Whatever Is Excellent with Leanne Tuggle

Church can feel like something we attend or something we build. That difference matters more than we think, especially for our kids.

I share a personal story that starts with a 13-year-old begging to join a mission trip and coming home with one clear takeaway: knowing the “right answers” is not the same as learning how to share a real testimony that points to Jesus. From nursery volunteering to helping in children’s ministry, I talk about how early serving shaped confidence, spiritual growth, and a deeper sense of belonging in the body of Christ. Along the way, I anchor the conversation in Scripture about serving in love, humility, and using our gifts well.

I also dig into why this isn’t just sentimental. Research commonly referenced by Barna, Pew Research Center, and LifeWay highlights a sobering reality about church retention, and it points to a hopeful pattern: teens who serve are far more likely to stay connected long term. I explain why being a contributor creates relational ties, ownership, and community responsibility that attendance alone rarely builds.

Then I get practical with family service on Sundays: how to start with prayer, how to weigh your current season of life, and how to serve without sacrificing your primary ministry at home. I share a real example of building a children’s ministry program from scratch after COVID and making it work as a family, plus simple prompts to help you identify where your church truly needs you.

If this encouraged you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more families can find it. Where could your family become a contributor right now?

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

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A new school year can feel like a fresh start, but it can also bring a fresh wave of chaos if we try to wing it. We want something better than frantic mornings and frazzled afternoons, so we’re sharing the practical planning process we use to build a calmer, more peace-filled home. Think of it like a simple playbook: a few repeatable rhythms that reduce decision fatigue, increase consistency, and help our kids feel emotionally safe. 

We start with the foundation: our own morning routine. Before we plan for our kids, we work backward from the school start time and choose a realistic setup that helps us show up with patience and presence, not depletion. Then we map a kid-friendly morning routine with clear expectations, age-appropriate independence, and a built-in practice week before school begins. We also talk about how breakfast and Bible time can become a steady daily anchor without needing to be complicated or long. 

Next, we move to the after-school routine, because the transition from school to home often sets the tone for the whole evening. We share simple systems for snacks, decompression, check-ins, and home logistics like backpacks and lunchboxes. We also dig into calendar wisdom, setting boundaries around extracurricular activities to protect family dinners and white space. Finally, we close with a chore reset that teaches responsibility and keeps the home running as a shared effort. 

If you’re craving a more organized school year rooted in wisdom, peace, and faith-based family rhythms, hit play. Then subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review so more parents can find it.

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

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Middle school hallways can feel like a daily referendum on who your kid is and where they belong. As a parent, that pressure hits me too, especially when the loudest cultural messages say truth is whatever you feel in the moment. I talk through why an identity in Christ is not just comforting language, it’s an anchor that can steady our kids when friendships shift, trends change, and “live your truth” turns convictions into something as temporary as a viral video.

I unpack what biblical convictions are and what they are not. Convictions aren’t personalities, preferences, or political opinions. They’re deeply held beliefs formed by Scripture, strengthened through prayer, wisdom, and obedience. Daniel’s resolve in Babylon gives a clear picture of courageous faith without unnecessary conflict, and Jesus shows the perfect balance we’re aiming for: full grace and full truth. I also reflect on the disciples’ fear before the cross and their courage after the Holy Spirit comes, because many of us know what it feels like to be intimidated into silence.

Then we get practical. I share how I teach my kids that compassion does not require compromise, and how to resist emotional manipulation without becoming harsh, fearful, or reactive. We can slow the moment down with questions, separate feelings from facts, and respond with gracious words that still hold a clear line. Finally, I explain why biblical literacy and critical thinking belong at the center of Christian parenting, so our kids learn how to think, not just what to think.

If you want more confidence to live out biblical conviction with kindness, listen now, then subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review. What conviction do you want to hold with more courage and more love?

Recommended Reading:

When Culture Hates You by Natasha Crain

Toxic Empathy by Allie Beth Stuckey

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

Episode Sponsors:
Rodan + Fields - Take this brief quiz to find your customized skincare routine!

Whatever is Lovely - Subscribe here to the weekly newsletter designed to encourage you with words of wisdom and relatable content. Be inspired to open your inbox again. 

Summer boredom has a way of sneaking up on us. One minute we’re optimistic with big plans, and the next we’re staring down sibling squabbles, restless kids, and the temptation to hand over a screen just to get a quiet moment. I share a different option that’s both simple and surprisingly powerful: go outside, even when it’s hot, even when it feels inconvenient, even when you don’t have a big yard or a perfect plan.

We talk through why outdoor play matters so much for kids and parents. Unstructured time in nature nurtures wonder, creativity, resilience, and real confidence. It also helps kids re-learn how to entertain themselves with the world in front of them, not just a device. I also share the signs I watch for when screen time starts to backfire, like when kids can’t think of anything else to do or when a short show leads to daily meltdowns. That’s usually my cue to reset habits and expectations with a gentle screen detox.

