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As a special needs mom, it can be difficult to feel understood and supported. Strangers don’t know us and our lives, and even those closest to us can miss the mark. This can be especially true when it comes to family members. We want them to understand our situation and be helpful, but their attempts to support us often make us feel more alone. Amy shares some great ideas and mindset shifts that will help us understand how to navigate these situations. February 7, 2023; Ep. 114 Key Moments:[2:53] A change in mindset[5:07]  Starts with setting a boundary[7:14] If you're a family member of a special needs family[10:51]  Prayer of St. FrancisResources Prayer of St. Francis If you enjoyed the show: Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart Website Get our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and Hope Review and like us on Apple Podcasts  Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcasts Follow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmoms Find Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writer Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime Support the show

Today, we have an interview with Amber Reynolds. Amber is married to her college sweetheart, Chris, and they live on a farm in northwest Illinois with three children. Their children came to them through foster care and adoption. Amber talks about the isolation of people not understanding trauma, ways to care for your mental health, the importance of her marriage, and letting go of how you come to God. January 31, 2023; Ep. 113Show Links: Amber Reynolds IG She Reads Truth Show Takeaways:  [11:12] Amber encourages foster, adoptive, and special needs moms.  [13:57] Hear how Amber cares for her own mental health and her kids.  [17:09] Discover her wise perspective regarding marriage and parenting.  [22:19] The Lord will fill your cup If you enjoyed our podcast, please... Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart Website Get our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and Hope Review and like us on Apple Podcasts  Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcasts Follow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmoms Find Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writer Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime Support the show

The messages we hear about perseverance can feel so cliche when in reality, it can be challenging to persist through hard times. On this episode of Take Heart, Sara, Carrie, and Amy discuss their stories and perspectives of perseverance with children with disabilities, how to find a balance to persevere longer and what they have learned about it along their motherhood journeys. This is an insightful and refreshing conversation about how to know when to persevere and when to put in helpful boundaries, among other practical and life-giving advice! Ep. 112; January 24, 2023 Show Takeaways:  [5:50] Consequences of not persevering? [13:53] When pushing through is a detriment to your health and the relationships around you.  [33:15] Listen in to explore where perseverance truly comes from. If you enjoyed our podcast, please... Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart Website Get our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and Hope Review and like us on Apple Podcasts  Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcasts Follow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmoms Find Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writer Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime Support the show

There have probably been times you have persevered and were disappointed with the stress you felt, the way you responded, and its impact on those around you. What does it mean to persevere with grace? What could it look like to put yourself in a position to care for yourself and others, supported by a loving God, to handle your season gracefully? Listen to today’s episode with Sara, who reflects on gracious perseverance and how we can have more of it, especially as a mom with kids with disabilities.  January 17, 2023; Ep. 111Show Links: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/perseverance  Show Takeaways:  [1:03] Discover the two parts of perseverance [4:29] Listen in to hear how God comes in as we persevere and His grace for us. [6:07] Learn what it means to evaluate your circumstances, making it possible to persevere with grace. If you enjoyed our podcast, please... Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart Website Get our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and Hope Review and like us on Apple Podcasts  Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcasts Follow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmoms Find Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writer Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime Support the show

Did you know that the desire for a good, calm life has been built into us by God? Sometimes that desire seems easier to reach when we cope with temporary pleasures. What do we do when we are tired, traumatized, and feel like we're done with life? Listen to this episode of Take Heart as Carrie speaks to the small ways we persevere with Jesus instead of trying to fill that need ourselves and what the big picture looks like with God in the center. January 10, 2023; Ep. 110 Show Links: Resilient by John Eldredge Don’t Lose Heart by Steven Curtis Chapman Mercy Me’s Album Always Only Jesus Scripture mentioned: II Corinthians 4 Show Takeaways:  [3:41] What does it mean to persevere? [8:18] Learn about small choices you can make in your ‘unconverted places’ to give us perseverance when you need it most. [9:06] Speaking truth to our hearts daily. If you enjoyed our podcast, please... Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart Website Get our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and Hope Review and like us on Apple Podcasts  Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcasts Follow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmoms Find Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writer Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime Support the show

