Crystal Paine Show

I've been talking with and hearing from so many people who are tired, weary, and just wanting to shut down. If you can relate to this, you will definitely want to listen to this week's podcast episode! I'm talking with Lisa Whittle, the author of the brand-new book: The Hard Good: Showing Up for God to Work in You When You Want to Shut Down.

Lisa answers honestly the questions I ask about what to do when we are exhausted and burnt out and life feels hard and overwhelming. We discuss why she believes that hard can also be good, how to know you are shutting down, and how to reverse course when you want to give up.

In addition, we have a really candid conversation about how to respond when someone we know gets that opportunity or thing that we really, really want. Lisa's words on this are powerful and if you only listen to this part of the podcast (starting at minute 18), please listen to this.

I hope that our conversation encourages you, gives you hope, and helps you feel less alone.

[00:39] - Welcome Lisa Whittle to The Crystal Paine Show -- she shares who she is and why she wrote this book.

[04:15] - We talk about the tension in the title of her book. How is it possible that something that can be both hard but also good?

[09:27] - How do you know that you’re shutting down? What can someone do who feels stuck and doesn't see anywhere else to turn?

[14:52] - "A lot of us are alive but we are not living." Lisa explains more what she means by this.

[16:53] - When we are really vulnerable with a friend, our relationship deepens because we’ve shared our hearts, and I think it is the same in our relationship with the Lord.

[18:15] - We talk about what it looks like to cheer for someone who gets that thing you really want and how hard and discouraging that can be.

[23:36] - "She is not the opponent, jealousy is." Powerful words on comparison from Lisa.

[25:48] - We end the podcast with Lisa speaking to the woman who is in the hard right now and it doesn’t feel like there’s any good.

• The Hard Good: Showing Up for God to Work in You When You Want to Shut Down by Lisa Whittle
• Lisa Whittle on Facebook
• Lisa Whittle on Instagram
• Lisa Whittle on Twitter
• 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: [email protected]

Our topic today – our takes on courtship and dating - might be considered a bit controversial by some! You may recall an early episode of the podcast in which we talked about our own history involving this topic, and if you did hear that episode, then you may also remember that we have a pretty unique story of how Jesse and I ended up in a relationship together and how we had strict courtship rules set by our parents.

In this episode, we're talking more about that and answering the question, "Do you allow your kids to date?"

We share how we are approaching dating and relationships with our teens. It may surprise you to find out that we don't have rules for dating at our house (such as, "You can start dating when you are 16", etc.) Instead, we are seeking to walk with our kids, have lots of conversations, point them to Jesus, and seek to rely on the Holy Spirit (as we talked in last week's episode!) for wisdom and guidance as we guide our kids.

In this week's episode, we also discuss Jesse's new water bottle, our new double stroller, two books we finished recently, listening to podcasts on double speed, and more! 

[0:32] – Today's topic is courtship and dating.

[2:20] – Jesse surprises me by bringing something off "script".

[5:42] – I reveal that we recently got a new stroller which has been saving my life lately!

[8:28] – You can get the double stroller that we bought for a relatively low price on Amazon!

[9:48] – Jesse just finished Black Ice by Brad Thor.

[10:58] – I just finished re-reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio.

[12:55] – An email and an iTunes review sent in by listeners.

[15:40] – Jesse offers a funny tip about listening to podcasts at a certain speed.

[17:32] – We dive into the main topic – courtship vs. dating.

[19:58] – Teenagers are more apt to listen if parents have conversations with them as opposed to just laying down rules.

[22:45] – Encouraging our kids to plan and think about the future, not just live in the moment.

[25:22] – Each and every child is different; we don't want to have a conveyor belt approach to parenting.

[27:40] – Why we have tried to perfect the art of stoicism as parents. :)

• The Crystal Paine Show – Episode 5: Courtship Rules and Our First Kiss
• The Crystal Paine Show - Episode 129: My System for Keeping on Top of Emails
• The Crystal Paine Show - Episode 136: Don’t Miss Out on This Superpower! (with Jeannie Cunnion)
• Graco Ready2Grow LX 2.0 Double Stroller, Clark
• Brad Thor – Black Ice
• R.J. Palacio - Wonder
• 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: [email protected]

Longtime listeners or new listeners who have gone back and listened to our older episodes may recall one of our early episodes in which we had Jeannie Cunnion on the show as a special guest to talk about how to be a happier mom! Well, Jeannie is back again this week to discuss her new book — how it came to be, what it means to rely on the Holy Spirit, and how that can change your life.

