Shows
Keeping My SanityE42: Identifying and dealing with destructive anger with Natalie HixsonEven if we don't want to admit it, anger is an emotion common to us all. While it isn't categorically a bad emotion, its manifestation is often sinful and destructive.
I was happy to discuss how Christians--moms in particular--can manage anger with Natalie Hixson. Natalie helps discouraged, burnt-out Christian Moms overcome destructive anger so they can enjoy being a wife and mom.
You can learn more about Natalie at https://nataliehixson.com/keepingmysanity.
2022-03-0934 min
Keeping My SanityE41: Praying Scripture back to GodI can easily find myself on repeat mode when it comes to prayer, saying the same things for the same people or situations. I also sometimes find myself at a loss for words, which is when I can be thankful that God knows even what I can't say.
We know prayer is important, and if you are like me you also know that this is an area that could use improvement. There is no better prayer teacher than the pages of scripture.
Today, I want to do something a bit different from the normal podcast. I...2022-02-2411 min
Keeping My SanityE40: A Jesus Easter: Explore God’s Amazing Rescue Plan with author Barbara ReaochI was so blessed to talk to Barbara Reaoch on today's episode. Barbara's passion to serve Christ is so apparent and she has dedicated her ministry to equip parents, grandparents, and teachers to present Biblical truth to children.
On the episode, we specifically talk about her latest book, A Jesus Easter: Explore God's Amazing Rescue Plan. The book is a day-by-day quick read leading up to Easter (like an advent for Easter), but it can certainly be used at anytime and be read at any pace!
My boys--ages 5 through 9--all love the thought questions each day. I also like the qu...2022-02-0935 min
Keeping My SanityE39: Balancing tolerance, coexistence, and biblical conviction with Mama Bear Apologetics’ Hillary Morgan FerrerIf you are a regular listener, you may have heard the first part of my conversation last week with apologist and author Hillary Morgan Ferrer. Hilary is the founder of Mama Bear Apologetics, a valuable resource for training ourselves and our children to think critically, love biblically, and stand firm against the cultural tide.
Last week, we talked about equipping our children to defend their faith and not be lured away by a culture that tries so hard to destroy it. This week we dive deeper into the topics of pluralism, tolerance, secular word definition, sexuality, and balancing our love f...2022-02-0233 min
Keeping My SanityE38: Equipping children to defend their faith with Mama Bear Apologetics author Hillary Morgan FerrerMy husband and I have three school-aged boys. We have made a deliberate decision to enroll all three of them in public school, a topic that we may get into more in a different podcast. Though I'm able to be in the classroom regularly again this semester, there's still nothing I can do to shelter them from witnessing the reality of the fall--even in elementary.
Over the summer, I read Mama Bear Apologetics: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies, by Hillary Morgan Ferrer and Nancy Pearcey. The book discusses our role as parents in the instruction of biblical truth i...2022-01-2632 min
Keeping My SanityE37: Behind the masks we wear: An honest talk about depression with Pastor Alistair ChalmersIt's easy to wear a mask to hide our brokenness, but it's OK to not be OK. It was a huge encouragement to speak with Pastor Alistair Chalmers about his struggle with depression and, more specifically, the hope we have in Christ.
Pastors are broken people. Just like us. No, really. That's not always easy to remember, but can be so helpful in our most difficult struggles.
In today's episode, I had the opportunity to speak to Alistair Chalmers, an assistant pastor in Scotland, who is just as broken as you and I are. He...2022-01-1228 min
Keeping My SanityE36: 11 thought-provoking questions to focus 2022New year's resolutions can sometimes become cliché, rehashing the same generic goals each year. Today, I
want to share ten 11 intentional questions that will help guide your new years reset to focus on what really matters.
What is the one thing I can do this year to increase my enjoyment of God?
What is the most humanly impossible thing I will ask God to do this year?
What is the single most important thing I can do to improve my family life this year?
