Focused Living :: Shontell Brewer [SOM Wk 3]

What hats do you wear? We’ve all heard the phrase “She wears many hats.” Maybe we’ve said it about ourselves or others. But do you know what is constant in this word picture about one person performing many roles? The head that the hats sit on. It’s such a simple concept - we remain the same in each job we do or season we’re in. But it isn’t simple at all, is it? If we think of our identity as the hat rather than the person wearing the hat, we’ll continually be shifting, trying to keep up.  So how do we find our true identity and live in the freedom of who God created us to be? My guest this week is author and storyteller Jamie Winship. In our encouragement-packed conversation, Jamie invites us to learn to hear the voice of love and to live fearlessly in our truest selves.  Connect with Jamie Winship:  Website:  https://www.jamiewinship.com/ & https://www.identityexchange.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejamiewinship  Instagram:  @thejamiewinship  Links Mentioned:   Antioch Youth Camp --Jamie shares more of his story Living Fearless: Exchanging the Lies of the World for the Liberating Truth of God by Jamie Winship  Related Episodes: Inner Healing Prayer :: Jennifer Barnett [Ep 323] Listening to the Lord :: Kelsey Phillips [Ep 279] Right Where You Belong Podcast Series Motherhood, Career, and Identity :: Kat Armstrong [Ep 171]  Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.

9 Okt 20231h 2min

It’s mum time in Texas, y’all! Both the colorful garden flowers and the personalized faux floral and ribbon creations seen at Texas homecoming football games.  Get sidetracked with Cynthia and me this week as we decode what the kids are saying these days, design our own mums, and talk about the hard things life has thrown at us lately. We discuss the trap of comparison and we finally stop searching for the elusive Conflict-Free Sibling Zone but instead help our kids learn reconciliation.  Connect with Cynthia Yanof:  Website:  https://cynthiayanof.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.yanof  Instagram:  @cynthiayanof  Links Mentioned:   Joy (movie about self-wringing mop) QVC meat  HALO usb/bolt charger Cynthia mentioned.  This Dream Is Not For You: Learn to Live by Letting Go by Wady Joye  Right Where You Belong: How to Identify and  Fully Occupy Your God-Given Space by Heather MacFadyen  Related Episodes: Resolving Sibling Conflict :: Jim and Lynne Jackson [Ep 126] Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.

6 Okt 202345min

What is our role in our children’s salvation?  It’s easy to hope in a formulaic approach for our kids’ salvation - to think if we just pray and have the family bible studies we’re guaranteed our kids will make an early decision to follow Jesus. But what about when they don’t? How do we stay “ok” when our kids are choosing the things we wouldn’t choose for them? How do we trust in God’s relentless but gentle pursuit of our kids when we don’t see any evidence of it?  My guest this week, Vela Tomba, says we stay in our own hula-hoop. We let go of the things we cannot control. We allow ourselves grief but we also allow ourselves hope and trust in the way God is writing the story. She draws from her own experience as a mom and from helping other moms struggling with their kids’ choices.  Connect with Vela Tomba:  Website:  https://www.velatomba.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vela.tomba/  Instagram:  @velatomba  Links Mentioned:   Cru Campus Ministries Paige Brown Bible Study on Jonah (new videos each Wed with discussion questions…only up for a week) The Bible Recap with Tara Leigh Cobble Strong’s Concordance App Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring For Yourself by Melody Beattie  Pollyanna Related Episodes: Hula Hoop-o-logy :: Vela Tomba [GCM Ep 28] Self-Differentiation and Why It Matters :: Nancy Houston [Ep 335]  Summer of Mentorship 2019 Week One :: Nancy Williams  Building Lasting Faith in Your Kids :: Dr. Kara Powell [Ep 290]  Doubt, Questions and Your Teen’s Growing Faith :: Mary Jo Sharp [Ep 375] Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.

2 Okt 202346min

What is your ministry? Of course, motherhood is its own type of ministry, but did you envision something else as your “ministry”? Whether you had plans you’ve set aside or not, working at something you’re passionate about outside of your home can quite the challenge.  My guests this week are Angel Ricchuiti and Brittany Turner. Both are moms of 4 and both want to use their giftings and experience to serve Christ. Our conversation explores the tension between caring for children and doing ministry.  Connect with Angel Ricchuiti:  Website:  https://angelricchuiti.blogspot.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angel.ricchuiti  Instagram:  @angelricchuiti Connect with Brittney Turner:  Website:  https://brittanyjturner.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iambrittanyjturner  Instagram:  @iambrittanyjturner  Links Mentioned:   Tim Ricchuiti's Math TikTok Account  How to set up your own Amazon Affiliate account Related Episodes: Church Hurts, Healed by the Churh :: Angel Ricchuiti [Ep 355] Postpartum Depression :: Brittany Turner [Ep 277] Mom, You are Important but Not Essential, That’s Good News :: Brittany Turner [Ep 361] Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.

