The Happy Home Podcast with Arlene Pellicane

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. How would your life be impacted if your child had a rare disease? Today's guest, Laura Wifler knows what it's like to receive a heartbreaking diagnosis. She also knows what it's like to parent a child with disabilities with courage and grace. In today's conversation, Laura shares the story behind her new children's book, Like Me: A Story About Disability and Discovering God's Image in Every Person. You'll learn:  2:41 When my child was diagnosed  5:02 Helping kids understand others with disabilities  7:02 Grappling with God’s plan 9:10 Coming to understand that God is ultimately sovereign 11:29 Walking through the fire of grief and suffering 13:05 Learning from disabled siblings 17:26 Balancing having children with disabilities with your other kids  20:04 How to intentionally help friends with disabled kids 23:09 Preparing your kids to have conversations with disabled kids 27:09 Balancing hope and grief 31:01 Don’t give up on a dark day Laura Wifler is the cofounder of Risen Motherhood, the executive director and cohost of the podcast, and the co-author of Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments. Her latest book is Like Me: A Story About Disability and Discovering God’s Image in Every Person. She also wrote To the Cross I Cling, an e-book reflecting on mothering a child with a disability, and the award-winning children’s book Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer. Laura, her husband, and her three children live in central Iowa. Find out more about her children's book Like Me here: laurawifler.com/likeme Check out Arlene's book, 31 Days to Becoming a Happy Mom. Watch a VIDEO clip from the podcast on Arlene's new Happy Home YouTube Channel  More Resources for Your Family: Arlene's Free Marriage Webinar -- Get Unstuck in Your Marriage. If you feel stuck in a rut or you've just lost that lovin' feeling, register for Arlene's free marriage webinar here.  Grab Arlene's free Happy Home Bundle (including resources like recommended reading lists for kids) at happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe Take one of Arlene's Courses -- Want to have a better marriage? Join Arlene's 31 Days to a Happy Husband course.

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. Do you feel equipped to teach your child the Bible? Don't worry if you feel unprepared. Today's guest Jenny Randle explains how you can share the truths from God's Word in a kid-friendly way. Her new book, Flash Theology, will help you dive into the big ideas of the Bible and help you understand a fuller picture of who God is. During today's conversation, you'll hear:  5:00 A funny potty training story  6:45 This beautiful resource will help you understand the Bible  10:00 Explaining the kingdom of God to kids  11:50 Teaching theology to kids of all ages - here’s how  15:24 What are Christian parents missing about God?  18:26 Decreasing Biblical literacy in this generation   19:15 Don’t let the Bible intimidate you 21:33 How to foster creativity and faith in your kids 25:06 How did you win an Emmy award??? 29:15 Experiencing the depths of God even when doing mundane things Jenny Randle is an Emmy-award-winning editor who went on a journey to discover what it really means to live on purpose. From a career in the heart of Hollywood to a Bible teacher, her creative ventures over the last twenty years have reached millions. In early 2018, Jenny and her husband, Matt, formed Freedom Creatives which provides classes, coaching, and prayer events. Jenny is also the co-host of the fun and faith-filled podcast — Shut the Should Up and authored books like Courageous Creative and her newest book, Flash Theology (co-authored with Brayden Brookshier). Jenny and Matt have two children.  Find out more about Flash Theology here flashtheology.com  Watch a VIDEO clip from the podcast on Arlene's new Happy Home YouTube Channel youtube.com/@arlenehappyhome More Resources for Your Family: Arlene's Free Marriage Webinar -- Get Unstuck in Your Marriage. If you feel stuck in a rut or you've just lost that lovin' feeling, register for Arlene's free marriage webinar here.  Grab Arlene's free Happy Home Bundle (including resources like recommended reading lists for kids) at happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe Take one of Arlene's Courses -- Want to have a better marriage? Join Arlene's 31 Days to a Happy Husband course here happyhomeuniversity.com/happyhusband

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. When hard times come, what happens to your family? Is your faith strengthened or weakened? Three time cancer survivor Michele Cushatt shares the practices that helped her walk through immeasurable suffering. In today's honest and faith-filled conversation, you'll learn:  2:00 Why did you start your book with lament? 6:00 I still miss my old voice (after tongue cancer) 9:30 Worshiping with what you’ve been given 12:00 Humility is so key because… 17:00 But I don’t want to surrender control 21:15 When your child says, “I hate being in this family” 25:00 Peter, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat Michele Cushatt is a reluctant expert on trauma and pain through three cancer battles, divorce, and parenting foster adopted kids. She speaks internationally to a wide variety of audiences. She and her husband Troy share a blended family of six children and they live outside of Denver, CO.  Find out more about Michele Cushatt's book, A Faith That Will Not Fail at michelecushatt.com If you feel stuck in a rut or you've just lost that lovin' feeling, register for Arlene's free marriage webinar. More Resources for Your Family: Take one of Arlene's Courses -- Want to have a better marriage? Learn more about 31 Days to a Happy Husband here happyhomeuniversity.com/happyhusband

