Word To Your Mothers

Who remembers the saying, “Stick and stones may break my bones, but words may never hurt me?” That statement may have worked for a minute on the playground when we were 8. But the reality is words do matter and they can and will hurt. Words can lift us up or they can tear us down. What lies have you believed with words spoken over you or words you have spoken over yourself? In this episode, Sondra breaks down some of the lies she believed from words spoken over herself and how that really shook her confidence. Words built up emotional walls in her heart and mind and created barriers to truth and understanding. In Proverbs 16:24 it says, "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soula and health to the bosy." When is the last time you spoke gracious words over yourself and others? Do you know how to speak truth to the lies you might have believed? This is something that takes thought and attention in order to bring restoration and transformation.  In this episode, we cover: The power of words and thoughts Lies we have believed Speaking truth and life over the lies Proverbs 12:25 ·       Book Sondra to Speak at your Event or Group: http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Book Life Consulting or Vision Planning Sessions https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting WTYM® Merch! https://word-to-your-mothers.creator-spring.com/

So, what is your relationship with food? Yeah, Sondra knows it's complicated and it's not the most fun topic to address. Sondra realized her food relationship was really damaged. When she got down to the heart of the matter, she realized it took root at birth. This is when she realized she needed to start to take ownership of what, how and why she was eating what she was eating.   Now, like any good relationship, there is need for work, sacrifice, communication, love, and understanding. Let's learn how we can improve some of those areas and gain better habits, and thus a better relationship with food in our daily lives. News flash: We need food to live. So, no matter what your age, it's time to address what's really happening.  In this episode, we cover Emotions and food Fasting to gain clarity Habits and food Romans 12:2 ·        Disclaimer for this episode: This is Sondra talking about her personal experience along with her experience as a life coach. Please consult your healthcare provider before making any personal healthcare decision. WTYM is not responsible or liable for any healthcare choices you decide to make.   Book Sondra to Speak at your Event or Group: http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Book Life Consulting or Vision Planning Sessions https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting WTYM® Merch! https://word-to-your-mothers.creator-spring.com/

Where might you be broken or blessed in your current circumstance? In this episode Sondra shares how one decision brought her to a place of broken and blessed at the same time. She learned that many times we think we are only living in one or the other. That one decision is what Sondra now calls, “Blacked Out Joy,” and it has brought a lot of life lessons in a matter of 13 weeks of healing and recovering. This episode will make you laugh, cry and never want to break your tailbone. It will also make you question how much you really want your “Cool Mom” status. In this episode we cover: “Cool Mom” with a broken tailbone Rebuilding in small ways Gratitude in brokenness Judges 6:14 “Go in the strength you have.”   Book Sondra to Speak at your Event or Group: http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Book  Life Consulting or Vision Planning Sessions https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting WTYM® Merch! https://word-to-your-mothers.creator-spring.com/   Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/moonshine License code: JPPTCK1QEVWEGPQK

What is the first thought that comes to mind when you hear the word, habit? Most of the time, if we are honest, we probably go to the negative habits of our lives. Like, “I wish I was doing better at.” … On this episode, host Sondra Doty explains how old and new habits can go together; that we really need to be aware of what season we are in and what God might be trying to reveal to us about our habits. There is a tending and mending that needs to happen before a habit can transform into an on/off switch; where it becomes so easy to manage that you don't even think about turning on/off the switch. You just do it! In this episode we cover: An update and new directions for WTYM Podcast Old habits in a new season of life Very easy to very hard What is God trying to teach us in the tending to our hearts and minds through habits Episode Resources: Apps with Purpose; Lectio 365 and Live From Rest  Books; Atomic Habits by James Clear and The Common Rule by Justin Whitmel Earley Don't forget to Subscribe, Share, Rate and Review each episode of WTYM!  Book Sondra to Speak at your Event or Group: http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Book a Life Doula Consulting Session: https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting WTYM® Merch! https://word-to-your-mothers.creator-spring.com/     Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/moonshine License code: JPPTCK1QEVWEGPQK

Hey, it's host Sondra Doty and I want to welcome you to the Word To Your Mothers® Podcast. As a Life Doula and Consultant, it's been an honor to share my story and others on this podcast. I hope you find these episodes encouraging and helpful. We aren't meant to do life alone, and the conversations you hear on the podcast can be a steppingstone to aid in that. Whether you have listening for three years or just tuned in, let me know what you think. Reach out on social media or leave a review/rating of the podcast. Or let me doula your life and sign up for a life consulting session. I mean, let's be honest, who doesn't need a life doula? So, take a deep breath, have an open heart, and listen to this week's episode.

On this episode, guest Sheri Prescott shares a few different stories how God redeems in more ways than one. Sheri believes that God uses small moments to change the world and that every day is a gift because of Jesus' finished work on the cross! In this episode we cover: Restoration through loss, grief and trauma First child leaving “the nest” Entrusting our children to God How God is restoring our daily walk with him Get to Know Sheri Prescott: Sheri Prescott is passionate about encouraging wives and mothers: to follow Christ in their homes, to study God's Word (alone and with their children), to create a marriage that points others to the gospel, and to celebrate the magnificent and mundane moments of everyday life! She has been married to her hero for 22 years and home-schools their five children (two boys and three girls). Her husband's military career has taken their family around the globe, where Sheri has learned that hospitality is one of her greatest ministries – welcoming others into their home for nourishing meals, fellowship, games, laughter, and worship. She also enjoys leading women's Bible studies, mentoring teenage girls, and speaking at events on marriage and motherhood. Follow: @sheri.prescott Don't forget to Subscribe, Share, Rate and Review each episode of WTYM!  Book Sondra to Speak at your Event or Group: http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Book a Life Doula Consulting Session: https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting WTYM® Merch! https://word-to-your-mothers.creator-spring.com/  

How does perspective aid in restoration? By bringing a different lens to what isn't viewable. In this solo episode host Sondra Doty shares a few stories on how perspective brought healing and restoration in her life. Consider what happens when one begins to wear glasses: First, they get used to them and then even dependent on them. And then there's all the checkups – where there could be a major prescription adjustment. Sondra, a glasses wearer since 8th grade, has noticed when a prescription goes up and she got the new glasses, it's like, “Well, hello! I didn't know how clear things could be!” We get so used to how the old lens aided us, we don't see what's missing. During restoration we don't always see the redemption coming or notice it when it arrives. Why? Because we are so focused on the old lens. That could be wounds, pain, circumstances, … you name it. And the old lens can lead us to tell ourselves, “It's just always going to be this way, … here we go again, … why me?” What if we were to stop and ask God to bring us perspective we need? Asking Him could bring out the details (perhaps a “new lens”) and renewal. God brings a totally different perspective! Especially when we can't see the seemingly impossible. With God all things are possible! Don't forget to Subscribe, Share, Rate and Review each episode of WTYM!  Book Sondra to Speak at your Event or Group: http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Book a Life Doula Consulting Session: https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting WTYM® Merch! https://word-to-your-mothers.creator-spring.com/  

Welcome to the new series on WTYM Podcast called Restoration Story. Our first guests are Scott and April Patterson. They are from sunny Florida and have two beautiful boys, Nathan and Elijah. In 2009 they started their own photography and cinematography company, Life's Highlights. Their creativity and love shine through in every photo and video they take. On this episode, Scott and April share their story of walking through infertility, fertility treatments and adoption. Their road was met with many obstacles, but God was steadfast as they were faithful to what God spoke over their family through many prayers and asking. Their two boys are a literal representation of God's redeeming love. The Patterson's story will bring hope to anyone that might question if God answers prayers or still does miracles. Spoiler Alert: The answer is YES! So, listen in and get your hope tank filled in your own personal situation that needs a little hope right now. In this episode we cover Feeling alone when facing infertility How what others say makes an impact over time Losing hope, but gaining hope through faith Psalms 113 Anchors during fear and uncertainty A mosaic picture of dark and light brings small redemption Get to know Scott & April Patterson: Follow: @lifes_highlights Website:https://lifeshighlights.net/ Video: https://vimeo.com/94708956 Don't forget to Subscribe, Share, Rate and Review each epsiode of WTYM!  Book Sondra to Speak at your Event or Group: http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Book a Life Doula Consulting Session: https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting WTYM® Merch! https://word-to-your-mothers.creator-spring.com/

What would renewal look like for you in your current season? What do you think of when you hear the word, renewal? Do you think renewal is available in every season? Ok, ok, enough with the questions. Host Sondra Doty is back with her first episode of 2022 to share how she is finding renewal in her own current season and posing these questions to herself. She discusses how she is rooting in renewal through faith, family, work and dreams. In this episode she covers: Isaiah 43:18-19 Finding renewal in weariness “Behold I'm doing a new thing” How fasting can aid in finding clarity in needing renewal A personal testimony on Sondra losing 50% of her hair So, whatever wilderness moment or season you might be in right now, Sondra wants to encourage you to find and seek renewal. “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.”  Shed the old to make room for reNEWal. Book Sondra to Speak at your Event or Group: http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Book a Life Doula Consulting Session: https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting WTYM® Merch! https://word-to-your-mothers.creator-spring.com/

Do you hear your mind or body saying, “I Can't Keep Up” – especially this time of year in all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season? How do you respond when you hear yourself telling you this? This saying has come up often for host Sondra Doty over the last few months. Faced with a few health setbacks and unforeseen mounting decisions, it's challenging for her not to feel overwhelmed in her own lack of capacity to “keep up.” What does, “I can't keep up” even mean? This is one thing Sondra keeps asking herself and that God is actively working on in her own heart. In this episode, Sondra shares a few testimonies and verses to encourage you in your own, “I can't keep up.” It can be easy to think we are failing in the state of not keeping up, but we aren't failing. This is a time for evaluation. A time to reflect on what God's standard is for your life and to not simply lean on our own understanding. Want to share your restoration story on WTYM podcast in 2022? Please reach out to Sondra at wordmothers@gmail.com or the contact page on wordtoyourmothers.com Verses for 2022: Revelation 21:5 Galatians 6:9 Lamentations 3:21-24 Isaiah 40:28-31 How can you support Word To Your Mothers®? Kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email review to wordmothers@gmail.com  WTYM® Merch! https://word-to-your-mothers.creator-spring.com/ Book a Life Doula Consulting Session: https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting Book Sondra to Speak at Your Event or Group: http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/

