Episodes
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Be Honest: How was your Mother's Day?
In this episode, I talk about:
* The importance of reflecting on what went well (and what didn’t) during this year’s Mother’s Day
* How my Mother’s Day this year ACTUALLY went
* Setting up everyone for success on Mother’s Dayand Father’s Day
* Checking in with my husband before Father’s Day about what he wants and needs that weekend (and in his everyday life)
* Making Mother’s Day and Father’s Day a wholeweekend celebration instead of just a day
* Taking time on Saturday to be by yourself before Mother’s Day
* Giving him time alone on Saturday before celebratingtogether on Father’s Day
* Meeting needs before celebrating and using frustrationsas growing points instead of just frustration points
Join me at this year’s FOCUS Retreat! To find out more and register, go to: www.thefocusretreat.com
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Mother’s Day brings with it a roller coaster of emotions…and there are some complex reasons for that. Heaven forbid we feel disappointed on Mother’s Day because we feel like we can’t express that and feel guilty for even feeling that way or explode from trying to keep those “negative” emotions inside for too long.
Add in things like loss, longing, grief, infertility, work,
the craziness of the calendar in May…and it’s no wonder many moms get overwhelmed and underwhelmed at the same time on Mother’s Day.
Chris took the kids out for the morning and I wanted to
process this Mother’s Day with you while I have a minute to reflect. This is a heavy one for me since it’s my first one without either of my grandmas.
Mother’s Day expectations are on our minds as the big day
approaches…most of us are in charge of balancing the family calendar and most celebration details and this holiday is one that supposedly is for us, not by us and, and, well, that’s hard.
I have a few thoughts, ideas, and stories to share with
you in this episode. Here are a few highlights:
* Grace upon grace upon grace
*Your emotions are valid
*10/10 recommend time alone the day BEFORE Mother’s Day
*Feeling disappointed on Mother’s Day is more common than you think
*Clear communication about what I want on actual Mother’s Day as a way to avoid disappointment or hurt feelings will go a long way!
More episodes and info available at: www.elevatingmotherhood.com -
Episodes manquant?
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A rare appearance from my husband Chris who courageously shows up today in a raw, candid conversation with me about marriage, expectations, and who needs to do more.
It’s really hard to talk about marriage in a public forum because it can be easily be misinterpreted as “advice” …and we want to reassure you that today’s episode is not intended to be marriage advice, it’s not about anyone in particular, it’s us seeing a common thread all around us (even online and in shows!) and pulling that thread to see where it leads us.
Our hope is that this episode is a conversation starter for
you and your spouse—a perspective that leads to deeper growth and conversation. We hope it’s an example of how two people in a marriage can view things differently and not have those differences be a hinderance or cause hurt to the other.
These are incomplete thoughts—observations rather than conclusions.
Will you see yourself in this episode? Will you see your
marriage in this episode? Will your husband? We don’t know. Marriages have similarities and differences across the board. We’ll be curious to hear your thoughts at the end. Thanks for listening and for your gentleness and respect as we pull at this new thread in a public and unscripted way.
In this episode Chris and I talk about:
· Martyrdom
· Husbands not doing enough
· Financial trials in our current culture
· Our current economy
· Tensions in marriage
· Man dogging culture
· Allowing time for transitions
· Looking for creative ways to bring in more money
· Answering the call to do more
· Having patience with transitions
· Ideals
· Starting over
· How it’s hard to find the motivation to do more for less
· Skewed expectations of what we are bringing to the table
· Are women growing & changing at a faster rate than men?
· Dads not being on board with homeschool and why
· Jealousy in our roles
· Living a scheduled life when your family doesn’t
· Moms researching parenting
· Fair expectations
· Happiness and rest for both spouses
· Respecting each other’s perspectives
· Man hating culture is trickling into marriage culture
· Actions speak louder than words
· Men feel emotions like stress and jealousy too
· What do you believe about your husband?
· What do you believe about your marriage?
· What is the undercurrent in your marriage?
Christian Business Women! This is for you: www.thefocusretreat.com -
This is a high energy conversation. For some reason it’s highly political at the moment to talk about boys, men, gender, and masculinity. And here we are as moms, right smack dab the middle of the over-politicized nonsense,trying to have meaningful marriages with our husbands and raise our sons well in a world that bashes boys and men.
