Camo&Cuddles Podcast

This episode gives you a breakdown on the Social Security Payroll Tax Withholding Deferral automatically happening on all Military Service Members Basic Pay... now thru end of 2020!It's my hope that this boring episode will be helpful in explaining what's going on with the pay changes you're liking starting to see as well as provide some suggestions for how best to handle this situation! (I’ve explained to the best of my ability but recommend reading all official information listed on the DFAS website: https://www.dfas.mil/taxes/Social-Security-Deferral/ )Share this with any military spouses who might need to be updated on these changes.

If you've ever asked, "God, are You there?... do You hear my prayers??" this episode is for you! There have been many times when the loudness & chaos of life leaves me wondering if God is still actively involved/moving in my life. When you click play, you'll hear me share 3 powerful stories of times when God showed up in MIGHTY ways to prove how faithfully He is listening to & answering the prayers of my heart! This was a great reminder to me for the times when I begin doubting Him... & I hope it encourages you to be confident in His faithfulness!

If you've ever asked me or wondered what life is like in Germany, I've officially called Germany home for ONE WHOLE YEAR!... so I thought it was about time I shared some pros & cons to living here. This recording is totally casual, overflowing with unscripted ramblings but if you're ready to feel like a friend sitting across from me at the local cafe sharing about life over a cup of coffee- CLICK PLAY!Also, if you have any friends heading this way be sure to send this episode to them because I know how anxious I felt moving into the unknown & I hope that this will help bring some comfort to their heart as they make this big change!

I recently shared about my newest FREEBIE download "H2T Prayer Cards" & I'm so thrilled to walk you through those today! About a year ago I read an article talking about this concept & completely fell in love with the idea! That resulted in me writing prayers & scriptures out on notecards to put on my fridge as a reminder to daily pray for my husband... which then got me to thinking, "Maybe other wives would like to join me in doing this???" Now I have 9 beautiful prayer cards ready to save to a device or print/post in hopes of helping you easily lift your husband up in prayer too!Wanna join? Click this link or head to @tay_blackburn to connect with me there & find more info!https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5f3af490a16a480026d86e4e

I drank 2 cups of coffee at midnight which resulted in me recording this episode, so WARNING: I talk a little faster than usual, ramble a little more & literally did ZERO editing on this which actually fits the theme pretty nicely! If you've been holding yourself back from pursuing your passions simple because you don't feel qualified, like you have anything worthwhile to share, your stuff isn't "perfect" enough according to professional- I hope you'll listen to this episode & then DO THE DANG THANG! You've got this friend!

Moving with the military isn't easy- for real, it's one of the most stressful aspects of military life! Between acronyms you don't fully understand, timelines that are always changing & the nagging feeling that you've forgotten something SUPER important.... I understand & I'm here to help! I recently tackled an OCONUS PCS of my own when my family & I relocated to Germany. The process was complicated & confusing, so I've done my best to share my story as a source of encouragement that YOU WILL LIVE TO TELL THE TALE! & I've also provided practical check lists/tips in hopes of equipping you with what you'll need to have a smooth & successful pcs!Chapter Markers:0:01: I got THE TEXT! + Intro2:24: You must be SO excited!…Wrong.3:58: Only worry about what you can control5:56: Decide what type of move you’re going to have7:04: Initiate the PCS as soon as you can8:46: THIS IS THE BEST ADVICE I’VE EVER RECEIVED!15:05: Check list & tips21:21: Outro & Call to Connect!

How can motherhood feel lonely when you're very rarely ever alone? One of the greatest challenges I face in motherhood is the hardship of loneliness in motherhood! Feelings of isolation, sadness over lack of friendship... it's tough stuff. So if you're a mama, I hope you'll click play on this episode because we are chatting all about the never ending demands motherhood places on us & how to overcome the pressure. How to combat feelings of isolation & embrace friendships while living your best #MOMLIFE! If any of this resonates with you- CLICK PLAY! Because this episode is for YOU, my friend.SHOW NOTES: https://www.camoandcuddles.com/episodes/loneliness-in-motherhoodChapter Markers:0:05- Hey! Intro & Opening1:42- What is Loneliness?2:15- My Recent Struggles in Motherhood6:08- IG Moms Share Their Struggles8:12- Your Pain is Valid & Your Struggle is Seen9:15- Never Alone When You've Got Jesus10:09- Stop being Friendly & Start being a FRIEND12:05- Loneliness due to Isolation16:29- Emotions & Feelings- How they're Different19:30- Outro & Call to Connect!

If you're familiar with me at all, you know that I'm a LOVER of all things analogies! Coming up with spiritual analogies for how every day things can actually relate to our relationship with God is my JAM! Over my years of driving, & thanks to a once super lengthy commute for work, I've built up a pretty decent list on how different aspects of driving can relate to our spiritual lives! So if you're someone who likes chatting about spiritual things from a fresh & fun perspective, I think you'll be so glad you clicked play on this one! Today's episode is part 2 of this series, covering the final 5 of 10 spiritual driving lessons I have to share + a bonus lesson! Are you ready to stop coasting through life & actually kick it into Spiritual gear? BUCKLE UP- let's go!SHOW NOTES: https://www.camoandcuddles.com/episodes/shift-your-life-into-spiritual-drive-part-2CHAPTER MARKERS: 0:05 - Hello! Opening + Intro! 2:11 - Lesson 1: Windshield vs Rear View Mirror6:13 - Lesson 2: Are you Driving with your Brights on?10:12 - Lesson 3: Run ins with Road Rage 14:10 - Lesson 4: Yo, you’ve gotta Obey the Law! 16:43 - Lesson 5: The Dangers of Distracted Driving 19:12 - Bonus Lesson! Follow God’s GPS 22:10 - Outro + Call to CONNECT

If you're familiar with me at all, you know that I'm a LOVER of all things analogies! Coming up with spiritual analogies for how every day things can actually relate to our relationship with God is my JAM! Over my years of driving, & thanks to a once super lengthy commute for work, I've built up a pretty decent list on how different aspects of driving can relate to our spiritual lives! So if you're someone who likes chatting about spiritual things from a fresh & fun perspective, I think you'll be so glad you clicked play on this one! Today's episode is part 1, covering 5 of the 10 spiritual driving lessons I have to share. Are you ready to stop coasting through life & actually kick it into Spiritual gear? BUCKLE UP- let's go!SHOW NOTES: https://www.camoandcuddles.com/episodes/shift-your-life-into-spiritual-drive-part-1

Have you ever woken up on the wrong side of the bed? Has your shoulder ever felt especially heavy from the chip on your shoulder? Like no matter what you do you just can't seem to shake your bad attitude? I get it, I think we've all been there at one point or another! In today's episode we chat about some of the reasons for our attitudes & how to effectively turn it into gratitude instead! So if you're someone who longs for more happiness instead of sassiness, I hope you'll click play & listen to this episode!SHOW NOTES: https://www.camoandcuddles.com/episodes/the-impact-of-trading-an-attitude-for-gratitude

I know how it goes. You meet someone new & think, "Wow! They are so cool! Definitely someone I would love to be friends with!" & then it turns out they are completely different than you initially thought & you're left back-pedalling away from them as fast as you can. Or maybe your issue is not making new friends, but actually nailing down a time to meet up with them! You try & try to schedule a time to hang out but it feels like an IMPOSSIBLE task to get your calendars to link up & you're left feeling disappointed or frustrated or maybe a little bit of both. Well, if you can relate to either scenario & you often find yourself daydreaming of the day when making friends felt easy... then this episode is for you! Because in this episode we are diving into some tough truths about how to identify friendships that are a total waste of time so that you can start initiating friendships with people that are totally worth your time!

As a mama, I reach the end of some days feeling so incredibly touched out. As a military spouse, the constant unknown causes me to feel stressed out on a regular basis. As a person that has a natural desire to want to help those around me, I can feel burnt out in no time at all. This combination blends together to create an atmosphere I'm not all that fond of... Where I realise that I've started to simply EXISIT instead of actually LIVE. If you've ever found yourself slipping into the rut of merely existing in life... going thru the motions, feeling hopeless & lacking in joy then I hope this episode encourages you to kick that mindset to the curb & step into the fulness of a life you could have only dreamed!

"I'm not a regular mom... I'm a cool mom" Bet you've heard that phrase jokingly thrown around in regards to mom life! Well- today I'm shouting it from the roof tops, but not in the way you might think. I have big goals of being a "cool mom", just not in the traditional sense... I want to be a mom that KEEPS HER COOL when motherhood gets challenging- because let's be honest, kids know how to push buttons & make messes & drive us a little coo-coo! In this episode we cover 3 tips towards keeping our cool & 3 tips on what to do when we've totally screwed up! If you're a mama, I hope you'll tune in!

Military life is HARD sometimes.. & on numerous occasions I can recall talking to someone about being frustrated over certain situations & being told this: "Well.... what'd you expect?"Today we're going to dive into what life as a military family looks like & what you SHOULDN'T say to them when they're talking with you about their hardships... because I can promise, it doesn't help a bit to hear that we "signed up for this". haha!

