The Balanced MomCast with Sandy Cooper: Recent Episodes
Sandy Cooper
If you are a Christian mom who sometimes feels overwhelmed, frazzled, or exhausted, you've come to the right place. Each week you'll hear practical tips, Biblical inspiration, and humor to help you gain clarity and focus so you can find the real balance you've been seeking.
Today I’m reading one of my favorite essays of all time and one I wish I could speak to each and every one of you personally. It was part of a series I wrote on my blog called Exposing Lies Moms Believe. Also, you’ll notice a reference to Facebook, because I wrote it when I was still active there. This is Chapter 19: Exposing Lies Moms Believe: I’m a Bad Mom. Listen in.
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This season, I’m reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. To purchase a copy, click the link below. The book is divided into three parts. This is the first chapter of Part 2: The Elementary School Years. It's an essay I wrote in 2012 (or maybe 2011?) during a very laborious and "routine" season of parenting. If you're weary and wondering if your hard work will ever produce any fruit, this one's for you.
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This season, I’m reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. To purchase a copy, click the link below. This is the final chapter in Part 1, the inspiration for the title of this book AND what I would tell you if we were sitting together having coffee. This is Chapter 17: Mom, You're Amazing. Here's Why...
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This season, I’m reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. I wrote these essays to moms while all my kids still lived in my home. To purchase a copy, click the link below. We are almost finished with Part 1: The Baby/Toddler/Preschool years. Today, I’m reading Chapter 16: Loving Multiple Children Well.
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This season, I’m reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. I wrote these essays to moms while all my kids still lived in my home. To purchase a copy, click the link below. We are working our way through Part 1: The Baby/Toddler/Preschool years. Today, I’m reading a light-hearted essay about my favorite stage of parenting. (Your mileage may vary.) This is Chapter 15: A Few Observations for Your Consideration About a Stage of Parenting I Happen to Enjoy.
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This season, I’m reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. I wrote these essays to moms while all my kids still lived in my home. To purchase a copy, click the link below. We are working our way through Part 1: The Baby/Toddler/Preschool years. Today I’m reading a short essay that may be out of season here in May, but hopefully encourages you, nonetheless. This is Chapter 14: My To-DO List vs. My To-BE List
Purchase Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You
Substack Newsletter: Behind the Balance
Website: The Scoop on Balance
Purchase Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You
Substack Newsletter: Behind the Balance
Website: The Scoop on Balance
This season, I’m reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. I wrote these essays to moms while all my kids still lived in my home. To purchase a copy, click the link below. We are working our way through Part 1: The Baby/Toddler/Preschool Years. I'm reading Chapter 13: Society's Image Of Perfection. Warning: This essay contains sadly outdated cultural references. :)
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This season, I’m reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. I wrote these essays to moms while all my kids still lived in my home. To purchase a copy, click the link below. This week, I'm reading an essay I wrote back in 2011 after mopping my dirty kitchen floor--Ch 12: The Decorating Magazines Have Done Me No Favors
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This season, I’m reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. I wrote these essays to moms while all my kids still lived in my home. To purchase a copy, click the link below. This week, I'm reading Ch 11: How to Maintain Female Friendships While Parenting
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This season I’m switching things up from my regular format and reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. To purchase a copy, click the link below. This week, I'm reading Ch 10: Pizza Thursday, A Potty Accident, and The Pool
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This season I’m switching things up from my regular format and reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. To purchase a copy, click the link below. This chapter recounts a day God dropped instant perspective into my heart about mommy-ing vs. ministry: Chapter 9, The Interruptions are My Job.
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This season I’m switching things up from my regular format and reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. To purchase a copy, click the link below. I love how God gets straight to the heart of the matter, don't you? Here's Chapter 8, God Spoke to Me Through Crayons and Disney Princesses.
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This season I’m switching things up from my regular format and reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. To purchase a copy, click the link below. Today, I'm reading Chapter 7: Snot and Tears...a sweet story I wrote when my youngest daughter was 2 years old.
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This season I’m switching things up from my regular format and reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. To purchase a copy, click the link below. Last week, I gave you a sneak peek into Elliana's story...here's the rest of it.
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This season I’m switching things up from my regular format and reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. To purchase a copy, click the link below. Today, I'm reading Chapter 5: I Can't Save All the Orphans, But I Can Save This One.
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This season I’m switching things up from my regular format and reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. To purchase a copy, click the link below. Today I'm reading Chapter 4: When God Speaks Through Children
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This season I’m switching things up from my regular format and reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. To purchase a copy, click the link below. Today I'm reading Chapter 3: The God Who Sustains
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This season I’m switching things up from my regular format and reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. To purchase a copy, click the link below. Today I'm reading Chapter 2: Elijah's Story
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This season I’m switching things up from my regular format and reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. To purchase a copy, click the link below. Today I'm reading Chapter 1: Behind the Scenes and Silent
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This season I’m switching things up from my regular format and reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. To purchase a copy, click the link below. Today I'm reading The Dedication and The Introduction.
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One of my favorite annual rhythms is reading through my previous year's journal and noting themes and highlights. It helps me see what I’ve learned, how I’ve grown, and how the Lord’s hand is evident through all of it. It is the single most important practice I do that helps me determine how I will spend the next year. So, today, I’m sharing 18 things I learned in 2024. And be sure to listen to the end where I will share some big changes coming on the podcast in 2025. For show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/252
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I am so excited about our conversation today with Dr. Sandra Richter. We explore the challenges faced by women in leadership roles in the church, beginning with a discussion of Deborah in the book of Judges and ending with Dr. Richter’s own story of navigating gender bias in her career and ministry. If you are a woman with a holy calling on your life to lead, this episode is for you. This is Part 2 of our 2-part conversation. Listen in. For show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/251
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Today, I’m speaking to the Gundry Chair of Biblical Studies at Westmont College, a graduate of Harvard University, and mother to two beautiful daughters, Dr. Sandra Richter. We discuss the challenges faced by women in Biblical times and the cyclical nature of disobedience in the book of Judges. We discuss the sacrifices made by early generations of believers, the generational drift in faith, and the struggles of parenting in that context. Richter shares insights on the life cycle of the church, the need for revival, and how we as mothers can disrupt negative cycles in our families. This is Part 1 of a 2-part conversation. Listen in. For show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/250
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Your smartphone is so much more than where you call and text. It’s your GPS, your podcast and audiobook player, your camera, your bank, your QR code reader. Is it possible for a mom in 2025 to live without a smartphone? Today I welcome back to the show my friend Teresa Whiting where we continue our conversation about taking an extended break from a smartphone and using a flip phone instead. This is Part 2 of a 2-part conversation. For show notes go to https://thescooponbalance.com/249
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HAPPY NEW YEAR! If you are feeling a bit too dependent upon your smartphone and want to do something about it, you are going to love today’s episode. I’m talking with my friend, podcaster, author, and mother, Teresa Whiting about the 40-Day Flip Phone Challenge that she and her 23-year-old son took last year. She gives it to us straight, both the clarity and the confusion of navigating life without her smartphone. This is part 1 of a 2-part conversation. For show notes go to https://thescooponbalance.com/248
How do you know what your spiritual gifts are? Is it what you like to do? What you’re good at? What the online spiritual gifts assessment revealed? What the evangelist spoke over you at youth camp when you were 13? This is Part 2 of my conversation with Pastor and author Chase Rashad Stancle where we unpack all of this and so much more. I loved everything about this conversation and I think you will too. For show notes go to https://thescooponbalance.com/247
In John 17, Jesus prayed for the Church. He could have prayed anything for us, but the Lord prayed for unity. This begs the question, how are we doing with the whole unity thing? Today I welcome to the show my new friend Chase Rashad Stancle. He’s the lead pastor at Unison Christian Church, a racially and religiously diverse church in Grand Rapids MI. He’s also a racial equity coach, a musician, a husband, and a father. And we had one of my most favorite conversations on the podcast ever. For show notes, go to https://thescooponbalance.com/246
As you wrestle with whether to hand your kids a smart phone you may be thinking a smartphone will help your child connect with his friends, provide safety in a dangerous situation, and lead to responsibility and greater independence. But what if that’s not the whole story? What if it’s not true at all? Today I welcome back to the show Erin Loechnoer, the author of The Opt Out Family: How to Give Your Kids What Technology Can’t. She believes it’s not enough to simply say no to devices. We have to say yes to something better on the other side. This is Part 2 of our 2-part conversation. Listen in. For show notes go to https://thescooponbalance.com/245
71% of parents believe that smartphones do more harm than good. And yet 99% of teens have phones given to them by their parents. Excess screen time is eroding our society, interrupting family rhythms, and disconnecting us from our closest relationships. From toddlers to teens to parents…tech has a grip on us all. Today we are continuing our season-long conversation about tech and social media with Erin Loechner, the founder of the global tech-free movement The Opt-Out Family and author of the new book by the same name. This is Part 1 of a 2-part conversation. Listen in. For show notes go to https://thescooponbalance.com/244
Today, I shift away from my typical pre-holiday pep talk to focus instead on granting you permission to prioritize self-care during the hectic holiday season. For show notes, go to https://thescooponbalance.com/243
How do you stand for your marriage when your husband is an addict or alcoholic? What if he’s actively cheating on you? How do you support a friend whose marriage is falling apart because of these or other issues? Today I welcome back to the show Jason Carver author of 40 Day Stand for Marriage Restoration. This is part 2 of our 2-part conversation. For show notes go to https://thescooponbalance.com/242
Enter to Win a Free Copy of 40 Day Stand for Marriage Restoration 1. Leave a 5-Star rating and review of The Balanced MomCast on Apple Podcasts 2. BEFORE YOU HIT PUBLISH/SEND TAKE A SCREENSHOT! 3. Email me a picture of your review with the subject line “Jason's Book” at thescooponbalance@gmail.com 4. Entries must be received before November 20, 2024, U.S. residents only. 5. I will draw a winner and notify you by email.
Is your marriage dying or dead? Do you believe it can be restored? In a world where divorce seems like the first and best option and also the final word, today’s guest, Jason Carver, reminds us that God’s capacity for restoration of dying marriages and resurrection of dead marriages is greater than any attempt by our enemy to divide. This is part 1 of a 2-part conversation. For show notes go to https://thescooponbalance.com/241
Enter to Win a Free Copy of 40 Day Stand for Marriage Restoration 1. Leave a 5-Star rating and review of The Balanced MomCast on Apple Podcasts 2. BEFORE YOU HIT PUBLISH/SEND TAKE A SCREENSHOT! 3. Email me a picture of your review with the subject line “Jason's Book” at thescooponbalance@gmail.com 4. Entries must be received before November 20, 2024, U.S. residents only. 5. I will draw a winner and notify you by email.
Regularly, I hear from moms who are trying to navigate this digital age with their kids. And what I often hear is a sense of hopelessness and regret. But Jenna Kruse offers hope and encouragement by giving you a balanced approach, practical steps, and biblical wisdom for this all-consuming area of parenting school-aged kids. This episode is Part 2 of a 2-part conversation. For show notes, go to https://thescooponbalance.com/240
Are you spending 50% of your parenting time and energy navigating tech with your school-aged kids? Do you have little ones and you already rue the day they ask for Instagram? Are you overwhelmed with the very THOUGHT of setting up parental controls or installing an internet filter? Today’s guest is Jenna Kruse and she helps parents with school-aged kids overcome the frustration, fatigue, and hopelessness of parenting in the digital age, so they can enjoy their kids and thrive in their role of raising the next generation to know and love Jesus. This is Part 1 of a 2-part conversation. Listen in. For show notes go to https://thescooponbalance.com/239
Today, I discuss the importance of recognizing when it's time to hire help and provide practical guidance for making that decision. I'll share my personal experiences with hiring help, promising you that there is no shame in seeking assistance. And then I outline six key questions to consider when determining if it's time for YOU to hire help. For show notes, go to https://thescooponbalance.com/238
If you carry shame from your past, this episode is for you. If you have been hurt by a man, by a parent, or by your very own child, this episode is for you. If you think you need a do-over, this episode is for you. This is Part 2 of my conversation with Joby Martin, Pastor of The Church of Eleven22 in Jacksonville, FL (my church!) and author of the new book Run Over by The Grace Train. Listen to EP236/Part 1 before you listen to this. For show notes, go to https://thescooponbalance.com/237.
Enter to Win a Free Copy of Run Over by the Grace Train 1. Leave a 5-Star rating and review of The Balanced MomCast on Apple Podcasts 2. BEFORE YOU HIT PUBLISH/SEND TAKE A SCREENSHOT! 3. Email me a picture of your review with the subject line “Joby’s Book” at thescooponbalance@gmail.com 4. Entries must be received before October 16, 2024, U.S. residents only. 5. I will draw a winner and notify you by email.
Encountering the incomparable, immeasurable grace of Jesus is like getting run over by a freight train. You’re powerless against it, it takes you where it wants to, you can’t do anything to stop it, and it dramatically changes everything. Today is Part 1 of my conversations with Joby Martin. He's my pastor and the author of of the new book Run Over By the Grace Train: How the Unstoppable Love of God Transforms Everything. For show notes go to https://thescooponbalance.com/236
Enter to Win a Free Copy of Run Over by the Grace Train 1. Leave a 5-Star rating and review of The Balanced MomCast on Apple Podcasts 2. BEFORE YOU HIT PUBLISH/SEND TAKE A SCREENSHOT! 3. Email me a picture of your review with the subject line “Joby’s Book” at thescooponbalance@gmail.com 4. Entries must be received before October 16, 2024, U.S. residents only. 5. I will draw a winner and notify you by email.
How would your life be different if you completely unplugged from your devices every day? How would you improve your parenting, your work, your marriage, your relationship with God? Last week we played Part 1 of my conversation with Hannah Brencher. She is the author of the book The Unplugged Hours: Cultivating a Life of Presence in a Digitally Connected World. If you haven’t listened to that, go do that first. Otherwise, listen to how Hanna’s life has become more connected and vibrant since practicing regular unplugged hours! For Show Notes go to https://thescooponbalance.com/235
Enter to Win a Free Copy of The Unplugged Hours 1. Leave a 5-Star rating and review of The Balanced MomCast on Apple Podcasts 2. BEFORE YOU HIT PUBLISH/SEND TAKE A SCREENSHOT! 3. Email me a picture of your review with the subject line “Hannah’s Book” at thescooponbalance@gmail.com 4. Entries must be received before October 2, 2024, U.S. residents only. 5. I will draw a winner and notify you by email.
Are you spending too much time on your phone? Do you feel overly connected to your digital life and disconnected from your real life? Well, buckle up ladies, because we are discussing this topic and hitting it from EVERY angle this season, beginning today with Hannah Brencher. She is the author of the book: The Unplugged Hours: Cultivating a Life of Presence in a Digitally Connected World. She is so full of wisdom and grace. I can’t wait for you to hear this interview. This is part 1 of a 2-part conversation. For Show Notes, go to https://thescooponbalance.com/234
Enter to Win a Free Copy of The Unplugged Hours 1. Leave a 5-Star rating and review of The Balanced MomCast on Apple Podcasts 2. BEFORE YOU HIT PUBLISH/SEND TAKE A SCREENSHOT! 3. Email me a picture of your review with the subject line “Hannah’s Book” at thescooponbalance@gmail.com 4. Entries must be received before October 2, 2024, U.S. residents only. 5. I will draw a winner and notify you by email.
WELCOME BACK! After our three-month break, this is the beginning of season 14! It’s also the beginning of another school year and the beginning of Fall (sorta, it’s still 100 degrees in FL, but whatevs). For moms, it means a busy season with many people and things begging for our attention and time. But we can’t say yes to all of them. Today I’m sharing one filter I use pretty much every day to decide what NOT to buy, keep, or do. For show notes go to https://thescooponbalance.com/233
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If you have kids on a traditional school schedule in the U.S., two things are true: 1) it’s summer break, and 2) the children will be home for the next 10-ish weeks. Summer balance is different than schoolyear balance. But as we will learn today, balance isn’t so much about what we do, but what we think about what we do. Today I’m sharing four mindsets to find your summer balance. Also, at the end of this episode I share my plans for summer balance and how you can connect with me. For show notes, click here.
This is Part 2 of a replay of my 2022 conversation with Sarah Turner, mom to 6 kids (ages 11 to 29). Sarah passed away March 2024. I'm so grateful for her influence on my life. For show notes click here.
In February 2022, I had the privilege of interviewing my dear friend, Sarah Turner, for a two-part episode devoted to the challenges of parenting teenagers. At the time of the recording, Sarah was in remission from an aggressive cancer. Sadly, a few months later, the cancer returned, and she passed away on March 4, 2024. As a tribute to Sarah, I am replaying our conversation. For show notes click here.
For weeks, I have been offering you strategies to help you get stuff done. I hope something I’ve shared has helped you organize your projects, your tasks, or your responsibilities. But lest you believe that the value of your life consists only in the abundance of your accomplishments, allow me to bring balance to this series by offering you six times it’s okay NOT to get stuff done. Click here for show notes. Join me at the (FREE) I AM MOM MOMFERENCE
Are you procrastinating about starting big projects because they are...too big? Do you have trouble staying focused long enough to make progress on...well, anything? Do you have pockets of time that feel wasted or underutilized? If you answered yes to any of those questions, today’s episode is for you. Today I’m sharing two of my favorite and most used strategies to get stuff done: Timers and Pairing. For show notes, click here.
What you may consider a “normal” period (moodiness, cramping, breast tenderness, fatigue) my guest would call “red flags” of hormone imbalance. But it doesn’t have to be this way! If you’ve been told the only solution to your discomfort is a prescription for birth control, buckle up for a candid conversation about hormones, monthly cycles, and perimenopause. Leisha Drews is here to offer a holistic approach that prioritizes nutrition, stress levels, and rest so that you can show up as the best mom you can be. For show notes click here.
If you are a person who hates "being a slave" to your to-do list, this episode is for you. I break down the exact process I use to create lists that free up my brain space, move the needle on projects that matter to me, keep track of looming deadlines, and permit me to ignore everything else. If you think you're not a "list person" I challenge you to listen to this super tactical episode. For show notes, click here.
How can you create time blocks in your schedule when you have tiny kids at home? What does self-care look like for the mom with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers? What do we do when we feel 100% called to motherhood and also 100% called to a career or a ministry? Is balance even possible? Well, my guest today would argue that, yes, yes it is. And she’s here to tell you how. This is part 2 of my 2-part conversation with Sasha Star Robertson. Listen in. For show notes, click here.
We are continuing our series on how to get stuff done and I’ve invited my friend Sasha Star Robertson to join us. She’s a mom to 3 children ages 3 mos, 18 mos, and 4 years. She’s also an entrepreneur, a podcast host, and a faith-based productivity coach. If you’re wondering how to get stuff done with littles at home, Sasha is your girl. She is here to share how to get stuff done by creating schedules from your most purposeful priorities. This is Part 1 of a 2-Part conversation. Listen in. For show notes, click here.
Are you having trouble getting stuff done? Maybe you are struggling with how to balance your time with the Lord while also tending to your never-ending to-do list. Or maybe you are struggling with only doing the stuff on your to-do list but never getting to the things that feed your soul and creativity. If you are struggling to get stuff done then I have a favorite strategy of mine to offer: Routines. I'll tell you what a routine is, why routines work, who they work best for, who they do NOT work for, the first few steps to establish a new routine, and what to do if your new routine is not working. (I love me a good routine, can you tell?) For show notes, click here.
The stats on kids and body shame are staggering. Some studies suggest that 94% of teen girls and 64% of teen boys have been shamed for how their body looks. As moms we can have a huge influence over how our kids see themselves and their bodies. Today, I welcome back to the show my friend and dietician Jane Curry Weber. She has been helping families for 25 years and she is here today to help us help our kids embody a healthy and God-honoring view of themselves and their bodies. Listen in. For show notes click here.
Today I welcome back to the show my friend and dietician Jane Curry Weber to talk about body shame and women: What causes it. How social media contributes to it. How it leads to eating disorders. And what we can do to overcome it. And stay tuned to the end of our conversation where I go off on a tangent about my insecurities talking about my weight and health on this podcast. I may or may not have a vulnerability hangover after releasing this episode into the wild. Listen in. For show notes click here.
Do you feel like you're drowning? Is your house rarely clean? I mean, really clean? Are you struggling with how to take good care of your children AND also find time to get your work done AND be a good daughter AND a good sister AND a good friend AND mop the floors? Do you need a system that actually works? A system that will help you fit in all the tasks and relationships that matter most to you? If you are struggling to get stuff done, I’ve got a super practical episode. Today, we are talking about how to get stuff done using Theme Days. For show notes including the link to the quiz What is Your Busyness Personality, click here.
If there's one thing I learned about YOU in my most recent podcast listener survey is this: you love practical episodes to help you find balance. If there are two things I'd add this: You are struggling to get stuff done. So, today and next week and maybe even beyond next week, we’re going there. We’re getting personal and practical. Today I’m giving you 5 reasons why you don’t get stuff done. Listen in. For Shownotes and the link to the Busy Quiz click here.
Today I welcome back to the show Brant Hansen. He’s a best-selling author, award-winning syndicated radio host, podcast host of the Brant and Sherri Oddcast (my favorite podcast), advocate for children with correctable disabilities with CURE international, and he’s on the autism spectrum. He is hilarious and wise and witty and I just cannot believe I was able to sit and ask him questions for a full hour. For shownotes click here.
This is Part 2 of a 2-part conversation. Be sure to go back and listen to EP217 for Part 1 before you listen to this.
Okay, you guys, this is my dream interview. If it all ended today, I’d die a happy podcast host. Brant Hansen is a best-selling author, award-winning syndicated radio host, podcast host of the Brant and Sherri Oddcast (my favorite podcast), advocate for children with correctable disabilities with CURE international, and he’s on the autism spectrum. I’m not exaggerating when I say that he’s informed my faith and my daily outlook on Jesus and peace more than anyone in the last 20 years. I’m so excited for you to hear my interview with Brant Hansen, Listen in. For show notes, click here.
Does this happen in your house? You announce that you’re going to start having family devotions and your kids are like…ugh. that’s so booooorrrring! It doesn’t have to be this way. Family Bible time can be meaningful, fun, and engaging for everyone in the family. If starting family devotions is one of your goals for 2024, then you are in for a treat. Today I welcome back to the show my friend Laurie Christine. Laurie is a teacher, an author, and a mom to 4 busy boys. And she’s here to share 7 practical ways to engage your kids with Scripture. This episode is super tactical. You’re gonna love it. Also, This is part 2 of a 2-part conversation, so if you haven’t yet listened to EP215, pause his and listen to it first. Click here for show notes.
Personal confession time: One area of parenting where I carry shame and regret is around family devotions. When my kids were small, we tried. I promise we did. But if my kids acted disinterested or wouldn’t sit still and acted like…well, like KIDS, I would get all tense and rigid and respond in frustration and anger. Most family devotions ended up with someone in tears (usually me) and another one in time out. If you, too, feel like family devotions are disastrous (at best) or non-existent (at worst) then this episode is for you. My friend Laurie Christine discusses 4 barriers to family devotions and how to overcome them. Listen in. Click here for show notes.
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Have you ever made a teeny tiny change and suddenly you’re like, WHOA, why did I wait so long to do this? It would have saved me years of low-grade stress! Today I’m sharing twelve of those…not so that you can imitate me and make the same small changes I’ve made, but so that you can think about your own life and how you might make small changes that matter to YOU. Listen in. Click here for show notes.
What role does social media play in our confusion about our life’s purpose and where can we find clarity instead? When facing a detour in your day–like a sick kid or a flat tire–how can you see that as a way to live out your purpose rather than an obstacle to it? And what exactly does Jesus think about us wasting resources on HIM?
Today I welcome back to the show Kelly Needham to discuss her book Purposefooled: Why Chasing Your Dreams, Finding Your Calling, And Reaching for Greatness Will Never Be Enough. This is Part 2 of a 2-part conversation. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, pause this and go find EP212 first. Then come back here to listen to Part 2. Click here for show notes. Take The Balanced MomCast Listener Survey!
Is it wrong to chase your dreams? To try to discover your calling? What about Big Hairy Audatious Goals (BHAG)–or the concept of “if your dream doesn’t scare you, it’s not big enough or it’s not from God?” Is that what we should be aiming for? Today, I welcome to the show Kelly Needham to discuss her latest book Purposefooled: Why Chasing Your Dreams, Finding Your Calling, And Reaching for Greatness Will Never Be Enough. Just in time for you to set all those New Years goals and resolutions. Click here for show notes.
Happy New Year! I love this time of year. January is my favorite month. I love fresh starts, clean slates, and new goals. But before I set my new goals each year, I take some time to reflect on what I learned the previous year. Today I’m doing one of my favorite shows of the whole year: I’m sharing with you nine things I learned in 2023. Listen in. Click here for show notes.
ALL BOOKS BY SANDY COOPER 50% OFF UNTIL 12/31/23
What’s family mealtime like in your home? A little crazy? A little chaotic? Non-existent? Today I welcome back to the podcast my friend, dietician, writer, and podcaster, Jane Curry Weber. Through her Substack community and her podcast, she offers a refreshing perspective on bringing peace to your table and rest to your spirit through words of nourishment for body and soul. And today she’s here for Part 2 of our conversation: 12 Reasons You Don’t Have Peace at the Table. Listen in. CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES
ALL BOOKS BY SANDY COOPER 50% OFF. Sale ends 12/31/23
Christmas is in just a few days. And as much as we love the thought of peace at our table, much of it is out of our control. Maybe we are celebrating with family and friends. Maybe we are traveling. Maybe we are hosting 30 people. And maybe-just-maybe our kids are existing on nothing but cut-out cookies and canned frosting (anyone?).