We need to talk about the tension—both the undercurrent in our culture and the outright hatred toward men. We need to stand up for our sons and raise them up at the same time. In this interview you’ll hear me tell the story about how when I found out I was pregnant at 40, I knew I was going to have a son. I knew I was going to be called to speak out about the war on men happening in our current culture.
My guest today is Durenda Wilson…she is a friend of mine but also a brilliant writer and podcaster. I look to her a lot for homeschool and parenting advice. She speaks out on this subject with so much grace and encouragement. Her perspective really takes the charge off our current culturalmessaging and puts tools and encouragement back in the hands and hearts of moms so we can show up well in our marriages and in our motherhood.
You’ll leave this conversation feeling equipped as a boy mom and have a better understanding of what true masculinity is.
Durenda Bio: Durenda Wilson has been married to Darryl for 34 years. He wanted two children and she wantedten. They compromised at eight. Durenda has over 30 years of homeschool experience. She also has 11 grandchildren (7 are boys) who are also being homeschooled. During her years of experience in home education, she has seen first hand how kids learn naturally and effectively when they are given time and space along with encouragement to trust their own learning processes. She wants to take this hard-earned wisdom and mentor moms—she believes an encouraged mom is always abetter mom. Durenda began The Durenda Wilson Podcast for this purpose back in July 2017 which grew quickly and gained recognition with both families and leaders in the homeschool community. Durenda has over 500 episodes to choose from and boasts over 3 million downloads!
FULL SHOW NOTES AT: WWW.ELEVATINGMOTHERHOOD.COM
Durenda's Links:
Buy Her Book: https://a.co/d/3lEu5J4Website: www.durendawilson.com
Instagram: @durendaleewilson
Today’s Sponsor: The Focus Retreat
www.thefocusretreat.com
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Well, it's been another week of the internet going crazy. But so many friends and followers sent me two of the same posts
this week and I felt called to share my thoughts on them because to me they are incredibly related:
1. Hannah of Ballerina Farms is competing in the Mrs. World Pageant and the internet has decided she is dangerous and setting a bad example (oooooookay…)
2. The teacher calling for parents to take phones away from
kids and stop letting phones raise their children because 4th graders are bullying, body shaming, and twerking on the playground.
What Do I Think the REAL Issues Are?
We have some thinking to do as parents.
We can do better as moms (& no, that's not shaming)
The need for more self-awareness
Parenting our own children
The real danger: peer-oriented culture
Mom shaming
Toxic postpartum messaging
Bullying (by grown-ups and kids)
Who are the bullies?
Cattiness & Meanness
The over-sexualization of everything
Ease and convenience over depth and meaning
Healthy boundaries with internet use
Parents need to ask themselves
Allowing sensationalism to trump the real lessons
As moms, we need to strive to do better by our kids
The call to strive
“Am I smiling and laughing at strangers entertaining me on
my phone more than I’m looking at my kids and smiling and laughing because they are bringing me joy in my every day?” -Lori Beth Auldridge
No ad spots today because I wanted to get right to the
message. But check out all our sponsors at www.elevatingmotherhood.com -
Hebrews 10:1 “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
Happy 2024, Mamas! We're grateful for 2023 and ready to move forward with confidence into 2024! 💜
In this episode I talk about:
* The continued need to pray for Maui
* Our move to the mainland
* Our family’s 2023 trials and wins
* Travel recap: we went to 19 states in 2023!
* Seeking comfort and ease…and then shifting away from that goal
* Trusting God’s timing
* Working on humility
* The spiritual ease that has come from moving to a Christian community
* Word of the year: Endurance
* How the word “endurance” has changed me on every level in just a few days
* Abandoning American hustle culture
* Self-control
* Fruits of the Spirit
* Following the path that God sets out for us
* “planning” and “goal setting” vs. acts of obedience
* The gift of aging and maturity and experience
* How fantastic it feels to grow up
* Following the shift in our path
* Understanding that God has a path laid out for us
* Count it all joy…even the hardships
* Going into 2024 with enthusiasm
* Ending 2023 with gratitude
* Endurance for a very specific purpose
* Following God’s path for me
* The ability to handle hardships
* Praying for you and your family in the new year!
Visit: www.elevatingmotherhood.com & sign up for my newsletter
Join my support community: Elevating Homeschool Community
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I love today’s passionate and honest conversation with my in person friend Nikki Phillippi. We’re both freedom loving homeschooling who spend a LOT of time thinking about education standards, education philosophy, and education reform. We’re both life-long learners who like to dive deep into many topics that affect us as mothers and topics that affect our children’s education…and then we discuss them over long voice memos to each other. It’s pretty fun. I 10/10 recommend finding another mom friend to voice memo with. Today you get to bepart of our in-depth back and forths as we talk about education reform, protecting our freedom to homeschool, misinformation about homeschool, and our own personal education journeys.