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. Parents, how would you like to have kids who love God, like their family and do the dishes without being asked? Boy mom Monica Swanson is here to share how we can raise such amazing kids. In today's conversation, you'll learn: 4:00 Aiming big is not necessarily the goal 5:20 Do I really need to be intentional in raising children? 7:50 How to have eyes wide open with technology 9:10 How to build family culture 13:20 How to balance independence & freedom with teens 15:00 What if you aren’t good at starting conversations? 17:50 By prioritizing yourself, you prioritize your kids 19:10 Kids become like the company they keep 21:30 How to be the “cool” house that kids like to visit 23:50 Talking about politics, current events 24:50 When my college son faced anxiety issues 27:30 Managing success in a healthy way Monica Swanson is host of the popular Monica Swanson Podcast (formerly the Boy Mom Podcast). She and her husband Dave who is a doctor have raised their 4 boys on the north shore of Oahu. Monica's new book is Raising Amazing. Learn more about Monica and Raising Amazing here: monicaswanson.com Screen time getting a little out of control? Check out Arlene's book Screen Kids (co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman)  Subscribe to receive Arlene's free HAPPY HOME BUNDLE with things like 5 Ways to Reset Your Tech and Book Recommendations for Kids Arlene has a free WEBINAR to help you get unstuck in your marriage. Register here happyhomeuniversity.com

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. Do your kids embrace life with confidence? We talk about resilience but how many kids are really willing to take risks, fail, and get back up again? Dr. Kathy Koch is here to help us raise resilient kids who can recover from bad days and disappointments.  For kids to be resilient, they need to know the God of the Bible. In today's conversation, you'll learn:  3:20 What is resilience?  4:50 Don’t just talk about resilience, this is how to live it out in front of your kids  5:40 Your daughter blames her teacher for a bad grade, what do you say?  8:20 What is the difference between a failure and a mistake? 12:45 When you zap your kids without even knowing it  15:15 The powerful roles of optimism and pessimism 16:55 Use the calendar this way to help your kids recover 19:45 Big trauma versus little trauma  22:30 Put your phone down and hear your child’s heart cry  24:35 Technology has taught us that everything is easy  26:46 Learning lessons from giraffes about over-parenting  29:34 Fostering spiritual resiliency in your kids  Dr. Kathy Koch is a child development specialist and founder of Celebrate Kids based in Fort Worth Texas. She has influenced thousands of parents, teachers and children in 30 countries through keynote messages and seminars. Her books include Screens and Teens, 8 Great Smarts and the topic of today's conversation, Resilient Kids. Learn more about Dr. Kathy and her book Resilient Kids at Celebrate Kids celebratekids.com Screen time getting a little out of control? Get Arlene's free monthly resource 5 Ways to Reset Your Tech. These are small, doable changes that bring big results (and more peace in your home). happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe Want to feel closer to your spouse this Valentine's Day? Join Arlene's 31 Days to a Happy Husband Masterclass at happyhomeuniversity.com/happyhusband

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. Are you weary from battling with your kids, your spouse, or with the culture around you? Spiritual warfare is happening in your family - what can you do to protect your home from the enemy's attacks? Author Judy Dunagan is here to remind us that we don't have to live in defeat. We have the Lion of Judah on our side. Talking about her new book, The Loudest Roar, in this conversation Judy will share: 2:50 When her grandson met a lion   4:50 When grandmas pray for their grandkids  5:50 Living on the other side of the world with her kids  7:30 Have you made your child an idol in your heart?  9:50 From a young age, I learned what it means to stand in the victory of God  11:30 I’m a natural born worrier…I needed to turn those worries into prayer  12:50 Explain the armor of God to a child in this way  14:45 Our marriage was almost shattered but God… 17:50 When you don’t want your story  19:00 Importance of music in spiritual warfare 21:30 Be strong IN the Lord - it’s all about Jesus  25:39 You can leave a legacy in your family Judy Dunagan is an acquisitions editor for the women's Bible studies and books at Moody Publishers. A wonder seeker of God and His Word, Judy is passionate about discipleship and making God's Word and prayer come alive in everyday life. She is a speaker and Bible teacher and serves on the Board of Deeper Walk International, the ministry her father Mark Bubeck founded. Judy and her husband Rick live in Colorado. Together, they have two grown daughters and five grandkids. Learn more about Judy Dunagan's book, The Loudest Roar: Living in the Unshakable Victory of Christ at judydunagan.com Screen time getting a little out of control? Get Arlene's free monthly resource 5 Ways to Reset Your Tech. These are small, doable changes that bring big results (and more peace in your home). happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe Want to feel closer to your spouse this Valentine's Day? Join Arlene's 31 Days to a Happy Husband Masterclass at happyhomeuniversity.com/happyhusband