Our kids often request many gifts around the Christmas/holiday giving season. Some of you are faced with the request of your child/teenager asking for a cell phone right now. Well, before you run out and buy that phone or hit "add to cart" on your online purchase, here are some facts to consider: Teen cell phone addiction has become a worldwide epidemic Tweens (8-12) spend seven hours a day on their digital devices while teens (13-18) are spending up to nine hours a day With no solution to the cell phone epidemic in sight, what are parents and educators to do? Host Sondra Doty wanted to have Naomi Dahl come to share about cellphonepermit.com. This is an amazing resource about which every parent and educator should know and promote. In this episode desire to provide resources and aid families in understanding what you're really handing your children when you give them their cell phone. You wouldn't give them a car and just say, "Go and drive." It's time to have more conversations around the safety of cell phone in our kids' hands. Get To Know Cell Phone Permit & Naomi Dahl: In 1927, the public school district in Gilbert, MN identified that driver's education was necessary to create safe and successful drivers on the road. Cell Phone Permit was created using the same theory to educate teens on safe and successful use of cell phones. Cell Phone Permit understands the importance of a whole-community approach among educators, students, and parents in creating a healthy relationship with cell phone use. Cell Phone Permit provides new content in topic areas that educators identify as important and urgent. This curriculum equips young people with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the digital world as well as the character and knowledge to ensure they put those skills to use. Follow: @cellphonepermit  Website: https://www.cellphonepermit.com/ Online At Home Edition: https://cellphonepermit.thinkific.com Link for Educators and Schools:  https://form.jotform.com/213224898951162 How can you support Word To Your Mothers®? Kindly rate or write a review on your podcast platform. You can also email your review at wordmothers@gmail.com  WTYM®Merch! Book a Life Consulting Session Book Sondra to Speak at Your Event

Have you always been a person that has asked big questions? -- particularly in the areas of faith? Well, today's guest Monica Ritchie was obsessed with asking those really big questions from a really young age. That aided in her calling of being a writer, speaker, theologian, and truth teller. Like Monica says, "You can't avoid the discussion of God when you're obsessed with really big questions." In episode 45 host Sondra Doty and Monica Ritchie tackle a few of those big questions. This episode will leave you encouraged to follow and have obedience in the calling that God has on your life. That calling might not be going to seminary school like God spoke to Monica to do; it might just be being faithful with your time and daily devotions with the Lord. #readyourbible!  Sometimes in the obedience in what God is asking us to do, we can easily want to turn back. But as a friend encouraged Monica, "You have to march until it makes sense." So, Monica's heart will remain being a truth-seeker and she will keep asking those really big questions, ... while marching along unit it makes sense.  Get to Know Guest Monica Ritchie: Monica is a born and raised Minnesotan. Currently pursuing her MA in Christian Thought from Bethel Seminary. Monica encourages others to pursue God with heart, soul and mind through theological study and prayer, believing God works all things together for those who love him.  Follow: @itsmonicaritchie  Website: https://monica-ritchie.com/ How can you support Word To Your Mothers®?  Kindly rate or write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com Don't forget to follow subscribe, rate, review and share! WTYM® Merch! https://word-to-your-mothers.creator-spring.com/ Book a Life Doula Consulting Session: https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting Book Sondra to Speak at Your Event: http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/

It's time to think about postpartum healing and nourishment in a whole new way that, perhaps, isn't so new. And it's time to have conversations around healing and recovery and how we can often neglect the fact that there is a healing process after giving birth. "In those first six weeks a mother should be waited on, served and nurtured." Says Debra Pascali-Bonaro.  In Episode 44: Hola Postpartum, host Sondra Doty welcomes guest Alexia Pettersen. Alexia is a birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, lactation counselor, and owner of Hola Postpartum, a food delivery service to welcome your recovering body. To nurture it. To honor it. To nourish it with the wisdom of intentional ingredients.  Also, a trained chef, Alexia decided through some direction of her father to tap into her family Hispanic traditions of what was appropriate for the healing postpartum body. This came after giving birth herself and realizing her Hispanic traditions could be shared and can aid in helping others' recoveries.  Hola Postpartum is meant to meet you in the shifts of life. It's not just for the immediate postpartum either; but, like Alexia says, "We shouldn't lose the season of postpartum in our lives. If you can tap into what postpartum is, it's ok to stop, pause, rest, recover and find solitude." Get to Know Guest Alexia Pettersen: Alexia's mission with Hola Postpartum is to revive + restore the newly recovering postpartum + breastfeeding parent through traditional Mexican recipes from her Motherland known to aid the postpartum body faster as well as to boost the nurser's breastmilk production. Foods and care to nurture, nourish + honor the postpartum body during the sacredness of new parenthood. Follow: https://www.instagram.com/holapostpartum/ https://www.instagram.com/alexiathedoula/ Website: https://holapostpartum.com/order-bringmefood http://www.alexiathedoula.com/ Want to support Word To Your Mothers®? Kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Don't forget to follow, subscribe, rate, review and share each episode on your podcast platform.  Book Sondra to speak at your event: http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Book a Life Doula Consulting Session: https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting Support the podcast by buying WTYM® Merch: https://word-to-your-mothers.creator-spring.com/    

What has age taught you? Do you worry or stress about getting older? Maybe you have found confidence the more you age. In episode 43: Reflections on Age and Turning 40, host Sondra Doty shares how she said goodbye to her 30s this summer and welcomed a new decade. She breaks down how God opened her heart to have a time of reflections on what her 30s taught her and how to embrace the wisdom and learning that has come through the years.  You hear those sayings: "Age is just a number;" 40 is the new 30;" and "30 is the new 20." Why can't it just simply be what it is? You're getting older and that's OK; because, news flash, we are supposed to get older!  Oscar Wilde says, "I am not young enough to know everything." Age brings clarity and wisdom, but many times we are holding on to something from the past-in a time of youth-that no longer is needed in the current age. It's healthy to break free from culture pressures in trying be something that we aren't or even should have been.  Want to support Word To Your Mothers®? Kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Don't forget to follow, subscribe, rate, review and share each episode on your podcast platform.  Book Sondra to speak at your event: http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Book a Life Doula Consulting Session: https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting Support the podcast by buying WTYM® Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/

Have you ever been all dressed and ready to go to work, church or an event and then your little human vomits all over you? Or maybe it's been sleep deprivation, courtesy of that same human being, that kept you up all night and then you can't move one more inch without breaking down in tears?...  Guest Kasidy Isahaq shares stories like these and more of her mothering journey in episode 42: The Calling of Motherhood. God has been teaching Kasidy about this calling and purpose; it's a calling that exists over others for a season and for those that haven't always felt that call, it can be difficult to accept that we are just as valuable in the role of motherhood. As Kasidy says, "In a motherhood perspective, running feels a lot like sitting and being still; which is no less valuable in God's eyes." Kasidy and Sondra's prayer is while you listen to this episode, you feel encouraged and that God will continue to reveal your own personal calling through the role of mothering.  Get To Know Kasidy Isahaq: Blog: http://www.cityandhill.com Book: Quarter Life: Insights on Living Out God's Best Through the Crisis and Complexities of Adulting.  Follow: @kasidyisahaq & @cityandhill  Want to support Word To Your Mothers®? Kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to @wordmothers@gmail.com  Book Sondra to Speak at your event, group or conference: Click Here Book a Life Doula Consulting Session: Click Here Buy WTYM® Merch and Support the Podcast: Click Here  

Have you ever thought, what exactly does a life consultant or life coach do? Or told yourself, "I would really like to try a session with a life consultant, but I just don't know?" It's ok to wonder and ask those questions, because the reality is many are interested but just don't know where to start.  In episode 41, host Sondra Doty talks about her journey into life consulting and what a session looks like with her as your consultant/coach. She encourages you to take time to recognize a key are of focus in your own life that could benefit from life consulting. Those key areas could be work/career, self, faith, parenting, birth, or postpartum.  Sondra also shares how her consulting style is a lot like playing Tee-ball. Whereas many times in life we need that tee to give us the confidence in where we are at in life of circumstance. We need that coach to remind us not to run to third base, but to first base first. We give that learning space for children and young adults, but often don't give it to adults. Just because we are adults doesn't mean we are supposed to know everything or have everything figured out. Guidance can be a healer and bring understanding.  Do you hear yourself saying a few of these things: "I'm on empty;" "I'm done;" "I'm burnt out;" "I'll figure it out later;" or "I feel lost or stuck."? Book a session with Sondra and let her be your life doula consultant for a while. As a consultant, Sondra wants to aid in improving her clients' lives, using the heart and spirit of a doula in providing emotional, physical and spiritual support in all areas of life.  Book a Life Doula Consulting Session: https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting   If you love listening to Word To Your  Mothers®, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Don't forget to follow, subscribe, rate, review and share each episode on your podcast platform.  Book Sondra to speak at your event, group or conference: http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Support the podcast by buying WTYM® Merch:https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/  

How would you define the adventure that is traveling with children? Perhaps you call it a "trip" or is it a "vacation?" In friend circles, people have always joked that any travel that is with children is a trip and not a vacation. One thing that's most certainly true when you are done with a children's trip you almost always need a vacation to recover. I mean, I feel like I can get an "amen" on that one!  In episode 40: Summer Trip or Vacation, host Sondra Doty shares a few tips she has learned in her 12 years of traveling with her children. She also picks from a rather long list of a few stories from family traveling adventures. Now they might not be National Lampoon's-style, but you can almost always guarantee every family will have a "National Lampoon's Vacation" moment.  Don't deny it, you have all been there. It's either a blowout diaper that demands 12, 000 wipes or a TSA agent that's not the friendliest towards families traveling. There is bound to be stress when traveling, that's for sure, but Sondra wants to encourage you to not let those moments hold you back.  Take the trips and go make amazing memories! Remember, trips don't have to be long or extravagant. The simple little road trip or staycation brings so much connection as a family and there will be memories that will last a lifetime.  So, at WTYM, we hope you have a wonderful summer trip. Oh and go book your kid-free vacation, too, LOL! Episode Resource: https://www.findmeglutenfree.com/ If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers®, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Don't forget to follow, subscribe, rate review and share each episode on your podcast platform.  Book a Life Doula Consulting Session:https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting Book Sondra to speak at your event, group or conference: http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Follow @wordtoyourmothers:  https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Support the podcast by buying WTYM® Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/  

Do you feel like your dreams are long gone or that you've missed your moment? Does it seem overwhelming to even start pursuing a dream out of fear or failure? This week's guest Makie Bloomer states that it's #NeverTooLate to bloom. Makie hopes to inspire you to chase dreams and try new things with her new lifestyle brand, Late Bloomer Crew. Contrary to popular opinion, she chooses to think life can be long rather than short. When you look at it that way, you'll see there is a lot of life for us to live and a lot of dreams to explore no matter our age or circumstance.  In episode 39 host Sondra and Makie discuss how they shared a dream of being musical theater performers and how they became roommates in New York City 18 years ago. To now see where God has directed both of their lives in being creative dreamers today in an encouraging story!  We all have creativity inside us. As Makie says, "It's our greatest tool to problem solve and think for ourselves." So, go dust off those dreams and creative ideas and join the Late Bloomer Crew! Get to know Guest Makie Bloomer:  Makie is currently lives on the California coast and is an indie music and visual artist. She has spent her entire life going back and forth between those two mediums. She also fills many roles as a wife, mama, and bonus mom. Makie's goal is to uplift other, bring joy, be real, and embody love.  Link to...... https://makiemusic.com/ https://latebloomercrew.com/ https://makiemusic.com/art-buddies-unite/ Follow Makie Here.... https://www.instagram.com/makiebloomer/ https://www.instagram.com/latebloomercrew/ https://www.instagram.com/artbuddies.unite/ If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers®,  kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review and share each episode on your podcast platform.  Book a Life Doula Consulting Session: https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting Book Sondra to speak at your event, group or conference: http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Follow @wordtoyourmothers: https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Support the podcast by buying WTYM® Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/    

