Today’s conversation is a special one.

I’m joined by Amy Hughes, author of Words Like Honey,a book that gently reminds us of the power our words carry, especially in our closest relationships. Amy writes with honesty and tenderness about how our speech shapes the atmosphere of our homes, the hearts of our children, and eventhe way we see ourselves. (And she does it in such a way that she doesn’t make moms feel like jerks when our words aren’t like honey).

This isn’t a conversation about saying everything perfectly or getting it right all the time. It’s about becoming more aware, more intentional, and more compassionate with the words we choose, especially on the hard days.

In this episode, Amy and I talk about motherhood, faith, grace, and what it looks like to let our words be a source of life rather than pressure. If you’ve ever wished you could rewind amoment and speak differently, or if you’re longing for a softer, more peaceful tone in your home, this conversation is for you.

Amy’s Bio: Amy Hughes is a mother of nine, a writer, a speaker, and a parenting coach living on the central coast of California. A featured writer for Wild + Free, Amy is a sought-after keynote and conference speaker and has been published in Scary Mommy, (in)Courage, Simplify Magazine, The Fallow House, The Natural Family, Rhythm of the Home, Christian Unschooling, and more. She reads too many books and drinks too much coffee, plus she thinks she’s incredibly funny.

I’m so grateful to share Amy and her work with you today.

Elevating Motherhood Links:

Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com

Instagram: @loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood

Last week, we began a conversation about marriage—not the highlight-reel version, but the honest, complicated, sometimes fragile reality that so many couples live inside of. And today, we’re continuing that conversation in a deeper way.

Tim and Kathy Bush join me to share their story —a marriage that began on shaky ground and nearly ended in complete destruction. Their relationship was marked by infidelity, trauma, addiction, and secrets that stayed hidden for years. And yet, this is not a story that ends in heartbreak. It’s a story of what can happen when the truth is brought into the light, when pretending stops, and when hope arrives in a way no amount of effort could manufacture.

Their book, Sex on the First Date, is raw, courageous, and deeply redemptive — and this conversation reflects that same honesty. Whether your marriage feels like it’s barely holding together, quietly drifting, or strong but still growing… orwhether you’re not married at all, there is wisdom here for every relationship and a reminder that no story is too broken to be transformed. Buy the book here: https://amzn.to/3Zh0HZJ

The Bush Bios: Tim and Kathy Bush are the authors of Sex on the First Date: A Story of a Broken Beginning to a Radically Transformed Marriage. They have been married since 1982 and are the proud parents of three children, three in-law children, eight grandchildren and one dog. They are speakers as well as FamilyLife affiliate staff, who share their story at marriage conferences and retreats across the country. They founded War Room Ministries (warroomministries.com), which has served to strengthen men, marriages, families and churches and to develop Christian character through redemption, relationships and resilience. Tim and Kathy have received countless responses of gratitude for openly discussing the shame that comes from searching for happiness in all the wrong places.
Tim is retired from thirty-five years in the automobile business and is an entrepreneur in real estate and business development, having owned businesses since just out of high school. Kathy has been a homemaker and esthetician who studied at Euro Institute of Skin Care and is retired from running her own spa and skin care business. They both enjoydrinking coffee, walking and traveling. They love spending time with their kids and grandkids, praying and reading God’s Word and worshiping God and going to churchtogether. They also stay very busy serving together at marriage events, and partnering with other couples who have a passion for marriages. And you might be interested to know they also recently moved to North Idaho.

Elevating Motherhood Links:

Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com

Instagram: @loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood

Please visit our sponsors:

www.elevatingmotherhood.com/sponsors

Today’s episode might surprise you — especially if you’ve ever thought, “If my husband would just change, our marriage would be easier…” (You're not alone in this thought...)

I’m sitting down with Ann Wilson, speaker, author, and co-host of FamilyLife Today, to talk about her latest book How toSpeak Life to Your Husband —a book born out of real-life frustration, honest mistakes, and a total shift in how she used her words at home. Ann doesn’t sugar-coat anything. She shows us how encouragement, respect, and truth-filled communication can actually reshape our marriages — not by pretending, but by learning how powerful our voices really are. If you’ve ever felt stuck, misunderstood, or just tired ofrepeating the same arguments… this conversation is going to give you hope, tools, and a whole new perspective.

