Mom Struggling Well

Christie is a wife to a cop, a mom to three, a newspaper columnist and novice farmer.  What I love about her is how honest she is about the difficult moments but that she won't stay there.  She actively seeks opportunities to turn bad situations in to good ones and we all could use more of that in our lives, yes? what we chat about: What to do when you're not super thrilled about where you live What she does on Friday night to ensure she gets to sleep in on Saturday morning How she found the perfect mentor for her The importance of our role as moms of setting the tone of our home

Joleen has been a mother to twenty one children over the years.  Twenty one!  She is also a woman who cares deeply for the "least of these" and loves to help women through traumatic or difficult situations through a tool she's created called Unleash. what we chat about: Finding God in the midst of intense trials EMDR Taking incremental steps toward enjoying life

Rebecca is a wife, mom, and (accidentally) a business owner!  She started Better Life Bags which is a company that, besides making adorable bags, provides employment for women who could not be successful in traditional employment.  You're gonna love this episode! What we chat about: the lovely mission of Better Life Bags putting 'working-mom guilt' to rest prioritizing travel as a family lessons from Jonah

This girl is a joy to me and a serious source of encouragement.  She is always cheering me on but isn't afraid to get onto me when I'm heading down the wrong path.  She's been through a serious valley and you're going to benefit greatly from the wisdom she brings to this chat.  Get your paper and pen ready. What we chat about: What Retha hopes her kids learn by watching her Her advice to wives after becoming a widow Being a light vs. being the head of the household  

Wynne is a mama and wife striving to live in deep and authentic community in Bryan, Texas. She's passionate about connecting and knowing people [and being known], and creating spaces of belonging.  She's been married to her guy for 9+ years and together they are living this wild + glorious life that Jesus gave them with our kiddos Camp and Asher. What we talk about: Infertility and becoming a "real" mom How to make friends when you're isolated A simple yet meaningful tradition her mom started

Stephanie is a book editor by trade who has recently hopped over to the other side of the fence and wrote a book herself!  Her book chronicles her adventures in blind dating while waiting for a husband.  I wanted to talk about this topic of waiting well because even if you're already married, we're all waiting for something.   What we chat about: Waiting well for things that seem to come so easily for others How she navigated cross-life-stage relationships Trading prayers when you can't pray for yourself anymore How she learned God loved not the "theoretical" her but her personally

Christa is a wife and mom of four who enjoys yoga, creating in her Etsy shop and learning about better health through a holistic diet. Part of her story includes serious anxiety that made daily tasks difficult.  I know you'll enjoy her insights as much as I did! What we chat about: Her journey toward overcoming paralyzing anxiety Asking the question: what are you partnering with? Praying to "see the choice" Navigating special diets and kid's birthday parties

Brandi is a single mom who was just sure God wouldn't use her after she was divorced.  She wanted to help people but kept being told her usefulness had ended.  She believed it until she sold some cows on Facebook.  You'll just have to listen to the rest to believe this amazing story! What we chat about: How she ended up starting a nonprofit despite her best efforts NOT to How she healed from a broken marriage and the loss of other significant relationships How she walks traumatized women through healing prayer Where to find Brandi: Beauty for Ashes Uganda

I first met Caroline through the interwebs a few years ago because we both had small businesses.  She sews like a champ and makes many adorable items you'll love.  She is also a mom of three small kids who lives in the Pacific Northwest.  She's a mom in the thick of it who lets us in on the ways she manages all that's on her plate. What we chat about: starting a small business how she creates margin what she does to avoid being the "mom who yells" the perils of tiny ear holes what to do when noise hurts

Rachel is a daughter of the King, wife to a pastor, mother to five (almost six) children, underdog cheerleader, special needs parent, adoption advocate, hope-spreader, writer and lover of a good party.  Simply said, she is a messy mama being made beautiful by a good God. What we chat about:  Curly hair trauma Mom guilt vs. mom conviction Caring for orphans in ways other than adoption Discontent in motherhood and how she overcomes it Find me on Instagram, twitter or facebook because I want to hear YOUR thoughts on this episode!  If you've been encouraged by the show, please share it with another mom.  The struggle is real.  We might as well do this together!