How do you keep going when life is relentlessly hard? What can be done to persevere when the diets, exercise, and ‘better’ systems have not succeeded? Listen in as Amy shares some well-earned advice she has learned through her journey. Learn to change HOW you persevere through the ups and downs of parenting a child with disabilities or behavioral needs. January 3, 2023; Ep. #110 Show Links: Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer   J.R. Briggs Scripture mentioned: Psalm 13 Show Takeaways:  [3:40] Strategies for pressing forward and resetting ideals for home and family. [6:08] Discover what it means to ‘lengthen the pause’ and how it can give you the freedom you have been searching for! [8:51] The power of lament, and its connection to perseverance If you enjoyed our podcast, please... Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart Website Get our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and Hope Review and like us on Apple Podcasts  Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcasts Follow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmoms Find Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writer Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime Support the show

How do you hold on to hope when your child has a terminal diagnosis? Today, Sara Clime shares how she holds on to hope while living with that reality. She encourages us that when we start to lose hope, we simply need to look further ahead. With Jesus, our hardships are never wasted. December 20, 2022 Key Topics/Timestamps:[1:04]     Defining hope[3:21]     Lost hope and our living hope[7:58]     Hope looks to the future[9:36]     The value of hope Episode Links & Resources Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis Scriptures Mentioned: I Peter 1:3; Revelation 21:4 If you enjoyed our podcast, please... Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart Website Get our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and Hope Review and like us on Apple Podcasts  Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcasts Follow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmoms Find Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writer Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime Support the show

Sometimes hope requires us to wrestle with grief over the way things currently are and the desire of what we want them to be. Listen in today as Carrie shares her thoughts about wrestling with hope. December 13, 2022 Key Topics/Timestamps:[2:09] Facing the unknowns [6:38] Four things to remember about hope[13:55] A reminder from Ann Voskamp Episode Links & Resources Episode 18: Why Your Story Makes it Hard to Hope by Adam Young The Place We Find Ourselves (Choose episode 18) Scripture mentioned: Phil 4:5-7; Isaiah 26:3; James 4:2: I Thessalonians 5:17 Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas by Ann Voskamp If you enjoyed our podcast, please... Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart Website Get our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and Hope Review and like us on Apple Podcasts  Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcasts Follow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmoms Find Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writer Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime Support the show

It can be difficult to experience hope when we are not rescued from our circumstances or protected from hardships. Amy gently reminds us today of Zachariah and Elizabeth, who experienced years of unanswered prayers. She encourages us to look to God for our hope in times of silence with three practical reminders. Replay from December 2020 Key Topics/Timestamps: [2:30]The Psalms[7:12]The Gift of Quiet[9:13]Three practical reminders[12:00] A Prayer Episode Links & Resources Invitation to Solitude and Silence: Experiencing God’s Transforming Presence by Ruth Haley Barton. Scriptures Mentioned: Psalm 54:7, 32:7, 33:22, 62:5, 46:10, Luke 1 If you enjoyed our podcast, please... Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart Website Get our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and Hope Review and like us on Apple Podcasts  Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcasts Follow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmoms Find Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writer Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime Support the show

Thank you for listening to this month's topic on rest. We are following our advice and will be off this month in December. In the coming weeks, enjoy three of our favorite Christmas episodes on hope (released the first three Tuesdays of December). We look forward to the new year and want you to join us in listening to new episodes and amazing interviews with the coming of our new book, The Other Side of Special, which, releases in May of 2023. Support the show

Today’s collaborative episode dives into the topic of rest. It's no secret that special needs moms are tired, not just physically but emotionally and spiritually too. We often deny our limits or go full speed for so long that we don't even recognize our need to stop. We assume this hurried pace is normal. Amy, Carrie, and Sara address five common misconceptions about rest and some ways to combat the hurried pace. November 22, 2022; Ep. 108Resources Mentioned: Parker Palmer, Let Your Life Speak Show Takeaways:  [2:37] I’ll have time to rest later[6:12] I can’t stop advocating[15:19] Rest means sleeping[27:29] Rest is __________[32:08] If I rest, bad things will happen[34:15] An invitation to rest[35:22] A prayer for you as you think about rest  If you enjoyed our podcast, please... Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart Website Get our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and Hope Review and like us on Apple Podcasts  Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcasts Follow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmoms Find Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writer Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime Support the show