Ann’s Bio: Ann Wilson has served with her husband for more than twenty-five years, co-founding Kensington Community Church, speaking at FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember®, and hosting their own marriage conferences across the country. They live in the Detroit area, and have three grownsons, CJ, Austin, and Cody; three daughters-in-law; and seven grandchildren.

Ann’s Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daveannwilson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaveAnnWilson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DaveAnnWilson

Her Book: https://amzn.to/49fPXAM

Elevating Motherhood Links:

Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.comInstagram: @loribethauldridge

Please Visit Our Sponsors: www.elevatingmotherhood.com/sponsors

Every year December sneaks up on moms — the traditions, the sugar, the sickness, the parties, the pressure. This episode is all about what I’m doing differently next Christmas to create a calmer, healthier, more intentional holiday season for our family. From planning ahead and simplifying gifts to supporting our kids’ immune systems and downsizing expectations, I’m sharing practical changes that reduce stress, protect our peace, and let us actually enjoy Christmasagain. If you’ve ever thought, “There has to be a better way to do the holidays,” this conversation is for you.

Things I’mdoing different next Christmas/December:

1. I’m going to create a bin in the garage that I store gifts in

2. I’m going to buy gifts throughout the year

3. Order Christmas jammies in September/October

4. Start probiotics for the kids in August

* Immune probiotic chewable from Dr. Elisa Song of Healthy Kids Happy Kids

* Link to probiotics: https://healthykidshappykids.com  (Dr. Song Probiotics)

5. Start Vitamin D in September

* Favorite Vitamin D: https://amzn.to/3YTMVvV (MaryRuth’s)

6. I’m going to plan for the holidays at the beginning of October and order what I need to order and place celebrations on the calendar. This includes:

* My son’s birthday party (find the balance with holidays + December birthdays!)

* St Lucia Day

* Martinmas (lantern walk)

* Christmas Eve Eve party (do we want to host for an 11th year?)

* I’m not going to host homeschool group at my house in December…we’ll plan outdoor outings & adventures instead

8. Use bleach wipes when I hear about norovirus (I’m semi crunchy, okay?)

* Favorite non-crunchy wipes: https://amzn.to/3YV0bjX(Clorox Free & Clear)

9. Have grape juice, activated charcoal, and grapefruit seed extract on hand for stomach stuff

* Favorite grape juice: https://amzn.to/4sql5VF (Organic Grape Juice)

* Favorite activated charcoal: https://amzn.to/4q8CdxM(Activated Charcoal)

* Favorite GSE: https://amzn.to/4plY2IO (Grapefruit Seed Extract)

10. Have pineapple juice & gelatin on hand for coughs

* Favorite pineapple juice: https://amzn.to/49mqrsk (Pineapple Ginger)

* Favorite gelatin: https://amzn.to/3LdfqSg (Gelatin Powder)

11.  Limit sugar to outings and parties only (instead of giving in to all the sugar temptations & offerings of December)—make sugar a sometimes habit instead of a daily habit

12.  Open windows as a daily habit—make this a daily habit instead of a sometimes one

To summarize, we’re going to continue to downsize Christmas & aim for less stress and better health. I feel like there is an undercurrent in American motherhood culture that is leaning that direction…and I’m going to ride that undercurrent!

Elevating Motherhood Links:

Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com

Instagram: @loribethauldridge

Please Visit Our Sponsors:

www.elevatingmotherhood.com/sponsors

This episode is a true meeting of the minds. Kiri Jorgensen and I both bring years of passion and experience in children’sliterature to the table—and this conversation might just change the way you see your family’s bookshelf.

The world of children’s publishing has shifted dramatically over the past few decades. What once felt simple and safe is now layered with hidden social agendas and stories thatoften work against the virtues we’re trying to nurture in our kids.

If you’ve ever been told that “as long as they’re reading, it’s fine,” this episode will gently challenge that idea. Not every book deserves a place in your child’s hands, and discernment matters more than ever.

We’re diving deep into how to spot truly good books, why quality matters more than quantity, and what you can do to raise thoughtful, well-read kids in today’s publishing climate.

Parents—you do not want to miss this one.