In which spiritual discipline(s) do I most want to make progress this year and what w...2022-01-0517 min
Keeping My SanityE35: Does growth REALLY need to be uncomfortable?When I feel that I am out of my comfort zone, then I have a God-given chance to grow. Are you experiencing discomfort in some area of your life today? As tough as it seems, it's probably the perfect place for you to grow in your walk with the Lord.
Links in the episode
Episode 10: What homeschool has taught me - https://keepingmysanity.com/podcast/what-homeschool-has-taught-me/
Episode 20: Our nomadic adventure that forced us to rely on God - https://keepingmysanity.com/podcast/our-nomadic-adventure-forced-us-to-rely-on-god/
If you like today's episode, maybe you'd like to get in on my weekly Coffee Chat email. Each...2021-12-2916 min
Keeping My SanityE34: Beyond the Music: A closer look at ‘O Holy Night‘There are few things I love more than music--both listening and singing. I have several Spotify playlists that I rotate through all day long, depending on what I'm in the mood for.
Obviously, Christmas music is running nonstop since November. Obviously. I was struck last week, however, by how little I dwell on some of these theologically rich songs. I enjoy the music, and I can sing right along with it without truly considering the lyrics and the message.
By far, my favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night. I want to share with you a little bit more about th...2021-12-2211 min
Keeping My SanityE33: Invite singles into your crazy: Ministering to singles in your church (Molly Duncan)I've been married for 11 years and have three kids--the oldest of which is nine years old. I feel far removed from singleness. Though I know a lot of singles, I'm always hesitant to reach out and build a relationship. I convince myself that my crazy is too much for them or that I won't have anything relatable to talk about.
To clear things up, I invited my delightful friend Molly to talk about singleness and share how we can best minister to singles in our churches.
If you like today's episode, maybe you'd like to g...2021-12-1517 min
Keeping My SanityE32: Mission-minded for busy moms: Being intentional in the home with Rivers PartinI often think of missions as serving in a remote jungle village, translating the Bible on a life-long calling. While there are certainly those scenarios, missions is so much more than that. As our guest Rivers Partin put it, "Missions is ordinary people, putting their 'yes' on the table and desiring to see God worshipped for who He is."
Rivers and her husband Dave planted Neighborhood Church in Overland Park, KS five years ago. Before that, they ministered is Budapest, Hungary for four years. Rivers and Dave have four children, aged 9 to 15. In addition to being a busy mom of f...2021-12-0837 min
Keeping My SanityE31: Moms teach practical theology to kiddos every day
Theology is defined as the study of the nature of God and religious belief.
When I think about the word 'theology', my mind doesn't immediately go to a mom teaching her kids Biblical truth. Instead, I picture seminary students paging through stacks of dusty commentaries.
But, if we look carefully, every day is packed with countless opportunities to teach our kids practical, life-changing truths about God. Isn't that the goal of parenting after all? Teaching our children to love God?
As a mother of three...2021-12-0121 min
Keeping My SanityE30: 💃🏻 Get on that dance floor, mom!As moms, we like to maintain an image of dignity and "togetherness". We like our comfort zone, and stepping outside of it could allow for unbearable judgment. But sometimes, we need to stop overthinking and be the mom our kids need us to be.
Since childhood, music has been a huge part of my life. Our home is constantly filled with music of all varieties—from classic hymns to Broadway hits, and everything in between. I love it so much!
It's neat to see my love of music passed down my kids. If you ever co...2021-11-2412 min
Keeping My SanityE29: I did a really hard thing this fall 🏃🏻♀️After some much-needed time away from the microphone, it's so good to be back in the studio! A lot has happened over the several months since season one closed out, and I wanted to take a couple of minutes to share some of those changes.
Foster Care
Perhaps the biggest change for our family was accepting a foster care placement for a 2-year-old girl at the beginning of June. We were able to share our lives with her for nearly five months before recently moving to a more permanent home that is such a great f...2021-11-1822 min
Keeping My SanityE28: Thank you for an incredible first season! 🙌This has been an amazing first season of the Keeping My Sanity podcast. I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I started, but the last several months have been incredible.
In this last episode of the season, I wanted to take some time to thank those who have been such an important part in this journey. First, thank you to you, my listeners. Your feedback and support has kept me going when stopping seemed easy.