Jeannie shares so many great points during our conversation such as how the Holy Spirit is available in all of us who are Christians but is not necessarily active in all of us. We can get in the way of the Holy Spirit and impede Him, she talks about what it means to cooperate with Him and follow up on His nudges, even if it feels like we have to go outside of our comfort zones to do so.

We also talk about how to go about determining whether or not a calling is truly coming from the Holy Spirit or if it’s coming from our own agendas. I give an example from my own life about a time when that wasn’t apparent, and Jeannie offers some advice on how to make that determination. She closes by explaining how she acknowledges the Holy Spirit’s presence on a daily basis, insight that I hope that you will find helpful so that you, too, can do the same!

My greatest desire in this episode is that you will truly take a step back and ask yourself if you are pursuing your own agenda or if you are recognizing the Holy Spirit’s presence and listening to Him.

[0:33] – We have a special guest today – returning guest Jeannie Cunnion!

[2:43] – Jeannie shares some background information about herself with us.

[5:18] – What does it mean to rely on the Holy Spirit?

[8:24] – One of the Holy Spirit’s roles in our lives, Jeannie asserts, is as a map and a compass.

[10:48] – Jeannie compares the Holy Spirit to being a close friend.

[12:41] – I reflect on when I realized what it means to rely upon the Holy Spirit was in me.

[15:23] – An example from Scripture of the Holy Spirit being at work.

[16:34] – The difference between the Holy Spirit being available and being active.

[19:25] – Jeannie expounds upon the word conviction and what it means to her.

[21:38] – How to determine whether or not a calling is coming from the Holy Spirit.

[27:33] – We learn how Jeannie acknowledges the Holy Spirit’s presence every day.

• The Crystal Paine Show – Episode 3: The Secret to Being a Happier Mom
• Jeannie Cunnion – Parenting the Wholehearted Child: Captivating Your Child’s Heart with God’s Extravagant Grace
• Jeannie Cunnion – Mom Set Free: Find Relief from the Pressure to Get It All Right
• Jeannie Cunnion – Don’t Miss Out: Daring to Believe Life Is Better with the Holy Spirit
• 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: [email protected]

The podcast is available on iTunes, Android, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can listen online through the direct player here. OR, a much easier way to listen is by subscribing to the podcast through a free podcast app on your phone. (Find instructions for how to subscribe to a podcast here.) Ready to dive in and listen? Hit the player above or search for “The Crystal Paine Show” on your favorite podcast app.

It has been a while since we have done this, but we are bringing it back – that is, answering your burning questions! We tackle a variety of your questions today including how Jesse felt leaving his job as an attorney, which of us handles the bills and budgeting, how arguing between us pretty much always indicates a deeper issue, and our personalities.

We also reflect on how our personalities and interests are different and similar and how this has changed in 18 years of being married.  

In addition, we talk about what our dream vacation looks like and how having foster children has affected not only the children in our family but also our marriage. Like most things, it has had its ups and downs, but we feel blessed as we remind ourselves of our why.

We hope you enjoy another episode answering your burning questions. As always, if you have other questions or input after listening to a podcast episode, we'd love to hear from you!

In This Episode:

[0:35] – We are answering your burning questions today!

[1:29] – Jesse answers a question on whether or not it was difficult for him to stop working as an attorney.

[4:00] – I argue why someone in a marriage considering income my income can be dangerous to the marriage.

[5:43] – Jesse shares which one of us takes care of bills getting paid.

[8:38] – Figuring out each spouse's strengths in a marriage is important.

[9:08] – We talk about how we decide on budgeting and spending.

[11:15] – I make the case that arguments – even silly arguments – usually point to something deeper going on.

[14:38] – We tackle a question about whether or not our personalities are more similar or opposite.

[16:40] – What is our dream vacation?

[18:57] – How fostering can impact the children in a family.

[21:20] – We reflect on how fostering has affected our marriage.

