500 Seconds To Joy | Mom Life Encouragement

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 encouragement that helps me re-frame my brain when doing the chore of going through kids' clothing and helps me do it lovingly and with thanksgiving rather than begrudgingly! Happy clothing storage-ing, everyone!

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, I go through some of the things we try to do when planning trips with our family like where we stay, how we plan our itinerary, and how we help even adult-focused environments be very fun for our kids. I also share about our lightbulb moment of discovering "vacation mode" when we were on a trip to Hawaii with four little kids and just trying to survive it all!Stay tuned for a couple more practical episodes before we start our "sticky conversations" series with Stefani Blackwell!

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!

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!

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 and lust. What it 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 for combatting gluttony:Taking note of what we eat every day in a non-judgemental way, then evaluating afterwards what habits are healthy and which are notSlowly breaking down unhealthy habits through small stepsLooking to Bl Carlo Acutis as an example of moderationPractical tips from this episode for combatting lust:Immediately turning to prayer during times of temptation--specifically the rosaryRemoving environmental factors that may lead to temptation like not sleeping with the phone next to your bedLooking to St. Joseph as an example of chastity

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 awayLook at your expenditures and notice the purchases you have made that have been unnecessaryLook to soon-to-be-Saint Pier Giorgio for inspiration

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 dayRead Atomic HabitsConsider Proverbs 31 and imagine yourself as the woman describedLook toward St. Paul as an example of diligence toward God's mission

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 12:9-21Pray for the ability to forgive! A phrase to repeat daily is "I forgive ________ for ________. God please bless him/her."Look toward St. Patrick as an example of forgiveness

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 enviousTaking a step back from social mediaSeek out those around you whom you can serveLook toward Elizabeth, Mary's cousin as an example of charity

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 thornsNightly Examen prayerLitany of HumilityThe Jesus PrayerWorking at someone else's pace, even if that is slower than yours

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 slave to this sin and He longs to save you from it! Get to confession as soon as you can, and lean on the Lord in prayer to take you out of it!

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 virtue and fall further in love with God. Use these quotes to help remind you of some of the things we have learned through this book, and if there is a particular saint that stands out to you from these quotes, take that as an invitation to get to know that saint more and ask for their intercession. Just like you might ask a friend to pray for an intention, you can ask a saint! As we know from James 5:16, "The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful."Episode schedule:January 21st - preface, pt 1: ch 1-3January 28th - pt. 1: ch 4-7February 4th - pt. 2, ch 1-6February 11th - pt. 2, ch 7-12February 18th - pt. 2, ch 13-18February 25th - pt. 3Discussion Questions: How was your week? Was there anything from last week's discussion that stayed with you throughout the week? Share one saint quote that was especially meaningful to you.  Is there a saint whose writing style/thoughts particularly stand out to you? Maybe this is your invitation to get to know that saint more! As you look back at this entire book, what is one thing that stands out to you? How can you continue to remember this message? As Katie reminds us, you cannot give true peace if you don't have it yourself. Who in your life needs peace right now? Are there any ideas from this book that can help you be a peaceful presence in their life? When hearing the story of Martha and Mary, who do you relate to more? Is it possible to maintain a spirit of peace, even when you have a lot of tasks to complete? Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. What does it mean to "boast" of our weaknesses, and how can it bring us closer to God? Pg. 106 - 107 speaks on living in the present moment. Take a moment to pray for God to relinquish you from regrets of the past and from fears of the future. Pray for each person present that God may claim their soul for Himself and enliven each moment of their days.

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 fail, but God can certainly grow and heal us so that we may fall less frequently, but we remember that ALL of God's work is done in PEACE. Thus, returning to peace is the best way to truly rid ourselves of our vices and temptations toward sin. This section also guides us on how to make decisions. If you would like more detailed help in this area, check out the series I did on decision-making in November, 2022. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-better-part-intentional-living-for-christian-moms/id1481909779?i=1000584622291Join us next week for episode 6, where we will discuss part 3..Episode schedule:January 21st - preface, pt 1: ch 1-3January 28th - pt. 1: ch 4-7February 4th - pt. 2, ch 1-6February 11th - pt. 2, ch 7-12February 18th - pt. 2, ch 13-18February 25th - pt. 3Discussion Questions: How was your week? Was there anything from last week's discussion that stayed with you throughout the week? Share one quote from this section that was especially meaningful to you.  Is there a particular area that you often find yourself lacking grace, patience, or peace? When you find yourself failing in a familiar way, do you lean more toward being too easy or too hard on yourself? Read over the prayer that is in quotation marks on pg. 58. Which part of that prayer stands out most to you? Ch. 14 argues that our own sins and failures can sometimes lead us to a good. Have you experienced this in your life? Maybe a personality that is both a weakness and a strength? Or a bad situation that led to something good happening? The book argues that spiritual progress isn't necessarily learning to never fail, but being able to return to peace quickly after each failure. Is there something in your life lately that removes you from peace for longer than you'd like? Do you have a go-to person from whom you always ask for advice when you are making a big decision? Who is it and why? Pg. 74 says it is normal to not always have a clear answer from God when making decisions. Share a time when God's will has been clear in your decision making or share a time when it has not.  What decisions are you dealing with right now?

