rescue the orphan in his own backyard. That is how his ministry Backyard Orphans was founded and today they have saved over 2600 children through their powerful training programs, outreach initiatives and active global engagement.
Today is part one of a two part special, so please be sure to tune in next week as we hear what's on the horizon for Eric and his team and how you can partner with Backyard Orphans.
Visit Backyard Orphans here: https://backyardorphans.org/
Pray with Eric and his team by visiting here: prayer.backyardorphans.org 
Volunteer, donate or invite Eric to speak at your church by clicking here: https://backyardorphans.org/next-steps/ 
Are you a foster or adoptive parent who would like to share what God has done in your life? We would love to hear from you! Click the link below. https://cherishedimphttps://cherishedimpressionscpa.com/our-podcastressionscpa.com/ 
Learn how we help families in our community through SWAGG: https://www.facebook.com/swaggprograms
Listen to Sam's The One Called Mama podcast by clicking here:
https://onecalledmama.org/one-called-mama-podcast

S1 Ep. 13: Bridging the Gap for Youth and Families | Kandi Shaw’s Commitment to Community Care

This episode spotlights Kandi Shaw, a dedicated therapist and advocate who has spent nearly two decades supporting children and families in Ellis County. Drawing on her expansive experience as a trauma-informed therapist, member of the Child Welfare Board, writer of adoption home studies, and leader in transitional living programs, Kandi offers listeners an in-depth look at the interconnected supports available for foster youth, young adults, and single parents in the community.
 
Kandi shares her passion for guiding young adults ages 18–24—especially those aging out of foster care or lacking family support—through transitional living and skills-building programs. She discusses the crucial role of connection, family support, and trauma-informed approaches in helping youth and parents develop confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging. The episode delves into the unique challenges faced by foster and adoptive parents as they nurture teens from hard places, the importance of customized parenting strategies and accountability, and ways to foster genuine, healing relationships.
 
Are you a foster or adoptive parent who would like to share what God has done in your life? We would love to hear from you! Click the link below. https://cherishedimphttps://cherishedimpressionscpa.com/our-podcastressionscpa.com/ 
Learn how we help families in our community through SWAGG: https://www.facebook.com/swaggprograms
Listen to Sam's The One Called Mama podcast by clicking here:
https://onecalledmama.org/one-called-mama-podcast
 

S1 Ep. 12: Blessings Through Faith in the Unexpected | April Walker’s Family Journey

This heartwarming episode features April Walker as she shares her family’s remarkable path through eight years of hope, heartbreak, and unwavering faith on the road to parenthood. After she and her husband were told by doctors they might never have children, they explored foster care and adoption—only to be met with setbacks, losses, and challenging moves. April’s story unfolds with emotional honesty as she recounts the initial loss of a beloved child she cared for in a hospital, their move out-of-state, and the long wait to start a family.
 
Are you a foster or adoptive parent who would like to share what God has done in your life? We would love to hear from you! Click the link below. https://cherishedimphttps://cherishedimpressionscpa.com/our-podcastressionscpa.com/ 
Learn how we help families in our community through SWAGG: https://www.facebook.com/swaggprograms
Listen to Sam's The One Called Mama podcast by clicking here:
https://onecalledmama.org/one-called-mama-podcast
 

S1 Ep. 11: Embracing Hope in Hard Places | Emily Hindman’s Foster Care Journey

This week’s episode features Emily Hindman, a remarkable leader in the Ellis County foster and adoption community who truly wears many hats. Emily is a licensed professional counselor with 24 years of experience, a practicing attorney specializing in family law and adoptions, and the secretary of the Ellis County Child Welfare Board. Through her private counseling practice, she primarily serves foster youth and teens, while her law office focuses on helping families navigate CPS cases, custody, and—her true passion—adoption, having completed over 225 adoptions since becoming an attorney.
Are you a foster or adoptive parent who would like to share what God has done in your life? We would love to hear from you! Click the link below. https://cherishedimphttps://cherishedimpressionscpa.com/our-podcastressionscpa.com/ 
Learn how we help families in our community through SWAGG: https://www.facebook.com/swaggprograms
Listen to us on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/@NikkiandSamPodcast
Listen to Sam's The One Called Mama podcast by clicking here:
https://onecalledmama.org/one-called-mama-podcast
 

S1 Ep. 10: Serving Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Families | Rebecca Pettis