[24:33] – What is our greatest weakness is in our communication with each other?

• Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith - Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity
• 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: [email protected]

Covid... that was the last thing I expected she would test positive for when our doctor sent us to the hospital when Kierstyn was really, really sick a few weeks ago.

She had come down with a fever and a really bad case of what we thought were hives all of a sudden on Saturday night. We called the after-hours nurse and she had us go in and get it checked out at the walk-in clinic that night. They thought it was just some sort of allergic reaction + a virus. They gave her Benadryl and told us what to watch for and sent us home.

Her fever went up and her hives got worse Sunday night/early Monday morning. She was miserable and my mama heart felt like something wasn’t right. We called our pediatrician Monday morning and got Kierstyn in to see her. Kierstyn’s fever continued to rise and her rash/hives got a lot worse and she was inconsolable, so our pediatrician sent us to the hospital.

In addition to giving her IV fluids and meds, they ran a battery of tests/bloodwork... and we were all shocked when she tested positive for rhinovirus and Covid. (We knew something was up when the lady came in in a sort of hazmat looking suit to tell us the results!!)

They were able to find some meds to give her some relief and calm her down and her breathing looked good, so they sent us home with meds and what to look for and watch for (they felt she’d be more comfortable at home and they said basically what they were doing at the hospital we could also do at home, since she doesn’t need any oxygen or anything).

In this week's episode, we share about our experience, what we learned about MIS-C, surprising info that we never expected from test results, and lessons we learned from this experience.

At the beginning of this episode, we start it out like we always do -- giving you some life updates, talking about books, sharing about what's saving our life, and sharing some listener feedback! 

In This Episode:

[0:35] – We explain why we took the last two weeks off.

[2:00] – We also went on our annual trip recently with my extended family.

[2:55] – I recently finished listening to The President Is Missing -- an audiobook Jesse recommended!

[8:06] – What has been saving my life.

[10:30] – Hear a funny story about my recent trip to the dentist.

[12:57] – It's listener feedback time!

[18:16] – We start sharing our recent story involving our experience with COVID-19.

[20:45] – Learn about what happened a couple weeks ago on the weekend of a baseball tournament.

[23:11] – We share what our daughter was initially diagnosed with.

[26:06] – Our daughter's fever was 104, and medical personnel knew something was wrong.

[28:48] – We were shocked to find out that Kierstyn tested positive for COVID.

[31:26] – We had so much planned that the COVID diagnosis impacted.

[34:09] – The new hospital where Kierstyn was transferred didn't seem as concerned.

[36:02] – We started thinking back over the last few weeks and things started making sense.

[38:02] – What we learned from the testing we got done.

[40:42] – What Kierstyn's recovery process looked like.

[41:42] – Two lessons we learned from the experience.

• James Patterson & Bill Clinton – The President Is Missing
• Libby
• The Crystal Paine Show - Episode 133: Our Best Strategies for Raising “Twins”
• 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: [email protected]

Although we've never actually had twins – neither biologically nor via fostering – we have had two babies for most of the past year and a half, so we thought that we would share some of our best advice and tips on either having twins or fostering twins!

The biggest thing we've learned is that it takes time (our experience has been 4-6 weeks) to establish a comfortable rhythm and routine, so be patient, and give yourself (and those around you) a lot of grace. We also recommend finding creative ways of keeping track of things. Setting up different stations around your house (such as a feeding station and a diaper-changing station) and using an app to keep track of when each baby is fed, sleeps, has their diaper changed, get their meds, etc. can really help when you are sleep-deprived and caring for multiple babies -- especially if one is medically fragile or has special needs.

On a somewhat related note, we also share lessons learned from a recent trip that we took to Colorado Springs and how we encountered some unexpected obstacles due to having two little ones, so yes, even traveling via plane is going to be different if you have twins! Having two babies at once can feel overwhelming at first, but we promise that you will get into a comfortable groove! It will get so much easier over time, and it will even become natural to you.

Have you had twins or two babies who are almost the same age? If so, I'd love to hear your best tips and strategies!

In This Episode:

[0:35] – Today's topic is advice for having twins.

[2:39] – We just got back from a quick trip to Colorado Springs!

