Love Your People Well | A Therapist’s Tips For Christian Mom Life, Marriage Help, And Family Relationships

Episode 169 // What do you REALLY want your family relationships to look like? It can seem like a “duh” question… but it is actually really powerful to pause and get clear about what you’re aiming for.    As we’re looking this week at 4 really common roadblocks to enjoying family life, let’s make sure we’re also clear about what road they are blocking! Where do you want to go? What do healthy, hap...

Episode 168 // Feeling stuck in your family relationships? You are not alone, friend. Marriage, parenting, family life - these relationships are so important, but they can be hard and exhausting!   Today, we’ll take a reality check about the biggest roadblocks to enjoying and deepening these family relationships. What gets in the way? Why are these problems happening? And how do we get back on tra...

Episode 167 // Friday Faith Followup   Nothing will be more powerful for your family relationships than learning and living out God’s Word. Are you reading the Bible regularly and considering how it impacts your home? Your family?   Dive in with me today for 10 great Bible verses that will encourage and strengthen your home and family. If you want healthy, happy, and holy family relationships, it...

Episode 166 // Happy New Year, friend! This is the perfect time for reflection and goal-setting. So today, I want to share mine with you.    Join me for a walk through my 5 focus areas of 2023 and the new goals, priorities, and plans that I’m working on in 2024. You’ll find encouragement for your own season of life, and realize that you definitely aren’t alone in this crazy journey of Christian fa...

Episode 166 // If you’re feeling excited for the new year… but a little stuck on what your goals should be… today’s episode is for you, my friend.    Today I’ll share a variety of practical, meaningful goals that you can be working on in the new year - to strengthen your marriage, parenting, communication, faith, and more! Get those creative juices flowing and find some encouragement with me today...

Episode 164 // Today is the perfect day to start prepping for a great 2024. If you really want to ENJOY family life in the new year, you can’t just sit back and see how things unfold. Your relationships will grow as you focus intentionally on the things that are most important to you.   But how?   Last week, we looked at how to set family goals even if you’re the only person working on them. Today...

Episode 163 // The holidays can be wonderful, fun, amazing… and sometimes, very disappointing. If you’re feeling sad after Christmas, you are not alone.    But you can bounce back! Maybe it was some family conflict that upset you. Maybe everyone got sick and the holiday was boring and stressful. Whatever went wrong, you can move forward into the new year in a good place.    Today, I’ll share 10 im...

Episode 162 // Setting goals is such a fun part of the new year. And if you want to enjoy family life in the year ahead and deepen your relationships, there are some great goals that can help you do just that!   Today, we’ll talk through why it is helpful to set goals, how to think about your plans for your family in the new year, and - perhaps most importantly - is it really possible to strengthe...

Episode 161 // Friday Faith Followup   Prayer is so powerful, but it’s so easy to get distracted from it. Especially during a busy holiday season! Yet, this is such a powerful time of year to be praying for our families, our hearts, and our world.    Today, I’ll share 12 simple ideas for how to be praying during the Christmas season. Are you looking for more joy, deep memories, and happy family ti...

Episode 160 // Christmas is such a beautiful time of year to enjoy family relationships. But do you ever find yourself feeling a little distracted? Disconnected? There are so many things that can sneak in and disrupt our holiday time!   So join me today for a look at 5 sneaky things that might be influencing you or your family. Sometimes, things that are very normal all around us are not actually...

Episode 159 // Do you sometimes feel confused about how a Christian family should engage with cultural traditions around Christmas?   You are not alone! From Santa to every other modern tradition, there is good and bad and everything in between. Often, the question really comes down to why you’re choosing what you do.    So let’s talk about that. A few thoughts to encourage you this Christmas seas...

Episode 158 // Are you trying to keep the holiday season focused on Jesus? As Christian moms, we have to be intentional if we’re going to make this happen!   So today, I’ll share some ideas for what discipleship can look like as a family and with your kids during the special Christmas season. Maybe you have some great holiday traditions already, but these ideas can deepen your holidays and create...

Episode 157 // Are you ready to grow closer to the Lord during this season of Advent? As you and your family prepare for Christmas, have you considered what your time in the Bible, in prayer, and in discussion will really look like?   I have found the season of Advent to be so meaningful in my own spiritual growth. Taking time to truly focus on God and prepare myself for Christmas is so helpful!  ...

