The Refreshed Moms Podcast

Leah Hatefi, wife to Aaron and mother of Evelie and Noah, is a vocational missionary with Youth With a Mission (YWAM).

YWAM equips young adults to go into all nations and make disciples of all peoples groups. After leading many teams to other countries, sharing the Gospel, and serving with various long-term mercy-ministry projects, Leah felt Jesus asking her to return to the US and answer the call to serve within the local church.

After returning, she was invited to help establish a YWAM School of Biblical Studies in Atlanta. Leah became part of the leadership team to launch that school in 2022.

Her prayer is that their students discover the truth of God’s word and deepen their understanding through the love of the Holy Spirit while they study, then take what they learn into the world so that others may know God through their life example.

In this final episode of the For God So Loved the World Podcast Series, I chat with Leah about being a vocational missionary and how raising young children has influenced how she (very gracefully in my opinion) integrates motherhood into her work.

SUPPORT LEAH HATEFI

Brittany Woods is a brand new mother and a vocational missionary with SIM (Sudan Interior Mission) USA. She and her husband Alex (who is Campus Director at Howard University for Campus Outreach) are planning to move to Lusaka, Zambia to join the Campus Outreach team there in just a few short weeks. In Lusaka, Brittany will use her experience mobilizing missionaries in order to help Zambian Christians explore how God may be inviting them into missions and equip them in sharing the Gospel cross-culturally.

In this third episode of the For God So Loved the World Series, Brittany and I will chat about:

Her story of how she became a missionary

Some of Brittany's concerns about working vocationally as a missionary while being a mother

Her thoughts on why there are so few people of color in the mission field

And she'll share a couple of amazing stories from her work in missions around the world.

Support Brittany and her fundraising goal for her long-term missions assignment at the link below:

Not everyone is called to serve in ministry in another country for years.

Not everyone is called to short-term mission trips outside of their country.

Some people are not in seasons where world ministry travel is reasonably within reach.

But, believers all have a universal call to share the good news of Jesus to the nations.If you're not the one to actually go, then how can you participate in the work of missions?

I believe the answer to this is unique to each and every individual, but it basically boils down to this: Some are called to go, and some are called to send those that do.

Send through prayer.

Send through time and support.

But mostly, send through giving finances.

In Episode 2 of my series For God So Loved the World, Emily Manginelli, Founder of the School of the New Testament, Director of the School of Biblical Studies - Atlanta Campus, Co-Lead Pastor of The Square Church, and my sweet dear friend shares her heart on the universal call of missions.

This message changed my life, and I pray it changes yours as well and takes you even further into the heart of God for the nations of the world.

SUPPORT FOR UGANDA

How did I seemingly "all of a sudden" become a short-term missionary mom on her way to the country of Uganda?

Well, it's both straight-line simple as well as twists-and-turns simple - but it's all incredibly put together by God.

And my friend Jill Savage has quite a lot to do with it.

In this first episode in my series "For God So Loved the World", I've invited Jill to share her story of how she and her husband Mark were invited by an organization called Promise International to come and host a marriage conference for pastors in Jinja, Uganda, and how I'm not being taken along for the ride to hold Bible teaching sessions with a few hundred outcast moms of special needs children.

You're gonna love this story - it's only a story that God can do.

CONNECT WITH JILL & MARK SAVAGE

Prayer is important, but it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Prayer can be simple and profound simultaneously.

And approaches to times of prayer can be as unique and varied as the people that speak them... or write them... or sing them... or color them...

Do you get my point here?

I believe the less complicated prayer is, the easier it is to cultivate disciplines around regular conversations with God.

The only important thing here is that you make time - in some kinda way - to talk to God.

In this episode, my sweet friend, Marketing and PR Specialist Nina Dafe and I are talking about how we've managed to complicate prayer in certain seasons of our lives, and how we now do all we can to make it as simple as possible in order to prioritize it.

Books mentioned:

If you're the type of person that loves to pray throughout the day as you feel inspired or led to do so, this episode is especially for you.

Join writer, speaker, mom (and my dear friend) Lisa Bonnema and I as we discuss the differences between prayer being relational or intentional, and go even deeper with us in episode 3 of my series on Effective Prayer.

The word "discipline" sounds like a work doesn't it?

The first thing I think about is exercising and staying fit.

Not many love working out, but there is no way of achieving fitness without it.

None.

But most people don't do it because, well, it's not easy.

I think that's why people may push back on prayer as a discipline - prayer is personal and relational, so when you speak of disciplined prayer it all of a sudden becomes a task or chore. Or maybe even feel like "law."

I'm not even gonna fake the funk - I think creating prayer disciplines are important. Not for any of the reasons above, but because our culture has a way of filling my time with busyness - and I begin to believe that the things I do are more important than slowing down enough for him to speak to me about the things I do.