Have you ever scrolled through your phone or picture album and came across a picture from the past that just hits your heart so hard and makes you think, "Wow, time is flying by?" Host  Sondra Doty saw this picture (the one you're looking at) of her oldest and herself and that's what happened. At the time of the picture being taken, Sondra was about 30 weeks pregnant with her youngest; and just recently she realized that her oldest son (pictured) was the same age as her youngest son is now. that realization brought up so many emotions and thoughts she wanted share more in this episode.  Some of you might be having that same thought that time is flying by. Perhaps you're thinking this as you are sitting in your child's high school or college graduation; or maybe even attending a preschool or Kindergarten graduation! Oh, and don't forget the eighth graders, LOL.  Sondra heard a sermon by her pastor recently where he broke down in weeks the actual time we have with our children from birth until 18 years of age: 936 weeks, folks! And from birth to 9 years-old, 468. By the time they get to 16 -years-old, we only have 104 weeks until they turn 18.  This visual really makes one think how time is so valuable and so important. It made Sondra want to go back and add more weeks! Sure, seasons can be hard, and circumstances can be challenging when raising children; but let's not wish time away. Cause here's the deal: Time is tricky and it does fly by. We are given a short window of time to influence and guide our children's lives. Parenthood is a ministry and it's one with which we are blessed.  Episode Resources:  Book a Life Doula Consulting Session or Discovery call with Sondra:  https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting 936 Jellybeans Sermon by Pastor Johnathan Brozozog https://youtu.be/UQgQd1lHGdE Ep17: Simple Summer http://wordtoyourmothers.com/ep-17-simple-summer/ If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers®, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send and email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review and share each episode on your podcast platform.  Book Sondra to speak at your event, group or conference: http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Support the podcast by buying WTYM® Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/  

It's the season, and what season is it you ask? No, not road construction season, but home renovations season, LOL! That got me thinking about the many renovations my husband/guest Nick Doty and I have taken on in our 16-plus years together. We started our marriage, in fact, becoming owners of a 1950s home that need a lot of renovations. That was back when we were younger and more ambitious.  In Episode 37: Home Reno Survival 101, host Sondra Doty and her husband share what they've learned along the way. Let's just say, there's been blood, tears, sweat, laughs, and screaming along the way. They've done renos with and without children and both circumstances presented challenges. The end result of a renovations can be-and often is-amazing, but it's definitely a journey.  In this episode, you will learn that communication is the key element to any-and I mean ANY-reno. Be it a big or small project, partners can come in with different ideas and strategies; and if you're not on the same page, that's usually where conflicts start to rise. Remember and know each other's strengths and  weaknesses. Help one another bring reality to suggestions. For example, you can't tile a whole bathroom in a day if you don't know how to tile.  Will Sondra and Nick be HGTV's next renovation couple? The answer to that is a hard no. Which brings up another reminder: Just because they can do it on TV doesn't mean you should do it yourself. So, find your own capacity and limits for your next reno DIY list.  If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers®, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review and share each episode on your podcast platform.  Book a Life Doula Session with Sondra https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting Book Sondra to speak at your event, group or conference http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Support the podcast by buying WTYM® https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/

What role do you primarily play in relationships: The encourager or the one receiving encouragement? As parents, it can seem like encouragement is our full-time job. I mean, who knew kids needed encouragement just to put on their shoes and get out the door, LOL! As Mother's Day weekend approaches, host Sondra Doty realizes many mothers out there-specifically those who might be the main encouragers-can use a little encouragement in this season. So, in episode 36: When the Encourager Needs Encouragement, Sondra shares a few things she does when she recognizes she needs encouragement.  Ask myself whether I'm hinting or communicating that I need encouragement to my family or friends? (Don't assume people are jut going to figure it out.) Change up my normal routine and evaluate my routines. (If "I have too...") isn't working in this season, then save it for another.) Remember what has brought me encouragement in the past. (My personal list is prayer, listening to worship music, playing piano, journaling and being in silence.) Identification. Finding the root causes of what is bringing so much discouragement.  If you are mostly a person that receives encouragement, please find ways to encourage another in this season. It doesn't have to be big, small encouraging words go a long way. If you tend to be the encourager, work on finding ways to communicate to others that you could use encouragement. Also, try and find a healthy balance with seemingly always being the encourager. It is not your responsibility to fix or solve everyone's stuff. Being empathetic and compassionate is often the extent to which others want encouragement.  On this Mother's Day, Sondra wants to leave you with a prayer. I pray that you have an amazing Mother's Day, even in a season that may not feel so great. That you are honored and loved. That you can see the abundance and not the lack. I pray that your pain doesn't overshadow the good that is present right in front of you now.  If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers®, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review and share each episode!  Book a Life Doula Session with Sondra https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting Book Sondra to speak at your event, group or conference http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Support the podcast by buying WTYM® Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/ 

Have ever thought or recognized you needed a weekend away for refreshment or rest? Whether you're in the midst of the mundane or the mountain top of life? Maybe, you have waited for an invitation to do a getaway, but that invitation has never arrived. Well, host Sondra Doty wants to welcome you with an invitation to Steadfast Retreat. The Steadfast Retreat is an all-inclusive Christian Women's Retreat at the Grand View Lodge in Nisswa, Minnesota. A weekend away to rest, restore nd remember that when our hearts are tethered to the one who knows our name, we have the assurance of a restored, strong, and steadfast heart.  In episode 35, guest Dre Barthel shares her story of how and the why she created Steadfast Retreat. The next retreat is on November 12-14, where attendees will her Steadfast speakers and storytellers share what it means to be an overcomer. Registration opens up May 1 and spots will fill quickly, so grab your girlfriends for an all-inclusive weekend away!  "May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ." 2 Thessalonians3:5  Get to know guest Drew Barthel:  An entrepreneur at heart, Dre chose to launch a boutique events business-Covey in August of 2017. Through the Covey platform she has created and produced three successful annual event series: the Momboss 5k and The Bright Side Charity Fair and the Steadfast Retreat.  Dre is a gifted entrepreneur with over 20 years of event production and marketing experience. Her passion for events, effective branding, and strategy collies here with her deepest desire to make a difference in the lives of others. Curating marketing and event campaigns with the client, brand, and key audience in  mind is the strategy. Increased visibility, and expanded network & community, and measurable impact are the results.  Follow Dre: https://www.instagram.com/coveyevents/ https://www.instagram.com/thesteadfastretreat/ Details on the Steadfast Retreat: https://www.coveyevents.com/steadfast-retreat Episode Ad/Details on Free Food For Kids https://www.freefoodforkids.com/ If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers®, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review and share each episode!  Book a Life Doula Session with Sondra https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting Book Sondra to speak at your event, group or conference http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Support the podcast by buying WTYM® Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/

Moving forward after any loss can feel like a journey with no clear direction. Sometimes the pain from a loss can feel easier to depress it than address it. Have you ever thought of turning a time of grief into a creative outlet as a way of expressing that grief or sadness? In episode 34: Moving Forward After Miscarriage, guest Kari Dobbs shares a story around how she creatively expressed her grief in a time of loss. When Kari miscarried her daughter Addie Faye in 2015 she was heartbroken, because she had always wanted a daughter. But a wise counselor encouraged Kari to express her grief instead of suppressing it. Shortly after the loss, she decided to write a book series about how she envisioned life with her little girl.  Addie Faye and the Lost Boys is Kari's attempt to breathe life into her hopes and dreams for Addie and to inspire others who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, or infertility; the book details how to find a creative outlet for pain and sadness.  Kari transports you back to childhood in this whimsical tale of sibling shenanigans between sweet little Addie Faye and her three crazy brothers. This is Kari's first in a children's series of Addie Faye and the Lost Boys books! So, your approach to loss might not be becoming an author or writer, but in any way Kari and Sondra want to encourage you in this episode that healing, and restoration can come while finding a creative way to express one's grief, pain and sadness. Listen to your heart and take time to discover what needs to be expressed. Your story matters in your pain and loss. People need to hear and see it.  Get to know guest Kari Dobbs: Kari lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband Jared and their four boys. The first book in the series was released in November 2017 and the second book is in the process of being illustrated and will be coming out soon! Kari and her illustrator, Matt Wiede, enjoy speaking at schools and sharing with the students about writing, editing, illustrating and publishing.  Details and Links on where to buy Addie Faye and Lost Boys https://www.karidobbs.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Addie-Faye-Lost-Boys-1/dp/1540503526?SubscriptionId=AKIAIOCEBIGP6NUBL47A&tag=&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1540503526 Follow Kari on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/karidobbsbooks/ Episode Ad/Details on Free Food For Kids https://www.freefoodforkids.com/ If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers®, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review and share each episode!  Book a life Doula Session with Sondra https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting Book Sondra to Speak at your event, group or conference http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Support the podcast by buying WTYM® Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/  

During a season of loneliness or a hard circumstance have you ever wished someone would just send you a card or note to boost your day? In episode 33: Adopt-A-Grandparent, guest Hillary Kline shares how she recently started a passion project called, "Adopt-A-Grandparent."  The program is meant to help lonely seniors, many of who must socially distance and cannot necessarily visit loved ones during the pandemic. The project has taken off, with more than 1,000 cards/letters/pieces of artwork from across the globe delivered to Minnesota/Wisconsin nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Don't live in Minnesota or Wisconsin? That's OK, you don't need to to help the movement grow. How can you or your family get involved? Start writing cards, letter or make a piece of artwork. Include your address in the card if you would like to possibly build a pen-pal relationship. (There is no guarantee, but it's a possibility.) Bring this idea to your group or event. The more people involved the more joy and love will be shared. So, get your MOPS Group, book club, church small group or family gathering involved in Adopt-A-Grandparent. Send those cards, letters and artwork to Hillary Kline at PO Box 28244 Crystal, MN 55428. Please make sure you have the right amount of postage when sending. We don't want to add any extra cost onto Hillary. If you feel led to sponsor the movement, you can also send a donation to Hillary at the above address.  Hillary also shares about encouragement in tough times and what has helped her. She quotes Maya Angelou, "Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud." Learn how to turn your heart and practice empathy and compassion, connecting to the people around you in a meaningful way.  One card, letter or artwork can be a rainbow in a cloud So, let's join the movement of Adopt-A-Grandparent!  Get to know guest Hillary Kline: Hillary Kline is a beauty and lifestyle TV expert, PR professional, social media influencer and an award-winning event personality based in Minneapolis. Whether she's interviewing A-listers on the red carpet at a star-studded event, interacting with fans at professional sporting events, recommending her favorite products or giving tips on lifestyle television shows across the country, she keeps the action flowing and the audience smiling. Hillary's work has appeared in The New York Times, Marie Claire, Forbes, Bravo, Reader's Digest, Huffington Post, BuzzFeed and more.  When she's not busy working, Hillary loves binge-watching game shows and 90s sitcoms, mural hunting around the Twin Cities, and finding the perfect red lipstick.  Follow Hillary @kilnetothetop https://www.instagram.com/klinetothetop/ Check out Hillary's website https://www.klinetothetop.com/   If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers®, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review and share each episode!  Book a Life Doula Session with Sondra https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting Book Sondra to speak at your event, group or conference http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Support the podcast by buying WTYM® Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/       