Nikki’s Bio: Nikki Phillippi is a very popular YouTube personality, author, recipe creator, and podcaster. She is a wife, mother, and second-generation homeschooler. Nikki is passionate, authentic, and honest in ways that inspire me--truly. If you already know Nikki, you’ll love hearing her show up in classic Nikki fashion as she shares about her education journey and why homeschool is her hill to die on. If this is your first introduction to Nikki, hold on tight! She is a ball of energy! I’ll be sure to link to her YouTube channel in the show notes as well as my recent episode with her on her YouTube channel where we go even deeper into homeschool freedoms and education reform.
In This Episode, Nikki & I Talk About:
· Growing Up: Nikki’s homeschool journey as a child
· Bullying in school
· Homeschool advocacy
· Being advanced and being behind in school at the same time
· Feeling held back in subjects in school
· Feeling “stupid” in school
· Physical and mental abuse in school
· John Taylor Gatto's Book Dumbing Us Down
· Kids are convinced they are stupid
· Learning to love learning
· Tailoring education to individuals...& so much more!
FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: WWW.ELEVATINGMOTHERHOOD.COM Please Visit Today’s Sponsor: The Elevating Homeschool Community
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I’ve wanted to tackle so many topics over the years but have avoided hitting record because I felt like my thoughts were incomplete.
Pettiness has been a topic swirling in my mind for the past few weeks because of two conversations I overheard on Halloween. And, well, here are my incomplete thoughts on the topic.
Here are also the bible verses I looked up to help me find peace with these two stories:
What Does the Bible Say About Being Petty
Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Romans 15:5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Romans 12:3 by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
What Does the Bible Say About Pride
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
What are your thoughts? What do you want to add to these incomplete thoughts on pettiness? Email me: [email protected]
More at: www.elevatingmotherhood.com
Elevating Homeschool Community: here -
Ruth Chou Simons is an artist in so many senses of the word. Her latest book Pilgrim: 25 Ways God’s Character Leads Us Onward is stunning and inspiring. It’s a beautiful exploration of God’s character and faithfulness and is bursting with Ruth’s signature watercolor art. It’s a gift for the eyes and the heart.
Years ago I had a friend say to me, “I think Jesus was a greatperson and someone worth striving to be like. I don’t like all the religion and church stuff, and I wouldn’t call myself a Christian, but I do think that Jesus was real and someone worth striving to be like.” Pilgrim is the book I wish I had to give her in that moment. Understanding the character of God in a biblical context where we can start to break down who He is and what His worksshow us is important. Understanding His character helps us understand His strength—it gives us not only something to lean in to, but an example of compassionate character to strive toward.
We’re on a journey, a path that we travel every day and Ican tell you that walking a path set out for me by Jesus is a lot easier than trying to create my own. As mothers, we need strength for our daily journey. It’s available to us. Sometimes we need reminders that nothing separates us from God’s love. Pilgrim is a beautiful reminder of that. Pretty enough to leave out on the table as our daily reminder that God’s provision and grace is available to us.
Ruth is wonderful. If you already know who Ruth Chou Simonsis, you’re going to love this interview. If you’re hearing about her for the first time here, know that I am so honored to be the one to introduce you to her and her work.
Ruth’s Bio: Ruth Chou Simons is a Wall Street Journal bestselling and award-winning author of several books and Bible studies, including GraceLaced, Beholding and Becoming, and When Strivings Cease. She is an artist, entrepreneur, podcaster, and speaker, using each of these platforms to spiritually sow the Word of God into people's hearts. Through social media, her online shop at GraceLaced.com, and the GraceLaced Collective community, Simons shares her journey of God's grace intersecting daily life with word and art. Ruth and her husband, Troy, aregrateful parents to six boys—their greatest adventure.
FULL SHOW NOTES: WWW.ELEVATINGMOTHERHOOD.COM
PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSORS:
Nourished Motherhood: www.atnourishedmotherhood.com
Elevating Homeschool Community: www.patreon.com/ElevatingHomeschoolCommunity
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I’ve never really understood why podcasters do seasons...until I hit a point in my life where my personal seasons started to demand the I shift my professional seasons. So I took a break from podcasting to focus on my family's needs, travel, work on new projects, etc. So what was I up to? Listen and find out!
