By Courtney DeFeo and Christian Parenting
As parents, we know raising kids is the opposite of neat and tidy. Each day brings wins, losses and valuable lessons. Pardon the Mess is a place where we discuss parenting and faith in a biblical,
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The podcast currently has 525 episodes available.
Welcome to Week 8 of our Summer of Stories series! This summer we have been featuring stories of incredible moms that have endured significant challenges. Through these stories, we pray you will remember that God is faithful and always with you through life’s most challenging moments.
In this week’s story, you will hear from the extraordinary Cleere Cherry Reaves. It’s very likely that you have one of her beautiful products and didn’t even know it. Her massive heart for Jesus pours right into her beautiful company. I have enjoyed so many of her books, devotions and gifts for years.
In the first part of our chat, we talked about her business and entrepreneurial spirit. So many of us moms have a creative stirring from God and we often aren’t sure what to do with that. How do we pursue a creative idea while raising kids? We often get overwhelmed and just put it aside. I’m praying that there’s a few moms listening that need to regain confidence and motivation to explore the creative ideas God put inside your heart.
The second part of our talk was my favorite! Cleere shares her story of going into labor prematurely and the miracle story that follows. Cleere’s son, Sledge, has faced so many uphill battles and has suffered more than any mom wishes on their child. Maybe you have a child with a tough diagnosis? Or you know of another mom with a motherhood journey that went differently than expected? This episode is for us all. We can all learn from Cleere’s undeniable faith and perseverance as she raises one strong and mighty boy.
Love, Courtney
Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Small Talk
04:48
Creating Products that Serve a Purpose
09:36
The Challenges and Rewards of Entrepreneurship
13:03
Starting a Business with a Specific Person in Mind
16:11
Supporting and Celebrating Others in the Entrepreneurial Journey
28:12
From Challenges to Miracles: Trusting God's Plan
35:45
The Impact of Perspective on Others
37:37
Embracing Authenticity and Finding Joy
46:01
Trusting in the Character of God
49:59
The Power of Community and Support
Connect with Pardon The Mess:
Christian Parenting
Pardon The Mess
Courtney DeFeo
Get your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of Faith
Resources from today’s show:
Cleerely Stated
Promises from the Psalms - card set I bought Ella
Unfiltered - Cleere’s new devotional
StrongHeart
Pardon the Mess is part of The Christian Parenting Podcast Network. As a donor funded ministry, we rely on generous supporters like you to keep this show going. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider giving a gift today. Join the Christian Parenting Legacy Builders community
Welcome to Week 7 of our Summer of Stories series! This Summer we have been featuring stories of incredible moms that have endured significant challenges. Through these stories, we pray you will remember that God is faithful and always with you through life’s most challenging moments.
In this week’s story, you will hear from the delightful, creative and intentional Erin Burchik. She is a family friend and I have long-admired her approach to parenting. She desperately wants to enjoy each of her kids and embrace the “good ole days” of kids in the home. She will share how traveling and taking trips became a passion of hers. And she will share some super practical ways to make trips doable and affordable when you’re on a budget.
Before we get to the scoop on traveling for less, she shares her story about becoming a mom. Through many trials and some devastating financial loss, Erin has fought through doubt and frustration with God. She felt called to adopt and then it didn’t go as smoothly as she had hoped. It’s so fun to see her on the other side of this battle and see the family that God designed from the very beginning.
My favorite part is when she explains the WHY behind their family adventures. She’s not traveling to flex on Instagram or show off or waste money. She’s traveling because she wants to create memories with her kids, to carve out time to adventure together and to get out of their comfort zone. I love her approach!
In this episode, we discuss:
Enjoy!!
Courtney
Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Background
04:02
The Journey of Adoption
08:57
Building a Supportive Community
18:13
Creating Lasting Memories
20:05
Santa Bringing Christmas Trips
22:10
Maximizing Credit Card Points
25:29
Saving Thousands on Family Trips
28:21
Benefits of Traveling with Kids
30:15
Building Independence and Confidence
33:31
Enjoying Motherhood and Savoring the Moments
Connect with Pardon The Mess:
Christian Parenting
Pardon The Mess
Courtney DeFeo
Get your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of Faith
Resources from today’s show:
StrongHeart
Erin’s Instagram
Erin’s travel site - Points For Families
Erin’s book - Animals of the Nativity
Erin’s book - The Bear Hug
TBRI for families that have adopted
Pardon the Mess is part of The Christian Parenting Podcast Network. As a donor funded ministry, we rely on generous supporters like you to keep this show going. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider giving a gift today. Join the Christian Parenting Legacy Builders community
When I engage with young moms, I often get asked a lot about alcohol. These women are wanting me to give them an “official answer” about how a Christian woman should handle alcohol. And I often don’t have the specific answer they want - because it is so often in the gray area. And only the person asking the question knows what’s going on under the issue.