There are many misconceptions about CBD. Have you thought about using CBD in your own life, but haven't been sure on where to start? Host Sondra Doty wanted to have guest Patty Gilk of Jes Naturals come on the podcast and share her story.  Patty talks about why she opened her store Jes Naturals in Excelsior, Minn., as she sought an entrepreneurial venue in the home health industry; it was this time she was sidelined by severe menopausal symptoms, including anxiety and sleep issues. Wanting something natural, she was introduced to CBD products and now is a testament to their benefits.  As a registered nurse, Patty does extensive research on CBD and has curated a selection of the safest and most effective brands in the industry. Jes Naturals perpetually researches the latest in CBD medical and technological advances so customers can be sure any CBD product sourced from Jes Naturals is the best available on the market today.  Core to her business are consultations by phone or in person and individual patient education. Having a consultation can address your specific needs and concerns. Patty's goal is to help people to feel their best and her motto is, "Be Well Naturally." So, listen in to this week's episode to hear Patty's story and learn more about using CBD in your own wellness journey.  Get to know guest Patty Gilk & Jes Naturals: Patty is a registered nurse and founder of Jes Naturals wellness in Excelsior, Minn. Patty holds a degree from Purdue University and practices in Minnesota. She has worked in the Cardiac Catheterization lab at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and telemetry in Wisconsin.  Jes Naturals is family owned and operated, having in-store, on-line ordering and shipping anywhere in the United States. Their purpose is to provide you with the latest information regarding CBD products. Patty and her team perpetually researches the latest in CBD medical and technological advances so customers can be sure any CBD product sourced from Jes Naturals is the best available on the market today.  Episode Links/Resources: Follow Jes Naturals https://www.instagram.com/jescbd/ Jes Naturals Website https://www.jesnaturals.com/s/shop Take a CBD Quiz https://www.jesnaturals.com/cbd-quiz If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers®, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Don't forget to subscribe/rate/review and share each episode!  Book Sondra to Speak at your event, group or conference http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Book a Life Doula Consultation Session with Sondra https://calendly.com/word-to-your-mothers/life-doula-consulting Follow @wordtoyourmothes https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Support the podcast by buying WTYM®Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/    

People often ask my husband and I how we got our boys so interested in music, instruments and singing. That question is kinda hard to answer, because it's something that happened very organically. In short, it happened through family, friends, church and more.  In episode 31: Cultivating Music in Your Home, guest Ivory Doublette shares her story around her grandmother, mother and family cultivating music interest in her. Ivory describes how her mother would take cassette tapes and record gospel quartets on their visits to Chicago and then bring them back home to Alaska to listen and practice together as a family. Now, Ivory and her family have their very own family quartet called, SeVy. As a teaching artist with the MacPhail Center for Music, Ivory gives advice to parents/caregivers on how to make music come alive in their home.  Start at any age exploring music with your child. It's never too early or too late. Lead with PLAY & FUN!  Let instruments and music be fun and don't turn it into a job/chore for children or start thinking about them getting a college scholarship. Introduce to them music/instruments from other cultures and countries. Focus on who they are right now and show as a parent/caregiver that you are invested. Ivory and Sondra want to encourage you in this episode that cultivating music in your home is not work. Music is very bonding and the power of it builds confidence and spans across many generations. Don't assume that because you aren't very musical that your child won't be, either. Right now, Ivory has a few virtual music classes for which you can sign up you little humans today! See links below to sign up now.  So, like Ivory suggests, go pull out some kitchen spoons, plastic containers, pots and pans, and start making music in your home. It doesn't have to be an expensive investment to get started making music and memories.  Get to know Guest Ivory Doublette Ivory holds a Bachelors in Theater Arts from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She has performed regionally with MainStreet Theatre, The Marriott Theatre, Penumbra Theatre, Children's Theatre Company and many others. Ivory has been a teaching artist with MacPhail Cent for Music since 2015 primarily working in their early childhood department, Sing, Play Learn with MacPhail®. Ivory has been teaching in person and online for the past 5 years.  Get connected with Ivory:  Email-ivorydou@gmail.com  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ivorydoublette/ https://www.instagram.com/sevygospelquartet/ Website:  https://ivorydoublette.wixsite.com/ivory http://www.sevygospelquartet.com Sign Up for Ivory's Music Classes! https://www.walkerwest.org/free-lesson/music-for-families/ https://www.macphail.org/courses/?id=17974 Episode Resources: Songs of Encouragement Ivory's- Never Lost, Tauren Wells https://youtu.be/3TOPBr8k8xY Sondra's- I Will Rise, Bethel Music & Kristene DiMarco https://youtu.be/BpyP4HR8FBQ If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers®, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Don't forget to subscribe/rate/review! Book Sondra to speak at your event, group or conference http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Support the podcast by buying WTYM® Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/

Have you ever asked yourself, "How can I begin again?" In this world which we live, we can easily at every corner avoid what is going on the inside and avoid a true "begin again" moment. So, how do we stop the avoidance and as God, "What do you say of me today?" In Part 2 of The Great Unraveling with guest Abbie Johnson, we continue a conversation from the previous episode. Abbie shares her story around what God revealed to her during her time in treatment; how the meaning of her name, "joy of the father," is part of what is carrying her forward into her future and within her begin again story. As a former trauma nurse clinician Abbie also shares how she and her colleagues identify trauma in patients: Stop and pause for the cause; first you stop, then you identify the areas of pain, ask them their name and then move forward. Even though this is used for more physical pain situations, it's a simple but effective example that can be used in our everyday lives to identify internal pain or unresolved trauma from our past.  So, both Abbie and Sondra want to welcome you into a different level of healing freedom and start another chapter of Begin Again. A begin again that is actually healing pain instead of avoiding it.  Get to know guest Abbie Johnson: Abbie is a woman. She is 42 years old and identifies with many of life's unavoidable challenges and has spent her life misunderstanding the offering and beauty inside her own femininity. She is a wife to one strong husband, a mother of four strong-willed children, a new puppy owner, and a former nurse in Obstetrics, Surgical ICU, and she finished her practice as a trauma nurse clinician.  She has started and successfully managed three small businesses. She most recently worked as an interior designer for residential and commercial settings. Abbie thrives in challenges and looks to establish beauty and joy in any atmosphere in which she works. She has taken a self-driven hiatus from work outside the home to focus on maintaining sobriety and recovering from a 33-year battle with an eating disorder. She love to read, eat baked goods make by other and to write and share her words and journey on a blog: dear-life.blog. She believes wholeheartedly in the act of surrender and letting go in order to find freedom from perfectionism, perceived expectations, and the ability to give and receive love.  Read Abbile's Blog:https://dear-life.blog/ Follow Abbie :Abbie Johnson (@lifeofabbie711) • Instagram photos and videos Episode Resources:  Emily Program:  https://www.emilyprogram.com/ https://aaminneapolis.org/ https://aa.org/ https://aaminnesota.org/ If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers®, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Don't forget to subscribe/rate/review!  Book Sondra to speak at your event, group or conference.http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Support the podcast by buying WTYM® Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/    

Have you been walking down a path of showing externally that everything is OK, but internally you know you're not OK? Also, have you ever asked yourself what is stable for you or from where are you getting your stability? Host Sondra Doty realizes these are hard and honest questions to ask.  In episode 29: The Great Unraveling (Part One), guest Abbie Johnson shares her personal story of recognizing and facing these questions in her own life. She talks about how she battled an addiction in the name of gaining comfort and acceptance; this manifested into a 33-year trail with an eating disorder and the use of other coping skills to numb out the pain and squelch internal discomfort.  Abbie encourages listeners to say something if they see someone struggling; because that could be the thing, comment or sentence that is the lifeline that brings them back from the dead. People often don't realize how unhealthy coping skills have cemented in their lives, explains Abbie. "We can't do on the outside what we don't have established on the inside." Let's listen to this week's episode and see how we might discover the need for our "begin again" amid our own unraveling.  Get to know guest Abbie Johnson: Abbie is a woman. She is 42 years old and identifies with many of life's unavoidable challenges and has spent her life misunderstanding the offering and beauty inside her own femininity. She is a wife to one strong husband, a mother of four strong-willed children, a new puppy owner, and a former nurse in Obstetrics, Surgical ICU, and she finished her practice as a trauma nurse clinician.  She has started and successfully managed three small businesses. She most recently worked as an interior designer for residential and commercial settings. Abbie thrives in challenges and looks to establish beauty and joy in any atmosphere in which she works. She has taken a self-driven hiatus from work outside the home to focus on maintaining sobriety and recovering from a 33-year battle with an eating disorder. She love to read, eat baked goods make by other and to write and share her words and journey on a blog: dear-life.blog. She believes wholeheartedly in the act of surrender and letting go in order to find freedom from perfectionism, perceived expectations, and the ability to give and receive love.  Read Abbile's Blog:https://dear-life.blog/ Follow Abbie :Abbie Johnson (@lifeofabbie711) • Instagram photos and videos   Episode Resources:  Emily Program: https://www.emilyprogram.com/ https://aaminneapolis.org/ https://aa.org/ https://aaminnesota.org/   If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers®, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Don't forget to subscribe/rate/review!  Book Sondra to speak at your event, group or conference.http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Support the podcast by buying WTYM® Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/  

Have you ever been in a place of burnout in parenthood or other areas of life? Perhaps you're there now. Many of you would likely raise your hand to the former or latter. So, how do you know when it's time for a restart or to evaluate what is or isn't working? In Episode 28: Permission to Restart, guest Amber Bibelheimer shares not only her personal journey of recognizing a restart moment, but she also offers a free Restart Roadmap. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5ff746b36c5cf4aa560c756b In this episode host Sondra Doty and Amber break down areas of their own lives for which they want to take accountability/ownership-especially when many things feel out of their control. Have you considered whether you might be operating out of old routines/patterns that just aren't going to work in new circumstance of life? Amber says, "Learn how to adjust instead of quit." So, Let's listen to this week's episode and start a restart roadmap with goals that will work with your life and circumstances right now!  Get to know guest Amber Bibelheimer: Mom of 2 little boys, singer-songwriter and performer, & business owner Certified Coach for the FASTer Way, living her passion to empower women to love their bodies, find food freedom and renewed mindsets with energy through the FASTer Way Movement.  Mindset Coach for ReSTART, helping women to get unstuck in their health goals Follow Amber/Website: https://www.instagram.com/amberbibelheimer/ https://www.facebook.com/FASTerWaywithAmberB https://www.FASTerWayWithAmberB.com   Episode Resources: Free Restart Roadmap https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5ff746b36c5cf4aa560c756b Psalm 107:29, He hushes the storm to a calm and to a gentle whisper, so that the waves of the sea are still. (AMP) Letters From God; If God wrote you a letter everyday for a year, what would He say? By Ivan Tait https://shop.whatmattersmm.org/   If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers®, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Don't forget to subscribe/rate/review  Follow https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Book Sondra to speak at your group or event. http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Go Buy WTYM® official merch! https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/  