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. Is your marriage a source of strength or a source of stress? Pastor and author Gary Thomas shares how to make your marriage like a fortress, a safe place in stormy times. You don't have to have perfect circumstances to have a strong marriage; in fact, trouble can bring a couple together. You'll learn how to make this happen in today's conversation about: 3:00 Will trouble bring you closer together in a marriage or tear you apart?  4:00 This storm is terrible, but it would be even worse if it took our marriage away too 5:40 We all relate to God differently, here are different ways people worship  7:10 When one spouse is up and one is down  9:00 The fear of MS was even worse than the MS itself  10:00 When you lose a child  11:00 The second year of grieving is often worse than the first  13:01 A new child means a new marriage, let me explain  14:30 We are going to get closer to each other twenty years from now  16:00 When you have a disabled child, how to nurture your other family members too  18:00 How can you tell if you have the symptoms of over busyness  22:50 Different drives and how to navigate that wisely  25:20 Maybe is a very helpful word  28:00 How to get closer to your spouse starting right away  Gary Thomas has authored 20 books such as Sacred Marriage that have sold more than 2 million copies and been translated into more than a dozen languages. Gary enjoys running and has completed 14 marathons including the Boston marathon 3 times. He and his wife Lisa have been married 38 years and have three adult children and 2 grandchildren. Learn more about Gary Thomas' newest book: Making Your Marriage a Fortress. Screen time getting a little out of control? Get Arlene's free monthly resource 5 Ways to Reset Your Tech. These are small, doable changes that bring big results (and more peace in your home). happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe You can also take the quiz, Do You Have a Happy Husband at happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. Are your kids enthusiastic about school? Whether your child goes to public, private or homeschool, author Leah Boden has ideas that will get your children more interested in learning. Many educators are familiar with Charlotte Mason and her philosophy of education. In Leah's new book titled Modern Miss Mason, you'll discover how anyone can use Charlotte Mason's principles to spark curiosity and lengthen attention spans. In today's conversation, you will learn:  3:45 Who was Charlotte Mason and why is she important in education?  6:20 Children are not like a lump of clay that we form 8:00 What is the atmosphere of your home and how is that a tool of education?  11:50 How tech can be used for good in education, to bring out beauty  18:50 What is masterly inactivity? How can you train kids so you can trust them?  21:00 Try this in Bible study to help your kids learn for themselves  23:00 Creating a love of books in the home, how to choose a good book  25:50 What might a day of Charlotte Mason education look like?  28:50 When a homeschooling mom is exhausted  Leah Boden is the author of Modern Miss Mason: Discover how Charlotte Mason’s revolutionary ideas on home education can change how you and your children learn and grow together. Leah is a wife and mother of four. She’s a longtime home educator with over 20 years of experience working with families within the church. She speaks, coaches, and runs workshops to share the beauty of a Charlotte Mason approach to childhood, motherhood, and education. She and her family live in England.  Learn about Leah Boden's book, Modern Miss Mason at leahboden.com Get Arlene's free monthly resource 5 Ways to Reset Your Tech. These are small, doable changes that bring big results (and more peace in your home). happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. Feeling overwhelmed with all you have to do? Or maybe you feel insignificant as you look forward to the New Year. Rachael Adams knows what it's like to wonder about the difference she's making in the world as a mom. She's written a new devotion, "A Little Goes a Long Way" to remind us that small acts and invitations often lead to some pretty amazing results. In today's conversation, you'll learn:  4:30 What he was actually asking was “Am I enough?”  6:00 One minute that introduced me to my husband  7:10 I was isolated as a mom and this invitation changed my life  9:50 The value of touch between kids and parents  12:45 You ran a half marathon…once. How did the power of encouragement get you through?   14:30 How to notice those around you and their needs  15:50 I wish my life was bigger…does my little life matter at all?  20:30 Here’s how to have more purpose to our work  23:30 We can start to compare our ministries instead of doing this  Rachael Adams is the host of the popular The Love Offering podcast. She and her husband Bryan run a family business and farm in Kentucky with their two kids and two doodle dogs.  Learn about her new book, A Little Goes a Long Way: 52 Days to a Significant Life at rachaelkadams.com Want to bring in the New Year with healthier screen habits for your family? Get Arlene's free monthly resource 5 Ways to Reset Your Tech. These are small, doable changes that bring big results (and more peace in your home). happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. You know the popular song Silent Night, but you probably haven't had much silence lately. In today's 25 Days of Christmas message, Arlene shares the story of Zechariah, a supporting cast member of the Christmas story found in Luke 2. His prayers were about to be answered about two long awaited sons - one was his own son who would become John the Baptist. The other was Jesus who would become the Messiah the Jews had been waiting for hundreds of years. Zechariah would be struck deaf and dumb as a sign of this promise. What did he learn in this silence? What might we learn by being still before God?   3:10 This was the worst day… 4:00 Who is Zechariah in the Christmas story?  5:15 I did my part God, but you didn’t do your part 7:00 Zechariah did his priestly duty even though he was sad  9:30 Friend, God has heard your prayer  13:00 Zechariah got a sign, probably not what he was expecting 16:00 Our limitations unleash God’s power.  18:44 His name will be… 19:50 His story becomes a faith point for other people  22:45 The approachability of Jesus and the holiness of God Arlene Pellicane is the host of the Happy Home, speaker and author of books like Screen Kids, Parents Rising, and 31 Days to a Happy Husband.  It's not too late to pick up a few family activities and family devotions from Arlene's free guide, The 25 Days of Christmas. Get it here today at happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe