The Connected Mom

Have you ever wanted to create a beautiful, livable home, but you feel stuck? Join today’s conversation with guest Myquillyn Smith and how she makes decorating simple.
 
 From the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Cozy Minimalist Home comes this charming collection of one hundred memorable, universal decorating truths that apply to every house, style, and budget. Learn how to make better decorating decisions with ease. House Rules is packed full of simple, encouraging truths and quick takeaways for you to implement into your home immediately.

MyQuillyn Smith’s book: House Rules: How to Decorate for Every Home, Style, and Budget.

 For the past ten years, Myquillyn Smith, also known as “The Nester,” has been encouraging women to embrace their homes—imperfections and all. Her lived-in, loved-on home has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, Ladies' Home Journal and Cottages & Bungalows. Myquillyn is the author of The Nesting Place and Cozy Minimalist Home and was chosen by Christianity Today as one of the top twenty creatives in 2016. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three boys.

Website: www.thenester.com 
Instagram: @thenester

Join Becky as she has a real conversation with Helen Smallbone about the upcoming release of “Unsung Hero” movie. Helen discusses how their family navigated through her husband’s successful music company collapses and moving the family from Australia to the United States in search of a brighter future. With nothing more than their six children, their suitcases, and their love of music, David and his pregnant wife Helen set out to rebuild their lives from the ground up. Based on a remarkable true story, a mum's faith stands against all odds; and inspires her husband and children to hold onto theirs.

Official Site: https://unsunghero.movie/
Order UnSung Hero

Social Media: 

Instagram: @UnsungHeroMovie

Facebook: @UnsungHeroMovie

Twitter: @UnsungHeroMovie

Hashtag: #UnsungHeroMovie

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.

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, (www.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.

Join Becky as she has a real conversation with Jennifer Slattery about releasing your children well.  

Jennifer’s  newest released book: Recapturing Her Heart: An Uplifting Inspirational Romance (Sage Creek Book 2)

Jennifer Slattery is a writer, speaker, and the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries. She writes and blogs for Crosswalk and is a multi-published author. She speaks to women's groups, at conferences, retreats, and to Bible study groups across the nation and encourages women to discover and live out who they are in Christ. When not writing or reading, you'll likely find her sharing coffee with friends or laughing with her hilariously fun husband. 

With humor, vulnerability, and stories from her own limited life as a mom of five—two who struggle with severe autism—pastor and podcaster Jessica Hurlbut ignites hope in hearts of overwhelmed moms to believe that forces outside you can’t stop the God within you. Revealing 12 limits that hinder mothers—like exhaustion, distractions, and disillusionment—Jessica shows how to overcome them. Join Becky as she speaks with Jessica today about autism, foster care, adoptions and how there is hope for parents of kids on the spectrum. 

 Get Jessica’s book: “Unlimited Motherhood”

Jessica and her husband Greg founded All 4 One Adoption Awareness, an organization focused on highlighting the 110,000 children in foster care who are freed to be adopted and need a forever home. She was also a contestant on Season 8 of NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, featured in Runner’s World Magazine and had the privilege of presenting a TEDx Talk in 2020 entitled, “How to Win at the Race Called Life.” To find out more: https://www.jessicahurlbut.com/

"What do you and your spouse have in common?"
"We got married on the same day."

Many women can identify with that sentiment. They want their marriages to be happy and honoring to God, but they wonder how when their mate baffles and even irritates them so. Some may even wonder if they made a terrible mistake. Today we talk with Poppy Smith, author of, "Why Can't He Be More Like Me?: 9 Secrets to Understanding Your Husband." Using Scripture, humor, and colorful illustrations from her own struggles, Poppy Smith offers hope in this upbeat, personal, practical, and biblically grounded interview. Listen in and

Get Poppy's book: Why Can't He Be More Like Me?: 9 Secrets to Understanding Your Husband

About Poppy:
I’m originally from England and was raised in a loving but non-believing family. My parents loved to travel and because my father was in the Royal Air Force, we lived in many parts of Britain and in Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Kenya. When I was 17, friends shared the Gospel with me, and I immediately responded to the love of God. To my amazement, God started making me aware of His reality within a few days. Bit by bit, God changed me from being angry and bitter, to accepting that He was at work, even though I didn’t understand His ways at that time.