That’s why I’ve invited my friend Jane Curry Weber here. Jane is a Registered Dietitian who offers a refreshing perspective on bringing peace to your table and rest to your spirit through words of nourishment for body and soul. And today she’s here to share 12 Reasons You Don’t Have Peace at the Table. Listen in. FOR SHOW NOTES CLICK HERE
Today I welcome back to the show my friend Cary Dyck. You may remember her from last week when she spoke specifically to moms of special needs kids. Today she is back to speak to all of us about Creating Life-Giving Habits through Nourishing Recipes, Simplified Homemaking, and Biblical Encouragement. This is a super tactical episode, so if you’re a note-taking kind of girl, grab a pen and paper because Cara is full of wisdom and tips. For show notes, click here.
ALL BOOKS BY SANDY COOPER HALF OFF THROUGH THE END OF 2023!
Today I welcome to the show my friend Cara Dyck. She is a homeschooling mom to four young boys with a variety of special needs. We pretend that you are sitting with us for coffee and Cara is here to encourage you. If you have a child with ADHD, a spectrum disorder, a processing disorder, a learning difference, or a child who is medically fragile, this episode is for you. For show notes, click here.
50% OFF ALL BOOKS BY SANDY COOPER UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2023!
If I could tell you only one thing...the secret, the key to living a well-balanced life, it would be this. Today I'm doing something a little different. I'm reading an essay I wrote in 2015 and re-published today on my Substack Newsletter, Behind the Balance. For show notes, click here.
ALL OF MY BOOKS ARE NOW 50% OFF (SALE ENDS JANUARY 1, 2024)
Well, Happy Thanksgiving! Today while you are basting that turkey and peeling those potatoes, you can listen to Part 2 of my conversation with Shelly Snead. In Part 1 she introduced the idea of embracing your UN Perfect life and revealed five barriers we may encounter when we try to hold the reality of our pain with the promises of God. Today she reveals two more barriers, what she learned while researching these barriers, and what is currently on her To-Don’t list. For show notes, click here.
Scripture tells us to “count it all joy” when we’re in the midst of trials. That sounds like a great idea, until we are the ones actually experiencing those trials. Can we hold the reality of our pain, disappointment, and grief in one hand, and also hold the truth of God’s promises in the other? Our guest today not only believes that we can embrace the tension between these two realities, but she’s here to show us how to do it. Today I welcome to the show my friend, Shelly Snead. She is a mom to 4, a wife of 28 years, a writer, and a podcaster. She is also passionate about helping you embrace the UN-perfect life you’ve been dealt. For show notes, click here.
It’s mid-November and the official beginning of the 2023 holiday season. While it certainly can be the most wonderful time of the year, it’s also the most stressful time of the year. For those of us who struggle with overwhelm on an ordinary day (raises hand), the holiday season with all of its special events, yummy food, and expensive gifts can cause us to white-knuckle the next six week until we collapse into 2024 exhausted, broke, and five pounds overweight. Let’s choose a better way. It’s time to create your holiday To-Don’t List. For show notes and the link to your Creating Your Holiday To-DON'T List Workbook, Click Here.
Today I welcome back to the show Dr. George Barna. Dr Barna is the New York Times Best-Selling author of more than 60 books. Dr. Barna has been referred to as the most quoted person in the church today. If you haven’t listened to EP201, pause this and listen to that first. Today Dr. Barna explains the role media takes in shaping the worldview of our children and what we can do about it. He also describes what it takes to make real, lasting disciples. And finally, he offers hope for those of us with older kids who wonder if we've screwed it all up. And buckle up, mamas, because Dr. Barna gives us some straight talk and some tough love–he does not mince words and I’m here for it. For show notes, click here.
Who your child will be as an adult–their core beliefs, morals, values, desires, and lifestyle– is essentially determined by the time he is 13 years old. We have the exciting opportunity and daunting task as moms to shape whether our kids will be disciples of Jesus or adopt a worldview that ultimately opposes scripture. Today I welcome New York Times Best-Selling Author, Dr. George Barna, the author of more than 60 books. In fact, Dr. Barna has sold more books based on survey research related to matters of faith than any author in American history. This is part 1 of a 2-part conversation about his latest book, Raising Spiritual Champions. Listen in. For show notes, click here.
This is our 200th episode and we are celebrating! I’m celebrating YOU. I’m answering some fun questions from some of my favorite Balanced MomCast friends, highlighting some special moments on the podcast, telling you what I’ve learned, confessing my most embarrassing mom moment, sharing some things on my To-Don’t List, giving you something new for FREE, and also telling you about a big change that’s coming. Listen in.
Today I welcome back Elizabeth Urbanowicz with Foundation Worldview. She explains how we can teach our kids to discern when emotions point them to the truth and when emotions deceive them, and why must teach our kids to open up the Bible and study for themselves. Elizabeth also shares some timely encouragement for moms who are overwhelmed with the thought of coming against our cultural climate. For show notes, click here.
How do we teach our kids to think well and to discern truth from lies when the culture says, "Follow your heart." "Trust your feelings." "Look within for the answers."? Today, I welcome Elizabeth Urbanowicz from Foundation Worldview. We discuss some hard topics and the importance of teaching our kids a Biblical worldview without becoming jerks. For show notes, click here.
Today I welcome back to the show, my husband of 30 years, Jon Cooper. If you haven’t listened to EP196, I encourage you to do that first. Today in part 2 of this 2-part conversation, we talk about marriage counseling, aha moments we’ve had in our marriage, what we wish we would have done differently, conflict resolution, love languages, the secret to a happy marriage, and so much more. We aren’t counselors, but we are sharing decades of marital wisdom here. So, settle in for this longer-than-usual episode with my husband, Jon Cooper. For show notes click here. To become a Patron, click here.
Today I have the most special guests of any guest ever. Jon Cooper, my husband of 30 years, is joining us to talk about how to grow and sustain a healthy marriage. In part 1 of this 2-part conversation, we share how we met, what we’ve changed for the better and sacrificed for the sake of the marriage, and how we faced several extremely challenging seasons, and how we made it through. You’ll want to settle in for this one–we go deep and personal and drop a ton of wisdom. I’m excited to introduce you for the first time ever, my husband, Jon Cooper. Listen in. For show notes, click here. To become a Patron, click here.
Today’s episode is for the tired moms. And let’s face it, that’s most of you--maybe all of you. You are tired from the last 3 years. You are tired of the cultural climate. You are tired because you haven’t had a full night’s sleep since you brought your baby home from the hospital. You are tired from the marriage issues or the work issues or the financial issues or the extended family issues or the health issues. You need rest. Real rest. Restorative rest. Sustaining rest. I'm gonna help you with that today. Click here for show notes. Click here to learn more about becoming a Patron.
What do you do when all your well-laid plans are ready to go and life throws you a curveball? Maybe you get sick or a kid gets sick. Maybe your appointment cancels or your contractor delays finishing the renovation again. Well, guys…that’s me right now. Today’s episode is brought to you by The Curveball. Our special guest is Mary K Tiller, jumping in as our pinch hitter(why so many baseball analogies?–I know nothing about baseball!)
Last year, Mary K experienced a tornado hitting her home, weeks of sickness running through her household, and a 7-day power outage that forced her to go 3 ½ hours away from home to stay with family until power was restored. She’s here to share what she put into practice to hold it together during that disruptive time–and you can, too! (And so can I!)
Click here for show notes
Click here for transcripts and a directory
The summer is officially behind us, the kids are back in school, and I am back from a three-month podcast break, which included a one-month complete work break. Coming back from a break of any kind can feel overwhelming. And since “overwhelm” appears to be my default setting, of course, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed right now. You too? No worries. Today I’m sharing with you four things to remember when you’re overwhelmed. Click here for show notes Become a Patron!
Today I welcome back to the show my dear friend Stephanie O’Dea. She is a New York Times best-selling author of Make it Fast, Cook it Slow, the host of The Slow Living Podcast, and the blogger behind A Year of Slow Cooking. Today she shares
- How she made the transition from slow cooking to slow living and how that impacted her career
- How the hustle culture (which is the opposite of slow living) adversely affects moms
- How using her crock pot helps with decision fatigue
- How to enter the summer months with kids home from school
- How you are already doing such a great job, Mom!
For show notes including all the links mentioned in today's episode visit https://thescooponbalance.com/192
For a transcript + so much more become a patron of the show: https://www.patreon.com/thebalancedmomcast
What if you wanted to stay home so badly with your kids, that you were willing to try an unconventional work-from-home strategy? What if it involved a new year’s resolution and your crockpot? And what if that crazy idea landed you on the Rachel Ray Show and the New York Times Best Seller list?
Today I welcome to the show my friend Stephanie O’Dea. She is a New York Times Bestselling author, the host of The Slow Living Podcast, and the blogger behind A Year of Slow Cooking. In Part 1 of our conversation, we discuss
- How the crockpot changed her life (for good)
- How the Instant Pot changed it again (for bad)
- Her most popular crockpot recipe (because it’s that good!)
- Her personal favorite crockpot recipe (that she invented!)
- Her worst crockpot disaster (don’t try this at home!)
For show notes including all the links mentioned in today's episode visit https://thescooponbalance.com/191
For a transcript + so much more become a patron of the show: https://www.patreon.com/thebalancedmomcast
I hate to burst your bubble, but whenever you step out in obedience to God, all hell breaks loose. That is exactly what happened when my guest embarked on writing her Bible study for sexually broken women: Graced: How God Redeems and Restores the Broken. Today, I welcome back my friend Teresa Whiting for Part 2 of our 2-part conversation where we talk about what to do when you encounter spiritual resistance. Teresa shared some solid truths about herself and others through writing this study. We discuss our mutual aversion toward a thing that appears on both of our To-Don't Lists. And Teresa encourages the woman who feels sexually broken today. For show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/190
Today I welcome my IRL friend, Teresa Whiting. She has written an incredible Bible study entitled, Graced: How God Redeems and Restores the Broken.In Part 1 of our 2-part conversation, Teresa shares why she did NOT want to write this study and why she did it anyway. She gives us a refreshing and Christlike way to view our scars. She reveals what surprised her the most about studying broken women in the Bible. And she encourages us with what she discovered about the heart of God toward sexually broken women. For show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/189-2/. To become a Patron visit https://www.patreon.com/thebalancedmomcast
Today I welcome back to the show Jennifer Dukes Lee. She is the author of several books, the latest is called Stuff I’d Only Tell God: A Guided Journal of Courageous Honesty, Obsessive Truth-Telling, and Beautiful Ruthless Self-Discovery. Today we start out with a fun YES or NO rapid-fire session with me in the hot seat. And then we talk about how journaling honestly with God makes you a better mom. Finally, Jennifer gives us great ideas about what to do with this journal once you’ve completed it. This is Part 2 of a 2-part conversation. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, listen first to it here: EP187. For show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/188
Gut-level honesty is vulnerable and scary–a bit like walking into a room with no pants on. It takes a special kind of courage and holds a special kind of power that leads to a form of intimacy with yourself and with God. Today I welcome Jennifer Dukes Lee. She has written a beautiful guided journal that will push your limits of vulnerability and self-reflection. It will plumb the depths of your history. It will help you understand what makes you tick and what ticks you off. It's a journal that offers you space to write what you believe to be true and the truths you’ve reconsidered. It’s a place to record all the outlandish and outrageous things that make you you. This is a fantastic conversation about asking the right questions. Listen in. For show notes: https://thescooponbalance.com/187
Wine Mom Culture is the pervasive phenomenon that hails wine as the preferred coping mechanism for parenting stress and the ultimate way to unwind and connect with friends. Often promoted through humorous memes and merchandise, this messaging has produced a generation of moms who struggle with drinking. Today I welcome back to the podcast Dana Bowman, an Author of 2 books, a speaker, a writing Instructor, and a mom in recovery. Last week she shared with us her story of alcohol addiction, and now she’s here to continue to unpack the whole concept of the Wine Mom Culture. Be sure to listen to EP185 for Part 1. For Show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/186
In the 1990s a very specific marketing campaign emerged to target women, advertising sweet, pink, beautiful alcoholic drinks and showing women happy consuming alcohol in social situations. A few years later hilariously clever memes showed up on Facebook hailing wine as the preferred coping mechanism for parenting stress. And it was wildly successful: In the last 15 years, the greatest increase in alcohol consumption has been in women in their 30s and 40s...1 in 5 women struggle with alcohol use. Today I welcome to the podcast Dana Bowman, an author of 2 books, a speaker, a writing Instructor, and a mom in recovery. She is here to discuss with me the whole concept of the Wine Mom Culture. Listen in. For show notes: https://thescooponbalance.com/185
I have been thinking about getting old a LOT lately. I’ll be 55 this year…my body continues to change, my skin looks a little saggy, and I’m drifting further and further away from pop culture and what young people think is cool. Evidenced by the fact that I still say “cool.” But one of the undeniable benefits of growing older is developing spiritual maturity. What does spiritual maturity look like? That’s what we are talking about today when I give you four signs of spiritual maturity according to the Apostle Paul. Listen in. For show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/184
Today I welcome back to the show my dear friend Sarah Dalton. If you haven’t listened to EP182, be sure to do that first, where she shared the first 2 steps of her 3-step process to optimize your energy levels through seasonal living. Today, she gives us step 3, along with some sage advice for moms in the midst of transition or those enduring a difficult season. For show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/183. Become a patron of the show!
Do you want to know a surefire way to drain your energy? Fight against the season you are currently in. Today I welcome my dear friend Sarah Dalton. She’s here to help you identify and embrace the season you are in so you that you align your days accordingly. In Part 1 of our 2-part conversation, she gives us the first 2 steps of her 3-step process to optimize your energy levels through seasonal living. Grab a pen and a piece of paper, because you are going to want to write this stuff down. It’s so good and so practical. Listen in. For show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/182 Become a Patron of the show!
Elizabeth is a Stress Coach for Christian moms, a Podcast Host, a mom of 4, a wife, and a believer. She’s here to help you reduce mental stress and overwhelm so you can respond with patience and calm. In Part 2 of our 2-Part conversation, Elizabeth explains why some moms have so much trouble regulating their emotions,she gives us 5 things that contribute to mom rage, and then leaves us with actionable steps you can take today to calm your mind. For show notes visit Thescooponbalance.com/181. Become a Patron of the show: https://www.patreon.com/thebalancedmomcast
In Part 1 of our 2-part conversation, Elizabeth shares how she always considered herself to be a calm person…until she became a mom. After she had her 3rd child, she felt like she was losing control and had the wisdom to seek help. Now she's a Stress Coach for Christian moms and she's here to help you. Today she explains the difference between normal anger and destructive rage and how to know when you’ve crossed the line. For show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/180 Become a Patron of the show! https://www.patreon.com/thebalancedmomcast
Surprise! Today I release a brand new podcast: Writing Off Social (best podcast name EVER!). This is a weekly podcast for female Christian writers who want to grow and nurture their audience without social media. I’m co-hosting it with my friend and yours, Mary K Tiller.
PLEASE GO TO APPLE PODCASTS AND CLICK FOLLOW!
SHARE THE TRAILER FROM APPLE PODCASTS WITH A FRIEND OR POST IT TO YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA.
Here's that link again: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/writing-off-social-the-podcast/id1676504296
Episodes 1 and 2 of Writing Off Social will release on March 21, 2023.
For more information about Writing Off Social, check out our website: https://writingoffsocial.com/
We will be back here at The Balanced MomCast next week with a 2-part interview on Mom Rage.
Work for a lot of people–at least in my world–is challenging right now. As I consider the people I love, talk to regularly, and pray for, it’s weird that so many of them are struggling with work. Thankfully, the Bible has much to say about work. The Word of God speaks to our attitudes and our focus as we approach work. So, today, I’m sharing with you 5 scripture passages to encourage and strengthen you or your loved one when work is hard. Listen in. For show notes including a complete list of the verses I mention: https://thescooponbalance.com/178 For transcripts and a directory of episodes by topic: https://www.patreon.com/thebalancedmomcast.
I believe that true balance is the peace we have when our life aligns with our God-given priorities. So, in order for us to achieve balance, we must first determine those priorities. I’ve been on a journey to re-find my own balance and it has taken me back to revisit and re-define my God-given priorities. Why am I here doing this work? What am I committed to doing? And what do I refuse to do? If you’re new here, this episode is a little bit different than usual, but it will give you a good idea about me and my mission and whether or not you want to stick around. For show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/177. Become a Patron.
Today I welcome back to the podcast my new friend, Laurie Christine. She’s a mom to 4 boys, and also a certified Biblical Parenting Coach and seminar presenter through the National Center for Biblical parenting. Today she introduces us to Heart-Based Parenting, what it is and how it differs from other parenting styles. And then she gives us the first two of the seven tools for Biblical parenting. This is part 2 of our 2-Part conversation. For Part 1, listen to EP175. For show notes: https://thescooponbalance.com/176 Become a Patron of the show!
Today I welcome to the podcast my new friend, Laurie Christine. She’s a mom to 4 boys, the oldest of whom was diagnosed with a heart condition at the age of 3 months old that ultimately required multiple surgeries. Today in part 1 of our 2-part conversation, Laurie explains tangible ways she clung to God during this time, the best ways her community supported her, and what she thinks of the statement, “God will never give you more than you can handle.” For show notes: https://thescooponbalance.com/175 Become a Patron of the show!
I’ve been doing a little mini-series on what to do when you’ve lost your balance. In EP172, I gave you 3 questions to ask yourself. Then in EP173, I offered 3 things to do next. And today, I’m addressing your energy levels. That's right. Today, I’m sharing 3 reasons you’re always tired and what to do about it. (And it probably isn't what you think). For show notes: https://thescooponbalance.com/174 Become a Patron of the show!
Last week in EP172, I brought you into my actual real life and shared with you the fact that I, Sandy Cooper, have lost my balance and I’m on a mission to find it. And then I offered you 3 Questions to Ask Yourself: 1: What feels off-balance or what is wrong? 2: Why is this happening or what has shifted to cause this loss of balance? 3: What do I expect right now that is not happening? Today I’m continuing our conversation by giving you 3 Things to Do Next. For notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/173/ For transcripts, become a Patron of the show!
Balance is the peace that comes when your life aligns with your priorities. But what happens when you had balance–-you had a good idea of what your priorities were and lived those out most days--but now you feel like you can’t quite get your footing? Today, I’m going to use my current actual real life as a case study–not after I have it all figured out and then look back and tell you what I did. Nope. Instead, I’m taking you through the process of finding my balance in real-time so you can find your balance too. Listen in. For show notes see https://thescooponbalance.com/172. Become a Patron.
Is your home cluttered and disorganized? Do your kids walk through the house and drop their stuff everywhere? Are you buried under a mountain of laundry because you’ve never found a laundry system that actually works for you? Today is your day! I have my new friend Lisa Lizotte here from the Habits and Home Show to give you one habit you can do every day to keep your home clean and clutter-free but she ends up giving us so much more:
- A funny thing she often did as a child that was a giant arrow pointing her toward her current business
- The tragic event that caused her to consider the amount of possessions she owned and how that may be affecting her children
- Her 2017 adventure of living with her family of five on a converted Greyhound bus
- Where to start if you want to gain control of the clutter in your home and what to do when you’re stuck
More about Lisa:
Lisa is a mom of three kids and a wife to her high school sweetheart. She helps women downsize and declutter their homes by creating new systems and habits through her coaching and courses. She believes you don’t have to feel stuck in what feels like chaos in your home. You can find true peace by decluttering your home and creating habits to keep it organized. And she’ll help you get there.
Lisa's Links:
Get Lisa’s Free Checklist!
Go to Habitsandhome.com to see all the ways Lisa can help you declutter your home
Check out Lisa’s Podcast: The Habits and Home Show
Our BFF Patron of the week is Kelly Stoski. Kelly and I met 10 years ago when I spoke at the women’s retreat at her church and we became fast friends. Over the years Kelly has supported me and my work in every possible way. She is an outstanding mother to 2 teenage boys, a loving wife, a devoted follower of Jesus, and a good friend to me. Thank you Kelly for being a BFF of the show and a BFF in real life, too.
You can become a BFF Patron by joining The Balanced MomCast Patreon Community.
When you become a patron of the show, you gain access to exclusive content, resources, and our new MomCast BFF Community. Your support allows me to create even more valuable content for tired mamas trying to juggle all the things.
Wave to Me in the Carpool Level $5/month
At the Wave to Me in the Carpool Level, you will receive warm feelings for helping this podcast remain on the air, ad-free. You may also likey receive eternal rewards, though I cannot confirm this at this time since the eternal rewards on not mine to give. But you will be supporting content that is making a difference in eternity–this I know for sure.
So, $5 a month you are simply saying, “Sandy…thank you for investing in me. Here is a small token of support.”
Let's Grab Coffee Level $10/month
At the Let's Grab Coffee Level, you receive all the warm feelings (and likely-but-not- confirmed eternal rewards) of the Wave to Me in Carpool Level, but also gain access to written transcripts of all solo episodes beginning with EP169 today (and select guest episodes) + digital downloads of all my books! The digital downloads alone are a ($30 value).
BFF Level $25/month and is only open to 10 people. You get
- Everything included in the first two levels including…
- Transcripts of all solo episodes (Beginning with EP 169–today’s episode)
- Digital Copy (PDF) of Mom, You're Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You ($10 value)
- Digital Copy (PDF) of Is the Voice in My Head God, or Just Me? ($10 Value)
- Digital Copy (PDF) of Finding Your Balance ($10 value)
- Live Monthly BFF Q&As–these will be monthly zoom calls where we will talk about whatever you want…you can pick my brain or I can help you strategize something in your home or in your life, you can ask me questions…whatever you want! You can also connect with other BFFs of the show.
- Signed Copy Book Bundle! That means you get a free signed physical copy of each of my books that you can keep or gift to your friend ($50 value--U.S. residents only)
- You will receive a Regular BFF shout-out on the podcast + a link to your website/product in the show notes for as long as you are a BFF of the Pod. If you have a book or something you sell on etsy or you sell coaching or courses…I will actively mention and promote you and your stuff for as long as you support the show.
OTHER LINKS:
Become a Patron of the show
To listen to the podcasts where I’ve appeared as a guest, visit my PR + Media Page
Buy Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You on Amazon
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon
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Are you the person who LOVES choosing a word for the year? Or are you the one who has never chosen a word of the year? Does the thought of choosing just one word frustrate you? Scare you? Excite you? Irritate you? No matter where you are on the spectrum of feelings, I’m here for you. Join me while I share with you why you may want to choose a word, how to choose one, creative ways to apply the word, and what to do if you still don’t have one! For a transcript and other bonuses, become a patron! For show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/170
It’s 2023! YAY! January is my absolute favorite month of the year. I am all about clean slates, fresh starts, and new goals. But before I go all goal-crazy, I love to first look back at the year prior and reflect on what I learned. Today I share 16 things I learned last year and introduce you to a new way you can support the show and connect with me. For a transcript of today's episode, become a Patron. For show notes, visit https://thescooponbalance.com/169
Today I’m digging in the Balanced MomCast Mailbag and answering YOUR questions! I answer questions about relocating my family, transitions in general, and what to do when work leaves us no margin. I also have several important announcements including a huge book sale which may or may not still be going on when you are listening, the relaunch of my Make Social Media Small 7-Day Challenge, a new survey I need you to take, and a break that I’ll be taking. So much to do, so let’s dive in! For complete show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/168
In the last couple of months since we started the Make Social Media Small series, I’ve had three different people tell me, “You’ve got to talk to Stefanie Gass.” And so I invited her to come and talk to all of us today. Stefanie is a podcaster and business owner and today she is here to share her story of social media addiction, how her life has changed since she drew firm boundaries around it, and what God spoke to her literally the day before we recorded. This is a Spirit-led conversation and the timing is absolutely incredible. I’m so excited for you to hear my conversation with my new friend Stefanie Gass. Listen in. For show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/167
SALE ON ALL BOOKS BY SANDY COOPER https://thescooponbalance.com/books/
This is Part 3 of a 3-part conversation with author Kate Merrick. Today Kate begins by speaking directly to the author or entrepreneurial mom who feels trapped by social media to run her business or sell her product. She doesn’t mince words about this and I love it. She also shares all the things that are on her To-Don’t List (she's got quite a few–one of them is just in time for Christmas.) And finally, she leaves all of us with some beautiful encouragement. Listen in.
This is Part 2 of a 3-part conversation with author Kate Merrick. Today Kate describes what being “off the grid” looked like for the last months of her daughter’s life. And she suggests we ask ourselves some hard and honest questions about our own social media use, like “how much do I really want to give away?” We dive into the weird mom culture portrayed on Instagram and how it makes us feel. Note: I apologize for the poor audio in parts of this episode…we were having tech issues!
When I was considering taking a one-year social media hiatus in 2019, a fellow writer told me to look up Kate Merrick. When I did, I discovered that we had a few things in common: We were both authors, we both love the ocean, and sadly we had both buried a child. I bought her book and savored it slowly with a highlighter in hand. At the time, she was the only published author in my genre that I knew of who had walked away from social media. And now we also have THAT in common. Today she’s here to talk about all of it in the first part of a three-part conversation.
