Episode Four of the Sticky Conversations series is all about technology including TV, video games, phones, social media, etc. Stephani Blackwell, and I discuss the necessity of first examining our own relationship with technology--especially phone usage and social media, and letting that be the first thing we work on before trying to influence our children's relationship with technology. We discuss specific ideas for limiting technology, but focus mainly on how parents need to determine their ow...
Jun 25, 2025•40 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Though talking about friendships doesn't seem like the "stickiest" topic, we have found in experience that there can be many sticky conversations surrounding friendships (especially with girls). Hurt feelings, bad influences, and handling fights or bad behavior are all examples of things that parents have to help their kids navigate with friends, and Stef shares from an abundance of wisdom and experience about how she handles friendships with her kids. As with sex, we find that starting conversa...
Jun 25, 2025•38 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Back again with Steph Blackwell to discuss another sticky conversation. This topic was given to us by a listener who wanted to teach her daughter about feminism without bringing down men or pretending that men and women are made the same. Steph and I discuss how to honor both sexes through the concepts of theology of the body, historical contexts, and living examples in our marriages. We believe that God made both men and women equal in dignity, but very different in form and purpose. We try to ...
Jun 17, 2025•38 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Probably one of the most common topics for parents to DREAD talking to their kids about: SEX. This can be hard because it's a sensitive, private topic that we would like to keep private! We don't want to scar our kids with too many details, but we don't want them to learn the complete wrong things either. How do we share the right things about sex at the right time and how do we do that without 1) freaking our kids out or 2) accidentally "telling" the whole neighborhood about sex via our childre...
Jun 03, 2025•37 min•Season 6Ep. 1
This prompt is brought to you by a friend and listener, and I thought it was so great! How do we get through the summer without all driving each other totally crazy?? As a homeschool mom, I have had to learn how to make life work even when everyone is home together all the time and have put together a few thoughts for you to consider as you try to make your house just a little more peaceful this summer. I hit on: Structure & routines Food planning & boundaries Cleanliness of the house Pr...
May 30, 2025•20 min
Scripture memory is one of the best ways for you to help keep Christ in your child's heart even as they grow. My family growing up memorized a few pieces of scripture that I STILL REMEMBER from childhood, and I have seen how God can draw the words back into my mind right at the moment when I need them most. I hope to hide Bible verses in my children's hearts that God may bring back up to them one day when they need it the most. In this episode, I share a Charlotte Mason system for memorizing scr...
May 27, 2025•17 min
Keeping seven kids clothed in things that fit them is NO SMALL TASK. So I've had to come up with some systems for how to make sure all the kids have clothing they need and that we are being good stewards of the clothing God has provided for us. In this episode, I share my tips on keeping all the kids' clothing in their size and in season. It isn't perfect, but I'll take you through the process including things that I have just let go of because you can't do everything! I also share some encourag...
May 13, 2025•16 min
Have you ever heard that as a family vacation is not really a vacation, but it is a trip? I wholeheartedly believe that, and I have totally embraced it! Even though it's not gonna be all spas and relaxation, a family trip is still something so special, and I love them too! Embrace the trip, and enjoy the trip, knowing that you are creating memories for your kids, spurring on bonding between siblings, and exposing them to new environments that can be meaningful to them later on! In this episode, ...
May 06, 2025•18 min
Join me for a few announcements and LOTS of tips. Our family has done so much travel through the years, and we have learned what works for us in the car and airplane. Hear about what works for us for entertaining different aged kids, organizing your stuff, keeping babies happy and more. Next week I will share about overall travel tips for when you are away from home. Talk to you then!
Apr 29, 2025•24 min
Alleluia alleluia! He is risen! Happy Easter, friends! I hope you're enjoying an octave of celebrating and rejoicing in our risen savior! Tune in for an announcement about what is to come in the podcast!
Apr 23, 2025•3 min
As we continue through Lent, we ask God to shine a light on the ways He wants us to grow, and a big way is letting go of the sins that weigh us down. As we journey through Holy Week, we ponder in particular the way the fact that Jesus wants to take our sins from us and bear them Himself. It is so humbling to realize that we cannot fix them ourselves, but when we give our sins over to the one who loves us, we are able to find freedom, peace, and salvation. In this episode, we focus in on glutton ...
