Crystal Paine Show

Last week on the podcast, we mentioned our daughters going to prom and how they wanted to go with their dates together. We talked about how their relationship has developed and some of the different seasons they have walked through. A number of people wrote in and asked how our daughters developed such a close relationship.

Well, it definitely wasn't always like that! In fact, the girls are SO different than I never, ever expected they'd one day be best friends. For years, they were constantly frustrated and irritated with one another. 

We asked them for input and thoughts on what made a difference and changed their relationship. In this episode, we shared three keys that Kathrynne shared that she felt were a big part of the change in their relationship.

Jesse and I close out this podcast episode with a few more thoughts from our perspective, including loving your kids right where they are at instead of being frustrated at them for not being where you wish they were. We also discuss how important it is to talk positively about them -- not only to them, but to others, as well.

In addition to talking about our kids' relationships, I have a book update and we share something fun we've been doing as a family.

[00:34] - Welcome to another episode of The Crystal Paine Show.

[01:45] – I asked for the girls input on deepening their friendships.

[02:22] – I have a reading update to share with you.

[05:35] – What’s saving our life this week? This week is something fun.

[11:38] – How did our daughters become best friends?

[12:24] – Don’t force your kids to be best friends.

[14:44] – Learn emotional language.

[17:29] – When the girls started to learn to say, “When you did that, it made me feel like this”, it changed their relationship.

[21:21] – Jesse brings the aspect that may encourage your kids to be friends, if they see that in your marriage.

[21:55] – Give it time.

[25:57] – How to foster a sense of family togetherness.

• Links & Resources
  Wordle Game
• Books
• Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane C. Ortlund
• Love-Centered Parenting by Crystal Paine
• 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

Do you have kids who love science, technology, or STEM-related activities? If so, you might want to check out CodeSpark Academy — an online program that teaches kids ages 5-9 how to code and use critical thinking skills.

CodeSpark is the #1 learn-to-code app, teaching kids the ABCs of coding and basic computer programming skills — all without having to know how to read!

Based on research-backed curriculum from MIT and Princeton, this highly-rated educational app features hundreds of activities and games designed to teach kids the fundamentals of computer science and introduce them to the world of STEM.

In additional to learning how to code, this app also teaches basic problem-solving and logical thinking skills, encourages profound creativity, instills persistence and resilience, and boosts confidence in kids.

Better yet, the games are so fun to play, most kids won’t even realize they’re learning while playing!

When you sign up for your first FREE month of CodeSpark Academy, you get:

• Unlimited coding challenges
• New skills every week
• Hundreds of educational puzzles
• Unlimited access to their creativity suite

Right now CodeSpark Academy is offering our readers/listeners an exclusive deal to get a FREE 30-day trial! Typically, you only get a free 7-day trial, so this is a really great opportunity for your kids to try it out and see if they like it!

Note: When you take advantage of this offer, you’re signing up for auto-renewal at the regular price of $9.99 per month. If you love the program after your free trial, you can continue. If you want to cancel after your free trial, just be sure to cancel the auto-renewal in your account to avoid getting charged.

Today’s topic is fresh on my mind because I just turned in the second round of edits for the manuscript of my next book. It comes out in early 2023 and I’m so excited about it!

In this episode, we “pull back the curtain” on publishing and share what I’ve learned about writing books, the mistakes I’ve made, and how I found time to write this book.

Whether you have dreams of writing a book one day, are a published author, or need some inspiration to tackle a big project, I hope you find this episode helpful and encouraging. I share how I approach writing, why an outline is key, how I break the project down into bite-sized pieces, how I use Google calendar to keep me on track, the amount of time I spent on writing each day, and a number of tips that helped me to stay on task and be really thrilled with the (almost) finished product!

The strategies I employed to make the time to write this book are ones you could implement with many different big projects — even if you never, ever plan to write a book or truly despise writing.

In This Episode

[0:35] – I announce that I just turned in the second draft of my new book!