Thanksgiving is Thursday. (!) And if you are anything like me and struggle with overwhelm on a normal day, the holidays have the potential to throw you over the edge. All of a sudden you need to spend a bunch of money and go to a bunch of events and have a bunch of people in your home and cook a bunch of food you don’t normally cook or eat. Holidays are just hard for moms like us. So, I’m popping in here a few days early to give you a little Thanksgiving pep talk. And to tell you a heartwarming Thanksgiving story about the time I lost my crap. Listen in.
For Show Notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/163
Today my new friend Leah Remillet returns for Part 2 of our conversation. Leah is the host of the Balancing Busy podcast, an international speaker, and the Anti-Hustle Business Coach. After collapsing on a trip to the zoo with her three babies, Leah knew she needed to make a change. Today she shares her proven strategies and systems that have given her back hours in her week. And she breaks it down for moms at every level of overwhelm. This episode is gold. Listen in.
For show notes, visit https://thescooponbalance.com/162
Today I have on the podcast my new friend Leah Remillet. Leah is the host of the Balancing Busy podcast, an international speaker, and the Anti-Hustle Business Coach. In part one of our two-part conversation, Leah shares how a simple challenge to take a 7-day social media break changed her life and the lives of the women who follow her. She also shares a brilliant strategy for helping teens learn to manage their own social media use. If you want to make social media smaller in your life, you will love this episode. Listen in.
For show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/161
Today I welcome back Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler MD. He is a Los Angeles physician, who has pioneered medical and surgical treatments that have become industry standard. He is also a verified influencer known as Dr. Brian on all social media platforms including Tik Tok. He boasts over 3.4 million followers and creates fun and informative videos dispelling health myths and lies. And today he is here to discuss his latest book, Influenced: The Impact of Social Media on our Perception. This is part 2 of our 2-part conversation. Listen in.
For full show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/160
Is anyone safe from succumbing to a social media addiction? Today Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler MD tackles that question. He is the medical director of the Boxer Wachler Vision Institute in Beverly Hills and a staff physician at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He is also a verified influencer on all social media platforms, including Tik Tok where he boasts over 3.4 million followers. And today he is here to discuss his latest book entitled Influenced: The Impact of Social Media on our Perception. This is Part 1 of a 2-part conversation. Listen in.
For full show notes, visit https://thescooponbalance.com/159
Join the Make Social Media Small 7-Day Challenge!
This is Part 4 of the Make Social Media Small series and we are less than a week away from the start of our 7-Day Challenge. And today I’m discussing the most compelling reason why I have chosen to make social media small in my life. This for me was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I think it is a compelling reason for you too. Listen in
For show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/158
We are in week 3 of our Make Social Media Small series. And today, I’m addressing one of the most common pushbacks and biggest misconceptions about social media. It’s something I’ve said and believed myself. Maybe you have said or believed it, too. Curious? Well, buckle up because we are diving into the dark underbelly of the social media business model to bust a myth. Listen in.
For shownotes go to https://thescooponbalance.com/157
We are in week 3 of our Make Social Media Small series. And today, I’m addressing one of the most common pushbacks and biggest misconceptions about social media. It’s something I’ve said and believed myself. Maybe you have said or believed it, too. Curious? Well, buckle up because we are diving into the dark underbelly of the social media business model to bust a myth. Listen in.
For shownotes go to https://thescooponbalance.com/157
Our ability to pay attention is collapsing. In the U.S. teenagers can focus on one task for only 65 seconds at a time, and office workers average only three minutes. You’re probably struggling to focus, too. Maybe you’ve blamed yourself or chalked it up to aging. Maybe you’ve made a joke of the whole thing and just called it “Mom Brain.” This is Part 2 of our Make Social Media Small series, and today we are talking about how social media has stolen our ability to focus and what we can do about it today. Listen in.
For show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/156
Our ability to pay attention is collapsing. In the U.S. teenagers can focus on one task for only 65 seconds at a time, and office workers average only three minutes. You’re probably struggling to focus, too. Maybe you’ve blamed yourself or chalked it up to aging. Maybe you’ve made a joke of the whole thing and just called it “Mom Brain.” This is Part 2 of our Make Social Media Small series, and today we are talking about how social media has stolen our ability to focus and what we can do about it today. Listen in.
For show notes visit https://thescooponbalance.com/156
Today I’m beginning a series on social media. Now before you roll your eyes and turn it off because you don’t think this applies to you, wait. Because as of today, 3.96 billion people worldwide use social media. And over 72% of the U.S. population uses social media. That's 1/2 of the world and almost 3/4 of the U.S.
So, even if you’ve made peace with YOUR relationship with social media, this affects everyone–your kids, your friends, your family, your church, your government–and as we will discover today, it affects you and your time. Listen in.
For show notes, visit https://thescooponbalance.com/155
Today I’m beginning a series on social media. Now before you roll your eyes and turn it off because you don’t think this applies to you, wait. Because as of today, 3.96 billion people worldwide use social media. And over 72% of the U.S. population uses social media. That's 1/2 of the world and almost 3/4 of the U.S.
So, even if you’ve made peace with YOUR relationship with social media, this affects everyone–your kids, your friends, your family, your church, your government–and as we will discover today, it affects you and your time. Listen in.
For show notes, visit https://thescooponbalance.com/155
Depression is a common and serious illness. According to the CDC about 1 in 10 women in the United States reported symptoms that suggest they experienced an episode of major depression in the last year. Four in 10 adults have depression and anxiety symptoms due to the pandemic. Anxiety is the most common mental illness in the U.S. If you or someone you love is experiencing depression or anxiety, this episode is for you.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. Please consult your physician before you make any changes to your medical treatment or if you have questions or concerns about your treatment or about anything that I share today.
For show notes, please visit thescooponbalance.com/154
One constant struggle for me as a mom is learning to stay present with my kids when I know I have a ton of work to do. Some moms have the opposite problem: trying to get motivated to work when you’d rather just relax and play with the kids. That is not me and I know it’s not some of you either. Because today I’m answering a listener question about how I balance work, play, and rest while raising kids. Listen in.
For show notes, please visit thescooponbalance.com/153
Summer is officially behind us and school is back in session. That means early bedtimes and homework. Carpool and sports practice. Routines and structure. If you are suddenly finding your easy-breezy summer schedule hijacked by a ton of stuff you need to do and places you need to be, and more items on your to-do list than you have hours in the day, today’s episode is for you. Today I’m giving you 5 simple strategies to get more done in less time. Listen in.
For show notes, please visit thescooponbalance.com/152
This is my 17th Summer Break as a mom with kids on a school schedule. Some summers unfolded swimmingly and some did not. The difference between the summers that went well and the summers that I completely sabotaged rested primarily on decisions I made that ultimately sabotaged my balance. Today I’m giving you 5 ways to Sabatoage your Summer and suggestions for a better way. And be sure to stick around to the end of the show because I announce my summer plans for the podcast! WIN A SIGNED COPY OF MOM, YOU'RE AMAZING! AND OTHER THINGS I WANT TO TELL YOU:
Here's how!
Option 1:
-
Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts
-
Take a screenshot of your review
-
Email the picture to me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Option 2 (If you have already left a review):
-
Share your favorite episode of The Balanced MomCast with a friend (or 10) any way you choose (social media, text, email, word of mouth)
-
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com and tell me that you did
Only a few copies left so hurry!
LINKS
To-Do List Template (this is the one I actually use!)
If you want the links to my Podcast Book Tour, sign up here.
Buy Mom, You're Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You
Hey, Mom! What's Your Superpower? Take the quiz and find out!
Want to explore your highest priorities and set up a system for living a life consistent with them?
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Here is my other Bible study on hearing God's voice. You should buy it:
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Have a question or a comment about anything else? I personally reply to every email! thescooponbalance@gmail.com
My website: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
In March of 2021, I decided to leave social media. And after a year and two months, I’m here to give you an update on how all of that is going as well as 3 simple steps you can take today if you want to reduce the time you spend on social media. Also, in celebration of 150 episodes, I’m giving away 11 signed copies of my new book, Mom, You're Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You so stick around to the end of the show to see how you can be one of the lucky winners! WIN A SIGNED COPY OF MOM, YOU'RE AMAZING! AND OTHER THINGS I WANT TO TELL YOU:
Here's how!
Option 1:
-
Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts
-
Take a screenshot of your review
-
Email the picture to me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Option 2 (If you have already left a review):
-
Share your favorite episode of The Balanced MomCast with a friend (or 10) any way you choose (social media, text, email, word of mouth)
-
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com and tell me that you did
The first 11 emails I receive will win!
LINKS
EP21-EP25: Series on Technology and Social Media begins here
EP85: What I Learned from Taking a Year off Social Media
EP97: Why I’m Leaving Social Media
Why I'm Leaving Social Media (blog post)
Buy Mom, You're Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You
Hey, Mom! What's Your Superpower? Take the quiz and find out!
Want to explore your highest priorities and set up a system for living a life consistent with them?
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Here is my other Bible study on hearing God's voice. You should buy it:
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Have a question or a comment about anything else? I personally reply to every email! thescooponbalance@gmail.com
My website: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
The death of my first son shattered my expectations of how family and faith should look. That tragedy opened the door to continue building my family through adoption and drove me to rely solely on Jesus to sustain me. Today I discuss how our parenting expectations rarely align with reality, I talk about how to identify unmet expectations, and I offer practical ways to respond when parenting or life has thrown you a curveball.
Links:
Buy Mom, You're Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You
Hey, Mom! What's Your Superpower? Take the quiz and find out!
Want to explore your highest priorities and set up a system for living a life consistent with them?
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Here is my other Bible study on hearing God's voice. You should buy it:
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Have a question or a comment about anything else? I personally reply to every email! thescooponbalance@gmail.com
My website: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
I believe one of the greatest struggles moms face is feelings of inadequacy. That’s why my mission is to encourage moms. I love to take the light of God’s Word and shine it on the lies of the enemy. I love to show women how to access the peace of God so that they can raise their children with joy and confidence. If you’re a mom who feels like she’s not enough, I have three things to tell you.
Links:
Buy Mom, You're Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You for Mother's Day!
Hey, Mom! What's Your Superpower? Take the quiz and find out!
Want to explore your highest priorities and set up a system for living a life consistent with them?
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Here is my other Bible study on hearing God's voice. You should buy it:
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Have a question or a comment about anything else? I personally reply to every email! thescooponbalance@gmail.com
My website: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
This is the final segment of a 4-part conversation about my latest book, Mom, You're Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. Today Mary K. Tiller and I talk about loneliness in motherhood, the necessity of mom mentors, and what I hope moms will take away from reading this book. Links: Buy Mom, You're Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You for Mother's Day! Hey, Mom! What's Your Superpower? Take the quiz and find out!
Want to explore your highest priorities and set up a system for living a life consistent with them?
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Here is my other Bible study on hearing God's voice. You should totes buy it:
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Have a question or a comment about anything else? I personally reply to every email! thescooponbalance@gmail.com
My website: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
This is Part 3 of a 4-part conversation about my latest book, Mom, You're Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. Today Mary K. Tiller and I tackle the whole concept of setting aside your own dreams to focus on the kids while trusting God with the outcome, and the superpower of humor as both a coping mechanism and a parenting strategy. Links:
Buy Mom, You're Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You for Mother's Day!
Hey, Mom! What's Your Superpower? Take the quiz and find out!
Want to explore your highest priorities and set up a system for living a life consistent with them?
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Here is my other Bible study on hearing God's voice. You should totes buy it:
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Have a question or a comment about anything else? I personally reply to every email! thescooponbalance@gmail.com
My website: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Mom, You’re Amazing and Other Things I Want to Tell You launched this week and available for purchase. So, my friend Mary K Tiller is here to interview ME. That’s right–for the next 4 episodes, I’m the guest on my own podcast. Today I answer a question I haven’t been asked in probably 20 years and share a fun story about what I intended this book to be (Fact: this was not originally a book about motherhood!). Here is part 2 of my conversation with Mary K. Listen in:
Links:
Buy Mom, You're Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You
Hey, Mom! What's Your Superpower? Take the quiz and find out!
Want to explore your highest priorities and set up a system for living a life consistent with them?
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Have a question or a comment about anything else? I personally reply to every email! thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Here is my other Bible study on hearing God's voice. You should totes buy it:
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
My website: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Today is book launch day! Yay! Mom, You’re Amazing and Other Things I Want to Tell You is now available for purchase. So, my friend Mary K Tiller is here to interview ME. That’s right–for the next 4 episodes, I’m the guest on my own podcast. Today I talk about how Release Day is a mix between crossing a finish line and giving birth, what I wish I could go back and say to young Sandy, and how my experiences in parenting have shaped me and positioned me to speak to you. Listen in.
Links:
Buy Mom, You're Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You
Hey, Mom! What's Your Superpower? Take the quiz and find out!
Want to explore your highest priorities and set up a system for living a life consistent with them?
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Have a question or a comment about anything else? I personally reply to every email! thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Here is my other Bible study on hearing God's voice. You should totes buy it:
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
My website: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Today I welcome back to the show my friend Angie Baughman. She’s a pastor, an author, and the host of The Steady On Podcast. And she’s here to share with you her 5-step framework for talking to your triggers: Those events in life that elicit in us a disproportionately emotional and usually entirely irrational response. If you missed Part 1, I encourage you to listen to that one first, where she shares her story as a trauma and abuse survivor and gives us the first step of her 5-step framework. This is part 2 of our conversation where we pick right up where we left off last time. LINKS Get the free download: Talk to Your Triggers
For all of Angie's links and freebies.
Angie's Podcast: Stead On
Mom, You're Amazing: And Other Things I Want to Tell You releases April 19th! Click here for more info.
Hey, Mom! What's Your Superpower? Take the quiz and find out!
Want to explore your highest priorities and set up a system for living a life consistent with them?
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Have a question or a comment about anything else? I personally reply to every email! thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Here is my other Bible study. You should totes buy it:
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
My website: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Today we’re talking about those events in life that elicit in us a disproportionately emotional and usually entirely irrational response: Triggers! (If you’ve ever exploded at your children for a minor offense, you’ve been triggered.)
Today I welcome to the show my friend Angie Baughman. She’s a pastor, an author, and the host of The Steady On Podcast. And she’s here to share with you her 5-step framework for talking to your triggers. She has an incredible story of healing and restoration and she’s overflowing with wisdom and compassion.
This is Part 1 of a 2-part conversation where Angie shares her story of surviving a horrific head-on collision and abuse at the hand of a "beloved" high school teacher. She then shares with us the first step of her 5-step process for Talking to Your Triggers.
LINKS
Get the free download: Talk to Your Triggers
For all of Angie's links and freebies.
Angie's Podcast: Stead On
Mom, You're Amazing: And Other Things I Want to Tell You releases April 19th! Click here for more info.
Hey, Mom! What's Your Superpower? Take the quiz and find out!
Want to explore your highest priorities and set up a system for living a life consistent with them?
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Have a question or a comment about anything else? I personally reply to every email! thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Here is my other Bible study. You should totes buy it:
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
My website: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Two of my favorite questions to ask seasoned moms are “Looking back, what do you wish you would have done differently? And "What do you think you got right?” I thought it would be fun for me to answer those questions for you about my parenting journey. So that’s what I’m doing today. Listen in. LINKS
For my whole series on Social Media, check out EP21-24
Hey, Mom! What's Your Superpower? Take the quiz and find out!
Learn more about my new book Mom, You're Amazing!
Want to explore your highest priorities and set up a system for living a life consistent with them?
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Have a question or a comment about anything else? I personally reply to every email! thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Here is my other Bible study. You should totes buy it:
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
My website: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
LAST CALL to join the launch team for Mom, You're Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. The deadline is March 11, 2022.
I’m in a mini-series on raising teens. As I record this, I have a 22-(almost 23-) year-old, a 20-year-old and a 15-year-old. I’m no teen expert, but I have learned a few things about raising teens while raising mine. So, today I’m just having a frank discussion like we are sitting and having a cup of coffee. I’ll tell you about some of the challenges and a few surprising things that I’ve loved. Listen in
LINKS:
Want to explore your highest priorities and set up a system for living a life consistent with them?
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Have a question or a comment about anything else? I personally reply to every email! thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Here is my other Bible study. You should totes buy it:
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
My website: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Today I welcome back to the podcast my friend Sarah Turner for Part 2 of our conversation on raising teens. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, go do that first. And You may want to grab a pen and paper and take notes on this one momma because she drops a ton of wisdom here including,
- what to do when your teen triggers your anger,
- what you can look forward to in the college years,
- one thing she wishes she would have done less of,
- and we tackle the whole issue of technology and screens. Listen in.
LINKS
Connect with Sarah Turner on her blog, Clover Lane
Or on Instagram!
Join the launch team for Mom, You're Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You.
If you have a question about the launch team, ask away at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Want to explore your highest priorities and set up a system for living a life consistent with them?
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Have a question or a comment about anything else? I personally reply to every email! thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Here is my other Bible study. You should totes buy it:
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Welp, after 3 years of podcasting, I’m finally tackling a subject many of you have asked for: raising teens. Today I’ve invited my friend Sarah Turner to the podcast. She is a mom of six--three of whom are now in their 20s and two of whom are teens right now. In Part 1 of our conversation, Sarah tells us what she’s learned from raising all these teens and one thing she knows for sure that she got right. Listen in.
LINKS
Connect with Sarah Turner on her blog, Clover Lane
Or on Instagram!
Join the launch team for Mom, You're Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You.
If you have a question about the launch team, ask away at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Want to explore your highest priorities and set up a system for living a life consistent with them?
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Have a question or a comment about anything else? I personally reply to every email! thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Here is my other Bible study. You should totes buy it:
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Our habits make our routines and our routines quite literally make our lives. So, what's making your life? Who do you want to be? Are you living a life consistent with that picture of yourself? If you want to be a peaceful woman who walks closely with God, then daily and weekly spiritual practices are vital. Today I give you a glimpse into mine. Listen in.
LINKS
EP118 How to Start a Daily Prayer and Bible Routine
EP136--I talk about 3 questions to ask yourself to decide what to include in your daily routines.
The Bible Recap
The Message Bible Reader's Edition (affiliate link)
Want to explore your highest priorities and set up a system for living a life consistent with them?
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Be the first to hear about the release of my new book, Mom, You're Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You
Have a question or a comment? I personally reply to every email! thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Here is my other Bible study. You should totes buy it:
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
For the last couple of weeks, we’ve been talking about establishing healthy habits and routines. We continue today with the Evening routine, the Morning routine, and the Weekly routine. And specifically, I’m going to give you 3 questions to ask yourself to help you decide what you should include in each of these routines so that you can live a well-balanced life. Also, today I give you a sneak peek into my daily routines. Woo hoo! Listen in.
LINKS
Want to explore your highest priorities and set up a system for living a life consistent with them?
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Be the first to hear about the release of my new book, Mom, You're Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You
Have a question or a comment? I personally reply to every email! thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Here is my other Bible study. You should totes buy it:
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Chances are high that one of your goals in 2022 is to eat more healthfully. You went to Costco and loaded your cart with fresh fruit and veggies and all the good intentions. And now you’re staring down a drawer full of produce that’s ready to go bad. Hold on. Before you throw away your produce and your goals, let me help you. Today I’m giving you 10 tips I use for eating healthy on a budget.
LINKS
EP107 Help Me Create a Healthy Meal Plan! (My deep dive into meal planning)
Quick and Easy Plant-Based Meal Ideas--a free download!
Send me an email and let's talk about plant-based eating on a budget! thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Grab your BFF and start a new Bible Study this year! Here are two of my favorites! wink wink
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Receive email updates from me!
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Have you ever tried to implement a new habit and do everything everyone tells you to do to succeed, but then realize, “That doesn’t work for me”? Well, today is your day. Today I welcome back to the podcast my friend Mary K Tiller for Part 2 of our conversation about establishing habits and routines. Today we are talking about the importance of knowing yourself and what works for you and what doesn’t so you can build habits that stick. Listen in.
Links
Atomic Habits, James Clear
Better Than Before, Gretchen Rubin
The Lazy Genius Way, Kendra Adachi
(affiliate links)
Connect with Mary K. Tiller!
Instagram: @MaryKathrynTiller and @newmerciesformoms
Facebook.com/newmercies
Website: www.MaryKathrynTiller.com
Grab your BFF and start a new Bible Study in January! Here are two of my favorites! wink wink
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Receive email updates from me!
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
It’s January and that means a fresh start and new goals for the year. According to Forbes, 80% of New Year’s Resolutions will be abandoned by February. Why is that? And what can we do so we don’t become part of that statistic? Today I welcome back to the podcast my friend Mary K. Tiller. And in Part 1 of our conversation, we share with you our favorite strategies for building healthy habits and routines that stick. Listen in.
Top 4 Reasons Resolutions Fail:
- Unrealistic goals
- Not keeping track of progress
- Forgetting resolutions
- Too many resolutions
Strategies that work!
- Habit stacking/Habit pairing
- Start small and build as you grow
- Don't create unnecessary barriers
- Don't commit to something that requires money until you are sure you will stick with it
- Reward yourself for reaching milestones
- Avoid all or nothing thinking
- Set yourself up for success/make your new habit convenient
- Create barriers to help stop bad habits
- Plan for disruptions in your new routine
- Keep track of your progress
- Take advantage of a Clean Slate (you have a clean slate every new day!!)
Links
https://discoverhappyhabits.com/new-years-resolution-statistics/
Atomic Habits, James Clear
Better Than Before, Gretchen Rubin
The Lazy Genius Way, Kendra Adachi
(affiliate links)
Connect with Mary K. Tiller!
Instagram: @MaryKathrynTiller and @newmerciesformoms
Facebook.com/newmercies
Website: www.MaryKathrynTiller.com
Grab your BFF and start a new Bible Study in January! Here are two of my favorites! wink wink
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Receive email updates from me!
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Welcome to 2022! One of my favorite practices at the end of every year is reading through my journal and taking note of what I learned. Doing this helps me know where I am, how far I’ve come, and what I should do next. So, today, I’m sharing 12 things I learned in 2021. Listen in.
Grab your BFF and start a new Bible Study in January! Here are two of my favorites! wink wink
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Receive email updates from me!
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Today I continue my conversation with chef Char Nolan. She addresses some of your most common struggles like “I want to cook more healthfully but I’m already stretched so thin” and “I took the time to make this meal, now how do I get my family to eat it?” and “My kids are so busy in the evenings it’s just easier to grab fast food” and so much more. Lean in to this conversation mamas because you have a wise mentor in your earbuds today.
Highlights of this Episode:
- "On day-10 [of eating a plant-based diet] I didn't have one ache in my body...this food-as-medicine thing must be real"
- Advice for moms wanting to transition to a healthy lifestyle
- Shop the perimeter
- Meatless Monday
- Get kids involved (they eat what they make)
- Start gradually
- Don't remove things from your child's diet that will make them miserable
- Read labels
- Make smoothies for your kids and let them pick the ingredients
- Give kids a say on lunches and snacks
- Use precut and frozen veggies, as well as the deli counter and rotisserie chickens to save time
- Make eating dinner as a family a priority
- Be nice to yourself!
- Find a good crossover meal (don't start with tofu!)
- Mix take-out with home-cooked
- Have an alternative meal if you are introducing something new
- Organize a meal plan
- Consider a meal swap with neighbors
- Try frozen veggie burgers
LINKS: (some of these are affiliate links--I will receive a small commission if you purchase an item through this link at no additional cost to you)
My 2021 Holiday Gift Guide for the Home Chef
Engine 2 Diet
Engine 2 Diet Cookbook
Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Dr. Caldwell B Esselstyn
Rip Esselstyn
Tovolo Popsicle Molds
Rich Roll Podcast with Chef AJ (the podcast I listened to that made me want to try a plant-based diet)
Chickpea Tunaless Salad Recipe
Vitamix (Char's favorite kitchen appliance!) (Mine, too!!!)
Define My Day 2022 Planner
Connect with Char Nolan on Instagram @char_nolan
Order Holiday Meals from Whole Foods Market
Rouxbe Culinary School
Need a Christmas gift for that woman in your life? How 'bout these?
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Receive email updates from me!
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
We are one week away from what is arguably the biggest cooking day of the year: Thanksgiving. And I have a treat for you. I’ve invited my friend Char Nolan to join me today. Char is a wife and a mom, but she is also a professional chef. And she’s here to bestow upon us her decades of wisdom, both personally and professionally, in the kitchen and out. If you want less stress and more joy this holiday season, you’ll love this episode with my friend Char Nolan.
Tips for a Less Stressful Thanksgiving (aka, the family will feel the tension we emit)
- Ask yourself, how can we make this easier?
- Delegate side dishes to guests
- Buy store-bought sides and plate them/garnish them beautifully
- Assign tasks to kids
- Shop off-peak time
- Use grocery pick up
- Make whatever you can in advance
- Ask the family what they actually want and only cook that
Tips for cooking any time and for life in general:
- Batch cook: cook for a whole Sunday and eat all week
- Save money and the environment by only buying whole produce and cut up at home
- Put that phone down
- Be as good as you can be to yourself
- Learn to say no so you don't overcommit
LINKS:
My 2021 Holiday Gift Guide for the Home Chef
Connect with Char Nolan on Instagram @char_nolan
Order Holiday Meals from Whole Foods Market
Misfit Organics
Rouxbe Culinary School
Create Your Holiday To-Don't List Printable Worksheets
Listen to EP128 for the explanation of the Holiday To-Don't List
Need a Christmas gift for that woman in your life? How 'bout these?