In this episode, I'm sharing my thoughts about why I think creating disciplines that support a consistent prayer life matter.

And I'm offering a stair-stepping approach to inserting regular prayer into your life, no matter how busy your life feels right now. It may be so much easier than you think (and maybe you're doing it without even knowing it!).

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Register for the FREE Effective Prayer Bible Study

Does God hear and answer prayer – or to be more specific, does God hear and answer your prayers?

What if you could:

• Be confident that God hears every single prayer that you pray?

• Identify and recognize God’s responses to your prayers?

• Hold God accountable, yes accountable, for his promises and character?

• Use prayer to know God and his ways more in order to strengthen your faith in him?

• Feel like your prayer time wasn’t wasted effort, but every single time you prayed you knew it was worth it?

When my children were little - both toddlers - we lived in a small home with only one bathroom.

It was rare that I could enter that bathroom without a child joining me back then.

Even when I took a shower, I could pretty much count on at least one family member coming in to grab something, ask me something, or if you were one of the kids, use the bathroom.

I finally got to the point where I asked Eddie if he could allow me to have 15 uninterrupted minutes in the bathroom in order to take a shower alone.

Of course he said yes, and my shower became the place I would pray. Everyday.

I soon taped page-protected scriptures and prayer on the back tiles of my shower and once I closed that shower curtain, that shower turned into an altar.

My altar to God.

Earlier this year I came across a post by today's guest about an altar of remembrance she made in her home, and I was immediately translated back (in memory) to my precious shower.

Her story touched my heart and I knew I had to have her be a part of this series on effective prayer.

God desires for us to remember who he is and what he has done in our lives, and scripture records his people as those who built altars to him.

In this episode, Worship Pastor, singer, songwriter, wife and mom Lindsey Arcaro shares how God turned her pain into an opportunity to remember that he is still her God and the God of her children.

I invite you to listen in.

The dictionary definition of "effective is the following:

adjective

1. successful in producing a desired or intended result.
2. fulfilling a specified function in fact, though not formally acknowledged as such.

Based on this definition, I believe there is a such thing as prayer being effective... successful in producing a desired or intended result.

I think we get hung up, however, around that desired or intended result part, which could mean prayer could possibly...

Not get us us what we want.

Not be answered in the way we envisioned.

But even if that's the case, prayer can still be effective.

In this episode I'm sharing 7 things to consider when determining for ourselves what effective prayer looks like for both God and the people that offer prayers to him, and I'll also invite you into a time of Bible study around those very things.

Register for the Effective Prayer Bible Study

Does God hear and answer prayer – or to be more specific, does God hear and answer your prayers?

What if you could:

• Be confident that God hears every single prayer that you pray?
• Identify and recognize God’s responses to your prayers?
• Hold God accountable, yes accountable, for his promises and character?
• Use prayer to know God and his ways more in order to strengthen your faith in him?
• Feel like your prayer time wasn’t wasted effort, but every single time you prayed you knew it was worth it?

In just 6 weeks uncover how to pray more confident prayers that you know God hears (and answers!) with the Effective Prayer Bible Study (a Refreshed Moms Precepts-Guided Study).

I'm back! The Refreshed Moms Podcast is publishing again!

I took a break from recording in order to focus on school studies in 2022, and now I'm back and ready to connect with you again in podcast format.

To kick things off, I thought it would be good to start with some of the main things I learned while in Bible school. These are not deep super-spiritual things, but they have definitely changed my life forever.

I'm sharing it all in this kick-off episode for 2023.

FREE Mini-Course - Making a Rest Plan

Exchange a life that feels over-extended to one that feels rested & refreshed.

• Understand why sleep is not the primary way to rest.
• Discover 7 ways to rest and identify which ones you need right now.
• Proactively resist burnout, or start your burnout recovery.
• Connect with God in prayer around your rest needs.

You can turn burnout around, and it begins with knowing how to rest.

I've worked with mom leaders and entrepreneurs for over four years now with Refreshed Moms.

I've consulted with so many women around their marketing and business framework because honestly it comes so easy to me, and it was the easiest thing to get paid for when I decided to stay home with my kids 14 years ago.

But, marketing isn't what was in my heart when I started Refreshed Moms. My heart's desire was for moms to be able to sustain the rigor of whatever roles of leadership they were feeling called into while raising their kids.

Cause working, leading, and raising kids - well - is hard to do at the same time.

Here's the thing, there's not enough self-care out there to overcome a spirit that thirsts for the presence of God.

I don't care how many approaches to winding down and releasing stress and tension you come up with. I know without a doubt that the number 1 way to sustain your life and recover from exhaustion is by spending time with God.

Even if your schedule feels too full and your life feels spread too thin.

We've gotta move past the "God understands my season... he knows I want to spend time with him." to "God, I cannot make it unless I spend time with you, so show me how to do it."

