This past week was full of challenges and many unexpected opportunities for me to trust God as I found myself mostly solo parenting while Jesse and Silas were on a father-son ski trip in Utah.
The heartbreak of our girls who lose a dear friend and drop everything to pick them up in their grief. My heart is torn to shreds seeing them hurt so much.
A terrifying episode in the middle of the night where Kierstyn couldn’t breathe and her oxygen levels were low (luckily I was able to get them going again before we had to go to the ER!)
An urgent care visit for Kathrynne when she became very ill.
A doctor’s visit for Kierstyn. (She was diagnosed with pneumonia and an ear infection – which didn’t surprise me at all with how her lungs sounded and what her breathing was like.)
David pooped twice in the bathtub and then pulled off all of his gauze around the port of his feeding tube and it bled all over his clothes. His feeding tube comes out in the middle of a feeding and makes a big mess of formula everywhere.
One child had the worst seizure they’d ever had in their life (complete with screaming, “you’re the worst mother ever!!”). They later came back and apologized.)
I almost had an accident on the highway when the car in front of me hit the brakes because a car stopped in the middle of the road. (It really felt like there were guardian angels around us – the car behind us had to pull over to the side of the road to avoid hitting me!)
In the middle of all this, there are book edits to be made. It’s been a lot.
And yet, in the midst of the challenges, I have felt God’s goodness and supernatural power and peace.
I am so grateful that I don’t have to walk this life alone or fist my way through life in my own strength. He is faithful and we can trust Him.
This week’s Q&A
I posted a question box on Instagram stories a few days ago and got a lot of questions. I wanted to share some of my reactions here…
Q: Advice on how to deal with a pre-teen boy? We have an 11 year old and the attitude comes up big.
Answer: My best advice is to pray for your son daily and pray for God to give you wisdom to love him well. And then become involved in his world.
Care about what he cares about – get interested in sports or video games or whatever your son is interested in. Take him out to dinner or get his favorite treat.
Praise every little thing he puts effort into. Save your corrections for those moments when it really matters. Be his biggest cheerleader instead of his biggest critic. Speak highly of him to him and to others. And clearly communicate expectations built on a strong relationship foundation. And keep him busy – bored boys are often frustrated and have a lot of energy with no outlet.
Q: Bedtime routine for little ones? A 7 month old breastfeeding baby, we struggle to get into a routine
Answer: Keep it super, super simple. Dinner, Pi’s, brushed teeth, read a book, prayed and went to bed. Or something similar. I try to have a bedtime routine that can be done in 5-15 minutes if necessary.
And besides, some nights my kids don’t even put on their pajamas – they fall asleep in their clothes. Some evenings we don’t read a book because they are too tired. And some nights we end up reading ten picture books.
My biggest piece of advice is to make sure you don’t put your kids to bed until they’re tired, and then bedtime usually goes much faster. We also often let our children listen to audio stories to fall asleep. It’s something they look forward to and it helps them calm down and fall asleep very quickly!
Q: If you had to lose 30 pounds, what would your diet look like? (Asks for me.)
Answer: I would start by tracking what you eat to get an idea of how many calories you are consuming and what your carb/fat/protein/fiber ratio is. Ideally, you eat at least 90 grams of protein per day and 25 grams of fiber. I would also monitor your activity.
Could you add more protein and fiber + a 5-10 minute walk after each meal? Keep it simple and achievable and don’t try to change your life overnight. Choose 1-3 small habits to implement and stick with them until they become so normal that you do them without thinking. Then add another simple habit.
Question: Are you still using feeding? I finally registered and have an appointment next week.
Answer: Yes! And getting back to the last question, if you’re struggling to lose weight, need to gain weight, want to eat more nutritiously, need some responsibility to prioritize your health, or are just curious about whether you’re eating right to support your lifestyle, I highly recommend hiring a dietitian through Nourish! It changed my life!!
And it is fully covered by insurance for 94% of people!!! Check here whether your insurance will reimburse this.
By the way, JJ just left a comment saying this: “I am losing weight with the help of my dietician. In fact, as someone who has struggled to lose weight for a long time, I often felt shame and guilt about food. Not anymore! When my dietitian said I could eat dessert every day, I explained that that was impossible. I have no self-control. She has been by my side (and I love how we can message them between sessions!) and guides me so I can succeed and learn self-control without feeling tied down. So yes, I eat foods I enjoy WHILE I lose weight. I am learning not to be afraid of food, but to eat in a way that makes me truly full, happy and healthy. Really, thanks for posting and sharing!”