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
To hear other holiday episodes from 2019:
EP28 "How to Spend Less at Christmas"
EP29 "Setting Boundaries Around Your Time and Relationships."
To learn more about me, visit my About Me page
Receive email updates from me!
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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I am no longer active on social media.
Well, it’s November, and the holiday season is officially descending upon us. If you’re like me, your feelings about this are a mixed bag of “Awww...I love Christmas” and “Oh my gosh, I have so much to do!” If you are already struggling with balancing your day-to-day life, adding all the decorating, shopping, cooking, and partying can push you over the edge. Have no fear. I’m here to help. Today I’m giving you 7 Things you can do this week to help you avoid holiday overwhelm.
- Create your holiday to-don’t list.
- Knock something off your to-do list.
- Declutter something.
- Write out your shopping lists and set your Christmas budget.
- Plan out your Thanksgiving menu and make out your grocery list
- Update your calendar with all the holiday happenings.
- Take extra good care of yourself.
LINKS
Create Your Holiday To-Don't List Printable Worksheets
Listen to EP128 for the explanation of the Holiday To-Don't List
Need a Christmas gift for that woman in your life? How 'bout these?
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
To hear other holiday episodes from 2019:
EP28 "How to Spend Less at Christmas"
EP29 "Setting Boundaries Around Your Time and Relationships."
To learn more about me, visit my About Me page
Receive email updates from me!
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
If you struggle with balance on a regular day, the holiday season with all its obligations and expectations can send you into complete and utter chaos. What is aggressively marketed as the most wonderful time of the year, feels more like stress, and debt and five pounds of fat around your midsection. We can change that. This is a replay of an episode that aired exactly 2 years ago in November of 2019, where I’m helping you sort through your holiday obligations so you can get something off your plate. Today I’m helping you create your holiday to-don’t list.
LINKS
Create Your Holiday To-Don't List Printable Worksheets
To hear the follow-up holiday episodes in this 2019 series, go to
EP28 "How to Spend Less at Christmas"
EP29 "Setting Boundaries Around Your Time and Relationships."
This entire season I'm discussing your questions and suggestions from the podcast listener survey. If you have a question or suggestion, send it to me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com. I'll try to work it into the show.
To learn more about me, visit my About Me page
Receive email updates from me!
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Today’s question is a mash-up of multiple comments:
"My biggest balance struggle is finding me-time. I have no time for my own interests, like reading or exercising or spending time with friends. I cannot keep up with my hobbies--hobbies I need to keep me sane--because keeping up with my kids and my house takes up all my time. I don’t even know who am right now. How do I figure out who I am outside of being a mom when my whole life has been all about my kids? How do I find my purpose in life when motherhood is all-encompassing?"
Take-aways:
-
Me time is not a luxury or self-indulgent.
-
Christian moms are called to a life of self-sacrifice--but in doing so, we find real life.
-
Physical exercise and time with the Lord are not hobbies but essential daily practices.
-
You should absolutely pursue a passion beyond motherhood--but not the way the world tells you to pursue a passion, purpose, or identity.
LINKS:
For more on priorities and pendulums and seasons that seem off-balance check out Finding Your Balance, available on Amazon for $14.99
For creative ways to work physical activity into your day with small children, check out EP122.
For One Thing I Wish I Would Have Known as a New Mom, listen to EP82
Please take a minute to rate and review this show!
This entire season I'm discussing your questions and suggestions from the podcast listener survey. If you have a question or suggestion, send it to me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com. I'll try to work it into the show.
To learn more about me, visit my About Me page
Receive email updates from me!
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
In all of Season 8, I’m addressing your specific questions and balance struggles. Today, I’m responding to two listener emails: One asks about loneliness and finding community with a baby at home. The other asks about how to make quality time for her husband while raising 4 small children. I have lots to say about both of those things, so if you struggle with any of that in your own life, you’ll love today's episode. Listen in.
Please take a minute to rate and review this show!
LINKS:
If you want to hear more about connecting with other moms during the baby/toddler/preschool years, check out EP119 and EP120 with Mary K. Tiller
The blog post I read on today's episode.
This entire season I'm discussing your questions and suggestions from the podcast listener survey. If you have a question or suggestion, send it to me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com. I'll try to work it into the show.
To learn more about me, visit my About Me page
Receive email updates from me!
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Caring for your physical health is one of the best things you can do to lead a well-balanced life. But what is going on when you decide to start cooking healthier meals or begin a workout program and by day-3 you are sitting on the couch eating peanut butter straight out of the jar? Maybe the problem is self-sabotage. Sometimes our sincere efforts completely backfire on us. Today I’m offering you 5 things that undermine your best efforts to live a healthy life and what you can do differently instead. Listen in.
Also, I address a listener's concern about me assigning "moral value" to food.
Thing 1: Depriving yourself of food or food you love
Thing 2: Allowing yourself to be intimidated rather than inspired by other women
Thing 3: Believing Bad Information
Thing 4: Believing Exercise is Torture
Thing 5: Setting setting the wrong kind of goals...specifically, a weight loss goal.
Please take a minute to rate and review this show!
LINKS:
If you want to build a home gym but don't know where to start, check out my post The Essentials of a Home Gym
This entire season I'm discussing your questions and suggestions from the podcast listener survey. If you have a question or suggestion, send it to me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com. I'll try to work it into the show.
To learn more about me, visit my About Me page
Receive email updates from me!
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Today my friend Kirsten Vossler joins me for Part 2 of our discussion. She’s a homeschooling mom of 8 and the creator and host of the podcast Rejoicing in Motherhood. Last week we left a tired Kirsten after she described her typical day right at the point of getting her kids to bed. Today, she drops her pearls of wisdom as she describes how she makes room for her priorities--Spoiler alert: she lets a lot of things go. By the end of this discussion, you will feel completely free to be the mom God has called you to be.
LINKS:
Be sure to listen to Part 1 of our conversation (EP123)
Not Your Mother's Dry Shampoo
Aveda Shampure Dry Shampoo
Kirsten's Podcast: Rejoicing in Motherhood
Follow Kirsten on Instagram
Check out her website at Kirstenvossler.com
This entire season I'm discussing your questions and suggestions from the podcast listener survey. If you have a question or suggestion, send it to me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com. I'll try to work it into the show.
Receive email updates from me!
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Kirsten Vossler is a homeschooling mom of 8 kids ranging in age from 12 years down to 9 months, and the creator and host of the podcast Rejoicing in Motherhood. I asked Kirsten to give us the nitty-gritty of her typical day. In the process of that, she dropped some seriously great tips on everything from healthy breakfast and lunch ideas to creative ways she teaches her kids about the Lord. Whether you’re a homeschooling mom or you just enjoy getting a peek behind the curtain of the large family, you will love this interview with my friend Kirsten. Listen in.
LINKS
Kirsten's Podcast: Rejoicing in Motherhood
Follow Kirsten on Instagram
Check out her website at Kirstenvossler.com
This entire season I'm discussing your questions and suggestions from the podcast listener survey. If you have a question or suggestion, send it to me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com. I'll try to work it into the show.
Receive email updates from me!
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
One of my favorite exercise mantras is “something is better than nothing.” I adopted this phrase as my fitness motivation when I was trying and succeeding to stay physically fit and strong with babies and small children crawling all over me. As a mom with little ones, some days I was able to carve out a full hour of a hardcore work out and other days I just did what I could and moved on. So, fully understanding the challenges associated with trying to exercise while also having small children, I’m giving you 8 things that worked for me. Listen in.
-
Take walks.
-
Go to the gym before everyone wakes up or when someone else can watch the kids.
-
Use home video/streaming workouts.
-
Use home gym equipment.
-
Use the gym childcare.
-
Play them with outside.
-
Dance with your kids.
-
Use nap time (this is the last resort!)
LINKS:
If you want to build a home gym but don't know where to start, check out my post The Essentials of a Home Gym
This entire season I'm discussing your questions and suggestions from the podcast listener survey. If you have a question or suggestion, send it to me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com. I'll try to work it into the show.
To learn more about me, visit my About Me page
Receive email updates from me!
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
What do you do when a child accuses you of letting his younger sibling get away with everything? How do you decide what to cook for dinner each night and actually cook it when you hate meal planning and cooking? What do you do when no one in your house will help you with household chores? These are YOUR questions and today I’m giving you MY answers.
LINKS:
For a more detailed discussion on Meal Planning, listen to EP107
For a more detailed discussion on establishing cleaning and laundry routines, listen to EP106
This entire season I'm discussing your questions and suggestions from the podcast listener survey. If you have a question or suggestion, send it to me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com. I'll try to work it into the show.
To learn more about me, visit my About Me page
Receive email updates from me!
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Last week in EP119 I invited my friend Mary K Tiller to join me, and I played the first half of our conversation. Today in Part 2 we confess we are not "Fun Moms" and we discuss the creative ways we’ve learned to connect with our kids despite this shortcoming. We also talk about loneliness in motherhood and what we do to combat it. Mary K offers some beautiful words of encouragement for all the overwhelmed moms out there, so be sure to listen to the end for that.
This entire season I'm discussing your questions and suggestions from the podcast listener survey. If you have a question or suggestion, send it to me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com. I'll try to work it into the show.
LINKS:
Connect with Mary K. Tiller!!!
Instagram: @MaryKathrynTiller and @newmerciesformoms Facebook.com/newmercies Website: www.MaryKathrynTiller.com Receive email updates from me!
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Today, for the first time ever on the Balanced MomCast, I am inviting a friend to join me. This episode is for all the work-from-home moms. We chat about the perks and challenges of working from home, especially with small children in the mix. We discuss making difficult choices about how to divide our time between work and kids, what we prayerfully neglect for the sake of balance, and how we lean on God to give us wisdom. I think you are gonna love my friend as much as I do. So, Listen in to Part One of my conversation with the delightful and lovely Mary Kathryn Tiller.
This entire season I am discussing your questions and suggestions from the podcast listener survey. If you have a question or suggestion, send it to me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com. I will try to work it into the show.
LINKS:
Connect with Mary K. Tiller!!!
Instagram: @MaryKathrynTiller and @newmerciesformoms Facebook.com/newmercies Website: www.MaryKathrynTiller.com Receive email updates from me!
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Today I’m addressing one listener’s struggle about establishing a Bible reading and prayer life. If you have never established a daily time to connect with God and the thought of starting one feels overwhelming, or if you just want to be more consistent with the practice you already have, I offer encouragement and practical tips for this mom and for you. Listen in.
This entire season I'm discussing your questions and suggestions from the podcast listener survey. If you have a question or suggestion, send it to me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com. I'll try to work it into the show.
LINKS
Receive email updates from me!
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
To download my free Bible Reading Guide, click here.
Atomic Habits, by James Clear (affiliate link)
Forbes article about screen time.
Rescue Time study about average daily phone use.
EP37 Focus on Systems Not Outcomes
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Mom, you are NOT the emotional thermostat of your home. You cannot control the moods and attitudes of your children or your spouse. But you CAN create an environment where peace thrives. Today we look at the book of Proverbs and discuss four practical things you can do to facilitate a peaceful home environment:
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Be Patient: Prov 16:32
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Be Proactive: Prov 17:14
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Be Gentle: Prov 15:1
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Light up Your Face: Prov 16:15
This entire season I'm discussing your questions and suggestions from the podcast listener survey. If you have a question or suggestion, send it to me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com. I'll try to work it into the show.
LINKS
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
My kids are just like your kids. If I give them the choice between cookies and fruit for dessert, they will choose the cookies. That's why I am deliberate and strategic to train them to choose healthy food when faced with a choice. Today, as part of my Summer Series Replay, I'm replaying an episode that originally aired in May 2019, where I offered 22 strategies I use in my own home to teach my kids to love healthy food. Mix and match as you see fit.
- Do it yourself: The best way to teach your kids how to choose healthy food is to live by example.
- Don’t keep junk in the house, including soda—if you don’t buy it, it won’t be there to eat. Period.
- If your child asks for a snack, tell them they need to eat a fruit or veggie first. If it’s close to dinner, serve the fruit or veggie portion of the dinner as the snack.
- Make dessert something special—not something you do nightly. Take them out for ice cream after their baseball game. Bake cookies on Saturday. Go out for a shake when grade cards come out.
- Let them choose between soda or dessert at a restaurant, but not both.
- Pack school lunches most days.
- When offering new healthy food, tell them “You don’t need to taste it, just let it sit on your plate.”
- Offer money to taste a new food. Yep. I have paid my kids a quarter or a dollar to taste something and I'm not ashamed.
- Serve a variety of fruits and vegetables at every meal and make them pick two.
- Buy the healthy food they like.
- Never say no to seconds on veggies.
- Don’t push meat and dairy.
- Teach your kids to read labels.
- Teach them to be wise about advertising.
- Serve smoothies.
- Let them order off the adult menu.
- Don’t let them order the fries as their side—make them get a fruit or veggie instead.
- Make it your goal in life to get your kid to love salad.
- Serve water with every meal.
- Reserve special junk food for birthdays, vacations, and holidays.
- Make your home a healthy food zone.
- Connect the dots for them for how healthy food and junk affects how they feel.
Receive email updates from me!
Power of a Praying Parent, by Stormie Omartian (affiliate link)
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Depression affects 300 million people worldwide, and I am one of them. The good news is, depression is entirely treatable and almost always, preventable. If you have mild depression and anxiety and want to explore some options outside of prescription medication, I'm giving you the exact things I do on a daily basis that keep depression and anxiety at bay.
This is part of my Summer Series Replay and originally aired September 2019 as part of a 6-part series on depression and anxiety. (EP15-EP20)
EP 16: This is where I tell my story of depression
Depression DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria The DSM-5 outlines the following criterion to make a diagnosis of depression. The individual must be experiencing five or more symptoms during the same 2-week period and at least one of the symptoms should be either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.
- Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.
- Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day.
- Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
- A slowing down of thought and a reduction of physical movement (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
- Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day.
- Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day.
- Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.
Lost Connections: Why You’re Depressed and How to Find Hope, by Johann Hari (affiliate link)
To read the list of things I do in blog post form, you can find a post I wrote on this a few years ago here.
Here is the blog post where I tell you all about Passion Flower and Valerian Root.
You can get them on Amazon too (affiliate links):
Passion Flower
Valerian Root
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
If you're a mom drowning in your responsibilities, I'm here to throw you a lifeline. As part of my Summer Series Replay, I'm going back to August 2019 (EP15) where I offered 7 things that will give you immediate relief from the pressure of "too much."
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Do a brain dump
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Cancel/quit something
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Clean your kitchen
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10 minutes/10 things
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Power Hour
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Silence your phone
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Schedule downtime
To get to the root of your overwhelm, get Finding Your Balance, an 11-Lesson Bible Study.
After you "brain dump" you'll want to sort out all that stuff. Learn all about my list-keeping system in EP5: My #1 Tool For Helping Me Live Out My Priorities
email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Receive email updates from me!
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Jesus said 8 times (!) in John 15 that He wants us to bear fruit. But what does that even mean? In EP112 we said that abiding is all the stuff that no one sees. Well, fruit is the stuff EVERYONE sees (and feels, and tastes, and smells) coming from you.
Welcome to my Summer Replay Series! I'm rerunning a series that first aired in Feb-March 2020 on Abiding in Christ (John 15). This replay series begins with EP108 and this is Part 6--the final episode in the Abide series. Be sure to go back and listen from the beginning.
The main point: Real fruit is the natural and inevitable outgrowth of a branch that is abiding in the Vine and is regularly and properly pruned by The Vinedresser.
Fake Fruit:
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Financial or Worldly Success
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Flashy Ministry, Big Following, Popularity
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Religiously following all the laws and rules of your Christian denomination
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Perpetual self-improvement
*We should not become professional fruit inspectors except:
- when we feed on other people's spiritual fruit or
- PUT OUR CHILDREN UNDER THE CARE OF SOMEONE. Then get all up in that fruit and fully inspect it!
Real Fruit:
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Leading people to Christ
-
Love
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Good Works
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Virtues of Character
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Hearing God's voice
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Answered prayer
Don't focus on the fruit. Focus on ABIDING in Christ. Keep that connection intact and free-flowing. Submit to the pruning. The fruit WILL come.
Scriptures I reference in this episode:
Matthew 23:27-28
Matthew 12:33
John 15:1-17
John 13:34-35
Ephesians 2:10
James2:14-16
Colossians 1:9-12
Galatians 5:22-23
Ephesians 5:8-11
Philippians 1:9-11
Jeremiah 17:7-8
I John:3-10
II Thes 1:3
LINKS
I bought my "abide" bracelet here.
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Welcome to a very frank yet loving discussion about what it really means to abide in Christ. At the risk of sounding completely over the top, studying, understanding, and then applying these truths has impacted every single area of my life. My heart is to encourage and equip you to live a fruitful life. So, if you’re ready for some tough love on how to become a branch in Christ that bears much fruit, then listen in.
This is Part 5 of our series called Abide--a series originally airing in March 2020, just before the world shut down. To listen from the beginning, go back to EP108 (or EP61 when it originally aired in March 2020).
Jesus uses the word "abide" 10 times in our passage to describe the kind of relationship He wants to have with you.
Focus your attention on the connection between you (the branch) and the Vine.
Three things that the word "abide" implies:
-
Abiding takes time.
-
Abiding involves a quality relationship.
-
Abiding is invisible to the world.
How to abide in Christ in real life (how to enlarge the connection between you and Jesus):
- Spiritual disciplines: prayer, fasting, Bible reading, Bible study, meditating on Scripture, solitude, worship, confession of sin, and rest.
Make time with God your top priority, every single day, for private extended prayer and Bible study time. Stop making excuses. It's not too hard.
-
Control your thoughts. Take them captive to make them obedient to Christ.
-
Examine your motives until your reason for everything is to love God, love people, advance God's kingdom and God's purposes, and be obedient to Him.
-
Trust God when things don't go as planned.
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Love others. Abiding in Christ and loving others are inseparable.
-
Obey God.
Abide = Home
Scriptures I reference in this episode:
John 15:1-17 NASB and MSG
2 Corinthians 10:5
I John 4:16
I John 5:2-3
John 8:31
2 John 9
James 1:25
I John 3:24
John 14:23
Pruning is God's part.
Abiding is our part.
Fruit is the result of an abiding branch that is regularly and properly pruned.
LINKS
I bought my "abide" bracelet here.
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
What does it mean when Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing"?
- Who are these people?
- Are they really doing nothing?
- Am I one of these people?
- Are you one of these people?
Welcome to my Summer Replay Series! I'm rerunning a series that first aired in Feb-March 2020 on Abiding in Christ (John 15). This replay series begins with EP108 and this is Part 4. Be sure to go back and listen from the beginning.
Scriptures we Read in This Episode:
John 15:1-17
Matthew 15:1-20
Matthew 7:15-27
I Corinthians 13:1-3
Truths about abiding in Christ:
- God wants your heart
- God wants you to obey his word
- God wants you to love
- God wants you to focus on abiding, not on bearing fruit
What abiding in Christ is NOT:
- doing more stuff
- trying harder
- void of activity or effort
Apart from Christ, you can do nothing of eternal value
Apart from Christ means
- your heart does not belong to Jesus, though you say all the right things
- you hear the word of God but don't obey it
- you do the right things, but you do it without love for God or others
LINKS
I bought my "abide" bracelet here.
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Motherhood often feels like loss: Loss of your schedule, loss of control, loss of yourself. This can be very confusing because, as a Christian, you KNOW God has called you to live an abundant life! So, what's up with this? Are you doing something wrong? Or are you doing something right?
(spoiler: you're doing something right!)
Welcome to my Summer Replay Series! I'm rerunning a series that first aired in Feb-March 2020 on Abiding in Christ (John 15). In EP108 I introduced you to the series and in EP109 I introduced you to the Cast of Characters and the 5 Branches--specifically the branch in Christ that does not bear fruit. Today we are talking about pruning. If you are experiencing loss or pain in life, this may be why. Listen in.
Today, we continue our Abide series based on John 15:1-17
The main points we cover:
-
Outside of harvesting itself, pruning is the single most important task for ensuring a plentiful harvest
-
The Vinedresser prunes back
-
aggressive growth
- pinching
- topping
- thinning
- dead and dying leaves and branches
-
suckers and shoots from the True Vine
-
Pruning is individual and personal
LINKS
6 Strategies for Staying Calm When Your Child is Freaking Out
I bought my "abide" bracelet here.
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Welcome to my Summer Replay Series! I'm rerunning a series that first aired in Feb-March 2020 on Abiding in Christ (John 15). In EP108 I introduced you to the series If you haven't listened to that episode yet, do that first! Today I will introduce you to the Cast of Characters and the 5 Branches, but we will discuss in detail the branch in Christ that does not bear fruit. What is it? How does it get that way? What happens to it?
John 15:1-6
Cast of Characters:
- Jesus is the Vine
2 The Father is the Vinedresser/Gardener
-
We are the Branches
-
Branch in Christ that does not bear fruit
- Branch in Christ that bears fruit
- Branch in Christ that bears more fruit
- Branch in Christ that bears much fruit
- Branch not in Christ
What does the Vinedresser do to the branch in Christ that does not bear fruit? He picks it up, cleans it off, and ties it up on a trellis or a fence
- for air circulation
- for exposure to sun
- for full access
Why does a branch not produce fruit?
- Not connected to the Vine--we will talk about this one in a later episode
- Young branch--The Father just lets you grow (The parable in Luke 13:5-9)
- Disease or mites--The Father will try to remove the disease (sin) from you through discipline. See Deut 8:5, Hebrews 12, Rom 8:28
- Improper pruning--we will talk about this one in EP63
NOT ALL PAIN IS DISCIPLINE! Sometimes pain and suffering is because of someone else's sin! Abuse is NEVER discipline.
LINKS
6 Strategies for Staying Calm When Your Child is Freaking Out
I bought my "abide" bracelet here.
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is available on Amazon for $19.99
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
It’s summer! And I’m stepping away from the podcast for a few weeks to rest and enjoy my family. But while I’m gone, I’m replaying some of my favorite episodes that you may have missed or you may want to hear again.
This is the first episode of the series I did on Abiding in Christ based on John 15. This series originally aired in February and March of 2020, literally right before the global pandemic hit and our world went on lockdown. This message changed my life completely. It's probably the most important series I've ever taught.
In 2017, in the midst of the most exhausting season of parenting, God led me to a portion of scripture that changed the way I think, the way I act, the way I pray, and the way I parent. In fact, I cannot think of a single area of my life that has not been transformed by this message. Today, I'm introducing a series that has the potential to transform you as well.
Five Reasons You Need This Series
-
So that in times of doubt, you will believe that Jesus is the Christ (John 20:31)
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So that in times of death, you will have life. (John 20:31)
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So that in times of trouble, you will have peace. (John 16:33)
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So that in times of persecution, you will not fall away (John 16:1)
-
So that in times of sadness, discouragement, or disillusionment, you will have joy. (John 15:11)
LINKS
I bought my "abide" bracelet here.
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? on Amazon for $19.99
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer active on social media.
Your family eats every day, several times a day, whether you like it or not. Today I share my philosophy on cooking and a simple 4-step process for easy meal-planning. This is the last episode in our series on organization. Listen in.
The benefits of meal-planning:
- You will serve more nutritious meals--because when you’re cooking on the fly you are much more prone to just grab drive-through food or eat something processed.
- You will save money--shopping off a meal plan, especially if you are mindful to incorporate food on sale and produce in season, is always less expensive than running into the store at 4 pm and grabbing stuff quickly off the end caps of the grocery store aisle. And definitely cheaper than ordering last-minute take-out.
- You will save time--a little planning on the front end means better use of your time overall.
- You will waste less food--when you effectively meal plan you will only buy produce you need and you can proactively incorporate leftovers into meals throughout the week.
Step 1: Look at your whole week and figure out what you have going on each evening.
Step 2: Write out seven dinners at the top of the grocery list
Step 3: Create a grocery list directly from that list of meals
Step 4: Assign each day a meal, but wait until the night before.
More Tips:
-
Plan dinners only.
-
Eat the same things for breakfast and lunch until you get sick of it.
-
Serve a salad every night as your side
-
Cook enough for 2-3 days and serve it different ways.
-
Plan for "easy nights"
-
Have a regular "clean out the fridge" night.
-
Use that crockpot!
LINKS
For a list of plant-based meal ideas, click here
For great crockpot recipes, check out my friend Stephanie's blog!
Looking for a simple vinaigrette for your nightly salad? Here’s mine
Part of this episode was taken from a blog post I wrote back in 2012. If you’d like to read that, it’s here.
Links from previous episodes in this series:
(Some of these are affiliate links. This means that if you click the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.)
Divided Laundry Hamper
Single Laundry Hamper
Mrs. Meyers Cleaning Products
Method Cleaning Products
Colorful Storage Bins for Kids' Rooms
Storage Bins for Kids' Paper and Projects
Underbed Storage
3-Hole Punch
I love these paper trays!
Deco Brothers 3-Tier Expandable Cabinet Shelves
These Chalkboard Sticker Labels are so cute!