Yes, he knows motherhood is hard, yet he's still called you into your work and leadership.

And, he still desires to commune with you while your kids are young so that he can refresh your weary soul.

In this Refreshed Moms episode, I'm sharing the new direction I feel God is calling me into in regards to supporting overcommitted mom leaders who desire to deepen their relationship with God even when life feels too full. 

Because the world needs the ministry and leadership you have to give. And I don't want you to give up like I did years ago.
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FREE Mini-Course - Making a Rest Plan 

You can turn business burnout around, and it begins with knowing how to rest.

This mini-course includes very short video lessons on the 7 ways to rest, my Rest Needs Quiz, and a 30-Day Scripture Writing Plan on Rest.

Listen to me: You Need Help.

Yes you do.

I have yet to find a mom who is leading in multiple areas of life (work, business, ministry, homeschool, etc.) who doesn't need help in some kind of way.

But the problem is, we're not very good about asking for it.

We're really good with going down with the ship, but we're challenged when it comes to accepting a life vest.

It's a problem.

Here's the thing: You were not created to go at it alone. You're not even built for it.

YOU. NEED. HELP.

And sometimes, you're the one who is giving the help. It's a beautiful rhythm that God anticipated his creation would experience, and his desire is for us to not have one need among us (can you even fathom this?).

There was a time where I thought the modern church could never live up to the call of supportive, helpful community, but my heart is different now. It is possible. And in this last episode of the Restful Work Series, I'm sharing my thoughts on why you need help in order to do the very work God is requiring of you - as a mom, as a leader, as a women who loves Jesus.

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FREE Mini-Course - Making a Rest Plan 

You can turn business burnout around, and it begins with knowing how to rest.

This mini-course includes very short video lessons on the 7 ways to rest, my Rest Needs Quiz, and a 30-Day Scripture Writing Plan on Rest.

If there's one thing I've learned about my work and money, it's this:

There is no rest in striving.

Working harder to make more money is not only exhausting, it’s never-ending.

There will always be more reasons to make more money.

There will always be more things to buy materially, and even more opportunities to give generously.

Is there a way to live in complete contentment with the money you’re currently making (or not making) in order for your work to be restful and rewarding?

I think so, but for me, it only can with God's help.

In episode #3 of the Restful Work Series, I'm offering three questions to ask and sit with God about regarding your relationship with money. If you're feeling frustrated about not having as much money as you desire right now, I think this episode may be for you.

I also invite you to join my podcast club in Patreon: the Refreshed Moms Sabbath Rest Community.

The #1 community for mom leaders who desire to create a weekly 24-hour sabbath rest practice in order to sustain the work they feel called to do.

If you feel like God has called you to do important work while you’re in a season of motherhood, but the rigor of leadership needed to accomplish it all is feeling like too much, then this community is for you.

In episode 1 of this series, I talked about understanding your time and that the fact that it is finite and limited. Each day has 24 hours to work with, and one day our days will literally be complete.

Capacity - although limited as well - has another characteristic to consider, which is that it changes.

Day by day.
Season by season.
Year by year.

We don't have the same productive energy all the time, because our productivity is impacted by both foreseen and unexpected variables - all the time.

So how do we know whether we should push through depleting capacity in order to get work done or to recognize we are running on (physical, mental, emotional or spiritual ) fumes and need to pause to honor our human limits (and rest) instead?

Oh it can be a tangled web of capacity considerations as we lead in multiple roles each day, but I believe we can become self-aware enough to both get good work done and rest well.

And I'm sharing my thoughts about it in this episode.

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FREE Mini-Course - Making a Rest Plan 

You can turn business burnout around, and it begins with knowing how to rest.

This mini-course includes very short video lessons on the 7 ways to rest, my Rest Needs Quiz, and the Graceful Transitions Meditation for Moms.

I'm in a season of learning Jesus in a new way.

He's teaching me a part of his identity that I don't think I've fully trusted or even understood, and that's knowing him as the God who Provides for his daughter.

The more I allow him to shape my understanding and heart, the more I recognize his faithful hand in my life.

Provision and riches are not the same thing.

When did making money in my businesses become the primary motivation for my work?

When did I begin to trust in my ability and marketing skill to convert financially more than His ability to provide for my family and me?

I'm sure it has something to do with steeping myself into man's ways and knowledge, but God is tearing it all down in order to replace it with His divine business building, which has very little to do with financial goals, and way more to do with faith in his ability to provide - no matter how he decides to do it.

In this episode, I'm exploring Jesus' parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard as I process the difference between making a business decision or a spiritual decision.

And if  you're ready to be challenged the same way I was with how I steward the work of my hands, I invite you to give it a listen.
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FREE Mini-Course - Making a Rest Plan 

You can turn business burnout around, and it begins with knowing how to rest.