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 can trust in His providence always. We also consider how those in our lives affect our own lives and how that can interfere with peace. When someone around us suffers, God helps us to respond with TRUE compassion and with patience for any imperfections we find in others. Join us next week for episode 3, where we will discuss part 2, chapters 13-18.Episode schedule:January 21st - preface, pt 1: ch 1-3January 28th - pt. 1: ch 4-7February 4th - pt. 2, ch 1-6February 11th - pt. 2, ch 7-12February 18th - pt. 2, ch 13-18February 25th - pt. 3Discussion Questions:How was your week? Was there anything from last week's discussion that stayed with you throughout the week?Share one quote from this section that was especially meaningful to you. What role do you find comparison playing in your peace? Are you more likely to compare yourself to others or to another version of you (your past self, or who you hoped to be)?Does social media affect your peace in a positive or a negative way? Where has something negative in your life brought out something good?As mothers, we can often take on the sufferings of others and feel them as our own. Share about a time when the suffering of a loved one has made you lose your peace. How did God work through that time?Can you remember a time of your own suffering when someone showed you true compassion? Share about what they did and how it affected you.On pg. 55, Fr. Jacques says, God “puts up with [an imperfect person] as he is! He waits, with patience… I must do likewise. I must pray and be patient. Why be more demanding and impatient than God?” Is there anyone in your life who tests your patience? How can you see them more from God's perspective?

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 know Him as a real person. We share ways that our relationships with Jesus have brought us peace as mothers and how the distractions of this world never bring us closer to who we want to be. Though there will be suffering in this world, God promises us that He will never leave us without that which we truly need! Join us next week for episode 3, where we will discuss part 2, chapters 7-12. Episode schedule: January 21st - preface, pt 1: ch 1-3 January 28th - pt. 1: ch 4-7 February 4th - pt. 2, ch 1-6 February 11th - pt. 2, ch 7-12 February 18th - pt. 2, ch 13-18 February 25th - pt. 3 Discussion Questions: 1. How was your week? Was there anything from last week's discussion that stayed with you throughout the week? 2. Share one quote from this section that was especially meaningful to you.  3. On pg. 26, Fr. Jacques proposes that “our great drama is this. That man does not have confidence in God.” Can you remember a time in your life that you questioned whether God would take care of you? How did you handle it? 4. Is there anything you find yourself grasping for control of that is disturbing your peace?  5. Have you experienced the peace in front of the Blessed Sacrament that Fr. Jacques Philippe describes on pg. 34-35? How does adoration change your prayer? If you have ever done a regular holy hour, what do you do during that time? 6. St. Therese of Lisieux says, that “God does not permit unnecessary suffering.” What is your gut response to that phrase? Have you ever seen suffering that has brought good? Is it possible for all suffering to bring about good? (For further discussion or prayer on this, consider Isaiah 55:8-9, Romans 8:28, and Romans 8:18) 7. Ch. 6 is titled, “God Asks for Everything, but He Doesn't Necessarily Take Everything.” What do you find yourself holding back from God for fear that He will take it away? (e.g. your time, finances, health, plans for the future, hopes for your children, a problem of a loved one) For further thought… When the angel Gabriel announced to Zechariah that his wife was going to become pregnant with John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-25), he responded with, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” This response doesn't read all that different than Mary's, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” (Luke 1:34). Why do you think Gabriel responded so differently to Mary than to Zechariah?