We are continuing to talk about rest this month, and in today’s episode, Sara Clime discusses what it means to be in a season of unrest. If you are looking for a step-by-step podcast on how to find rest, this might not be it. But, if you are struggling and want to hear from someone struggling to find rest, or even want to define it, this episode is for you. November 15, 2022; Ep. 107 Show Links: The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman Emily P. Freeman’s Instagram Show Takeaways:  [1:49] What a season of unrest may look like[4:56] How Sara found a moment of rest in her season of unrest [7:31] A simple practice for rest If you enjoyed our podcast, please... Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart Website Get our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and Hope Review and like us on Apple Podcasts  Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcasts Follow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmoms Find Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writer Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime Support the show

This month on the podcast, we are talking about rest. You may think, how can I ever experience rest as a special needs mom? It may seem impossible. The type of rest Carrie is talking about is where, as Sally Breedlove writes, “we are meant to flow from a solid garden core of spacious inner quiet.” This comes from a connection with Jesus and gives us the resilience we need when hard things come our way. It's something that she’s personally been working on lately. Listen in!November 8, 2022; Ep. 106 Show Links: Benevolent Detachment  Isaiah 26:3 Choosing Rest: Cultivating a Sunday Heart in a Monday World by Sally Breedlove Life After Death by Toby Mac Show Takeaways:  [2:06] Three parts of rest as defined by Sally Breedlove [6:53] Listen in to hear the spiritual practice Carrie is finding helpful as she is learning to rest [8:56] An opportunity for you to try this practice of rest  If you enjoyed our podcast, please... Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart Website Get our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and Hope Review and like us on Apple Podcasts  Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcasts Follow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmoms Find Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writer Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime Support the show

This month’s topic is rest. When we started discussing this as a theme, Amy told Sara and Carrie, that she didn't have much to say about the rest. After some thought and consideration, she realized this is an area of her life that she doesn’t practice very well. In this episode, Amy shares a few lessons she has learned and some areas of practice she is working on, as she practices better rest. Whether you feel weary or fully rested, this episode will help you to create a rhythm of rest that is tangible for you and your life. November 1, 2022; Ep. 105 Show Links: Emotionally Healthy Discipleship: Moving from Shallow Christianity to Deep Transformation: by Peter Scazerro Show Takeaways:  [1:02] A recent story from Amy’s life about rest [4:47] Ways we ignore our need for rest [5:56] Understanding limits  [7:39] Helpful practices for a rhythm of rest If you enjoyed our podcast, please... Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart Website Get our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and Hope Review and like us on Apple Podcasts  Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcasts Follow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmoms Find Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writer Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime Support the show

What happens when we wrap our identity around things we can’t control? What could our relationship with God mean for our identity? On this episode of Take Heart, Amy J. Brown and Carrie M. Holt sat down with counselor, coach, writer, and host of the “Be Known” podcast, Kerrah Fabacher. They discuss their very real experiences with misplaced identity and Kerrah gives some invaluable tips about finding a safe friend to open up with. October 25, 2022;  Ep. 104 Show Links: Kerrah Fabacher One-Minute Pause App Show Takeaways:  [4:25] Learn about the key characteristics you should look for in an emotionally safe friend. [13:11] Discover some of the common pitfalls of relying on your child’s experiences to create your own identity. [25:39] Listen in on how you can cultivate deeper intimacy with Christ to form your true identity. If you enjoyed our podcast, please... Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart Website Get our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and Hope Review and like us on Apple Podcasts  Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcasts Follow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmoms Find Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writer Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime Support the show

Have you ever had an identity crisis? We all struggle with our identity in some way and at different times in our life.  In this episode, Sara Clime redirects us from a misplaced identity to one that is built on a firm foundation. She also shares about someone from scripture that may have had an identity crisis when he was chosen for God’s good work.October 18, 2022; Ep. 103 Show Links: Scriptures Mentioned: Ephesians 1:3-14 Show Takeaways:  [1:03] Discover the meaning of an identity crisis and practical ways to remember who you truly are. [7:09] Listen to the story of Moses and his call to do God’s will in a challenging situation. [9:09] Learn about why it is so important to believe what God says about you and not the world. If you enjoyed our podcast, please... Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart Website Get our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and Hope Review and like us on Apple Podcasts  Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcasts Follow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmoms Find Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writer Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime Support the show