In this episode I talk about:
* Finding home when you can’t go back to where youwere “born and raised”
* Creating home in a new place
* We moved…again! New house, same state
* Acts of obedience
* Needing to be present
* Spiritual warfare
* The predator load at our new house
* New farm additions!
* The transition from farm to suburbs to farm
* Our 3 week long RV trip
* My personal health journey
* And more…!
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God’s timing is so good. If you follow me on IG, you’ve probably heard me talk about how I feel like my current life lessons all center around humility and God’s timing over mine. Well, the timing of this episode’s release is just perfect. I needed this episode when I recorded it and I needed it again this week with our family moving (again! We’re still in Idaho, but moving is pretty all consuming no matter the distance!) I have been feeling overwhelmed in this unexpected season of chaos. Bonnie’s books have truly been gifts to me at different moments in mylife. Today we’re talking about her newest book Breathe: 21 Days to Stress Less and Transform Chaos to Calm (but I also recommend her other book Sweet Like Jasmine).
You’ll probably hear the surprise in my voice at how Bonnie and I just jumped right into the deep end with this conversation. Bonnie’s willingness to be vulnerable and connect with people honestly and openly is part of what makes her such a special guest.
If you are in a season of chaos (which I feel like is probably most moms with kids at home), this episode is for you. If you’re a mother who is getting things done but you often feel like you’re surviving alone, this episode is for you.
Bonnie’s Bio: Bonnie Gray is the author of Breathe: 21 Days to Stress Less and Transform Chaos to Calm, Whispers of Rest, Finding Spiritual Whitespace and Sweet Like Jasmine. An inspirational speaker and podcast host of Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast, Bonnie touches thousands of lives using storytelling, soul care, and prayer. Bonnie’s global following of readers come to her for inspiring Christian content in her authentic, unique voice. Her writing has been published and syndicated across a broad online audience. Bonnie lives in California with her husband and two sons.
FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: WWW.ELEVATINGMOTHERHOOD.COM
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“We need sandpaper in our lives.” – Shallon Payne
Today I’m excited to introduce you to my friend Shallon from The Appalachian Homestead. Shallon and I talk often over IG and text about all kinds of things. It’s so nice because the two of us share a bit of an automatic understanding of each other and the way we see life because we were both raised in the Appalachian Mountains. I was raised farther North in the foothills and she’s in the heart of Appalachia, but there are things we just “get” about each other and life. I know that our upbringing allows us to see the world differently. We’re a proud people with big ideas. People from Appalachia have a strong sense of family. And yet here I am living far, far away from my family and have for a long, long time.
Shallon and I intended to talk about how the internet is ruining motherhood and how it’s gonna be alright because everything comes out in the wash. But we ended up talking about way more than that! This is a different kind of episode…it’s like y’all are gonna walk into the middle of a conversationwith Shallon and I. And in that sense it’s waaaaaaay different than my other episodes.
I’m glad it turned out this way because I want you to see that it’s possible and important to talk about big ideas about motherhood with other moms. You can be similar in some ways and totally different in others, you can agree, disagree, and still love, respect, and glean from the wisdom of other moms. None of us are exactly the same, even if we’re from a similar area or have a similar background. But all of us need community, “Big C Community”—especially us moms—so we can sort out this world that gets a little cattywompus at times.
Shallon’s Bio: Family wisdom is the generational wealth of The Appalachian Homestead. Shallon and her husband Mark share this with their followers via their website and social media platforms. I hope you will join them on their platforms as they share life, the old ways, and the wisdom of the ages.
FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: WWW.ELEVATINGMOTHERHOOD.COM
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Happy Mother's Day, Mama!
This is a super special episode…not just because it’s in honor of Mother’s Day, but because there will be 4 mamas speaking life over you today! 3 of my dear friends in life and business—Jennifer Ford Berry, Amy Debrucque, and Becky Kopitzke are joining me for this conversation. These lovely mamas are all members of the mastermind I’ve had the honor of being a part of for a while now, they are also authors, speakers, podcasters, coaches, wives, and mothers. We talk often about how these multiple roles take a lot of our time and energy and brainstorm together on a weekly basis about how we can thrive in various seasons of motherhood and live a more integrated life where family and business exist to support one another.