25 Sep 20231h 3min

Admit it, you’ve seen a girl somewhere and thought, “I can’t believe her mother let her out of the house wearing that.” But if you’ve parented a teenage girl, you know it’s just not that simple.  How can we connect with our daughters and let them know we’re on their side even if we are not on board with certain trends or styles? My guest this week is author, speaker, and mother of four girls, Kari Kampakis. She has walked the road of countless clothing conversations with her girls. She gives practical encouragement for moms to build relationships and learn the art of compromise that doesn’t throw out standards but still lets girls have choices.  Connect with Kari Kampakis:  Website:  https://www.karikampakis.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karikampakiswriter/  Instagram:  @karikampakis  Podcast: Girl Mom  Links Mentioned:    Lee Cordon Homecoming Dresses Post   Related Episodes: Connecting With Your Daughter Through Humility and Compassion :: Kari Kampakis Part 1 [Ep 390] Steady Identity in Shifting Roles :: Kari Kampakis Part 2 [Ep 391] Important Topics to Cover with Tweens and Teens about Manners, Technology, and Friendship:: Lee Cordon [Ep 408] Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.

18 Sep 202351min

What would you do if your kid told you they saw porn? What would you do if you discovered porn on your child’s device?  My guest this week is mom and founder of NextTalk, Mandy Majors. Her daughter was exposed to pornography at age 9 at school and she didn’t see it on a cell phone. That was a wake-up call moment for Mandy and she made it her goal to teach other parents how to talk through the quickly changing digital world.  Fast forward 10 years and NextTalk is spreading the message of fostering real relationships between parents and kids - the kind where both parties can talk about those awkward or taboo subjects freely. Mandy encourages us that if we do our best to create a safe place of open communication between us and our kids there isn’t a tech situation we can’t face together.   Connect with Mandy Majors:  Website:  https://nexttalk.org/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nextTalk  Instagram:  @nexttalkorg  Podcast: https://nexttalk.org/podcast/  Links Mentioned:   Chris McKenna and Protect Young Eyes  Kristen Jenson and Defend Young Minds Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids by Kristen A. Jenson Fight the New Drug  Related Episodes: Creating Digital Safe Spaces :: Chris McKenna [Ep 360]  Braving the Tech Landscape Through Connection :: Chris McKenna [Ep 424] Porn-Proofing Our Kids :: Kristen Jenson [Ep 256] Pornography :: Jimmy and Josh Myers of Pairadocs Podcast [Ep 162] Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.

11 Sep 202351min

Who do you call when it feels like your world is falling apart? Do you share your struggles with trusted friends or is it hard to open up about what is going on in your life?  Toward the end of her first marriage Kristen Glass broke a habit she’d had for years - struggling silently. For years she suffered alone, carrying shame for her actions and circumstances that left her feeling condemned and isolated. All that changed one weekend in Utah when she found the courage to tell a friend her story. That simple act of speaking up freed her to see the truth of who God made her to be and His great love for her. Join me for her story that has dark times and places but is also filled with the hope of redemption and restoration that only God can bring.  Connect with Kristen Glass:  Email:  gypsysoulinteriors@gmail.com  Related Episodes: Walking Through Divorce :: Lara Williams [Ep 324] Forgiving What You Can’t Forget :: Lysa TerKeurst [Ep 304] Good Boundaries and Goodbyes :: Lysa TerKeurst [Ep 387] Coping Mechanisms, Recovery, and Codependency :: Taylor Bashta [Ep 275] Sinners Married to Sinners - How God Refines Us :: Cheryl Scruggs and Jae Carpenter [Ep 195] Rebuilding From an Abusive Marriage :: Jeni B [Ep 246] Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.

4 Sep 202354min

Is Back-to-School time a mini fresh-start for you? With all the fresh supplies we get a chance to think again about who we want to be and what our daily life can look like.  Get sidetracked with Cynthia and me this week as we discuss rhythms we are creating for the fall. Cynthia discovers AI and we talk habits, opening our homes for connection, scrapbooking for our younger selves, and new business ventures!  Connect with Cynthia Yanof:  Website:  https://cynthiayanof.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.yanof  Instagram:  @cynthiayanof  Links Mentioned:   Book a Mahjong training party with Heather and Amber  @Mad4Mahj  Leanne Morgan  Nate Bargatze  Kevin James  Related Episodes: Previous episodes with Heather and Cynthia Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.

1 Sep 202343min