Pause & Think, hosts Aixa García and Jackie Darby  talk openly about adoption — both international and domestic — and what it really means to belong.

Aixa shares her experience as a Guatemalan adoptive mom, while Jackie reflects on her journey as a Korean-born adoptee raised in the U.S. Together, they explore how every adoption story carries both beauty and loss, how identity and race intersect with love, and why acknowledging a child’s roots builds true belonging.

From waiting seasons to deep cultural reflections, this episode invites listeners to see adoption as a reflection of God’s heart — a story of redemption, identity, and unconditional love.

💬 “Our identity doesn’t rest on our appearance or birthplace — it rests in our Heavenly Father.”

Home and Heart: Belonging Beyond Borders in Adoption

In this moving continuation of Pause & Think, host Aixa García sits down again with José and Sherry Salazar to tackle one of the most common fears about foster care — “I could never do it. I’d get too attached.”

With honesty and grace, the Salazars unpack what it means to love deeply, let go faithfully, and depend on God through heartbreak and hope. They share how their children have grown through the beauty and pain of fostering, what it looks like to pray for biological families, and how the global Church can rise to meet the needs of vulnerable children.

This episode reminds us that attachment isn’t a weakness — it’s a reflection of God’s heart.

Attached on Purpose: Facing the Hard and Holy in Foster Care

In this heartfelt episode of Pause & Think, host Aixa sits down with José and Sherry Salazar in Guatemala City to explore how God has shaped their family’s story through obedience, sacrifice, and love for the vulnerable. From meeting at an orphanage to welcoming 11 children into their home, the Salazars share how faith guided every “yes” along the way — even when the road was hard.

They talk about redefining family, raising biological and foster children side by side, creating space for others at the table, and learning that God’s interruptions are never late. This episode is a beautiful reminder that the Great Commission starts at home and grows through community, courage, and grace.

Mission as Family: The Salazars’ Journey of Faith, Foster Care, and Community

In this inspiring episode of Pause & Think,  Kristen Thomas shares her powerful story of transformation—from growing up in foster care to becoming an adoptive mom.

Kristen opens up about:
💬 How a “one-night foster placement” turned into a lifelong family through adoption.
💬 Walking alongside her daughter Elise, who overcame challenges with confidence, identity, and autism.
💬 The reality of foster care and adoption—both the struggles and the incredible moments of joy.
💬 Practical encouragement for foster/adoptive parents who may feel weary in the trenches.
💬 How her nonprofit, Tamarisk Community, is creating belonging for youth who have aged out of foster care.

Her story is a powerful reminder that God can redeem brokenness, that belonging changes everything, and that every “yes” to love has ripple effects far beyond what we can imagine.

👉 Don’t miss this conversation filled with honesty, laughter, and hope.

From Foster Child to Adoptive Mom: Kristen Thomas’ Incredible Journey

In this episode of Pause & Think, host Jackie Darby sits down with Kristen Thomas from Raleigh, NC, to share her powerful journey through foster care, kinship care, and aging out of the system. Kristen opens up about the struggles of instability, trauma, and feeling unseen—yet also how faith, community, and resilience helped her find healing and purpose.

👉 Stay tuned for Part 2, where Kristen shares her own adoption story and the journey with her daughter.

From Foster Care to Healing: Kristen Thomas’ Powerful Story

Aixa and Jackie sit down with Jamie Finn — foster mom, author, and founder of Foster the Family [https://www.fosterthefamily.org/] — for a vulnerable, grace-filled conversation on the realities of foster care, adoption, and gospel-driven compassion.

Jamie shares her journey from “one kid, one time” to over 30 children in her home and four adoptions. She speaks candidly about identity, control, grief, and the constant refining work of God in the foster care journey. This episode is a must-watch for parents, pastors, church leaders, and anyone wanting to understand how ordinary families can live out radical love in their homes.

🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations that challenge, uplift, and inspire.

Foster Care, Faith & Real Life: Jamie Finn’s Powerful Story

In this episode of the Pause & Think Podcast, Jackie and Aixa share their powerful experience at the ACH Summit [https://www.achlatam.org/]  in Guatemala City—a gathering of leaders, churches, and families from 13 countries across Latin America, united to live out James 1:27 by serving orphans, widows, and vulnerable children.

From its small beginnings in 2010 to becoming a Latin American movement, the ACH Summit is transforming how the church responds to adoption, foster care, and child protection. Jackie and Aixa reflect on:

✨ The origins of ACH as the Latin American counterpart to CAFO [https://cafo.org/]
✨ How adoption and foster care stories are shaping new generations
✨ The launch of support groups for adult adoptees (Group 139, based on Psalm 139)
✨ The beauty of God’s design in building sustainable, Christ-centered movements

💡 If you’re passionate about orphan care, adoption, or simply want to be encouraged by how God is moving in Latin America, this conversation is for you.

👉 Next year’s ACH Summit will be held in the Dominican Republic—join us for powerful teaching, fellowship, and a vision to impact vulnerable lives.

🔔 Subscribe to Pause & Think Podcast for more stories of faith, family, and transformation.

Pure Religion in Action: Serving Orphans & Widows Together

In this episode Aixa welcomes Cosette Eisenhauer-Epp, a transracial adoptee from China raised in Dallas, TX. Cosette opens up about her adoption journey, identity struggles, and the emotional layers of growing up in a family that doesn’t look like her. From navigating cultural gaps to the unexpected grief of changing her last name after marriage, Cosette's story is raw, reflective, and filled with grace.

This episode offers deep insight for adoptive families, adoptees, and anyone who wants to better understand the complexity of identity, loss, and love in adoption.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories like this.

Adoption, Identity & Grace: A Transracial Adoptee’s Journey

Why do so many adopted children and even adoptive parents silently battle loneliness — even when surrounded by love?

In this deeply vulnerable episode of Pause & Think, hosts Aixa and Jackie open up a raw, unfiltered conversation about the emotional undercurrent often left out of the adoption narrative: feeling unseen, misunderstood, and isolated — and how that loneliness can linger into adulthood.

Through honest personal stories, spiritual reflection, and practical wisdom, this episode brings light to a heavy topic — and offers real hope for healing.

Adoption & Loneliness  — What No One Talks About

In this heartfelt episode host Jackie Darby sits down with Amber Parker to share the powerful and deeply personal story of her family’s adoption journey. From a childhood calling to adopt a little girl from China to a series of miracles that led to Ruby joining their family just before the country closed its borders, Amber opens up about the joys, heartbreaks, and spiritual lessons woven throughout the process.

Whether you're an adoptive parent, an adoptee, or someone who wants to better understand the journey, this conversation is raw, real, and full of hope.

Amber’s Journey: Adoption, Trauma & Healing

Let’s pause and think! Join us for honest conversations about adoption and parenting, as we lament, encourage, give hope and explore our true identity and worth in Christ.

For more information go to: www.whoseami.org

Pause and Think