And that’s what today’s conversation is about. Thriving in each season of motherhood. Integrating our different roles in different seasons. And what it looks like to work on our own personal growth along the way. This is a beautiful conversation filled with vulnerability and stories as we share about our own personal struggles, times of worry, moments of judgement, and times we grappled for control…as well as how we got to the other side of those tough moments. This episode is packed with truths and encouragement!
I’m excited for you to get to know Jennifer, Becky, and Amy more…these women are also my co-hosts for The Focus Retreat happening this September in beautiful Kentucky. This episode is a great opportunity to get to know them more so you can connect with who will be speaking into your life and business this fall at the retreat. We have unique perspectives and convictions, but always manage to find common ground as women who have hearts for Jesus and encouraging other moms through our businesses and ministries.
I adore these women and know you will, too. Check out the show notes for links to their websites and IG profiles as well as links to The Focus Retreat. www.thefocusretreat.com
Stay tuned at the end, too, for a special message from Becky about The Focus Retreat and our bonus Early Bird Mother’s Day specials!
FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: WWW.ELEVATINGMOTHERHOOD.COM
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Today is a very special interview. I had the honor of interviewing Sally Clarkson, someone whose work I’ve leaned into often. Sally is such a loving resource for my homeschool, mothering, and spiritual growth. In this episode we’re talking about her new book Teatime Discipleship: Sharing Faith One Cup at a Time. I read it from cover to cover and wow—what a gift. Sally shares from the heart about how simple everyday practices like teatime can be a catalyst for connection, friendship, hospitality, ministry, and encouragement. It’s a foundational tool for women to center their hearts and draw nearer to God and one another. And wow, do mothers need more of that right now—we need the opportunity to be impacted by an encouraging host and the opportunity to be such a host. The world tells us we’re too busy for such things…Sally reminds us that we’re not and that there is everlasting greatness in the small moments with those we love.
Sally’s Bio: Sally Clarkson is a bestselling author, renowned speaker, and beloved mentor who has dedicated her life to inspiring countless women to live for Christ. She’s sold more than a million books and her podcast, At Home with Sally, has received more than 20 million downloads. Sally has been married to herhusband Clay for more than forty years. They have raised four adult children. Today, Sally splits her time between the mountains of Colorado and the rollingfields of England.
FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: WWW.ELEVATINGMOTHERHOOD.COM
My Favorite Quotes from Sally’s New Book:
Page 21: “Come here and feast and rest a while. Good food, conversation, and friendship are awaiting you. I have prepared a place for us. You are special and I love spending time with you.”
Page 42: “A host provides for the comfort and security of all who cross her doorstep.”
Page 71: “If wisdom, truth, and love have been built up as resources in our hearts, then when we encounter people, they will draw wisdom, truth, and love from the ways we speak to them and interact with them. People draw from what we have invested in our souls over the years.”
Page 85: “The truth of Scripture is food for your mind—spiritual nourishment for growing in maturity, faith, and wisdom.”
Page 85: “Yet I have found that I often have to be the one who invites, who welcomes, who initiates the very fellowship I need and long for. When women seek out and cultivate fellowship, a community thrives.”
Page 111: “A wise woman takes care of her soul.”
Page 138: “Leaving a legacy of faith requires a lifetime of living steadfastly through each season and its demands.”
Page 139: “What might you do today to help your focus shift from the situation immediately surrounding you to the eternal unseen glory that is being worked out through those situations?”
Today’s episode is sponsored by Homeschool Explained, an online course I created to help parents find their confidence as they begin their homeschool journey. Homeschool Explained is also for families who are already homeschooling but feel they could use more resources and a confidence boost to keep going...now with an updated PDF and monthly ongoing encouragement!
In Homeschool Explained I show you what modern homeschool days actually look like—all while covering major topics like curriculum, homeschool styles,subjects to teach, cost, state laws, socialization and so much more. This course takes the guess work out of where and how to begin and leaves you with solid support and resources from day one. I would be honored to help you to start your homeschool journey with confidence! Find out more at www.homeschoolexplained.com
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Do you ever feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day? That your calendar is full and overwhelming? That busy is your new normal and you wish it weren’t? When my schedule gets too full, I know that something needs to change and that usually it means I need to sit down and have a come to Jesus meeting about my priorities. I need prayer, I need perspective, and I need practical steps. Our guest today is going to speak with us about all of those needs. Overextending ourselves…most of us want to change…
Most modern moms feel overextended and like they want change. Crystal is just the encourager we need to work through those feelings and make actual change. You are going to leave this episode renewed—I was…three times over! Once after reading her book, again after this conversation, and once more when I was editing this episode. At the end of the show I share 4 ways that Crystal’s book changed my life. Get ready for some tips, encouragement, and fresh perspective about how to best budget our time as moms.