This mini-course includes very short video lessons on the 7 ways to rest, my Rest Needs Quiz, and the Graceful Transitions Meditation for Moms.

God is teaching me more and more about knowing him as a Provider. This has me divorcing all the ways I know how to bring material gain into my home, and surrendering to trusting him as my true and only source.

In this episode, I'm taking a walk through Luke 9 and 10 exploring  how Jesus calls, sends, and provides for those who choose to radically obey him, absolutely shattering the cultural norms his disciples knew, as well as the ones we know today.

At the end I ask for you to email me if any of this speaks to your heart, and you can do that at stayrefreshed@refreshedmoms.com.
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FREE Mini-Course - Making a Rest Plan 

You can turn business burnout around, and it begins with knowing how to rest.

This mini-course includes very short video lessons on the 7 ways to rest, my Rest Needs Quiz, and the Graceful Transitions Meditation for Moms.

There's a running joke in my family and with my friends about my son.

Everyone that knows him knows he's this soft-spoken, gentle, laid back kid that is easy to be around and caused zero disturbances or trouble.

The joke: "Except for year #4."

Something happened when my son turned four years old - it has gone down in history as my roughest year of parenting, and to this day we have zero clue why.

Tantrums and throwing hard things against the wall were his anger expressions of choice, and when he was in that place Eddie and I just could not console him.

He was tossed out of preschool class, children's church, and it was a common scene to see me walk over his flailing body as he kicked and screamed on the floor - at home or in the middle of Target.

I felt like I was failing him as a mom, and I could feel the silent judgment of others as they watched my son and me in the middle of one of his big feelings expressions.

My only answer was prayer (and thank God he met me there with answers), but oh how I would have loved to have my guest in my life those years ago.

In this episode, my sweet friend, Boy Parenting Expert and Creator of the Out With Aggression Parenting Course Tosha Shore, is chatting with me about how she teaches us moms with sons how to parent boys peacefully, and is on a mission to create a more peaceful world, one sweet boy at a time by supporting you to care for yourself, connect with your boy deeply, set limits lovingly, and play wildly! 

What you'll hear:

• How Tosha believes boys struggling with aggression are being misunderstood. 
• More insight on my story with the season I walked through with my son when began exhibiting aggressive behaviors.
• The process she takes parents through when they're looking for a way to stop their boy's aggression.
• The one thing parents can do today that will help their boys and bring peace to their families.

Meal planning and execution have long been a stressor for me (how about you?).

Heated discussions have been had, tears have been shed, and I've often been left with a long grocery list of (what felt like) demands from all the players in my home regarding how they want to be fed.

In some way, I was going to wave my magic wand to create dinners that reflected every one's preferences and dietary needs - every night.

Listen, if you have this magic wand, please throw me the Amazon link, cause it's as good as bought.

But, if you're more like I was - a frustrated, tearful mess staring at the Instacart screen trying to make dinner happen for my lovely family - and happen quickly, cause my life is really full and spending long hours in the kitchen is just not realistic these days - I see you.

And I want to help you turn what currently feels stressful into opportunities for deep connection with your children at the dinner table.

I'm chatting with my friend and Meal Planning Ninja Marie Fiebach of Feed Your Family Tonight about how we can eliminate meal planning stress and approach it from a more refreshing space, as well as the ways we've used the dinner meal to nurture and gently parent our children in what has now become a safe conversation oasis for us all.

What you'll hear:

• Why are family dinners important to us.
• How Marie manages family dinner with busy schedules for all and picky eaters.
• How to foster a culture of stability and connection around the family dinner table.
• And of course, some simple meal planning hacks that could possibly save your sanity. LOL.

If you're feeling like you're not moving as fast as you desire with your business, revenue, or ministry goals, this episode is exactly for you.

I'm interrupting the Parenting Well Podcast Series to share this short but important message on how God is in  your slow movement.

Moving faster and achieving big things in short periods of time is the way of our culture.

"My kid was reading at 3 years old!"

"I lost the baby weight 1 month after giving birth!"

"My business made $100k in its first year!"

"I ran a mile in 6 minutes!"

We celebrate and validate fast often.

But sometimes, God asks us for slower movement, slower pace, and smaller bite-sized goals along the way.

Guess what - he's just as powerful in the slow seasons as he is in the faster ones (if not more).

In this short solo episode, I want to encourage you if you're in a season of slow - you know, the one where you feel like your kids won't let you be great because you can't get anything done with them around... or the one where you think your business should be making more money by now than it actually is... or possibly there's something you've been trusting God for for awhile and it feels like he's not even listening - that kinda season.

God is all up in the slow, my friend. I hope this message encourages you to stay the course, and celebrate how your life of obedience to one small thing at a time reflects your faithfulness.
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FREE Mini-Course - Making a Rest Plan 

You can turn business burnout around, and it begins with knowing how to rest.