You’ll get practical, age-by-age ideas you can actually use: sensory outdoor play for toddlers and preschoolers, confidence-building adventures and neighborhood independence for elementary kids, and meaningful teen projects that grow initiative, stewardship, and maturity. We end with simple summer rhythms that make “outside time” the default again, plus a question to help you evaluate what might change at home if you prioritize creation and connection over convenience and entertainment. If this encourages you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review so more families can find it.

Recommended Resources:

Busy Toddler

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

Episode Sponsors:
Rodan + Fields - Take this brief quiz to find your customized skincare routine!

Whatever is Lovely - Subscribe here to the weekly newsletter designed to encourage you with words of wisdom and relatable content. Be inspired to open your inbox again. 

A teen with a smartphone is not just holding a device, they’re holding a doorway. I invited Jean-Marie to share how her family approaches technology with two teenagers, and the conversation gets real fast: addiction-like design, online grooming risks, and the quiet ways algorithms shape what our kids believe about themselves. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re being “too strict” or not strict enough, you’ll hear a framework that’s bigger than rules and more practical than vague advice.

We talk through what it looks like to treat tech as discipleship and not merely behavior management. Jean-Marie explains why discernment is a core skill, how a first phone can be framed as a partnership, and why simple boundaries still matter: no phones at the table, no devices behind closed doors, no screens in bedrooms at night, and gaming only in public spaces. We also dig into tactics parents rarely mention out loud, like paying to remove ads and actively curating a teen’s Pinterest feed when the algorithm starts pushing appearance-driven content or sneaky pathways into other platforms.

The heart of the conversation is connection. We unpack how to build a home where kids can say, “Something weird happened online” without fear, and why the “golden hour” before bedtime can become your best window into what your teen is carrying. We close with encouragement for overwhelmed parents: delay when you can, cultivate offline interests, consider a digital detox, get professional help when reactions look like addiction, and cover it all in prayer.

If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a parent friend, and leave a review so more families can find practical, hope-filled guidance. What boundary or habit has made the biggest difference in your home?

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

Episode Sponsors:
Rodan + Fields - Take this brief quiz to find your customized skincare routine!

Whatever is Lovely - Subscribe here to the weekly newsletter designed to encourage you with words of wisdom and relatable content. Be inspired to open your inbox again. 

The internet didn’t just change childhood, it changed what childhood gets exposed to. Many of us grew up thinking pornography was something you had to intentionally seek out, yet today kids can stumble onto explicit content through pop-ups, ads, streaming platforms, or a simple image search. That reality can make a parent’s stomach drop, but avoiding the topic doesn’t protect our kids. I’d rather be the one who names it, explains it, and keeps the door open for honesty.

We walk through how to talk to kids about pornography in a way that’s age-appropriate, clear, and free of shame. I share why starting early matters, how to define pornography in simple terms, and how a biblical worldview frames sex as good and sacred while calling out porn as a distortion of intimacy and identity. I also point you to practical resources that helped me, including Good Pictures, Bad Pictures and Greta Eskridge’s It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn.

Then we get hands-on with tools you can use right away: building a “porn plan” for accidental exposure (including the simple “three T’s” approach), creating ongoing conversations that feel normal, and using media literacy questions to teach discernment with everyday ads and shows. We also talk about wise tech boundaries, why parental controls aren’t enough on their own, and what loving, calm, grace-filled parenting looks like if exposure has already happened.

If you want a realistic Christian parenting approach to internet safety that prioritizes truth, connection, and courage, press play. After you listen, subscribe, share the episode with another parent, and leave a quick review so more families can find it.

Recommended Reading/Resources:

Good Pictures Bad Pictures by Kristen A. Jenson

It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn by Greta Eskridge

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

Episode Sponsors:
Rodan + Fields - Take this brief quiz to find your customized skincare routine!

Whatever is Lovely - Subscribe here to the weekly newsletter designed to encourage you with words of wisdom and relatable content. Be inspired to open your inbox again. 

Your to-do list can look holy and still be powered by anxiety. We talk through one of the most misunderstood Gospel moments, Jesus in the home of Martha and Mary, and why the real issue is not service but worry. Martha isn’t “the bad one” and Mary isn’t “the better one.” Jesus holds both with compassion, then gently names what’s happening under the surface: a heart that is anxious and troubled about many things.

We connect that story to real life for busy Christian women who juggle work, family, ministry, school, and the constant pressure to do it all well. When does hospitality turn into impressing? When does responsibility turn into resentment? And what would change if time with Jesus became preparation for our work instead of competition with it? Along the way we share a simple phrase that has been shaping our days: do the work, but leave the worry. It’s not a slogan, it’s a spiritual practice of releasing control and choosing trust.