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 battle, we remember that the war has already been won by Jesus Christ and we have nothing to fear. When the evil one tries to draw us into battle him ourselves, God draws us near to Him and reminds us that He can and will take care of us if we allow Him. Though God is always guiding and convicting us to grow in holiness, we know that He never pushes us in shame or out of anger. He gently reminds and restores us so that we can live in peace. Join us next week for episode 3, where we will discuss part 2, chapters 1-6. Episode schedule: January 21st - preface, pt 1: ch 1-3 January 28th - pt. 1: ch 4-7 February 4th - pt. 2, ch 1-6 February 11th - pt. 2, ch 7-12 February 18th - pt. 2, ch 13-18 February 25th - pt. 3 Discussion Questions: 1. How was your week? Was there anything from last week's discussion that stayed with you throughout the week? 2. Share one quote from this section that was especially meaningful to you.  3. On pg. 16, Fr. Jacques states that a “necessary for interior peace is what we might call goodwill.” How would you describe the goodwill he is talking about here? 4. Ch. 3-5 focus on spiritual combat. Is this something that you have heard of before? How does it make you feel?  5. Too often we find ourselves at either end of the spectrum when it comes to spiritual warfare. Either completely aloof and unaware of the spiritual battle that is happening or overly fixated on where our inclinations come from and discerning what in our lives is coming from the devil or God. Where do you find yourself on this spectrum?  6. The devil often attacks our peace. Where have you seen these attacks in your own life? (Agitation and worries about the future? Discouragement about your own failings? Frustrations with others? Despair when comparing yourself to others? Another way?) 7. God wants to give us peace that far surpasses what the world can offer us. Have you ever experienced a time when you were given peace in a surprising situation? Or in the midst of a hard decision? Could that have been God at work in you?

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 if we come to Him and give our lives to Him, He will grant us never-ending peace. Join us next week for episode 2, where we will discuss part 1, chapters 4-7. Episode schedule: January 21st - preface, pt 1: ch 1-3 January 28th - pt. 1: ch 4-7 February 4th - pt. 2, ch 1-6 February 11th - pt. 2, ch 7-12 February 18th - pt. 2, ch 13-18 February 25th - pt. 3 Discussion Questions: 1. Coming into this book study, where in your life do you currently see peace? Where are you desiring more peace? 2. Share one quote from this section that was especially meaningful to you. 3. On pg. 8, Fr. Jacques tells about Saint Seraphin of Sarov, who brought multitudes toward him because of his peacefulness. Who in your life is an example of that same magnetic peacefulness? 4. Jesus says, “Without me you can do nothing.” How does that make you feel (cared for, powerless, defensive, empowered, etc.) and why do you think that is? 5. On pg. 6, it says that maintaining peace is “not an invitation to laziness and inaction,” but to act “under the impulse of the Holy Spirit… and not in a spirit of disquietude, agitation, or excessive hurry.” Describe a time when you've seen yourself act in either of these ways. 5. Ch. 3 reminds us that our life will be a “constant and sometimes painful battle” against temptation and sin. How can someone remain in peace if that is the truth? 6. Reflect on Hebrews 12:4-13. How does our negative view of discipline point to a “worldly” perspective? How can we shift our view to be more “heavenly” so that we may view discipline as a form of love?

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 "Searching for and Maintaining Peace" by Fr. Jacques Philippe. I'll be joined by two dear friends and we will discuss the book in six sections over six episodes. We will finish the study just before Lent with the hope of coming into Lent with a deeper relationship with the Lord and peace in knowing what He is calling us to do. Whether you get the book or not, I feel confident you will get a lot out of these episodes! If you would like to read the book along with us, make sure to purchase it in the next week and ask a friend (or two or three!) to do it with you! We will have discussion questions posted for each episode to help you in go over each section in a group setting. If you would like to prepare beforehand, the first episode will be about the preface and chapters 1-3 in part one of the book. See you then!

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: What ages we pass off chores like sorting, putting away, and folding towels How to set up your kid(s)'s closets so that it's practical for them How to teach them to do laundry How to simplify your systems More... Next week we will have another practical episode on meal planning and then on January 21st, we will start a BOOK STUDY on "Searching for and Maintaining Peace" by Fr. Jacques Philippe. I'll be joined by two dear friends and we will discuss the book in six sections over six episodes. We will finish the study just before Lent with the hope of coming into Lent with a deeper relationship with the Lord and peace in knowing what He is calling us to do. Whether you get the book or not, I feel confident you will get a lot out of these episodes! If you would like to read the book along with us, make sure to purchase it in the next two weeks and ask a friend (or two or three!) to do it with you! We will have discussion questions posted for each episode to help you in go over each section in a group setting. If you would like to prepare beforehand, the first episode will be about the preface and chapters 1-3 in part one of the book. See you then!

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 can help us to remember that we don't have a God that cannot understand. He also went through all of the drudgery in life and experienced the monotony of normal life. However, Jesus didn't just work for the sake of work. He did it out of obedience to His father and out of love for those around Him. We to can work just for the sake of work, or we can take our work and turn it toward prayer. What work do you have during this last week of Advent? Is there a way to turn it into prayer? Listen in to hear some ideas how!

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 outside of the home is more important than the life that happens inside the home. Do you feel that pull to work on projects outside of the home that will get you more kudos, achievements, or recognition? Is it easy to rush through daily tasks with the family so that you can serve others outside of the family? Maybe God is calling you to lean deeper into family life and reclaim normal moments as extraordinary opportunities to love your family more. Listen in to hear some ideas on how!