Crystal’s Bio: Crystal Paine is the founder of MoneySavingMom.com, host of The Crystal Paine Show podcast, and a New York Times bestselling author. Her desire is to help women across the globe live with more joy, purpose, and intention in their everyday lives. She lives with her husband and six kids in the Nashville, Tennessee, area, where she is actively involved in her local church. Her biggest passions are helping women understand how the gospel can radically transform their lives, raising awareness for foster care, going on adventures with her family (locally, domestically, and internationally), finding great deals at the grocery store, having heartfelt conversations, and trying to read too many books at one time!
FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: WWW.ELEVATINGMOTHERHOOD.COM
Today’s Sponsor: THE FOCUS RETREAT www.thefocusretreat.com
The mastermind I’m in with Jennifer Ford Berry, Becky Kopitske, and Amy Debrucque has an exciting announcement! We are hosting our first ever in-person retreat this fall at Shaker Village outside of Lexington, KY. It’s called The Focus Retreat and we could not be more thrilled to share this opportunity with you! Join us this September for an opportunity to gather with other business minded mamas who long for the opportunity to carve out time to focus on what matters most to them in their businesses and lives—community, strategy, family, organization, and confidence. We’re taking a whole woman approach to our coaching in this retreat by integrating business, personal, and spiritual growth—I love that this will all happen in-person with other woman who value genuine community over networking.
They’ll be keynote workshops, break out sessions, social gatherings, a mastermind panel to help you learn how to form your own, (and the in-person opportunity to introduce you to other women who are also interested in joining a mastermind) PLUS an optional VIP experience at Amy’s lake house with live music, delicious food, and sisterhood. Come hang out with me, Jennifer, Becky, and Amy in-person this September at The Focus Retreat in beautiful Kentucky! Go to www.thefocusretreat.com for more information and to reserve your spot for this boutique retreat. Tickets are limited. Head to www.thefocusretreat.com to reserve yours! -
There are so many times in my life I’ve wondered if I’m a people pleaser. I’ve wondered if I was taught to be, if everyone in our society is to some degree. I’ve questioned if some of my decisions are centered around people pleasing, and if it’s something I need to work on it my life. Am I modeling it for my kids? Expecting it from them unintentionally? I’m sure you’re here because you’ve wondered similar things.
My friend Lynn Carter is here to help us unpack our people pleasing habits and provide us with some much needed perspective to refocus our time, attention, values, and schedules and shake our people pleasing tendencies. She’s sweet, funny, kind, and encouraging. She tackles this conversation without making it a “heavy” and for that I’m so grateful.
Lynn’s Bio: Lynn Carter is the creator and host of The Good News Mama Podcast, she is a wife, boy mom, her sons’ coach (which she talks about in the show), and my dear friend.
FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT WWW.ELEVATINGMOTHERHOOD.COM
Elevating Motherhood Links:
Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com
Instagram: @loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood
Today’s Sponsor: THE FOCUS RETREAT www.thefocusretreat.com
The mastermind I’m in with Jennifer Ford Berry, Becky Kopitske, and Amy Debrucque has an exciting announcement! We are hosting our first ever in-person retreat this fall at Shaker Village outside of Lexington, KY. It’s called The Focus Retreat and we could not be more thrilled to share this opportunity with you! Join us this September for an opportunity to gather with other business minded mamas who long for the opportunity to carve out time to focus on what matters most to them in their businesses and lives—community, strategy, family, organization, and confidence. We’re taking a whole woman approachto our coaching in this retreat by integrating business, personal, and spiritual growth—I love that this will all happen in-person with other woman who value genuine community over networking.
They’ll be keynote workshops, break out sessions, social gatherings, a mastermind panel to help you learn how to form your own, (and the in-person opportunity to introduce you to other women who are also interested in joining a mastermind) PLUS an optional VIP experience at Amy’s lake house with live music, delicious food, and sisterhood. Come hang out with me, Jennifer, Becky, and Amy in-person this September at The Focus Retreat in beautiful Kentucky! Go to www.thefocusretreat.com for more information and to reserve your spot for this boutique retreat. Tickets are limited. Head to www.thefocusretreat.com to reserve yours!
