Jesse and I are back in the studio together this week as we discuss the book Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms by Justin Whitmel Earley, a book that I have already talked about on the show! Last time that I mentioned it, I was only halfway through it, but now that I have finished it, I have so much more to share, with the best part being that I have realized that many of the rhythms and routines our family already practices are reinforcing the story of God in our daily lives. There is, of course, always room for improvement, and we talk in this episode about both the habits that we have built and the areas where we are still learning.

We also talk about the past two weeks because wow, they have truly been something! It all started with one of our kids spiking a 104.5-degree fever (flu A, as it turned out). Then, I took a trip to Kansas to be with my parents and to help manage a huge Valentine’s Day banquet, only to have to come home earlier than planned due to getting sick myself! I, too, had the flu, and it was really bad; it was the kind of sickness where you spend an entire week in bed, questioning if you’ll ever breathe normally again. Thankfully, the rest of the family (mostly) avoided it, and Jesse still got to take Silas on a much-anticipated CrossFit trip, which was its own adventure!

Through it all, I kept coming back to the power of habits, not just the ones in the book but also the ones that sustain us when life feels like a whirlwind. Whether it’s embracing rest when our bodies demand it, showing up for our kids in ways that we don’t always plan, or simply finding joy in small, everyday moments, these past two weeks have truly been a reminder of why our daily rhythms matter!

In This Episode

[0:35] - Jesse and I are revisiting the book Habits of the Household after a very eventful two weeks!

[1:51] - Our youngest daughter had persistent high fevers before testing positive for flu A at urgent care.

[4:25] - Concerned about the flu spreading, I still traveled to Kansas and helped at my parents' banquet because I had not gotten sick.

[6:49] - I had a great time helping with my parents’ Valentine’s banquet but unfortunately became sick myself during the trip.

[9:05] - I rushed home early due to my illness and an impending snowstorm, losing hearing mid-flight due to congestion.

[11:56] - Diagnosed with the flu, I took a new antiviral, rested a week, and gradually got better.

[14:29] - Determined to recover, I cared for the kids while Jesse and Silas attended a CrossFit event.

[17:01] - Jesse reflects on having trained at a CrossFit camp with Silas, learning techniques and pushing personal limits.

[20:21] - Hear how a listener shared that her grandparents impressively celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary!

[22:18] - I found Habits of the Household encouraging, reinforcing habits that our family already practiced unconsciously.

[23:40] - I avoid my phone in the morning, prioritizing faith, exercise, and intentional time with Jesse.

[26:29] - Jesse shares having realized that our early schedules left us too tired, resulting in a needed routine adjustment.

[27:00] - Hear how we now connect mid-afternoon and Wednesday nights.

[30:58] - Habits of the Household reassured me that maintaining routines amid chaos will pay off in the end.

[33:21] - Our bedtime tradition of reading and devotionals reinforces faith through small but consistent moments.

[36:56] - We have a free, colorful daily planner to help with organization and habit-building!

Links & Resources

Crystal Paine

Free Daily Planner

Books

Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms by Justin Whitmel Earley

Little House on the Prairie (book series) by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Social Media

Crystal Paine on Instagram (@moneysavingmom)

Crystal Paine on Instagram (@crystaliscleaning)

Crystal Paine on LinkedIn

Crystal Paine on Twitter

Crystal Paine on Goodreads

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