Today’s story is about a mom that got curious about her relationship with alcohol in her early 30s. As you hear her story, you will be inspired to take an honest assessment and just get curious about your relationship with alcohol. She called it “getting sober minded.”
Although I don’t drink - I have my own vices which we discuss. I joke about my love of the phone, cookie dough and TJMaxx. If I’m honest, I often use those to outsource my comfort. This isn’t an episode for moms that drink - this is an episode for all of us.
My favorite part is when Jenn shares about the benefits of operating in a sober mind. She reminds us that being present with our kids is worth the fight. Let’s lean into Jenn’s story together and be brave enough to hear what God is nudging us to do in response.
Don’t forget to check in our Jenn’s community called Sober Sis and utilize all of the fantastic resources that are helping thousands of women become sober-minded and enjoy this life to the fullest!
In this episode we chat about:
00:00
Introduction and Connection
02:33
Early Years and Introduction to Social Drinking
05:46
The Influence of Mommy Wine Culture
07:41
Outsourcing Comfort and Dealing with Anxiety
09:44
Questioning the Relationship with Drinking
12:30
Understanding the Mindset and Motivations Behind Drinking
19:28
Questioning Your Relationship with Drinking
21:57
Introduction: Jenn's Journey of Sobriety
25:08
The Importance of Addressing the Root Cause
28:40
Taking the First Step: Sobriety Curiosity
33:28
Shifting Mindset: Gaining, Not Giving Up
39:11
The Power of Community in Sobriety
42:59
Personal Growth and Sobriety
45:07
Conclusion: Encouragement for Moms
Connect with Pardon The Mess:
Christian Parenting
Pardon The Mess
Courtney DeFeo
Get your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of Faith
Resources from today’s show:
Pardon the Mess is part of The Christian Parenting Podcast Network. As a donor funded ministry, we rely on generous supporters like you to keep this show going. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider giving a gift today. Join the Christian Parenting Legacy Builders community
Happy July 4th!
This week’s story features my friend, Stacey Morgan, who is an astronaut’s wife! Her life is truly fascinating. Her family is currently living in the Marshall Islands which is 5 hours south of Hawaii.
Stacey honestly shares the truth about loneliness. She has had to start over multiple times as a military spouse. I love her hard truth about loneliness: we have to make the first move. She also shares how her kids are thriving as they were uprooted from the cultural norm in Texas, and now live on an island with 1,200 people total. They are learning valuable life lessons about what’s most important.
My favorite part is at the very end when she talks about her top learning as a mom of over 20 years. Her encouragement to “let go” was really timely for me. I am having trouble letting go of my oldest who is a rising senior. I need that reminder over and over again.
In this episode, we chat about:
Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Background
02:47
Moving to the Marshall Islands
05:58
Supporting a Spouse's Career
11:04
Living in a Small Community
15:01
Transition and Loneliness
23:57
Supporting Military Spouses and Moms
26:30
The Importance of Community for Military Families
31:16
MomCo: Supporting Military Moms
39:19
Lessons in Trust and Letting Go
44:28
The Power of Grace and Understanding in Parenting
Connect with Pardon The Mess:
Christian Parenting
Pardon The Mess
Courtney DeFeo
Get your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of Faith
Resources from today’s show:
Stacey Morgan’s site
Stacey’s Instagram
Stacey’s Book: The Astronaut’s Wife
MomCo - Military Meetups
How to start an online MomCo group
Pardon the Mess is part of The Christian Parenting Podcast Network. As a donor funded ministry, we rely on generous supporters like you to keep this show going. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider giving a gift today. Join the Christian Parenting Legacy Builders community
If she wasn’t one of my best friends, I don’t know if I would believe this story. However, it is true and real and incredibly powerful. My friend, Kylie White, was fully healed from near blindness. Her story and her miracle has exploded my faith the last several years. It has given me courage to pray bigger prayers.