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“What does it mean to be creative…it’s allowing yourself to be so inspired by the beauty of the world that you want to capture it in some kind of form and then having the discipline to actually carry it out.” -Ashlee Gadd on the Elevating Motherhood Podcast
Mothers often feel guilt when they pursue something that takes time away from their children, especially when that something could be deemed less important than parenting. Writer Ashlee Gadd felt the same way when she was navigating being a first-time mother, exhausted yet yearning to be creative. Now a mother of three and the founder of Coffee + Crumbs, an online community bringing mothers together through storytelling, Gadd intentionally finds time to be creative.
Ashlee Gadd is someone I’ve followed my entire motherhood journey…for almost a decade. I’ve listened to her podcast and read her blog. Ashlee has been showing up for years through her brand Coffee + Crumbs. She’s been creating and mothering that entire time and all of those years of experience with creating and mothering are now brought together in her beautiful new book Create Anyway: The Joy of Pursuing Creativity in the Margins of Motherhood.
Her book and this interview inspired me so much and I know they will inspire you. In a world that tells moms they are too busy to go to the bathroom by themselves let alone create anything, Ashlee is a voice of compassion and practicality that says “yes you can be a mom and create. Yes you can take matters into your own hands and make the time. Your ideas matter. Your creations have great purpose in this world. You’re not alone in your desire to want to create and bring more beauty into your life and the lives of your family and community.”
Ashlee’s Bio: Ashlee Gadd is author of Create Anyway: The Joy of Pursuing Creativity in the Margins of Motherhood and the founder of Coffee + Crumbs—a beautiful online space where motherhood and storytelling intersect. As a writer and photographer, Ashlee has spent her entire motherhood creating in the margins. When she's not writing or vacuuming Cheerios out of the carpet, she loves making friends on the internet, eating cereal for dinner, and rearranging bookshelves. She and her husband have three kids and live in Northern California.
FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: WWW.ELEVATINGMOTHERHOOD.COM
TODAY'S SPONSOR: WWW.HOMESCHOOLEXPLAINED.COM
Today’s episode is sponsored by Homeschool Explained, an online course I created to help parents find their confidence as they begin their homeschool journey. Homeschool Explained is also for families who are already homeschooling but feel they could use more resources and a confidence boost to keep going. My course is designed to save you time; it can be really overwhelming typing “how to homeschool” into an online search engine then spending hours sorting through the results. With Homeschool Explained, there will be no more maddening online searches for how to start homeschooling—this is me, a passionate veteran homeschool mom, holding your hand and walking you through homeschool 101 in just under 3 hours. The course is outlined to be logical and easy to understand. I take over 15 years of homeschool experience and condense it into a 3 hour instructional video and include a newly updated, downloadable PDF. I’m super stoked to announce that the PDF isn’t the only new upgrade! I’m now including ongoing encouragement! So learning doesn’t end when the tutorial video stops. At least once a month I’ll upload encouragement for you. This month I have 2…an audio for parents who are teaching their young children to read and a video about joyful journaling—how to bring joy into writing and record keeping.
FIND OUT MORE AT: WWW.HOMESCHOOLEXPLAINED.COM
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My children are homeschooled at home in Idaho but are technically private school students at Clonlara School in Michigan. How does that work? I get that question A LOT so I’ve invited April Huard, the Director of Education at Clonlara School onto the show to answer that question and share more about Clonlara’s unique and transformative mission.
Clonlara’s Mission: The mission of Clonlara School is to transform education on a global scale through a highly personalized approach that fosters authenticity, autonomy, and joy in the learning process. We are passionate about supporting homeschooling families as they follow their curiosities and become lifelong learners.
April Huard Bio: April is currently the Director of Education at Clonlara School, but started her education career as a second-grade teacher in a public school. When her oldest child was ready for kindergarten, she quit her job to start homeschooling her. April had no idea at the time that homeschooling would turn into a lifelong passion and prepare her for a career at Clonlara School. April and her husband have homeschooled all five of their children at various points during their school years. At Clonlara, April works with on-campus and off-campus students and an amazing global team of passionate educators.
FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: WWW.ELEVATINGMOTHERHOOD.COM
Today’s episode is sponsored by Homeschool Explained, an online course I created to help parents find their confidence as they begin their homeschool journey. Homeschool Explained is also for families who are already homeschooling but feel they could use more resources and a confidence boost to keep going.