Lauren is a girl who is walking the delicate balance of absolute truth and overwhelming grace.  She is also a girl with a life so wildly interesting people wonder if it's true!  Lauren and her family currently live in South East Asia and she works tirelessly to create jobs for women seeking safe work.  Her perspective on motherhood is unique and I can't wait for you to hear it! What we chat about: the importance of loving people even when they continue to mess up how to stop hating who you are two amazing questions to decide what's most important the importance of Sabbath

I came across a great resource recently and wanted to share it with you!  My church has some questions they encourage us to ask our kids each year in an effort to gauge the opinions of our kids about how we are doing as a family unit and how they feel we are doing as parents. Head to Momstrugglingwell.com for links to the lists of questions!

Logan Wolfram would give you full access to her pantry if you lived next door. She is a plate-juggling mom and interior decorator turned writer, speaker, and host of the Allume Conference. She is a passionate leader who desires to see women live fully in Christ.  We chat about: Her new book Curious Faith How she handled a surprising piece of mail Her brother's Chinese wedding How she is maintaining perspective in the face of a medical diagnosis

Thanks to the thunderstorm we ended up with a part two to this conversation!  She had so many good things to say I just had to keep asking questions! What we chat about: her strategy to leave a tangible legacy for her daughters her most important ministry when you feel mad at God for messing up a good thing getting with God before getting on the internet

There are a handful of people whose social media posts grab my attention every time.  Stephanie "Honey" Holden is one of them.  She is funny, encouraging, and really convicting all at once.  I was selfishly looking forward to recording an interview because I knew I would learn a lot and I DID until a thunderstorm knocked my power out...  It was great while it lasted though and we'll catch the rest of it next week.  Enjoy the first part today!      

meet melody: Oh friends I have a treat for you today!  I'm so pleased to share with you the spunky mom, artist, and small business owner Melody Joy!  She is the artist behind Melody Joy Designs and you're going to love hearing her story! what we chat about: the importance of doing things that "don't compute" daily her super cape and how every woman needs one how homeschooling isn't for everyone discovering post-weaning depression the hard way  shopmelodyjoy.com

My friend Jenny is a source of wisdom and encouragement to me personally.  She has experience loving overseas which has given her a great deal of compassion for refugees and she has worked tirelessly with her daughter who has autism.  Her gentle patient spirit is amazing to me and I know the only way to explain it is to look where she's looking: Jesus. We chat about unusual ways to engage with robbers, creating visual schedules for anxious kids, and gratefulness as an antidote to comparison.  You're gonna get so much out of listening to Jenny's perspective.  Can't wait to hear what your plan to struggle well will be!

I love Jill's story.  She was a mom who (like all of us) wanted to take better pictures of her kids.  She got a nice camera and made her husband PROMISE he wouldn't let her think she was now a professional photographer just because she had a nice camera.  Well, a few months later, she took some photos of a friend's kids and it turned out she was pretty good at it!  The other part of her story that I love is how God-directed it has been.  I have had a tendency to want to force things (I've gotten in loads of trouble that way) and I appreciate seeing people who do the opposite of me.  Her goal in her words: "He sees the beauty worth loving in all of us, so I’m doing my best to use the gift He’s graciously given me to capture that beauty while serving and inspiring others. We chat about what it looks like to let God lead, how she fights perfectionism, what it's been like to go back to work after 8 years out of the workforce, and her serious love of foam.

So thankful to bring you some insight this week from my friend Kristin.  She's a mom of 6 kids (plus 1 in heaven) who has learned the importance of facing lies head-on with a plan.  She's passionate about helping moms be brave and seeing the importance of being the one to reach out to other moms instead of waiting for them to come to you.  We talk about the journey through the grief of miscarriage, how to make new mom friends after you move, taking thoughts captive and how you'll hear the lies first, and the importance of prioritizing time with God even when you're exhausted.

This girl.  She's the spunky southern California artist behind HEart by CC.  She is a wife and the mom of 3 boys too!  She is a girl whose message of freedom and acceptance has been hard-won through many years of overcoming obstacles.  You're gonna love this conversation! What we talk about: Trying to read your Bible when you're dyslexic, believing in your kids when no one else does, walking with kids with "unique needs," and what it's ok to be honestly disappointed in your current situation.