Simple Affordable Folding Step Stool
Set of 60 White Plastic Hangers (my favorite kind)
Pack of Six Pretty Polkadot 3 Ring Binders
Pack of 4 Pretty Solid-Colored 3 Ring Binders
Kathy Lipp’s Clutter-Free Academy
Becoming Minimalist Website
40 Bags in 40 Day Decluttering Challenge
The More of Less, by Joshua Becker
The Minimalist Home, by Joshua Becker
Clutter-Free with Kids, by Joshua Becker
Cozy Minimalist Home, by Myquillyn Smith
If you have tried any of these tips, tell me about it! Shoot me an email at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? (my latest book)
Finding Your Balance (my first book)
Want to lead a group through either of these Bible studies? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
To stay in the loop about everything, be sure to be on my email list.
Follow me on Pinterest
We are in a mini series about organization. So far we’ve talked about organizing our time, decluttering our unwanted items, and organizing our things in a way that makes sense to us and is also easy to maintain. Today, we are zeroing in on creating simple and sustainable systems to keep our homes running smoothly. Think laundry and housekeeping.
Treat your work at home with the same diligence, respect, and structure as you do your work outside the home.
Laundry
Laundry Day: Do all your laundry in one day--washed, dried, and put away. The keys to success:
Choose a day you are home all day, listen for the timer so you keep things moving along, buy enough socks and underwear to last a whole week.
Laundry Days: Wash and dry on one day. Fold and put away on the next day. Divorce yourself from laundry for the rest of the week.
Laundry Life: Do a little laundry every day.
Teach kids to help.
Take dress clothes to the cleaners.
House Cleaning
There is NO SHAME in hiring someone to help you clean!
A clean house is NOT A SIGN OF A WASTED LIFE!
-
Touch every room for 10 minutes a day.
-
Clean by category.
-
Have one cleaning day.
-
Create a chart/spreadsheet for a cleaning schedule.
Tips:
Decide upfront what areas you will focus on and what areas you can let go of.
Decide how clean you need your house to be and what makes sense based on your time and the ages and number of kids.
Make your job as pleasant as possible by getting cleaning products that smell good and cleaning equipment that works well.
Make your job as effortless as possible by stocking every bathroom with cleaning supplies.
Take advantage of bathtime and the fact that you are already on your knees and do a quick nightly wipe down of the kids’ bathroom.
Do a nightly tidying up session with your kids.
Pair your cleaning time with something else you really enjoy and/or find valuable, like music, podcasts, or prayer.
LINKS
(Some of these are affiliate links. This means that if you click the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.)
Divided Laundry Hamper
Single Laundry Hamper
Mrs. Meyers Cleaning Products
Method Cleaning Products
The rest of these I mention in other episodes in this series:
Colorful Storage Bins for Kids' Rooms
Storage Bins for Kids' Paper and Projects
Underbed Storage
3-Hole Punch
I love these paper trays!
Deco Brothers 3-Tier Expandable Cabinet Shelves
These Chalkboard Sticker Labels are so cute!
Simple Affordable Folding Step Stool
Set of 60 White Plastic Hangers (my favorite kind)
Pack of Six Pretty Polkadot 3 Ring Binders
Pack of 4 Pretty Solid-Colored 3 Ring Binders
Kathy Lipp’s Clutter-Free Academy
Becoming Minimalist Website
40 Bags in 40 Day Decluttering Challenge
The More of Less, by Joshua Becker
The Minimalist Home, by Joshua Becker
Clutter-Free with Kids, by Joshua Becker
Cozy Minimalist Home, by Myquillyn Smith
If you have tried any of these tips, tell me about it! Shoot me an email at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? (my latest book)
Finding Your Balance (my first book)
Want to lead a group through either of these Bible studies? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
To stay in the loop about everything, be sure to be on my email list.
Follow me on Pinterest
We are in a mini-series about organization. Last week I talked about the necessary act of decluttering. Today I’ll give you some tips about how to organize your things in your home. Listen in.
As you organize, here are your goals:
Goal 1: Can I find and access what I need when I need it?
Goal 2: Can I easily maintain this system?
The areas we are going to talk about today are
Toys:
Focus your organization efforts on your kids’ favorite things. Use simple timeless things like mason jars, neutral bookshelves, small storage bins, sticker labels, and sharpies so they can find what they want and also easily clean up by themselves.
Kitchen: store your items in the way that you use them and that makes the most sense to you. And keep a folding step stool somewhere near your kitchen if you have high shelves or you’re short, like me.
Closets: Group your clothes in your closet by category and color and get matching hangers if you can. Don’t overstuff your drawers and store your workout clothes in complete outfits like you’re in preschool.
Books: Only keep books you love, will re-read, or will reference again. Think of books as home decor. Arrange them on your shelves by color and use them in small stacks in vignettes.
Paper: Keep as little paper as possible. Use binders or hanging file folders for paper you need to keep. Use tabbed file folders as a temporary holding place for paper you need to process.
Keepsakes: If you have room for it, then don't stress about it. Keep it.
LINKS:
(contains affiliate links...which means if you click on the link and buy something, I receive a small commission for sending you there at no additional cost to you.)
Colorful Storage Bins for Kids' Rooms
Storage Bins for Kids' Paper and Projects
Underbed Storage
3-Hole Punch
I love these paper trays!
Deco Brothers 3-Tier Expandable Cabinet Shelves
These Chalkboard Sticker Labels are so cute!
Simple Affordable Folding Step Stool
Set of 60 White Plastic Hangers (my favorite kind)
Pack of Six Pretty Polkadot 3 Ring Binders
Pack of 4 Pretty Solid-Colored 3 Ring Binders
Kathy Lipp’s Clutter-Free Academy
Becoming Minimalist Website
40 Bags in 40 Day Decluttering Challenge
The More of Less, by Joshua Becker
The Minimalist Home, by Joshua Becker
Clutter-Free with Kids, by Joshua Becker
Cozy Minimalist Home, by Myquillyn Smith
(the books are all Amazon affiliate links)
If you have tried any of these tips, tell me about it! Shoot me an email at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? (my latest book)
Finding Your Balance (my first book)
Want to lead a group through either of these Bible studies? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
To stay in the loop about everything, be sure to be on my email list.
Follow me on Pinterest
The first rule of home organization: Do not organize your clutter!
Before you can organize your home, you need to purge it of things you don't love, don't use, and don't have space to store. In this episode, I take you through a simple decluttering process and give you 10 questions to ask yourself as you're sorting to decide what to keep.
10 Questions:
Do I love this?
Do I use this?
Do I have room for this?
Do I really need multiple versions of this?
Do I feel beautiful in this?
Is it comfortable?
Do I want to keep cleaning this/maintaining this/storing this?
Am I keeping this out of sheer obligation?
If I didn’t have this now, would I buy it?
Is it available online?
LINKS
21 Surprising Statistics About How Much Suff We Actually Own, by Joshua Becker
Kathy Lipp’s Clutter-Free Academy
Becoming Minimalist Website
40 Bags in 40 Day Decluttering Challenge
The More of Less, by Joshua Becker
The Minimalist Home, by Joshua Becker
Clutter-Free with Kids, by Joshua Becker
Cozy Minimalist Home, by Myquillyn Smith
(the books are all Amazon affiliate links)
If you have a specific organization question for me, shoot me an email at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? (my latest book)
Finding Your Balance (my first book)
Want to lead a group through either of these Bible studies? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
To stay in the loop about everything, be sure to be on my email list.
Follow me on Pinterest
If one thing can make us feel immediately frazzled, it’s chaos. Whether it be chaos on our calendar or chaos in our closets, chaos makes us feel completely out of control. One of the best ways to address the chaos in our lives is with some good old-fashioned organization. Simply knowing how the pieces of our lives fit together gives us clarity and focus. So, today, I’m jumping in to discuss one of your biggest cries for help: “Sandy, Help me get organized!”
My Best Tools for Time Management:
-
Keep an updated calendar.
-
Keep a monthly mind-dump master to-do list.
-
Keep a daily to-do list.
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Establish routines for your top priorities.
-
Step One: determine what to let go of and what you want to prioritize.
- Step Two: pair one task (the most important one!) next to waking, going to bed, or eating.
- Step Three: Add your next highest priority to your schedule by pairing it to that new routine or to waking, going to bed, or eating.
- Repeat
- Repeat
- Repeat
Final Tips:
-
Match your work with the part of the day that fits it best.
-
Keep a current grocery list.
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Say no to most things.
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Get a good night’s sleep.
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Take a weekly sabbath.
-
Keep your systems as SIMPLE as possible!!!!
LINKS
The 3-ring binder I use (affiliate link)
The pretty tabs I use (affiliate link)
My template for my daily To-Day List
Better Than Before, by Gretchen Rubin (affiliate link)
Atomic Habits, by James Clear (affiliate link)
For more on To-Do Lists, listen to EP4
For more on Routines, listen to EP7
For more on Sabbath, listen to EP96
Have a question about how to stay organized? Email me and I will either answer your question privately or address it on the podcast! thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? (my latest book)
Finding Your Balance (my first book)
Want to lead a group through either of these Bible studies? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
To stay in the loop about everything, be sure to be on my email list.
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer on Social Media.
In Scripture, life is depicted as a race. We are told to throw off everything that hinders our running. But how do you know if something you are carrying is hindering or helping? After all, what hinders me may be helping you. What helped you in the past may be weighing you down now. It can be tricky to decide what to set down. Today I’m offering five questions we can ask ourselves to help us determine if something we are carrying is a weight that hinders or helps.
5 Questions as You Consider a Weight:
- Does it keep me safe?
- Does it fuel or replenish me?
- Does it help me map out my course or keep me on track?
- Does it make my race more comfortable?
- How is it affecting my overall health and performance?
LINKS:
PLEASE TAKE THE SURVEY!!! AND BE ENTERED TO WIN A $100 AMAZON GIFT CARD!
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? (my latest book)
Finding Your Balance (my first book)
Want to lead a group through either of these Bible studies? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
To stay in the loop about everything, be sure to be on my email list.
Have a question or comment? email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer on Social Media.
In Scripture, life is depicted as a race. How we choose to run determines our quality of life, and whom or what we choose to run toward determines our peace and joy. ~Cynthian Heald
Are you weary? Do you feel like life is harder than it’s supposed to be? Does it seem like everything is a constant uphill battle? Maybe it’s because you’re carrying extra weight. Today I’m going to share 3 weights you may be carrying that you didn’t even realize you picked up along the way. And hopefully, by the end of this episode, you’ll feel a little bit lighter. Listen in.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NLT)
Running is hard. Even on the best day, running makes us tired, thirsty, and sore. But sometimes we make our run harder than it should be.
Do you have pockets on your running gear that you don't even know you had? What have you stuffed in there that's weighing you down?
-
Self-imposed expectations
-
Misplaced guilt
-
Unforgivness/Record of wrongs
LINKS:
PLEASE TAKE THE SURVEY!!! AND BE ENTERED TO WIN A $100 AMAZON GIFT CARD!
My Vow to Stop Apologizing (the blog post I read during this episode)
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? (my latest book)
Finding Your Balance (my first book)
Want to lead a group through either of these Bible studies? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
To stay in the loop about everything, be sure to be on my email list.
Have a question or comment? email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer on Social Media.
Today we celebrate our 100th episode. And I couldn’t think of a better thing to do than turn the focus back on you--my listeners. I’ve asked a few of my mom friends to offer a word of encouragement to the overwhelmed moms who listen to the podcast. If you’re feeling a little frazzled today, I want you to sit back, put up your feet, and savor the life-giving words that I’m about to share with you. These are moms blessing moms. And it’s a beautiful thing.
LINKS:
For a full transcript, click here
Truth Be Told, by Matthew West
Look Up Child, Lauren Daigle
Purchase Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? On Amazon
Want to lead a group through this Bible study? Grab a copy of my free Leader Guide!
To stay in the loop about everything, be sure to be on my email list.
Have a question or comment? email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer on Social Media.
I’ve mentioned a few times recently that I have been eating mostly a whole foods plant-based diet. And some of you have had questions about that like, “Why are you doing that?” and “What do you mean, you only eat plants?" and "Is that the same thing as Vegan?” and “Where do you get your protein?” and “How do you do this with kids?” So, today I’m answering your most frequently asked questions about eating a whole food plant-based diet. Listen in.
-
Why are you eating this way?
-
What do you eat?
-
Isn't it hard to eat out?
-
How do you get your protein?
-
How do you do this with kids? Is everyone on board?
-
Can you give me a few meal ideas?
LINKS
Download the FREE resource: Easy Plant-Based Meal Ideas
The Game Changers--This is the movie trailer. You can find the movie on Netflix
Plant-Strong Podcast--So many great guests on this podcast!
Dr. Michael Greger and Nutritionfacts.org (Subscribe to his newsletter! He is committed to unpacking all the science and donates all his profits to charity.
Rich Roll Podcast
Blue Zones Cookbook (affiliate link)
Minimalist Baker (wonderful and delicious recipes)
Tabitha Brown (Instagram)
Rouxbe Cooking School (this is the online school I attend. Watch for deals on pricing! I got mine at 40% off!)
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? (my latest book)
Finding Your Balance (my first book)
Want to lead a group through either of these Bible studies? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
To stay in the loop about everything, be sure to be on my email list.
Have a question or comment? email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer on Social Media.
One of the most challenging aspects of being a Christian mom is finding ways to be alone to pray or read or study the Bible (or just think or be quiet!) while you are surrounded by kids. If your quiet time with the Lord is limited or non-existent, I have three words of encouragement and four things to try.
Words of Encouragement:
- Don’t feel guilt or shame if you crave solitude.
- Don’t feel guilt or shame if you are struggling to carve out a consistent time--especially if you have babies or very small children at home.
and - I promise it gets easier.
Suggestions of Things You Can Try:
- Be diligent about it, understanding that you are laying a firm foundation for your future.
- Be willing to shift as they grow.
- Look for opportunities to be quiet in unconventional places and during unconventional times.
- And be willing to find your solitude while the rest of the house is asleep.
PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO RATE AND REVIEW THIS PODCAST! THANK YOU!!!
LINKS!
Purchase Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? On Amazon
Want to lead a group through this Bible study? Grab a copy of my free Leader Guide!
To stay in the loop about everything, be sure to be on my email list.
Have a question or comment? email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Follow me on Pinterest
I am no longer on Social Media.
If you are a mom in the year 2021, you are probably on social media. And if you are a mom on social media, you have probably at some point considered taking a social media break, drawing better boundaries around your time there, or leaving social media altogether. Me too. Today I’m talking about my decision to leave social media and offering some questions to ask yourself in your own decisions about managing your social media in your life. Listen in.
Three Quick Things Before I Tell You My Reasons:
-
I am not mad at anyone and I don't have a dramatic exit story.
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I don't think everyone should leave social media and I'm not judging you if you stay.
-
I reserve the right to change my mind because I'm trying to follow God's leading. I may have completely missed it. Or He may lead me back.
Why I'm leaving:
-
The time factor.
-
I want to model a vibrant authentic life for my kids apart from social media.
-
Mental clarity.
-
Poor ROI for my business. All my personal stuff is mixed in with business stuff.
-
Hanging out on social media is inconsistent with my message of balance, simplicity, and living a quiet life.
-
Facebook is a minefield. People have lost their ever-loving minds. I feel gross when I'm there.
-
I want to prove that I don’t have to maintain a social media presence and I can still write and podcast and share my work, and also stay in contact with people I love. Also, social media is designed to be highly addictive. I don't want to be ruled by or addicted to anything apart from Christ.
Questions to ask yourself:
Do you feel like your balance has been consistently derailed by busyness, people-pleasing, or comparison? What role do you suspect social media has played in that?
Do you think that eliminating social media will help you overcome those barriers or does it help you stay well-balanced?
How does your time on social media make you feel?
What would you lose if you left? This is a real consideration and I think it’s important to name the things.
Are there ways to communicate with people you currently follow that do not involve social media? For example, for friends and family can you text, email, or call them? If it’s someone you just enjoy following like an author or musician or public figure--do they have an email list you can subscribe to or a website you can visit? Have they written a book you can read? Do they have a podcast you can listen to?
How much time do you currently spend on social media? Have you ever tracked your average daily time?
What would you do with that time if you weren’t on social media?
How would your relationships with your closest people change if you left social media? Would you lose track of them? Or would you have more time to be with them and be able to love them better? Maybe a mixture of both?
Have you ever taken an extended break from social media? Like a month or longer? How did it go? What did you learn about yourself? How did you feel when it was time to log back on or reinstall that app on your phone? Were you excited or did you feel gross inside?
Do you wish you could get off, but you feel trapped? If so, what is keeping you there?
Finally, and most importantly, what do you sense God saying to you right now?
PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO RATE AND REVIEW THIS PODCAST! THANK YOU!!!
LINKS!
My Facebook post announcing my 1-year hiatus (this may go away at some point, so I'm sorry if this is a dead link for you.)
EP85 What I Learned from Taking a Year Off Social Media
Purchase Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? On Amazon
Work through this process of overcoming the Barriers to Balance in a Bible Study Workbook format: Purchase Finding Your Balance on Amazon
Want to lead a group through either of these Bible studies? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
To stay in the loop about everything, be sure to be on my email list.
Have a question or comment? email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
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I am no longer on Social Media.
This is our 5th and final episode on the Barrier of Busyness. Today we are talking about the importance of weekly rest: what Sabbath means and how to do it. If you are a mom, you DO actually get a day off. Let me show you how.
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Sabbath means literally "Stop, rest." God introduced a rhythm of life when He worked for 6 days and rested on the 7th. It is one of the 10 commandments (Ex 20 and Deut 5). It's a gift. We are FREE to rest.
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Suggestions for how to do this as a mom
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Prepare.
- Pick a day that works for you.
- Stop working.
- Rest your body.
- Rest your mind.
- Rest your soul.
- Replenish your soul.
- Practice.
LINKS
Joby Martin from Church of Eleven22 teaches on Sabbath: How to Christmas -- Stop!
The Rest of God; Restoring Your Soul by Restoring the Sabbath, by Mark Buchannan.
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, by John Mark Comer
Here, Now, by Kate Merrick.
(All book links are affiliate links. I receive a small commission from Amazon if you purchase through this link at no additional cost to you.)
John Mark Comer and Jefferson Bethke podcast: Fight Hustle, End Hurry. It’s only 10 episodes long, you can listen in a one-day binge.
If you missed any part of this series:
Perfection and People-Pleasing EP70-EP73
Comparison and Busyness EP90-EP96
PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO RATE AND REVIEW THIS PODCAST! THANK YOU!!!
Purchase Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? On Amazon
Work through this process of overcoming the Barriers to Balance in a Bible Study Workbook format: Purchase Finding Your Balance on Amazon
Want to lead a group through either of these Bible studies? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
To stay in the loop about everything, be sure to be on my email list.
Have a question or comment? email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
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I am no longer on Social Media...more on that soon!
Last week I led you through 4 steps to reorder your overly busy life and today I’m giving you 6 more. Grab a pen, grab some paper, grab your calendar, because we are ruthlessly eliminating hurry from our lives.
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Understand the full extent of a commitment before you say yes
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Get help
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Simplify
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Set goals
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Mind Your own business
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Make rest a priority
LINKS
Take the fun Quiz!!!
Listen to the whole series!
Perfection and People-Pleasing EP70-EP73
Comparison and Busyness EP90-EP93
PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO RATE AND REVIEW THIS PODCAST! THANK YOU!!!
Purchase Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? On Amazon
Work through this process in a Bible Study Workbook format: Purchase Finding Your Balance on Amazon
Want to lead a group through either of these Bible studies? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
To stay in the loop about everything, be sure to be on my email list.
Have a question or comment? email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
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We’ve spent the last 2 weeks unpacking the problem with your overly busy life. And now we are going to do something about it. Grab a pen, grab some paper, grab your calendar, and buckle in, because I am going to take you through a process to reorder your life, with action steps.
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Go on a fast
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Remember your priorities
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Know your gifts and talents
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Understand your season
LINKS
Take the fun Quiz!!!
Listen to the whole series!
Perfection and People-Pleasing EP70-EP73
Comparison and Busyness EP90-EP95
PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO RATE AND REVIEW THIS PODCAST! THANK YOU!!!
Purchase Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? On Amazon
Work through this process in a Bible Study Workbook format: Purchase Finding Your Balance on Amazon
Want to lead a group through either of these Bible studies? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
To stay in the loop about everything, be sure to be on my email list.
Have a question or comment? email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
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Take the quiz and find out the roots of your busyness problem
Last week we introduced the 4th and final Barrier to Balance known as Busyness. I shared with you 6 reasons busyness is a bad idea and I encouraged you to ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. Today I’m continuing the discussion by helping you get to the root of your busyness. As John Ortberg says, hurry isn’t just a disordered schedule, it’s a disordered heart. So let’s get our hearts in order.
Different Kinds of Busy People
!. Poor Time-Manager--chicken with her head cut off. She is not actually over-committed. Her problem is managing her current commitments and responsibilities. It may be a result of one of the following.
- The Perplexed
- She doesn't know her priorities
- She lacks self-discipline--she may be getting sucked into the phone/social media vortex
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The Perfectionist-stuck in details.
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The Over-Committed--truly has too much on her plate because of one of the following:
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The People Pleaser--says yes to everything
- The Defender--feels trapped. Will defend each and every thing on her schedule
- Reflector--Trapped by Comparison trying to keep up with everyone else. Reflects what she sees other people doing.
- The Achiever--Doesn't see the value of a non-busy life
Before we try to break down this barrier, keep this in mind:
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The Biblical response to Busyness is not to say, "I will do nothing." Work is good. God calls us to serve and be active.
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This is hard work--it's quite complicated because we are deeply connected to others.
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Staying unbusy requires constant maintenance, just like a living and thriving garden.
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We all have a different busy threshold, so don't look around at anyone else's schedule.
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Your root issue will determine your remedy.
LINKS
Take the fun Quiz!!!
Listen to the whole series!
Perfection and People-Pleasing EP70-EP73
Comparison and Busyness EP90-EP92
PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO RATE AND REVIEW THIS PODCAST! THANK YOU!!!
Purchase Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? On Amazon
Work through this process in a Bible Study Workbook format: Purchase Finding Your Balance on Amazon
Want to lead a group through either of these Bible studies? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
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Have a question or comment? email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
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Other than complete disconnection from God, nothing will hinder our ability to stay balanced more profoundly or more consistently than being overly busy. It’s one of the enemy’s most brilliant tactics. Over-commitment—even with good, Christian things—causes fatigue, resentment, bitterness, and ineffectiveness in all things. If you’ve been following along with my series on Balance Barriers, this is the 4th and final one. It’s the Barrier of Busyness.
Luke 10:38-42 The story of Mary and Martha
1.Busyness affects our heart
2.Busyness makes it difficult to love people
3.Busyness makes us less productive and less effective
4.Busyness makes us sick
5.Busyness makes us unavailable to people
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity (kairos), because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16
5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity (kairos). 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:5-6
- Busyness makes us unavailable to God
LINKS
PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO RATE AND REVIEW THIS PODCAST! THANK YOU!!!
Purchase Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? On Amazon
Purchase Finding Your Balance on Amazon
Want to lead a group through either of these Bible studies? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
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Have a question or comment? email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
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Last week in EP90 I introduced the one balance barrier that trips up every woman I know: The Comparison Trap. I talked about the history of it (which literally begins with Cain and Abel, on page 3 of my Bible) and the problem with it. Today, I talk about what we can do about it. If you feel trapped by comparison to other women, I am giving you 5 things you can do about it.
- Recognize that this is an internal problem with you, not with them.
- Consider not just the behavior, but the roots.
- Keep your focus on your own lane, looking straight ahead to Jesus.
- Realize you are not supposed to be like her and she’s not supposed to be like you.
- Speak life to yourself and to her.
LINKS
Purchase Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? On Amazon
Purchase Finding Your Balance on Amazon
Want to lead a group through either of these Bible studies? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
To stay in the loop about everything, be sure to be on my email list.
Have a question or comment? email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
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Way back in the spring of 2020 I started a series on the Barriers to Balance. We covered two of them: Perfectionism and People Pleasing (EP70-EP73). And then suddenly I found out we were moving and then I took a summer break and then I launched my new book. And now finally we are continuing with that series, nine months later. Today, we are introducing the one barrier that trips up every woman I know: The Comparison Trap. If you a woman, this is for you.
In this episode we discuss
- the history of the Comparison Trap
- the Comparison Trap today
- the 2 kinds of comparison
- less than
- greater than
- how this trap trips us up and destroys relationships
LINKS
PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO RATE AND REVIEW THIS PODCAST! THANK YOU!!!
Purchase Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? On Amazon
Purchase Finding Your Balance on Amazon
Want to lead a group through either of these Bible studies? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
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Have a question or comment? email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
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My biggest balance struggle, hands down, is the propensity to become easily overwhelmed. I would venture to say that it’s something I struggle with almost every day. And this is precisely why my passion is to help overwhelmed, frazzled moms find peace. Because I get you...I AM you! This morning as I was working through all the possible reasons I could be feeling overwhelmed (again!) I thought maybe you’d would benefit from this as well. So, today, I’m offering you 10 possible reasons you may be overwhelmed. This episode is for me, but also for you.
10 Reasons You May Feel Overwhelmed
- You said yes to something you shouldn’t be doing.
- You need to quit something, delegate something, or do a regular task more efficiently.
- You underestimate the time it takes you to do your tasks.
- You do not keep a daily calendar or to-do list.
- Your to-do list is over-ambitious.
- You do the easy tasks first to get the quick win but leave your big, deep, essential work for when you feel tired and depleted.