Apr 15, 2025•26 min•Season 5Ep. 4
As we continue through Lent, we ask God to shine a light on the ways He wants us to grow, and a big way is letting go of the sins that weigh us down. This episode focuses in on greed. We focus in on what this sin is, how it shows up in our lives, what virtue we can run to in response to this sin, and practical tips to help us shed this sin from our lives. Practical tips from this episode include: For the last part of Lent, find something you can say no to buying and instead give the money away L...
Apr 08, 2025•26 min•Season 5Ep. 6
As we continue through Lent, we ask God to shine a light on the ways He wants us to grow, and a big way is letting go of the sins that weigh us down. This episode focuses in on sloth. We focus in on what this sin is, how it shows up in our lives, what virtue we can run to in response to this sin, and practical tips to help us shed this sin from our lives. Practical tips from this episode include: Start small building in daily habits of self-denial and discipline every day Read Atomic Habits Cons...
Apr 01, 2025•24 min•Season 5Ep. 5
As we continue through Lent, we ask God to shine a light on the ways He wants us to grow, and a big way is letting go of the sins that weigh us down. This episode focuses in on envy. We focus in on what this sin is, how it shows up in our lives, what virtue we can run to in response to this sin, and practical tips to help us shed this sin from our lives. Practical tips from this episode include: Pray lectio divina on Romans 12:9-21 Pray for the ability to forgive! A phrase to repeat daily is "I ...
Mar 25, 2025•26 min•Season 5Ep. 4
As we continue through Lent, we ask God to shine a light on the ways He wants us to grow, and a big way is letting go of the sins that weigh us down. This episode focuses in on envy. We focus in on what this sin is, how it shows up in our lives, what virtue we can run to in response to this sin, and practical tips to help us shed this sin from our lives. Practical tips from this episode include: Praying specifically for those of whom you're envious Taking a step back from social media Seek out t...
Mar 18, 2025•19 min•Season 5Ep. 3
As we begin Lent, we ask God to shine a light on the ways He wants us to grow, and a big way is letting go of the sins that weigh us down. This episode focuses in on the mother of all sins: pride. We focus in on what this sin is, how it shows up in our lives, what virtue we can run to in response to this sin, and practical tips to help us shed this sin from our lives. Practical tips from this episode include: Meditating on Jesus with His crown of thorns Nightly Examen prayer Litany of Humility T...
Mar 11, 2025•24 min•Season 5Ep. 2
For Lent, we are starting a new series about the seven deadly sins! Sound scary? This episode reminds us that we don't need to be afraid of sin. Jesus calls us away from sin for our good, but He doesn't intend for us to have to do it all by ourselves. Together we will learn about each of the deadly sins so that we may live the abundant life Jesus wants for us! If you find yourself being convicted by the messages in these episodes, praise God for His care for you. He doesn't want you to be a slav...
Mar 04, 2025•11 min•Season 5Ep. 1
This is the sixth episode of a six part book study over "Searching for and Maintaining Peace" by Fr. Jacques Philippe. I am joined by Katie Novitsky and Stefani Blackwell, and we go over part 3 of the book. Part 3 is a robust summary of everything from the book using the quotes of saints. Saints are great models for us as we try to grow in holiness. Being just regular people like us, we can relate to their struggles and learn tactics and thought patterns from them that help us as we grow in virt...
Feb 24, 2025•33 min•Season 4Ep. 2
This is the fifth episode of a six part book study over "Searching for and Maintaining Peace" by Fr. Jacques Philippe. I am joined by Katie Novitsky and Stefani Blackwell, and we go over chapters 13-18 in part 2 of the book. This section of part two deals mainly with how we respond after our own failures and faults. Fr. Jacques encourages us to not get too down on ourselves, but rather to try to come back to a peaceful state as quickly as possible. We cannot "fix" ourselves so that we will never...
Feb 18, 2025•29 min•Season 4Ep. 5
This is the fourth episode of a six part book study over "Searching for and Maintaining Peace" by Fr. Jacques Philippe. I am joined by Katie Novitsky and Stefani Blackwell, and we go over chapters 7-12 in part 2 of the book. Part 2 details reasons why we lose our peace and how we can combat those reasons. We discuss how comparison is at odds with our peace as we inevitably focus on our lacking. We are reminded that God will never leave us without what is necessary for our salvation and that we c...