[4:00] – Learn why we couldn't sit together on the plane.

[5:35] – Jesse shares what he learned from our recent trip.

[10:04] – We both share what we're reading, plus some fun emails/messages from listeners!

[16:13] – We answer a question sent in by a listener about why we don't book Airbnbs when we travel.

[19:26] – Now let's talk about our best advice for raising twins...

[21:03] – Expect it to take at least a month to establish a comfortable rhythm.

[23:11] – It was helpful for us to set up different stations around the house.

[24:56] – I recommend keeping a log of when each baby eats, sleeps, has their diaper changed, has medicine, and so forth.

[27:25] – Give yourself and others grace!

[30:18] – You will eventually get into a groove.

[31:04] – The most important thing for us is relying on God and getting to see Him be so faithful!

• James Patterson & Bill Clinton - The President Is Missing
• James Patterson & Bill Clinton - The President’s Daughter
• T.J. Menn & Jenn Menn - Faith to Foster: An All-American Story of Loving the Least of These
• Hoopla - Website
• Libby
• Huckleberry: Baby & Child
• 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: [email protected]

A few years ago, we went through a season with a lot of evening activities. During that season, we decided to switch from family dinners to family breakfasts.

We would all eat a hot breakfast (usually eggs and bacon, maybe toast or pancakes, too) and spend some time reading the Bible and talking together. We were homeschooling at the time and didn't have any specific time we needed to get out the door in the mornings, so it worked so well for our family.

Recently, we've had a lot going on in the evenings and we were noticing that we weren't getting to have family dinners very regularly. We called a family meeting and asked for people to give their ideas on what we could do to have more time together around the table.

(Tip: want to come up with creative solutions for your family? Call a family meeting and let everyone weigh in and then come to an agreement on what might work. Your kids are much more likely to want to go along with the plan if they helped create it in the first place!)

After our family meeting, we all decided together to go back to having family breakfasts again. Jesse and Kaitlynn need to be out the door to ice-skating by 8 a.m., so we decided to have family breakfasts at 7:30 a.m. I've been prepping a hot breakfast at 6:45 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. -- so far, I've done things like Breakfast casserole, Baked Oatmeal, toast and scrambled eggs, French Toast, Waffles and Bacon, and even cold cereal (on particularly full days).

It's been such a great start to our day again. And, we've realized that it's had a trickle down affect into other areas -- our days feel more organized and it feels like we have a lot more breathing room in them... just from the simple practice of how we are starting our mornings.

In this week's episode of The Crystal Paine Show, we share more details on how family breakfasts work right now, how it's made a difference in our entire day, two books I've been listening to, how to get the pit out of an avocado, a new job for one of our girls, listener mail, Hoopla, and more!

This week’s episode is sponsored by Annie’s — a company I’ve loved for a long time! Annie’s has the perfect subscription boxes for both boys and girls that will keep them, creative, constructive, and engaged this summer!

This week’s spotlight is Annie’s Young Woodworker's Club — a monthly subscription that sends kids real hammer-and-nails construction kits. They even include real tools starting with a kid-sized hammer. Each kit has pre-cut and pre-drilled wood, so your kids can build complete kits with minimal supervision and be proud of every project.

Annie’s is offering 75% off your first month of their Young Woodworker's Club when you go here and use coupon code CRYSTAL at checkout. This is a fantastic deal!

In This Episode:

[1:15] – An easy way to get the pit out of an avocado!

[3:50] – Kaitlynn just got a job, so we now have two high schoolers who have jobs!

[5:43] – I have been listening to The Warsaw Orphan by Kelly Rimmer.

[7:38] – The Warsaw Orphan is the second book that I have listened to on Hoopla, which I have been using lately.

[8:57] – I share my thoughts on how The Woman with the Blue Star ends.

[11:40] – Listener mail: feedback, tips, and a question on Airbnb.

[15:10] - Today's sponsor is the Young Woodworker's Club.

[17:48] – We dive into talking about family breakfast!

[19:40] – We were going to suggest family meetings to our kids before putting them into place, but they had the same idea!

[21:24] – Our mornings have been so much more productive and structured.

[22:32] – Hear my advice on what you can do if there is something in your home that isn't working.

