Grounded Growth

Motherhood is a role God has given us, not the identity He has given us. In this episode, Nicole and Stephanie begin a brand new series, Motherhood Rooted in Grace, starting with a conversation about mothering from rest instead of guilt. Mom guilt convinces us that if we are not doing more, we are failing. But grace changes the goal. God never asked us to be perfect mothers. He asked us to faithfu...

Trust begins with recognizing that God is God, and we are not. We can make plans, seek wisdom, and steward what He has given us, but we are not the author of our story or the controller of its outcome. In this episode, Nicole and Stephanie introduce our new Walking in Trust ROOTS Morning Journal and unpack the three-part rhythm behind it, surrender, guidance, and peace. Walking in trust is not a o...

Self-control is not about gripping our lives tighter. It is about handing the controls to the One who is actually in charge. In this episode, Nicole and Stephanie close out our Fruit That Lasts series with self-control, the fruit that shows up the moment we want to give in. Self-control is not a personality trait we achieve through willpower. It is a fruit of the Spirit, grown as we surrender to G...

Gentleness sounds beautiful until someone pushes our buttons. It is easy to be gentle when we're rested and getting our way. The real test comes when we're frustrated, misunderstood, or under pressure. In this episode, Nicole and Stephanie continue our Fruit That Lasts series with gentleness, the fruit that gets tested the moment life stops going our way. Gentleness is strength under control, not...

Most of us picture faithfulness as the big, dramatic leap of faith. But most of the faithful life is lived in the small, ordinary, repeated things almost no one ever notices. In this episode, Nicole and Stephanie continue our Fruit That Lasts series with faithfulness, the fruit that grows in the long, unglamorous middle. Faithfulness is not about doing something impressive. It is about consistentl...

Most of us are decent enough people in public. The real test of goodness is the small, unseen moment when no one would ever know. In this episode, Nicole and Stephanie continue our Fruit That Lasts series with goodness, the fruit that grows in the hidden places. Our culture likes to say people are basically good, but Scripture gives us a more honest picture and a far better hope. Goodness is not a...

Most of us have settled for being nice. Nice is easy. Kindness is something else entirely. In this episode, Nicole and Stephanie continue our Fruit That Lasts series with kindness, the fruit that almost always costs us something. Being nice is a pleasant surface. Kindness is a costly action, and the two are not the same, even though we treat them like they are. Galatians 5:22-23 calls these the fr...

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you." 2 Peter 3:9 We are continuing our Fruit That Lasts series with the fruit that probably gets tested more than any other, patience. Most of us think patience is about traffic, long lines, and not losing our tempers with our kids. But biblical patience goes so much deeper. It is trusting God's timing whil...

"Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you." John 14:27 We are continuing our Fruit That Lasts series, and after love and joy, we are talking about the one thing so many women are quietly longing for. Peace. The world tells us peace will finally come when life calms down. But if you have lived very long, you already know that life rarely gets quiet. In...

We use the words happy and joyful like they mean the same thing. Scripture never does. In this episode, Nicole and Stephanie continue our Fruit That Lasts series with the second fruit of the Spirit, joy. It may be one of the most misunderstood. Happiness rises and falls with our circumstances. Joy is rooted in Someone who never changes. Galatians 5:22-23 calls these the fruit of the Spirit, not th...

Culture tells us love is a feeling. Scripture tells us love is the very character of God. In this episode, Nicole and Stephanie open our new Fruit That Lasts series with the first fruit of the Spirit, love. Over the next nine episodes we are slowing down to study the fruit of the Spirit, not as a checklist of behaviors, but as the evidence of a life abiding in Christ. Galatians 5:22-23 calls these...

She did everything right. She checked every box her faith required, and then her cousin’s sudden death cracked the foundation she had built her whole identity on. In this episode, Nicole and Stephanie sit down with their friend Brianna Preece for an honest conversation about leaving the Mormon church, the hard truths that made her walk away for good, and how God rebuilt her identity around grace i...