To my guests, thank you for donating your precious time to talk. I left each conversation so...2021-05-0517 min
Keeping My SanityE27: Being willing is where serving God beginsHow often does God call you to serve where you are completely comfortable? Many times, God uses our own discomfort as a tool to draw us closer to Him. When we need to rely on His strength alone, we grow.
Did you know that God doesn't always call us to do exactly what we want to do? It's true. Did you further know that He sometimes has greater things in store for us if we just trust and follow Him? Being willing to be used by God can be the biggest obstacle in spiritual growth.
...2021-04-2835 min
Keeping My SanityE26: Finding Hope in a world of anxiety with author Helen ThorneIf you're anything like me, this past year has pushed all of the anxiety buttons. It can be crippling and, at times, downright terrifying. Even when we know the answer to our anxiety is Jesus, it can still be difficult to get through each day.
I so appreciated the chance to sit down with Helen Thorne, author of the soon-to-be-released book, Hope in an Anxious World: 6 Truths for When Things Feel Overwhelming.
Helen is Director of Training and Resources at Biblical Counselling UK and an experienced counsellor. She formerly worked with London City Mission and...2021-04-2137 min
Keeping My SanityE25: My super-short change-of-plans episodeIt's National Gardening Day! (and I'm sort of freaking out about it!) Today's episode was going to be all about gardening--how relaxing and rewarding it is and all of the other feels.
But...
We were placed with some foster kiddos last week, and podcast production time plummeted. Pretty much time for anything plummeted. We are so happy to foster, but it can occasionally change well-intentioned plans.
So, take the time you'd normally spend listening to the episode to spread love and kindness with someone. Buy coffee for a stranger. Text someone at the bo...2021-04-1401 min
Keeping My SanityE24: Self-care is not selfish, it’s biblicalWhen we are so busy being moms and wives, sometimes the term 'self care' can be a laughable concept. Even if we had the time for such nonsense, there's an enormous amount of guilt around that selfish term.
It's absolutely true that Christians can find all of the rest we need in Christ. But, let's not forget that God can provide that refreshment and rest through things we enjoy. What an awesome God He is! Even Jesus took times of rest away from the business of ministry.
When we neglect caring for ourselves, we're not se...2021-04-0710 min
Keeping My SanityE23: Sometimes, a chat with another mom is exactly what you needThere are definitely times as a mom that you feel like you're doing it all alone. Whether it's the kids fighting, the messy house, or simply the lack of any sort of calmness in your day—it's easy to overload yourself with guilt and stress.
In times like these, it can be a sweet refreshment to chat with another mom. I'm so excited to sit down for a few minutes with my dear friend, Missy, on today's episode. We've been trying to find a time to reconnect, and I asked if we could share our chat with ot...2021-03-3124 min
Keeping My SanityE22: Called to the Ordinary: When Being Mom is So Much More than EnoughAs a mom, every day can seem exactly like the one before and the one before that. All of the tedious things we do can pick away at our patience and threaten our contentment. Above and beyond the tedium of motherhood comes the heavy burden of teaching our children to love God. I can sometimes feel so inadequate to impart rich biblical truth to my kids, yet that is exactly what I'm called to do.
If you feel the same inadequacies, remember you teach more by showing than by telling. Pray often with your children. Share your...2021-03-2419 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 21: God Chooses Creativity: The Value of Diversity and the Gospel with Trillia NewbellTrillia Newbell is a Christian author of several books—for young kids all the way through adults—that specifically talk about how diversity is a celebration of God's creation.
I grew up in a rural Midwest farming town. Diversity wasn't a topic we talked about often. It rarely came up simply because there wasn't really much in our lives or communities. But, that doesn't mean it isn't vital to discuss. In fact, downplaying the remarkable creativity God chose by not talking about diversity does great harm.
Trillia has authored several books on many topics—not just d...2021-03-1733 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 20: Our nomadic adventure that forced us to rely on GodHave you ever had a moment when everything seemed to fall into place? Dreams you forgot you ever had were coming true in front of your eyes. Then...it all fell apart in an instant.