We've all seen the memes of 2020 being a dumpster fire. Some are extremely funny, but host Sondra Doty also found herself annoyed with them. Mind you, Sondra loves using humor as a healthy coping tool; but at some point, she has to be honest with herself and do some therapeutic evaluation of the year. So, episode 27 will be an end-of-year review of 2020-with the qualifiers of "Dumpster Fire" or "Refining Fire?" Whereas some things from the year need to remain in the fire and others have come out of this dumpster fire year and deserve some refinement. Sondra shares her list, but also encourages you to make your own list.  So, let's laugh, cry, rejoice or whatever emotion seems best for processing this nutcracker of a year. Now, someone go find an extinguisher for 2020 and let's get this dumpster fire over with! WTYM® wishes you a Happy New Year! God Bless. Sondra's List for 2020 (In no particular order, LOL) Dumpster Fire: Distance Learning Fear News Not seeing family & friends everything being canceled So many disappointments Missed first & last milestones in our kids' lives. Hunting for toilet paper Refining Fire: Being more present and aware Looking as "TIME" more as gift and how to use it better Being resourceful or thinking outside of the box Pivoting with purpose Finding JOY in the small things that life can bring Faith transformation  Physical health and emotional health WTYM Update of what is to come in 2021: New episodes will resume Jan 13. Also, WTYM® is currently booking speaking engagements for virtual and in-person audiences.  Introducing a brand-new service of WTYM®: Life Doula Consulting. I mean, who doesn't need a life doula?! Book a three-session package with Sondra today. Let her guide and help navigate you through some key areas of life-be it work, family, self, birth, or postpartum. http://wordtoyourmothers.com/doula-services/ If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers®, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Don't forget to subscribe/rate/review on your podcast platform.  Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Book Sondra to speak at your group or event. http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Go Buy WTYM® official merch! https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/  

Host Sondra Doty is honored whenever people share their vulnerability on the WTYM podcast; it helps enable a deeper conversation, if not a more, honest and impactful one. Today's guest provides exactly that. She simply reached out to Sondra and said she wanted to share her story around her relationship and journey with alcohol.  Guest Sarri Truscinski and Sondra have a long friendship. They met in their junior year of high school when Sondra was a new student at Sarri's school. They became fast friends and God really brought their hearts together in a cool way. Sarri and Sondra have done a lot of life together and have seen one another at their best-and worst-over the last 20 years.  Together, they have decided to break down this conversation on alcohol and motherhood into three different parts: Past, Present and Future. Doing so will allow listeners to understand the full spectrum of how others in your life might be struggling in a similar way.  So, with that, Sondra offers an extra warm WTYM welcome to Sarri as featured guest on episode 26. Sarri lives in central Minnesota with her husband of 17 years and three children ages 14, 13, and 8. Sarri stayed home with her kiddos for about 12 years, but now that each of them are in school full time, she has gone back to her education roots. She's currently an early childhood special education teacher. She's a lover of all things music and likes to write fun/silly songs about how she doesn't like to shave her legs. (That's true, folks!). Playing guitar has been her stress release for years, and her outlet for days when life is just too much. Sarri tries to love on people as much as she can, and works to shine a bit of hope whenever possible life is a beautiful thing, even in the darkest, messiest parts, and she is so grateful that she is now living it sober.  Episode Resources: Follow or Message Sarri: https://www.instagram.com/sarrijo/ https://aa.org/ https://aaminneapolis.org/ https://aaminnesota.org/   If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send and email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Don't forget to subscribe/rate/review!  Grab your holiday gifts now with WTYM Merch! https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/ Book Sondra to speak at your event, group or conference.http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/

It's hard to believe we're a little more than a week before the holiday season and that many people already have their Christmas tree up. Many of us look forward to this time of year but many others this time brings on added stress, anxiety and frustrations. This year, with everything going on, there's an added layer of possible disappointment and difficulties. During this holiday season host Sondra Doty want you to know you don't have to throw out a healthy structure or healthy routine because of the added things.  A couple of months ago Sondra had a conversation with today's guest Annie Trimberger and the two of them decided the week before Thanksgiving would be the best time to have Annie join the WTYM podcast. It's definitely an ideal time to help people establish a healthy framework-including health goals and overall life goals-prior to the hustle and bustle of the holidays.  Guest Annie Trimberger is a life and health coach who works with professional women. Her mission is to help her clients step into their greatness by being happier, healthier and wealthier. Annie helps women prioritize health and happiness while they learn to automate healthy habits for hitting goals with joy and ease. Furthermore, she helps them uncover ways to generate the energy, stamina and confidence to bust through the glass ceiling.  In episode 25: Healthy Habits This Holiday Season, Annie talks about the "magic 5". The five things to do when feeling overwhelmed by health or circumstance. 1. Get enough protein; 2. Eat Veggies; 3. Drink Water; 4. Go for a walk; 5. Sleep. And she would add a 6th in there, too: Prayer and meditation. It really can be that simple and that basic. You need ALL of these things daily, anyway.  Action Items & Encouragement:  Annie encourages you to pick two to three anchor actions you can commit to no matter what;.....so, when everything goes out the window, you still have commitments. Sondra and Annie challenge you to do these actions for the next 45 days, so when January is here, they are a part of your normal routine. Also, pick two accountability partners for the next 45 days. That way, when obligations rises, you have people to help remind you of your anchor actions.  We would also like to wish you a happy and healthy holiday season!  Episode Resources:  Follow Annie on Instagram: DM to join the Early Risers Club https://www.instagram.com/annie_thedreamlab/ Website/Information on the Nourish Project: Annie is offering a Black Friday Special. https://www.thedreamlabmpls.com/the-nourish-project   If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Don't forget to subscribe/rate/review! Get ready for the holidays and grab some WTYM Merch! https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/ Book Sondra to speak at your event, group or conference. http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ 

When host Sondra Doty's oldest was little, she and her husband started something called "responsibilities before privileges." They wanted their son to understand the importance of hard work and helping and that playtime can be a nice reward. Sounds fair and motivating enough, right? Well, not always. So, in episode 24, Sondra tackles the topic of teaching our little humans responsibility.  When we get a child's response like, "...but Mom!".... or whatever might be the negotiation/resistance to simple requests of responsibility, it can rattle us. But, why are children seemingly surprised at these requests? Sondra has taken these thoughts to God, praying, "How do I navigate this?...How can I get through to them? How can I move their hearts?" And then God gave her a picture of herself having similar resistance when it came to work and responsibilities... Wait, what? Yep. ... And of course, she was like, "Why me and not my children? They were the ones giving so much pushback-not to mention the long sighs and eyes rolled back."  Me, God? Yes, you.  Through this process she realized that the same resistance that was in her children's heart was in her heart, too. When she faced various chores on the old homestead or certain work projects, she also grumbled. She did not exactly exhibit a cheerful attitude about laundry, toilets and more. And God is like, "Yep." Talk about a humbling moment, friends. Parenting has a way of humbling us fast. Ca we get and amen?!  We all struggle to do our work-whatever that may be; but Sondra thinks God is trying to teach us through these moments of struggle, lack of desire or resistance. These days, she is more honest with her little humans about this. So, when they ask, "Mom, why do we have to do this?" She's able to empathize and acknowledge that there are times she struggles, too, with responsibility, but she can gain more ears now when she demonstrates a better attitude toward her own work. The outcomes of hard work are worth it. The mountain view, so to speak, is worth the hike.  So, where are you showing resistance to work and responsibilities in your own life? Are you holding your children to a higher standard than yourself? It's OK. These can be hard questions to ask but bring them to God and He will show you the why and the how. Sondra honestly believes when we deal with our own hearts first, our children with (eventually) follow by example. When we catch ourselves with a heart of, "...but, God!..." we know there is work to do in our own hearts.  But, my friends, this is a good work, and it's so rewarding. If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Don't forget to subscribe/rate/review! Get ready for the holidays and grab some WTYM Merch! https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/ Book Sondra to speak at your event, group or conference. http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ 

It brings host Sondra so much joy welcoming guest Brooke Peterson with Well Women Co. Brooke is a wife, mother, author, podcast host and mastermind coach. She created Well Women Co to equip women to impact the atmosphere around them with the Kingdom of Heaven. Brook's mission is to help women step into their full potential, achieve vibrant health and live life on purpose through community, resources, and the good news of the gospel!  After struggling with disordered eating an poor self-image for more than a decade, Brooke was set free in an instant and finally found the courage to become who she was created to be. Brooke is passionate about helping women recognize that thing standing in their way and uncover who they are meant to be!  In Episode 23, Hearing God's Voice Every Day, Brooke shares how God has been asking her to enter a new season: A season of laying things down and letting go; being more disciplined in other areas of her life. This is an encouraging message of listening to God's direction in our lives and not our own. Brooke gives a framework around what God has shown her: 1. Sowing in the spirit- take inventory of where you are spending your time, money and thought life. (Hebrews 12:6) 2. Knowing the word of God- scripture, prophetic word, journaling, and dreams. Take time to study the word of God. (Ephesians 6:18) 3. Praying in the spirit- building yourself up in the spirit. (Jude 1:20) 4. Fasting- my body and mind is a servant to my resurrected spirit. (Galatians 6:8) Action/Encouragement from Brooke: Check the soil health of your heart.  Mark 4: Parable of the Sower. God's word, when planted in good soil, reaps a crop and bears fruit in our life! Where are you at? (What is your soil status?)  Hard? Bitter? FORGIVE!  Rocky? Deceitfulness of Riches? Be content with what you have and give thanks for everything!  Thorny? Care of this world! Be about the father's business, get to know his personality!  Rich? Those with good soil reap 30-, 60-, 100-fold! Saturate your environment with the Word!  Episode Resources: Brooke's Website Well Women Co: https://wellwomenco.com/ Go Follow Brooke: https://www.instagram.com/wellwomenco/ Link to Buy Food Freedom: https://www.amazon.com/Food-Freedom-Hiding-Uncover-Youre/dp/1792301790/ref=sr_1_16?crid=2AMZWBYIMZ3W&keywords=freedom+food+book&qid=1585766394&sprefix=food+freedom+book%2Caps%2C199&sr=8-16 Listen to Well Women Co Podcast: https://wellwomenco.com/podcast/ 5 Day Align & Prosper: https://fitmomsguide.kartra.com/page/wellwomenintensive Sondra on Well Women Co Podcast: https://wellwomenco.com/episode44/   If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers®, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Follow WTYM: https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Book Sondra to speak at your group or event: http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Check out WTYM® Official Merch! https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/  