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 seem that he was hardly known outside of Nazareth. We can learn from this virtual silence that Jesus lived in. Silence is where we can: Hear God easier Think clearer Be less distracted from the call Jesus gives us as mothers Is God calling you to bring more silence into your life? Listen in for some practical ideas on how!

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 up her daily prayer and to keep Jesus at the forefront of her brain throughout the day. When we can keep our minds on God and trust in Him, we can be steady even though tough times. When we try to create peace by controlling our circumstances or by allowing ourselves to follow any whim that comes, we can simulate peace, but God is the only one who can provide TRUE peace. Stephanie also shares a couple of quotes from the book Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Fr. Jacques Philippe. This book will be the focus of a book study I will be hosting with two other ladies in January! I hope you join us so that we can continue to grow toward God together!

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. Here are five ways we can do that: Be in relationship with Jesus (through daily prayer) Read Scripture consistently Take the time to ASK God and listen for His answer Carefully discern big decisions Accept God's permissive will (and forgive yourself when you get it wrong) For discerning big decisions, I highly recommend the book What Does God Want by Fr. Michael Scanlan! It is practical, short, and great for evaluating opportunities and choices. I love it so much that I did a series over it on this podcast back when it was called 500 Seconds to Joy! Check it out here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-better-part-intentional-living-for-christian-moms/id1481909779?i=1000584622291

Everything we do is affected by our relationships, whether in our families, extended families, friendships, or working relationships. So if there is a relationship where we are having a tough time, it can color how we feel, act, and make decisions. In this episode, Jenna discusses how unmet expectations affect our relationships and how to deal with that conflict as it comes. She goes over the difference between drawing boundaries and building walls and highlights how God's plan for us is always for our growth in holiness, even if that means working with someone who is difficult. However, even with the best communication skills and well-thought-out boundaries, relationships can always turn toward selfishness and friction without Jesus. If we turn first toward Jesus for our fulfillment and work on our relationship with Him first, difficulties with people do not hold so much weight and can be dealt with much easier. Pray for those who are difficult to love and ask Jesus to draw you and them closer to Heaven in His perfect way. As always, pray the Surrender Novena with me: “Oh Jesus, I surrender myself to you. Take care of everything.”

I couldn't let this Election Day pass without at least MENTIONING it as we talk about peace. Know that I am praying for your peace as you deal with the chaos that is the news, politics, and this election. Draw near to God through it all and He will surely draw near to you! (James 4:8)

Finances are the #1 stress in a stressed out America right now. With inflation, job changes, and uncertainty in the economy, it's not a surprise! But God has seen it all before, and He gives us so much guidance in the Bible. This episode does not focus on any specific budgeting philosophy, but instead focuses on three Biblical principles: Not idolizing money (through overspending, overseeing, or over-stressing) Planning where our money goes through monthly budgeting Giving, regardless of our circumstances In general, the best thing we can always do is to recognize and remember that God loves us and will always take care of us. We say the prayer with the Surrender Novena: “Oh Jesus, I surrender myself to you. Take care of everything.”

The home can be the most peace-filled place, or it can be a major stress in our lives! Where do you find yourself? Three things that cause stress in our homes are: The mess Things breaking Lack of contentment In this episode, we break down tips to help loosen the grip of each of those stresses. By creating routines of tidying and cleaning among kids, keeping up with house fixes as they come (rather than pushing them to some later date where you need to work on EVERYTHING), and practicing gratitudes for individual parts of our houses, we can claim the peace God wants to bring us in our homes. He will increase as we create a peaceful space for our families, and what more could we want in the places we spend the most amounts of our time together as a family? "Oh Jesus, I surrender myself to you. Take care of everything!"

It is well known that those the number of decisions someone makes in the day is directly related to the amount of stress the undergo... How many decisions do you think you have to make as a mother? Probably more than the average Joe, I'd venture to guess! And a lot of those decisions you have to think out have to do with scheduling! In this episode we break down three major things that bring us stress in our scheduling: Decision making Answering Questions Rushing And talk about tips to help out for each of these including: Syncing calendars with husband Weekly meetings to discuss the week ahead Writing a regular routine that is as detailed as possible to take away from regular daily decisions Being realistic about how long it takes to do each activity in the calendar and about how much it takes out of the family I never want these tips to overwhelm, but to give ideas to you! Take what works and forget about the rest! If you need it later, trust that the Holy Spirit will bring it back to mind for you! "Oh Jesus, I surrender myself to you. Take care of everything!"