That's where we were in August 2017.
With a UHAUL full of everything we owned 30 minutes from our new home, we got a phone call would change everything.
More at keepingmysanity.com.
2021-03-1024 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 19: How we went from know-nothing-newlyweds to financially stableThrough all of our naivety and poor choices, it has taken us nearly a decade to feel financially stable. We may not be where we'd like to be, but we're in a far better place than we were 10 years ago. Josh joins me on the podcast to talk about our financial journey from know-nothing-newlyweds to where we are today.
Neither Josh or I came into our marriage with much of a financial plan. Given the benefit of hindsight, we can't help but shake our heads and facepalm 🤦🏻♀️ at our naivety. Josh had just returned from Iraq, where he didn't ne...2021-03-0333 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 18: Where is that picture-perfect motherhood I once imagined? (with author Liz Wann)God uses the daily struggles and sacrifices of motherhood to make us more like Christ.
There are many books on motherhood but not many that talk about how hard it is – physically, mentally, and spiritually – and what to do when you reach your limits.
When Liz Wann became a mother, she was unprepared for how hard it would be. In this book, she writes honestly about these deeply challenging aspects of motherhood and how God works through them to make us more like his Son.
“Coming to the end of who I was, and wh...2021-02-2424 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 17: Practical steps toward a healthy lifestyle with guest, Dr. Jess CummingsA healthy lifestyle is sometimes the last thing we focus on after all of the other stress we face every day. Health is always a great idea, but seldom seems a practical goal to be reached. Dr. Jess Cummings, physical therapist extraordinaire, came on the show and talked through several practical steps for busy women that will lead towards a healthy, abundant life.
As a mom of three kiddos and owner of a small business, Jess knows what it's like to be busy. Her passion to help women build healthy lives shows through as she talks through...2021-02-1733 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 16: I'm not good enough—The lies we think and believePerhaps you can relate to the constant urge I feel to be better than I am and the emptiness that follows. The pressing feelings of inadequacy started at a young age for me, as they do for others.
What started as an inability to fit into my sister’s hand-me-downs, grew into a pressure to fit into the crowd. I was an outsider with a desperate desire to be an insider. That stress grew as it seemed I could only make the bench on the varsity team. Come college, inadequacy dealt a crushing blow when I didn’t ma...2021-02-1028 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 15: Serving God Where You Are with Michelle TrieboldRaise your hand if you've ever thought or said something along the lines of, "I wish I could help, but I don't have anything to offer."
🙋🏻♀️
Remember that God doesn't ask us to change the world; He asks us to obey and trust Him—wherever He leads.
This is exactly where Michelle Triebold (podcast guest today) found herself.
About a decade ago, Michelle hesitantly agreed to travel to Liberia, West Africa, to help a nonprofit with some photography and marketing materials. Little did she know that the Lord had so much more in store...2021-02-0336 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 14: The Power of Christ to Change Little HeartsAs a mom, I can exhaust myself trying to change my kids. It seems like they purposely disobey in the exact same way over and over again, just to test my patience. But, the more I focus on changing them, the more helpless I feel. What they need is Christ. Only He can cause true change. I have been called to pour over His word, bow before His throne, and to imitate Him as a model for my children to follow.
2021-01-2709 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 13: 8 Books I Use to Share Christ With My KidsWe are all about books in this house! We have hundreds of them, so narrowing it down for a single podcast episode was a challenge. Some on our shelves are just silly and entertaining, but we try to invest in books that give opportunity to show Christ through each page. So here are the top 8 books we use to start conversations with our kids that will direct them to the cross.
For all of the details and links to the books check out keepingmysanity.com/ep13.
2021-01-2011 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 12: Leading Your Children to Love God and His WordPerhaps the most sacred responsibility God has entrusted us with as moms is leading our children to love the Savior and His word. The way we deal with our own sin and struggle will help form habits that will continue for the rest of their lives--for good or bad.