My course is designed to save you time; it can be really overwhelming typing “how to homeschool" into an online search engine then spending hours sorting through the results. With Homeschool Explained, there will be no more maddening online searches for how to start homeschooling—this is me, a passionate veteran homeschool mom, holding your hand and walking you through homeschool 101 in just under 3 hours. The course is outlined to be logical and easy to understand. I take over 15 years of homeschool experience and condense it into a 3 hour instructional videoand include a newly updated, downloadable PDF. I’m super stoked to announce that the PDF isn’t the only new upgrade! I’m now including ongoing encouragement! So your learning doesn’t end when the tutorial video stops. At least once a month I’ll upload encouragement for you. This month I have 2…an audio for parents who are teaching their young children to read and a video about joyful journaling—how to bring joy into writing and record keeping.
SIGN UP TODAY AT: WWW.HOMESCHOOLEXPLAINED.COM
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“The modern homestead movement is 100% a state of mind. It’s the strive for self-sufficiency.”
My friend Kody Hanner wrote a homestead curriculum that my family adores. It’s being used by homeschoolers, schools, and I know some adults who could benefit from the huge amount of information in her homestead curriculum. Kody joins us today to talk about her curriculum, how it came to be, the modern homestead movement, life-long learning, parenting, and so much more.
Kody has generously offered a discount code for listeners of Elevating Motherhood. Use the code LORIBETH for 10% your purchase of the Homestead Education Curriculum
Kody’s Bio: Kody is a wife of a veteran, mother of 6, homesteader, and homeschooler, that has devoted her life to agriculture and embracing rural living. She created and authored the Homestead Education series of homeschool curricula that includes homestead science. She is the host of The Homestead Education Podcast, which is rapidly growing in popularity where she chats candidly about homesteading, homeschooling, and personal growth.
In This Episode, Kody and I Talk About:
· What qualifies as homesteading
· How she got started as a homesteader
· Her homestead background
· Homestead flexing
· Permaculture
· How she stared writing a curriculum
· The need for a homeschool homestead curriculum
· The writing process
· How long it took her to write the curriculum
· You don’t need to know everything, you need to know how to find good information
· The modern homestead movement
· Reach out to your county’s extension office for resources
· Production over consumption
· Slowing down
· Taking responsibility for your life
· Having entrepreneurial values
· People like to quiz homeschoolers randomly
· Adding depth to science experiments
· Who the curriculum is for
· Complaints she has received about the curriculum
· Writing to a broad audience
· Healing disconnect
· Integrating topics into your homeschool...and SO MUCH MORE!
Full Show Notes Available at: www.elevatingmotherhood.com
Today's Sponsors: www.homeschoolexplained.com and www.thefocusretreat.com
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What is your homeschool freedom worth? Today’s episode is probably going to be controversial to some listeners. My guest, Aby Rinella, and I are going to talk about School Choice and Public School Partnerships and what effect these have on homeschool freedom. You might not agree with what Aby and I have to say on these topics. You might agree with part of it. You might agree with all of it. And that is okay. We’re here to share a perspective that is not shared very often during recent conversations about School Choice. I always trust my listeners to use their discernment. You know what is best for your family. And I think we can all agree that there is no one size fits all solution for anything ever.
All of that being said, Aby and I are here today to share our perspective as two veteran homeschool moms with a lot of kids between the two of us. We are both passionate freedom fighting homeschool mamas who have been active in homeschool politics for quite a few years. Homeschool freedoms are under attack & are very much affected by the School Choice movement happening right now. I appreciate you showing up for today’s show and considering a different perspective than the one being sold by politicians…if nothing else, I’m hoping this conversation helps bring foresight to discussions surrounding school choice and public school partnerships as well as much needed perspective from homeschool families who have opted out of mainstream education.
Aby’s Bio: Aby Rinella lives in the mountains of the west with her college sweetheart and their three kids. Aby writes and speaks to encourage and inspire parents to answer the call to train up their children in God’s Word and to stand on truth in a culture that has lost it’s foundation. Aby can be found as a frequent guest on the Schoolhouse Rocked podcast and she and her husband serve on their state homeschool board. Aby also writes for the outdoor industry, sharing her family’s experiences in the outdoors. You can find her at www.calledtothetop.com
FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: WWW.ELEVATINGMOTHERHOOD.COM
TODAY'S SPONSOR: HOMESCHOOL EXPLAINED WWW.HOMESCHOOLEXPLAINED.COM
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