Crazy Cool Family

Homeschooling isn’t just an educational choice—it’s often a deeply personal calling. In this honest and encouraging conversation, Suzanne sits down with her daughter Madeline to talk about the real-life joys, challenges, and purpose behind homeschooling in today’s world. 

From managing toddlers while teaching reading to navigating self-doubt, Madeline shares what it actually looks like to homeschool in a busy, full house. Together, they unpack the beauty of flexibility, the power of connection, and the eternal impact of investing daily time into your children—not just academically, but spiritually and relationally. 

Suzanne brings wisdom from years of experience raising seven children through a variety of schooling choices, reminding moms that homeschooling doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. Whether it’s tailoring education to each child, embracing slower rhythms, or simply surviving a hard day, this episode is full of grace and practical encouragement. 

If you’ve ever wondered if you’re doing enough—or questioned if homeschooling is worth it—this conversation will remind you that your “yes” matters more than you think. 

Want more encouragement like this? Our “To the Mom Who…” Deep Dive is a powerful resource filled with letters, wisdom, and practical guidance for moms in every season. Don’t miss it—grab your copy today and be reminded that you’re not alone in this journey. 

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Anger in motherhood isn’t something we like to admit—but it’s something so many moms quietly carry. 

In this honest and deeply relatable episode, Suzanne sits down with her daughter Macy to talk about the reality of being an “angry mom.” From toddler tantrums to constant overstimulation, Macy vulnerably shares how this season of parenting has brought out levels of frustration and anger she never expected—and how discouraging that can feel. 

Suzanne meets her with empathy and experience, sharing her own journey of battling anger during the early years of motherhood. Together, they unpack a powerful truth: anger isn’t the problem—it’s a signal. A red flag pointing to deeper needs, unmet expectations, exhaustion, or a lack of support. 

Through personal stories, biblical encouragement, and practical tools, they offer hope that change is possible. From identifying triggers to asking for forgiveness, from caring for your own needs to inviting the Holy Spirit into the moment—this episode reminds moms that they are not stuck and they are not alone. 

Most importantly, they remind you: you don’t have to be a perfect mom—you just have to be a growing one.

If this conversation hits close to home, don’t stop here. The To The Mom Who… Deep Dive is filled with letters, practical strategies, biblical truth, and encouragement for moms in every season—including the mom who feels angry. 

Grab your copy of the "To The Mom Who…" Deep Dive and start taking real steps toward peace, patience, and a healthier home today. 

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Motherhood is beautiful—but let’s be honest, it can also feel overwhelming, exhausting, and, at times, like you’re barely staying afloat. In this heartfelt episode, Suzanne and her daughter McKenzie sit down to talk directly to moms in every season—from the joyful to the struggling, from the confident to the completely worn out. 

Together, they introduce a powerful new resource: letters to moms—written from decades of experience, deep compassion, and a desire to remind you that you are not alone. Whether you feel angry, unseen, bored, fulfilled, or like you’re drowning under the weight of it all, this conversation meets you right where you are. 

One of the most powerful reminders from this episode? When you feel like you’re sinking, it’s not a sign you’re failing—it’s an invitation to reach for Jesus. Just like Peter walking on water, we can cry out, “Lord, save me,” and trust that He will meet us with grace, strength, and peace. 

You’ll walk away encouraged, seen, and equipped with simple, practical ways to “win the day”—even in the chaos. 

If this episode resonates with you, don’t stop here. The To The Mom Who… Deep Dive is filled with personal letters, biblical truth, practical encouragement, and reminders you can return to again and again. 

Grab your copy of the To The Mom Who… Deep Dive and let us walk alongside you in this season of motherhood. 

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In this episode of the Crazy Cool Family Podcast, Madeline Jones sits down with her friend Lauren to talk about one of the most important roles of a parent: teaching your kids how to spend time with Jesus. 

Drawing from their personal experiences growing up in faith-filled homes—and now raising young children themselves—Madeline and Lauren unpack what it looks like to move beyond religion and into a genuine relationship with God. 

Rooted in John 15, this conversation centers on the truth that apart from Jesus, we can do nothing—and that includes parenting. 

You’ll hear: 

From quiet time baskets and Bible story routines to real-life strategies for busy parents, this episode is packed with encouragement and simple, actionable ideas. 

The heart behind it all: 

When kids learn to meet with Jesus daily, 
they gain a foundation strong enough to carry them through anything. 

Whether you’re just starting or looking to grow deeper as a family, this episode will equip you to raise kids who don’t just know about God—but truly walk with Him. 

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In this episode of the Crazy Cool Family Podcast, Don and Suzanne talk about how parents can learn to lead from overflow instead of exhaustion. They share honestly about what their own relationship with God looked like in different seasons of marriage and parenting — from babies and busyness to work stress, spiritual dry seasons, and building rhythms that last. 

This episode is a practical and encouraging conversation for parents who want to stay connected to God, but feel like they don’t have enough time, energy, or margin. 

In this episode, families will hear: 

Don and Suzanne also share personal stories, spiritual practices that have stood the test of time, and encouragement for overwhelmed parents who want to raise kids who love Jesus. 

If parenting has felt draining lately, this episode is a reminder that God wants to fill parents up first — so they can lead their families from a place of hope, peace, and overflow. 

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In this episode of the Crazy Cool Family podcast, Don and Suzanne tackle one of the most tension-filled topics in marriage: money. 

After 35 years of marriage, they openly share how finances were one of the biggest sources of misunderstanding and conflict in their relationship — not because of bad intentions, but because they came into marriage with completely different money mindsets. 

Don, a CPA with a master’s in tax accounting, approached finances with structure, planning, and spreadsheets. Suzanne, a self-described free spirit, had never balanced a checkbook before marriage and associated financial control with painful childhood memories. What one saw as responsibility, the other experienced as restriction. What one saw as freedom, the other interpreted as carelessness. 

The result? Decades of miscommunication, avoidance, and tension around money. 

In this honest and practical conversation, they unpack: 

They also reflect on how their financial journey shaped their children — and how today their married kids are handling money in healthier, more unified ways because they learned from their parents’ mistakes. 

But through communication, generosity, flexibility, and faith, money can shift from a source of contention to a tool for unity and blessing. 

If you are in a season where finances feel tense, tight, or divisive — you are not alone. There is hope. The best is still ahead. 

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Episode 330 is a fun, practical, and faith-filled conversation as Suzanne sits down with Crystal Paine (MoneySavingMom.com) to help families approach money, time, and motherhood with wisdom and peace. 

Crystal—mom of six (from almost 21 to age 3), writer, speaker, podcaster, and CEO of a small team—shares how her family learned to live intentionally and stay out of debt during law school by getting creative with groceries, simplifying, and focusing on what actually works in real life. She breaks down why saving money doesn’t have to mean clipping paper coupons (hello, digital deals!) and introduces a powerful mindset shift: time is money—so any “money-saving” habit should be worth the time it takes. 

You’ll hear practical, step-by-step encouragement for overwhelmed moms, including why menu planning is the best first step (before trying to overhaul a budget), how to set a realistic grocery budget, and how to make slow, steady progress without stress. Crystal also explains why learning money systems can feel like learning a foreign language—and why starting small is the key to long-term success. 

The conversation goes deeper as Crystal shares her parenting journey through a hard season, how God reshaped her heart, and the story of foster care, adoption, and unexpected pregnancies that changed everything. She reminds listeners that the foundation for home management isn’t hustle—it’s starting with prayer, trusting God with the day, and letting Him multiply what we don’t have. 

Crystal leaves families with one central takeaway: Emmanuel—God with us. You don’t have to white-knuckle life alone. God is present, powerful, and faithful in the details. 

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In this episode of the Crazy Cool Family Podcast, we sit down with McKenzie (our 4th daughter) to introduce the marriage Deep Dive “Fostering Love in Your Marriage.” She has been married for 4 1/2 years and has two tiny, beautiful daughters. 

Together they unpack why the word fostering matters — nurturing, cultivating, and fighting toward something good — and why so many couples drift into fighting against each other instead of fighting for their relationship. Suz and Kenz talk about how marriage can become a “back burner” once kids arrive, but why it’s worth prioritizing again because children can feel unity and disunity in the home.

The conversation centers on returning to what God says about love and marriage, using Scripture as the anchor rather than relying only on the world’s tools. They also share practical rhythms couples can start using right away, including making time, practicing honesty, doing regular check-ins, and choosing to love with intentionality.

If you are looking for a way to invest in your marriage this month, this is the podcast for you. Listen and share with a friend, today! 

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In this episode, Don and Suzanne talk with Casey and Meygan Caston from Marriage365 about simple, practical marriage tools for busy parents. If your relationship feels stuck in logistics, resentment, or disconnection, this conversation gives you actionable habits you can start right away. 

You’ll learn how small, daily investments — not grand gestures — build strong, lasting marriages. 

In This Episode:

Get Their BOOK! The Marriage Habit — practical habits and tools to build connection, repair conflict, and strengthen your marriage. 

Something to Try This Week:

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In Part 2 of this conversation, we shift from personal and marriage goals to setting vision and goals for your family.

Healthy family goals don’t start with changing your kids—they start with aligned parents. Building on the foundation of personal growth and marital unity, we talk about how to intentionally design your family culture instead of letting it drift.

Why family goals work best when parents are unified

How to create family vision without overwhelming your kids

The difference between family goals and family values

How to invite your children into the process in age-appropriate ways

Setting rhythms and priorities that shape your home over time

You don’t need a perfect plan—you need clarity, unity, and direction.

🎧 Listen to Episode 327 and start designing your family culture for 2026 with purpose.

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