Blessings and Motherhood

Discover the surprising connection between math and God! In this episode, Delise and Ginny chat with Kirsty Gilpin, lead mathematician for The Math Map curriculum, about seeing God through math. Kirsty shares personal stories and insightful examples, revealing how mathematical concepts offer profound insights into the nature of God.   themathmap.com   leighbortins.com   You're invited to our 2024...

Join Delise and Ginny as they share their current favorite activities and moments of joy. From embracing outdoor adventures to exploring the Psalms through devotional practices, they discuss various ways of learning and bonding as a family. Tune in for an uplifting discussion on finding joy in the simple moments of motherhood.   Whether planning for an in-person trip or visiting from the comfort o...

In this "Blessings and Motherhood" episode, Delise and Ginny discuss education and parenting with Andrew Pudewa, founder of the Institute for Excellence in Writing. They explore his insights on teaching writing, the importance of reading aloud to children, and practical tips for homeschooling parents. This enriching conversation offers encouragement and strategies for parents aiming to improve the...

In this episode of "Blessings and Motherhood," Delise and Ginny continue their talk with Sarah, focusing on faith, parenting, and combating anti-Semitism. Sarah discusses educating children on Jewish culture and the importance of understanding the Bible in its proper cultural context. This part deepens the first episode's discussion, emphasizing faith's role in understanding and addressing social...

In this episode of "Blessings and Motherhood," Sarah, a Jewish mom, shares her journey of integrating Jewish traditions with her Christian faith in parenting. She discusses the unique challenges and joys of Jewish motherhood, emphasizing the importance of embracing both sorrows and celebrations. Join us for a heartfelt conversation on faith, tradition, and the nuanced experiences of being a Jewish...

Do your children struggle with understanding and managing emotions? In this "Blessings and Motherhood" episode, Kamilah Carter discusses her journey with homeschooling. She emphasizes the importance of community in education, setting appropriate boundaries, and nurturing individual relationships with each child. The conversation highlights the challenges and joys of parenting, advocating for a bal...

In this episode, Delise and Ginny discuss coping with the winter blues, offering practical tips like focusing on your parenting "why," creating a peaceful home, and practicing gratitude.         CC parents, tutors, and Directors—sign up for the Classical Learning Cohort to level up your skills in guiding and assessing your student's learning at home and in community! Register today at  ClassicalCo...

Happy New Year! In this episode, Delise and Ginny talk with Erika Kirk, founder of Proclaim Streetwear and Biblein365, host of the Midweek Rise Up podcast, and an all-new mom to discuss how to make the home a safe refuge for one's family and how to pursue God's standards for motherhood. Erika talks through how to become the guardian of your home and walks through practical ways to transform your h...

It's cause for celebration! In this last episode of the year, Delise and Ginny chat with Laura Kooistra, a Classical Conversations® employee and homeschool mom of ten children, all about celebration. And although this episode airs during the Christmas season, the three discuss more than just holiday festivities! In true classical spirit, Laura begins the conversation with her definition of "celebr...

Should you tell your children that Santa Clause is real? In today's episode Ginny Tran and Delise Germond discuss their l family approaches to Christmas and Santa Claus. 

In part two of this conversation, Delise and Ginny sit down (literally, our first-ever in-person episode!) with the incredible Vanessa Royer to talk about adoption, music, homeschooling, and so much more. You'll discover insights into all things adoption, from the meaning behind the word "adoption" and examples in Scripture to navigating the complicated legal process and a new, popular method call...

This month, Delise and Ginny sit down (literally, our first-ever in-person episode!) with the incredible Vanessa Royer to talk about adoption, music, homeschooling, and so much more. You'll discover insights into all things adoption, from the meaning behind the word "adoption" and examples in Scripture to navigating the complicated legal process and a new, popular method called embryonic adoption....

Join Delise, Ginny, and Hollywood actress, writer, and podcaster Sam Sorbo on this episode of Blessings and Motherhood ! Discover the backstory of Sam's upcoming historical comedy, Miracle in East Texas , which tells the heartwarming true story about the biggest oil strike in the history of the United States, right at the dawn of the Great Depression. In this wide-ranging conversation, Sam shares...

