This Mom Knows

Pam Stevenson, a native of Chile living in Massachusetts has a business using hand-lettering and modern calligraphy to create beautiful messages and pieces of art. She shares with us how she got started and how you can too.

Meet our Guest Pam:

Pam is a Chilean graphic designer married to an American Superman and she's the mom of three little ones. And they're currently living in Massachusetts where her husband teaches at Gordon College while she's at home, homeschooling the kids and she makes everything calligraphy related. And in her spare time, she is helping her husband with Proyecto Nehemías - I don't know if I said that right - The Nehemiah Project, which is a nonprofit, where he's making Christian literature available in Spanish.

Connect with me and let me hear your thoughts:

Website - www.thismomknows.com
FB - www.facebook.com/thismomknows
IG - www.instagram.com/thismomknowspodcast

Topics we cover:

• Pam's journey from Chile to Massachusetts
• Pam's background in graphic design and her experience with calligraphy
• The difference between hand lettering and traditional calligraphy
• Resources and websites for learning calligraphy
• Tips for teaching children cursive and hand lettering
• The challenge of practicing with kids around
• Pam's favorite gadget
• Information about a 20% discount for listeners

Resources mentioned:

For a more pop style: The Happy Ever Crafter (website, YouTube, Instagram)
For a more modern and refined style: love @inkmethis (website and Instagram)
For a more classic style: The Postman's Knock (website, Instagram and Youtube)
For copperplate and flourishing:  you can join The Love Leigh Loops (website and Instagram)
Beginner Guides to Copperplate by Benjawan Calligraphy (website and Instagram) 

Proyecto Nehemías:     https://proyectonehemias.com/
The Postman’s Knock by Lindsay Bugbee:    https://thepostmansknock.com/
Procreate App:    https://procreate.com/
The Happy Ever Crafter:     https://www.thehappyevercrafter.com/
Pam's favorite gadget is...her Nutribullet with carrying case

Link to transcript:  https://www.thismomknows.com/blog/episode-14

Connect with Pam:

Itsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LettertoFlourish?ref=shop_sugg (get 20% discount with promocode MOMKNOWS20)
Instagram:  http://www.instagram.com/lettertoflourish
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lettertoflourish
Email:  [email protected]

About This Mom Knows

Moms know a lot of things, and when we start talking, ideas form, energy builds, and we take action. This Mom Knows is a place for moms to mompreneurs to find encouragement, connection, and maybe even collaboration but most importantly community with moms who know.  So, grab a cup of coffee, maybe a paper and pencil to jot down an idea or two, and let's discover what This Mom Knows.

Annie Tan-Cohen, mom and personal trainer, shares about what fitness and nutrition really mean and how to achieve it in a balanced way.

Meet our Guest Annie:

 Annie is a wife and a mom to a six-and-a-half-year-old daughter. She's a personal trainer who also does nutrition coaching, as well as being a personal stylist. 

Connect with me and let me hear your thoughts:

Website -  www.thismomknows.com
FB - www.facebook.com/thismomknows
IG - www.instagram.com/thismomknowspodcast

Topics we Cover:

• Annie's background and relocation from Singapore to the United States
• Her career change journey from working for Motorola to becoming a personal trainer and stylist
• The broader concept of fitness and the importance of mental and spiritual well-being
• Defining fitness and nutrition as multi-dimensional aspects of life
• Discussing how fitness involves strength, both physical and mental
• The need for a balanced approach to fitness that includes physical, mental, and spiritual well-being
• The importance of setting achievable short-term fitness goals
• Exploring the significance of both strength training and aerobic exercises in fitness
• Incorporating physical activity into daily routines, especially for moms with young children
• Tips on staying active with kids and integrating fitness into family life
• The pros and cons of gym memberships, home equipment, fitness classes, and personal trainers
• The significance of having a plan and focusing on foundational exercises in a fitness routine
• The importance of sustainable and individualized nutrition choices
• Recommendations for finding a suitable approach to eating that works for you
• The value of having a well-structured schedule as a personal trainer
• Adapting workouts to individual client needs and focusing on their well-being
• Balancing planned workouts with personalized therapy and flexibility
• The importance of client comfort and preventing excessive soreness
• The significance of a caring and adaptable approach to personal training
• The relationship between a strong foundation, achievable goals, and successful fitness routines
• Annie Tan-Cohen's favorite gadget

Resources Mentioned:

Interested in booking a virtual training session?  You can email Annie.

