M Is for Mama Podcast

In May, 2023, our family had the incredible privilege of taking a 45-day trip to Europe--the redo of a previously attempted trip that Covid killed.  In this episode, we’re chatting about how the trip came about, some of the hiccups we faced in the months leading up to it, a bit of our itinerary, and how the Lord orchestrated everything so perfectly to make it a literal trip of a lifetime.  I also share some of my favorite moments, as well as a low moment or two. Oh, and a buffalo. But you’ll have to listen to find out what that is! Stay tuned for next week when we chat more about OGEA (see title of the this episode if you’re confused ;)). Bible References: James 4:15 Links: M Is for Mama⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Penny Reward System⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paint & Prose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠M Is For Mama Chore Guide⁠⁠ ⁠ Balloon company website⁠ Anniversary Restaurant: Abendrestaurant Holzerstubn Find Abbie at: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook

Last week, we talked about the fact that we--not the government or the church or public education--are responsible for the well-rounded education of the children that have been gifted to our care by God. This week, we continue the discussion with the "why" behind our family's choice to home school, as well as some background on my own homeschool experience growing up. Be encouraged (but also sobered), moms and dads, that whatever schooling choices the Lord leads you to, it is you who must give an account before the Lord for what you have done to steward your children's hearts and guide them toward His ways. We cannot save our children or keep them in the narrow way, it's true. But we can do everything in our power (by God's help and grace) to be intentional to point them toward the Way Everlasting. Bible References: 1 Corinthians 1:27 Isaiah 55:8-9 1 Corinthians 3:19 Deuteronomy 6:7 Links: ⁠M Is for Mama⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Penny Reward System⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paint & Prose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠M Is For Mama Chore Guide⁠ M Is For Mama: Birth Stories Find Abbie at: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook

Our culture abounds with memes poking fun (or downright mocking) the role of parents--playing up the cluelessness of dads (and moms too) and treating children as a burden to be escaped or, at the very least, outsourced. Not only that, but a rising trend toward the prioritization of the views of "experts" (even if that expertise has been conferred by a course or a degree, rather than experience or extensive research) over the authority of parents makes it clear that, if we don't embrace our God-given role as the primary disciplers of our children, the world is ready and willing to step in. But Scripture makes it very clear that, we, not the government or teachers or experts, are ultimately responsible for our children's well-rounded education. Be encouraged that *you* are best-equipped to parent your unique kiddos well because God is the one who equips you! Bible References: Deuteronomy 6:6-8 Matthew 5:14 1 Corinthians 15:33 Ephesians 6:10-18 Links: ⁠M Is for Mama⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Penny Reward System⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paint & Prose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠M Is For Mama Chore Guide⁠ M Is For Mama: Birth Stories Find Abbie at: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook

"Have you ever had a miscarriage. If so, how did you deal with it?" I've been asked some version of this question for years, and while the simple answer is yes, in this podcast I delve into the way that my stories of loss have helped shape me as a mother and given me empathy for those who have walked the same hard road. Here, you will find space for your grief but also encouragement and hope for your future. Together, we tackle a hard, often hidden, topic with the grace of God and the knowledge that we can "mourn with those mourn" as well as spur each other on toward healing and renewed perspective on the goodness of God. You can also find a blog post I wrote about my first two miscarriages here. Bible references: Psalm 139:13 Matthew 10:31  Matthew 10:30 Psalm 56:8 Isaiah 48:16 Matthew 6:25-36 Romans 8:1 John 8:44 Romans 12:15 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Jeremiah 29:11 1 Peter 5:7 John 13:15  Isaiah 55:8-9 Links: ⁠M Is for Mama⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Penny Reward System⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paint & Prose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠M Is For Mama Chore Guide⁠ M Is For Mama: Birth Stories Find Abbie at: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook

Okkkkkk, friends! We are officially down to the very last part of the very last birth story in this series. In this second half of the twinbies' birth story, we'll finally get to the part where they're, you know, born. It's a bit of a winding road, with a major "Wow, Lord! You did that!" moment (or two) at the end. I hope you are encouraged as you listen by the fact that God really is sovereign over and all in all. Enjoy! Links: ⁠M Is for Mama⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Penny Reward System⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paint & Prose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠M Is For Mama Chore Guide⁠ M Is For Mama: Birth Stories Find Abbie at: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook

Well, friends! All good things must come to an end, but as we reach the finale of our birth story series, I'm happy to announce that we're going out with a bang because Titus and Toby's birth was action-packed! Also, it ended up taking me over an hour to tell the story, so I decided to split it into two episodes. Today's is a bit of a cliffhanger (sorry!), but we'll wrap it ALL up next week, so stay tuned! Links: ⁠M Is for Mama⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Penny Reward System⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paint & Prose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠M Is For Mama Chore Guide⁠ M Is For Mama: Birth Stories Find Abbie at: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook

Shiloh’s birth story threw me for a complete loop. Birth anxiety! Panic attacks! A completely unplanned birth location!  Yep. We’re bringing all the drama with this one, folks.  But through it all runs the incredible thread of God’s sovereign goodness and care for the details of our lives.  Enjoy! Bible References: Psalm 119:105 Psalm 23:2 John 6:35 Deuteronomy 31:6 Psalm 56:3 Jeremiah 29:11 James 1:17 1 John 4:16 Philippians 4:8 Links: Shiloh's Birth Story Part 1 & Part 2 ⁠M Is for Mama⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Penny Reward System⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paint & Prose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠M Is For Mama Chore Guide⁠ M Is For Mama: Birth Stories Find Abbie at: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook

Aaaannd, we're back! On this episode, we dive right back into birth stories with a breakdown of Honor's birth, which was...different. Let's just say that several things happened with this birth that I did not expect, while several others were just the same as usual business. That's all I'm going to say here, except that the presence of the Lord was very evident in this birth, and when I say I couldn't have done it with His help, I mean that in the most literal way. Enjoy! Links: ⁠M Is for Mama⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Penny Reward System⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paint & Prose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠M Is For Mama Chore Guide⁠ M Is For Mama: Birth Stories Find Abbie at: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook

Trucking right along with our birth story series brings us to Theo's birth, which was part "dream birth" and part, "Why, Lord??!" If I know anything about birth at this point, it's that it will always be predictably unpredictable. The predictable things for me: going "late" (usually 42 weeks), long hiccupy prodromal periods, and (almost always) 5-7 hours of active labor. The rest? Well, who knows what will happen? The thing I know I can rely on, though: God is good, and He will never leave my side, no matter how convinced I become that I really will be the first women to ever keep her baby in utero forever! Enjoy, friends! P.S. Remember: This is the last podcast I'm releasing until we return from our big European adventure. But I'll jump right back in with birth stories when I return. Links: ⁠M Is for Mama⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Penny Reward System⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paint & Prose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠M Is For Mama Chore Guide⁠ M Is For Mama: Birth Stories Find Abbie at: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook

Ever wondered what it would be like to have identical twin girls at home? Well, wonder no longer because I take you along for the ride of what was, at once, my hardest and best birth. Of course, just because this is how my birth with one set of twins went, that's no guarantee yours would be the same or that my second set was a repeat (hint: it definitely wasn't). That's the beauty of birth--it's completely unique, even within the same mom's different experiences. Enjoy! Bible references: Psalm 73:3 Psalm 34:19 Matthew 6:34 Links: ⁠M Is for Mama⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Penny Reward System⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paint & Prose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠M Is For Mama Chore Guide⁠ M Is For Mama: Birth Stories Find Abbie at: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook