Building Strong Homes: Blueprints to Strengthen Your Faith and Family podcast

Hey friends! I'm back from my summer hiatus and have some awesome guests lined up for you this fall, starting this week with Stephen Kendrick of the Kendrick Brothers. Alex and Stephen Kendrick have brought us some great movies like Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Courageous and War Room and their newest movie, The Forge, will release in theaters nationwide on August 23 and he's here to tell us abou...

One of the reasons I felt called to start this podcast was because of stories like Donovan and Lavonna Garrett's. If you don't believe God can make a difference in your marriage and family then you need to listen to the testimony of how Donovan's alcohol abuse almost destroyed him, his marriage and his entire family. As I look at the photos of their beautiful family today, I'm in tears, knowing th...

One year ago I had the pleasure of interviewing Kara Stott, author of one of my favorite books, An Intentional Life, for the podcast. It was great meeting Kara on Zoom and hearing her story from her own voice. But this past spring my friend, Julie Bagwell, and I were able to meet her in person at her Pursuit Retreat outside of Nashville, Tennessee! She has such a heart for Jesus and ministering to...

Summer Throwback! My guests for the first episode of this podcast were my two very best friends, Julie Bagwell and Frieda Younts. We've been friends for over 30 years now! Over time we've experienced lots of ups and downs but have remained close through it all. How did we do it? By being honest and real with each other, for one thing, but mostly by building our friendship on the foundation of Jesu...

I've really struggled to put into words all that I wanted to say to you today because the last few months have been difficult for me as I've been seeking what God wants me to do with the podcast. I've been doing this for 3-1/2 years now and have recently been in a deep season of discouragement. As I prayed and continually asked God what my next steps should be, I only sensed silence from Him. I've...

"Mothers are a sleeping giant and when the giant awakens, take cover--things are going to change! I believe the giant is slowly stirring and beginning to wipe the sleep from its eyes." - excerpt from Your Girl by Vicki Courtney Over 15 years ago this quote stirred my soul to the point where I decided I wanted to be one of those mothers who stood up to make a difference and began a ministry for you...

You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. This is a quote from C.S. Lewis my guest, Jennifer Sakata, shares that fits her own life story. Having grown up with an alcoholic mother and stepdad she didn't understand that her family life was dysfunctional. Not until she began to notice that her friends' families functioned much differently than...

Welcome to the 100th episode of the Building Strong Homes Podcast! What an amazing ride it has been to get this far, and I want to thank all of my listeners for showing up each episode! So, I thought it would be fun to introduce you to my husband, John, and our children, Elise and Jacob, and have them share some of their stories from growing up on the farm. I ask each of them share their thoughts...

"Faith is the refusal to panic." This quote by Dennis Rainey had a profound impact on Lori Margo as she walked through her difficult journey with cancer. Because her own mother had been diagnosed with cancer at the same age Lori received her first diagnosis and passed away two short years later, she had every reason to panic. But as she walked her own path, she realized that if you're going to bel...

Have you ever wondered if God had something specific for you to do? That maybe you missed your calling, or you don't know what your purpose is? I think all of us at least once in our lives have questioned, "What am I here for?" or "Is there an assignment you have for me God?" Mandy Hood, a self-described introvert, felt God calling her to become involved in helping at a crisis pregnancy center yea...

Did you know the average age of a widow is 59? And there are eleven million widows in the United States with 1000 women becoming widowed every day?? This is a sobering topic none of us likes to think about, but the truth is, because it's so prevalent, we need to talk about it. Marilyn Nutter suddenly became a widow twelve years ago after 42 years of marriage and knows first-hand that widowhood is...

Is hospitality something that doesn't come easy for you? Are you always worried about how clean (or messy!) your home is? Or that you can't cook? Or that you just don't know how to entertain? My guest today, Sue Donaldson, is the queen of hospitality and she's here to help. Yes, she grew up with a mother who loved welcoming people into their home, but Sue's grandmother, her mom's mom, never invite...

As the mother of a son, I understand the challenges of raising boys to become good and godly men. When my son was young, I was always second guessing myself and wishing I had a blueprint to help me, and my husband know the best way to lead him down the right path towards manhood. This episode is a resource I wish was available then. My guests today, Erin and Jason Davis, parents of four boys thems...

Is the current status of our world, nation and maybe even your community getting you down? Do some days make you wonder if you'll ever experience joy again because there's so much hard in your life right now? My guest today, Brant Hansen, will help us look at the bright side of things by turning our focus to all of the good that is around us. And y'all, I can't believe this, but I called him by th...

Mike Novotny is not one to run from tough topics. As a matter of fact, he's even written a book about it called Taboo: Topics Christians Should be Talking About but Don't. Sounds pretty intriguing, right? In this episode we dive into topics that deal with mental health, suicide, pornography and politics. Mike also shares some of his personal struggles as well. I appreciate the fact that Mike isn't...

Molly Stillman has lived the type of life that when shared, people stop in their tracks and ask, "Wait, what happened?" Molly's mother, Lynda Van Devanter Buckley served as an Army nurse during the Vietnam War and wrote the bestselling memoir,  Home Before Morning . When Molly was seventeen, Lynda passed away after an eight-year battle with an autoimmune disorder due to her exposure to Agent Orang...

The empty nest years can feel like a season of losing our purpose, especially as a mom. When the kids leave home many of us are plunged into feelings of loss and grief, not knowing how to handle the extra time and conversations with our spouse. Ruthie Gray has been there and feels so passionately about ministering to women in this phase of life that she wrote a book, Empty Nest Awakening: Weaving...

In this episode my guest, Amber Albee Swenson, shares practical tips that are really simple to incorporate into your relationship with your spouse, as well as warning signs that show you might be in dangerous territory with someone outside of your marriage. Amber has lots of great wisdom including this: "There's a woman out there who would be thrilled with your husband. So, stop being critical [of...

One of the struggles that hit every family in some way is when you lose someone you love. Today's guest, Mike Nappa, lost his beloved wife, Amy, to cancer in 2016. In the years since her passing God has helped him to learn why grieving is such an important part of losing a loved one and how He's taught him how to grieve well.  This is one of the most touching and informative interviews I've done. ...

Does this sound familiar? You've been told to simply trust that the school system has your child's mental well-being covered. But what happens when that trust results in your child feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or lost in the education system? The pain of watching your child struggle while being told to just wait it out can be unbearable. It's time to take action and discover effective strategies...

If you're feeling frustrated and discouraged because your efforts to serve others are not producing the desired result, then you are not alone! Perhaps you have been tirelessly volunteering your time, but still witnessing little impact. Maybe you have been pouring your heart into a cause, only to face constant setbacks and obstacles. Whatever the case may be, know that many others have experienced...

In a world where children's literature seemed innocent and free from controversy, Marcia Moston's journey took an unexpected turn. As she embarked on her role as a library board member, little did she know that she would stumble upon a hidden truth. The prevalence of gender identity ideology in those beloved books shook her to the core, shattering her perception of what was safe for children. But...

In a world defined by the pursuit of greatness and recognition, one woman dared to challenge the norms. Kelly Needham's captivating journey unfolds, revealing an unexpected twist she didn't anticipate. As she grapples with her identity and insecurities amidst her husband's soaring success, an internal dialogue sparks, questioning the meaning of it all. She discovers how we as a society have been f...

In the heartland of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Daniel Grothe grew up enveloped in the loving embrace of a pastor's home. Faith and community were his foundation, guiding him through life's ups and downs. But it was the unexpected twist that awaited him in Colorado Springs that would truly test his understanding of stability. Little did he know, the purchase of a piece of land would not only connect him to h...