[1:16] – Today’s tips can be applied to any large project, not just a book.

[2:39] – Our girls had prom last night! We share some of our favorite parts of the experience.

[8:19] – I just finished reading Fostered by Tori Hope Petersen.

[11:20] – I recently got a Milliard body pillow and totally understand why people love them!

[14:40] – Today’s episode is sponsored by CodeSpark Academy.

[16:44] – I dive into how I found time to write a book.

[19:38] – How a book about time management came to be.

[21:50] – One of my biggest time management secrets is streaming and simplifying.

[23:54] – I was my own case study about time management while writing this book.

[25:52] – How I use Google calendar to keep me on track.

[27:34] – Reading the manuscript out loud is one strategy I’ve found to be so helpful.

[29:27] – I describe the challenge of writing a book while pregnant.

[30:57] – Jesse touches upon why it was easier for me to make changes to this book.

[33:26] – I can’t write well for longer than 45 minutes.

[35:45] – Jesse offers insight into why my time block method is better than a word count method.

• Links & Resources
  Milliard Body Pillow
• Books
• Love-Centered Parenting by Crystal Paine
  Fostered by Tori Hope Petersen
  Atomic Habits by James Clear
• 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

Do you have kids who love science, technology, or STEM-related activities? If so, you might want to check out CodeSpark Academy — an online program that teaches kids ages 5-9 how to code and use critical thinking skills.

CodeSpark is the #1 learn-to-code app, teaching kids the ABCs of coding and basic computer programming skills — all without having to know how to read!

Based on research-backed curriculum from MIT and Princeton, this highly-rated educational app features hundreds of activities and games designed to teach kids the fundamentals of computer science and introduce them to the world of STEM.

In additional to learning how to code, this app also teaches basic problem-solving and logical thinking skills, encourages profound creativity, instills persistence and resilience, and boosts confidence in kids.

Better yet, the games are so fun to play, most kids won’t even realize they’re learning while playing!

When you sign up for your first FREE month of CodeSpark Academy, you get:

• Unlimited coding challenges
• New skills every week
• Hundreds of educational puzzles
• Unlimited access to their creativity suite

Right now CodeSpark Academy is offering our readers/listeners an exclusive deal to get a FREE 30-day trial! Typically, you only get a free 7-day trial, so this is a really great opportunity for your kids to try it out and see if they like it!

Note: When you take advantage of this offer, you’re signing up for auto-renewal at the regular price of $9.99 per month. If you love the program after your free trial, you can continue. If you want to cancel after your free trial, just be sure to cancel the auto-renewal in your account to avoid getting charged.

I used to be afraid of having teenagers. The thought of raising kids into adulthood felt like such a huge and overwhelming responsibility. I worried I would totally mess things up, miss the mark, and make mistakes.

But then Jesus radically transformed my heart. He opened up my eyes to how deeply I am loved by Him and helped me move from chasing after others’ approval to resting in His love — and it changed everything about the way I parent.

I don’t have to parent out of fear of the future anymore; I can trust God with tomorrow and live faithfully today — knowing that I will make mistakes, but that’s why there’s Jesus.

I don’t have to mother from a place of overwhelm anymore; I can look to God’s spirit Who is in me and ask for His help and strength when I don’t know what to do — and trust Him to help me lean in and love my kids, on the good days and on the hard days.

My kids don’t need a mom who is perfect. They need a mom who points them to the only Perfect One — Jesus.

Today, I truly love parenting teens — and they bring so much joy and depth and laughter into my life. I can embrace each day as a gift... not because I’ve got it all figured out, but because I can entrust my kids and their lives to the One Who has the whole world in His hands.

Motherhood is still hard, but it is also holy and heartwarming and even super hilarious many days. It shines a light on my own need for Jesus like nothing else does... and it also allows me the opportunity to see Him be Enough like nothing else does.