Annie's favorite gadget is...an app!  She loves MyFitnessPal

Link to Transcript: https://www.thismomknows.com/blog/episode-13

Connect with Annie:

Website: https://wellnesslife.us/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellnesslifematters/ 

About This Mom Knows

Moms know a lot of things, and when we start talking, ideas form, energy builds, and we take action. This Mom Knows is a place for moms to mompreneurs to find encouragement, connection, and maybe even collaboration but most importantly community with moms who know.  So, grab a cup of coffee, maybe a paper and pencil to jot down an idea or two, and let's discover what This Mom Knows.

Jenn Uren talks about times when she has heard God's voice in her own life sharing about times when she listened - and times when she didn't.

Connect with me and let me hear your thoughts:

Website -  www.thismomknows.com
FB - www.facebook.com/thismomknows
IG - www.instagram.com/thismomknowspodcast

Topics we Cover:

• Deidra McGeever's experience of losing her voice and finding it through God's healing
• Mary Ethel Eckard's discussion on learning to hear God's voice
• Jenn's own experiences of hearing God's voice and the consequences of listening or ignoring it
• The idea of gut feelings and intuitions
• The role of faith and building it by recognizing when God's voice is heard
• A story about not following an overwhelming feeling about moving a laptop off the kitchen counter, which led to a major accident
• The impact of ignoring such feelings on the ability to hear God's voice
• A journey of simplifying life, learning to say no, and being more attentive to God's voice
• Listening to "The Next Right Thing" podcast by Emily P Freeman and the impact it had on decision-making
• The importance of listening for God's voice and the blessings that come with it
• The speaker's interest in hearing stories of when others have heard God's voice and the outcomes of their choices

Resources mentioned:

Episode 3: Overwhelm

Episode 6: Surprise Adoption

Episode 9: Connected Parenting

Emily P Freeman: Episode 25 - Come Home to Yourself

The Next Right Thing Book

Link to Transcript: https://www.thismomknows.com/blog/episode-12
 

About This Mom Knows

Moms know a lot of things, and when we start talking, ideas form, energy builds, and we take action. This Mom Knows is a place for moms to mompreneurs to find encouragement, connection, and maybe even collaboration but most importantly community with moms who know.  So, grab a cup of coffee, maybe a paper and pencil to jot down an idea or two, and let's discover what This Mom Knows.

Mary Ethel Eckard has learned to listen to God's voice. Listen as she shares her story of how hearing God's voice has led her from making a kidney donation to starting retreats and Dragonfly Ministries.

Meet our Guest Mary Ethel:

Mary Ethel Eckard is our guest today, and she is a mom to four and has eight grandchildren. She's the co-founder of Dragonfly Ministries, where through her captivating testimony of relying on God's strength and guidance through the heights and depths of life, Mary helps others find freedom from the shame and pain of their past. Originally from South Carolina with a detour to Chicagoland where we met, Mary now calls Texas home.

Topics we Cover:

• Mary's experience of hearing God's voice
• Mary's journey to donate a kidney to a neighbor
• Family's reaction to Mary's decision
• The concept of being God's "dragonfly"
• How to hear God's voice and learn to listen
• Dragonfly Ministries and its retreats
• Mary's books and publishing journey
• Encouragement for moms struggling to hear God's voice
• Advice for starting a relationship with God
• Mary's favorite gadgets

Connect with me and let me hear your thoughts:

Website -  www.thismomknows.com
FB - www.facebook.com/thismomknows
IG - www.instagram.com/thismomknowspodcast

Resources:

Learn more about retreats at Dragonfly Ministries, or her books The Making of a Dragonfly and Lessons of a Dragonfly.

Mary's favorite gadgets are...her veggie spiralizer and her automatic corkscrew! (I'm not sure the exact one she has, but here is one to get you started)

Link to transcript:  https://www.thismomknows.com/blog/episode-11

Connect with Mary:

Website: http://www.maryetheleckard.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryetheleckard

About This Mom Knows

Moms know a lot of things, and when we start talking, ideas form, energy builds, and we take action. This Mom Knows is a place for moms to mompreneurs to find encouragement, connection, and maybe even collaboration but most importantly community with moms who know.  So, grab a cup of coffee, maybe a paper and pencil to jot down an idea or two, and let's discover what This Mom Knows.

