Posts by Bethany Briley
From Our Founders to the Families
Dear Friends, To those of you walking the winding, holy road of adoption, we want you to know how profoundly honored we are to walk with you. I (Mary Beth) have often said, “Adoption is gloriously hard.” It is ordained by God and both mysterious yet beautiful at the same time. We know this because…
Read MoreThe Importance of Play in Cognitive Development
The late Dr. Karyn Purvis once said, “Play disarms fear, builds connectedness, and teaches skills and competencies for life.” Play itself is a key strategy in TBRI® (or Trust-Based Relational Intervention®) and fundamental in building healthy relationships with our children and teens. In fact, play is also essential in cognitive development by stimulating brain growth;…
Read MoreStill Here: Why We Finally Wrote a Book Together on Staying Together by Mary Beth Chapman
For years, people have said to Steven and me, “You should write a book on marriage.” Even early on—after the amazing gift Steven gave me in the song “I Will Be Here”—people began to think, Well, they must have it all figured out. From the outside, I suppose it might have seemed like an obvious…
Read MoreHow to Talk to Your Friends and Family About Adoption
A favorite quote we have at Show Hope comes from our Co-founder Mary Beth Chapman. In speaking about adoption, Mary Beth has often said, “Adoption is gloriously hard.” Those four words hold such beauty, complexity, and truth. Yes, adoption is rooted in unconditional love, yet that love is born out of loss. In fact, many…
Read MoreShow Hope Book Club: Wounded Children, Healing Homes
Wounded Children, Healing Homes “Written more than 15 years ago, Jayne Schooler’s “Wounded Children, Healing Homes” remains deeply relevant for foster and adoptive families. Her reflections on unmet expectations, parents’ own trauma histories, and the impact of a child’s trauma on the family were especially helpful and encouraging to me,” Show Hope Director of Programs…
Read MoreExploring Hearing Aids, Assistive Devices, and More
When a child is first diagnosed with hearing loss, it can feel overwhelming. Yet the truth is, there are more options than ever before to help children access sound, language, and connection. At Show Hope, we believe every child deserves to be seen and heard, known and empowered. Advances in hearing and assistive technology have…
Read More23 Years Later …
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. — Colossians 2:6–7 Did someone say, Happy 23rd Birthday, Show Hope!? Wow! That sure went fast. It’s actually been nearly…
Read MoreShow Hope Book Club: Attachments
Attachments “Attachments: Why You Love, Feel, and Act the Way You Do” explores how early attachment experiences shape the ways in which people form and maintain relationships throughout life. The authors, Dr. Tim Clinton and Dr. Gary Sibcy, believe the quality of one’s bonds with childhood caregivers influences emotional patterns, behavior, and relational stability as…
Read MoreTBRI® and Food
Nutrition and hydration are important for development, brain function, and regulation, but for children who have been impacted by adoption and/or foster care, there may be difficult histories around food. Your child or teen may have experienced insecurity or hunger; food being withheld or forced due to punishment; or sensory-processing difference. Oftentimes, because of these…
Read MoreMedical Care Impact Report
Many children who have been orphaned live with mild to acute healthcare needs, requiring access to medical and therapeutic intervention. But securing that access and associated costs are overwhelming for many children and families. Show Hope’s Medical Care grants have provided support to more than 200 families through financial assistance to help reduce the medical…
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