This mini-course includes very short video lessons on the 7 ways to rest, my Rest Needs Quiz, and the Graceful Transitions Meditation for Moms.

I'm ready to bet that every parent - at some time or another - deals with behavior issues from at least one of their children.

The range of severity definitely differs from family to family, but when it's happening with your son or daughter, you're not trying to compare levels - it all feels hard when you're in the middle of it.

And, there could be an extra level of difficulty if you're parenting children that are not neurotypical - these behaviors can last a very long time and are not as easily curbed by traditional parenting tools and hacks.

It can be exhausting to say the least.

How do you keep yourself in the parenting game without apathy?
How do you extend your child grace?
How do you extend it to yourself?

In Episode #3 of The Parenting Well Series, my friend and Post Adoption Parenting Coach Melissa Corkum and I chat about the nuances of parenting challenging behaviors, and how the brain science around nervous system care can be your best friend when applying  it to your parenting, as well as to your own well being.

CONNECT WITH MELISSA
FREE Video Training

I'm thrilled to celebrate my 100th episode with the Refreshed Moms Podcast!

I wanted to do an "Ask Me Anything" type of episode, so I asked my community to submit questions that they wanted me to cover on this episode.

Let me tell ya, the range of topics was huge and the number of questions were too many to respond to in one episode, but I narrowed it down to 10 questions and 10 answers.

In this episode, I'm taking time to celebrate 100 episodes recorded with the Refreshed Moms Podcast, and pausing my normal flow to answer questions for the Refreshed Moms community.

Some of the questions asked include the following:
How do I handle being a mom, homeschooler, being active in church, running a business and non-profit?

What is my favorite way to celebrate after achieving a goal?

What is my favorite story as a business owner?

What is the most important lesson I've taught my son?

How do you sabbath rest with a family, especially when you have teenagers that are doing their own things?

And more!
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FREE Mini-Course - Making a Rest Plan 

You can turn business burnout around, and it begins with knowing how to rest.

This mini-course includes very short video lessons on the 7 ways to rest, my Rest Needs Quiz, and the Graceful Transitions Meditation for Moms.

January is the most popular month of the year for resets, gaining clarity, fasting and praying.

One of the spaces I love taking a break from is social media. I welcome the breaks whenever I can get them.

But, I literally get paid to be on social media, and much of my business communication happens here as well.

So how does one approach a social media sabbatical when you still have to work?

In this episode, I'm sharing what I do when I need to step away from social spaces while still having to work in them - maybe it will bless you as well.
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FREE Mini-Course - Making a Rest Plan 

You can turn business burnout around, and it begins with knowing how to rest.

This mini-course includes very short video lessons on the 7 ways to rest, my Rest Needs Quiz, and the Graceful Transitions Meditation for Moms.

I'm bookending this series with my thoughts on what I believe are some of the most important considerations mom entrepreneurs should make as they are business building.

Well, important considerations if you desire for God to guide your steps as you build.

Everybody can learn marketing.

Everybody can get good at marketing their business if they work at it.

But only you can obey God's voice as he speaks to you about how to work, lead, and serve.

In this episode, I'm sharing my thoughts about the differences between normal business building - which I talked about in episodes 2 - 5 in this series - and divine business building, which in my opinion, is the only way to do what we do.
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FREE Mini-Course - Making a Rest Plan 

You can turn business burnout around, and it begins with knowing how to rest.

This mini-course includes very short video lessons on the 7 ways to rest, my Rest Needs Quiz, and the Graceful Transitions Meditation for Moms.

I have some good news for you.

You don't have to be an expert marketer to enjoy a refreshing business earning rewarding income.

There, I said it.

You only have to learn how to be a pretty good marketer of your stuff.

You don't need perfection - you just need effective.

And guess what - you don't have to do a whole lot of things to accomplish that.

Think about it - how much money do you really need to pay yourself to make your life feel different?

Would earning a check of $3,000 - $5,000 a month (while only working part time hours mind you) be enough to take financial pressure off your household while you raise those babies of yours?

For most moms who are new to business while doing the SAHM thing, the answer is yes.

And you just don't have to do a ton of marketing to achieve that goal, but you do have to do some.

In this no bells-or-whistles episode (I literally just flipped out my mic and started talking), I'm sharing my thoughts on how to leverage simple marketing approaches to get more people in front of the things you sell, and it's my prayer that it takes some of the pressure off of you as you build a refreshing business that you love.
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FREE Mini-Course - Making a Rest Plan 

You can turn business burnout around, and it begins with knowing how to rest.

This mini-course includes very short video lessons on the 7 ways to rest, my Rest Needs Quiz, and the Graceful Transitions Meditation for Moms.