Parenting is a lifelong job that is the most difficult job you will take on, and once you have it, you have it for life! No one can prepare you for the utter highs and devastating lows every parent experiences. Maybe this is why it can be so stressful and anxiety-driving! There are so many reasons parents struggle with peace, but in this episode we focus on three main points: Attachment Expectations Forecasting We remind ourselves that our children are separate people from us that are given free will by God to make their own choices. Although they will certainly encounter suffering in life, we will keep our eyes on the prize: Heaven. And we will remember that every mess, no matter how big can be cleaned and redeemed by Jesus! We offer our children and our parenting to Him! If you are dealing with a constant level of stress day to day in parenting, consider whether you are taking on too much. it could be helpful to write out everything that is currently occupying your mind and then dividing them into four quadrants: important AND pressing, important NOT pressing, NOT important but pressing, NOT important and NOT pressing. This helps me think out what I need to focus on and what I just need to cross off my list. The Holy Spirit is more than capable of reminding you of something later if you just have to say "no" to something good right now. Lastly, as moms, we are so good at predicting the way things are going to turn out and that helps us as we prepare and teach our kids. But it can also lead to a lot of stress if we are constantly forecasting the way things will eventually affect our kids and how our kids will turn out. Remember that God will continue to be with your children long after they leave your house and that every mess they run into can be cleaned!

Where are you in your personal peace? Do you find yourself as a peaceful person? Or do you feel like you're constantly plagued by worries and stress? Or are you somewhere in between? As said in the last episode, God is the source of all peace, but we can sometimes place barriers that keep us from receiving His peace. In this episode we discuss common barries ones of: Health (Poor health or making health an idol) Inputs (news, media, social media, etc.) Fear (catastrophic thinking or woundedness) Practical ideas for your life that are shared are: Writing down the catastrophes you imagine (maybe in a note in your phone) and checking back on them to see how true they were Evaluating your worries for patterns Asking yourself questions to find the roots of your major stresses Memorizing scripture to combat lies you tell yourself and posting that around your house/memorizing it In a stressful time, physically slow down your movements Resources mentioned in this episode: Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty Gregory Popcak: Catholic psychologist To yourself after this episode, pray this nine more times: "Oh Jesus, I surrender myself to you. Take care of everything."

What does peace mean to you? To me, it is contentment, fulfillment, and being seen, known, and loved by my Father in Heaven. When I am close to Jesus, I am filled with these feelings and all of life gets easier. There is less pressure on anything to work out the way I want or expect, because I am already filled and fulfilled by Jesus. The Bible talks ALL about peace because people of all ages have dealt with fear and anxiety. But God tells us through John that "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear" 1 John 4:18a. God wants to take our anxieties and replace them with His love! But if all that is true, how can it be that even when I am praying regularly and trying to stay in communion with God, I can still sometimes be filled with stress and anxiety? God always wants to give us the fruits of the Holy Spirit (including peace!), but sometimes we are: Not open to it Actively doing things that are in opposition to peace Acting in ways that are not good for us and God allows a lack of peace to push us away In this series we will go through many aspects of motherhood and see how we can make ourselves more open to the peace God wants to bring us.

We are starting a brand new series based on PEACE! Could you use more peace in your life? I think we all could! God wants to grant us this fruit of the Holy Spirit, but sometimes we have trouble receiving it. Why? In this series, we will dive into the answer to this question concerning all sorts of topics like: motherhood, marriage, finances, making decisions, and MORE! Join me for the next 9 weeks as we explore peace and learn how to receive it more from God who wants to give us every good and perfect gift.

This is the last episode before we start a new series next week! The last but not least thing that has been helping me grow in faith lately has been THIS PODCAST! Getting vulnerable about what Jesus means to me in a public way has helped me be accountable to "live in a manner worthy of the call [I] have received," (Ephesians 4:1) and to continue sharing about my faith in other ways. Through the podcast, I have also been asked to share in deeper ways to those I may have never crossed paths with, some of whom do not have any relationship with Christ. Though not every person is called to start a podcast, is there a way Jesus is calling you to step out in faith and be a little more "public" with your testimony? Is there a way you can proclaim your identity as a daughter of Christ a little louder or in a different sphere than you have in the past? Stepping out to share about your relationship with Jesus could be all it takes to change someone's life--and maybe even change yours! I encourage you to ask Jesus in prayer if He has a specific calling for you in your life, and do not be afraid of what that can bring! "The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness" -Pope Benedict XVI

"Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor; for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up! Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?" Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 When God created Adam, it says He saw that he was alone. Even though Adam was surrounded by animals and had 24/7 access to his Father in Heaven, God knew that Adam needed a companion. In my life, I have seen how good friendships not only give me companionship, comfort, and joy, but they help bring me closer to God. A godly friendship can inspire you toward God and help you see the areas in which you need to grow. They can also call you to higher when you may be falling for the lies of the world. If you don't have good friends who are bringing you up in your faith, pray for God to light the way for you to find some! He will provide! Check out moms groups at local churches, join, a Bible study, or reach out to others you may not know well yet. If you need some more inspiration, check out this interview my dear friend, Kristen Combo, did on the More of What Matters podcast. She is the QUEEN of community and has such beautiful wisdom on the subject. You can only gain from hearing what she has to say! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-of-what-matters/id1620249249?i=1000663905432