I will never be over what God did for Kylie. Even though I’ve heard this story many times, I heard even more details during this conversation which exploded my faith yet again. God is so good. I’m truly excited for us all to have this reminder today through Kylie’s story.
My favorite part is hearing how she got to the miracle day. Listen closely as she shares the years leading up to her miracle. Lean into what God was pressing on her heart. And let’s lean into what God wants to say to you through her story. What is He asking you to release and surrender? What miracle do you believe is too far gone?
In this episode, we chat about:
Don’t forget to share the Summer of Stories with your friends - so that they can also be reminded that: God is good. You are not alone. And He is with you during life’s hardest moments.
Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Catching Up
03:35
Adoption and Navigating Challenges
06:45
Parenting and Unconditional Love
09:40
Experiencing a Modern-Day Miracle
28:13
Asking for Healing
30:14
Miraculous Healing
35:23
Confirmation of Healing
39:26
Orphan Prevention and Untold
42:19
Lessons Learned as a Parent
Connect with Pardon The Mess:
Christian Parenting
Pardon The Mess
Courtney DeFeo
Pardon the Mess is part of The Christian Parenting Podcast Network. As a donor funded ministry, we rely on generous supporters like you to keep this show going. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider giving a gift today. Become a Christian Parenting Legacy Builder
Resources from today’s show:
Kylie’s Instagram
Kylie’s blog
Untold - Nonprofit Kylie supports
Father’s House - Bible study by Rachel
Welcome to Week 3 of our Summer of Stories series! For the next 10 weeks, you will hear one powerful story after another. We are featuring 10 stories of incredible moms that have endured significant challenges. Through these stories, we pray you will remember that God is faithful and always with you through life’s most challenging moments.
I need everyone to take a massive deep breath before listening. And listen to the entire episode, not just the first few minutes. This is not a political episode. This is a story of one incredible mom, Amy Ford, that chose to keep her baby boy after an unplanned pregnancy and the God-sized story that followed.
My favorite part is when she shares about her love for the women that walk with the shame of abortion. She is for all women and all stories. And she walks closely with women who have endured every part of the unplanned pregnancy journey.
I am praying deeply that this story reaches an untold number of women and heals their hearts in a special way. And that we may join together and support women with unplanned pregnancies in the way God would. That we would love them deeply.
Don't forget to share this episode with women in your community that need encouragement and healing around unplanned pregnancies.
In this episode we chat about:
Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Amy's Family
03:34
The Love Box and Volunteer Opportunities
06:08
The Rejection from a Pastor and the Healing Journey
09:21
The Impact of Amy's Story on Her Son
14:35
Creating a Safe and Supportive Church Environment
19:28
Healing and Hope After Abortion
22:26
Creating Safe Spaces in Churches for Unexpected Pregnancies
26:34
Taking Small Steps of Obedience
29:15
Celebrating Women Who Turn Towards God
Connect with Pardon The Mess:
Christian Parenting
Pardon The Mess
Courtney DeFeo
Become a Christian Parenting donor
Resources from today’s show:
Amy Ford
Embrace Grace
A Bump In Life
Love Box
Support After Abortion
For our Summer of Stories, I got the pleasure of interviewing a dear friend Rachel Faulkner Brown about her incredibly hard and beautiful life. In the first half of this episode, we talk about her journey with losing two husbands and walking that grief journey twice. She shares so much wisdom for other widows as well as practical tips for all of us enduring life’s toughest pain.
In the second half of our chat, Rachel bravely shares about their family’s most recent struggle - an eating disorder that quickly took a grip on her daughter. She provides invaluable insight and practical advice from the deeply painful journey they have walked.
My favorite part of the interview is when she shares honestly about the shame we can feel as mothers. As she watched her daughter walk through the hardest season of her life - she was also faced with a choice to hold onto that control or release her to God. We all have these moments in parenting and we can learn so much from Rachel’s incredible faith journey.
I’m so thrilled for you to get to know Rachel. She is a dear friend and a woman that has experienced God’s goodness throughout some of the deepest pain in her life. You will be inspired by her calling to pass on the love of God and hope to others’ in their darkest days.