If I had to pick the number one thing I see out there in the new and small business marketing spaces that slows entrepreneurs down, it would be messaging.

Hands down.

In episode 194, I talked about how to tie the work you're passionate about to a problem your customers have identified for themselves.

Passion alone doesn't create a business, but passion plus effective problem solving for the people you want to help... that's a completely different story.

So, what do you do once you've figured out the problems your person is willing to pay someone to help them with?

In this episode, I'm sharing how to package and price your passionate problem-solving magic in a way that leads your customers to a solution they'll pay for.
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FREE Mini-Course - Making a Rest Plan 

You can turn business burnout around, and it begins with knowing how to rest.

This mini-course includes very short video lessons on the 7 ways to rest, my Rest Needs Quiz, and the Graceful Transitions Meditation for Moms.

No matter how important your work is to you, it doesn’t always translate as important to someone else.

Figuring out how to do the work you're passionate about for people that need what you do - that's not always easy to do.

You think everyone will love what you do as much as you love what you do, but it’s usually not that simple.

Your job as a business owner, however, is to solve problems for the people you desire to help… and the hope is that you don’t have to sacrifice your passion while doing it.

In this episode, I'm sharing how to connect the two - passion and problem - in a way that shows the world exactly why they need what you have (because it does).
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FREE Mini-Course - Making a Rest Plan 

You can turn business burnout around, and it begins with knowing how to rest.

This mini-course includes very short video lessons on the 7 ways to rest, my Rest Needs Quiz, and the Graceful Transitions Meditation for Moms.

After working with literally hundreds of business owners over the past 3 years, I've realized that there are certain things that need to be in place in order for entrepreneurship to be both valuable to end users and financially rewarding to an entrepreneur who desires to build a business with God's guidance and influence.

It doesn't boil down to social media platforms (thank God). 

But there are 5 core components that I've found to be necessary in order for it to:

• Serve people
• Pay well
• Be sustainable long term
• Contribute to your life feeling refreshed

In part 1 of this 5-part podcast series, I'm going to share some of the aha moments I've discovered along the way that I hope shed light on what it means for you to build a refreshing business you love.
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FREE Mini-Course - Making a Rest Plan 

You can turn business burnout around, and it begins with knowing how to rest.

This mini-course includes very short video lessons on the 7 ways to rest, my Rest Needs Quiz, and the Graceful Transitions Meditation for Moms.

I spend a lot of time hitting emotional wellness because I spent a lot - if not most - of my adult existence not being emotionally well.

As a result of that, I walked around in pain, and I caused many others pain as a result.

And, I failed to protect my boundaries, preferences, needs, and feelings, which are all a vital part of just being human. None of us need to ignore those parts of us.

In this episode, my former co-host Keli Reese and I are talking about the danger of neglecting your emotions, and how not properly making room for your feelings will directly impact how you operate as a woman, mom, entrepreneur, and so much more. 

What you’ll hear:

• Narratives that shape our view of emotions
• Is it wrong to “be emotional”?
• How do we handle emotions Biblically?
• Practical tips to use the “feel and deal” technique to process emotions

What a joy to share this episode again with the Refreshed Moms Community - it's one of the top 5 downloaded episodes, and I recorded it with my dear friend and fiction author Kelly Burton of Kell of a Story.

Why in the world should anyone desire morning or evening routines? Kelly and I believe routines and rituals are key tools in setting our days -- and in maintaining work-life integration and balance, especially in the lives of moms who lead in multiple roles. We're going to walk you through how we create and maintain daily practices, for morning or for evening, and how these habits help us accomplish goals and hold space for the unexpected.

This is not always easy. In fact, this is the second time we attempted to capture this subject when we recording it for the Refreshed Life Podcast! I simplified my morning routine and vastly cut down the number of items I was trying to accomplish as a result. 

Kelly and I both agree that routines help us be more positive, allow us space to process what is weighing heavily on us, focus us toward gratefulness, and even give us energy for the day ahead (or peace for a good night’s sleep!)

What we discuss - don’t miss it! 

• How Kelly went from “We don’t need routines” to “We failed without routines.”
• The spiritual rewards of rituals, and how prayer looks different depending on our seasons.
• How our routines can help us so much that even our children notice we are better for them.
• Why having routines in place help us to shift when unexpected needs arise.
• How to start and end your day with structure in order to keep you focused.
• How journals and planners can be a strategic part of your routine.
  
  

QUOTES

“We need predictable milestones that we can count on every day. We just work better when our minds and our expectations are organized.”

“When you have an intention for your day, you’re much, much more likely to hit the goal.”

“My routines are at the mercy of my neediest child.”

“Our boundaries and routines are not meant to be legalistic. They are there so when a need arises, your habits are strong enough to withstand a deviation.”

