Crystal Paine Show

I was so excited about doing this podcast interview. Jillana and I have so many overlapping connections and passions: she lived in Guatemala (where our little boy is from!), she's a foster mom, she's adopted from foster care, she has teenagers, she has an ongoing relationship with a birth mom, and she has a child with special needs.

We could have talked for hours, but I limited myself to just around 30 minutes for this episode -- and it's packed with goodness! We dive deep into what it looks like to parent a child with special needs, the challenges and blessings of walking in proximity to birth parents of children we've fostered and/or adopted, and how living a love-stretched life has turned their world upside down in the most beautiful of ways.

Whether you are a foster parent or an adoptive parent or a parent of a child with special needs or whether your life looks completely different, I think you'll find your heart resonating with her passion to love those who need love the most and to walk alongside them without criticism or condemnation but instead with compassion.

In This Episode

[02:05] – Jillana introduces herself and her unique family.

[03:18] – Why did Jillana foster children before having children biologically?

[06:33] – What was her mindset before she started fostering?

[09:11] – An honest discussion on birth parents.

[13:31] – Parents with kids in foster care were often kids in foster care themselves.

[15:06] – Jillana offers advice on how to walk alongside other foster parents if you aren't called to foster.

[16:50] – Hear about being welcoming but with boundaries.

[19:52] – What it's like parenting a child with special needs.

[29:52] – The beauty of interdependency.

[31:22] – What does a love-stretched life look like?

Links & Resources

• Books
• A Love-Stretched Life: Stories on Wrangling Hope, Embracing the Unexpected, and Discovering the Meaning of Family by Jillana Goble
• Other Resources
• 10 Days to Be a Happier Mom
• Sign up for the Hot Deals Email List
• MoneySavingMom.com
• My Instagram account (I’d love for you to follow me there! I usually hop on at least a few times per day and share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, my grocery store hauls, funny stories, or just anything I’m pondering or would like your advice or feedback on!)
• Have feedback on the show or suggestions for future episodes or topics? Send me an email: crystal @ moneysavingmom.com

I am so excited to be welcoming back a repeat guest this episode - Jennifer Pepito! Jennifer is the author of Habits for a Sacred Home: 9 Practices From History to Anchor and Restore Modern Families, and I have had the privilege of reading her insightful book which really resonated with me and challenged my perspective on family life! Jennifer brings a wealth of experience, having homeschooled her seven children for 27 years, today, listen as we talk about the joys and challenges of motherhood especially as her children transition into adulthood.

We explore the significance of establishing habits that create a peaceful home environment and the importance of being present with our kids, even as they grow independent. Jennifer shares her thoughts on finding balance, letting go of perfectionism, and nurturing our children's development in a chaotic world, emphasizing the need for mothers to have a solid sense of identity rooted in faith which allows them to be more relaxed and attentive.

Throughout the conversation, Jennifer also offers practical advice on creating daily routines that encourage connection and joy within the family, and we touch on the delicate balance between guiding our children and allowing them the freedom to learn from their experiences!

Whether you’re navigating the early years of parenting or facing the challenges of raising teens, this episode is packed with wisdom and encouragement, so please join Jennifer and me as we discover how small, intentional changes can lead to significant growth for both moms and their families!

In This Episode

[0:35] - I welcome back repeat guest Jennifer Pepito!

​​[1:24] - Jennifer reveals that she has seven children and finds writing Habits for a Sacred Home grounding despite chaos.

[4:26] - It's important to recognize both losses and gains when transitioning through life stages.

[5:36] - Jennifer advises young moms to focus on their identity and being present with their children.

[8:19] - Parenting teens requires maintaining values and visualizing positive outcomes for them.

[11:21] - Jennifer emphasizes showing grace without compromising values when children make choices that conflict with beliefs.

[14:48] - Younger moms should accept imperfection and focus on consistency and joy in parenting.

[17:59] - After experiencing a gap between older and younger kids, I have recognized the need for intentional routines.

[19:33] - Jennifer reflects on older kids caring for younger ones and emphasizes the importance of being committed to faithfulness.

[22:12] - Crystal highlights the benefits of having a morning routine that starts the day positively and intentionally.

[24:48] - Jennifer's book connects Saint Benedict's rules to impactful historical women such as Edith Schaeffer and their ordinary lives.

[27:29] - I recall a lesson from a book about creating beauty in small ways to bring stability to chaotic lives.

[29:32] - Jennifer finds peace amidst chaos by reflecting on Psalm 37 and trusting God for better times ahead.

[32:25] - I really appreciate the hope in Jennifer's book!

Links & Resources

Crystal Paine

The Crystal Paine Show - 180. Why You Should Read Aloud with Your Kids

Books

Habits for a Sacred Home: 9 Practices from History to Anchor ...

I recently shared a little bit about prayer on Instagram in answer to a woman's question about praying to change her husband. I got so many responses from what I shared and many followup questions, that I wanted to focus this podcast episode on that topic.

“I can’t do this. It’s too much. I’m scared.” I lay awake in bed pretty much all night long the first night Baby D arrived. I felt completely overwhelmed and in over my head.
When they told us he had Down syndrome and a cleft lip (they didn’t realize he had a cleft palate, too) + a feeding tube, I expected an 8-month-old baby that was somewhat delayed. I didn’t expect him to show up as a tiny malnourished infant that was just 11 pounds, in 0-3 month clothes, and non-responsive. I knew he needed a lot of medical care and DCS didn’t know contact info/names for any of his doctors or specialists, I had no clue what I was doing — and Jesse was out of town that week!
In this last podcast episode of the year, Jesse and I sat down and talked about what we learned in 2021 and the entire theme was how this sweet boy has completely changed our lives. I could recount story after story of specific ways that God has showed up and answered prayers, helped us track down all the specialists in record time, brought just the right medical professionals into our lives at the right time, protected Baby D in the process of us not knowing so much, and has been so faithful to carry us through many scary moments and nights.
Not only was our faith and trust in the Lord stretched and strengthened in big ways as we saw God show up, but like Jesse said so eloquently (and it brought tears to my eyes): “When Baby D came to us, he needed multiple surgeries. But what we didn’t know was that God was going to use his little life to perform surgery on our hearts.”
Truly, this little boy has completely changed all of us in profound ways. And he’s been one of the greatest gifts we’ve ever experienced as a family. I struggle to put into words just how deeply this boy has captivated and changed our hearts forever!