In this episode, we chat about:
Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Background
10:46
The Importance of Honesty and Community
30:28
The Need for Aggressive Treatment
39:07
The Healing Journey and Future Hope
48:17
Prayer and Encouragement for Mothers
Connect with Pardon The Mess:
Christian Parenting
Pardon The Mess
Courtney DeFeo
Resources from today’s show:
Never Alone Widows
Father's House Bible Study
There is More podcast
Podcast with Rachel’s daughter about her eating disorder - Part 1
Podcast with Rachel’s daughter about her eating disorder - Part 1
Reverend Joanne Moody
St. Teresa of Avila Quote
Healing prayer - resource 1
Healing prayer - resource 2
Welcome to week 1 of our Summer of Stories series! For the next 10 weeks, you will hear one powerful story after another. We are featuring 10 stories of incredible moms that have endured significant challenges. Through these stories, we pray you will remember that God is faithful and always with you through life’s most challenging moments.
Today’s guest is my dear friend, Joy Phenix, who bravely shares her journey of losing her amazing son. Her story of loss and indescribable grief is so very hard to hear but oddly peaceful and sacred.
My favorite part is when she encourages us to be a student of others’ grief journey. Every single person grieves at different times and in different ways. We cannot judge our friends or family members on that journey. This takes patience and grace and understanding.
This episode is for anyone walking in grief - not just the loss of a child. All of us have seasons of tragedy and unthinkable hard times. We want to know how to trust God again and how to move forward in the midst of the pain. Joy will touch your heart in a profound way. I am deeply thankful for her willingness to share her story to help others.
In this episode we chat about:
00:00
Introduction and Catching Up
09:16
The Power of Community in Times of Loss
15:30
Finding Hope and Healing Through Faith
28:25
Cherishing Memories and Finding Healing
34:38
Vulnerability and Trust in Difficult Times
Enjoy!
Connect with Pardon The Mess:
Christian Parenting
Pardon The Mess
Courtney DeFeo
Resources from today’s show:
Josh’s Celebration Service
Joy’s Instagram
Body Keeps The Score
Comedian Michael Jr went from living in his car to one of the most influential and talented comedians in the country. In fact, he used to open the show for Jerry Seinfeld and went on to headline his own shows. He is now sharing the stage with his wife, Ebony, as they focus on strengthening marriages across the country.
This engaging couple shares many great pieces of wisdom and insight during our episode, but I really enjoyed how they speak about conflict. It’s so easy to avoid conflict at all costs. They encourage us to utilize conflict for the greatness of marriage
My favorite part (or least favorite) was when Michael Jr. asked me to share honestly about a recent disagreement I had with Ron. He went through the list of the fruit of the Spirit to see how I was handling a specific situation. And I bombed his test. It was embarrassing, but really challenged me on how I handle conflict. I love their hearts for marriage. They have a passion to remind couples that marriage is GOOD and it does work.
In this episode, we discuss:
Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Family Background
04:04
Letting Go and Trusting God with Our Children
08:54
Faith as a Consistent and Visible Part of Family Life
23:53
Merging Talents to Help Couples Find Joy in Marriage
29:19
Revealing Areas of Freedom Through Conflict
Connect with Pardon The Mess:
Christian Parenting
Pardon The Mess
Courtney DeFeo
Resources from today’s show:
Funny How Marriage Works
Assessment for your conflict resolution
Emotions Wheel
Funny How Marriage Works Tour
Happy almost Summer!! I am delighted to share the story of Sarah Harmeyer and her love for gathering neighbors. You will be so fascinated by her story of creating a table and setting out to have people over. Over time, she hosted thousands of people just one night at a time. She absolutely inspired me to get back out there and invite folks to my home.
You will be inspired and motivated and so very touched how God used Sarah’s life to start a movement called “Neighbor’s Table.” He took a nudge in her heart and kept expanding it across the country.
My favorite part was at the end when we talked about her current living situation with her aging father. She is so tender and so gracious with his walk with Alzheimers. I pray that I handle my own parents with such care and compassion one day.
In this episode we chat about:
Chapters00:00
Introduction and Catching Up
10:01
Stories of Love and Connection Around the Table
22:59
Building Relationships with New Neighbors and Introducing Sarah's Dad
27:02
Caring for Aging Parents with Love and Compassion
30:53
Closing Remarks and Action Items
Connect with Pardon The Mess:
Christian Parenting
Pardon The Mess
Courtney DeFeo
Resources from today’s show:
Sarah’s Instagram
Neighbor’s Table
Invite Sarah to Speak
Table Talk Questions - source Close To My Heart
Kindness Diaries with Leon
Leon Logothetis
God’s Holy Spirit in Me kid’s devotional
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