Who are we, really? What labels have we allowed to define us? What would it mean to trade these labels for something better? This month, we are talking about identity. In this episode, Carrie Holt shares about her own struggles with identity, especially as a mom and the very practical ways that she redirects comparison. Listen in to be encouraged in your own struggle with misplaced identity.October 11, 2022; Ep. #102 Show Links: You Are Special by Max Lucado Scriptures Mentioned: Isaiah 43:1; II Cor. 10:12 Show Takeaways:  [4:07] Listen in as Carrie shares about the labels that we use to define us.  [6:21] Discover practical tips to overcome comparison. [10:28] Learn about placing our true identity in God’s hands. If you enjoyed our podcast, please... Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart Website Get our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and Hope Review and like us on Apple Podcasts  Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcasts Follow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmoms Find Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writer Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime Support the show

We are kicking off this month’s theme on identity. In this episode, Amy J. Brown is talking about identity theft, not the kind that causes us to cancel our credit cards, but the type that causes us to forget who we are. Listen in as she asks some poignant questions and walks listeners through an excellent practice to help us remember where our identity comes from. October 4, 2022; Ep. 101 Show Links: I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet Shauna Niequist  After Doubt: How to Question Your Faith Without Losing It Dr. A.J. Swoboda  The Confessions St. Augustine  The Good and Beautiful God   James Bryan Smith  Episode 40: Take Heart: Guilt with Sara  Show Takeaways:  [3:07] Listen in as Amy shares a personal story of how she allowed the label “bad mom” to impact her parenting and the steps she took to remove that label. [5:07] Discover the main thing that defines you as a mom and child of God.  [7:52] Learn the three things you can do today, to protect yourself from identity theft.  If you enjoyed our podcast, please... Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart Website Get our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and Hope Review and like us on Apple Podcasts  Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcasts Follow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmoms Find Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writer Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime Support the show

Welcome back to the third season of the Take Heart Podcast. It’s our 100th episode and we are celebrating!  As we kick off this new season, we wanted to start by going back to the beginning of how Take Heart came to be, and share with you the reason we do this work, and the importance of our name Take Heart.  In this episode all three of us our coming together to talk about how this podcast, Take Heart came to be. We thought it would be fun to take you back to the beginning of how we met and how we started this podcast. We are grateful for each and every one of you, our listeners. Thank you for being here with us.  September 27, 2022; Ep. 100Show Links: Scripture Mentioned: John 16:33 Resilient by John Eldredge Podcast Interview with John Eldredge Show Takeaways:  [0:35] Discover how Amy, Carrie, and Sara met.  [3:30] Listen in as Carrie and Sara share why they weren’t sure about a collaboration.  [6:00] Hear some of Take Heart’s core values and why they are so important to us.  [9:40] Listen to the verse that the podcast is named after and why it holds such a special place in all our hearts.   If you enjoyed our podcast, please... Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart Website Get our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and Hope Review and like us on Apple Podcasts  Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcasts Follow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmoms Find Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writer Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime Support the show

Welcome back to the third season of the Take Heart Podcast. As we kick off this new season, we wanted to start by going back to the beginning of how Take Heart came to be, and share with you the reason we do this work, and the importance of our name Take Heart.  Today, Sara is transparent in this episode as she tells us the significance behind the name Take Heart and how Psalm 27:14 has both comforted and convicted her.  Sep 20, 2022; Ep. #99 Show Links: Want to enter our 100th Episode Giveaway? Click Here Scripture Mentioned: Psalm 27:14 NASB Show Takeaways:  [1:02] Discover why Sara doesn’t think that the term “take heart” is always positive.  [3:34] Listen in as Sara discusses why waiting can be so hard and some of the questions she tends to ask in a season of waiting. [8:44] Hear the simple prayer you can pray when you need to find hope.  If you enjoyed our podcast, please... Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart Website Get our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and Hope Review and like us on Apple Podcasts  Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcasts Follow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmoms Find Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writer Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclimeSupport the show