- You allow interruptions.
- You spend too much time on social media and/or consuming news.
- You have not established good routines.
- You are not practicing a weekly sabbath.
LINKS
Five Key Pockets of Time and How to Use Them Well--a free download from Mary Kathryn Tiller
Purchase Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? On Amazon
Purchase Finding Your Balance on Amazon
For a deep dive into to-do lists listen to EP5
For a deep dive into routines listen to EP7
Want to lead a group through either of these Bible studies? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
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Have a question or comment? email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
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Welcome to Season 6! If you are one of the many women I know who are crossing over into unchartered territory--a new job, a new baby, a new opportunity--or maybe you are beginning a new life after the death of a spouse, a child, or a marriage...I have a special word of encouragement for you.
Be sure to listen to the end for a special message and prayer for those needing a fresh start.
I Chronicles 22
King David handed over the throne to his son Solomon. Here are five things he told him at this critical moment:
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Pray for insight and understanding.
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When you obey God's Word, He causes you to succeed.
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Don't be afraid.
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Begin the work.
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Determine in your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God.
Bonus Point: Remember God specializes in fresh starts, clean slates, and do-overs. If you are carrying a load of guilt and shame over past decisions, turn back to God. He will redeem everything you've lost. He will bless your children and their children, to a thousand generations.
Pray Psalm 51--David's prayer of repentance.
Links
Purchase Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me?
Sign up to be part of the group discussion. DEADLINE IS JANUARY 12, 2021 AT 5 PM EST.
Want to lead a group through the study? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
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It’s the countdown to 2021 and chances are you are looking forward to a new and probably better year. I’d encourage you to approach these next few weeks with great intention. This will require some reflection and planning on your part, but it will be well worth it. Today on the show I’ll take you through a simple three-step process that I go through every year in December to help me have direction and balance for the upcoming year.
Step One: Remember
Remember the good and the bad. Remember when you were slaves but also remember how God delivered you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm
Step Two: Notice
Look over your journal, your social media posts, and your photos. Look for themes. Notice the things that showed up over and over. Use that as information and guidance for what you should do next.
Step Three: Look Ahead
Yes you can look ahead, even in all this uncertainty. Life has always been uncertain and God knows what lies ahead. You can trust Him to direct you.
No matter what you do, make your relationship with God your greatest and first priority.
Grab a copy of my newest Bible study where you will learn how to discern the voice of God--the very thing you need if you ever hope to achieve real balance.
Option one: Buy it on Amazon and study it alone (this is what I like to do!)
Option two: Lead a study in your community. Don't forget to pick up a copy of your FREE leader guide!
Option three: Join our study ONLINE BEGINNING THE WEEK OF JANUARY 11, 2021!
LINKS:
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is now available!!! Buy copies for everyone on your Christmas list! Be sure to have your copy before January 11, 2021 for the online study.
Want to lead a group through the study? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
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We live in a noisy world. If we ever hope to hear God’s voice, we must learn to make room for God in our thoughts. If you live in a house full of children, you may feel like you have no control over this.I’m here to convince you otherwise. Today I’m talking about solitude and silence, what they are, how they are related to one another, and why they are more than simply a luxury, but rather a vital spiritual practice.
Solitude: Where we find moments free from noise and distraction
- Use your on-off switch on your devices
- Be awake when everyone else is asleep, drive away, lock the door behind you
- Put your phone on "do not disturb" mode
External noise takes on new life as we consider what we heard or saw. It occupies our thoughts and takes root in our hearts. All the noise affects your heart and your heart affects everything you do.
Silence: Where we refrain from talking
Talking is not bad. There are times to talk. Jesus was a great story-teller, but He only spoke what His Father told Him to speak. But when we do, we must use a Mouth Filter based on Scripture:
- Is it loving? (I Cor 13:1)
- Is it encouraging and full of grace? (Col 4:6, Eph 4:29)
- If I'm angry have I paused before I speak? (Prov 15:28 James 1:19-20)
- Is it soft and gentle? (Prov 15:1, Prov 15:4)
- Is it peace-seeking? (Prov 26:17-20)
- Is it truthful? (Psalm 34:13)
- Is it without slander? (Prov 11:9, Prov 10:18, Titus 3:2)
- Is it full of wisdom and justice? (Psalm 37:30)
- Is it full of the Spirit? (I Col 2:1-5)
- Is it too much? (Prov 10:19)
- Is it necessary? (Prov 17:28)
LINKS:
The Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster (affiliate link)
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? is now available!!! Buy copies for everyone on your Christmas list!
Want to lead a group through the study? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide!
Want to stay in the loop about the upcoming study I'm leading on line in 2021? Be sure to be on my email list!
Are you thinking about stepping away from social media over the holidays? Or maybe you're planning on kicking off 2021 with an extended sabbatical? You'll love today's episode! I tell you nine things I learned from taking one year off social media and offer you a few tips if you plan to take one yourself.
What I Learned:
- People have big feelings about (me) leaving social media.
- My activity on social media was not actually a "necessity" but rather an addiction. So I had to set very specific rules for myself.
- Shockingly, I did not lose any followers during my year off. In fact, I increased across the board on every platform. I have no idea why.
- I picked the absolute BEST year to be off social media (2020!)
- I don't want social media to tell me what to think. I'd rather shape my thinking by God's Word, thoughtful and encouraging podcasts, and great books by godly and intelligent thinkers.
- I felt a little guilty about having huge life events happen and not announcing them on social media.
- I am not as authentic on social media as I claimed to be.
- I am able to accomplish a LOT with 2 extra hours every day!!!
- Time flies when I'm off social media. I can't believe I've been gone a full year already. I have very mixed feelings about returning.
Tips:
Whether you are taking a hiatus or not, build a real-life community with the real-life people around you outside of social media.
- Don't be afraid! This is YOUR life and you get to decide how to spend it. In an emergency, people will find you and let you know what's happening.
- If you are genuinely afraid of leaving social media, write out all the reasons why--articulate them, name them--and then cast them all on God. He will help you sort out your concerns.
- Set a clear start and stop date.
- Delete apps from phone and turn off all notifications. Consider deactivating your accounts. Ask a friend to change your password and keep it for you until you are done.
- Let people know you'll be gone and how to reach you. You don't need to post it unless you are doing business on line or have a large following. You can just send a PM to a few close people.
- Give yourself time to detox before you come back. Let yourself feel the freedom from your phone.
- Have a plan with what to do with your time while you're away.
LINKS
For my series on technology, phones, and social media, listen to EP21, EP22, EP23, EP24, and EP25
My new book is now available! You can buy Is the Voice in My Head God...or Just Me? on Amazon!
Here's the Novel Marketing Podcast episode I listened to just before I took my hiatus.
To read my announcement about my hiatus on Facebook (9/11/19) click here.
Irresistible:The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked (affiliate link)
The Social Dilemma Trailer on YouTube
Look at my redesigned website!
Email me if you are taking a hiatus so I can cheer you on!!! thescooponbalance@gmail.com
For my FREE supplemental Bible Study Leader Guide click here.
Balance is all about expectations. And who among us has not been at least a little blindsided by what we expected in 2020 and what has actually transpired in 2020? Today I’m sharing a few things that have thrown me off balance this year and two ways I’m addressing them. And I also have a really big announcement, so be sure to stick with me to the end.
If you are dealing with unmet expectations, try one of the following:
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If your expectations are with a person, be sure to state your expectations and the consequences of unmet expectations clearly. People can't read your mind. Also, love and patience go a long way with people.
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If your expectations are with a circumstance, adjust your expectation and ask God to help you learn to be content.
LINKS
Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me is NOW AVAILABLE! Buy it now on Amazon.
Do you want to lead a Bible study? Download my FREE leader guide here!
Be the first to hear about everything and get my fun emails.
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
My book: Finding Your Balance.
I'm back from my 13-month social media hiatus! (yay?) Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
In EP81 I gave you 5 questions to ask yourself when you can’t hear God. All those questions implied that you could position yourself to hear God better...and you can. In other words, sometimes you can’t hear God because you’re not listening well. But sometimes you can’t hear God and it has nothing to do with your ability to listen well. Today, I’m sharing with you 4 more reasons you can’t hear God--and some of them may surprise you.
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Clinical depression and anxiety
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Spiritual opposition (Daniel 10)
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God is silent to test you and reveal what is in your heart (2 Chronicles 32:31)
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God is silent because He wants you to choose.
LINKS and mentions
For my series on Depression and Anxiety, listen to Episodes 15 through 20
To be the first to hear about the release of my new book, Is the Voice in My Head God, or Just Me? releases, click here
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
My book: Finding Your Balance.
I'm back from my 13-month social media hiatus! (yay?) Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
I’m taking a break from my series on hearing God’s voice to speak to young moms. Especially young moms who are taking care of children while also trying to work. The tension a mom feels between taking care of her kids and doing all the other things she’s capable of doing--all the other things she's good at and feels called by God to do--is very real. Especially now when so many of our kids are attending virtual school and we are also working remotely. If this tension is a reality for you, I have a word of encouragement. listen in.
LINKS:
Do you want to lead a group through my new book, Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? Do you want to go through a virtual study with me? To be the first to hear about these and all things related to the release of Is the Voice in My Head God, or Just Me? releases, click here
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
My book: Finding Your Balance
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus
Throughout the Bible we see God speaking to His people: through prophets and disciples, through nature and circumstances, through His law and His spirit, and most profoundly through the living and breathing Word of God, Jesus Christ. Undeniably, God speaks. If we are not experiencing this beautiful and life-giving truth of Scripture in our own lives, then we should figure out why. So, today I’m giving you 5 questions to ask yourself when you can’t hear God.
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Am I seeking a relationship with God? Or am I just seeking His provision or His direction?
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Am I immersing myself in God's word? Or do I let days, weeks, or months to go by before I pick up my Bible?
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Am I making room in my life for God to speak to me? Or am I constantly filling my mind with information and my days with activity?
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Am I approaching God with a posture of humility? Or am I expecting God to speak to me on my terms?
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Am I walking in obedience to what I already know to be true? Or has God already told me what to do and I haven't yet obeyed?
The content of this episode is from my new book, Is the Voice in My Head God, or Just Me?
Coming next week: Sometimes we can't hear God because He's not speaking! Learn some of the reasons God may not be saying anything.
Do you want to lead a group through this study? Do you want to go through a virtual study with me? To be the first to hear about these and all things related to the release of Is the Voice in My Head God, or Just Me? releases, click here
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus
One of the most common ways God will speak to you is through other people. When God spoke through people in the Old Testament it was almost exclusively through prophets. But in the New Testament, He uses the members of the church to speak to others for Him...that’s you and me! This is both exciting and terrifying, depending on who is talking and what they’re saying. But take heart, we can always look to God’s written word for guidance and that’s exactly what we are doing today.
Follow along in Exodus 18 as we extract the following insights:
- God will orchestrate the scenarios for godly people to speak into your life.
- God will use people who love God and love you to speak into your life.
- Even when you are in the center of God's will, you could be missing something and need someone to help you out.
- It's unwise to continually go to the same person, over and over, to hear God for you.
- A true God-fearing, God-hearing person will have a heartfelt concern for you, your physical and emotional well being, for your relationship with the Lord and for the good of the Church as a whole.
- A God-fearing, God-hearing person will point you to God. This person will also be helpful in identifying and defining your purpose and role in the Body of Christ.
- God places different people in our lives at various levels of authority to speak at different times and for different purposes.
- Everyone benefits when we obey the voice of God.
- If God uses someone to speak into your life, obey.
- A real God-fearing, God-hearing person will know when to say goodbye.
The content of this episode is from my new book, Is the Voice in My Head God, or Just Me?
To be the first to hear when Is the Voice in My Head God, or Just Me? releases, click here
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus
Like audio books? You'll love today's episode. Today I'm reading to you the Introduction to my new book Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? Learn the story behind my 25-year study of Scripture to understand if and how God speaks to people, as well as what to expect and what not to expect in this new study.
In this 8-lesson in-depth Bible study you will consult and apply hundreds of Bible passages related to hearing God’s voice so you can…
- See the different—and sometimes shocking—ways God spoke to His people throughout Scripture.
- Study the lives of Bible heroes like Noah, Moses, Elijah, David, and Daniel to discover why they heard God clearly and often (and so can you!).
- Uncover The 5 Keys to Becoming a Good Listener.
- Discern the distinct characteristics of God’s voice so you can easily recognize every “counterfeit.”
- Learn to recognize the voice of the flesh and the voice of Satan so you can effectively silence each one.
- Understand why God is sometimes silent—and how His silence doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong.
This Bible study is perfect for personal or group study, so grab a few friends and ask them if they want to go through it together.
To be the first to hear when Is the Voice in My Head God, or Just Me? releases, click here
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus
Last week I told you the most valuable thing I can teach you to achieve balance today and forevermore is how to hear the voice of God. And then I shared with you some of God’s motives and methods in speaking in the Bible and to you. But God speaking is only part of this transaction. We have to learn to become good listeners. So today I’m giving you 3 things you can do beginning today to help you hear God more clearly and more often.
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Seek a genuine relationship with God
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Immerse yourself in God's word
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Make room for God in your life and your thoughts
All this is part of my new book Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me?
To be the first to hear when Is the Voice in My Head God, or Just Me? releases, click here
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus
You know I love me some tips and tricks and balance hacks. But the most beneficial thing I can teach you to help you achieve and maintain balance now and for the rest of your life is how to hear the voice of God. He alone can tell you what you should be focusing on and what you can lay down for a season...or forever. He alone can give you the peace you are seeking. This is Part 1 of a new series based on my newest book, Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? If you were to read all the way through the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation with an eye to understand WHY God spoke to people, you would see God’s purpose fall into one or more of these 8 categories:
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God wants you to know the truth about who He is.
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God wants you to know the truth about who you are.
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God wants you to know the truth about others and who they are.
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God wants you to know what to do to further His kingdom.
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God wants to tell you how and why to avoid sin (and whether or not you’re in sin).
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God wants to tell you what He is doing.
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God wants your heart to be transformed into His image.
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God wants you to glorify His name.
After you understand WHY God speaks, you can also learn HOW God speaks. Of course, God can speak however He wants, but the following 6 ways are the most common ways we see Him speak in the Bible...and also to you.
1. God speaks first and foremost through His word
2. God speaks directly to your heart
3. God speaks through other people
4. God speaks through circumstances/open and closed doors
5. God speaks through nature
6. God speaks through dreams and visions
Links Mentioned in this Episode:
How We Got the Bible, by Timothy Paul Jones PhD Why Should I Trust the Bible? by Timothy Paul Jones PhD (affiliate links) To be the first to hear when Is the Voice in My Head God, or Just Me? releases, click here
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Welcome to Season 5 of the podcast and Month 6 of the global pandemic. If you’re like the rest of the world, you are feeling out of sorts. This COVID situation is dragging on longer than any of us ever dreamed. And on top of that, your kids are probably starting back to school and everything is weird there, too. If you are struggling to feel settled in the midst of all this uncertainty, I’m offering 3 simple practices that are currently keeping me sane.
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Connect with God
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Move your body, preferably in nature
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Work on your thing
Links mentioned in this episode:
To read the recap of my summer relocation and lots of fun pictures, click here
To be the first to hear when Is the Voice in My Head God, or Just Me? releases, click here
God Walk, by Mark Buchanan
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until mid-September
I have so much to tell you. The short version is this: we are moving our family from Louisville KY back to Jacksonville FL and I’ll be taking a break from the podcast while we are making that transition.
For the more detailed version—complete with lists and humor and Bible verses—which you’ve come to expect from The Balanced MomCast--listen in.
LINKS:
To see Podcast Magazine's Top 50 Moms in Podcasting, click here.--->Guess who's #10!!!
Receive email updates from me during this break and to know when I come back!
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020 when I will be releasing my new book: Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me?
Five years ago, I had a conversation with a mom friend. She told me about an interaction she witnessed between another mom (whom she didn’t know) and a teen. My friend was appalled at how the other mom responded to her teen. After that conversation, I opened up my laptop and wrote a letter to this anonymous mom. I never intended to share it with that mom, necessarily, but knew I was supposed to share it someday with some mom. Well, today is the day and you are that mom.
(Taking a break from our series on Balance Barriers for a special Mother's Day episode!)
God Defines You:
Before God formed you in the womb, He knew you and appointed you. (Jeremiah 1:5)
You are a new creation, chosen by God, and created in His image. (2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 1:11, Genesis 1:27)
You are a part of a royal priesthood, a holy nation, You are God’s special possession. (1 Peter 2:9)
You are God’s child, holy and dearly loved—actually lavished with love! And nothing can separate you from the love of God. (John 1:12, Colossians 3:12, Romans 8:39, Galatians 3:26, 1 John 3:1-2)
You are a useful member of the body of Christ with gifts, talents, and a calling--we need you! (Romans 12:5, I Corinthians 12:27)
You have been accepted by God. (Romans 15:7)
You have the forgiveness of sins. (Ephesians 1:7)
You are no longer a slave to sin. You are free to love. (Romans 6:6)
You are under no condemnation, no matter what you’ve done. (Romans 8:1)
You can approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:12)
You have wisdom from God. (1 Corinthians 1:30)
You have every spiritual blessing. (Ephesians 1:3)
You have everything you need. (Philippians 4:19)
Your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Your life is hidden in Christ. (Colossians 3:1-3)
You have been bought with a price and the Spirit of the Living God lives in you. (Colossians 2:9-10, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
You are light. (Ephesians 5:8)
If God is for you, who can be against you? (Romans 8:31)
Links:
For a written copy of this, visit The Scoop on Balance
To see Podcast Magazine's Top 50 Moms in Podcasting, click here.
Receive email updates from me!
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
With balance, what we THINK about what we do is way more important than what we actually do. We could technically be doing the right things in life—living out or priorities—but if we are full of fear and pride, if we are always angry and resentful, if we’re always stressed and frustrated because we are afraid of what people think of us? This is NOT balance.
So today I'm giving you the mindsets or mantras I actually tell myself to break through the barrier of People-Pleasing.
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Not everyone will like me or love me. And if they do, they shouldn't.
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Someone will always disagree with my choices.
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People care less about what I do than what I give them credit for.
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Jesus displeased a lot of people--I'm in good company.
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I need to say no to things I know I should not be doing.
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Rarely must I give an immediate answer.
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I have the power and the responsibility to distance myself temporarily or permanently from controlling relationships.
Also...find someone to hold you accountable
and learn to say, "oh well."
For an in-depth study of this and all the balance barriers read Finding Your Balance.
LINKS:
Please nominate me for the Top Moms in Podcasting!
Do you have a balance issue specific to COVID19? Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com and I will try to address it in an upcoming episode!
Receive email updates from me!
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Most women begin down the road of people-pleasing with pure motives. We don’t start by saying, “I’m going to choose the will of other people over God’s will for me.” In fact, it’s usually just the opposite. We start out thinking we are obeying God. We are trying to be nice, trying to serve, trying to keep the peace.
Like any addiction, it grows little by little, decision by decision. The opinions of others become increasingly louder, deafening our ears to the whispers of God. Often by the time we realize what we are dealing with, we are so deep into it we don’t know how to break free.
If you feel stressed, conflicted, resentful, or unbalanced, people-pleasing may be the culprit, and this episode is for you.
In this episode, you'll learn
- the definition of people-pleasing
- 6 questions to ask yourself to determine if you are a people-pleaser
- the difference between people-pleasing and Biblical servanthood
- the roots of people-pleasing
For an in-depth study of this and all the balance barriers read Finding Your Balance.
LINKS:
Please nominate me for the Top Moms in Podcasting!
Do you have a balance issue specific to COVID19? Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com and I will try to address it in an upcoming episode!
Receive email updates from me!
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
We are in the middle of a series on Balance Barriers. Last week (EP 70), I introduced you to the barrier of Perfectionism. As a recovering perfectionist myself, I am here to help you overcome this barrier in your own life. Today we discuss 5 things you can do beginning today to overcome the barrier of perfectionism.
3 Things Perfectionism is NOT
- Being detail-oriented, organized, thorough
- "Perfect" as described in Matthew 5:48
- Excellence
5 Steps to Overcome Perfectionism
- Identify your roots
- Forgive those people who demanded perfection from you as a child
- Distance yourself from controlling relationships
- Establish new habits
- Set a timer
- 5 minutes-5 things
- Replace faulty thought patterns
For an in-depth study of this and all the balance barriers read Finding Your Balance.
LINKS:
Please nominate me for the Top Moms in Podcasting!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com with prayer requests! I will pray for you during this COVID-19 quarantine. :)
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Receive email updates from me!
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
My favorite childhood game was a game called Perfection. The object of the game was to fit all the little geometric pieces in their proper place before time runs out. If you didn’t, the whole game exploded and the pieces flew everywhere. For those of us who struggle with Perfectionism, this is how we feel every day—pressured to get everything in place just so or the whole thing explodes in our face. If you are a perfectionist or you love someone who is, this episode is for you.
In this episode,
- we discuss why Perfectionism flies in the face of everything we know about balance
- we define Perfectionism
- we talk about ways you can know if you're a perfectionist
- We describe different types of Perfectionists
- self-oriented
- others-oriented
- socially prescribed
- We describe how Perfectionists reveal themselves
The Roots:
- God-given temperament
- Product of a critical parent
- Product of a legalistic church
- Fear
- Pride
LINKS
Please nominate me for the Top Moms in Podcasting!
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
As of today, we are looking at a minimum of 30 more days of social distancing due to COVID-19. The news is scary. The number of confirmed cases and deaths caused by the coronavirus continues to climb. I don’t know about you, but I could use some encouragement right about now. So today, I’m giving you four encouraging things that are true and good and will not change, even in the midst of a global pandemic.
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God is not surprised by any of this
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God has already given you everything you need
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God is inviting you to make the most of this opportunity
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You are not alone.
LINKS
Please nominate me for the Top Moms in Podcasting!
Listen to my interview on the 1M Project Podcast
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Hi! I'm Sandy Cooper, and I help frazzled moms find peace. If you’re a mom who sometimes feels tired, confused, or overwhelmed, with balancing the demands of motherhood in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, you’ve also come to the right place!
And if ever I want to make good on my claim to help frazzled moms find peace, it’s now. Today I’m addressing your biggest struggles as defined by you, as you and your family navigate COVID 19, social distancing, shelter-at-home orders.
Links
For the blog post version of this episode, click here
For a printable copy of all the scriptures I reference, click here
A two-minute video of Pastor Tim Parish encouraging us from Jeremiah 29
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Today we are celebrating the one-year birthday of this podcast. I know…they grow up so fast. To celebrate, I'm giving you a little behind-the-scenes episode: a list (of course it's a list) of 10 Fun Facts about the Balanced MomCast (and me.) Put on your party hat and grab a cup of punch, as we celebrate one year of The Balanced MomCast.
In this episode I tell you about...
- the inspiration for the show
- what I love and don't love about other podcasts
- how long it takes me to create one 30-minute episode
- what my schedule looks like every week (aka, "how I do everything I do.")
- my non-negotiables every day
- how the one-year social media hiatus is going and if I'm coming back
- stats!
- my 3 favorite moments this year
LINKS
Pat Fynn's free podcast course
Happier with Gretchen Rubin
The Brant and Sherri OddCast
The Next Right Thing
The Glorious in the Mundane
Hope*Writers
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Jesus said 8 times (!) in John 15 that He wants us to bear fruit. But what does that even mean? In EP65 we said that abiding is all the stuff that no one sees. Well, fruit is the stuff EVERYONE sees (and feels, and tastes, and smells) coming from you.
Real fruit is the natural and inevitable outgrowth of a branch that is abiding in the Vine and is regularly and properly pruned by The Vinedresser.
Fake Fruit:
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Financial or Worldly Success
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Flashy Ministry, Big Following, Popularity
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Religiously following all the laws and rules of your Christian denomination
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Perpetual self-improvement
*We should not become professional fruit inspectors except:
- when we feed on other people's spiritual fruit or
- PUT OUR CHILDREN UNDER THE CARE OF SOMEONE. Then get all up in that fruit and fully inspect it!
Real Fruit:
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Leading people to Christ
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Love
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Good Works
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Virtues of Character
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Hearing God's voice
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Answered prayer
Don't focus on the fruit. Focus on ABIDING in Christ. Keep that connection intact and free-flowing. Submit to the pruning. The fruit WILL come.
Scriptures I reference in this episode:
Matthew 23:27-28
Matthew 12:33
John 15:1-17
John 13:34-35
Ephesians 2:10
James2:14-16
Colossians 1:9-12
Galatians 5:22-23
Ephesians 5:8-11
Philippians 1:9-11
Jeremiah 17:7-8
I John:3-10
II Thes 1:3
LINKS
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Welcome to a very frank yet loving discussion about what it really means to abide in Christ. At the risk of sounding completely over the top, studying, understanding, and then applying these truths has impacted every single area of my life. My heart is to encourage and equip you to live a fruitful life. So, if you’re ready for some tough love on how to become a branch in Christ that bears much fruit, then listen in.
This is Part 5 of our series called Abide. To listen from the beginning, go back to EP61.
Jesus uses the word "abide" 10 times in our passage to describe the kind of relationship He wants to have with you.
Focus your attention on the connection between you (the branch) and the Vine.
Three things that the word "abide" implies:
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Abiding takes time.
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Abiding involves a quality relationship.
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Abiding is invisible to the world.