When life is hard (or even when it is not!), it can be hard for me to find something to pray about when I sit down to pray. It helps me to have some set piece of content that I'm going through that serves as inspiration for my prayer. Right now, I'm going through the Catechism in a Year podcast, but here are some other ideas for you if you are looking for some good spiritual reading/listening: The Bible (The best! Try going through Psalms, a gospel, or one of the epistles) Bible in a Year, Catechism in a Year, Pray as You Go, or other devotional podcasts C.S. Lewis books (some of these are dense enough that you really only need to read a sentence or two and you have enough to ponder) Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales Tim Keller books (Christian, not Catholic) Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence Fr. Jacque Philippe books (Interior Freedom and Searching for and Maintaining Peace are both awesome starters) Be Healed and Be Transformed by Bob Schuchts (these are good for investigating wounds and bringing them to God) Any book written by a saint!

During this time where I have a baby (and therefore an unpredictable schedule), my daily prayer has been less consistent than I like. But going to daily Mass has been something I've been able to keep up, and it has made all the difference! God's grace is SO REAL in the sacraments, and it can make a very tangible effect in our lives! That said, I know that going to Mass with kids can sometimes be challenging (especially if you have littles like I do), so I spell out my top tips for taking kids to Mass. These tips are a good starting point, but remember that it will get easier and easier if you do it consistently. Your kids (and you) get to know what to expect and everyone finds a rhythm that works. And on the random days that the kids are crazy, just find a Mass friend who you can look over at and chuckle with! God loves you! He wants to care for you through His sacraments, and He loves having your kids there too! Don't let embarrassment or fear of difficulty keep you from Him at the altar!

I have had several experiences being discipled and discipling others, and it has been as helpful as Jesus may have intended when He instituted discipleship with His apostles. In this episode, I share my experience with discipleship and how it has affected my prayer life. I believe that all of us are called to both be guided by a mentor and to help other draw nearer to God by discipling them. Can you grow from having someone disciple you? Is there someone in your life that you can help lead? Check out these resources below for some help! Forming Intentional Disciples by Sherry Weddell Why should we work on discipleship? How to be a disciple

Since I've been a mom, I've struggled with expectations of my prayer life. I've wanted the kind of prayer that is slow, silent, filled with consolations, and deeply intimate with Jesus. How about you? Unfortunately, finding large chunks of time in which my life is silent is hard, and there are about a billion distractions in my life like chores, volunteer opportunities, homeschooling plans, and *oh yeah* all those kids! But there is this crazy, incredible opportunity that God reaches out to me every single day, and it is through my kids. In this episode, I share about how I have found awesome growth in my relationship with God through my sweet baby, Bernadette. By saying "yes" to loving Birdie, I say "yes" to Jesus! And, Lord willing, that can extend out to all of my children and the other needs in my life. I hope it can remind you to do the same!

For the last episode of the marriage series, I interviewed my husband, Davis. We discuss a lot of the topics from this series, but hear the male perspective. This episode is great for wives to hear, but may be even more fun to listen to as a couple and discuss what you heard. Listen in to hear how to: Show your husband the respect he craves Encourage your husband in spiritual leadership Allow space for your husband to step into his unique role in parenting Davis also challenges all men in their parenthood in eight specific areas. I will be posting the list he refers to on Instagram, so if you are interested in seeing it, find me there! See you next week (and the following couple of weeks) for some stand alone episodes that will hopefully bless you!

For the penultimate episode of the series, I interviewed my very wise and always lovely mom, Andi Ponsford! She looks back on her marriage of 40 years and reflects on what made it tick. She shares awesome insights about: Her 70/100 rule The Total Woman who: Admires, Adores, Appreciates, and Accepts Tough times not meaning a bad marriage Much more! I was soaking up all the wisdom, and I'm sure I'll listen to this many more times to get different nuggets each time. I love to think about her perspective and I hope that I will have the same joyful attitude as I look back on my marriage and life. Enjoy this second to last episode on marriage! I hope it blesses you as it blesses me!

During last week's episode, I spoke a bit about theology of the body, but I am not an expert. So I have brought an expert on the podcast to be able to share some of her wisdom with us! Monica Ashour is the founder and president of TOBET (Theology of the Body Evangelization Team). She speaks about how God has made us fully, soul, mind and BODY and how therefore the body matters! Tune in to learn more about what God says about sex and our bodies and how we can bring that into our family lives. And check out tobet.org to learn more about their many resources, including books for kids of all ages teaching theology of the body.