In this week's episode of The Crystal Paine Show, Jesse and I sit down and answer your burning questions about raising teenagers. We share lessons we've learned, struggles we've had, challenges we've faced, and things we've learned the hard way -- and what has helped us to build stronger relationships and better communication with our teens. 

[00:34] - Welcome to another episode of The Crystal Paine Show.

[00:55] - You all have been asking for more teen-related content and submitted so many great questions!

[04:01] - Q: How do you decide when to push your kids versus letting them fail?

[07:22] - As much as possible, we try to say yes and we try to keep our no’s to a minimum.

[10:48] - There is a fine line between helping and enabling. You don’t want to stand in the way of lessons that need to be learned.

[11:57] - Q: At what age did they get a first job for real money, and how to help them do that?

[14:23] - Encourage them as soon as they are able to withe gentle nudges.

[19:49] - There were a lot of questions about technology and social media, see the show notes for previous podcast episodes.

[20:47] - Q: How do you talk to your kids about the birds and the bees?

[25:00] - Prepping them and giving them the tools on how to respond in an uncomfortable/awkward situation.

[25:46] - Q: How do you deal with teens who don’t want to share with their dad?

[26:45] - One of the best things that we did years ago was asking our kids flat out, “What do we do that makes you feel loved? And what do we do that makes you feel unloved?”

[28:22] - Parents, pay attention to how much time we are correcting and how much time we are connecting.

[31:10] - Be in their world and let them see that you care about them.

[34:10]- Being truthful with them about our struggles, and asking for their forgiveness.

• Love-Centered Parenting
• An Interview with Kathrynne
• Our Rules for Kids and Phones
• 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

Do you have kids who love science, technology, or STEM-related activities? If so, you might want to check out CodeSpark Academy — an online program that teaches kids ages 5-9 how to code and use critical thinking skills.

CodeSpark is the #1 learn-to-code app, teaching kids the ABCs of coding and basic computer programming skills — all without having to know how to read!

Based on research-backed curriculum from MIT and Princeton, this highly-rated educational app features hundreds of activities and games designed to teach kids the fundamentals of computer science and introduce them to the world of STEM.

In additional to learning how to code, this app also teaches basic problem-solving and logical thinking skills, encourages profound creativity, instills persistence and resilience, and boosts confidence in kids.

Better yet, the games are so fun to play, most kids won’t even realize they’re learning while playing!

When you sign up for your first FREE month of CodeSpark Academy, you get:

• Unlimited coding challenges
• New skills every week
• Hundreds of educational puzzles
• Unlimited access to their creativity suite

Right now CodeSpark Academy is offering our readers/listeners an exclusive deal to get a FREE 30-day trial! Typically, you only get a free 7-day trial, so this is a really great opportunity for your kids to try it out and see if they like it!

Note: When you take advantage of this offer, you’re signing up for auto-renewal at the regular price of $9.99 per month. If you love the program after your free trial, you can continue. If you want to cancel after your free trial, just be sure to cancel the auto-renewal in your account to avoid getting charged.

“Home is for learning and not for perfection.” In this week's must-listen-to podcast episode, Nicole Homan -- author of They Call Me Mama -- shares lessons she's learned as the mom of 14 kids.

She tells the story of their unexpected journey to growing their family to 16 (14 kids + parents), what it's really like to have such a full house, how she finds time for quiet, mantras that carry her through, the pain of failed adoption, and how to have the courage to say yes to God's call -- even when it completely scares you.

This episode is so packed with truth and inspiration. I came away from this interview so encouraged and motivcated as a mom. I think every mom should listen to it (and even if you're not a mom, you'll get a lot from her words of wisdom!)

In This Episode

[00:34] - Welcome to another episode of The Crystal Paine Show. 

[02:01] - Nicole introduces herself.

[03:39] - When you first got married, were you planning on having kids right away?

[05:50] - Nicole found out she was pregnant right before their first adoption. And their family quickly then grew to 10 -- in unexpected ways.

[09:00] - What advice, what encouragement would you have for someone who, they want to step out but fear is holding them back?