Kiri’s Bio: Kiri Jorgensen is the Publisher andSenior Editor at Chicken Scratch Books. She is also a writer, teacher, entrepreneur, and most importantly wife and mother. Her involvement in the world of children’s literature spans almost three decades with perspective from many angles—writer, editor, organization leader, and writing instructor forboth kids and adults. She also taught school for 16 years where she specialized in gifted and rural education. She loves all books middle grade, but in her heart, she is a teacher. Chicken Scratch Books lets her combine all her passions. Besides the world of teaching and story, Kiri loves gardening, sewing quilts, being in nature, and bragging about her four amazing kids. She lives with her husband and a plethora of animals in rural Montana, where she cooks her meals on a wood-burning cookstove and is grateful every day for being right where she is.

In this episode, Kiri & I talk about:

* Chicken Scratch Books: middle grade fiction without hidden social agendas

* Traditional American values

* Why Kiri started Chicken Scratch Books

* The drastic shift in children’s publishing world—and why we should be concerned as parents

* Quality, clean literature for kids

* How motherhood changed my perspective

* Writers are required to bring liberal agendainto their

* The political agenda in children’s literature

* Kids don’t naturally connect over demographics

* Relatable motives are what connects kids to a character

* How my degrees in children’s literature are for my kids more than anything else

* Podcast Docu-series: Sold A Story

* Books are competing with short attention spans

* Parents are so desperate for their kids to readanything that they’ll hand them anything regardless

* Don’t choose books based on what is most popular

* Character development in books affects our children’s budding character

* Children are vulnerable and impressionable—the children’spublishing world takes advantage of this

* Practical things parents can do to seek out decent children’s literature* “Books and media can be really powerful tools toteach and reinforce the virtues that you want instilled in your kids”

* Have a kid who doesn’t want to read? Doread-alouds!

* Every parent has power“Embrace who you are, where you are, and lookfor ways to be grateful for each of the experiences that you’re having alongthe way because they do culminate into what you become.” -Kiri Jorgensen

* AND MORE!

Chicken Scratch Books Links:

https://chickenscratchbooks.com

@chickenscratchbooks on IG and FB@CSBooks4 on X

Elevating Motherhood Links:

www.elevatingmotherhood.com

www.instagram.com/loribethauldridge

Please Visit Today’s Sponsors:

www.elevatingmotherhood.com/sponsors

Guest: Brianna Reiser, Vice President of Experience at Toothpillow

Overview: In this episode, we explore the incredible impact of Toothpillow, a comprehensive airway health program for kids, with Brianna Reiser—an experienced dental professional whose personal journey led her to this work. We dive into the “why” behind Toothpillow, how it works, and my personal experience using it with my daughter.

In This Episode:

Meet Brianna Reiser

• 14+ years in dentistry

• Lost her mother to sleep apnea, which led to her passion for airway health

• Now VP of Experience at Toothpillow, working to make airway care accessible

Why Airway Dentistry Matters

• Underdeveloped jaws: a growing epidemic

• Root causes of crooked teeth (not just cosmetic!)

• Cultural factors: diet, breastfeeding challenges, and lack of support for oral development

• The danger of “band-aid” approaches (like wisdom teeth removal without cause investigation)

What Toothpillow Is & How It Works

• A two-year, app-supported airway health program

• Includes myofunctional exercises, nasal hygiene, and tongue tie assessments

• Guides kids through face muscle training and jaw development

• Three current competitors: Healthy Start Habit Corrector, MyoBrace, and Vivos Guides

• Toothpillow is a full program—not just a single device

What Makes It Different

• Every child is assigned a dentist and a virtual dental assistant through the app

• Personalized coaching and ongoing support available to parents

• Not every child is a fit (about 30% are not recommended to proceed)

• Compliance is supported through encouragement and tracking

Common Signs of Airway Struggles in Kids:

• Mouth breathing

• Night waking

• Bedwetting

• Nightmares or terrors

• ADHD-like symptoms

Why Moms Love It

• Affordable: No brick-and-mortar costs passed on to parents

• Easy-to-use app experience

• Holistic and rooted in connection—not just clinical

My Personal Review:

• My daughter has been using Toothpillow for over 4 months

• Noticed improvements: better sleep, no more night terrors, fewer dark circles

• Face shape is changing; jaw is visibly wider

• “When I wear my Toothpillow, my tongue just knows where to go.”