Should Christians celebrate Halloween? Is Halloween bad for Christians? This is a conversation moms have with their families and friends every year. So today, Ginny Tran and Delise Germond are using the 15 Tools of Classical Learning to discuss their views on this area of Christian liberty. Please note that the thoughts expressed here are not intended to represent Classical Conversations as a comp...

Welcome back to another episode! This month, Delise and Ginny chat with Melissa Dimanche, a musician and worship leader, pastor's wife, and mother of two beautiful children. During their conversation, Melissa talks about the importance of embracing one another in community just for who we are—both the neat and the messy—and doing life together. With Haitian-American ancestry, Melissa explores what...

Say hello to Delise's mom, Chelly Barnard! As a mother of four and homeschool parent of over twenty years, Chelly has a unique understanding of the mental load that mothers often bear. She brings a biblical perspective to those often-overwhelming feelings of responsibility, insecurity, and ever-shrinking time to get it all done. Chelly comes prepared with her best time management tips and the most...

Happy August! In this delightful conversation, hosts Delise and Ginny chat with Robin Barnes, a homeschool mom of three (including twins!). Having experience raising children with a ten-year age gap, Robin shares all about her motherhood journey, considering the lessons she would go back and tell her younger self, the importance of giving children encouragement, and ways busy moms can find time al...

Is there anything to be hopeful about in the next generation of Christians? In this episode, Delise and Ginny sit down with Kristel Acevedo to talk about teen ministry and discipleship. Kristel is the Spiritual Formation Director at Transformation Church in South Carolina and co-author of the book 3 Big Questions That Shape Your Future . Her radiant passion for teen ministry and contagious hope fo...

For any mom seeking advice on how to navigate a parent-adult child relationship or needing encouragement during a season of struggle, we hope you find comfort in this month's conversation of Blessings and Motherhood ! In this episode, mom-daughter combo Julie Melendez and Lauren Clickner hop on the show to talk about how they have nurtured their relationship as parent and child over thirty-some ye...

How can we lay a foundation in our homes for our children to stand upon and grow into mature adults who love to learn and love Jesus? In this episode, Michelle Oliver, the MA Program Academic Lead at Classical Conversations®, joins Delise and Ginny to talk about what building this strong foundation really looks like on a day-to-day basis. Michelle shares practical advice for moms balancing all the...

It's the ultimate crossover episode . . . Delise and Ginny are joined by CC legend and host of the Everyday Educator podcast Lisa Bailey! Lisa recently became a grandmother, so in this conversation, she chats about parenting versus grandparenting. As a parent, she was often so focused on doing everything right that she missed out on opportunities to enjoy the small, simple moments of her children...

Do you know those moms, perhaps in your neighborhood growing up or where you live now, whose houses were the gathering places for all the local kids? Crystal Storey is one of those moms, and she certainly has great stories to tell! In this conversation, Crystal tells the incredible story of God calling her to become a "neighborhood mom," stories of being a light to children in her area, and the mi...

How can you continue to date your spouse into marriage? During this conversation, Delise and Ginny are joined by their good friend Cristina Smith to chat about dating in marriage. Together, they explore what Scripture says about dating, suggest ideas for dates, and recall their favorite dates over the years. In true classical fashion, the three take a step back, attempting to define a "date" and c...

Happy New Year! In our first episode of 2023, join Delise and Ginny as they sit down with Leigh Bortins, the founder of Classical Conversations®. As a mother of four adult boys and a grandmother of three littles, Leigh has years of experience in building strong and intentional family relationships. Be inspired by Leigh's insights on parenting little ones versus adult children and her advice on fos...

Can you believe it's almost 2023? With all the craziness that comes with Thanksgiving and Christmas, it's easy to forget to set aside time to reflect on the past year and prepare for the new one. In this conversation, Delise and Ginny talk about fresh starts. They discuss everything from looking back in order to look forward, choosing a word to keep top of mind throughout the new year, and fanning...