Feb 8, 2026 · 53 min
Ruck Up Buttercup: Building Military Families with Julie Eshelman In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, Sabrina, and Ashley, dive deep into the challenges and victories of military family building with Julie Eshelman, a resilient military spouse and the creator of the Building Military Families Network. Julie shares her personal story of infertility, loss, and eventual triumph, offering practical advice and heartfelt encouragement for military families navigating the complexities of starting or expanding their families. They discuss various avenues of family building, including IVF, adoption, fostering, and surrogacy, highlighting the unique obstacles military families face. The conversation also explores the importance of advocacy, support networks, and maintaining hope throughout the journey. 00:00 Welcome to Ruck Buttercup: Real Talk for Military Families 01:09 Introducing Our Special Guest: Julie Eshelman 01:35 Julie’s Journey: From Infertility Struggles to Building Military Families Network 03:01 Understanding Family Building: Beyond Traditional Family Planning 05:19 The Importance of Support in the Family Building Process 15:01 Challenges and Advocacy in Military Family Building 26:33 Common Feelings of Unworthiness 27:06 Navigating Social Media and Seeking Support 29:06 Exploring Family Building Options 31:29 Challenges of Fostering in Military Families 34:23 Adoption Journeys and Their Complexities 39:49 Support Networks and Resources 47:06 Finding Hope and Positivity 51:30 Final Thoughts and Advice Find us or reach out here: Website: www.deployedlove.org/podcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/ruckupbuttercup Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruckupbuttercuppodcast Email: sabrinajohannes@deployedlove.org