• Kelly Rimmer – The Warsaw Orphan: A WWII Novel
• Kelly Rimmer – The Things We Cannot Say: A Novel
• Pam Jenoff – The Woman with the Blue Star: A Novel
• Hoopla - Website
• Libby
• How to Remove Avocado Pits
• Annie’s Kit Clubs – Website
• 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: [email protected]

Some of you may recall the podcast episode that we did last year during lockdown about some of our craziest travel stories. Well, we're coming back at you with another round of that, sharing another crazy vacation story!

This one happened on our recent trip to Kansas. We usually have good success booking hotels at the last-minute online. But well, things didn't go so well this time. In fact, for the first time ever, we checked out of the hotel after only staying for one day. 

I think this was one of those cases where if it seems too good to be true, it might be! :) Although, I'm pretty sure that the window getting busted in in the middle of our stay might be one of those one-in-a-million sort of situations.

Listen in for all the details + an update on books we are listening to, some tips from our listeners, a Jui Jitsu update, tofu, a new hack for GMail, something I just learned about Hoopla, and more!

This week's episode is sponsored by Annie's -- a company I've loved for a long time! Annie's has the perfect subscription boxes for both boys and girls that will keep them, creative, constructive, and engaged this summer!

This week's spotlight is Annie’s Creative Girls Club -- a monthly subscription to  introduce your girl to new crafts with every shipment. Each month, she’ll receive TWO fun kits, complete with easy-to-follow instructions. Kickstart her creativity through fun, easy-to-make DIY crafts that include painting, beading, and so much more.

Annie's is offering 75% off your first month of their Creative Girls' Club when you go here and use coupon code CRYSTAL at checkout. This is a fantastic deal!

[0:32] – We are bringing you another crazy vacation story!

[1:16] – Jesse has just started using the Libby app!

[4:12] – Jesse just recently finished reading Bill O'Reilly's Killing the SS.

[9:28] – I have been reading The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner.

[12:11] - You can change the settings in Gmail to delete emails (rather than archive them) when you swipe on them!

[14:36] – I read aloud an email sent in by a listener.

[15:55] – I share the story of having bought tofu recently and what I learned.

[17:36] – Jesse follows up on his recent Jiu-Jitsu story.

[20:04] – Jesse came home from sparring recently with bruises all over him!

[21:49] – Today's sponsor is Annie's Kit Clubs!

[23:56] – We dive into our latest crazy vacation story!

[26:11] – I looked at the ratings of a particular hotel that Jesse picked out.

[28:35] – I begin to reveal what happened when we pulled up to the hotel.

[31:23] – Find out what happened on our first morning in the hotel!

[36:40] – We ultimately decided to check out and go to a different hotel.

• The Crystal Paine Show - Episode 79: Our Craziest Travel Stories
• The Crystal Paine Show - Episode 129: My System for Keeping on Top of Emails
• Libby
• Bill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard – Killing the SS: The Hunt for the Worst War Criminals in History
• Susan Meissner – The Last Year of the War
• Annie’s Kit Clubs - Website
• 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: [email protected]

“I love having teenagers!” I said this to a young mom recently who told me how she gets so discouraged with people telling her, “Just enjoy these years when they are young because it’s not going to be fun when they are teens.” She sighed and said to me, “I wish people would stop declaring such negativity over my kids’ futures!”

I couldn’t “Amen” her statement fast enough! And I loved getting to share with her how much I love having teens. Sure, we have hard moments and days. Sure, there are hormones and disagreements. But overall, I just love having teenagers!

I love our deep discussions and our silly inside jokes. I love watching them spread their wings and stick their necks out. I love learning from their perspectives and having them teach me how to use electronics and play video games (I’m working on learning to play Rocket League right now and I’m terrible at it, but I’m having a blast trying to figure it out!)

One of the best parts of having teens is that our home has a constant influx of other teens coming over to hang out. I want to claim all of them as my own — and I love hearing their boisterous laughter filling our home, can’t get enough of our late-night discussions, and my heart is so happy watching friendships develop and deepen as they consume way too much junk food together. (What’s with all teens seeming to love Spicy Doritos, Takis, Sour Candy, and Oreos?? I see the combos of food they will have laid out and be plowing through and I just cringe at thinking of how I would feel to have all of that combined in my own stomach!)