You will find me warm, accepting, understanding, and honest.  I know that various issues can trip you up such as: anger, fear, bitterness, despair, and temptation. As I’ve shared with you, I’ve experienced these things and written books about them. BUT: this isn’t where God wants you or me to stay. My role as a coach is to help you find the practical wisdom, help, and hope God provides so you become a strong and growing follower of Jesus. Learn more about Poppy: https://poppysmith.com

Adoption brings unique challenges. Love and bonding don’t always come naturally. There can be emotional distress, frustration, and disappointment. Today we talk with Laurel Shaler, author of “Loving Adopted Children Well”. Her stories about adoption, show empathy for adoptive parents and encouragement to not give up in the process. Shaler provides an honest and invaluable resource of wisdom, joy, and healing. Apply the lessons from Loving Adopted Children Well, and you will see love grow and flourish in your home.

Get Dr. Laurel’s book: “Loving Adopted Children Well”

DR. LAUREL SHALER is a national certified counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed professional counselor, and licensed social worker. She is a professor at Liberty University in the Department of Counselor Education and Family Studies. Dr. Shaler is the author of Relational Reset: Unlearning the Habits That Hold You Back and Reclaiming Sanity: Hope and Healing for Trauma, Stress, and Overwhelming Life Events

Have you ever felt rejected? It's just the worst! Rejection can reveal our insecurities and robs us of joy...every time. Today we talk with Patty LaRaoche, author of "A Little Lift: Finding Joy Beyond Rejection." Her stories as the wife of a MLB player and her honesty as a believer are so refreshing. Listen in and make progress on returning to joy after rejection.

Get Patty's book: A Little Lift: Finding Joy Beyond Rejection

About Patty:
Patty is a wife, a mother of three, a stepmother of two, a grandmother of nine and a great-grandmother of three. She has been married to Dave, a former professional baseball player/coach for 50 years and because of his career, has lived in over 40 cities, ranging from California to New York. Anecdotes from those years are included in her book about rejection. 

Patty recently presented a Tedx Talk on the Rewards of Rejection. She published her first book, "A Little Faith Lift...Finding Joy Beyond Rejection," a humorous, Christian book--with a serious message--which addresses people who spend their lives trying to measure up. She believes that laughter covers a multitude of humiliating experiences. She should know.

Our guest has faced so many obstacles...but her stories of overcoming show the power of relying on God's strength. Becky and Sarah talk with Lori Vober, a stroke survivor (at age twenty-nine). She is a walking miracle and we guarantee that her journey of faith and perseverance will encourage you. 

Find Lori's Book:
Choices: When You Are Faced with a Challenge, What Choice Will You Make?
Life rarely turns out exactly as you pictured it, and we all face challenges along the way. God always has a plan. But He leaves it up to you whether you follow His plan or not. Life is about choices.

I have chosen to depend on God's faithfulness through all our challenges.

• Everyone has doubts about their own abilities, but God has a plan for each of us. So believe in Him, and don't give up.
• Sometimes your attitude, drive, and enthusiasm can take you further than your talents or abilities. Attitude can make all the difference.
• Find your happiness in whom God says you are. Don't let someone else define your happiness.

Connect with Lori:
Website

We all know that there are extroverts and introverts. But how do we help our children who are more introverted? How do we help them feel affirmed in their design? Today we talk with Holley Gerth. Holley is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author of many books. She is a counselor and life coach, with a masters of science degree in mental health. Holley is the host of More Thank Small Talk podcast and is the co-owner of The Potentialist Agency. She is also a mother and grandmother and we’re excited to talk with her today about helping our kids who are introverted by design.

Learn more about Holley.

Order Holley's Book:
The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to Be You
In this transformative book, Holley Gerth dives into the brain science behind introversion to help you understand the psychological, relational, and spiritual aspects of being an introvert. She explores how introverts can make meaningful connections, experience quiet confidence, cultivate soul-filling solitude, exercise unexpected influence, and much more.

If you're an introvert, or if you love, lead, or share life with an introvert, you need this empowering, insightful book!

It seems so many need hope right now. That’s what we’re talking about today with Becky's good friend, Michelle Cox. She's authored a book "Hope That Endures" which is Michelle's gift to God...offering hope to everyone who reads it. The stories are special because they're true, relatable, and show God's faithfulness. By the end of this podcast, you'll feel like you have a new friend...and new encouragement.

Connect with Michelle on Facebook

Get Michelle's Book: Hope That Endures
In the powerful Hope That Endures Blue Faux Leather Devotional, Michelle Cox shares lessons and truths she has learned about God's faithfulness. These insights come from both her friends' difficulties and her own tragic experiences. She needed God's hope to bear numerous challenges: her father's suicide, a car wreck, her son's life-threatening illness, financial difficulties, and the loss of part of her hearing and eyesight. Michelle sometimes felt overwhelmed, barely able to take another breath. Yet, even as her world was shattered and rocked, she discovered that the Rock of Ages — Jesus — was all she needed.