Feb 10, 2025•47 min•Season 4Ep. 4
This is the third episode of a six part book study over "Searching for and Maintaining Peace" by Fr. Jacques Philippe. I am joined by Katie Novitsky and Stefani Blackwell, and we go over chapters 1-6 in part 2 of the book. Part 2 details reasons why we lose our peace and how we can combat those reasons. We find that the desire for control is often at complete odds with our peace and that trusting God is key. That trust is naturally developed as we develop a relationship with Jesus and get to kno...
Feb 04, 2025•34 min•Season 4Ep. 3
This is the second episode of a six part book study over "Searching for and Maintaining Peace" by Fr. Jacques Philippe. I am joined by Katie Novitsky and Stefani Blackwell, and we go over chapters 4-7 in part 1 of the book. This section speaks further into what it means to be in a spiritual battle, which often centers around our peace. Katie shares how even when Jesus was providing extraordinary peace in her difficult circumstances, she still felt attacks on peace. Though we are in the midst of ...
Jan 28, 2025•34 min•Season 4Ep. 2
This is the first episode of a six part book study over "Searching for and Maintaining Peace" by Fr. Jacques Philippe. I am joined by Katie Novitsky and Stefani Blackwell, and we go over the preface along with chapters 1-3 in pt. 1 of the book. We discuss how peace is essential if we want to serve and love others--namely, our families. This peace, as Fr. Jacques Philippe asserts, can only be found through Jesus Christ. Jesus, who knows us and loves us, will never abandon us to our anxieties, but...
Jan 21, 2025•33 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Although you know I love talking about our faith and prayer, I get the most questions about practical things in our daily life. Whether you are a mom to one or twelve, you can always use some practical ideas for getting stuff done and taking care of business! In this episode, I discuss meal planning! I talk about: Apps I use How to post meals What I take into account when planning How we handle different meals in our family Tips on food and snacks More... Next week we will start a BOOK STUDY on ...
Jan 14, 2025•22 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Although you know I love talking about our faith and prayer, I get the most questions about practical things in our daily life. Whether you are a mom to one or twelve, you can always use some practical ideas for getting stuff done and taking care of business! In this episode, I discuss laundry tips! Firstly about how to help your kids start doing their own laundry at a young age. If you can pass off the chore of laundry-even for just one or two kids, life can get SO much easier! I talk about: Wh...
Jan 07, 2025•18 min•Season 4Ep. 4
This Advent, we are talking about three main aspects of Jesus' hidden life (all the life He lived before going into His ministry on earth), and trying to bring those things into our lives this Advent. The third of these is work. Before Jesus was doing miracles daily and being followed by thousands, He worked as a carpenter and lived an ordinary life in Nazareth that included chores, travel, and a lot of work! As moms, we have so much work we need to do every day that can be very waring, but it c...
Dec 17, 2024•12 min
This Advent, we are talking about three main aspects of Jesus' hidden life (all the life He lived before going into His ministry on earth), and trying to bring those things into our lives this Advent. The second of these is family life. Jesus spent 30 years of His life living with His parents. This was not just about being practical or doing His duty. Jesus modeled to us that family life is SACRED and that He works all things in love. This generation of moms has a temptation to think that work o...
Dec 10, 2024•12 min
This Advent, we are talking about three main aspects of Jesus' hidden life (all the life He lived before going into His ministry on earth), and trying to bring those things into our lives this Advent. The first of these is SILENCE. Silence is hard to come by as a mom in the western world in the 21st century! We are inundated by NOISE and expected to make NOISE. But most of Jesus' life was spent with no large following and no major milestones. There are no miracles recorded at all and it would se...
Dec 03, 2024•15 min
Join us for the final episode in the peace series! Stephanie Clarisse is the former host of this podcast back when it was called 500 Seconds to Joy, and she is an absolute JOY to talk to! I'm so grateful she came on to share what God has been teaching her as she focuses on peace this year. A verse that perfectly encapsulates this series is Isaiah 26:2, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." Stephanie shares how this verse has encouraged her to keep...
Nov 26, 2024•44 min•Season 3Ep. 9
We make decisions CONSTANTLY as moms. From big ones like "Should we move?" or "Should we have another baby?" to very small ones like "Should spend time cleaning up before I work on the bills?" Not every decision weighs heavily, but the sheer number of decisions does weigh us down, especially when we don't have confidence on what we should do! In this episode, we remember that the only true question we need to ask ourselves is "What does God want?" and that is often an easier question to answer. ...
Nov 20, 2024•20 min•Season 3Ep. 8