Young moms: don’t let anyone tell you that the teen years are going to be this awful, horrific time! Yes, you will need Jesus like never before, but instead of dreading it, I encourage you to look forward to it! Practice staying up late, get used to lots of opening up your hands and letting go and trusting God, and maybe stock up on Spicy Doritos... and then get ready for a wild and wonderful ride of stepping back and watching your kids walk into adulthood! It’s an amazing journey with lots of beauty and laughter on the way, if you have eyes to see the gifts and goodness that is there!

In this week's episode of the podcast, Jesse and I talk more about how what you look for is usually what you see and how this frames how seek to approach life. We also talk about books we're reading, a tip that's working well for having smoother summer days, Jesse trying out Jui Jitsu, Sudoku, and more!

In This Episode:

[0:32] – I surprise Jesse with having him participate in my Instagram project for the day live during the podcast recording.

[2:04] – We talk about why you should always be prepared for video when doing a radio interview and why we don’t do our podcast as a live video stream.

[5:28] – Today’s topic is about why you should proclaim positivity over your life.

[6:54] – I refer back to a former episode of the podcast about courtship.

[8:23] – What’s saving my life this week is writing out daily lists for our kids.

[11:41] – Jesse shares that he's been trying out Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym.

[14:47] – I have been listening to the audiobook The Orphan’s Tale by Pam Jenoff

[18:47] – Why Jesse has been doing a lot of sudoku puzzles lately.

[22:34] – So many young moms are scared thinking about their little ones becoming teens.

[23:53] – You get what you expect out of life!

[26:12] – The opportunity to see our children becoming adults is exciting and is a learning experience for everyone

[30:12] – Parenting is about leaning in and loving your kids, as I discuss in my book.

[31:19] – Start proclaiming positivity in your life!

• FaithTalk Live with Rick & Dan with special guest Crystal Paine
• The Crystal Paine Show – “Courtship Rules and Our First Kiss”
• Pam Jenoff – The Orphan’s Tale
• Pam Jenoff – The Woman with the Blue Star
• 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: [email protected]

Feeling overwhelmed by email? In this episode, I share some of my best tips and practices for taming the email monster -- strategies I've learned from processing millions of emails and messages over the years (I get hundreds of emails/messages every day, so I've had to learn to be efficient!)

In addition to talking about email, Jesse and I chat about Kathrynne's new job, I share a really personal email that encouraged me (shared with permission!), we talk about two books we're reading/listening to, and Jesse gives us an update on his whitewater rafting trip.

This episode was a little longer than usual, but I hope you enjoy us taking a little bit more time to share some life updates and things we're learning and reading and thinking about.

[0:32] – Today's topic is all about email and how to stay on top of it.

[2:10] – Kathrynne just started a new job!

[4:57] – I share an email that I received about my book Love-Centered Parenting.

[7:45] – Lean in and love your kids, and be grateful when they want to include you!

[9:03] – I just recently finished reading The Woman with the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff.

[11:59] – Jesse recently finished reading Andrew Huff's novel Right Cross.

[14:53] – Find out what has been saving my life recently.

[17:44] – Jesse talks about his recent trip.

[19:35] – Kathrynne recently went on a retreat for school which was coincidentally the same camp where Jesse stayed for youth group camp!

[23:11] – Jesse's strategy for emails is a bit different than mine! ;)

[25:30] – Unsubscribe ruthlessly!

[26:53] – Delete liberally (and use that archive button in GMail!)

[29:42] – Filter fanatically.

[32:56] – Deal with emails immediately!

[35:57] – A simple step-by-step plan for getting your email inbox organized once and for all.

• Completely Honest Experience with Impress Nails
• How I Prep Lettuce for a Week of Salads
• The Woman with the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff
• Right Cross by Andrew Huff
• Unroll.Me
• 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: [email protected]

The podcast is available on iTunes, Android, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can listen online through the direct player here. OR, a much easier way to listen is by subscribing to the podcast through a free podcast app on your phone. (Find instructions for how to subscribe to a podcast here.)

Ready to dive in and listen? Hit the player above or search for “The Crystal Paine Show” on your favorite podcast app.