Moms Take Ten

Is your parenting thoughtful and purposeful, or is it reactive or passive? I can definitely find myself in the reactive cycle but I desire to be an intentional parent. In this conversation with my sister, Kim Taylor, we will talk about what it means to be an intentional parent and ways we can grow in intentionality.   To learn more about Connected Families visit https://connectedfamilies.org/ Lear...

I witnessed a car accident last week and that experience has stuck with me. There are a couple thoughts from it that I want to share with you. Thanks for listening! Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/ Want to say hello? Follow me on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko Email me at momstaketen@gmail.com Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing thi...

Meghan Price joins me today for a conversation about hosting through Safe Families for Children. That organization provides an alternative to foster care that supports families through short-term placements. Listen in as Meghan shares about the continued relationship that her family has been able to build with one of the children that she hosted years ago, and the ways God has grown her family thr...

School is upon us once again! Whether you are sending your kiddos to public or private school or embarking upon another year of homeschooling, this is a time of transition for many families. Or maybe some other event has caused your family routines to be thrown off a bit. We all go through times when we need to recalibrate and figure out what we want our days to look like. Joining me for this epis...

This episode wraps up our Summer with Encanto series. What does it mean that you are "more than just your gift"? That "the miracle is you, not some gift, just you"? Our identity is more than our looks, our likes, our personality and our skills. Our identity is rooted in the work and person of Jesus Christ. Let's take some time together to look more closely at what that means. Verses Referenced: Ma...

My favorite of the all the mothers in this series, Jochebed's story is short but powerful. It is full of faith, strength, courage, and hope. Her life and actions set in motion the rescue of God's people from Egypt and the creation of the nation of Israel. I wish more was included in the Bible about this amazing mother or that I could have tucked into a corner of her home to watch and listen and le...

The question "What else can I do?" takes our children on a journey of discovery, of failure and success, of experimentation, of creativity and imagination, of mind work and heart work. What a wonderful question to teach our children!  Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/ Want to say hello? Email me at momstaketen@gmail.com Follow me on instagram @lyssastoyko Help other mamas find en...

Is your family like the Family Madrigal, where certain topics are simply off limits? Or are you actively working to create a culture of openness and dialogue that gives your children space to process and formulate a biblical worldview? Today we chat about ways that we can create that culture of saftey in our homes and how to engage our children in the tough conversations. Learn more about me at ht...

Join me as we look at probably my least favorite of all the Moms in the Bible stories....Leah and Rachel. It is so full of jealousy and discord that it makes me feel a little sick to my stomach. God wants so much more and better for us than what Leah and Rachel settled for!!! David speaks to that in Psalm 16, so lets study that to grab hold of what God is offering to us today. The story of Leah an...

Like Luisa in Disney's Encanto, we can struggle under the pressures and expectations of our lives. We join with her in asking, "But wait, if I could shake the crushing weight of expectations, would that free some room up for joy or relaxation or simple pleasure?" And the Lord says a resounding, "YES!" Verses mentioned: Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." 2 Corint...

Meredith joins me today as we hear a little of how her family became the Stiles 7 and ways that friends and family can support foster and adoptive families in their journeys. We can all do something to love and care for these kiddos and their families. Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/ Want to say hello? Email me at momstaketen@gmail.com Help other mamas find encouragement throug...

It is hard to wait for a miracle, for God to answer our prayers! Our hearts and minds are often a sea of chaos and confusion, yet God calls us to be still before him. The song "Waiting on a Miracle" from Disney's Encanto speaks of this struggle, but God's word speaks peace to our struggle. Pour it out to God, he is listening. Verses mentioned: Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God. I will b...

In this month's edition of Moms in the Bible, we are going to meet Rebekah, Sarah's daughter-in-law. My favorite part of Rebekah's story is found in the middle of a rather disappointing decision by her husband Isaac. In that brief section of the Bible, we see a couple who is in love and is taking advantage of a moment alone together. Rebekah and Isaac's relationship encourages all of us to look fo...

Welcome to our first episode of our summer Encanto series! The Family Madrigal is a fun song where Mirabel introduces us to the members of her family as she avoids talking about herself. Sound familiar? As mamas, we are often guilty of the same thing. Sometimes we lose ourselves in our families and sometimes we hide behind our families. In both cases, both our families and ourselves miss out. Song...

There is a fun series coming this summer based on the songs of Disney's Encanto! I hope you will join me!

Joining me today is a dear friend and fellow foster mama, Alicia Rushton. Listen in as she shares what she has learned on her foster journey.  Verse Referenced: It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. Matthew 10:25a Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/ Want to say hello? Email me at momstaketen@gmail.com Help other mamas find encouragem...

Joining us today for a conversation on our emotional and mental wellbeing is Marija Lamas. Motherhood is hard and our emotional and mental wellbeing is important. Too often we forget to tune in and think about how we are doing. We will discuss areas of struggle for moms and avenues for help. Our time is short but we want to at least begin the conversation! Marija is a friend of mine, former collea...

We all need moments throughout our day where we pause and breathe, turning our eyes to Christ and off the craziness around us. Here's a new way I've been reminding myself to take those moments. What helps you? Verses referenced: Pause and seek strength -- 1 Chronicles 16:11 " Seek the  Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!" Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through him who stre...

The stories of Hagar and Sarah are greatly intertwined. Last month, we heard Hagar's side of things. This month, we look at Sarah. Her life was filled with wandering and waiting. Waiting can be so hard! The kind of waiting that God calls us to is active and trustfilled. How are you handling your wait? Read Sarah's story in Genesis 16:1-6;17; 18:1-15; 20; 21:1-21 Learn more about me at https://www....

My journey to motherhood was different than I anticipated, and difficult. Maybe you can relate? Along the way, I had to learn to say, "That's her story, this is mine." I had to learn to choose to allow God to write my story however he wanted, without hurting myself through comparison with other moms' journeys. God is so faithful. I'm honored to share what he has done in my life with you. Learn mor...

Mother's Day is coming on Sunday. Whether you are excited for the day or hurting from it, I want to invite us to pause and praise God for who he is in all of this. May your hearts be refreshed by this episode. Happy Mother's Day Mama. Read with permission by the Daily Grace Co: Chapter 2, Doxology from Hymns for a Mother's Heart by Jana White. Visit the Daily Grace Co website to see the book. Lear...

Joining us today is my sister-in-law Brittany Loosa for a conversation on perseverance in motherhood. Drawing on her experience as a teacher in a difficult urban school and as mama of three kiddos, Brittany shares how God has been teaching her to persevere when life gets hard. Verse referenced: 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is pat...

In this month's edition of Moms in the Bible, we meet Hagar. An Egyptian slave in the household of Abraham and Sarah, Hagar's life was not her own. And it did not go how she expected it to go. Through all the ups and downs, Hagar met God and realized that he is the God who Sees. Not just for her, but for you as well. God sees you Mama. Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/ Want to sa...

Holy Week started yesterday and we have an opportunity to lift high the name of Christ in our homes this week. Here are several ways you can engage your family in preparation for Good Friday and Easter. Scavenger Hunt from Focus on the Family: a rock (the tomb) two sticks (the cross) something black (sin) something red (blood) something white (clean heart) something green (growing in Christ) Books...

Have you ever heard someone say, "I could never do foster care because I would get too attached?" Maybe you have said it yourself. Join Lyssa as she chats about the need for attachment in foster care (and parenting in general) and also the challenge with that. Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/ Want to say hello? Email me at momstaketen@gmail.com