On this episode my guest is Emily Chapman Richards, you might recognize her name maiden name, because she is the daughter of the one and only Steven Curtis Chapman!  However, Emily is doing her own thing these days as the Assistant Executive Director and Vice President at Show Hope, a nationally recognized voice for adoption advocacy and orphan care support work.  She shared with me how the dream of Show Hope began in her family and what it has grown into today.

We also talked about being a full time working wife and momma to 3 littles girls, it ain’t easy!  And, of course, we had to chat a little about what it was like growing up as Steven Curtis Chapman’s daughter.  Emily was so down to earth and relatable, I just loved getting to know her through our conversation.

Side note: Check out my conversation with Katelyn Fuson about her adoption story that was sparked by Show Hope in Episode 17.

Show Links:

https://showhope.org

https://www.instagram.com/showhope/

Follow Emily on Instagram

April on Instagram

This week my guest is a fellow podcaster, Hunter Beless.  Hunter is a military wife, mom of two little girls, and host of The Journey Women podcast.  Obviously, we had a a lot in common to discuss about motherhood and podcasting, but she also shared about her (unexpected) life, living on a military base.

Hunter is passionate about the bible and mentoring woman through the guests on her podcast in various areas of faith.  We chatted about surrendering control as moms, feeling called to start something, but also knowing that her calling as a wife and mom takes precedent over everything else.  I loved getting to know Hunter, and I was so encouraged by our conversation to keep seeking God above all else, and He will direct our steps.

Links:

https://journeywomenpodcast.com

Journey Women on Instagram

April McKinney on Instagram

Singer/Songwriter Tanya Godsey is my guest this week, and our conversation included some topics that we’ve never discussed on 20,000 Words before!  She shared wisdom and insight from her life as a woman of color and growing up in a immigrant community, as well as her experience as the spouse of someone suffering from depression.  I was so thankful for her vulnerability, she is obviously a woman of God, seeking him in all she does.

She is also a mom of 2, so we discussed what “Soul Care” looks like for her.  Share this with a friend and go find Tanya over on website and social media, linked below!  She is such a talented lady, and I was honored to have her on the show!

Links

http://www.tanyagodsey.com

Tanya in Instagram

Tanya’s Spiritual Director: AmberNest.com

April on Instagram

The first episode of 20,000 Words for 2018 might be the most impactful interview I have had yet.  My guest, Cori Salchert, has one of the most beautiful stories of redemption I have ever heard.  I will forever be impacted by her story and the way God is using her.  She and her family, (she actually has 8 biological children) take in foster babies with very grim health diagnosis’s. With her history as a nurse, she has the training to help these babies, who otherwise would probably pass away without the love of a family.  Cori actually has her own health issues, including several auto immune diseases which kept her from returning to her old job.  However, God was doing a new thing in her life and led her to taking in these precious babies.

This is a must listen for anyone and everyone, I hope you are as deeply moved as I was by Cori and her God story.  Also, be sure to check out her book, I Will Love You Forever, coming out in March!

Links:

Cori’s Facebook Page

“I Will Love You Forever” by Cori Salchert

Follow April on Instagram for podcast updates

If you are a lover of beautiful curated gifts, decorating, and fun family traditions during this magical time of year – you are going to LOVE this special Christmas episode!  Sibi Riffer, founder of “The Pearl Event” joined me again (Check out Episode 20 to hear her amazing story) to share some of her wonderful tips for making this season memorable and special for your people.  She also shares some of her wisdom as a mom of 7 and how she handles the chaos of the season.  Linked below are some of her “favorite things” that you still have time to grab and/or do before Christmas Day!

Links to Sibi’s Favorite ” Christmas” Things

Williams Sonoma Cookie Decorating Kit

Target Gold Coffee Scoop with Starbucks Christmas Blend

Anything Joe Malone!

