The Soapbox

After Julie Barfield’s first episode “Grief Changes all the Rules in Motherhood”, I drove home wondering who might want to ask her a few follow up questions. Julie was willing to open the floor. Several of you sent in some of your questions for her and we got to record a Part 2 deep dive on the nitty gritty of mothering in the midst of grieving. In this episode, we touch on what children in the home could want/need, marriage, and about the what ifs/regrets that naturally come up. You will find an honest mom with wisdom to share from her personal experience in the episode and I pray it blesses you or someone you know!

You can learn more about Julie’s story and thoughts on her process of grief by visiting her ⁠blog⁠.

Don't miss You Are '27! Join us February 19-20 in College Station, Texas, for a weekend centered on Jesus. This is a great way to start the year out with vision, time with Jesus, worship and incredible teaching from friends of the podcast like Stasi Eldredge! Learn more and get your ticket today at ⁠youareinc.com⁠

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Julie Barfield, mother of 2 children, one on Earth and one waiting for her in Heaven opens up with humility and honesty, about mothering in the midst of grief. Julie knows deeply painful days, longing that doesn’t go away, the hope of Heaven, and Emmanuel, God with us. If you are in the midst of grief, I pray these words from another who has known deep grief and pain meet you in a specific way. If you are not grieving, I pray that Julie’s testimony stirs your faith in an ever present, ever faithful God.

You can learn more about Julie’s story and thoughts on her process of grief by visiting her blog.

Don't miss You Are '27! Join us February 19-20 in College Station, Texas, for a weekend centered on Jesus. This is a great way to start the year out with vision, time with Jesus, worship and incredible teaching from friends of the podcast like Stasi Eldredge! Learn more and get your ticket today at youareinc.com

Stay up to date with all things You Are Family by following us on Instagram and signing up for our free monthly email that is full of free resources for you and your kids!

Sandy Ross, mother of three grown girls and Mimi to 10 grands, finally got to join us on The Soapbox! She shares her Soapbox is the power of our presence as a mother. Through her testimony, she boldly encourages moms to prioritize their children over any calling or ministry. The best part is that you will get to hear a passionate woman, full of life, calling, and vision share the way God has shown her how to prioritize through the years. You will leave encouraged in many areas as Sandy dances through so many rich topics, spills over with the scriptures and drops one liners and you’ll want to write down!

Don't miss You Are '27! Join us February 19-20 in College Station, Texas, for a weekend centered on Jesus. This is a great way to start the year out with vision, time with Jesus, worship and incredible teaching from friends of the podcast like Stasi Eldredge! Learn more and get your ticket today at youareinc.com

Stay up to date with all things You Are Family by following us on Instagram and signing up for our free monthly email that is full of free resources for you and your kids!

Jeanne Bolin is a mom of 8 grown children, with 33 (soon to be 35) grandchildren. She shares that God put her in “character school” as a young mom. She studied and feasted on the character traits of Christ and taught her children with great internationality through Bible and Christian Hero stories. Jeanne and her husband believed that Godly character was most important thing their children would learn in their home. They didn’t know exactly what each of their children would face in life, but they knew character is what would help them stand. Jeanne shares about her family and life, and also shares the ins and outs of a book she just compiled from her decades of teaching character to children. I believe it is one of the best resources I’ve ever held as a parent. Jeanne has done the work for us, collecting the stories, giving us definitions to teach traits, and connecting fun resources to make it sticky. This episode gives a helpful glimpse into how you might use the resource!

You can find “The Character Treasure Chest” here and be sure to check out her website full of additional resources!

Don't miss You Are '27! Join us February 19-20 in College Station, Texas, for a weekend centered on Jesus. This is a great way to start the year out with vision, time with Jesus, worship and incredible teaching from friends of the podcast like Stasi Eldredge! Learn more and get your ticket today at youareinc.com

Stay up to date with all things You Are Family by following us on Instagram and signing up for our free monthly email that is full of free resources for you and your kids!

Georgan Reitmeier is a mother of two and a long time educator and leader. She believes that parenting can get isolated and community is a longing in all of us. Georgan has actively sought out community through the years by finding people to serve with. She shares many of the ways she and her boys engaged in community.

Stay up to date with all things You Are Fam by following us on Instagram. And sign up for our free monthly email full of encouragement and resources for your family!

Jen Cumberbatch- Raising Kids in a Non-Herd Mentality

Jen Cumberbatch, wife of over 40 years, mother of 4, artist, and counselor shares first hand how essential it is to train up a child in the way they are BENT. She shares personal stories of herself as a little girl, the rich heritage she carries, and the ways she was mothered that impacted both who she is and how she mothers. Jen is both youthful and wise. She always leaves me thinking.

You can keep up to date with Jen’s ministry, Full Measure on her Facebook page.

Stay up to date with all things You Are Fam by following us on Instagram. And sign up for our free monthly email full of encouragement and resources for your family!

Kelli Boyd, queen of the table joins us to share her DNA of a rich life around the table!

Kelli owns she’s not a great cook, she loves paper plates, she sometimes serves a cereal bar or grilled cheese, but she ALWAYS has people around her table- and… she doesn’t jump up to clean. She levels with all of us by sharing the things she had to release to embrace a better life of lingering. She has grown kids who have caught what they lived in their own and it’s so inspiring and hopeful! You will want to be her best friend and share a table with her. Kelli is on staff at T BAR M and is a mom to 5 children- almost all grown! Here’s to lingering around the table more!

Stay up to date with all things You Are Fam by following us on Instagram. And sign up for our free monthly email full of encouragement and resources for your family!

Karin simply and practically highlights the value in the written word. She unpacks everything from THE word of God to good literature to writing the stories of God’s faithfulness. Whether you are a Read Aloud Queen or thinking “when would there be time to soak in any written word?”, this episode will stir your heart to read and write! Karin raised 6 children and just finished writing a book! If you connect with this episode, give her a follow on Substack and stay on the edge of your seat! And follow Karin on her new Instagram @karinsems.

Stay up to date with all things You Are Fam by following us on Instagram. And sign up for our free monthly email full of encouragement and resources for your family!

Bethany is a mother of 8 children who says, “For years, I mothered from a place of striving, guilt, and fear. But as I began to understand my identity in Christ, not as a mom who has to “get it all right,” but as a beloved daughter, everything shifted. I found peace, joy, and freedom through Gospel-centered parenting.”

And you will believe her after you listen to this conversation. Bethany shares the heart of gospel discipline and generously walks through her 4 part model with so many helpful examples. She is both gentle and truthful.

Bethany also founded Warrior Motherhood. You’re going to want to check out all that she’s doing.

Learn more about Bethany by visiting her site, listening to her Warrior Mama Podcast and follow her on Instagram here.

Stay up to date with all things You Are Fam by following us on ⁠Instagram⁠. And ⁠sign up⁠ for our free monthly email full of encouragement and resources for your family!

As promised, here is the recording from our Soapbox LIVE event in June. It is so fun to be all together in a room. This episode is an interview with two old friends, who happen to be wildly different but incredible moms!!! You will hear the ways they lean naturally, the ways they have grown, the things they’ve learned from each other and hopefully leave encouraged in your own wiring whether it be Type A or Type B! There is banter, laughter and honesty all throughout. Hope you enjoy and look out for the next live event so you can join us in the room!!

Stay up to date with all things You Are Fam by following us on ⁠Instagram⁠. And ⁠sign up⁠ for our free monthly email full of encouragement and resources for your family!