M Is for Mama Podcast

Ever been less-than-pleased with the body you see in the mirror? I've been there (in some ways, am still there at the moment). I would wager that, between pregnancy body changes, unrealistic cultural beauty standards (hello, air-brushing), and a tendency to be overly critical of our appearances, most of us women can relate to wishing we could tweak a thing or two about the way we look. But is that how God views us? If we look to Scripture, we quickly discover that, rather than swinging to one extreme or the other of either self-indulgence or vain self-obsession, we are to "offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God." (Romans 12:1) In other words, it's way less about how we look (a lesson I am constantly learning/relearning as my body ages) and way more about how we love God and love others with the resources (including the body) He's given us. I am still a work in progress in every area, including this one, but, as always, I'm so grateful the Lord is so gracious not to leave us where He finds us. Bible References: Psalm 139:14 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 1 Corinthians 10:31 Ephesians 4:23 2 Corinthians 10:5 Philippians 4:11-13 Colossians 3:17 Philippians 4:7 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 Meal Plan Sign-Up Find Abbie at: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Facebook

If hard is not the same thing as bad, does that then mean all hard things are good? NOPE. In this episode, we chat about when hard really is bad, how the Lord can still teach us and shape us through those things, and when to “abandon” the hard because God is clearly offering a different path forward.  Also, a super exciting update from our family that perfectly exemplifies the Lord’s gracious provision in the midst of the challenging aftermath of our downstairs house flooding.  Pssttt…I also have a chapter about this in Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad.  For our video audience, we apologize, but there is no video this week. Also the audio is a bit rougher than usual, we’ll be back to usual programming next week! Bible References: Romans 5:3-5 Isaiah 65:17 Romans 8:28 John 3:16 Romans 6:23 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 Meal Plan Sign-Up Find Abbie at: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Facebook

In a therapy-centric culture, it can be hard to differentiate between biblical truth and secular psychology (some aspects of which are at complete odds with each other). Anytime I speak to the importance of addressing this phenomenon from a biblical perspective, I get one of two responses: 1. “Thank you for speaking up,” or 2. “Please don’t talk about this. You’ll keep people from getting the help they need.” So, which is it? Is it possible to question the “everybody needs therapy” narrative and examine it in the light of Scripture without hindering those who really do need professional counseling? To help answer that question, I invited my friend, Amy Waters, who is a Bible-Believing professional counselor and owner of her own wellness practice called Living Well, on the show to discuss things like the overuse of the Three Ts (therapy, triggers, and trauma), what it looks like to shine the light of Capital T Truth on them, and how we can discern if we need therapy or just need to find better community.  I love her compassionate, measured, and, above all, biblical approach to this topic, and I think everyone who listens to this conversation will benefit greatly from the back-and-forth between two women who love the Lord first and really want to see women (and everyone else!) thrive in their God-given callings, however that can best be achieved in a biblical way.  P.S. I mention in this episode that Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad comes out next week, BUT, that’s actually THIS week. It released yesterday, and is available just about everywhere books are sold! Bible References: Colossians 3:17 2 Peter 1:3 John 11:38-44 Proverbs 27:6  James 3:16 Matthew 12:34 Isaiah 28:27-29 Proverbs 25:2 Deuteronomy 31:6 Hebrew 6:19 Matthew 24:13 Romans 5:4 1 Corinthians 3:19 Romans 12:15 Psalm 34:8 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 Find Abbie at: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Facebook

Goodness gracious, friends! If you want to have a challenging week, have the audacity to publish a book called Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad. I can't tell you how many people have said, "It sure does seem like you're under spiritual attack right now, Abbie," and I suppose I have to agree, since the Bible clearly says that our fight is not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual realm. Still, the Lord has been so gracious to provide moments of respite and opportunities to recognize his mercies in the midst of the hard of back pain and scary episodes with wasp stings, and major publishing mess-ups, and, yes, an entire downstairs flooding so badly we are now living in a gutted kitchen. Even though some will call it "toxic positivity," I'm declaring my gratitude that the Lord has given our family a peace that truly passes all understanding through our current inconvenient, and sometimes frustrating, living situation. Be encouraged, friends. The Lord has not forgotten you in the midst of your struggles. He has a plan and a purpose for even this. Bible References: Ephesians 6:2 Ephesians 4:15 Philippians 4:7 Psalm 27:13 Matthew 10:30 Hebrews 13:5 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 Find Abbie at: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Facebook

Today, we're wrapping up Our Grand European Adventure recaps! This one's a bit of grab bag as I share some of the challenges (expected and otherwise), joys, and a few tips and tricks sprinkled in. Let's just say toddler twins were a handful...often literally. And we knew they would be. But it's impossible to truly plan for the level of emotional extremes you'll experience when you've got a pair of jetlagged toddlers. But the high moments far outweighed the hard ones, and I make sure to share a few core memories I'll never forget. (Oh, and the town I couldn't remember that some said we should have gone to instead of Pisa is Sienna!) Enjoy, friends! Also, be sure to check out the fantastic (hand-drawn! affordable!) educational printables from my sponsor, Arrows and Applesauce. She has resources for everything from Bible to geography to early letters and numbers and so much more! 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 Flanders Family's Free Flight to Europe Europe Trip Backpacks: Tobiq + Ebags (Adult) + Ebags (Junior) Normandy 16th Century Castle AirBnB Find Abbie at: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook

Have I got a treat for you, friends! I talked Shaun into coming on today to share with us some tips and tricks for how to plan a trip like this. Most of his input is the first half of the episode, but he was gracious to hang around for the second half as well, and we had a blast reminiscing and sharing some of our anecdotes, packing tips, ticket-booking hacks, and more! I hope you'll find this episode both entertaining and informative. But sure to let Shaun know in the reviews how much you loved having his input into this episode so we can convince him to come back again soon! 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 Flanders Family's Free Flight to Europe Europe Trip Backpacks: Tobiq + Ebags (Adult) + Ebags (Junior) Normandy 16th Century Castle AirBnB Find Abbie at: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook

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