Diedra McGeever talks about how she literally found her voice after 6-years without it. Diagnosed with an incurable disease, Diedra found hope and healing through her faith and the support of an old family friend. Hear about her journey of healing and her encouragement on how to use your voice.

Meet our Guest Diedra:

Diedra McGeever is originally from Sleepy Hollow, Illinois with all its Headless Horseman imagery. She now lives on the west coast of Florida with her husband and her kids Riley and Logan. Her background in fashion has served her well as she and her husband have now renovated I think two houses together. But her life took a twist bringing her to where she is today, and we're going to talk about that. 

Connect with me and let me hear your thoughts:

Website -  www.thismomknows.com
FB - www.facebook.com/thismomknows
IG - www.instagram.com/thismomknowspodcast

Topics we Cover:

• Discussion about a life-changing experience
• The onset of vocal problems and initial medical consultations
• The struggle with vocal issues and the impact on her life
• The diagnosis of a rare vocal disorder (Spasmodic Dysphonia)
• The effect of the disorder on her life, including quitting her job
• Coping with voice loss, depression, and struggles for six years
• The role of Botox injections in managing vocal issues
• Meeting a vocal coach and the impact of her positivity and prayers
• The importance of accepting and releasing the situation
• Gradual recovery and healing process
• The impact of the experience on her approach to healthy living
• The significance of speaking life, using words wisely, and listening
• Encouragement to not give up, share your story, and find support
• Favorite time-saving gadget

Resources mentioned:

Diedra's favorite gadget is...her diffuser neckace! (I'm not sure the exact one she has, but here is one to get you started)

Link to transcript: https://www.thismomknows.com/blog/episode-10

Connect with Diedra:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diedra.mcgeever
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diedra.mcgeever/

About This Mom Knows

Moms know a lot of things, and when we start talking, ideas form, energy builds, and we take action. This Mom Knows is a place for moms to mompreneurs to find encouragement, connection, and maybe even collaboration but most importantly community with moms who know.  So, grab a cup of coffee, maybe a paper and pencil to jot down an idea or two, and let's discover what This Mom Knows.

Jenn Uren, host of the This Mom Knows podcast, shares about how learning about connection and connected parenting was the key to going from a family of 5 to a family of 7 and how it breathed life back into a space once filled with overwhelm.

To hear the beginning of the story, check out Episode 3 where she shares about finding herself buried under overwhelm and then Episode 6 where you will learn about their surprise adoption.

Connect with me and let me hear your thoughts:

Website -  www.thismomknows.com
FB - www.facebook.com/thismomknows
IG - www.instagram.com/thismomknowspodcast

Topics I covered:

• Unconventional adoption process with minimal support
• Introduction to Hyacynth and the adoption support group
• Decision to attend the Trauma Competent Caregiver training
• Understanding the traumatic impact of past experiences on children
• Grappling with overwhelming emotions and questions
• Finding a speck of hope and support in the training
• Attending the monthly support group meetings
• Learning new strategies and parenting methods
• Shifting from behavior-focused parenting to relationship-focused parenting
• Managing a child's tantrum effectively
• The importance of a slow and foundational process
• Learning to be connected in parenting and setting aside other responsibilities
• Recognizing the need for better health and weight management
• The transformation of the family and personal growth
• The significance of relationship building in the adoption journey
• The positive impact on the family, including kids, biological parents, and grandparents
• The overall blessing and growth in relationships

Resources Mentioned: 

For more information on parenting with connection, check out The Connected Child by Karyn Purvis or The Connected Parent by Karyn Purvis and Lisa Qualls.

listen to This Mom Knows Episode Three and Episode Six 

Link to transcript: https://www.thismomknows.com/blog/episode-9

About This Mom Knows

Moms know a lot of things, and when we start talking, ideas form, energy builds, and we take action. This Mom Knows is a place for moms to mompreneurs to find encouragement, connection, and maybe even collaboration but most importantly community with moms who know.  So, grab a cup of coffee, maybe a paper and pencil to jot down an idea or two, and let's discover what This Mom Knows.