I don't know about you, but I struggle with nutrition, fitness and body image.

I've yo-yo'd back and forth from diet approaches and exercise routines, and the only way I've been able to see significant results has been with strict, regimented programs that aren't sustainable.

I've had to come to peace (rather I'm working on it...) with my 40-something body and how it responds to my wellness practices, even if it means I'm not as lean as I used to be.

How about you - do you find yourself getting frustrated with fitness and nutrition as you work towards an "ideal body weight" you think you'd be more happy at?

Did your body change after having kids?

Do you find yourself dreaming about your leaner physique while despising the one you have today?

If so, you're not alone.

In this episode, my friend, certified trainer and nutrition coach Megan Dahlman of Strong Mammas chats with me about how to stay motivated in our wellness practices even if our bodies have changed, and encourages us to break up with perfection and lean more into acceptance and grace as we progress with exercise and eating well.

What you'll hear:

• How moms can break through the all-or-nothing and perfectionist mindsets with her self-care habits.
• How much daily effort is necessary to actually make a difference for your health and create forward progress.
• The power of committing to just 10 minutes a day to fitness.
• And I'll be spilling all the beans on my personal challenges with my own mom bod.

If you've ever felt hesitant about speaking up for what you need, how you feel, and what you prefer, you're not alone.

We exist in a culture that has normalized the avoidance of conflict.

And when we do find the bravery or boldness to speak for ourselves the only tool we have in our advocacy toolbox is harshness.

In this episode, I'm sharing about being an emotionally healthy woman by focusing on the power of self-advocacy and why it's vital for us to set healthy boundaries by sharing how we feel, our preferences, and how we need help.

What you'll hear:

• How your ability to set healthy boundaries helps your family know how to love you well.
• How my daughter, Kendall, confidently expressed a boundary she needed set and how I responded when she did!
• Why your ability to set boundaries helps you love your family when they do the same thing.

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FREE Mini-Course - Making a Rest Plan 

You can turn business burnout around, and it begins with knowing how to rest.

This mini-course includes very short video lessons on the 7 ways to rest, my Rest Needs Quiz, and the Graceful Transitions Meditation for Moms.

This week has been such an emotionally tumultuous week as my family went through a roller coaster of decisions and events once we discovered we had a black mold issue in our home.

From having to evacuate our house in order to remediate the mold issue, to a lightening-fast response from the mold remediation team to get it all cleaned up so that we DIDN'T have to evacuate, Eddie and I are drained and mentally exhausted.

So in this episode, I wanted to quickly share how important it is to stay self-aware when you're in a midst of a leadership crisis, and remind you of the ministry behind your leadership - it takes a toll and you must make room for processing and healing when you need it.

What you'll hear:

• Why I believe your leadership is actually ministry service.
• The importance of being self-aware in the midst of our leadership
• The three things I did this week once I noticed I wasn't emotionally well.
• Encouragement for you to make room for your own emotional health and the power you give to others when you do.

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FREE Mini-Course - Making a Rest Plan 

You can turn business burnout around, and it begins with knowing how to rest.

This mini-course includes very short video lessons on the 7 ways to rest, my Rest Needs Quiz, and the Graceful Transitions Meditation for Moms.

When you think of rest, do your thoughts automatically land on napping and sleeping?

Or maybe words like relaxation or "taking a break" come to mind.

If so, you're not alone - that's what most people think about.

Well, let me speak for myself - it's what I thought about.

It wasn't until my exploration of burnout recovery after closing the doors of my non-profit years ago that I discovered there's multiple ways our bodies renew themselves.

But, it wasn't until I was introduced to the work of my guest that I learned about the seven different types of rest every single human needs in order to live a refreshed life.

In this episode, I'm having a fan-girl conversation moment with the incredible and brilliant Dr. Saundra-Dalton Smith about her ground-breaking insight on the seven types of rest needed to optimize your productivity, increase your overall happiness, overcome burnout, and live your best life. 

Get ready to bookmark it - it's just that good.

What you'll hear:

• She'll explain the important distinctions between sleep and rest.
• Of course we're discussing all seven ways to experience and enjoy rest.
• We explore the idea of "coupling" work and rest, and I reminisce about how I used it when my kids were very young. 
• And you'll love how she explains what she calls the "gifts of rest."

If you've been hesitating on an idea, product or service that you believe will absolutely change lives...

Or maybe you're the type of person that takes forever to put your thing out in the world because it's imperfect - or in your mind, it doesn't compare to what someone else has going on...

I believe this episode is exactly for you.

When I started my non-profit Needle Movers for Social Equity - I felt so ill equipped.

I asked myself, "Why should someone like me - someone with no background in activism or diversity, equity, and inclusion - start an organization like this?"

But even in my doubts, I started it anyway.

