Today's episode is inspired by President Russell M. Nelson's most  recent general conference talk.

I also refer to his talk from 2016 entitled "Joy and Spiritual Survival."

It is a reminder that the best is yet to come for the world as a whole, and also for you personally!

Quote by Madeiline L'Engle:

"We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it."

Today's episdoe is intended to help you feel peaceful about your parenting efforts, even if your child has not mastered everything you have taught.

I have three things for you to keep in mind:

1. Parenting is a work of planting seeds
2. Waiting counts as work
3. We have plenty of time

A Home Where the Spirit of the Lord Dwells by Henry B. Eyring

My old blog post here.

When life gets confusing or overwhelming, it's always good to go back to the basics, and make sure the most important things are taken care of first.

The same is true in parenting. When things get confusing or overwhelming and you don't know what to do, it may be time to take a break from all the correcting you're trying to do and go back to the basics.

How is your connection with that child? Is your relationship good enough that their heart is open to your help?

Today I'm sharing a few things that have been helpful for me in improving my relationships with kids in difficult stages.

Book I reference: The Power of Moments

Today I'm sharing a less-than-stellar parenting moment I had recently.

I'm also sharing the tool that I use to turn those moments into valuable, relationship building moments.

HOPE day tickets here

As covenant women and mothers in Zion, we have an important work to do.

And though our work can sometimes be exhausting and discouraging, we know that our efforts really matter.

Today I'm sharing three bits of advice to you as you evaluate how you are spending your time and energy.

1. Don't judge your success by your children's behavior
2. Don't believe the adversary when he tries to get you down
3. Some efforts are more important than others

Links that I mentioned in the episode:

HOPE day  Oct. 12, 2024

"The Power of a Faithful Mother" by Christi Davis 

Today I'm talking about what I consider a perfect combination for teenagers to grow and thrive: doing hard things while having a close relationship with a parent who acts as a mentor.

If that isn't the kind of relationship you have, I'll offer you three tips to improve your connection:

1. Have confidence in them
2. Give less advice and ask more questions
3. Be more fun!

Here are the links to ALL the things I mentioned in the episode:

HOPE day  code: CHRISTI

Amplify Through Christ retreat

"A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" by Donald Miller

"Hold on to Your Kids" by Gordon Neufeld

My website :)

Just hopping on to give you a quick update on what's going on in my life right now, and to explain why I'm taking August off of podcasting.

I also share an experience I had recently that was a reminder that Heavenly Father cares about the details of our lives.

If you're interested in either of the retreats I mentioned, here are the links to check them out:

Hope Day- Oct. 12th, Logan, UT

Amplify Through Christ- Oct. 24-26, Kansas City, MO

Just in case you have a large family gathering coming up...

Today I'm sharing a few tips to help you not just endure your reunions, but actually enjoy them.

Details about the HOPE DAY retreat here.

In honor of my 28th anniversary, today I'm sharing ten things I've learned about marriage.

I'm also sharing some reasons I love being married to Jeff.

My hope is that this episode will invite you to think about all the good things in your own marriage! 

This is unusual for me. 

I almost never feel the need to talk publicly about issues that feel political or contentious.

But today I feel inspired to share my thoughts about Pride month, and the way we think about LGBTQ issues.

I hope this episode will inspire more love and understanding in our family relationships, as well as our church community.

Here are the resources I mention in the episode:

Listen, Learn and Love by Richard Ostler

Without the Mask by Charlie Bird