How to abide in Christ in real life (how to enlarge the connection between you and Jesus):
- Spiritual disciplines: prayer, fasting, Bible reading, Bible study, meditating on Scripture, solitude, worship, confession of sin, and rest.
Make time with God your top priority, every single day, for private extended prayer and Bible study time. Stop making excuses. It's not too hard.
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Control your thoughts. Take them captive to make them obedient to Christ.
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Examine your motives until your reason for everything is to love God, love people, advance God's kingdom and God's purposes, and be obedient to Him.
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Trust God when things don't go as planned.
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Love others. Abiding in Christ and loving others are inseparable.
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Obey God.
Abide = Home
Scriptures I reference in this episode:
John 15:1-17 NASB and MSG
2 Corinthians 10:5
I John 4:16
I John 5:2-3
John 8:31
2 John 9
James 1:25
I John 3:24
John 14:23
Pruning is God's part.
Abiding is our part.
Fruit is the result of an abiding branch that is regularly and properly pruned.
LINKS
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
What does it mean when Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing"?
- Who are these people?
- Are they really doing nothing?
- Am I one of these people?
- Are you one of these people?
Scriptures we Read in This Episode:
John 15:1-17
Matthew 15:1-20
Matthew 7:15-27
I Corinthians 13:1-3
Truths about abiding in Christ:
- God wants your heart
- God wants you to obey his word
- God wants you to love
- God wants you to focus on abiding, not on bearing fruit
What abiding in Christ is NOT:
- doing more stuff
- trying harder
- void of activity or effort
Apart from Christ, you can do nothing of eternal value
Apart from Christ means
- your heart does not belong to Jesus, though you say all the right things
- you hear the word of God but don't obey it
- you do the right things, but you do it without love for God or others
LINKS
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Motherhood often feels like loss: Loss of your schedule, loss of control, loss of yourself. This can be very confusing because, as a Christian, you KNOW God has called you to live an abundant life! So, what's up with this? Are you doing something wrong? Or are you doing something right?
(spoiler: you're doing something right!)
Today, we continue our Abide series based on John 15:1-17
The main points we cover:
-
Outside of harvesting itself, pruning is the single most important task for ensuring a plentiful harvest
-
The Vinedresser prunes back
-
aggressive growth
- pinching
- topping
- thinning
- dead and dying leaves and branches
-
suckers and shoots from the True Vine
-
Pruning is individual and personal
Be sure to listen to Episode 61 and 62!
LINKS
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
In EP61 I introduced you to our new series based on John 15: Abide. If you haven't listened to that episode yet, do that first! Today I will introduce you to the Cast of Characters and the 5 Branches, but we will discuss in detail the branch in Christ that does not bear fruit. What is it? How does it get that way? What happens to it?
John 15:1-6
Cast of Characters:
- Jesus is the Vine
2 The Father is the Vinedresser/Gardener
-
We are the Branches
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Branch in Christ that does not bear fruit
- Branch in Christ that bears fruit
- Branch in Christ that bears more fruit
- Branch in Christ that bears much fruit
- Branch not in Christ
What does the Vinedresser do to the branch in Christ that does not bear fruit? He picks it up, cleans it off, and ties it up on a trellis or a fence
- for air circulation
- for exposure to sun
- for full access
Why does a branch not produce fruit?
- Not connected to the Vine--we will talk about this one in a later episode
- Young branch--The Father just lets you grow (The parable in Luke 13:5-9)
- Disease or mites--The Father will try to remove the disease (sin) from you through discipline. See Deut 8:5, Hebrews 12, Rom 8:28
- Improper pruning--we will talk about this one in EP63
NOT ALL PAIN IS DISCIPLINE! Sometimes pain and suffering is because of someone else's sin! Abuse is NEVER discipline.
LINKS
6 Strategies for Staying Calm When Your Child is Freaking Out
I bought my "abide" bracelet here.
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
In 2017, in the midst of the most exhausting season of parenting, God led me to a portion of scripture that changed the way I think, the way I act, the way I pray, and the way I parent. In fact, I cannot think of a single area of my life that has not been transformed by this message. Today, I'm introducing a series that has the potential to transform you as well.
Five Reasons You Need This Series
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So that in times of doubt, you will believe that Jesus is the Christ (John 20:31)
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So that in times of death, you will have life. (John 20:31)
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So that in times of trouble, you will have peace. (John 16:33)
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So that in times of persecution, you will not fall away (John 16:1)
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So that in times of sadness, discouragement, or disillusionment, you will have joy. (John 15:11)
LINKS
I bought my "abide" bracelet here.
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
It's not a matter of if you'll fall, it's how you'll fall. You can berate yourself for falling and shove a handful of chocolate into your face, or you can get up and keep going. Your choice.
P.S. I'm so proud of you. You did it!
If you missed any part of this series, listen to Episodes 34-60.
LINKS:
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Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
With one more day of our 31-day challenge, you may be thinking "Yay! I'm almost done!" Except you're not. This is where I encourage you to keep going...forever.
LINKS:
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
For all the books and programs I recommend, including P90X, click here.
You can do way more than you think you can. We all have a reserve of energy, strength, endurance, and fortitude that exists beyond our comfort zone. Getting stronger and healthier isn't only about will power or programs or dietary guidelines. It's also about learning to access your reserve tank when you think you can't go any further.
Today I tell you the story of Jesse Itzler and David Goggins from the book Living With a SEAL.
The 40% Rule says when your mind is telling you you're done, you're really only 40% done.
LINKS:
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Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Rather than chasing a "skinny pre-baby" picture of yourself, the celebrity's body, the Instagram influencer's body, the computer-altered super model's body, chase health.
LINKS:
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Don't surround yourself with people who will undermine your efforts to be healthy. Instead, gather a support team of likeminded individuals. Healthy community is the key to making better choices, in fitness and in life.
"Join a tribe where your desired behavior is normal." James Clear
LINKS:
Atomic Habits, By James Clear
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Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
One of the biggest challenges of any workout is getting started--every single workout, every single day, for every single workout. Tell yourself "just 10 minutes." Make it your goal to just show up.
"An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force." Newton's First Law.
"Keep showing up. Keep pushing play." Tony Horton
LINKS:
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
A well-designed environment encourages good habits and healthy behavior. Make your environment conducive to support your goals and you'll be more successful.
Irresistible, by Adam Alter
LINKS:
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Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Do you do better if you give up junk food altogether? Or do you prefer to enjoy treats in moderation? Your answer to this will help you set yourself up for healthy habits that stick.
LINKS:
Better Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits--to Sleep More, Quit Sugar, Procrastinate Less, and Generally Build a Happier Life, by Gretchen Rubin
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
The words we use are powerful, whether we are speaking them to others or to ourselves. Today I'm giving your four common words or phrases that I hear all the time in health and fitness that are poison to your mind, and I'm giving you better ways to say them.
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"I cheated on my diet."
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"I workout because I hate my body."
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"I can't do this/this is hard/I'm so weak."
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"I can't eat that."
LINKS:
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
It's time to stop the self-imposed guilt for resting. Nothing about resting is self-indulgent or lazy. It's nature's way of recharging your body so you can continue working toward your goals--fitness and otherwise. Today I give my 3 tips for working a weekly Sabbath into your busy mom-life.
-
Define it
-
Prepare
-
Be flexible
LINKS:
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Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
To live a well-balanced life, you must incorporate regular periods of rest and recovery into your life. Today I talk about rest from exercise, naps, and nightly sleep.
LINKS:
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Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
If the thought of adding one more thing to your day sounds overwhelming, I'm giving you some practical tips to work movement into your normal mom-life.
LINKS:
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Cardio is great. But cardio alone is not enough. Our bodies stop producing muscle around age 35. Do you have a fear of bulking up? Do you feel like resistance training is not worth the effort? I'm talking to you today.
I give you 15 ways resistance training benefits your health and then I give you all kinds of ideas (many of them free!) of how to incorporate resistance training into your routine.
LINKS:
For workout programs I recommend, click here.
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
If you hate exercise, I have GREAT news for you!
LINKS:
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Simple meal planning is the single best tip I have for keeping your eating on track.
-
Plan dinners only
-
Cook meat for 2-3 days at a time.
-
Eat leftovers.
-
Use your crockpot.
-
Make soup and eat it for lunch all week.
-
Always serve salad.
-
Make super-simple sides (fruits and veggies.)
-
Eat the same breakfast every day.
-
Find meals you love and eat them until you are sick of them.
LINKS:
For great crockpot recipes, check out my friend Stephanie's blog!
For my favorite soup recipes, check out my blog!
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Healthy or unhealthy? Depends on who you read and who you are. Here I break it down and explain the controversy so you can make an informed decision for yourself.
LINKS:
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Some foods are deemed "healthy" or "from the devil" depending on who you read or follow. Today I'm discussing the controversy behind certain foods, and then I'll let you know if I eat them.
LINKS:
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Here is where I cut through the confusion and tell you what you should eat.
LINKS:
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
The most important aspect of staying healthy is what we put into our mouths. For good health, eliminate the following foods from your diet:
-
Trans Fat--banned from all foods 1/1/2020
-
Artificial Sweeteners--I wrote about this here and here
-
High Fructose Corn Syrup--I wrote about this here
-
Soda--sorry. Do you hate me now?
LINKS:
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Planning is critical to health. To be successful, your plan should
-
Be goal-specific
-
Be something that is doable and likable to you
-
Should last at least 30 days
LINKS:
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Definitions:
Cardio workout: works your cardiovascular system
Strength workout: builds muscle
Flexibility workout: lengthens and stretches muscle
Hard workout: a "9-10" on a scale of 1-10
Moderate workout: a "5-8" on a scale of 1-10
Easy workout: a "3-4" on a scale of 1-10
Rest: no workout
A good workout schedule should accomplish the following:
-
Alternate cardio, resistance, and flexibility
-
Work your entire body in the course of a week
-
Give your body adequate time to recover
Sample Workout Schedules
A. Works entire body
Monday--Walk
Tuesday--pushups and quats
Wednesday--stretch
Thursday--rest
(repeat for the rest of the week)
B. Cardio only, alternates easy and hard
Monday--easy (walk)
Tuesday--easy (walk)
Wednesday--hard (sprints)
Thursday--rest (no workout)
(repeat the rest of the week)
C. Works upper and lower body separately
Monday--upper body resistance and stretch
Tuesday--cardio and stretch
Wednesday--lower body resistance and stretch
Thursday--cardio and stretch
Friday--rest
(repeat)
For all the programs I recommend click here
LINKS:
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
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Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Write down everything you are eating. Everything. I promise you, no matter how many times you do this, you will be shocked at the sheer amount of food you consume or the incredibly cruddy food choices.
LINKS:
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Before you begin any fitness plan, you should get a baseline of where you are now, before you begin. Here are a few things you should measure NOW, and then again periodically (usually monthly)
-
Weight--naked, first thing in the morning, after you pee and before you drink anything.
-
Body Fat Percentage
-
Measurements--do at the same time as your weight. Take a simple tape measure and record your
-
chest
- waist
- hips
- butt
- thigh
- calf
- bicep
-
shoulders
-
BMI--for a calculator, click here
-
Before photo
-
Resting Heart Rate--I talk about how to measure that here.
-
Clothing
-
Clinical Measurements--like cholesterol, blood pressure, triglycerides, etc.
LINKS:
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Today I want you to set a goal, but not a weight loss goal. Weight loss is an outcome and we can’t control outcomes. But we can control systems and processes that lead to outcomes. So, decide on some healthy systems and processes today. Then email me and tell me what you’re doing!
The formula for water intake:
½ your current weight in ounces + 8 ounces for every hour of exercise + 8 ounces for every cup of caffeinated beverage you drink
Here are the home DVD programs I have done and recommend.
https://thescooponbalance.com/fitness-friday-books-and-programs-i-recommend/
Here are the essentials of a great home gym
https://thescooponbalance.com/fitness-friday-the-essential-elements-of-a-home-gym/
LINKS:
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Grab your favorite beverage and writing utensil, a piece of paper, and a mirror. Look at yourself long and hard. Then answer the question, “Why do I want this?”
LINKS:
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
You have hundreds of opportunities every single day to choose the healthy option. Missing one or two of those opportunities doesn't need to derail you completely. Doing a little of something healthy is better than doing nothing healthy.
LINKS:
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Welcome to Season 3 of The Balanced MomCast! It's the New Year. And if you are like most people, you want to do something good for your health this year. I got you.
For the next 31 days, I'm offering you a short, daily encouragement, tip, strategy, or mindset to help you reach your goals and make this your healthiest year yet.
No gimmicks. No hard-body intimidating photos. No empty promises. Only tried and true changes you can make gradually over the next 31 days and beyond that will improve your health.
Today, the only thing I want you to do is DECIDE. Decide that you are going to listen for the next 31 days. Decide that you are going to make some changes. Decide you're all in.
LINKS:
Receive email updates from me!
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
This is the episode you shared the most, and with good reason. Either you ARE a tired mom or you KNOW a tired mom. So this is for everyone.
I preached this sermon about Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, in my home church on Mother's Day 2018.
Also, I gave you a sneak peek into my new series beginning January 1 and running every day (except Sundays) throughout the month of January. I'll be giving you a short daily encouragement so you can enter 2020 as the healthiest version of YOU. Join me!
LINKS:
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Note: I am currently on a social media hiatus until September 2020
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
I have learned that my levels of balance flow directly from the routines I have established in my life. I may know my priorities well enough. But if I don’t have a routine in place to live each of those priorities out, I exist in a constant state of imbalance.
So, I’ve decided, for the sake of my balance, I need to take a look at my priorities and begin the hard work of establishing routines for each one.
The Benefits of Routines
- Routines reduce decision fatigue.
- Routines increase productivity.
- Routines reduce overwhelm from looming projects.
- Routines provide inner security.
- Routines prepare your body for what’s next.
- Routines determine the outcome of our lives.
Tips for Establishing Routines
- Start with identifying your priorities
- Start with only one daily habit.
- Start super small.
- Pair your new routine with something you already do on a regular basis.
- Give yourself lots of time.
- Extend yourself grace.
- Sometimes adding a new routine makes way for other routines to naturally follow.
Some Good Places to Develop Routines
- Early morning, before anyone gets up.
- Getting kids off to school.
- Mealtime prep and clean-up.
- First thing when you arrive at work.
- Last thing before you leave work.
- After school.
- Kid’s naptime
- Kids’ bedtime.
- Nighttime, after kids are in bed.
- Weekly household chores or individual recurring chores (like laundry or yard work).
- Writing, if you blog. Or creating whatever you create.
- Exercise.
- Prayer/Bible reading.
- Saturday morning.
Links
Kendra at The Lazy Genius Collective
Gretchen Rubin's Secrets of Adulthood
Tsh Oxenreider
Posts I've written on routines:
https://thescooponbalance.com/how-routines-help-us-and-tips-for-establishing-them/
https://thescooponbalance.com/bbi-2013-week-3-establish-routines-and-rituals/
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
NOTE: I am on a social media hiatus until September 2020
In this episode we discuss Balance Basics:
-
Balance is measured over the course of time, not day-to-day.
-
Balance is measured and achieved by seeking God not
-
productivity
- what other moms are doing
- what other people think about you
-
perfection
-
Balancing life requires an eternal perspective
-
Balancing life requires knowing my gifts and protecting my limitations.
LINKS
For a deep-dive into each of these Four Principles, read my book: Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
(Note: I am on a social media hiatus until September 2020)
I love me a good countdown, don’t you? I grew up listening to Casey Kasem’s American Top 40, where’d I sit with my ear glued to my little radio waiting to hear if my favorite song climbed the charts to #1.
So, as 2019 winds down, we’re taking a look back at the 4 most popular episodes of the Balanced MomCast so far.
In my very first episode, I told you my podcast would be “unapologetically Christian.” Then only a few episodes later, I came in and talked about Spiritual warfare. But rather than getting creeped out and unsubscribing, you showed up, making this the 4th most downloaded episode so far.
Coming in at #4 is from Season 1/EP6: The Surprising Source of Your Balance Struggles.
Four Strategies You Spiritual Enemy Uses to Keep You Off Balance:
-
Distraction--The Enemy wants you to be without focus
-
Discouragement--The Enemy wants you to be without hope.
-
Deception--The Enemy wants you to be without Truth.
-
Division--The Enemy wants you to be isolated and alone.
LINKS:
Receive a printable copy of the prayer
The Armor of God Bible Study, by Priscilla Shirer
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
(Note: I am on a social media hiatus until September 2020)
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
It’s Thanksgiving week and the holiday season is officially here. Last week many of you participated in a survey where I asked you the question: “If you could change something to make your holiday season more balanced, joyful, and peaceful, what would it be?”
40% of you said "I'd say no to most of the obligations to create margin on my calendar and meaningful time with loved ones."
35% of you said "I'd set healthy boundaries for the sake of my mental and emotional health. I would stop allowing family drama to trigger me."
Today is a pep talk empowering you to make that happen.
Click here to get the Healthy Holiday Manifesto
For a giant list of gift ideas--all under $25, visit The Scoop on Balance.
A great gift for frazzled moms: Finding Your Balance, an 11-Lesson Bible Study.
Do you know someone who needs this episode?
Take a screenshot of The Balanced MomCast logo and share it on Facebook and Instagram! Tag a few mom friends...and don't forget to tag me (The Scoop on Balance) too!
Have a question or comment?
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
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Read more balance stuff at thescooponbalance.com
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Last week some of you participated in a listener survey where I asked what brings you the most anxiety during the holidays. Your number one answer? Finances. You said you had too many gifts to buy and not enough money. You said you didn’t know how to cut back or where to start. So, this week that’s precisely what we will discuss: Creative ways to spend less this Christmas.
The biggest takeaway from this episode:
Balance is the art of knowing when to say no and when to say yes. When you say no to something you’re actually saying yes to something else. By saying no to overspending this Christmas, you will be saying yes to less anxiety. By saying no to going into debt for Christmas gifts in 2019, you are saying yes to an anxiety-reduced 2020. By saying “no” to the trap of materialism and consumerism—to things that the Bible warns are temporary and fleeting and meaningless, you are saying yes to freedom and things that are eternal and meaningful.
NEVER GO INTO DEBT TO BUY CHRISTMAS GIFTS. THAT BLESSES ABSOLUTELY NO ONE!
The best thing you can do is start setting aside money now for Christmas 2020.
3 Ways to Spend Less:
- You can make extra money. For a frazzled mom, the best way to make money is to sell some stuff (win-win, because you will also have a decluttered space!)
- You can reallocate the money you have.
- Look for things to cancel, suspend, cut back on, even temporarily.
- Don't send Christmas cards.
- Use old gift cards you have on hand.
- You can reduce the amount you spend
- Spend less per gift
- Buy fewer gifts for kids
- Buy for fewer people
- Look for free ways to enjoy the holiday
- Take a year off--explain to your friends and family that you don't have the money this year. They will understand.
For a giant list of gift ideas--all under $25, visit The Scoop on Balance.
If you are in debt, I highly recommend Dave Ramsey.
Take a screenshot of The Balanced MomCast logo and share it on Facebook and Instagram! Tag a few mom friends...and don't forget to tag me (The Scoop on Balance) too!
Do you want to start your own podcast? Listen to this episode of The Podcasting Party where I sat on a panel to discuss obstacles and how we overcame them.
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Click Here to Join my Email list to keep up with me outside the podcast!
Read more balance stuff at thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest (NOTE: I am on a year-long hiatus from social media!)
To help you find balance with social media and all other things, get Finding Your Balance, an 11-Lesson Bible Study.
If you struggle with balance on a regular day, the holiday season, with all its obligations and expectations, can send you into complete and utter chaos. What is aggressively marketed as The Most Wonderful Time of the Year feels more like stress and debt and five pounds of fat around your midsection. Today we’re sorting through your obligations and expectations for the holidays so we can get something off your plate. Today I’m helping you create your holiday to-don’t list.
Step One: Decide what your most cherished traditions are. If you aren't sure, ask your family. They may surprise you!
Step Two: Put those few things on your calendar and guard them with your life.
Step Three: Consider every other obligation and expectation on it's life-giving or life-sucking value.
Step Four: If it sucks the life out of you, put it on your To-Don't List.
Take a screenshot of The Balanced MomCast logo and share it on Facebook and Instagram! Tag a few mom friends...and don't forget to tag me (The Scoop on Balance) too!
Do you want to start your own podcast? Listen to this episode of The Podcasting Party where I sat on a panel to discuss obstacles and how we overcame them.
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Click Here to Join my Email list to keep up with me outside the podcast!
Read more balance stuff at thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest (NOTE: I am on a year-long hiatus from social media!)
To help you find balance with social media and all other things, get Finding Your Balance, an 11-Lesson Bible Study.
- Adopt. Sandy’s Blog Series on Adoption
https://thescooponbalance.com/i-want-to-adopt-where-do-i-start/.
2. Foster. https://nfpaonline.org/foster
3. Mentor.
4. Tutor.
5. Be an Advocate.https://casaforchildren.org/advocate-for-children/
- Provide Respite Care.https://kentucky.kvc.org/programs-and-services/foster-care/
You can ask a foster or adoptive family how you can best serve them, or use the National Foster Care and Adoption Directory to find local agencies that can connect you with information on how to become a respite care provider.
- Support foster or adoptive families through a reputable organization on the front lines.
https://showhope.org/ (Steven Curtis Chapman’s organization)
https://www.orphanoutreach.org
8. Sponsor a child through a reputable organization.
World Vision: https://www.worldvision.org/
Compassion International:
https://www.compassion.com/sponsor-an-orphan.htm
9. Pray.
Comprehensive prayer guide for 24 relevant adoption and foster-related needs.
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Click Here to Join my Email list to keep up with me outside the podcast!
Read more balance stuff at thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest (NOTE: I am on a year-long hiatus from social media!)
To help you find balance with social media and all other things, get Finding Your Balance, an 11-Lesson Bible Study.
These episodes are all about kids and phones. Today I’m continuing with Part 2 of a discussion I started in EP24, with more talking points regarding content of texts and online conduct, sharing and posting photos, social media boundaries, and a reminder of who they are.
I am in the middle of a series on balancing life with social media, technology, the internet, and cell phones:
The series began with EP21 where I shared with you why I am taking a year-long social media hiatus.
Then continued in EP22 with some tips on balancing your own social media usage.
Then in EP23 I discussed parenting in the age of the Internet (something that our own mothers never had to do).
And then last week in EP24 I gave you Part 1 of a list of talking points and issues to consider before you hand your child a cell phone.
Today we discuss the following guidelines:
- Do not engage in texting conversations that hurt other people.
- Don’t argue or fight with someone over texting or on social media.
- Don’t say anything via text or social media that you wouldn’t want other people to read or that you don't want to exist forever.
- No profanity.
- Don’t text when you are angry and need to vent.
- Ask permission before snapping a picture or recording someone. Don’t ever send pictures of other people via text without their permission.
- No taking or sending provocative/immodest pictures of yourself or others.
- No pictures, Skype, FaceTime or Snap Chat of you in your pj’s or from your bedroom or bathroom with people of the opposite sex.
Rules Specifically about Social Media Usage:
- Mom follows you on all social media accounts and has access to all usernames and passwords.
- You may not create any new social media or e-mail accounts without my express permission.
- Set social media accounts to the highest privacy settings.
- Only accept online friendships with people you know in real life.
- Only post things you want to exist forever and want the whole world to see.
Remind them...
"In a few short years, you will have complete control over your life—social media and otherwise. The boundaries we put in place now are put there to illustrate how to put internal boundaries around your own life.
As you mature and show responsibility in these areas, you will earn the right to more and more freedom. Our rules and monitoring of your life in general will decrease until, eventually, you will move out of our home and be living your own life. No one will be there making sure you are using your time wisely, getting good sleep, respecting yourself and others, staying away from inappropriate content, etc. It will be YOUR decision how you behave.
Remember who you are. Every time you speak—or text or post on social media—you not only represent yourself, you represent our family. Even more, you represent Jesus Christ. Whenever you are in doubt about anything, take a minute and ask God for wisdom and guidance. He will always guide you. Always. You will get a check in your conscience—a gross feeling—if you are about to cross a boundary. Pay attention when this happens, because it’s probably the Holy Spirit convicting you and trying to steer you away."
Links and Such
Download a customizable phone contract
KidBridge will allow you to monitor your child's text on a smartphone remotely
The prayer I prayed is from the book Prayers That Avail Much (affiliate link)
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Click Here to Join my Email list to keep up with me outside the podcast!
Read more balance stuff at thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest (NOTE: I am on a year-long hiatus from social media!)
To help you find balance with social media and all other things, get Finding Your Balance, an 11-Lesson Bible Study.
The latest studies reveal that the average age for a child to get his first smartphone is 10.3 years old. And by the time children are 11 ½ years old, almost 40% of them will have a social media account. Listen, mom…Before you hand your child a smartphone or allow him access to social media you must have a conversation with that child, many conversations, actually. Today, I’m giving you Part One of a list of talking points to get that ball rolling.
In this episode, I’m going to talk about
- Rules for Phone Usage
In EP25, I’m going to talk about
- Guidelines for content and behavior in texting and posting
- Rules about sending and posting pictures
- Guidelines specifically for social media
- And finally, a discussion about your child’s identity
Rules for Phone Usage:
-
As a foundation, be sure you tell them
- How much you love them
- Who owns the phone (that would be YOU)
- That someday they will make all their own rules
- Decide time-of-day limits
- Where the phone will charge and what time it needs to be there
- Don’t ignore their calls and texts (especially from you)
- What they can expect with responses from you
- Dinner table rules
- Using the Internet behind closed doors
- How to handle the phone when they are with other people in the same room
- Can they text members of the opposite sex?