What does your testimony have to do with tools? They are both capable of building amazing things! One builds on an emotional level & the other builds physically. Tune in to today's episode as we chat about the importance of using our testimony in order to build up those around us! Each trial we face becomes a tool to use in the hard work of ministering. I hope you'll join us as we discuss:HOW to effectively use our tools, WHEN to use what tools & WHY it's important to not leave our tools collecting dust in a tool box.

I'm sure you've heard of the "Fight or Flight Response"... Well, today I'd like for us to consider the benefit of cultivating a faith response as believers! When we're faced with danger, it's natural to want to fight it or flee from it! but as Christians, when we are faced with challenging situations, we should respond in FAITH in God above anything else! In this episode, we dive into each "symptom" of the Fight or Flight response & filter each symptom thru a spiritual lens to better understand how we can build up a faith response that will radically change our lives!

Friendships are like jeans- they can fit perfectly or cause you great insecurity! In this week's episode we are chatting about why the "one size fits all" approach to friendships just doesn't work. If you've found yourself trying to squeeze into a friendship that feels forced... take a listen to this, because there's another option for you!

When it comes to tapping into your passion & finding your purpose in life, there is one thing that is CRUCIAL! This week we are talking all about what that thing is & how to use your passion as a tool towards the overall goal of finding your purpose. So, if you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why am I here?” & found yourself longing for more out of life, make sure you TUNE IN because I’m believing this episode will light a fire in your heart & hopefully bring clarity to your mind!

It happens to the best of us- we see something someone else has & wish it were our own. We convince ourselves that what they’ve got (looks, money, life, job, etc..) is so much better than what we’ve got & we tear ourselves down thru comparison. That's why this week we're chatting about the quote, “The Grass is Greener on the Other Side” & discussing how, as Christians, we can find freedom in the reality that our grass is greenest where Christ is involved!

Did you know you're an artist? That's right! Every single day you hold in your hand a metaphorical paintbrush that can be used for GOOD or BAD in making a mark on the hearts of those you meet! In this week's episode we chat about the power we have to impact people's lives thru our kindness & friendship, or lack-thereof.

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!".. this is a common saying that often FEELS much easier said than done! When life seems to keep throwing one bitter lemon after another at you, sometimes it's hard to know exactly HOW to turn those lemons into lemonade! This week, we are going to talk about a fool-proof way to take the bitterness of life & turn it into some HEAVENLY tasting lemonade!

Life as a military spouse is ever changing & always challenging. In this week's episode I share my heart about my personal experience as a milspouse of 7 years. If you're married to a service member & need some encouragement in regards to military living, this is for you! Tune in for some relatable stories & tips on how to find joy in your journey!

Have stress & anxiety latched on to your heart & mind with a grip so strong you feel you'll never be free? In this episode we dive into how to effectively trade fear for faith & break free from the grasp of stress & anxiety. Real & raw discussion on the impacts stress has on a person's life as well as tips on how to focus on blessings instead of stressing.

Are you a work from home mom balancing on the wobbly tightrope of full time mom & full time boss? I understand the struggles that come with that challenging task! This week I break down some practical tips on how to minimize your workload & maximize your "mom mode". Stop trying to play catch up & start getting ahead... both in your business & as a mother.

Hey, working mama! Do you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed to do it all? Between your work duties & trying to raise the best kiddos you can... it can feel like a lot at times, I'm sure! Well, in this weeks episode we talk about some of the greatest struggles working moms face today & how to be successful despite them! If that sounds like the kind of encouragement your heart needs, go ahead & tune in!

Being a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM) is tough work & brings many daily challenges- such as exhaustion, "Mom Guilt" & the pressure to be the perfect mother & raise perfect children. This week we chat about these issues & how to find our strength in motherhood!

Have you ever found yourself uncertain on how to successfully love strangers? Does the thought of approaching someone you don't know make you feel uneasy? This week I share some practical tips on how to love strangers well & start incorporating kindness towards others in your day to day life!

Loving our families well can be challenging at times, especially with all the constant chaos that typically accompanies a single day. During this week's episode we chat about some ways to effectively show our families that WE LOVE THEM! If you struggle with having your love be FELT more than HEARD, it is my prayer that this episode will help encourage & equip you to succeed in the area of showing your family just how much you love them!

Have you ever found yourself struggling with insecurity? Do you have a hard time truly loving who you are? Well, I too have looked in the mirror & found myself disappointed by the reflection staring back at me. This week I share all my secrets on the personal insecurities I battle with & equip you with some key tips on how I work towards effectively overcoming them!

Love is a tricky thing- people say "Follow your Heart" but I've found my heart to be very hard to figure out at times! Understanding the love of God is KEY to understanding how to love ourselves & others. On this week's episode we chat about how 5 Hebrew names of God can help us better understand His love & find victory showing love!