Blessings and Motherhood

Is there anything to be hopeful about in the next generation of Christians? In this episode, Delise and Ginny sit down with Kristel Acevedo to talk about teen ministry and discipleship. Kristel is the Spiritual Formation Director at Transformation Church in South Carolina and co-author of the book 3 Big Questions That Shape Your Future. Her radiant passion for teen ministry and contagious hope for the future of the next generation of Christians shine through in this conversation as she offers insights and encouragement to all parents, not just those with teenage children in the home! Of course, one of the biggest challenges faced by teenagers is figuring out who they are. With so many voices in our culture telling teens who they should be, Kristel offers some advice for parents on how to encourage teenage children to develop into who God made them to be as well as how to trust God when it feels like they are slipping away from that identity. Kristel also shares a bit of her personal journey, explaining why she really struggled to accept her identity in Christ and bringing to light why it is so important that Christians embrace their ethnic and cultural heritages as part of their identities.

Show notes: blessingsandmotherhood.com/talking-to-teens-with-kristel-acevedo

This month, Delise and Ginny sit down (literally, our first-ever in-person episode!) with the incredible Vanessa Royer to talk about adoption, music, homeschooling, and so much more. You’ll discover insights into all things adoption, from the meaning behind the word “adoption” and examples in Scripture to navigating the complicated legal process and a new, popular method called embryonic adoption. Vanessa also shares about her own wild adoption story, her biological children’s relationships with her adoptive children, her advice for parents pursuing or praying about adoption, how inviting new members into your family can completely expand your worldview and empathy, ways to embrace and encourage the cultural heritage of your adoptive children, and why homeschool Christian families are the best families equipped to pursue adoption. Also, passionate about and exceptionally talented in music, Vanessa discusses the role music plays in her life and family, her secrets to making the home a more musical place, and why moms should spend more time pursuing their own passions, whether in art or in business. It’s a longer-than-usual episode (check out the in-person interview on our YouTube channel!), but the conversation is rich, fun, and bursting with takeaways for any mom. We hope you enjoy!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this episode later this month!

Show notes: BlessingsandMotherhood.com/Vanessa-Royer-part-1

You’re invited to our 2024 National Events Weekend in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! Head over to ClassicalConversationsFoundation.org to learn more.

For any mom seeking advice on how to navigate a parent-adult child relationship or needing encouragement during a season of struggle, we hope you find comfort in this month’s conversation of Blessings and Motherhood! In this episode, mom-daughter combo Julie Melendez and Lauren Clickner hop on the show to talk about how they have nurtured their relationship as parent and child over thirty-some years. In this conversation packed with insights and encouragement from both guests, Julie begins by shining a light on an often unspoken truth about motherhood: that this is a journey that just keeps getting better year after year, even as an empty nester! Together, Julie and Lauren discuss setting spoken boundaries and recognizing unstated ones, honoring one another as both parents and children, navigating all the roles that moms balance, and pouring into your child’s gifts and interests, all while generally reflecting on how their own relationship has transformed since Lauren was a child to now being a wife and mother herself. Bravely, Lauren also shares her story of going through a miscarriage early in her marriage and losing her first daughter, a tragedy she and her mom both dealt with in their own ways.

Show notes: blessingsandmotherhood.com/mother-daughter-boundaries

In this “Blessings and Motherhood” episode, Delise and Ginny discuss education and parenting with Andrew Pudewa, founder of the Institute for Excellence in Writing. They explore his insights on teaching writing, the importance of reading aloud to children, and practical tips for homeschooling parents. This enriching conversation offers encouragement and strategies for parents aiming to improve their children's reading and writing skills.

Institute for Excellence in Writing

Join other homeschool parents in your area at a 2024 Practicum event! https://ccpracticum.com/

Happy New Year! In this episode, Delise and Ginny talk with Erika Kirk, founder of Proclaim Streetwear and Biblein365, host of the Midweek Rise Up podcast, and an all-new mom to discuss how to make the home a safe refuge for one’s family and how to pursue God’s standards for motherhood. Erika talks through how to become the guardian of your home and walks through practical ways to transform your home into a place of rest for the family. Also, she discusses the importance of viewing motherhood as a privilege rather than a responsibility, tips for fostering digital mindfulness and a wholistic healthy lifestyle in the home, how to foster sacred relationships within your family amidst this crazy world, why you can never over-communicate with those you love, and the importance of not oversharing on social media and keeping some special pockets of your life private. Finally, Delise, Ginny, and Erika all share how they are slowing down in this season of their lives and listening to what God is teaching them. Be sure to stick around for Erika’s encouragement to moms at the end of this episode and be inspired to set this new year on the right path!

Show notes: BlessingsandMotherhood.com/becoming-the-guardian-of-your-home

You’re invited to our 2024 National Events Weekend in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! Register at ClassicalConversationsFoundation.org.