- Nothing is private on the Internet
And remember, the goal here is to establish these rules when you first hand them a phone and eventually, give them more and more freedom as they show maturity and responsible behavior.
Links and Such
Download a customizable phone contract
Glennon Doyle's blog post about privacy on the Internet
KidBridge will allow you to monitor your child's text on a smartphone remotely
The prayer I prayed is from the book Prayers That Avail Much (affiliate link)
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Click Here to Join my Email list to keep up with me outside the podcast!
Read more balance stuff at thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest (NOTE: I am on a year-long hiatus from social media!)
To help you find balance with social media and all other things, get Finding Your Balance, an 11-Lesson Bible Study.
I had no idea 10 years ago, when I bought my oldest daughter a cell phone and laptop, that technology and everything that comes with it would absolutely dominate our lives. Today we’re talking all about parenting in the age of the internet, social media, and cell phones.
If you have kids of any age still in your home this is a discussion you cannot avoid.
Mistakes I've Made:
- Giving my kids technology too early and expecting them to handle it.
- Believing that filters would keep out inappropriate content.
- Not understanding everything a device can do before giving it to my child (giving my child a talk and text phone, not knowing it had an internet browser).
What I Know for Sure:
- The Internet is here to stay. If we don’t figure out how to navigate it with our children, it will simply run right over us and take our kids with it.
- Technology is advancing at warp speed, which renders most of our limits and restrictions obsolete in a very short time. We must keep up.
- Even if we decide on certain age limits and restrictions for our home, technology may override our decisions.
- Kids socialize on the Internet with their real-life friends. Kids (and parents) who don’t participate can feel isolated and left out.
- Even if your at-home boundaries are working well, kids have friends with different boundaries.
- The best Internet filters won’t catch everything.
- Even if your kids are engaging in appropriate internet activity, the bad things can still find them.
- Satan hates your kids and wants to destroy your family. He will use the Internet to do that because it’s a breeding ground for that type of thing.
What I Do Not Like About Talk and Text Phones for Kids:
- Group texts are impossible.
- The Camera is crap.
- It’s impossible to monitor anything remotely.
- They still have an internet browser, which can only be disabled by turning off the data.
- No “find my friends” in case of an emergency.
- No parental controls
My Rules Today:
No smartphone until age 16 (though this may change...see above for all the reasons I hate talk and text phones for kids)
Only a filtered internet browser allowed when I decide the child is mature enough to handle internet on the phone.
Downloading apps only allowed with my prior approval.
No social media until high school (this will not change and may actually change to age 16 for my youngest)
Must sign a phone contract (with all the detailed rules explained) and listen to a LONG speech before receiving the device. (more on this in EP 24)
Must charge phone in main area of house until age 18.
Links and Such:
To be entered into a drawing to win a free copy of Here Now, by Kate Merrick
1. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts (formerly known as iTunes)
or
Share The Balanced Momcast (any episode) with a friend!
2. Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com to let me know you left a review or shared the podcast.
I’ll contact the winner via email on 10/18/19. (U.S. only)
Buy your own copy of Here Now (affiliate link)
Parental Internet Filters and Remote Text Monitoring
An article reviewing best Internet Filters
KidBridge--what I use
Covenant Eyes--what I use
Read my Hiatus Post on Facebook
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Click Here to Join my Email list to keep up with me outside the podcast!
Read more balance stuff at thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest (NOTE: I am on a year-long hiatus from social media!)
To help you find balance with social media and all other things, get Finding Your Balance, an 11-Lesson Bible Study.
Nothing will mess with our balance quite like distraction. And few things distract moms in 2019 more consistently than social media. In Episode 21 I mentioned 10 problems that come as a direct result of using social media, and today I’m offering you 15 of my best tips for managing and reducing your screen time so you do not become a slave to it and instead live a more focused and less frazzled life.
Before you do anything, take a minute and figure out what you are trying to accomplish.
Ask yourself the following questions:
What role do I want social media to play in my life?
Do I want to get off completely?
Do I want to reduce the time I spend there?
Do I want to still interact there, and just have it be a more positive experience?
What kind of relationship do I want to have with my phone?
What kind of person do I want to be?
Tips and Strategies Discussed in this Episode:
- Take an extended hiatus from all social media (Discussed at length in EP 21)
- Do not look at your phone the first thing in the morning.
- Turn off most or all your notifications.
- Set specific times each day to check everything and set a timer.
- Edit your social media feeds.
- Decide what role YOU will play on social media.
- Ban, hide, delete rude and negative comments.
- Strip your phone down the bare essentials.
- Maybe you don’t want to strip your phone down all the time, but only sometimes.
- Use your smart phone’s built-in features to block or limit your time.
- Put your phone in a time out.
- If you work from home or are tempted to check work emails at home after hours, set specific “office hours” where you engage on your phone and not at any other time.
- Make everything on your phone inconvenient.
- Don’t read your news from your news feed on your phone.
- Wear a watch.
Links and Such:
To be entered into a drawing to win a free copy of Here Now, by Kate Merrick (the U.S. only--offer ends 10/17/19!),
1. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts (formerly known as iTunes)
or
Share The Balanced Momcast (any episode) with a friend!
2. Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com to let me know you left a review or shared the podcast.
I’ll contact the winner via email. (U.S. only, offer ends 10/17/19)
Buy your own copy of Here Now (affiliate link)
For the study about phone touches, click here: Putting Our Finger on Our Phone Obsession.
Read my Hiatus Post on Facebook
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Click Here to Join my Email list to keep up with me outside the podcast!
Read more balance stuff at thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest (NOTE: I am on a year-long hiatus from social media!)
To help you find balance with social media and all other things, get Finding Your Balance, an 11-Lesson Bible Study.
Today I’m starting a new series on technology and social media. How it affects us as women. How it affects us as moms. How it affects our kids. And how in the world are we supposed to balance all this? Because it’s definitely not going away! Today I’m starting with a sneak peek behind my recent decision to take a year-long social media hiatus.
10 problems that come with technology and social media:
- The direct link to anxiety and depression and anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), impulsive disorder, problems with mental functioning, paranoia, and loneliness.
- The time suck
- The dangers of connecting with people in a private setting
- The addictive quality of every app and website.
- The life-sucking quality of people’s comments that people feel the freedom to leave when they are safely and anonymously hidden behind a computer screen.
- Sharing our kids’ entire lives online before they even have an opportunity to refuse it.
- Isolation from real-life relationships and the complete loss of social skills.
- Comparison
- False and “easy” sense of connecting.
- Information overload
To be entered into a drawing to win a free copy of Here Now, by Kate Merrick (the U.S. only--offer ends 10/17/19!),
1. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts (formerly known as iTunes)
or
Share The Balanced Momcast (any episode) with a friend!
2. Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com to let me know you left a review or shared the podcast.
I’ll contact the winner via email. (U.S. only, offer ends 10/17/19)
Buy your own copy of Here Now (affiliate link)
Listen to the whole series on Overwhelm, Depression, and Anxiety, in Episodes 16-20
Listen to the message I preached at my church about Choosing Life in Episodes 12 and 13
Read my Hiatus Post on Facebook
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Click Here to Join my Email list to keep up with me outside the podcast!
Listen to my interview on the You are Well Podcast
Read more balance stuff at thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest (NOTE: I am on a year-long hiatus from social media!)
To help you find balance with social media and all other things, get Finding Your Balance, an 11-Lesson Bible Study.
I don’t know you, but I know one thing about you: Either you suffer from depression and anxiety, or you love someone who does. Either way, knowing how to help someone who suffers is valuable information. Today I’m offering you some dos and don’ts of helping someone with depression and anxiety. You can use it for yourself or you can pass it on to the people who love you.
CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE COPY OF THE LIST
Don’t offer any trite answers or cute sayings.
Don't say any of the following:
Snap out of it. Calm down. Suck it up. Get over it. It’s all in your head. You need a drink! I don’t see why you are so upset. Why is this so hard for you? Why are you being so self-centered? Let it go. You know, worry is a sin. “I can’t deal with you…you’re too much.”
Do:
-
Treat the person with the same tenderness and concern that you would if they told you they had the flu or cancer. (Realize most people won’t come right out and say, “I’m struggling with depression right now.” You may need to ask.)
-
Give her space to work through it, but check on her often to make sure she’s getting better and doesn’t give up.
-
Ask, “What can I do for you?”
-
Ask, “How can I pray for you?”
-
Ask, “Do you want to talk about it?”
-
Ask, “Are you taking good care of yourself?”
-
Ask, “Did you make an appointment with your doctor/therapist?” Would you like me to pick you up and drive you there?
-
Ask, “Can I help you with the kids?” “Can I grab something from the grocery store for you?”
-
Ask “Would you like to go for a walk?”
-
Ask, “Do you need me to come over?”
-
Ask, “Do you want me to just sit and listen?”
-
Validate her feelings. “I know this is so hard.” “You must feel miserable.”
-
Say, “I love you and I’m here no matter what and I’ll keep checking on you until I know you are over the hump.” And then actually do it.
-
Pray for her.
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Read more balance stuff at thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
To get to the root of your overwhelm, get Finding Your Balance, an 11-Lesson Bible Study.
Today I’m offering you a few over the counter supplements—some that I have tried and use--that have been been studied and shown to work well for people. Then I emphasize a few of the best lifestyle elements that are the most effective in treating and preventing depression and anxiety.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or a therapist. Please consult your doctor before trying anything I suggest here. I did all of this under a doctor's care.
EP 16: This is where I tell my story of depression
The DSM-5 outlines the following criterion to make a diagnosis of depression. The individual must be experiencing five or more symptoms during the same 2-week period and at least one of the symptoms should be either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.
- Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.
- Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day.
- Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
- A slowing down of thought and a reduction of physical movement (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
- Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day.
- Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day.
- Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.
Lost Connections: Why You’re Depressed and How to Find Hope, by Johann Hari (affiliate link)
To read the list of things I do in blog post form, you can find a post I wrote on this a few years ago here.
Here is the blog post where I tell you all about Passion Flower and Valerian Root.
Here are the supplements and therapies I mention in today's episode. These are the brands that have been recommended to me by either my local natural food store or by my doctor.
Passion Flower
Valerian Root
5 HTP
St. John’s Wort
Sam-e
Orthobiotic
Vitamin D3 Liquid
Vitamin D3 gel cap
Vitamin B Complex
Selenium
Magnesium oral
Magnesium Epsom Salts
Iron
Fish Oil
Light Therapy
(These are all Amazon Affiliate Links. That simply means, if you click through and buy something through this link, I get a small commission at absolutely no additional cost to you.)
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Read more balance stuff at thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
To get to the root of your overwhelm, get Finding Your Balance, an 11-Lesson Bible Study.
Depression affects 300 million people worldwide, and I am one of them. The good news is, depression is entirely treatable and almost always, preventable. If you have mild depression and anxiety and want to explore some options outside of prescription medication, I'm giving you the exact things I do on a daily basis that keep depression and anxiety at bay.
EP 16: This is where I tell my story of depression
Depression DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria The DSM-5 outlines the following criterion to make a diagnosis of depression. The individual must be experiencing five or more symptoms during the same 2-week period and at least one of the symptoms should be either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.
- Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.
- Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day.
- Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
- A slowing down of thought and a reduction of physical movement (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
- Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day.
- Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day.
- Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.
Lost Connections: Why You’re Depressed and How to Find Hope, by Johann Hari (affiliate link)
To read the list of things I do in blog post form, you can find a post I wrote on this a few years ago here.
Here is the blog post where I tell you all about Passion Flower and Valerian Root.
You can get them on Amazon too (affiliate links):
Passion Flower
Valerian Root
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Read more balance stuff at thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
To get to the root of your overwhelm, get Finding Your Balance, an 11-Lesson Bible Study.
Depression affects 300 million people and is the leading cause of disability worldwide. That statistic is staggering. The good news is depression is entirely treatable and almost always, preventable…especially when we learn to recognize the things that trigger our depression in the first place.
Somewhere between "overwhelm" (Episode 15) and clinical depression is a middle place I'll call "feeling off" or "being in a funk." A time where I feel more tired and more irritable than usual. This is where I have a window of time--a few days--to recognize that I'm slipping into a pit. Here I can address the underlying issue before it causes me to fall all the way in the pit of depression.
In EP 16, I offered you 6 questions to ask yourself when you’re feeling off. Today, I’m giving you 7 more.
To download a printable copy of the questions, click here.
Click here to listen to Part One of this list: EP16 Questions to Ask Yourself When You're Feeling Off
Episode 15: What to do When You're Overwhelmed
Get a copy of Prayers That Avail Much (affiliate link)
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Read more balance stuff at thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
To get to the root of your overwhelm, get Finding Your Balance, an 11-Lesson Bible Study.
Depression affects 300,000,000 people and is the leading cause of disability worldwide. If you are a woman, you are twice as likely to suffer from depression than a man.
These statistics are staggering.
The good news is depression is entirely treatable and almost always preventable...especially when we learn to recognize our depression triggers.
Somewhere between "overwhelm" (Episode 15) and clinical depression is a middle place I'll call "feeling off" or "being in a funk." A time where I feel more tired and more irritable than usual. This is where I have a window of time--a few days--to recognize that I'm slipping into a pit. Here I can address the underlying issue before it causes me to fall all the way in the pit of depression.
Today I'm giving you the first 6 questions I ask myself when I'm not feeling like myself.
Next week I'll give you the remaining 7.
To download a printable copy of the questions, click here.
Episode 15: What to do When You're Overwhelmed
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Read more balance stuff at thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
To get to the root of your overwhelm, get Finding Your Balance, an 11-Lesson Bible Study.
If you're a mom drowning in your responsibilities, I'm here to throw you a lifeline. Today I'm offering 7 things that will give you immediate relief from the pressure of "too much."
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Do a brain dump
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Cancel/quit something
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Clean your kitchen
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10 minutes/10 things
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Power Hour
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Silence your phone
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Schedule downtime
To get to the root of your overwhelm, get Finding Your Balance, an 11-Lesson Bible Study.
After you "brain dump" you'll want to sort out all that stuff. Learn all about my list-keeping system in EP5: My #1 Tool For Helping Me Live Out My Priorities
email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Read more balance stuff at thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
In this episode I share a simple strategy for gaining control of your day in these summer months when the schedule is wonky, the days are longer, and the structure of the school year has been removed...all in just 33 minutes a day, as the name implies.
Listen to EP 7 for more on daily routines
LISTEN TO THE END FOR THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL OFFERS:
1) Finding Your Balance is on sale June 27-June 30th
- $12.99 for paperback on Amazon ($2 off regular price)
- $5 for ebook/PDF (That's HALF OFF!)
2) Join our private Facebook community (must have a copy of the book to join)
- July 1- July 31
- I will lead you through Finding Your Balance
- Daily accountability
- Daily access to me (ask me anything!)
- Quick--get in, get out. (because: Summer!)
3) If you buy Finding Your Balance in any format, receive FREE the first two chapters of my next book Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me?
4) Buy 10 copies of Finding Your Balance at the sale price of $12.99 and get a 30-minute coaching call with me (either private or with your Bible study group) and be entered to win a $200 Amazon Gift Card
Email me and tell me you bought the book and how many copies to be entered in the drawing, get access to the private Facebook group, get your FREE chapters, and schedule your coaching call!
thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Balance is all about making good choices. And each day we have 35,000 opportunities to do so. Today, I'm playing Part 2 of a sermon I preached at my home church entitled "Choose Life." Don't let the word "sermon" fool you...this episode is super practical.
LINKS
Sign up for the Scoop on Balance Newsletter to receive an email when Season Two begins AND to keep in touch with me between seasons and outside of the podcast.
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Or on BarnesandNoble.com
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Balance is all about making good choices...and every day we have 35,000 opportunities to do so. Today I'm playing for you Part 1 of a message I preached at my home church on Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, entitled Choose Life (but I'm not only talking about "saving babies.")
LINKS:
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Or on BarnesandNoble.com
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
When your teen loses it, the absolute worst thing you can do is lose it too. When you match your child tantrum for tantrum, there are immediate and negative consequences:
- You lose your leverage
- Your teen feels like you are not a safe place.
- It's impossible for you to think rationally.
“Your defining act of love for your child will not be the 2:00 A.M. feeding, the sleepless, fretful night spent beside him in the hospital, or the second job you took to pay for college. Your zenith will occur in the withering blast of frightening rage from your adolescent, in allowing no rage from yourself in response. Your finest moment may be your darkest. And you will be the parent.”
~ Michael J. Bradley~
ABOVE ALL ELSE, KEEP YOUR COOL
- Pray
- Envision yourself maintaining control
- Walk away (or run!)
- Picture your teen as a toddler
- Be the adult you want your kids to be
- Imagine how you would act if someone else were in the room watching.
LINKS:
Prayer for Self-Control
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Or on BarnesandNoble.com
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
My ebook 25 Little Things You Can Do to Reach Your Fitness Goals (only $.99!!!!)
Today, in honor of Mother's Day, I'm sharing a recording of a sermon I delivered in my home church on Mother's Day 2018. If you are a tired mom or you know a tired mom, this is for you (read: this one is for EVERYONE!).
LINKS:
Buy the ebook 25 Little Things You Can Do to Reach Your Fitness Goals
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
My kids are just like your kids. If I give them the choice between cookies and fruit for dessert, they will choose the cookies. If I give them the choice between fries or broccoli as a side, they will chose the fries. That's why I am deliberate and strategic to train them to choose healthy food when faced with a choice.
Today, I'm offering, 22 strategies I use in my own home to teach my kids to love healthy food. Mix and match as you see fit.
- Do it yourself: The best way to teach your kids how to choose healthy food is to live by example.
- Don’t keep junk in the house, including soda—if you don’t buy it, it won’t be there to eat. Period.
- If your child asks for a snack, tell them they need to eat a fruit or veggie first. If it’s close to dinner, serve the fruit or veggie portion of the dinner as the snack.
- Make dessert something special—not something you do nightly. Take them out for ice cream after their baseball game. Bake cookies on Saturday. Go out for a shake when grade cards come out.
- Let them choose between soda or dessert at a restaurant, but not both.
- Pack school lunches most days.
- When offering new healthy food, tell them “You don’t need to taste it, just let it sit on your plate.”
- Offer money to taste a new food. Yep. I have paid my kids a quarter or a dollar to taste something and I'm not ashamed.
- Serve a variety of fruits and vegetables at every meal and make them pick two.
- Buy the healthy food they like.
- Never say no to seconds on veggies.
- Don’t push meat and dairy.
- Teach your kids to read labels.
- Teach them to be wise about advertising.
- Serve smoothies.
- Let them order off the adult menu.
- Don’t let the order the fries as their side—make them get a fruit or veggie instead.
- Make it your goal in life to get your kid to love salad.
- Serve water with every meal.
- Reserve special junk food for birthdays, vacations, and holidays.
- Make your home a healthy food zone.
- Connect the dots for them for how healthy food and junk affects how they feel.
The Balanced MomCast made the iTunes New and Noteworthy list in two categories!!! WHAT??!!! That’s because you are listening and rating and reviewing it. THANK YOU listeners. I can’t stop smiling.
LINKS
Power of a Praying Parent, by Stormie Omartian (affiliate link)
My ebook 25 Little Things You Can Do to Reach Your Fitness Goals (only $.99!!!!)
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
Or on BarnesandNoble.com
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
I believe it’s possible to have a healthy, well-balanced, accurate, truthful, godly, self-image that challenges us to take good care of our physical body without shame and self-hate.
On this episode, I try to articulate for you what a healthy body image looks like and how you can achieve it.
Why do women have poor body image?
There are dozens of reasons, but here are a few of the biggies.
- things spoken to you as a child
- weight fluctuations over the years
- society
- spiritual attack
What can we do about it?
- Ask God to show you what you look like to Him.
- Declare your body a “no hate zone.”
- Pray against the enemy specifically in this area.
- Look at social media, TV, and magazines with a critical eye.
- Focus on what your body can do and has done.
- Change the way you talk
- Make healthy choices that focus on good habits and routines, not outcomes.
Links:
Buy the ebook 25 Little Things You Can Do to Reach Your Fitness Goals
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
I have learned that my levels of balance flow directly from the routines I have established in my life. I may know my priorities well enough. But if I don’t have a routine in place to live each of those priorities out, I exist in a constant state of imbalance.
So, I’ve decided, for the sake of my balance, I need to take a look my priorities and begin the hard work of establishing routines for each one.
The Benefits of Routines
- Routines reduce decision fatigue.
- Routines increase productivity.
- Routines reduce overwhelm from looming projects.
- Routines provide inner security.
- Routines prepare your body for what’s next.
- Routines determine the outcome of our lives.
Tips for Establishing Routines
- Start with identifying your priorities
- Start with only one daily habit.
- Start super small.
- Pair your new routine with something you already do on a regular basis.
- Give yourself lots of time.
- Extend yourself grace.
- Sometimes adding a new routine makes way for other routines to naturally follow.
Some Good Places to Develop Routines
- Early morning, before anyone gets up.
- Getting kids off to school.
- Mealtime prep and clean-up.
- First thing when you arrive at work.
- Last thing before you leave work.
- After school.
- Kid’s naptime
- Kids’ bedtime.
- Nighttime, after kids are in bed.
- Weekly household chores or individual recurring chores (like laundry or yard work).
- Writing, if you blog. Or creating whatever you create.
- Exercise.
- Prayer/Bible reading.
- Saturday morning.
Links
Kendra at The Lazy Genius Collective
Gretchen Rubin's Secrets of Adulthood
Tsh Oxenreider
Posts I've written on routines:
https://thescooponbalance.com/how-routines-help-us-and-tips-for-establishing-them/
https://thescooponbalance.com/bbi-2013-week-3-establish-routines-and-rituals/
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
I promised in EP1 that my podcast would be "unapologetically Christian." Today I deliver on that promise. I'm talking about the all-out spiritual attack against you as a mom--what that looks like and what you can do about it. And I do my best to discuss evil without creeping you out. :)
Four Strategies You Spiritual Enemy Uses to Keep You Off Balance:
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Distraction--The Enemy wants you to be without focus
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Discouragement--The Enemy wants you to be without hope.
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Deception--The Enemy wants you to be without Truth.
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Division--The Enemy wants you to be isolated and alone.
LINKS:
Receive a printable copy of the prayer
The Armor of God Bible Study, by Priscilla Shirer
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
Today we are all about LISTS! If you're a list hater, hear me out. Knowing our priorities is only part of living a well-balanced life. We actually need to live those priorities out. That's where lists come in. They give us the FREEDOM to designate specific times for the things that matter most to us. In this episode we talk about different kinds of lists and how to use them to combat overwhelm and keep us focused.
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The To-Don't List
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The To-Do List (2 different kinds)
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The To-Day List
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The To-Done List (or the TaDa! List)
LINKS:
The binder I use: Red Leather from Amazon
Binder tabs with pockets
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
(But, honestly, I'm not on social media much because it is currently on my To Don't List.)
Every day we make decisions about where to direct our focus, our attention, our time, and our efforts. But how do you decide? When tasks, responsibilities, duties, and opportunities all scream for your attention, how do you determine what is the priority?
In this episode, I give you six questions to ask yourself when an opportunity presents itself. You won't need to ask every question every single time, but working your way through this list will help you narrow down your options and lead you to the answer you're seeking.
-
Does this fall under the umbrella of loving God and loving others?
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Is this thing loving toward myself?
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Is it a clear and definite YES?
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Is it an emergency?
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What season am I in?
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Does this align with my larger goals?
LINKS:
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com
(But, honestly, I'm not on social media much because this does not align with my larger goals.)
In this episode we discuss some basic balance truths:
-
Balance is measured over the course of time, not day-to-day.
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Balance is measured and achieved by seeking God not
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productivity
- what other moms are doing
- what other people think about you
-
perfection
-
Balancing life requires an eternal perspective
-
Balancing life requires knowing my gifts and protecting my limitations.
LINKS
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
(But, honestly, I'm not on social media much because: balance!)
In this episode I talk about my own frazzled history as a mom that led me to desperately seek and understand the concept of balance. I also share a list (I love lists) of things balance is NOT, some faulty balance metaphors (balance beam, anyone?), and a great definition of balance that will work for you, no matter who you are.
LINKS
Becoming a Woman of Freedom, Cynthia Heald (affiliate link)
The Christian Woman Leadership Podcast, EP 34
Kristina Kuzmic "Screw Balance" video, on Facebook
For The Love, Jen Hatmaker (affiliate link)
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
(But, honestly, I'm not on social media much because: balance!)
In this episode, I tell you about my 22-year parenting journey, which includes a high-risk pregnancy, a premie, a death, 2 adoptions, a diagnosis of clinical depression and anxiety, a diagnosis of ADHD and Asperger's, 1 child launched into adulthood, and 2 children still home.
I also share with you the 2 reasons I'm doing a podcast and the 9 things you can expect (as well as my undying love for lists.)
LINKS
Finding Your Balance is available on Amazon for $14.99
My blog: thescooponbalance.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
(But, honestly, I'm not on social media much because: balance!)
Also, I mention that I'm also on Twitter, but seriously, do not follow me there. I'm NEVER there. I just maintain an account just in case.