When host Sondra Doty's friend writes a book, she pays attention; because it is no small task to add the title of "author" to one's name. That is why Joe Beckman of Human Connection Matters & Happy Caveman is our guest for episode 22, "Just Look Up." Joe had shared his infectious energy, humor and passion in more than 1,000 schools-positively impacting north of 1 million people worldwide. He resides in Minneapolis with his exceptional wife, jess and three children.  On Oct 20, Joe launches his book, Just Look Up: Five Life-Saving Phrases Kid/Human Needs to Hear. Pre-orders are open now, and WTYM encourages you to pick up a book for you and/or a friend. https://justlookupbook.com/ In this episode, Sondra and Joe scratch the surface of the details in the book. Joe's elevator pitch for this book. "Combining humor, authenticity, heart and soul, international speaker Joe Beckman shared five specific phrases he believes all kids (and adults) need to hear. The result is a refreshing, authentic, and down-to-earth approach to finding self-worth (Love YOU), resilience (Push Through), confidence (Fail On), joy (Yeah Toast!), and maybe most importantly human connection (Just Look Up.) Action Items from Joe for listeners: "A message that needs to move from your heart to your hands. Inspiration is one thing but doing something with it is another." The challenge is to find time where you can make another human-being feel special. Be Patsy! "Joey you are a special boy."  Put Down the screens and separate from the tech. To see where our kindness and compassion can be used in our little corner of the world, open your eyes and look up!  Smile at someone, send a kind email to a teacher or have some extra moments being present with your children. Episode Resources: Order Joe's Book Now: https://justlookupbook.com/ Follow Joe: https://www.instagram.com/joe_beckman/ Book Joe to speak and links to all his amazing resources: https://joebeckman.com/   If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers®, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send and email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Book Sondra to speak at your group or event. http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Check Out WTYM® Official Merch! https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/    

October 2 will be the official one-year celebration/anniversary/birthday of Word To Your Mothers podcast. That got host Sondra Doty thinking about milestones, celebrations and anniversaries, oh my!  How do you celebrate? Are you mostly the planner in your life? Do you find it hard to know how to celebrate different accomplishments or milestones in your life? Comparing yourself to others, unfortunately, can often rule how or why we do or do not celebrate.  Sondra speaks on these comparisons in this episode and also thanks all Word To Your others listeners-not to mention every guest that has come on the podcast. Without all of you, this podcast would not be possible. Thank you for sharing with family and friends. All your support and encouragement has been such an amazing blessing. This podcast might be small, but it is doing mighty work in the hearts of many.  Episode Resource: Join Sondra at Mom Camp Oct 16-18. Silver Birch Ranch in White Lake, WI. Registration ends Oct 9. https://www.silverbirchranch.org/campretreat/2020/10/16/mom-camp   If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers®, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Book Sondra to speak at your event or group. http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Check out WTYM® Official Merch!  https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/

The movie character Elsa (from "Frozen") has taught many parents in many different ways how to "Let It Go." How did we miss the signs of what was to come when she was singing loudly through mountain tops, "into the unknown?..." We've probably hit the unknown or have we always been in the unknown with parenting and this current circumstance is just highlighting it more?.... For episode 20, host Sondra Doty welcomes back her husband Nick Doty as they talk about parenting in the unknown. Parenting fatigue is real and when choices and limitations present themselves-rapidly arising in unexpected shifts-it can bring many to a level of panic, worry, frustration, shame, guilt and more.  We pray that this episode can bring some level of hope and comfort to your heart; that you can rest in the reassurance that your little humans are called and capable.    If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send and email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Click below to book Sondra to speak at your group or event. http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Check out WTYM® Official Merch! https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/

WTYM welcomes guest Andrea Dodge. Andrea is a certified Enneagram coach, a photographer, mom to 3 kids, and an avid fan of the TV show "Parks and Rec." Along with her husband who is a pastor, she has invested much of her life to local church ministry. She is passionate about the enneagram because it helps reveal the false stories we've told ourselves and it gives us a lens for understanding the stories of other. She believes it will revolutionize our relationships in all areas as we approach ourselves and others with more compassion and understanding.  Has navigating enneagram interested you but felt overwhelming? In Episode 19: Enneagram 101, Andrea breaks down with host Sondra Doty why we should use enneagram and how it's different from other personality typing systems. Andrea gives a quick overview of the enneagram structure and a summary of each type.  Go grab a journal and take a few notes around each enneagram type. It will aid in starting the journey of finding your core and wing numbers. This is a scratch-the-surface of enneagram and gets you to start thinking about what your number might be.  Remember, WTYM listeners get 30% off a coaching session with Andrea. Just let her know you listened to "Enneagram 101" when contacting her about booking a session! This is an amazing deal, so go contact her today! Links and information below.  Andrea Dodge Links: https://www.yourliferetold.com/ https://www.instagram.com/yourlife.retold/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreadodge-yourliferetold/ Resources: Andrea recommends, That Sounds Fun Podcast: http://www.anniefdowns.com   If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers®, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Follow @wordtoyourmothers Book Sondra to speak at your group, conference or event. Virtual options available. http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Check Out WTYM® Official Merch! https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/    

Reflecting on the day host Sondra Doty and her husband Nick got married they aren't sure they realized the weight of that phrase in their vows,.... "in sickness and in health." In episode 18: In Sickness and In Health, Sondra and her husband have an open conversation on how they have indeed lived out this phrase a good portions of their 15 years together.  If you've listed to the podcast long enough, you know some of the health challenges Sondra has worked through most of her life. Celiac Disease, Epstein-Barr Virus, Chronic Fatigue, anemia, and more.  Nick has had some health challenges, as well. He was born with a hearing condition and had to have several reconstructive ear surgeries starting at a young age. He's dealt with different periods of hearing loss throughout his life. He realized with the nudge of his wife last year that it was time to get more help with his hearing again, and get hearing aids.  So, as these two have walked together through some great health challenges, they wanted to share their journey of discovery and support. What does being a supportive partner and commitment really look like when you're in a relationship with someone struggling with sickness or a chronic health issue? For Nick, the supportive part had grown throughout the years, though he was personally walking through his own stages of grief while watching his wife struggle. They both realized playing the supporting role kind of changes hands once in a while-or at least it should; and that it isn't about making your partner happy but going alongside them on the journey as a team.  Everyday, you make a choice how you will respond to circumstances. Somedays you might be the encourager and somedays your partner might be the realist and others the roles are reversed.  As long as you're walking it together-not separately- that's the important part.  At times, Sondra realized she was looking to Nick for her everything. She needed to seek outside help to process the pain, hurt and emotional weight of what walking through chronic illness was doing to her. She also had to realize Nick was going through this, too. Learning how to forgive one another-when they didn't respond well to each other-was a big learning tool.  The two learned to embrace their weakness and character flaws. Together they have had many pastors, friends and family walk through this set of trials with them. They will never forget the day a pastor shared with them, "There are people with illness and conditions in the world that might never find out why or what's causing it. ..." It was hard for them to accept and hear they might never find answers or resolve. They both were working/searching so  hard to find answers to Sondra's health issues.  Eventually, they did find an answer when it was uncovered Sondra had Celiac Disease, but it wasn't they end of the story. There have still been years of other health challenges not only with them, but with their two boys. Just within the last few month there has been so much HOPE, because they got more answers and more whys have come to a close.  Don't  live this life alone in chronic health issues! Find a community of support that can help bring you hope, even as you're searching and perhaps not finding answers.  Resources: Northland Celiac Group: Support group which meets quarterly in the Twin Cities. Group usually takes on different topics for meeting and often brings in experts.  http://www.twincitiesrock.org/ Find Me Gluten Free App: https://www.findmeglutenfree.com/   Love listening to Word To Your Mothers? Kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send and email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Click below to book Sondra to speak at your group, conference or event. Virtual options available. http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/  Check out WTYM® Official Merch! https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/    

Before the episode starts Sondra addresses the killing of George Floyd an the many other men and women that have been wrongfully killed.  A few weeks ago, host Sondra Doty took a pause on her social media accounts and podcast episodes; taking time to listen and learn from black voices. Like the intro states, she started this podcast "to have real everyday conversations that many aren't willing to have." Sondra apologizes for not pointing out or speaking up against past injustices. When she moved to Minneapolis 20 years ago from small town Iowa-from a place with little to no diversity-a whole world opened up to her she never really knew. It's been 20 years of learning, listening, growing, gaining more understand, and realizing where she was wrong. This can be hard and uncomfortable work, but it's important to unpack privilege and bias.  Sondra encourages listeners to do the work, examine their hearts and see where more growth is needed. Word To Your Mothers will be examining how it can aid in doing episodes/work that creates change in the areas of racial equality and justice.  Are you looking for ways to help Minnesota BIOPOC directly? MN Healing Justice Network. https://www.minnesotahealingjusticenetwork.com/ @momsdishmn podcast has teamed up with @anaitachampion from @ tcmobilemommy to collectively raise $10,000 for emergency supplies to organizations supporting BIPOC. You can donate directly to their Venmo-MomsDishMN So, we made it to summer, but now what? Not gonna lie, when we started the whole distance learning adventure, summer felt forever away and not here we are a few weeks into it. The reality is there are still many restrictions, posing varying challenges for experiencing summer;...which got host Sondra Doty thinking for episode 17, what would a simple summer look like for her family, and maybe yours too.  Sondra has always tired to keep summer very simple and not over-scheduled, but i's this year's forced simplification doesn't really seem, well, simple. There are many can't-dos: library, zoo, music in the park, pools, T-ball, etc. The list can seem overwhelming and disappointing to say the least.  Here are a few suggestions in the podcast Sondra makes to help with simplifying summer.  Nature walks: This has been a love of her family even before the world turned upside down. So, Sondra still plans on going on mini-adventures with her two boys-going to places familiar and brand new. Her boys have a small nature collection of rocks, sticks and other things gathered from many previous walks. Such walks' benefits are twofold: they provide a natural pause and escape while also unveiling some free keepsakes!  Reading: Personally, Sondra feels like summer is one of the only times she can really dig deep into a book. There is something about reading in the summer-by the lake, outside or on a deck-it just makes her heart happy. Here are two books she is reading now: "Ready To Rise" by Jo Saxton, and "There I am, The Journey From Hopelessness to Healing," by Ruthie Lindsey. For her boys, it's required to do reading before they can watch shows in the summer. This way, they can help build a love for reading and understand it's importance for creative thought and reflection. Sondra and her boys have a rest time in the afternoon, where they grab blankets and spend time reading. the library will be missed this summer, but they'll make it work.  Art: Take a deep breath, it doesn't have to be anything Pinterest-or Estsy-worthy. Just simply drawing, water-coloring or even doing nature art is therapeutic. Buy a little journal for your child to draw on your nature walks! Watercolors are peaceful and a great tool to help a child learn how to sit still. Even, if it's just for a moment. You can buy a simple kit at any art store.  Sondra is sad to think of some of the things they will not be able to enjoy this summer, but she really is trying to look at the more and not the less: More backyard fires, more time running through the sprinkler, more time with family, more conversations, and more of a slower pace of life, perhaps.  So, where can you find the more in the time of less? Let's soak up a simple summer and not worry so much of what our humans are missing. This truly is a time they will remember for the rest of their lives.    If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Click below to book Sondra to speak at your group or event.  http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ WTYM official merch!  https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/  