Elisabeth Klein knows hard marriage.  She share about being in a hard marriage, staying for years as she tried to make it work, and finally choosing to seperate. After her divorce she found that she had a unique ministry to women facing similar relationship challenges. She shares about how she serves women and how Jesus sustained her through it all.

Meet our Guest Elisabeth:

Elisabeth Klein is our guest today and she was in a very difficult Christian marriage for almost 19 years. After a 15 month church led reconciliation attempt. She was supported by her church leadership to legally separate and three months later, she was served divorce papers. This left her as a single mom to two teenagers for four years. But then God brought a sweet kind man into her life and they married five years ago. Together, they have five kids between the ages of 19 and 30, two of whom are now married, so they have two grandsons with another on the way. Elisabeth has been following Jesus since she was 15. And has been serving women for over 20 years through church ministry, writing, speaking, and now coaching. And she works primarily with women currently in difficult marriages, those separated and those divorced by helping them go deeper in their relationship with Jesus and in their own personal wholeness. 

Connect with me and let me hear your thoughts:

Website - www.thismomknows.com
FB - www.facebook.com/thismomknows
IG - www.instagram.com/thismomknowspodcast

Topics we cover:

• Her difficult Christian marriage
• Her 15-month church-led reconciliation attempt
• Transition to legal separation and divorce papers and becoming a single mom to two teenagers
• Meeting her current husband and blending their families
• Elisabeth's journey with faith and following Jesus and her passion for serving women through church ministry, writing, speaking, and coaching
• The evolution of her writing career
• Her marriage and separation journey
• How her ministry focus shifted after her separation and divorce
• The importance of being authentic and transparent about difficult marriages
• Elisabeth's writing and speaking career
• Encouragement for women in difficult marriages
• Building a support system during difficult times
• Elisabeth's favorite gadget 

Resources mentioned:

Click to find her Marriage Assessment.  For details on the Marriage Challenge, feel free to email Elisabeth at [email protected].

Connect with Elisabeth:

Website: https://elisabethklein.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elisabethkleincoach

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisabethkleincoach/

Elisabeth's favorite gadget is...her blender! (I'm not sure the exact model Elisabeth has, but this is the one I have and I love it!)

Link to Transcript : https://www.thismomknows.com/blog/episode-8

About This Mom Knows

Moms know a lot of things, and when we start talking, ideas form, energy builds, and we take action. This Mom Knows is a place for moms to mompreneurs to find encouragement, connection, and maybe even collaboration but most importantly community with moms who know.  So, grab a cup of coffee, maybe a paper and pencil to jot down an idea or two, and let's discover what This Mom Knows.

Ashley Boulais is wife to Brandon and mom to three boys.  Today she shares a candid look into life as a pastor's wife in a small town. We discuss stereotypical expectations as well as how we can encourage moms who are living life in public view.

Meet our Guest Ashley:

Ashley loves Jesus, her husband, Brandon and her three boys who are aged eight, six and four, which feels impossible to me. She's an avid reader and enneagram nine and is currently learning hand embroidery and might take up whittling because you know, COVID and by the way, she is a pastor's wife.

Connect with me and let me hear your thoughts:

Website - www.thismomknows.com
FB - www.facebook.com/thismomknows
IG - www.instagram.com/thismomknowspodcast

Topics we cover:

• How Ashley met her husband and her journey to becoming a pastor's wife
• Initial fears and concerns about the role
• The role and expectations of a pastor's wife
• Balancing the pastor's role and raising children
• The challenges of parenting in the public eye
• Building friendships and relationships, both inside and outside the church
• Being open and authentic in relationships
• Benefits and joys of being a pastor's wife
• Encouraging gestures for pastor's wives
• Favorite gadget

Resources mentioned:

Ashley's favorite gadget is...her headband headphones (similar to these)

Link to transcript: https://www.thismomknows.com/blog/episode-7

Connect with Ashley: 

Website: https://ashleyboulais.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aboulaisa/

About This Mom Knows

Moms know a lot of things, and when we start talking, ideas form, energy builds, and we take action. This Mom Knows is a place for moms to mompreneurs to find encouragement, connection, and maybe even collaboration but most importantly community with moms who know.  So, grab a cup of coffee, maybe a paper and pencil to jot down an idea or two, and let's discover what This Mom Knows.