Rebecca opens up about her many roles: teaching others how to become foster parents, guiding churches in orphan care, and running a foster closet that provides free essentials to foster, adoptive, and kinship families. Whether it’s diapers, clothes, cribs, or encouragement, Rebecca’s mission is to ensure every child and caregiver feels seen, supported, and loved.
Are you a foster or adoptive parent who would like to share what God has done in your life? We would love to hear from you! Click the link below. https://cherishedimphttps://cherishedimpressionscpa.com/our-podcastressionscpa.com/ 
Learn how we help families in our community through SWAGG: https://www.facebook.com/swaggprograms
Listen to us on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/@NikkiandSamPodcast
Listen to Sam's The One Called Mama podcast by clicking here:
https://onecalledmama.org/one-called-mama-podcast
 

S1 Ep. 9: God’s Miraculous Rescue in Foster Care | Linda Bobo Reddoch's Story

God’s calling on Linda Bobo Reddoch's life was anything but ordinary. Born into a world of instability and hardship, Linda’s earliest memories are marked by trauma, separation, and the uncertainty of foster care. Yet through every twist and turn—from being removed from her birth mother as an infant, to miraculous moments of reunion, to ultimately finding a forever family—Linda’s journey reveals the power of faith, resilience, and unconditional love.
In this episode, Linda opens up about her incredible story: how her foster parents’ bold prayers and relentless pursuit led to a divine intervention, how trust and compassion built unlikely bridges between families, and how God’s grace transformed even the most broken circumstances. She shares the heartbreak of her early years, the challenges of navigating adoption and identity, and the joy of witnessing her birth mother’s own redemption story.
Are you a foster or adoptive parent who would like to share what God has done in your life? We would love to hear from you! Click the link below. https://cherishedimphttps://cherishedimpressionscpa.com/our-podcastressionscpa.com/ 
Learn how we help families in our community through SWAGG: https://www.facebook.com/swaggprograms
Listen to us on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/@NikkiandSamPodcast
Listen to Sam's The One Called Mama podcast by clicking here:
https://onecalledmama.org/one-called-mama-podcast
 

S1 Ep.8: God’s Unexpected Call to Heal Hearts | Kyle Mitchell’s Journey

God’s calling on Kyle Mitchell’s life was truly unexpected. With years of experience in youth ministry, social work, and parenting four children of his own, Kyle never imagined his journey would lead him to become a leading advocate and trainer for foster and adoptive families. Through decades of working with kids “from hard places,” Kyle has learned that the real key to helping children heal isn’t just about following strategies—it’s about understanding their hearts and your own.
In this episode, Kyle shares how his path took surprising turns—from youth ministry to CPS investigator to group home director—and how every step prepared him for his current mission: equipping parents with the tools and compassion they need to truly connect with their children. He opens up about the challenges and rewards of implementing trust-based relational intervention (TBRI), why understanding the “why” behind a child’s behavior matters, and how even seasoned parents can be surprised by what foster care brings. When faced with the complexities of trauma, loss, and change, Kyle had a choice: to get overwhelmed by the obstacles, or to trust God’s plan and lean into the promise that every child—and every parent—can find healing and hope.
Are you a foster or adoptive parent who would like to share what God has done in your life? We would love to hear from you! Click the link below. https://cherishedimphttps://cherishedimpressionscpa.com/our-podcastressionscpa.com/ 
Learn how we help families in our community through SWAGG: https://www.facebook.com/swaggprograms
Listen to us on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/@NikkiandSamPodcast
Listen to Sam's The One Called Mama podcast by clicking here:
https://onecalledmama.org/one-called-mama-podcast
 

S1 Ep. 7: Tragedy Struck & She Leaned Into God | Foster & Adoptive Mom Shares Powerful Testimony

God’s calling on Tina’s life was truly unexpected. Kids grown and a grandmother herself, she never dreamed she would end up fostering and adopting two children, both with special needs. Then when tragedy struck her family, Tina had a choice to make: she could either let the grief consume her, or trust God and lean into His plan and the promises He gave her.
Are you a foster or adoptive parent who would like to share what God has done in your life? We would love to hear from you! Click the link below. https://cherishedimphttps://cherishedimpressionscpa.com/our-podcastressionscpa.com/ 
Learn how we help families in our community through SWAGG: https://www.facebook.com/swaggprograms
Listen to us on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/@NikkiandSamPodcast
Listen to Sam's The One Called Mama podcast by clicking here:
https://onecalledmama.org/one-called-mama-podcast