Meet John, our new robot vacuum cleaner, who has become one of the hardest working and most loved members of the family. He cleans and mops the floors while also completely entertaining three young children as they feed him dirt from the floor. 🤣🤣 It’s absolutely amazing! 🙌🏻
It has to be said that we are very impressed with our Yeedi robot vacuum cleaner!! They currently have four different models on sale and one of them is only $179 shipped!!
Do you have a robot vacuum cleaner? If so, what is his/her name?
You can get this one Dream Pairs Mary Jane Ballerinas for Toddler Girls for only $12.99 shipped when you use the promotional code ALSO178 at checkout!
These regularly cost $33.99 and this is such a good deal. Choice of several colors.
Kierstyn has worn this time and time again – including when she was a flower girl dresser at her aunt and uncle’s wedding! – and loves them!
Books I finished last week
People skills – I loved this book and felt that it is a very useful tool for anyone who wants to deepen relationships, build a stronger community, and communicate with more kindness and sincerity. The chapters are short and action-packed, with follow-up questions and practical action steps. If you want to know what the book is about, make sure you check out this Instagram Live I did with the author here. It was so good and judgmental.
The life-changing art of self-brain surgery — I really found this book so helpful and insightful. If you feel stuck or that life is so overwhelming and difficult and you are bombarded with discouragement, this would be a fantastic book to read. By combining science and Scripture, the author provides such practical encouragement for how you can change your life by changing your thoughts!
What I’m looking at
The Olympic Games of course, just like last week. 🙂 I also watched quite a few episodes of When the heart is called upon. (I’m on season 9 now!)
What I listen to
I started listening Holy disruptor last week at the encouragement of my sister. So far things are going very differently than I expected. Have you read or listened to it?
In case you missed it: this week’s posts
How to Use the Swagbucks App to Make Money – Looking for an honest Swagbucks review? Want to know how to make money with Swagbucks? I’ve put together a comprehensive guide on how Swagbucks works, how to earn free gift cards, and my top tips for making more with Swagbucks.
Baked Potato Bar ($10 Family Dinner Idea) — A baked potato bar is such a fun, tasty, and simple meal! View all the details here.
Brigette’s $55 shopping trip and weekly menu for 4 people! — Look at what Brigette bought and is feeding her family on a budget this week.
I’m training to be part of the Olympic luge team — I hope this video makes you laugh! And if you need a smile, Watch this short video from David.
How to find the cheapest car insurance + smart ways to save every dollar — Car insurance is actually one of the easiest bills to reduce with a little intentional effort. Unlike utilities or rent, you actually have quite a bit of control over what you pay, and many families leave hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars on the table simply because they haven’t reviewed their policies in a while.
This week’s podcast episode
I’ve been eager I’ve been looking forward to doing this episode since I got my hands on it Dr. Lee Warren’s new book, The life-changing art of self-brain surgery. The title alone made Jesse wonder, “Wait…a DIY brain surgery?” To be honest, I actually had the same thought, but what Lee shares in this conversation completely blew me away. He is a brain surgeon and he has discovered that the same principles he uses in the operating room can be applied by any of us to literally change our own brains – through our thoughts!
Most of what goes through our minds every day is false, negative or repetitive, keeping us stuck. But if we purposefully practice new ways of thinking, we can rewire our brains in real time and reshape the life that follows. The Crystal Paine ShowLee and I talk about why our culture often convinces us that we are powerless to change, why 80% of our thoughts are false, and how the simple act of noticing and choosing our thoughts can literally transform our neurochemistry, our bodies, and our perspective!
Lee and I dive into practical tools—from prayer and meditation to quiet reflection—that help filter out the noise and build mental habits that make us calmer, more resilient, and more purposeful. We also explore the deeply human side of change: the grief, the loss, and the impossible days that can feel like they can crush us. Listen in as Lee tells his personal story of losing his son and welcoming a grandchild on the same day, and how recognizing that two truths can exist at once (joy and sadness) was life-giving and transformative.
Tune in this week and see how science and Scripture beautifully reinforce each other and how small, consistent actions can rebuild your mind, your habits, and your hope. If you have ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or powerless to change your thoughts and your life, this episode will most likely challenge you, encourage you, and give you hope that real change is not only possible; it’s built into how you’re connected!
Listen to this week’s episode here.
Tell me about your week! Is something interesting happening? Have you read any good books, seen any good shows or tackled any projects?
#Week #week #read #listen #watch