We often treat our faith and our work like two separate worlds. One for Sunday and one for Monday. In this episode, Nicole and Stephanie talk about why it feels hard to bring faith into work, what happens when we keep the two separate, and what living your faith at work actually looks like in a normal, demanding week. Most women are not looking to preach at the office. They are longing to feel who...

Friendship was so easy when we were younger. Somewhere in the busyness of adult life, it got complicated. In this episode, Nicole and Stephanie talk honestly about why friendship gets harder as life changes, what happens when we let those relationships slide, and what real friendship actually looks like across the changing seasons of life. Most women are not lacking people. They are lacking the ti...

Most moms are not lacking effort. They are lacking the room to breathe. In this episode, Nicole and Stephanie talk honestly about why parenting feels so pressured, what happens when we parent from a place of pressure instead of grace, and what grace based parenting actually looks like in the everyday mess of real life. Maybe the real question is not how to parent perfectly. It is how to parent fro...

Whether you are married, single, waiting, widowed, or longing for a change, every season comes with the same quiet question. Is this where I am supposed to be? In this episode, Nicole and Stephanie sit down for an honest conversation about marriage and singleness. They talk about why every season carries its own struggles, what happens when we misplace our expectations, and how identity in Christ...

This is a different kind of episode. For the first time ever, Nicole and Stephanie hand the microphones to their kids. Travis (T Dog) and Jojo come prepared with their own questions for the moms, and then the moms turn the tables and ask the kids. The result is sweeter, funnier, and more honest than anything we could have scripted. You will laugh. You will probably get a little teary. And you migh...

Gratitude doesn't change your circumstances. But it changes how you experience them. And many women aren't lacking blessings, they're lacking the margin to notice them.   In this episode, Nicole and Stephanie close out the Faith Foundations series with a conversation on gratitude, why it can feel difficult, what quietly happens when we don't practice it, what gratitude actually does in our hearts...

The conversation explores the challenges of decision-making, the impact of overthinking, and the importance of seeking wisdom. It emphasizes the need to slow down decisions, seek trusted perspectives, and ground decisions in truth. The discussion also highlights the role of prayer and reflection in building wisdom and the generous gift of wisdom from God. Takeaways Slowing down decisions instead o...

The conversation explores the hesitation to ask for help and the impact of growing alone. It emphasizes the importance of healthy community and the role it plays in personal growth and support. The discussion also delves into the practical aspects of building and nurturing a healthy community. The conversation delves into the importance of honesty, vulnerability, and intentional time for connectio...

The conversation delves into the nature of prayer, emphasizing its role as a conversation and a posture rather than a performance or a task. It explores the impact of regular prayer on stress, mental load, and emotional weight, as well as the shift in perspective that occurs when prayer becomes a relational conversation with God. The discussion also covers the various forms and habits of prayer, h...

The conversation explores the impact of intentional focus and the struggle with misplaced focus. It delves into the concept of worship and its influence on thinking and behavior. The conversation delves into the intentional focus on God and the emotional anchor of worship, highlighting the importance of shaping one's perspective through worship, practicing gratitude, and redirecting focus. It also...

The conversation explores the contrast between holy wisdom and worldly wisdom, emphasizing the impact of truth on decision-making and emotional stability. It delves into the role of emotions, the importance of truth in identity and confidence, and the clarity and stability provided by truth. The influence of truth on decision-making, emotional stability, and confidence is highlighted, along with t...

The conversation delves into the discomfort associated with rest and the consequences of avoiding it, leading to burnout. It explores the fear of slowing down, the tendency to tie worth to productivity, and the normalization of exhaustion. The impact of avoiding rest on mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being is highlighted, along with the recognition of warning signs and the need to prioritiz...

If you have ever felt overwhelmed, stretched thin, or responsible for more than you can carry, this episode is for you. In Episode 16, Nicole Ghirardi and Stephanie Petry talk about why boundaries are essential if you want to protect your peace and live with intention. They explore why boundaries often feel uncomfortable, what happens when we avoid them, and how healthy boundaries create clarity i...