The Happy Home Podcast with Arlene Pellicane

Parenting can be overwhelming, especially if you're a single mom. Michelle Donnelly, president of the single parents' ministry Plus ONE Parents, knows what it's like to parent from a place of exhaustion and overwhelm. But in her new Bible study, Made for More, she shares how to move past hurt, loss, and heartbreak into what God has planned for your family. In today's conversation, you'll learn:  2:20 Feeling so lost in life  7:00 Digging into Scripture and discovering single-parent stories  9:55 Shalom means so much more - let me explain  12:10 Your situation does not define who you are or who God is 15:35 Helping our kids through rejection and anger 22:45 Helping kids cope with divorce and hard circumstances 26:00 How to better minister to single parents 28:11 Energy management as a single mom (you can say no) Today’s guest Michelle Donnelly is the president and CEO of Plus ONE Parents, a single parents’ ministry. Michelle has been featured on Focus on the Family, Moody Radio, and The Life of a Single Mom. She has a new Bible study entitled, Made for More: Life Beyond Hurt, Loss and Heartbreak.  Learn more about Michelle and the many resources of Plus ONE Parents at plusoneparents.org Learn more about the Bible study, Made for More: Life Beyond the Wreckage of Hurt, Loss and Heartbreak. Subscribe to Arlene's email list for your free Happy Home Bundle at happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe More Resources for Your Family: Watch a VIDEO clip from the podcast on Arlene's new Happy Home YouTube Channel @arlenehappyhome 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.

Kids used to play outside for hours. Now they game or stay on their phones for hours indoors. How can you get your screen-saturated kids to put down their devices and head outdoors? Eryn Lynum, author of Rooted in Wonder, is here to help us fall in love with God's creation as a family. You don't have to live on a beach or near a national park to enjoy the many benefits of nature. In this conversation, you'll learn about:  3:10 Getting your kids interested in nature  6:00 Boys are drawn to the wildest things  8:30 Connecting the dots between the created world and the Creator 13:40 Invasive plants and what they teach us about technology  17:00 Nature is not relative - there are definitive truths about nature 20:00 Going into creation to sort your thoughts and get perspective 22:50 Practical ideas to get outside even with little kids  25:11 Word of encouragement to the non-outdoorsy people Today's guest Eryn Lynum is the author of Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family’s Faith through God’s Creation. Eryn is a certified master naturalist, Bible teacher, wife, and mom of four. She’s been featured on Family Life Today, Proverbs 31 Ministries, and MOPS International.  Find out more about Eryn on her website, ErynLynum.com  Get her book, Rooted in Wonder  Are your kids getting too much screen time? Take the free quiz at happyhomeuniversity.com/screentimequiz 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.  Subscribe to Arlene's free email list for a monthly resource to help your home at happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe Watch a VIDEO clip from the podcast on Arlene's new Happy Home YouTube Channel @arlenehappyhome

Are your kids close to their grandparents? How can grandparents help even if they’re far away? Popular speakers Richard and Linda Eyre are here to talk about the grand in grandparenting and the genius of the three-generation family. Many kids will open up to grandparents in a way they will never open up to their parents. In today's conversation, you'll hear about the benefits of:  2:10 The Three-Generation Family 4:33 How to get grandparents more or less involved 6:49 Screen Free Activities  10:18 Bridging the space gap  12:53 Strengthening bonds with your grandparents 17:34 Parenting is still the same 19:41 How to raise responsible kids 22:23 Grandparenting before and after the tablet Richard and Linda Eyre have been fortifying families around the world through speaking and writing since 1980. They've spoken in 45 countries and their bestselling book Teaching Your Children Values was the first parenting book in 50 years to reach #1 on the NYT bestseller list. The Eyres' other books include The Entitlement Trap, Grandmothering, and Being a Proactive Grandparent. The Eyres have been frequent guests on Oprah, the CBS Early Show, the Today Show, and GMA.  Learn more about Richard and Linda Eyre's books at ValuesParenting.com Learn more about their grandparenting course at Grandparenting101.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. happyhomeuniversity.com   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. happyhomeuniversity.com/happyhusband

Marriage is beautiful and rewarding, but it also can be very hard. There is one thing that can radically bless your home - praying the Word of God for your marriage. Author Jodie Berndt has a new book in her bestselling Praying the Scriptures series. In Praying the Scriptures for Your Marriage, you'll get the tools and inspiration needed to pray for your spouse with confidence and joy. In today's conversation, you'll learn: 2:15 What would you ask God to do for your marriage?   5:00 Secular research has come out about the benefits of prayer in marriage  7:20 God, I just wish you’d fix my spouse…  11:00 The upward spiral in the home   14:50 How do you learn how to pray Scripture over your marriage?  16:30 Idea for praying together with your spouse 20:00 Hitting the ball back in communication  23:40 You’re not in crisis, but you’re not great either… 26:25 When I was steaming mad at my husband 29:30 Transform your heart through prayer Jodie Berndt is the bestselling author of the Praying the Scriptures book series, which includes volumes for children, teens, adult children, and now, Praying the Scriptures for Your Marriage. Jodie has been a trusted speaker, Bible teacher, and prayer warrior for more than 30 years. She and her husband Rob have four married children and live in Virginia Beach VA.  Find out more about Jodie Berndt and her book, Praying the Scriptures for Your Marriage jodieberndt.com Connect with Jodie on Instagram @jodie_berndt Check out Arlene's book, 31 Days to a Happy Husband and Happy Husband Course happyhomeuniversity.com/happyhusband 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.  Subscribe to Arlene's free email list for a monthly resource to help your home. happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe

Are you worn out as a mom or dad? (I'm thinking you are nodding your head right now... unless you are too tired!) Bestselling author and pastor Kyle Idleman knows the feeling. We’re talking about his new book When Your Way Isn’t Working. In today's conversation, you'll learn: 2:30 When you’re worn out and not acting like yourself  4:10 How can you encourage your husband to seek out help from a counselor or otherwise?   7:30 Examples of controlling metaphors (this is brilliant!)  10:00 Prioritizing connection overproduction (John 15) 15:10 Doing what is right even when you are too tired  17:05 The difference between superficial vs connective friends 20:50 These are the four warning lights in parenting 24:00 The wheel of feelings on the fridge  26:30 Watering a fake plant (don’t spend your life producing something that’s not real) Kyle Idleman is the senior pastor at Southeast Christian Church, one of the largest churches in America. He's written books like Gods at War and Not a Fan. His new book is When Your Way Isn’t Working: Finding Purpose and Contentment through Deep Connection with Jesus. Kyle and his wife have four children. Learn more at his website: kyleidleman.com Check out Arlene's Screen Kids course or take the screen time quiz at happyhomeuniversity.com More Resources for Your Family: If you feel stuck in a rut or you've just lost that lovin' feeling, register for Arlene's free marriage webinar here. happyhomeuniversity.com Grab the free Happy Home Bundle 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

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.

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

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

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

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