[11:11] - Were there moments when you were thinking, “what did we say yes to”?

[13:13] - What do you do when you feel overwhelmed by the mess and the noise?

[15:08] - How do you cultivate stillness in your heart?

[16:48] - Nicole shares super practical tips for moms to get quiet time when you have lots of littles.

[19:23] - Nicole shares the unexpected story of how they went from 10 children to 14 children.

[23:10] - The pain of a failed adoption.

[25:05] - If you could go back and talk to yourself 20 years ago, what would you say?

• Books
• They Call Me Mama by Nicole Homan
• Other Links
• Nicole Homan, Planted
• Love-Centered Parenting
• 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 found Nicole Zasowski through her book, What If It’s Wonderful? Release Your Fears, Choose Joy, and Find Courage to Celebrate and it hit me in some really deep places. I didn't expect a book about celebration would have me uncovering such unexpected things I need to process through in my life.

In her book and this podcast episode, Nicole shares her story of having five miscarriages and how those struggles caused her to stop hoping and just constantly live in fear and dread of the unknown. She shares candidly what it looked like to lose hope and feel so overwhelmed with discouragement. She then shares practical suggestions for how to pursue joy and find the courage to hope again.

Whether you are in a dark pit of despair right now or just would love to experience more joy and celebration and hope in your life, I think this episode will really encourage you!

[00:34] - Welcome to another episode of The Crystal Paine Show.

[01:28] - I’m just getting to know Nicole Zasowski and I ask her to introduce herself to our audience.

[02:03] - I ask Nicole what inspired her to write this book.

[04:24] - How did you go about recognizing that you were not allowing yourself to experience joy?

[06:00] - I ask Nicole to speak to the woman who is going through a miscarriage or difficult time and feeling without hope.

[08:48] - How did you handle the, “everyone else is getting what I want” season?

[12:13] - What does it look like, practically, to delight in the present moment

[19:18] - The difference between feelings feeling true and being true.

[21:29] - How do you live in that moment and see the beauty, when it just feels like you’re in the fog and it's dark?

[28:28] - Nicole closes us out by encouraging the woman who wants to find a way to enjoy the here and now.

• Books
• What If It’s Wonderful? Release Your Fears, Choose Joy, and Find Courage to Celebrate by Nicole Zasowski
• From Lost to Found: Giving Up What You Think You Want for What Will Set You Free by Nicole Zasowski
• Other Links
• Nicole Zasowski on Instagram
• Nicole Zasowski on Facebook
• Love-Centered Parenting
• 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

If we could go back and tell our 23-year-old and 24-year-old selves something when we had our first child, what would we say? In this episode, we share some candid thoughts on What We Wish We Had Known Before Having Kids.

We discuss how I went into parenting thinking I could control our kids and I've had to learn the hard way that I can't control the outcome or choices of our kids -- especially as they are getting older. We also share about how we wish we had known that loving our kids was so much more important (and effective!) than lecturing them.

And we close by sharing how we wish we had focused more on building a relationship with our kids from the very beginning and how we had no idea how FUN it would be to have teenagers (contrary to what we thought).

I give an update on what is saving my life, and it just happens to be a special moment with one of the kids. I also give an update on the book  I am currently listening to. Jesse and I discuss how different it must be to live in certain situations and how to function during difficult times.

In This Episode

[00:34] - Welcome to another episode of The Crystal Paine Show.

[01:10] - I share something special that has been so meaningful to me recently.

[03:48] - I am also listening to a really fantastic book right now.

[05:47] - It is a quiet unfolding of the story that is really important.

[08:53] - Jesse reads the temporary rules in 1941 for the Richmond Golf Club in London England.

[11:12] - Sometimes the best thing is, instead of living in fear, put your head down and do the next best thing.

[11:55] - What we wish we knew, before having kids; this was a request that came in from someone and she asked if we would talk about it.

[13:00] - The biggest thing for me, I wish that I knew ahead of time that I couldn't control them.

[14:58] - As parents we would take the responsibility of those bad decisions, when that is not our responsibility to bear as well.

[16:04] - I think there’s a fine line balance between recognizing our responsibility but also God's sovereignty.

[16:30] - Loving them is more important than lecturing them.

[18:06] - The relationship is so much more important than the end result.

[20:55] - I wish I had known how much fun they would be and to just enjoy them.

[22:18] - Choose your perspective and choose your mindset.

• Books
• The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin
• Programs
• Libby/Overdrive, free public library app
• Other Links
• Love-Centered Parenting
• 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

If there was one question we are asked to answer the most often, it's likely, something along the lines of, "How do you prioritize your marriage when you have kids?"

In this week's podcast episode, we share some of our best suggestions to make time for romance when you have kids. We share things we have learned, what works for us, and how we've improved our communication over the years.

We also talk about some exercise-related things that are saving our lives, what we are currently reading, conspiracy theories, and how I applied something from a book I'm reading to a hard conversation recently.

In This Episode

[00:34] - Welcome to another episode of The Crystal Paine Show.

[02:00] - Jesse tells us what is saving his life and explains some of the exercises.

[05:50] - The mystery is solved as to why the treadmill has been moved in some odd way.

[06:50] - The weather has been really nice and I have been itching to be outside.

[07:55] - I share an update on what I am reading.

[09:35] - I received an upset message on instagram from a follower and I shared my honest response.

[11:30] - I think so often that people just want to be heard.

[12:20] - Jesse has an update on a book that he has been listening to.

[15:39] - Let's talk about for romance when you have kids.

[16:25] - The number one key to making time for romance is prioritizing it.

[17:04] - One of the greatest gifts we can give our kids is a strong marriage.

[18:45] - Be intentional; you can’t just assume it will happen without effort and thought.

[21:22] - Getting creative with the time and schedule you have.

[24:15] - The glue that holds our marriage together is laughter.

[26:22] - We love to exercise PDA in front of our kids.

[27:20] - We talk a lot. Or maybe Jesse listens and I talk!

[30:25] - Learning to communicate about communication has been helpful.

[32:27] - Having things that we do just the two of us has been really special.

• Books
• Come Sit With Me: How to Delight in Differences, Love Through Disagreements, and Live with Discomfort  edited by Becky Keife
• Unoffendable by Brant Hansen
• The First Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer
• Special Mentions
• A Love Languages Quiz
  Knees Over Toes
• Libby/Overdrive, free public library app
• Other Links
• Love-Centered Parenting
• 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

A little over a year ago, we started fostering Baby D. In this episode, Jesse and I reflect on what we have learned and how we have grown this past year -- especially as it relates to parenting a child with Down syndrome and special needs.

We share things we wish we had known, how our perspective has changed, and how we've seen God's faithfulness over and over again. We talk about the gift that this sweet boy has been in our lives and how he has taught us to slow down, savor life, and celebrate the little things. If you know someone who has a child with special needs, we hope that this episode will give you some insight into how to love them and walk with them better.

In addition, Jesse and I talk about how he saved me out of a thunderstorm recently, a simple practice that makes such a difference in my days, some out-of-the-ordinary things our kids have been doing at school, and a book I've been listening to.

In This Episode

[00:34] - Welcome to another episode of The Crystal Paine Show.

[01:40] - It's been a year since we said yes to Baby D! We want to share some of our reflections on this past year.

[03:04] - Jesse sort of saved my life this week.

[06:50] - It was an interesting week at our kids' school...

[08:18] - This simple practice makes such a difference.

[12:31] - I have been listening to the new book by Katherine Reay.

[15:45] - Reflecting on one year with Baby D.

[22:04] - How he has taught us so much about having empathy and compassion.

[25:22] - Show value, even if it feels awkward or uncomfortable.

[29:10] - Give your kids opportunities to interact with people who are different than them.

• Books
• The London House by Katherine Reay
• Dear Mr.Knightley by Katherine Reay
• Programs
• Libby/Overdrive, free public library app
• Special Mentions
• GetUpside App -- earn cash back for buying gas
• Other Links
• Love-Centered Parenting
• 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

"What does your morning routine look like right now?" "How are you able to fit in the 5 things you do every morning?"

We got a number of questions and followup responses to the episode we recorded recently on 5 Things I Do Every Morning, so we did a followup episode this week answering your questions and sharing more details on what our morning routine looks like right now.

Also on today's episode, I talk about my mixed feelings on a book I finished, Jesse shares about something that he did this past week that really impressed me, and I share about something we've been using for Baby D that has been so helpful!

In This Episode

[00:34] - Welcome to another episode of The Crystal Paine Show.

[01:25] - What dates look like sometimes at this season of life.

[02:54] - Today we are talking about mornings and some follow up questions from a previous podcast episode.

[03:33] - I just finished a book that kind of goes along with today's topic.

[06:09] - I don’t need the motivation to get more done, I need the reminders to slow down.

[07:02] - Jesse did something this past week that really impressed me.

[09:44] - It just reminds you of how much we have to be grateful for.

[10:38] - I share what has been saving my life.

[12:27] - Little things sometimes, that can make a big difference.

[15:45] - Let’s talk about what our mornings look like.

[16:50] - We have had many different renditions, and just get creative every season.

[18:18] - Jesse suggests habit stacking to help set up your routine.

[21:46] - But what does it actually look like?

[23:42] - It helps that we do this divide and conquer thing.

[24:38] - Your nights can set your days up for so much success. A successful day begins the night  before.

[25:20] - Jesse shares explains why I consider sleeping in until about 6:45 in the morning.

[28:20] - This is an easy season for us, but you have to make it work for whatever season you are in.

• Books
• Win The Day by Mark Batterson
• Beneath the Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
• Special Mentions
• 5 Things I Do Every Morning
• Pre-Spoon: NumNum or Nuk
• Libby/Overdrive, free public library app
• Other Links
• Love-Centered Parenting
• 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

Do you wish you could pay less for your phone service? Wishing you could figure out how to get access to great service/coverage without having to break the bank?

I highly recommend checking out Twigby!

Twigby is a company dedicated to providing fantastic phone service at great prices and they are the perfect option for budget conscious families because they are so affordable! They also offer great coverage from the nation’s largest and most reliable network (yep — Verizon!) and have many different options for phone plans.

Twigby has plans starting as low as $9 per month for just talk and text. And data plans start as low as $20 per month (with unlimited talk & text)! Even a cell phone plan with unlimited talk and text and 10 GB of data only costs you $35 per month — which is a lot less than you’ll usually pay!

With these kinds of prices, it’s worth checking to see if Twigby might save you money each month on your family cell phone bill — even if you’ve been on a family plan with a provider for a decade!

Get this: The average family that switches to Twigby saves $80 on their cell phone bill, which equates to an annual savings of $960! See how much you could save with Twigby’s handy dandy calculator (click on “compare us” up top!)

Want to give Twigby a try? If so, you’ll currently save 50% off your first six months of phone service! Wow!!

But that’s not all! On top of this already amazing Twigby discount, our readers can also get a $15 credit when you use code FAMILY at checkout during sign-up!

Note: This $15 credit will be applied to your account when you purchase a new phone, get a free SIM card from Twigby with a new service, or bring your own phone to use.

Valid through March 31, 2022.

(And if you’re not completely satisfied within 30 days of activating your service, you’ll get a full refund!)

Recently, I was scrolling on my phone and came across the social media account of someone I used to follow years ago. They are in a similar niche as me and back when I followed them, they had a lot fewer followers than me.

But in the last few years, their account has clearly blown up and they had hundreds of thousands more followers than me. Plus, as I was scrolling through their account, I saw that they had super high engagement numbers and interaction.

Instead of being immediately excited for them, I confess I started thinking about how I’m really dropping the ball in being strategic and creative in what I’m posting & that I need to step up my game so I can be growing more online and seeing more engagement like this other person.

And then it hit me: God has called me to be building into and growing other things the past few years — my home, growing as a person, nurturing and loving on the people in my home (and even growing tiny humans!)

I might not have seen a huge increase in followers the past few years, but I’ve spent hours and hours rocking little babies and speaking life to them... and that is very important work.

I might not have seen the crazy engagement numbers that other people have, but I’ve spent the last few years building deep relationships with my older kids and loving two birth mamas and their babies... and that is very important work.

The work that God has called me to right now might not be measurable in numbers that society and experts would consider important (such as accolades, income, awards, product sales, follower count, etc.)... but it matters far more than any of those measurable numbers.

No matter what we’re doing (or not doing), it’s easy to look around and compare our lives to others.

But God hasn’t called you or me to her life. He’s called us to our life.

We’re not supposed to do what she’s doing. We’re called to be faithful where God has us — even if no one sees or notices or thanks us. He sees. He notices. That’s what matters.

All the awards and applause and accolades, all the numbers and name recognition, all the income and opportunities in the world... they don’t hold a candle to faithfulness.

In this episode, we also share about books we're reading, a Spotify playlist I've been loving, and a meal-service we've been loving.

In This Episode

[00:34] - Welcome to another episode of The Crystal Paine Show.

[01:15] - We talk about books we're reading and one I recently read that I just don't know what I think of it.

[06:44] - A Spotify playlist I recently put together with Truths to Remember.

[09:30] - Switching to Spotify and listening to podcasts has freed up a lot of Jesse’s phone space.

[10:17] - Jesse shares about a meal service he's been enjoying.

[16:13] - My experience with comparison.

[17:58] - I should have been excited and celebrating this person's success, instead I went to a negative space.

[20:43] - It was just such a reminder to me that no matter what we're doing, or not doing, it’s easy to look around and compare our lives to others.

[22:30] - A seemingly small thing done in love, faithfulness, and consistency -- it's not small!

• Books
• The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight For Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore
• The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore
• Total Power by Vince Flynn
• Special Mentions
• Truths to Remember, Spotify Playlist
• Eat to Evolve, meal plans (use coupon code MSM to save 20% off your first order)
• Libby/Overdrive, free public library app
• Other Links
• Love-Centered Parenting
• 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

Do you wish you could pay less for your phone service? Wishing you could figure out how to get access to great service/coverage without having to break the bank?

I highly recommend checking out Twigby!

Twigby is a company dedicated to providing fantastic phone service at great prices and they are the perfect option for budget conscious families because they are so affordable! They also offer great coverage from the nation’s largest and most reliable network (yep — Verizon!) and have many different options for phone plans.

Twigby has plans starting as low as $9 per month for just talk and text. And data plans start as low as $20 per month (with unlimited talk & text)! Even a cell phone plan with unlimited talk and text and 10 GB of data only costs you $35 per month — which is a lot less than you’ll usually pay!

With these kinds of prices, it’s worth checking to see if Twigby might save you money each month on your family cell phone bill — even if you’ve been on a family plan with a provider for a decade!

Get this: The average family that switches to Twigby saves $80 on their cell phone bill, which equates to an annual savings of $960! See how much you could save with Twigby’s handy dandy calculator (click on “compare us” up top!)

Want to give Twigby a try? If so, you’ll currently save 50% off your first six months of phone service! Wow!!

But that’s not all! On top of this already amazing Twigby discount, our readers can also get a $15 credit when you use code FAMILY at checkout during sign-up!

Note: This $15 credit will be applied to your account when you purchase a new phone, get a free SIM card from Twigby with a new service, or bring your own phone to use.

Valid through March 31, 2022.

(And if you’re not completely satisfied within 30 days of activating your service, you’ll get a full refund!)