Room for Lovely

This week's guest Jennifer Pepito shares wisdom from nearly thirty years of homeschooling and raising seven children, challenging us to rethink what really matters in the way we raise our kids. As the founder of The Peaceful Press, host of the Restoration Home Podcast, and author of The Inspired Homeschool, Jennifer encourages parents to look beyond grades, activities, and accomplishments to focus on character, curiosity, connection, and meaningful work. Erin and Jennifer also discuss the importance of creating a joyful home, giving children room to grow in responsibility and creativity, and letting go of the pressure to get every part of parenting right.

Key Takeaways

• Why raising capable, curious, and compassionate children requires more than academic achievement and extracurricular success
• How simple, intentional moments of connection can strengthen family relationships and cultivate a lifelong love of learning
• The value of boredom, meaningful work, and age-appropriate responsibility in developing creativity, confidence, and character
• Why being a joyful, present parent matters more than getting everything perfect—and how to surrender our parenting fears and mistakes to God

About Jennifer
Jennifer Pepito is the host of the Restoration Home podcast and the bestselling author of Habits for a Sacred Home. Her latest book is The Inspired Home School: How History’s Heroes Light a Path Toward Joyful, Confident Learning. Jennifer is the founder of The Peaceful Press, a homeschool curriculum provider. Her writing has been featured in online and print journals, including Wild and Free, Commonplace Quarterly, and Home Educating Family. She’s made guest appearances on the podcasts 1000 Hours Outside, At Home with Sally, and The Read Aloud Revival. Jennifer lives in the mountains with her beloved family, where she enjoys reading aloud, working in her garden, and watching the sunset.

Connect with Jennifer

Website:
https://thepeacefulpress.com/

Book:
The Inspired Homeschool

Social Media:
IG: @jenniferpepito
FB: @thepeacefulpress
Pinterest: @thepeacefulpress
Podcast: @restorationhome

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This week's guest Helen Smallbone shares the remarkable story of her family's journey from Australia to America, the unexpected hardships they faced, and the ways God faithfully provided along the way. As the mother of seven, including Rebecca St. James and Joel and Luke of for KING & COUNTRY, Helen reflects on the intentional work of raising a family, the significance of everyday faithfulness, and the legacy of prayer. Erin and Helen also discuss trusting God's goodness when life doesn't make sense, recognizing His presence in the smallest moments, and believing in His faithfulness even before we can see how the story will unfold.

Key Takeaways

• How God can use closed doors, unexpected hardships, and ordinary circumstances to lead us into something we never could have imagined
• The significance of a mother's often unseen work and the lasting impact of intentionally loving, encouraging, and praying for our families
• Why recognizing God's provision in the small, everyday moments can strengthen our faith through difficult seasons
• What it means to trust God's goodness even when we're still standing in the middle of loss, without answers or a clear picture of what comes next

About Helen
Helen Smallbone grew up in Australia as the daughter of a Methodist minister and the youngest of four children. Even though she grew up in church, her faith became real in her mid-teens when she committed her life to Christ at a Billy Graham Crusade in Sydney.

Trained as an Occupational Therapist, Helen’s greatest desire was to serve God and become a wife and mother. At age 20, she married the love of her life, David Smallbone, and over the next 14 years, they added seven children to their family.

In 1991, after experiencing a financial crisis in Australia, the Smallbone family relocated to the Nashville, TN, area, where David began a career in music management for Christian artists. This new adventure required every family member to place their trust in God and live by faith.

In Behind the Lights: The Extraordinary Adventure of a Mum and Her Family (K-LOVE Books, April 12, 2022), Helen shares how the Smallbone family learned to let God lead – which has included living outside the box of American cultural norms. Her book describes God’s constant faithfulness and provision during the lean years after their arrival in the United States. Helen recounts stories that vividly describe how the family worked together to make ends meet, found support in new friends and neighbors, homeschooled on the road, and grew closer with every challenge they overcame.

Helen’s love for God and family has only grown stronger as she and David have supported their children’s creative career paths. Their daughter, Rebecca St. James, and two of their sons, for KING & COUNTRY stars Luke and Joel Smallbone, have collectively earned five Grammys.

When not busy with her children and grandchildren, Helen is dedicated to sharing her passion and love for God with those around her. She is the co-founder of MUMlife, mumlife.org, a ministry of “mothers uplifting mothers,” and co-host of the MUMlife Community Podcast. David and Helen Smallbone live just outside of Nashville with a small menagerie of animals.

Connect with Helen

Website:
https://www.helensmallbone.com/

Book:
Behind the Lights: The Extraordinary Adventure of a Mum and Her Family

Movie:
Unsung Hero

Social Media:
IG: @helensmallbone

FB: Helen Smallbone

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This week's guest Stephen Kendrick shares the unlikely story behind the Kendrick Brothers' filmmaking journey—from a small church in Georgia and a $20,000 first film to stories that have reached audiences around the world. Erin and Stephen also discuss faithfulness in small beginnings, trusting God when the calling feels bigger than your ability, and learning to surrender the outcome rather than letting fear or perfection keep you from taking the first step.