2021-01-1327 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 11: Speak Well of Your HusbandWe know our husbands’ strengths and weaknesses better than anyone else. If we are to build a Christ-honoring relationship, it’s necessary that our husbands wholly trust us with their most intimate struggles. My friend Ginny shared some fantastic relationship advice before I married Josh. Today, I get to bring her on to share her heart with you, too! More at keepingmysanity.com/ep11
2021-01-0621 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 10: What Homeschool has Taught MeIn March 2020 I, like millions of other parents across the world, received a notice that school was closed for the reminder of the year. Homeschooling was never part of the plan, but it became an overnight reality we decided to carry over through this school year. Despite the new challenges I face, it’s been so amazing to see what God uses to draw us closer to him. More at keepingmysanity.com/ep10.
2020-12-3014 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 9: Mom Break - Christmas Story TimeSometimes, moms just need a break! I’d like to give that to you with today’s episode. We’ll take a journey through a classic fairytale, an original Christmas poem, scripture passages centered on the Savior’s birth, several familiar carols, and the nativity as experienced by the innkeeper’s daughter. Gather the kiddos around for today’s Mom Break. More at keepingmysanity.com/ep9.
2020-12-2336 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 8: Finding Balance as a MompreneurI sat down with my sister, Ashley, this week on the podcast. In the last year or so, she has transformed the hobby she loves into a small business that she can do from home. I enjoyed talking to her about how she got started and how she continues to evaluate her priorities. For more information and ways to find Ashley online, check out keepingmysanity.com/ep8.
2020-12-1625 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 7: Intentional Food Choices for Busy MomsIt is SO easy as moms to forget to take care of ourselves—especially with the food we eat. When I first started to make better choices, I felt overwhelm, but I've come to rely on a few solid, easy-prep meals. Really, being healthy doesn't need to be complicated! Let's talk for a few minutes about how we can be intentional in fueling our bodies and making good choices. Recipes at keepingmysanity.com/ep7
2020-12-0913 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 6: Book Review - Just Show UpWhen others are enduring difficulties, we often don’t know what to say or do. In their book Just Show Up, Kara Tippets and Jill Lynn Buteyn challenge us to be present for those who are ‘going through hard’.
More at keepingmysanity.com/ep6.
2020-12-0219 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 5: Finding Clarity and Truth In DisappointmentDealing with disappointment and loneliness is a part of being a mom. It's easy to let those emotions keep our eyes off of Christ. Each time we face disappointment, we have a choice. We can dwell on what we don't have, or we can shift our focus to discovering how God can use our disappointment to show Himself to us in some way. Read more at keepingmysanity.com/ep5.
2020-11-2513 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 4: Family Traditions and Dutch Apple PiesFamily traditions play a huge role in how our children perceive our values--for better or worse. In this episode, my sister-in-law and I bake one of our mother-in-law's traditional recipe--a Dutch Apple Pie.
Read all of the shownotes at keepingmysanity.com/ep4.
2020-11-1823 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 3: Getting to Know TinaMy friend Anna came over to chat about life. Check out the Pumpkin Spice Scones recipe we enjoyed.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
2020-11-1825 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 2: Saving Time, Stress, and Money with Meal PlanningI put meal planning off for so long, but I finally succumbed. Honestly, I don't know how I did it without planning. Check out my post all about my journey and take advantage of some of my resources.
https://keepingmysanity.com/mealplan
2020-11-1817 min
Keeping My SanityEpisode 1: A Chat About Loneliness in MotherhoodMotherhood is a wonderful blessing from God, but so often, it can be tough to get through each day. The feeling of complete isolation and loneliness is real, and I think we should talk about it.
See the episode notes at keepingmysanity.com/ep1.
2020-11-1816 minKeeping My SanityKeeping My Sanity TrailerI’m a mom of three boys. Life's full of crazy and I want to share it with you. We'll talk about struggles, successes, faith, and just life in general. I don't have time to sit down and record a podcast every week, so we're going to bake, do laundry, pick up toys, and all of the things that moms do every day. I want to talk about life with you and hope you can find friendship and encouragement each week.
2020-11-1401 min