Jenn Uren, host of the This Mom Knows podcast, continues the story she started in Episode 3 and shares how she and her husband ended up with a sudden surprise adoption of two babies.  She shares how this came about and how her family learned first hand about the trauma that accompanies adoption.

Connect with me and let me hear your thoughts:

Website - www.thismomknows.com
FB - www.facebook.com/thismomknows
IG - www.instagram.com/thismomknowspodcast

Topics we cover:

• The unexpected question from a friend about adoption
• The emotional response and decision to pursue adoption
• The whirlwind of phone calls, finding resources, and rearranging the home
• The desire to keep two siblings together
• Meeting with the birth parents and strangers involved in the process
• The last-minute preparations for welcoming the children into the family
• The overwhelming experience of the first few days
• Coping with the trauma and attachment issues
• The impact of this adoption on the speaker's older children
• Feeling lost and not seeing a path back to joy
• Introduction of a turning point involving a phone call from Hyacynth

Resources:

Reference to This Mom Knows Episode Three where Jenn talks about dealing with overwhelm.

Link to transcript: https://www.thismomknows.com/blog/episode-6

About This Mom Knows

Moms know a lot of things, and when we start talking, ideas form, energy builds, and we take action. This Mom Knows is a place for moms to mompreneurs to find encouragement, connection, and maybe even collaboration but most importantly community with moms who know.  So, grab a cup of coffee, maybe a paper and pencil to jot down an idea or two, and let's discover what This Mom Knows.

Crystal Paine is the Money Saving Mom and host of the Crystal Paine Show podcast where she helps you embrace life right where you are and take practical steps to get where you want to go.  

She is also a New York Times bestselling author. Her newest book, Love-Centered Parenting released on March 16, 2021, and in this episode, we have a conversation about what love-centered parenting is and how she learned to embrace it as a mom.

Meet our Guest Crystal:

Crystal Paine is the founder of MoneySavingMom.com, host of the Crystal Paine Show podcast, and a New York Times bestselling author. Her new book Love Centered Parenting is available for pre-order now and releases on March 16. Crystal's desire is to help women across the globe live with more joy, purpose, and intention in their everyday lives. She lives with her husband and her kids in the Nashville area where she's actively involved in her local church. She loves following her passions from raising awareness for foster care and adventures with her family, to finding the very best grocery deals and trying to read way too many books at one time.

Connect with me and let me hear your thoughts:

Website - www.thismomknows.com
FB - www.facebook.com/thismomknows
IG - www.instagram.com/thismomknowspodcast

Topics we cover:

• Her journey into blogging and the start of MoneySavingMom.com
• The challenges she faced as a new mom and her use of books for mentorship
• The impact of Sally Clarkson's books on her parenting approach
• The value of reading and how books can impact and change people
• Crystal's book "Love Centered Parenting" and the re-examination of her parenting approach
• Her personal struggles and the challenges her family faced
• The loneliness and guilt experienced as a parent in such situations
• The lack of support and empathy for parents of children labeled as bullies
• Encouragement and advice for moms in similar situations, emphasizing that they are not alone and that faith can provide guidance and support in difficult times
• Love-centered parenting vs. traditional parenting
• The weight of guilt and the need for freedom in parenting
• The role of core values in parenting
• The impact of love-centered parenting on relationships
• Letting go of trying too hard as a new parent
• Favorite gadgets

Resources mentioned:

People Crystal mentioned:  Sally Clarkson, Emily P. Freeman, Jeanie Cunnion, Meg Meeker, and Jennifer Dukes Lee.

https://moneysavingmom.com/

Crystal's Podcast https://crystalpaine.com/

Crystal's New York Times bestselling  Love-Centered Parenting

Connect with Crystal at her website, on Facebook, or Instagram.

Crystal's favorite gadgets are...her breadmaker and Fitbit.

Link to transcript: https://www.thismomknows.com/blog/episode-5

Connect with Michele: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themoneysavingmom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoneySavingMom
Website: https://moneysavingmom.com/

About This Mom Knows

Moms know a lot of things, and when we start talking, ideas form, energy builds, and we take action. This Mom Knows is a place for moms to mompreneurs to find encouragement, connection, and maybe even collaboration but most importantly community with moms who know.  So, grab a cup of coffee, maybe a paper and pencil to jot down an idea or two, and let's discover what This Mom Knows.