Toothpillow for the Future:

• Plans to expand to adults and babies

• Keeping long-term health and root causes at the center of care

SPECIAL OFFER: Use code LORIBETH for $200 off + a free video assessment ($50 value)

Referenced:

• Episode 175 – Intro to Airway Dentistry

Toothpillow Website: ⁠Toothpillow.com⁠

Elevating Motherhood: ⁠elevatingmotherhood.com⁠

Instagram: @loribethauldridge

What if your child’s mouth breathing, restless sleep, or even focus issues weren’t behavioral—but biological?

In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with a pediatric airway dentist to explore the critical (and often overlooked) role of airway health in childhood development. We talk about how things like tongue ties, narrow palates, and poor oral posture can impact sleep, behavior, and even long-term health—and why early intervention matters.

If you’ve ever been told “they’ll grow out of it,” or felt dismissed when raising concerns about your child’s breathing or sleep, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, we cover:

* The difference between traditional and airway-focused dentistry

* How mouth breathing can lead to misdiagnoses like ADHD or anxiety

* Signs parents can look for at home

* What treatment and support can look like

* Why airway health is a foundational part of whole-child wellness

This episode is full of insight, practical takeaways, and encouragement for parents who want to better understand what’s going on beneath the surface of their child’s symptoms.

Dr. Hilary’s Bio: Dr. Hilary Fritsch is a leading airway and biological dentist, one of the very few in the country with deep expertise in proper jaw development and airway health. She is also Montana’s premier Toothpillow provider, offering cutting-edge, nonsurgical techniques to optimizeairway growth and function.

Practicing dentistry since 2006, Dr. Fritsch has been featured on The Today Show (NBC), New York Magazine, Business Insider, Pop Sugar, Fatherly, and Romper. Her passion for wellness is deeply personal—shaped by her own struggles with childhood sleep apnea and a debilitating autoimmunedisease that once impaired her ability to see and even walk unassisted. These experiences fuel her commitment to helping patients and their families optimize their health through airway-focused dentistry.

Dr. Fritsch is the founder of Western Sleep Solutions andSaddle Peak Dental, both rooted in the philosophy that oral health is intricately connected to whole-body health. She specializes in nonsurgical airway development and the treatment of sleep apnea, breathing disorders, andorthodontic issues that impact long-term wellness.

Determined to bring the best possible care to her patients,Dr. Fritsch has trained under one of the most elite airway dentists in the world and continuously pursues advanced education in airway-aware orthodontics, occlusion, and oral microbiome health. She is an active member of theInternational Academy of Sleep and other leading organizations dedicated to uncovering the root causes of airway dysfunction.

Dr. Fritsch is passionate about educating and empowering her patients—both young and old—to take ownership of their health, breathing, and longevity.

Quick Note Before We Begin:If you get curious during this episode about the palateexpander device we mention, head to toothpillow.com and use the code LORIBETH to receive a free video consultation with a trained airway dentist—a $50 value—plus $200 off the cost of treatment.
That’s toothpillow.com, code LORIBETH

Dr. Hilary’s Links:

Website: Saddlepdeakdental.com

Instagram: @hilaryfritschdmd

Elevating Motherhood Links:

Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com

Instagram: @loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood

The Kind of Decluttering That Actually Lastswith Julia Ubbenga

Julia Ubbenga is a minimalist. I’m not.But I read her new book Declutter Your Heart and Your Home from cover to cover—and I was both challenged and changed.

In this episode, we talk about what it really means to live with less—less clutter, less noise, less pressure—and how that can create more space for peace, purpose, and presence. We dive into the emotional side of decluttering, why stuff isn’t the real problem, and how simplifying your outer world can lead to deep inner clarity.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the chaos in your home or your calendar... this conversation will speak to you.

In this episode:

• ​Why emotional clutter keeps us stuck
• ​How to start simplifying when minimalism feels extreme
• ​The surprising link between physical space and spiritual freedom
• ​What Julia let go of—and what she gained
• ​And why this kind of decluttering actually lasts

Whether you're a seasoned minimalist or just starting to rethink what “enough” looks like, this episode will encourage you to move toward a simpler, more intentional way of living.