In this episode host Sondra Doty brings back to the podcast her husband, Nick Doty. Recently, Sondra and Nick were discussing the class of 2020 and the compassion they have for this year's graduates-not to mention their parents or guardians. They're all going through some major disappointments. The cancellations of live, in-person class ceremonies and many grad parties just sucks.  Sondra and Nick also take some time to reflect on their own high school senior years-that's 20 years ago for Sondra and 26 for Nick. Oh how time flies, right? They both process together some of their high school memories and experiences while digging out from the closet their "boxes of life" and other high school memorabilia. They discuss what they wanted to be back then while recalling yearbook moments and pop culture things in the mid-to-late 90s and the ever-anticipated year 2000.  Looking back now, what would you go back and tell your high school self? What lasting advice would you give to the class of 2020? Sondra encourages the 2020 class to be flexible to changing their plans and direction; live as authentically as possible. And don't forget who helped you get there! Whatever or wherever the next stop is, know that your parents (guardians) will want to hear from you and that doesn't mean just text messages!  To everyone, if you know a student graduating this year reach out more than you ever have. Ask the grad's parents how you can make their graduation special despite the current circumstance. Perhaps write a longer note in your card, make a video, send them an inspirational book, or set up a small outdoor ceremony in the driveway!  Both students and parents have imagined graduation (the day and beyond) for many years. It's ok to be beyond disappointed. Sondra and Nick both believe this class is going to come out with so  many life lessons at such a young age. Doesn't make it any easier, but someday the grads will be able to look back-20 to 26 years from now-and have a heckuva story to tell.  Congratulations, Class of 2020! You are not forgotten. "Oh the places you'll go" (Dr. Seuss).    If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Buy WTYM Official Merch! https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/ Book Sondra to speak at your group, event or conference. http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/

Happy Mother's day from Word To Your Mothers! This year certainly is strange setting for the annual day of acknowledgement-it's hard to know how to celebrate or even if we should celebrate. Also, it's frankly not always a "happy" day for some moms. Mother's Day can come with many emotions and feelings-amplifying pain of losses that are real and still raw.  In this time when our "normal" routines have been altered, host Sondra Doty has heard many conversations around the specific loads mothers are bearing and also how many are raising the bar on what it means to be a "Supermom!" Well, for some just hearing the word "super" brings up fear, failure and anxiety-after all, there seems to be even more to compete with now. Heck yeah, there are perhaps more superhero-style moments for moms/parents everywhere; but there are also more feelings (and ways) of failing our children or potential for messing up the day, right? So much more seems out of our control, but we must not dwell in a place of failure or mess. We must face our fears. Sondra talks about this candidly; she never asked for or wanted the title of Supermom. Her goal is not to be super but to be loving, kind and caring. To guide, direct and help her little humans be confident humans themselves. She loves this quite from Dr. Marshall Klause: "Be very kind to the mother." It can be so easy and tempting to deem ourselves as failures because of how we measure ourselves or against whom we measure. The first thing to do, however is be KIND to yourself. No matter where you are in your mothering or desire to be a mother, find confidence in where you are. Sit and honor the place you are in your journey. You deserve to celebrate and be celebrated this Mother's Day. No supermom credentials required. If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Click here to book Sondra to speak at your group or event! http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/ Check out WTYM Official Merch! https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/  

In Episode 14, host Sondra Doty welcomes her partner in life of 15 years, Nick Doty. They both has a desire this week to make people laugh by sharing funny life stories. Stories of how they met, before kids, about their kids, sleep deprivation, postpartum and more. Hopefully, it's not too much of an over-share, LOL. Mind you, these two extroverts haven't been around other people much.  In these challenging times, it can be easy to take ourselves too seriously. Laughter and joy can really be the best medicine to break up the seriousness. No really, laughter is medicine.  One thing Nick and Sondra have done as a couple is watch some of their favorite comedians after they put their children to bed. Oh, and they do a deep-dive into "Tiger King." Don't judge, y'all; you know you have secretly watched, too.  So, laugh and enjoy this episode of stories by the Dotys!    If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Check out WTYM official merch!  https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/ Click below to book Sondra to speak at your group or event. http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/

In this episode host Sondra Doty talks about bearing disappointments. All of us have felt the weight of disappointment during the last month with the current situation: Some days we might simply carry our own and other days we could be bearing the weight of the world's disappointments.  Sondra has noticed disappointment rearing it's head a lot lately. Understandable, considering life as we knew it around the world is being canceled. Adapting to all the routine-shifting grows more difficult when we don't stop and process the disappointments and instead stow them away or ignore them. Disappointments can lead to heightened fear, anxiety, depression, and so much more. We instinctively seek to find better feelings and numb or distract ourselves. It would be easy during this time to say, "I'm too busy to feel anything in this moment." Or, "When things get back to normal, then I will deal with my thoughts and feelings."  Well, the time is now Perhaps it's not actually the big thing in front of you that's disappointing you. Sometimes, something else is really driving your emotions. Could there be something from your past that is keeping you from adapting well to the current circumstance? Sondra will give a recent example of this in her own life, as she faced disappointment around facilitating online learning and homeschooling her boys. In fact, this is something she said that she would never do, LOL. Well, "never say never!" In this episode Sondra also welcomes her two boys, Alvin (11) and Bernard (5), as guest to the podcast. She wanted the boys to share a few of their own disappointments. Let's just say, "Disney World" and "cancelled" are two phrases young kids don't ever want to hear in the same sentence. Sondra has found it especially challenging to walk this current road given an almost 6-year-age gap between her boys, and thus the need to explain things differently to each boy. Explaining the what and why usually needs to be tailored by age, but now must also be seasoned with varying, heavy emotional tools among parents and the little humans.  This could be a good opportunity for you to listen to this part with your own children. Then have a similar conversation and connection time with them.  Action Item: Take time to STOP daily and check in with your heart. What are moments like this trying to teach you? You will never know, if you always turn to numbing practices or seek distraction. So, feel and release. Don't assume. Maybe there is more to the disappointment you are experiencing and facing. So, go discover your heart and ask questions.  Episode Resources:  It's Not Supposed To Be This Way, by Lisa Terkeurst  "When His timing seems questionable, His lack of interventions seems hurtful, and His promises seem doubtful, I get afraid, I get confused. And left alone with those feelings, I can't help but feel disappointment that God isn't doing what I assumed a good God should do." If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send and email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Follow @wordtoyourmothers https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Check out WTYM Official Merch! https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/  Click below to book Sondra to speak at your group or event. http://wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/

In this episode host Sondra Doty shares more about her own health story from the last few months. She breaks down authentic-living with chronic illness and health issues. As she has walk through and recovered from another set of health issues and roadblocks, Sondra found it hard to know how to authentically share her struggles and needs.  Perhaps you also find it challenging to know how to share authentically in your own life and through certain circumstances. Remember, your story is your story. It can be challenging not to worry about what others will think. It's important, however, to move past that. You never know who needs to hear and who can relate.  Host Sondra Doty read the book, You Are Free Be Who You Already Are, by Rebekah Lyons.  These two quotes helped Sondra in her recent time of healing: "Don't run back. Don't ever run back. The KEY has already been found. The cell door is open! RUN FREE." "Joy is not the absence of darkness. Joy is confidence that the darkness will lift." Sondra would like to challenge her listeners to reach out to someone they know is struggling with chronic illness or health issues. Don't try to fix their circumstance; just be someone to hold space for them. If you haven't suffered with chronic illness, it can be challenging to relate to those that have, but it starts with trying. Try to come from a place of empathy and compassion.  NOTE: Please consult your own health care provider with seeking proper care. Word To Your Mothers and this podcast are not responsible for your health care choices and decisions. Content discussed herein comprise simple resources for you to make informed choices and learn about options.  Episode Resources: These are a couple people Sondra follows that have a wealth of information on many chronic illness issues. https://www.instagram.com/drkaseyholland/ https://www.instagram.com/doctormotley/ April is Epstein-Barr awareness month. What is Epstein-Barr Virus? Link to Wikipedia definition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein–Barr_virus_infection May is Celiac Disease awareness month. What is Celiac Disease? Link to Wikipedia definition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coeliac_disease Mayo Clinic does some of the most research and leading studies on Celiac Disease. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/celiac-disease/care-at-mayo-clinic/mac-20352230   If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send email to wordmothers@gmail.com  To Follow https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Check out WTYM Official Merch! https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/ Click to book Sondra to speak at your group or event. http://www.wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/     

Word To Your Mothers welcomes back guest Maria to the podcast. Maria is a dear friend of host Sondra Doty. Maria helps others by sharing on grief associated with event-based traumas, as well as chronic traumas (special needs, chronic illness and more.) An educator for more than a decade, Maria is a speaker, facilitator and mentor for women's grief recovery; she's led Biblical finances and discipleship groups, and she's a support group leader for mothers and educators. Maria has been involved one way or another in youth and children's ministry for many decades and has a background in business administration, marketing, theological studies, communications, small group development, and education. She loves to read, write, travel and have candid conversations with sincere people. Maria has been married for nearly 30 years and is a parent to three teens and young adults.  This episode is part two of the series. Host Sondra Doty and guest Maria continue their conversation around grief and getting the appropriate help-as informed by their own personal circumstances and research.  Sondra and Maria explain: We have to be open to getting all kinds of help to gain healing. Gather resources from many different directions and areas. Sometimes, we get stuck on things that don't matter and block us. We can easily get in our own way-preventing us from getting the appropriate help.  If you have gone through a traumatic experience, then get help from someone who specializes in that specific trauma. Think of it like this: You wouldn't consult a foot doctor to treat something going wrong with your eyes. Also important is to realize that vulnerability in your grieving helps bring you a community of people that want to support you. Consider how you might be vulnerable and share the best you know how in that moment. What you share helps others serve you well in circumstances they might not have experienced.  And for those trying to comfort a person grieving, know that you can easily and unknowingly give too much information- so much that is can overwhelm that person. Give resources when you sense people are ready. Always ask questions first. You don't have to be the end all, be all to people. Sometimes, all you have to do is sit with someone, say nothing and hold their hand. Take care not to judge how people are getting help, as well.  For your action step, Sondra and Maria would like to encourage you read the book: What Grieving People Wish You Knew (about what really helps and what really hurts), by Nancey Guthrie   Episode Resources:  Suffering, Gospel Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense by Paul David Tripp Trusting God, by Jerry Bridges Psalm 94:17-18   If you love listening to Word To  Your Mothers, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Subscribe/Rate/Review  Follow https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Check out WTYM Official Merch!  https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/ Click below to book Sondra to speak at your group or event. http://www.wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/