Key Takeaways

• Why we shouldn't despise small beginnings—and how God can grow what we're willing to faithfully begin
• The difference between striving to do something for God and allowing God to work through us
• How surrender, prayer, and obedience have shaped more than twenty years of filmmaking and ministry
• Why we don't have to have the resources, experience, or entire plan before taking the next faithful step

About Stephen
Stephen Kendrick is a filmmaker, author, speaker, and producer best known as part of the Kendrick Brothers, the filmmaking team behind some of the most influential faith-based films of the last two decades, including Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Courageous, War Room, Overcomer, and The Forge. What began more than twenty years ago with a small church in Albany, Georgia, a $20,000 budget, and their first film, Flywheel, has grown into a worldwide ministry reaching audiences across the globe. Through each project, Stephen and his brother Alex have remained committed to creating stories rooted in biblical truth that point people toward Jesus. Stephen and his wife, Jill, have been married for 26 years and are the parents of six children. Today, he continues to write, produce, and develop faith-filled projects, including Flywheel: Ignition of the Soul, a new international adaptation of the film that started it all.

Connect with Stephen

Website:
https://kendrickbrothers.com/

Social Media:
IG: @thekendrickbrothers, @flywheelthemovie

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About Felicia 

Felicia Toler is a wife, mom, grandmother, and women’s ministry leader with a heart for sharing the hope and redemption she has experienced through Christ. After a lifelong struggle with depression and years of carrying deep pain in silence, Felicia reached her darkest point in July 2019 when she attempted to end her life. When she woke up, she knew God had spared her life for a reason. What followed was a journey of healing, restoration, and discovering purpose in the very places she once believed disqualified her. Today, Felicia openly shares her story in hopes that other women will know they are not alone, their story is not over, and God can bring redemption even from the hardest places.

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About Erin
Erin Cuccio is a writer, speaker, executive coach, and podcast host. She spends her days wrangling her three wild boys and supporting her husband in their family-owned business. Her hidden talent is bring order to any kind of chaos, navigating never ending loads of laundry, and drinking too much coffee. Her heart is most at home encouraging others through the trenches of everyday life to find the thread of lovely woven through every season.

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About Roman

Roman is an 11-year-old sixth grader who loves Jesus, basketball, adventure, and learning just about anything he can get his brain around. He’s a dreamer, a collector of random NBA facts, and a fan of vintage technology, especially old cameras. He loves creating, shooting hoops, being at church, and dreaming about what the future might hold.

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About Lindsey

Lindsey is an elementary school teacher and worship leader residing near Houston, TX with her cute, stubborn 5-year-old corgi, Jersi. She loves coffee and enjoys taking quiet moments to relax, reflect, and spend time in nature. Having walked through her own seasons of difficulty and hardship, Lindsey has developed a deep sense of compassion and understanding for others. Known for her empathy, she is passionate about helping people feel seen, valued, accepted, and loved. Her greatest desire is to point people to Christ in all she does, seeking to reflect His love through her words, actions, and the way she shows up and cares for others.

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About Kristen

Kristen Hay loves the Lord and strives to serve Him with her heart, soul and mind.  She is a wife to her sweetheart of 25 years and a mama to 12 children plus a daughter-in-law and grandma to one.

Along with homeschooling her children for the last 20 years, she owns a photography business, a custom calligraphy business and she and her husband invest in real estate together and design residential and commercial spaces.  Kristen also has a blog called Joyful-Jane.com where she shares healthy recipes, family life, calligraphy scripture prints and encouraging posts.

Her hobbies include spending time with family and friends, traveling to fun places, gourmet cooking, baking bread, playing pickleball, reading, writing, decorating, organizing, health and fitness, learning new things and antique shopping.

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About Tiffany

Tiffany St. Germain is a pastor’s wife, momma, and a connections and women’s minister who is passionate about sharing Jesus and helping people feel at home.  You can often find her at a local coffee shop sharing life with others.  She is passionate about real conversations, strong faith, and building genuine community – spaces where others feel seen, valued, and encouraged.  Tiffany loves walking alongside others as they grow in their relationship with God and discover their place in His story.

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About April

April Lopez is a  Curriculum Director for a school district, an award-winning children’s book author, and the owner of Lily and Max Pet Bakery, a brand focused on creating healthy, allergy-friendly treats for pets. A passionate advocate for animals, she is both a dog and cat mom who is committed to improving the lives of pets and educating pet parents. Beyond her professional work, April is a devoted wife and mother of three, balancing her career, creativity, and love for family with purpose and heart.

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