Julia's Links:

Instagram: @richinwhatmatters

Website: www.richinwhatmatters.com

Lori Beth's Links:

Instagram: @loribethauldridge

Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com

Check out my favorite planner: www.sparrowhomeschool.com

CODE: LORIBETH for 10% off

Mary Ruth Organics collaborated with the brand Liquid Death in a temporary collaboration for their nighttime formula. They released the "ad" on social media that included chainsawing clowns (murder) and dark imagery and messaging that really rocked the online space. The collaboration seemed to make zero sense for those of us who have been users of Mary Ruth's high quality vitamins and products for years.

There was outrage--including from me. I left an unbecoming comment on MRO's IG post, I cancelled my subscription to their products, I shared it with friends and followers. And once I had done all of those things, I should have felt some sort of peace, right? Wasn't that the "right" thing to do? Wasn't this me aligning my actions and values? It sure didn't feel like it...

I couldn't get rid of this nagging feeling that perhaps Mary Ruth Organics wasn't familiar with just how dark Liquid Death's advertising tactics can get (ever heard of their "soul contract?") So I decided to message the MRO's IG page and ask if they knew about it and get curious about how this collaboration came to be. You know who answered? Mary Ruth herself. THE Mary Ruth of Mary Ruth Organics. She messaged me back and asked if we could talk. I said yes. She called me, we chatted, and at the end of the conversations I can confidently say hearts and minds were changed--especially mine.

This episode is about the unfolding and understanding that took place after that conversation. It also explains why--despite the online outrage over a collaboration (that has ended, by the way)--I'm going to continue to buy and use Mary Ruth Organics products.

Disclaimer: at the the time of this recording, I am not an affiliate for or have any sort of business relationship with Mary Ruth Organics. This is simply my opinion & personal story about a "hot topic" among the mom community.

This episode is my audio version of my contribution to the 2025 For the Love of Homeschooling Homesteading & Skillful Living Mega Bundle – available now through April 25, 2025

Get your mega bundle here: https://www.fortheloveofhomeschooling.com/?ref=loribeth

What makes me a passionate home cook?

Lori Beth Auldridge is a homeschooling mom of 4 & passionate home cook. She learned from the best (Grandma Huck) while growing up in Appalachia & from private celebrity chefs when she worked as a personal assistant. She is the creator & host of the Elevating Motherhood Podcast. Follow her on IG: @loribethauldridge

What if cooking didn’t feel overwhelming? What if you could follow a recipe—or even create your own—without second-guessing yourself? I’m here to help.

In this episode, you’ll find my 8 best tips for home cooks to help you build trust in your own cooking instincts. You’ll learn how to elevate flavors, experiment with spices, and make meals that actually taste good—not just edible. We’ll also cover how to study recipes, memorize key dishes, and practice your favorites so they feel effortless.

Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated. Let’s make it simple—and enjoyable. I’m glad you’re here. Let’s get started!

Tip 1: Cook from Semi-Scratch. 

Tip 2: Elevate Your Flavor Profiles.

Tip 3: Pinch Your Salt

Tip 4: Bold Flavors, Better Cooking

Tip 5: Study Recipes and Make Them Your Own

Tip 6: Perfect a Favorite Dish

Tip 7: Try New Meals

Tip 8: Memorize a Recipe

(More details available in print form in the mega bundle)

Lori Beth’s Famous Easy 3-sy Sausage Gravy

If you can remember the number 3, you can memorize this recipe!

1lb ground sage breakfast sausage

3 tbs grass-fed butter

1/3 cup white flour

3 cups raw milk

salt & pepper to taste

Brown the sausage in a pan on the stove. Once browned, add 3 tbs of butter. Let the butter melt, stir the sausage to coat. Add the flour. Stir again, coating the sausage. Allow the butter & flour to cook together for a few moments, forming a roux. Once a roux is achieved, add the milk. Stir continually on low to medium heat until thickened. You’ll know it’s ready when you scrape the pan and the gravy doesn’t come back together right away, but slowly moves back together because of its thickness. Add salt & pepper to taste (aiming to season heavily), tasting for flavor before serving. Serve over biscuits of your choosing.

Note: I’ve added my personal preferences for a knock-your-socks-off gravy, but you are welcome to use your own (real) butter, whole milk, & preferred flavor of sausage.