Word To Your Mothers welcomes guest Maria to the podcast. Maria is a dear friend of host Sondra Doty. Maria helps others by sharing on grief associated with event-based traumas, as well as chronic traumas (special needs, chronic illness and more.) An educator for more than a decade, Maria is a speaker, facilitator and mentor for women's grief recovery; she's led Biblical finances and discipleship groups, and she's a support group leader for mothers and educators. Maria has been involved one way or another in youth and children's ministry for many decades and has a background in business administration, marketing, theological studies, communications, small group development, and education. She loves to read, write, travel, and have candid conversations with sincere people. Mara has been married for nearly 30 years and is a parent to three teens and young adults.  This episode is the first in a two-part series. In part one of Motherload of Grief, Sondra Doty and Maria start to break down getting honest with our grief. Even the two of them sharing stories and giving life examples brought up many emotions throughout the episode.  There is a way in life to embrace grieving in the now, but many times in our parenting role grieving has to be put aside for the sake of life happenings and keeping our little humans alive. Life keeps happening and we have to pick ourselves up very quickly. So how do you grieve with hope while caring for children, household, jobs, and your partner? Pushing past the process can be tempting; it's easy to want to get to "the end result" or road of success and healing right not. However, being honest is the first step to sustaining help.  Honesty requires bravery and comfort. Maria shares examples of how she and her family have been walking this out in their own lives. Honesty is necessary for ourselves and others, though we do need to be careful with our honesty-especially with our children.  It's critical to have a healthy perspective of what grief looks like in failure, pain and how to walk that out into wholeness with God. Fear is a huge roadblock to honesty, because of so many emotions that can come up. The unspoken things are the things that can do the most damage.  Action step before listening to part two: Ask yourself weather you've been honesty with the grief in your life. What is or has been the unspoken that needs to come out? Sit down and give yourself the time to ask this question and write down what's grieving you. Maybe it's not something in the present time, but something from the past that is holding you back. Remember, be brave with your honesty! Step into something that can bring healing to those areas.  When we come back we will talk deeper into getting the appropriate help and engaging a community within that.  Episode Resources: GIST The Essence of Raising Life-Ready Kids, By Michael W Anderson LP and Timothy D Johanson MD (Book Sondra talked about in the episode.) If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Follow on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/wordtoyourmothers/ Check out WTYM Official TM Merch!  https://www.bonfire.com/store/word-to-your-mothers/ Click below to book Sondra to speak at your group, event or conference. Booking dates are open now though 2021! http://www.wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/

Let's welcome our first guest on Word To Your Mothers, Hope Lien of Held by Hope and Breast Feeding Outside the Box. Hope's passion is to support parents to be empowered and find their perfect parenting style as they bring their babies home after birth, adoption, or surrogacy, giving them the care they need to be filled, so that they can therefore pour into their babies. It's her delight to journey with parents of all ages and backgrounds through ups and downs of motherhood and fatherhood. All families are incredibly unique and deserve care as distinguished as their special backgrounds and preferences. For the past 12 years she ahs been honored to walk with families during the fourth trimester.  Hope has been a certified postpartum doula through DONA International, and she's currently certified as a Lactation Counselor through Healthy Children; she's also certified as a Breastfeeding Without Birthing instructor. Hope lives in Minneapolis with her husband and she has the honor of mothering her two children that she calls her little "miracles". Her 5-year old daughter came to their family through adoptions and Hope has the beautiful experience of helping to catch her when she entered the world, as well as induce lactation in order to nurse her for two years. Then, she very unexpectedly became pregnant with her second miracle baby, now 2; her son was born at home with loving support of her doulas, midwives and the support of her partner and his big sister.   Here is how you follow Hope! @heldbyhope & @sweetpeabreastfeeding  https://www.facebook.com/heldbyhope/ Listen to Breastfeeding Outside The Box: http://www.sweetpeabreastfeeding.com/podcast.html In Episode #9: Host Sondra Doty and Hope Lien join together to talk about two things they wished they knew in their roles as mothers and with postpartum. Even though they are bringing a birth worker perspective to this topic, they both had their challenges; and they discuss how the challenges can bring about many different outcomes.  Hope: We knew almost everything in the world about birth and postpartum. Knowing can not protect you from the potential of difficulty. (ex: Postpartum depression, anxiety, birth trauma, NICU stay). But it should motivate you to plan well! Hope did this but wishes she would have spent even more time creating specific support. She realized more support was needed than just meals. She emphasizes creating a lactation and postpartum plan. We research so much on the birth that we forget we are brining these babies home and need to have a plan for postpartum. Be willing to be vulnerable and humble accept help when it's offered. Also, keep reaching out until you get the support you need.   There is no such thing as a perfect motherhood. We need to learn that's it's ok to have dirty dishes, dirty babies, dirty mommies and dirty houses. It's ok to ask for support when you need to get your needs met and meet the needs of your baby. Try the best to find your personal BALANCE. This "balance" you desire is not always achievable. Remember that other's perceptions are THEIRS. They don't define who you are or how you are performing.  Sondra: Sondra wishes she knew that it's ok to have healthy boundaries and say no. As a birth worker she thought she had to try it all-especially with her first-born son; with her second son, born six years later, this mindset got better. She had to learn how to vocalize those boundaries.  She wishes she knew that she needed to ask for help more. Sondra assumed others would just see or recognize that she needed help. Plus, she found it challenging to express what she needed and when.  Sondra and Hope also share a few tips for postpartum and why-besides hiring a doula and postpartum doula, of course, LOL! Their action step for this episode is to encourage people to learn to esteem postpartum, too. Also, they want to encourage you to walk through the shame and guilt that maybe you are feeling around this new role or any stage of parenting.  If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers, kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com  Follow @wordtoyourmothers Check out Word To Your Mothers Official Merch!  http://www.bonfire.com/word-to-your-mothers-merch/ Click below to book Sondra to speak at your group or event.  http://www.wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/

This "Hello 2020" episode builds on a late-2019 blog post from host Sondra Doty. Click here to read. http://www.wordtoyourmothers.com/the-why/ We are now 15 days in to the new year! How are you doing? For Sondra, It's been a slower start than anticipated-and that's 100% OK! Go ahead and give yourself permission to feel the same. This time of year, there really is no escaping the "New Year, New You" motto-and with that, the pressure to perform and do more. … Sondra shares that although she feels physically weak going in to the new year, and encouraging post from Jenna Kutcher helped formulate a healthy perspective  "Instead of focusing on what you could lose, let's focus on gains," writes Kutcher. "More long walks, more time unplugged, more green veggies, more pauses, more water, more laughter, more inspiring influences and early bedtimes, more LOVE." Go follow @jennakutcher today!  In the spirit of achieving more of what you desire-without the added pressure-Sondra thought it would be fun in this episode to divulge more details about herself and the "why" behind what she does. The why is clearly defined for her and some of that stems from when she was a little girl and had dreams to become a country music singer. Sondra shares stories, about when she was in kindergarten and how she was a dreamer at a young age. She also shares about her experience meeting her singing idol, Wynonna Judd. Have you ever met one of your idols? Think about what your "why" is or might be for 2020: Is there a dream that you thought was dead or gone? Maybe it's time to revisit it an see what's possible. If it feels overwhelming, break it down to three-month increments and make action items based on where you want to be in April. Thinking about the whole year at once can feel overwhelming. But don't worry about justifying your why to others.  In fact, Sondra's personal whys today still connect to that little girl's heart who wanted to be a country music singer: Her dream of singing with Wynonna Judd still remains, y'all! And who knows, maybe one day that dream will come true on this Word To You Mothers trail?  Sondra invites you to walk together in this new decade!  If you love listening to Word To Your Mothers , kindly write a review on your podcast platform or send an email to wordmothers@gmail.com And follow @wordtoyourmothers Check out Word To Your Mothers Official Merch!  https://www.bonfire.com/word-to-your-mothers-merch/ Click below to book Sondra to speak at your group or event. http://www.wordtoyourmothers.com/speaking/

As the holiday hustle starts to build, how do you feel? Do you feel pressure to make and capture all the moments? The holidays can bring a lot of, "should be doing this" or should be doing that." And well-intended should-bes don't end up even close to your intentions. Emotions can run high during the holiday season, too; perhaps triggered from lack or loss of loved ones. Gone with loved ones passed or absent are their own holiday traditions and there is a void of what was or might have been.  In this episode host Sondra Doty shares how she has felt pressure to always make all the moments happen. She talks about how she went a little overboard and has now learned to create healthier boundaries. In her mind, she used to think if she didn't make certain moments happen, Christmas was ruined. Raise your hand if you feel like you have had to "save Christmas." (LOL!) With the holidays also comes many traditions. Traditions make moments happen, but they also can bring added pressure. Make sure traditions don't cause added pressure, stress or anxiety. Evaluate the moments YOU want to make. If those moments cause stress, ask yourself why. Maybe you need to pause a tradition for awhile and see if it's worth brining back in the future.  Many of us love capturing holidays moments by pictures and video. Sondra how she had to find a better balance with this, too. She had to learn how to "be in the moments" while capturing the moments and milestone. We have such easy access to take pictures or videos than ever before. So, the temptation that you have to capture it ALL of them is there.  The guilt we feel about the moments we missed or weren't able to capture is real. It's beyond hard to be there for every moment. It's important to focus on times you were there.  "Moments" are made through the wonder in our little humans eyes-not because they're captured. So, we must stop, listen, see and be a part of that excitement!  Let's take  moment to think back to when our parents were younger and their parent's didn't have access to quick grab their phone to take a video or picture. They got to sit and really enjoy the experience in front of them.  Really evaluate what you are adding on to your plate during this holiday season. It's not solely your responsibility to make everything happen or capture every moment.  Word To Your Mothers wants to wish you a peaceful, restful, holiday season. Moments will happen and you will be able to peacefully capture them. Happy Holidays!    Do you have questions for Word To Your Mothers host Sondra Doty? Email: wordmothers@gmail.com  To follow on Instagram & Facebook search @wordtoyourmothers or visit website.  http://www.wordtoyourmothers.com To buy WTYM Official Merch  https://www.bonfire.com/word-to-your-mothers-merch/  

You hear people say this often: These are the days! And maybe you often hear the phrases like, "The days are long, but the years are short." Or, "Soak in every moment and memory you can, because you will miss this age or stage of you little humans." All these statements can be true, but when you are in a season of hard days, hearing any of those statements can really be challenging-let alone trying to enjoy every moment and memory Having a bad day or hard days doesn't need to dictate your whole parenting experience. There will be intense days in growing and raising humans.  In this episode host Sondra Doty shares her personal hard through being extremely sick in pregnancy; how she questioned why it had to be so hard. She also shares her favorite moments having conversations with her boys in the car; an why she takes pictures of them while sleeping to help remind her that they are so sweet, cute and naïve.  Encourage others and validate when you see people's personal hard. But don't compare it. Comparing who is having a harder struggle or circumstance has no benefit. Listen to others' parenting journey with an open heart.  Take time to acknowledge that you aren't a failure in this role. Just because you are having a bad day doesn't mean you are failing. Also, acknowledge the good days! These are the days we want to soak in and remember their littleness. Even in the intense days, look for joy and gratefulness. Not all day every day will or has to be joyful!!  It's ok to not have a great days and it's ok to have bad or hard days. Try your best to embrace the days well!    Episode Links/Resources Three Birds Signs: Hilary Treguboff/@threebirdssigns To buy "These are the Days" sign please click link below. https://www.etsy.com/shop/threebirdssigns   Word To Your Mothers Blog: http://wordtoyourmothers.com/this-is-so-hard/   Do you have questions for Word To Your Mothers Host Sondra Doty? Email: wordmothers@gmial.com  To follow on Instagram and Facebook just search for @wordtoyourmothers http://wordtoyourmothers.com