Let's talk about marital intimacy! Sexual intimacy in marriage should not be underestimated! As Mike Hernon says on the Messy Family Podcast, sex in the grease that keeps the machine running! Sex helps keep our marriages running smoothly and happily along, and should be an ever-present part of our relationships. In this episode, we talk a little about what the Catholic Church teaches about sex and then go through 6 tips for having more and better sex in our marriages! Look out for the next episode, which is an interview with the founder and president of TOBET (Theology of the Body Evangelization Team). We discuss theology of the body--what it is and how to bring it into our families and marriages! Some resources to learn more about theology of the body if you are exploring God's design for sex: Charting Towards Intimacy podcast--TONS of great episodes on all kinds of specific sex questions Vinesinfullbloom.com where there are courses for learning more and availability of coaching for growth in the area of intimacy Good News about Sex and Marriage: Answers to Your Honest Questions about Catholic Teaching by Christopher West Holy Sex by Gregory Popcak

God loves every part of you and want to be a part of your life. That includes your marriage! How can we grow toward God with our husbands and why would we want to, anyway? These questions are answered in this episode! This episode gives ideas and suggestions for how to grow in your prayer life as a couple based on your shared (or not shared) temperaments! Use these ideas to help bring you, your husband, and your family closer to your Father in Heaven who loves you and wants to guide your marriage! If you haven't heard of the temperaments, check out the second episode of this series called "Marriage: Temperaments" and hear a whole explanation for what these personality types are and how they can look within a marriage.

Working on a project with another person is difficult. And parenting is pretty much the biggest project you will ever do! Throw in past wounds, different families of origin, and influences from different communities and two spouses are bound to disagree on a lot of it. How can we make sure that parenting doesn't take our marriage down? Make sure your parenting philosophy always serves the marriage first! If strictly following a parenting philosophy is consistently driving a wedge between you and your husband, the philosophy needs to change. Your kids learn more from watching you and your husband than they do from your specific discipline techniques, so model working together well. Remember that moms and dads parent differently. Check out "The Wonder of Parenting" podcast in their series about how moms and dads parent differently. It is OK to have different responses to the same situation. In fact, it is good for your kids! Just because your husband speaks differently to your kids doesn't mean it is wrong. Resist the urge to nag. If you need to admonish your husband in his parenting, wait for the right time, give a soft start, and remember that he may also have good ideas that are just different than yours. Be willing to research his way of doing things. And for small things, you may just need to let it go. Often times it is better to be wrong together than right apart. Remember that one day your kids will leave your home and you will still have your husband. He will be your longest, closest relationship in your family. Don't let different parenting styles jeopardize your relationship with him!

Sometimes we think that our friendship with our husbands is the cherry on top of our marriage. The "would be nice" to have. But if you talk to couples who have had long (and happy) marriages, they often refer to their sense of humor and friendship being the key ingredient. Being friends and just spending time enjoying your spouse may be what you need to keep your marriage running so that it can withstand even hard times! How do we do this? Intentionally enjoy your husband! Make the choice to enjoy conversation, past times, and jokes with your husband. When you make efforts to connect even during the small moments in the day, you enjoy him more AND encourage him to make efforts to connect with you. Find common interests. Watching movies, trying new things, following a sports team, being creative, going for walks, etc. Think back in your relationship and notice what you enjoy doing together and then schedule that into your life regularly. Be a student of your husband. It is a temptation to think you know exactly what your husband is thinking or how he'll react, but your husband changes and life changes. Continue to ask questions about what he is thinking and how he feels about certain things. He may surprise you! Resources mentioned in the episode: We're Not Really Strangers: Couples Edition Card Game Conversation starter questions with your spouse--Google them and find a list to go through with your husband!

Marriages can be the greatest joys! They can also bring the greatest pains. This episode speaks to those whose marriages are in a hard state. Some resources to consider: Alpha: The Marriage Course is good for marriages who need a tune up, refresher, or preventative care Hearts Renewed is a program that helps marriages that are struggling through videos, activities, and opportunities for counseling Retrouvaille is a retreat put on to help couples rekindle love and attack difficulties in marriage No podcast will be able to speak to your specific relationship, but this episode passes on some wisdom that teaches to keep the grander vision of your marriage in mind as you tackle difficult seasons and to remember to forgive as Jesus forgives. Our goal is not the perfect marriage, but holiness and eventually Heaven! Action item for all listeners is to commit to praying for all marriages sometime this week! Even if you aren't currently struggling, someone you know is. Let's pray that God strengthens our bonds and sanctifies us through our relationships.

