Single Mom Smiling | Arming Warriors in the Battle for Marriage & Family

Do you find yourself thinking of traditions of Christmas past? Do you have ideas of the way you thought this season should look or hopes for how your family would do things to celebrate this beautiful and sacred season? Do you find yourself grieving over what was lost? In today's episode we look at why traditions are so important both to us and to our kids and what we can do when those old traditi...

Do you struggle to find joy in this holiday season? If so, you are not alone. This Sunday we celebrate the joy of Advent while at the same time looking at the trials of John the Baptist. This man who Jesus calls, the greatest man born to women, has lost his followers. He sits in a prison cell alone, guessing what earthly fate awaits him. Yet He questions Jesus in Hope!  John refuses to lose his Jo...

How many times have you looked up to God and cried out, "Why me?" or "What have I done to deserve this?" or "Why am I so unlovable?" or "How could he do this?"  SO many times we ask the wrong question. And it causes our thoughts to cycle instead of moving us ahead. In today's episode, learn to ask positive, powerful questions to help you see the viper hidden in your relationship and why God may ha...

Have you ever felt like the odd man - or woman - out? Like everyone is talking about you behind your back? Have you had flashbacks to 3rd grade and being the one who wore pajamas to school when it wasn't pajama day and people didn't do things like that? :) Hopefully not, but... If you have, that's okay! In fact, sometimes it's good to be weird! John the Baptist wasn't worried about what people sai...

Have you fallen for lies that someone else whispered (or maybe shouted) into your hopes? Have you let those lies define you? Maybe you've started seeing yourself as... the single mom the divorced one the abandoned one the abused one Maybe it's something you laugh at yourself for like... the dumb one the klutzy one the slow one the dull one Maybe it's something that seems good, but can be a trap li...

We're told, this is supposed to be "the most wonderful time of the year," but for many, the holidays can be a time of loneliness and darkness.  In today's episode life coach Kerri Bishop talks about how difficult the holidays can be, the dangers of comparison, and putting a plan together to make it through the tough times.  Kerri also helps you see that the darkness may have actually been the peri...

Does it feel hard to be grateful this year? Does it seem like everyone else lives so much better than you and, while you're happy for them, you also wish some of that wealth would trickle down to you - and I don't necessarily mean financially either!  If you've ever felt that way, today's episode gives reasons and ways to grow in gratitude. I also tell the mistake I used to make when writing out m...

Does the thought of the impending holiday season catch you feeling more stress than peace? Do you find yourself navigating stress, comparison, loneliness, and emotional overwhelm as the holiday season begins? You're not alone! That's why taking Christ the King into our lives as we close the Church year and get ready to enter the busy holiday season is powerful. In this episode, discover how lettin...

If you're facing the pressure of holiday spending, comparison, and guilt, you are not alone! If your ex is outspending you, if you feel like you need to prove your worth through gifts, or if December puts you into financial survival mode, this episode will bring you peace, clarity, and practical steps to reclaim the season. Join me to learn financial coaching skills I help my clients discover to h...

Are you a single mom fearing the worst? Do you have days where you just want to give up or run away? Are you a woman looking out at this messed up world and wondering what shoe will drop next? I understand all of this because I have felt that too.  And I know God calls us to keep moving forward in faith - persevere in trust in whatever He has allowed to enter your life. Join me today as I explore...

Have you ever felt broken, judged, or “defiled” by life’s hardships? I know I have! Today's episode will give you 5 ways to begin rebuilding your life with Jesus as your foundation. Bits to Build On... Inspect your foundation and uncover where you’ve allowed lies or fear to crack your confidence. Guard who builds on your foundation—from relationships to media influences. Challenge yourself to grow...

Have you doubted yourself after divorce? Have you questioned your worth more after a breakup? Have you even considered you might not be worthy of life?  The betrayal that comes from a divorce can threaten to destroy your life and any sense of self worth you made have had. This happens because you don't see yourself as the temple of the Holy Spirit or believe God wants to dwell within you, yet that...