Episode 156 // Do you want to have fun with your family this year… in a meaningful way? You can buy the presents and decorate the tree, but Christmas can be so much more.    Today, let’s chat about how to make the most of the Christmas season with your family. How to create special memories that make everyone smile year after year. I’ll share 12 ideas, and there’s a special invitation for you at t...

Episode 155 // The Thanksgiving holiday is over, and the Christmas rush has begun. But don’t move too fast! You want to enjoy this season, but the gratitude that you’ve been focusing on for Thanksgiving is still needed, if you want to enjoy Christmas too.    Let’s pause for a moment together for a holiday pep talk… and maybe, a reality check for your heart. How can we stay thankful all year long?...

Episode 154 // There are a few common things that threaten to steal our joy during the holidays. Do any of these sound familiar for you? Family conflict. Grief. Stress. Anxiety and depression.    We don’t want to let conflict, grief, or stress ruin our holidays! As you head into Thanksgiving, Christmas, and beyond, let’s find some practical ways to handle these hard things so you can get right bac...

Episode 153 // It’s a hard question to think about… but a wise Christian mom pays attention to the character that is developing in her kids. And the holiday season gives us very clear opportunities to notice our kids’ hearts!   So ask yourself today: Is my child a thankful person? Or… do they struggle with thoughtlessness?   I’ll share several things that you can pay attention to in order to notic...

Episode 152 // Holiday memories are primarily about… people. YOUR people! And if you want to create special memories for your children and your family today, the holidays give a very unique opportunity to do just that.    The holidays can be busy and stressful, but they also allow for really special time together as a family. So let’s focus on that! Today, I”ll share 5 practical, small, free thing...

Episode 151 // Friday Faith Follow Up   You know that Jesus is “the reason for the season.” But do you ever feel like the spiritual elements of the holidays are an afterthought to all of your other fun activities?   I want my family to understand and enjoy the deep biblical truths of gratitude, Jesus’ birth, and everything we celebrate during the holidays. Let’s be intentional about that!   Today,...

Episode 150 // The holiday season is upon us, my friend. Do you feel behind already? Rushed and busy? The closer we get to Thanksgiving, to Christmas, to the end of the year… it can start to get a little crazy!   That’s why today, I wanted to share 10 ideas for how we can be INTENTIONAL during the holiday season. Ideas for how we can slow down, enjoy the time, and create meaningful memories with o...

Episode 149 // Is it possible to truly enjoy family life if you aren’t feeling connected with your people? Not really. Intimacy is a key part of healthy and happy family relationships.    As we’re tackling the topic of family intimacy this week, join me for a few minutes to pray together for deeper, more meaningful, more connected family relationships.   Let’s dive in.    hugs & blessings,  Je...

What? Another quick bonus episode? Yep! The timing just works that way sometimes. Today is November 1st, and we are kicking off a 30 Day Gratitude Challenge inside our Patreon community! You are invited to join us, and I hope you will.  Just today, I uploaded a Gratitude List as well as 30 days of Gratitude Prompts (some journaling prompts, some activities to do). Every day inside the community, w...

Episode 148 // Ever have one of those days when you just feel a little disconnected from your people? Maybe even a stretch of time, a season when your family relationships were stuck in a rut and you weren’t really connected?   Strong family intimacy is SUCH a joy for Christian families. And even when life is busy and chaotic, it’s possible to build that intimacy!   Join me today for a look at 5 t...

Hi, friends! 👋 This is just an announcement and encouragement for you to check out the Redeem Her Time podcast - because today, the host (Lissa) is interviewing… me! We chatted about how to strengthen and enjoy your relationship with your kids as they get older, and it was really fun and encouraging to talk with Lissa about this.  You can find that interview here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/po...

Episode 147 // Reading the Bible can be confusing and difficult. But if you want to enjoy it, if you want to have a deeper relationship with God, you have to read the Bible.    So today, I want to share 6 tips to help you not only spend more time reading the Bible but understanding it and enjoying it.    I know you’re a busy mom, but first and foremost - you’re a daughter of the King. Spending tim...