Communication is a HUGE topic, but let's go through a few basics: Happy, healthy marriages are marked by at least five times as many positive comments about the spouse or relationship as negative When there is a hurt or a problem, use a soft start up. Before launching into a problem, ask your husband, "Is this an OK time to talk about something important/difficult for me?" and respect him enough to wait if it isn't! Schedule another time to talk. Use "I" statements rather than "you" statements that begin with your feeling. Use the form "I feel ________ when you _______, and I'd like to ask you to ________ in the future." Avoid absolutes! "Never" and "always" are rarely true and almost never helpful. When in a disagreement, ask, "How important is this on a scale from 1 to 10?" and take that into account as the conversation continues. My husband and I have formed a few rules whenever we're in a fight that have helped us from going too far and taking a disagreement to a big, personal hurt. You may like to use these rules too, or you may find some yourself. The easiest time to identify what your specific rules are is [unfortunately] after a particularly bad fight. Looking back together, try to identify when something got too personal or mean in the fight and when it turned from productive conversation to harmful. PLEASE try to REFRAIN from blaming or accusing. The point is not to start a new fight, but to share with your spouse how something made you feel. Look at #3 above! If the pain point you identify is something that has happened before and that you know is very painful, you may want to agree that it is off-limits. Make your rule specific enough so that you would know if this rule is broken in the future. Knowing that it is a rule may help jolt you out of a bad situation in the future. When a rule is broken, agree to take a breath, apologize, and work on communicating a different way. The person who is affected should make efforts to forgive and let the offender try again. So without further explanation, here are our rules: No cursing All breaks must have a time limit (set beforehand), and you cannot drive somewhere far away. Stay in the fight until resolution. Don't go to bed angry. More wisdom to be found at the Gottman Institute: https://www.gottman.com/about/ And check out wisdom from Doug Hinderer: https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/about https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr2PuvQFLTA&t=2225s

Let's kick the marriage series off with a fun one! Let's talk temperaments! This is one of the oldest personality tests out there, and it is based more on NATURE than on NURTURE. In fact, often when investigating what temperament you are, you are supposed to think about how you were as a child. As we grow, we tend to develop habits, grow in virtues, and learn how to soften out some of our less desirable attributes, which can mask our natural tendencies. If you haven't ever looked into your own temperament, check out this quiz: https://www.temperamentquiz.com/ You will likely be given a primary and a secondary temperament. If your husband can also discover his temperament, it could be fun for you to compare and contrast your natural reactions to life events, and to see how you handle your life and relationship together. If you would like an overview of the temperaments, here's a good one in the context of faith: https://spiritualdirection.com/2019/03/18/the-four-temperaments-and-the-spiritual-life Lastly, if you'd like to learn more, I recommend the books by Art and Laraine Bennett. The Temperament God Gave Your Kids has helped me on MANY occasions! These go through many fun combinations of spousal temperament combinations and parent-to-kid combinations! Even if you don't feel completely understood by any singular temperament, it's food for conversation, and that can be really helpful! Here are some ideas for fun discussion with your husband. Conversation starters with your husband about temperaments: Do you know your (and your spouse's) temperament? What is your favorite thing about your spouse's temperament? Do you share a temperament? How do you think that affects the way you run your house/family (for better and for worse)? Does your shared temperament (or lack thereof) affect the overall culture of your family? How do you think that affects your kids? Make sure to start with the positives! If you have a temperament that is not represented in your relationship, are there any qualities that you are missing that need to be tended to? (i.e. a couple missing a melancholic could use a growth in commitment, structure, or aim for ideals)

Let's begin a new series on MARRIAGE! This episode sets a perspective for the rest of this series by: Giving background info on Jenna's marriage story Reminding that our marriage cannot (and is not meant to) be our total fulfillment--that's God's job! Separating major marriage issues including abuse or other patterns of major difficulties from the more common problems husbands and wives deal with. I can't wait to go through this series with you! Please join me every week so we can grow in love for our husbands and ultimately, God! Remember: This series will go through many topics that pertain to marriage and will compile "best practices" from research, experts, marriage counselors, and personal experience, BUT it cannot replace good, personal counsel. If you are having major marriage issues, please still listen! But also, seek out professional help from someone who will help you fight for your marriage. If you are not sure where to start, check out Hearts Renewed: a marriage transformation program at https://www.heartsrenewed.org/ Before next week, think about: What season you are in in your marriage right now (winter, spring, summer or fall) 10 ways your husband shows (or tries to show) his love for you

Join next Tuesday, May 28th for a new series all about... MARRIAGE! I hope you join me for all kinds of topics concerning marriage, including: communication, friendship, parenting, finances, and more! See you here next week!