We also follow Martha and Mary beyond Luke 10 into John 11 and John 12, where their faith and worship show what abiding produces over time. To close, we savor John 15:5–11, Jesus as the vine and us as the branches, and we name the invitation clearly: reorder your life without removing your responsibilities, and let your doing flow from being with Him. If this encouraged you, subscribe, share it with a friend who feels overloaded, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

Recommended Reading:

Keep A Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot

A Place For You by Kendra Dahl

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

Episode Sponsors:
Rodan + Fields - Take this brief quiz to find your customized skincare routine!

Whatever is Lovely - Subscribe here to the weekly newsletter designed to encourage you with words of wisdom and relatable content. Be inspired to open your inbox again. 

Raise your hand if you have a “big feeler” in your house or if you are one yourself. Strong emotions can be beautiful and God-given, but when feelings take the driver’s seat they start making decisions they were never designed to make. I’m unpacking a simple anchor that has helped our family: emotions are indicators, not dictators.

We get practical and a little nerdy about how the brain works, including why humans often make decisions emotionally and then justify them intellectually. I walk through the difference between the “feeling brain” (reactive and immediate) and the “thinking brain” (intentional, discerning, built for self-control), and why Christian emotional regulation is really about letting Scripture, reason, and reality shape what we do with what we feel. Along the way, I share real parenting moments, like talking about crushes and dating with my daughter by letting facts inform feelings, and why naming these brain dynamics can help kids slow down and choose wisely.

Then we tackle a word that’s everywhere right now: empathy. We talk about how to weep with those who weep without surrendering discernment, why love is more than affirmation, and how Jesus models truth and grace together. You’ll hear simple conversation tools like listening without jumping to correction and asking clarifying questions before responding.

If you want a Christian perspective on emotional health, critical thinking, and discipling kids in a noisy culture, this one will meet you right where you are. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs steadier ground, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you’re putting into practice.

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

Episode Sponsors:
Rodan + Fields - Take this brief quiz to find your customized skincare routine!

Whatever is Lovely - Subscribe here to the weekly newsletter designed to encourage you with words of wisdom and relatable content. Be inspired to open your inbox again. 

A swollen lump. Years of fatigue and infections. Two biopsies that said “benign.” Then the diagnosis flips everything: thyroid cancer, a fast second surgery, and the question so many of us whisper when fear is loud what do I do now?

We invited our dear friend Whitney to tell the story from the inside, not as a highlight reel but as a real cancer journey shaped by waiting, uncertainty, and the daily work of choosing trust. We talk about anchoring to Isaiah 26:3, how simplifying your life can make room for prayer, and why a small circle of friends matters when your strength runs out. Whitney also shares how worship music carried her when a thyroid nodule affected her voice and kept her from singing.

Along the way, she recounts specific moments of guidance that felt like God pulling back the curtain: the right phone call at the right time, help with overwhelming medical decisions, and an unexpected text of “hope” sent to someone else at the exact moment it was needed. We also celebrate the update everyone longs to hear, her cancer is currently undetectable, and we reflect on redemption, gratitude, and Psalm 71 as a steady closing prayer.

If you’re walking through illness, anxiety, or an uncertain season, let this conversation remind you that you’re not alone and you don’t have to do it at full speed. Subscribe for more stories of anchored hope, share this with a friend who needs steady courage, and leave a review with the line that stayed with you most.

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

Episode Sponsors:
Rodan + Fields - Take this brief quiz to find your customized skincare routine!

Whatever is Lovely - Subscribe here to the weekly newsletter designed to encourage you with words of wisdom and relatable content. Be inspired to open your inbox again. 

You can love your home and still be called to leave it. We talk about what it looks like to move every few years as a military family and refuse to let constant change turn you cynical, rushed, or numb. Instead, we choose a simple mission: leave a place better than you found it, not through perfection, but through presence, service, and steady faith when life keeps shifting. 

We share the real emotional mix that comes with relocation and PCS moves: excitement, stress, grief, and the strange feeling of being “uprooted.” Then we reframe it as being replanted, trusting that God is still establishing our steps (Proverbs 16:9) and going before us (Deuteronomy 31:8). Along the way we pull wisdom from Genesis 12, Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 5, and the comfort of John 14:1–3, because God’s presence is not tied to one house, one state, or one season. 

You’ll get practical moving tips you can use right away: how to prepare your heart before the move, how to keep family rhythms during the chaos, and how to handle the “big feelings” after you arrive. We also talk about helping kids process change with prayer, simple lists for “one last time” moments and “new firsts,” and a powerful life lesson that grief and gratitude can coexist. 

If you’re facing a move, a new chapter, or an uncertain future, press play and take the next step with us. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs courage, and leave a review so more people can find hope for life transitions.

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

Episode Sponsors:
Rodan + Fields - Take this brief quiz to find your customized skincare routine!

Whatever is Lovely - Subscribe here to the weekly newsletter designed to encourage you with words of wisdom and relatable content. Be inspired to open your inbox again.