Are you a single mom affected by the government shutdown? Does the question about how to put food on the table worry you or a friend?  In this timely episode of Single Mom Smiling, Catholic life coach Kerri Bishop speaks directly to single moms facing the impact of the government shutdown and potential loss of SNAP benefits. We will cover the Catholic perspective on work and dignity, why strengthe...

Have you ever felt pulled in many different directions? Your faith tells you one thing, but the world tells you something different? It can be sooooo easy to want to give in to the world. We can easily justify our actions and beliefs and fall for temporary happiness or a life of ease over the difficulties God calls us to walk through.  But that temporary happiness is just that - temporary!  God ca...

What happens when you want to keep Halloween faith-focused — but your ex, your kids, or your culture wants to go all-in on darkness, costumes, and horror? In this episode, I share practical, faith-based ways to handle Halloween disagreements with your ex peacefully and guide kids who love Halloween without crushing their spirit. We will discuss boundaries rooted in love, not fear, discernment usin...

Do you ever feel like you’re falling behind? Do you feel like that mom has it all together, that couple has real love, or that coworker’s life just seems easier? In this week’s Gospel reflection from Luke 18:9-14, I put on my Catholic Life Coaching hat and explore what the Pharisee and the tax collector can teach us about comparison, pride, and the freedom of humility. Learn how God, the greatest...

In today's episode of Single Mom Smiling, we walk through 7 transformative lessons gleaned from watching Erika Kirk navigate the unimaginable: the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk. For women grappling with grief, loss, or deep hardship, her faith-driven response offers real, actionable wisdom you can lean into today. What You’ll Learn Calling on the Name of Jesus — When words fail, name...

Have you stood in court and wondered where the justice is? Have you prayed for God to intervene only to hear crickets?  If you answered yes, you are not the only one! In today's episode, Catholic life coach I reflect on Luke 18:1–8 , the parable of the Persistent Widow, to help women find peace and purpose amid injustice. From unfair court rulings to the silence of unanswered prayers, this episode...

Yesterday should have been Charlie Kirk's 32nd birthday.  For many of us, myself included, it is hard to believe he's gone. I cannot imagine how Erika Kirk feels! Many of us are left asking God why and how he could take a good man like Charlie so soon. Many single moms have asked similar questions about their own husbands or significant others, whether they are absent through death or betrayal. Bu...

Have you ever looked at your life and thought, "This is so unfair?" or maybe you've questioned whether you will ever get justice. Trust me, you're not the only one!  In this week’s Gospel you will be invited into the story of the ten lepers healed by Jesus—and the one who returned in gratitude, but more than a miracle, this story opens the door to a larger conversation about the deep unfairness of...

Have you taken time to celebrate your personal wins lately? 🎉  Whether you're a single mom juggling everything or a woman striving to grow stronger in faith, this episode is your reminder that you deserve to celebrate — even the small victories. In this special 100th episode of Single Mom Smiling, I’m sharing: 10 creative and meaningful ways to celebrate your wins — even when time and money are t...

Do you ever feel like your To-Do list is never ending? Does it seem like as soon as you cross one thing off your list, ten more await? The servant in Sunday's Gospel reading can probably relate, but Jesus has some interesting insight! If you're a busy mom, this reflection is for you. Discover how the sometimes stressful, often unnoticed tasks of motherhood — late-night laundry, wiping tears, wavin...

I started podcasting about 15 months ago and hadn't missed an episode until everything seemed to go wrong at once. What's more, that everything started happening right after I finished a course on how to market Armor Up, my new spiritual warfare program for women. I'd planned to launch Armor Up in January, but with Charlie Kirk's assassination and the escalation of palpable evil, I decided to move...

Does it seem like everyone else is getting ahead and you're stuck begging for scraps? Maybe you're comparing what others show on social media, coveting the life your ex seems to lead, or are simply stuck looking back to what went wrong and where you thought you "should" be by now. The story of Lazarus and the rich man remind us to live for more than what we see here today and to never form a bond...

Sometime life’s burdens seem too difficult to bear, but through our crosses we discover who we can be. In fact, being a Christian means bearing the burden of carrying Christ joyfully to the world. Charlie Kirk knew this, but now he is gone. He was targeted because he spoke truth when so many refused to carry their share of the burden.  It is time for us to step up and find joy in our crosses, espe...