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

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...

Brittany Roper is a woman of unyielding resilience and enduring faith who is an example of positivity amidst the many trying circumstances she's experienced. Her life journey, which includes triumph through fertility issues, the complex realities of raising special needs children, and the heartbreaking loss of a child, as well as her own battle with breast cancer, paints a raw and touching picture...

If you're feeling overwhelmed by your suffering and finding no relief in your current efforts to overcome it, such as seeking professional help or relying solely on your own strength, then you are not alone! In this episode, you will be able to: Discover how leading with integrity trumps emotional reactions when steering the leadership helm. Adopt faith and worship as essential tools for enduring...

If you or someone you know and love has a special needs child or adult in their life then you are going to love hearing Lynn Blackburn's story about her sweet daughter, Emma. Emma was diagnosed with Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome when she was a baby and Lynn says that having a child with a disability rocked her world, but God was both patient and faithful as she and her husband, Brian, wrestled with th...

Today's guest is the author of one of my most favorite books, An Intentional Life: A Life-Giving Invitation to Uncover Your Passions and Unlock Your Purpose. I was so excited when Kara Stott quickly agreed to be on the podcast, and we became fast friends. She's passionate about connecting women and helping them grow in their relationship with the Lord, to understand their calling and to step out i...

Erica Wiggenhorn used to be afraid to read her Bible. When she first became a Christian, she was told by her youth leader she needed to read her Bible in order to grow closer to Jesus. But whenever she tried reading it, she felt like she was reading a foreign language. So she avoided her Bible and Bible studies for years, until a friend drug her to a study. And it changed her life. Once she began...

Cynthia Tobias has been on my bucket list since before I started this podcast because of the work she's done teaching about the strong-willed child. Her book, You Can't Make Me: But I Can Be Persuaded, was a key influence in helping me raise my strong-willed daughter, Elise. Before I knew how to handle her stubborn temperament, I would frequently end up frustrated and in a puddle of tears. But onc...

Heather Millsaps and Leslie Hawkins are two of the co-founders of New Day Recovery in Fountain Inn, S.C. Both ladies and their husbands have incredible testimonies of how God delivered their husbands from drug and alcohol addiction and saved their marriages. Leslie's husband, Stephen, has epilepsy and suffered a seizure that resulted in him having brain surgery that exacerbated his existing drug a...

Today on the podcast I'm thrilled to introduce you to writer/director David Helling. David wrote and directed the recently released to theaters movie His Only Son. We had a great conversation about his journey into film making and I asked why he wanted to share this story of when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, David said when he lived in San Fransisco while attending film scho...

I'm so excited to introduce you to this week's guest, Ruth McWhite. You'll just love Ruth, as do many people in our community. She was recently honored by the South Carolina Baptist Convention last month during Women's History Month, as a woman who is making a difference, and I couldn't agree more. She has blessed so many in her life through her teaching, speaking and mentoring to women. She recen...

Jennifer Dukes Lee has been on my bucket list to interview since I started the podcast. I've followed her blog for years and have always been drawn to her authenticity and vulnerability and her writing has ministered to me, especially in my season of parenting. On this episode Jennifer and I discuss a little about her book, Growing Slow: Lessons on Unhurrying Your Heart from an Accidental Farm Gir...

When Megan Phillips was 35 years old, she found out that her father was not her biological dad. This news left her reeling, thinking that her whole life had been a lie. But after the initial shock, she decided she wanted to find her biological father and set about looking for him with only two pieces of information: a fake name and a fake home state (neither of which she knew was fake). But God in...