Mending Families WA

06/01/2026

A few weeks ago I received a call from a young man, now 24, who I have known since he was just 6 years old. This call brought me to tears and did not prepare me at all for what would come.

He and his brother were two kiddos I worked with during my time as a Child Welfare social worker. I never felt like I did anything extra special…I just did the right thing to keep them safe.

Their adoptive family was so perfect for them and it truly felt like a touch from heaven putting them all together. Through their adoptive family, I was able to stay in touch with them all these years which has allowed me to watch them grow, something most social workers don’t get to see.

So when I got the call, requesting me to be the guest of honor at his wedding, I didn’t hesitate to say yes through my tears. To have the opportunity to celebrate such a beautiful day with someone who has done way more than the statistics say he should have by age 24 was such a honor.

Yes, adoption is messy. Yes, there are really yucky things that kids who are in foster care go through. But also, adoption can be beautiful and healing. And also, not every child who has been in foster care is a statistic.

Being honored at his wedding was unexpected and nothing I would ever have imagined. But it reminded me why I do what I do. To help others find their healing. To find their way. To find their purpose. To find their safe people.

Such a beautiful day celebrating a beautiful couple and I wouldn’t have had it any other way! ❤️

05/23/2026

While I was working yesterday, and the kids tore down our back deck as the first phase of many of our backyard remodel. What started out as a fun, connecting activity, did still end that way but with a slight detour…a visit by the fire department.

My sweet client was so understanding when I had to end our session early due to a possible gas leak that was forcing us to be evacuated from our home. The possible gas leak was right in our backyard and somehow caused by the destruction of our deck.

Although everything turned out ok, that detour and the emergent nature of it put me into a bit of a fight/flight state. Here are a few things I did to calm my nervous system so I could still go to the family dinner and enjoy everyone’s company:

😮‍💨Breath in 4, breath out 8, repeat
🫨shook it out!
💦Drank ice cold water
🫙Did my container exercise
🎶Sang worship songs by myself in my car

So thankful everything turned out ok and we are back at our fun connected project today! Also thankful I had tools to come back to calm 😌

04/27/2026

So excited (and honored!) to be a sponsor of the Cheney Farmers Market this year!!

The Cheney Farmers Market season is less than a month away! Who’s ready for a season full of farm fresh produce, local small businesses, live music, and more?

Thank you to our sponsors, Scan Heath Plan and , for your generous support of the market!

See you at Veterans Memorial Park May 23rd! 🌻

01/19/2026

I cannot tell you how many times I've explained the difference between a routine and a ritual.

And honestly? Back in the day, I used to think they were the same thing too.

But here's what you need to know: routines give us predictability (which is amazing for calming the nervous system), but rituals give us predictability PLUS connection.

And that's where the magic happens. ✨

For kids who've experienced trauma or adversity, this combination is powerful. The predictability helps their brain feel safe. The connection helps heal attachment wounds.

Swipe through for examples of how to turn your everyday routines into meaningful rituals →

Then head to my website (link in my bio) to read the full blog post where I break down: • The neuroscience behind why this works • More real-life examples you can steal • How rituals support brain development and healing

Your challenge: Pick ONE routine this week and add ONE connecting moment. That's it.

Comment below with what ritual you're going to try! I'd love to hear. 👇

11/14/2025

It may be harder than we thought when we started parenting, but we are so thankful that we are raising our kids to be true to themselves. No matter the color of their hair, the clothes they choose to wear, the people that they love, the things they are interested in....we accept our kids for who they are and who they were created to be.
Walking through heartbreak from the way they are treated because they don't always fit the "cultural norm" has been the hardest part. Holding my babies while they cry quietly in the safety of our home is not something that we want to do, but we choose to do.
I wish I could offer you advice on how to minimize the pain, but I have nothing. Holding space for the hurt and supporting them to continue being who they are is the best thing you can do. The pain, the hurt, the heartbreak will all still be there. And the best thing you can do is be there too.

08/22/2025

This was such a good conversation 🫶🏼

08/07/2025

As summer is wrapping up, it is time to start thinking about the new school year and the best ways we can advocate for our kids. Here is my most recent blog post with some thoughts on advocating for your kids in the school.

As a parent, advocating for your child’s needs within the school system can be an empowering and necessary task. Whether your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), a 504 Plan, or doesn’t yet have formal accommodations in place, there are steps you can take to ensure your child’s...

05/08/2025

I'm getting caught up on adding podcast episodes to my website! This one dropped a few weeks ago...check it out!

On today’s episode, Michael discusses his experience as a parent of a child with autism, sharing insights on diagnosis, therapy, education, and daily challenges. He explored various strategies for supporting children with autism, including diet modifications, behavioral therapies, and educational ...

03/18/2025

I have a full day of clients today so I got to celebrate my birthday over the weekend with a sound bath with , thrift shopping, Starbucks tea while looking at cookbooks at Barnes and Noble, saying goodbye to the pink car (and shopping for a new one!!) and finally, a full turkey dinner made with love by my momma 🥰🥰🥰

I’m feeling good today so I’m going to enjoy every moment of today (with some Starbucks and Aloha Grill, of course!) 🥳

Any guesses how old I am now?? 😏

❤️ 💕

03/17/2025

In this episode, Nicole shares about her journey into foster care and adoption, and her experiences as a foster parent and foster parent trainer. She also discussed the importance of self-care and trauma-informed practices for foster and adoptive parents, with Nicole emphasizing the need for parents to prioritize their well-being to better support their children.

Listen on all podcast platforms!! 🎧