Sephora – Julliette Has a Gun Sampler

Nutcracker Ballet at TPAC: https://patron.tpac.org/events/detail/nutcracker-2017-ballet

Whole Foods Gingerbread Houses

What an honor to interview best selling author and speaker, Lisa Bevere!  I have been following Lisa for years, and I was so excited to hear from her on this episode about her new children’s book.  She also shared so much wisdom about parenting young children, and how asking for help is sometimes the bravest thing children and moms can do.  She is the mother of 4 boys and now grandmother to 4, so I was soaking up her wise words.  She is a firecracker, and I know you are going to love hearing from her!

Show Links:

http://messengerinternational.org/lisabevere/

Lizzy the Lioness: https://www.amazon.com/Lizzy-Lioness-Lisa-Bevere/dp/0718096584

With the holidays quickly approaching, I knew I wanted to interview some women entrepreneurs with specially curated products and impactful stories behind their businesses.  This episode is with Katie Lewis, founder and owner of Dear Mushka, a unique and growing jewelry business.  Not only is her jewelry beautiful, but each piece is paired with scripture to serve as a reminder of God’s word while wearing it.  Katie is a business owner as well as a momma of two little boys.  Since we are both “work from home” moms to littles, we had so much in common and so much to talk about!

Katie shared in this episode about the story behind Dear Mushka and how God has blessed it more than she could have imagined, her love of scripture, and how she manages life as a mom and entrepreneur among other interesting topics.  She has such a sweet spirit, and I know this episode will inspire you to go check out her jewelry and hopefully purchase gifts with meaning Christmas this year.

Dear Mushka will be running a Cyber Monday Sale, so head over to this link to sign up for the newsletter and get more info on the sale: http://eepurl.com/cd6GAP

What makes Katie Feel Beautiful?

Elf Make Up Primer

A Capsule Wardobe

Being in the Scriptures

Show Links:

Dear Mushka

Dear Mushka Instagram

April McKinney’s Instagram

You probably recognize Candace Payne from her viral video with a Chewbaca Mask, which has had over 170 million.  I got to meet the lady behind the mask and hear how God has used that silly video to impact so many lives, but that’s what God does!  Candace shared with me some of the struggles she has been through in life (depression, shame, abuse, homelessness) and how she finds joy in the everyday.  Her new book “Laugh it Up” is full of vulnerable stories from her life and how God used this crazy video to change lives!  She is now an author and speaker, and she had me laughing through this whole conversation.  This was such a fun interview to return to my podcast with after my break.  Tune in for more amazing guests this fall/winter!

Links from the show:

https://candacepayne.me

April’s Instagram

I am so excited to share this BONUS episode with Katie Davis Majors, author of New York Times Bestselling book, Kisses From Katie and new book Daring to Hope, which releases October 3rd.  Katie is the adoptive mother of 13 Ugandan girls and 1 biological son with her husband – all currently living in Uganda.  And to top it off, she is only 29 years old!  She has followed God’s call on her life in a way that is so inspiring and beautiful, but not without suffering and hardship, which she talked about in our conversation and in her upcoming book.  You don’t want to miss this special interview or her new book linked below!

https://katiemajors.blog

Amazon Links to Katie’s Books:

Kisses From Katie

Daring to Hope

Amazima

Episode 20 of 20,000 Words is with Sibi Riffer, wife and mother to 7, creator of The Pearl Event, writer, speaker, and so much more.  This woman is an encourager to women, believing and praying for breakthrough in the lives of many women over the years.  Sibi was kind enough to share so much of her story including teen pregnancy, being single mom, her beautiful love story with her now husband, secondary infertility, the births of her remaining children, and so much more.  I can’t tell you how encouraged I was after our conversation.  Her deep faith and rich love for the Lord is contagious.

Keep up with her at the links below and be sure to read her blog post “The New Church Lady” that went viral several years ago.  Thanks again for tuning in and be sure to subscribe if you haven’t already!

Show Notes

There New Church Lady

The Pearl Event

Supernatural Childbirth

Follow April on Instagram

Listen on iTunes or press play on the audio link below!