It was messy, clumsy, and absolutely imperfect, but out of that imperfection emerged a curriculum to help close reading gaps for struggling students, and that curriculum is now being used with students today.

That would have never happened without taking imperfect action, just like the thing in your heart won't until you step out in faith and do it.

In this episode, my sweet friend Melody Pourmoradi, Founder of the GiRLiFE  Certification Program, shares about how she imperfectly started an organization that helps women empower girls to find their voice and confidently lead, and encourages you to unapologetically start that soul-centered dream you've been holding in your heart.

What you'll hear:

• Melody tells the story of the perfectly imperfect beginnings of GiRLiFE.
• We'll talk about what it means to us to do soul-centered work.
• She'll share how you, your organization, your church, or youth group can partner with GiRLiFE.
• And we'll challenge you to start that special thing you've been hesitating to get out into the world.

Although we're holding a special place in this episode for homeschooling women leaders, don't let the title convince you that this episode is not for you.

I think every mother, no matter how school looks for their home, shares common heart-pulls and desires for their child.

Sometimes those desires are expressed through a homeschool expression, and sometimes not - listen, my children have been both formally educated in public school, had a short stint in private school, and are now back in a homeschool rhythm... we've personally done it all - but no matter your approach, we all share a desire for the best for our kids.

And we want to be good mom leaders.

In this episode, I'm chatting with my sweet friend and homeschool veteran of 20 years Susan Seay about what it means to lead as a homeschool mom, and even if you don't homeschool, I bet you'll nod your head in agreement about the beauty in our shared mom leadership roles in the home (and trust me, it's way more than curriculum choices and learning styles).

All moms have been called to have a heart for their home in some way, shape, or form. Listen in to hear how.

What you'll hear:

• What Susan says are the main messages she feels moms need right now.
• As she speaks to moms all over the globe, she'll share about the common threads she sees transcend cultural differences when it comes to being intentional leaders in our homes.
• She'll give us a glimpse of what homeschool leadership looks like for The Seay Family. 
• And Susan shares about why with all her work with homeschool moms, curriculum choices are not what she talks about - and what she focuses on instead. 

The evolution of women leadership is still ever present.

We're breaking barriers and bringing our gifts in spaces that have never allowed a women's voice to not only be heard but to influence hearts and perspectives.

But one of the most important areas that I see women embracing as leadership more and more is in their role as a mother.

Being a mom is being a leader, and I don't think I know of a job that's harder or more rewarding.

And even though our culture may struggle with integrating our motherhood role into the other areas we lead in, that doesn't mean we don't keep advocating for it.

In this episode, my friend Victoria Danielle and I are sharing a conversation about redefining women leadership - it's a personal pursuit before it becomes a public one, and we're letting you in on our thoughts about it all.

What you'll hear:

• What does it mean to personally redefine women leadership and why is it important?
• How is female leadership unique... or is it unique at all? 
• We discuss some common challenges we've seen in the work place and culture.
• And we hope you leave this episode fully embracing the call of leadership God has placed on your life as a woman and mom.

I struggled with how to name this - it started as Moms Who Lead, but after considering it more, I reminded myself that being a mom is leadership all by itself.

It's the toughest leadership role I've ever had, and as older moms before me have told me, the job doesn't get easier as your children age.

So,  mom leadership... it's a thing.

And if you're like me, God has pulled you into leadership in other areas like:

• Homeschooling
• Ministry
• Career
• Business

Women don't turn the leadership bug off once we have kids, and God obviously doesn't mind calling us into his kingdom work while our kids are playing LEGOS under our desks at home.

But, it has become obvious to me that we do this leadership thing differently than our spouses and male counterparts.

Our ebbs and flows, our rhythms, our capacity to do ANYTHING, is just different.

And our kids need us differently, too.

So in this podcast series, we're going to chat with other leaders about Women Who Lead - women just like you - and I'm getting things started right now.
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FREE Mini-Course - Making a Rest Plan 

You can turn business burnout around, and it begins with knowing how to rest.

This mini-course includes very short video lessons on the 7 ways to rest, my Rest Needs Quiz, and the Graceful Transitions Meditation for Moms.

We've come to the end of Season 8, and as my podcast rhythm dictates, it's time for my in-between-seasons break.

But before I head out, I want to leave you with some mom summer rhythm gold.

Sometimes, you need permission to call a rest audible.

Making room for unplanned rest is OK, because there are days AND seasons when you need it.

And in this episode, I'm speaking directly to the mom leader and entrepreneur that thinks all the balls are gonna drop if they pause and take a break.

News flash - even if they do drop, er'body is gonna be a'ight.

So, listen in as I share some very quick insight into calling a rest audible when you need to.
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 FREE Mini-Course - Making a Rest Plan 

You can turn business burnout around, and it begins with knowing how to rest.

This mini-course includes very short video lessons on the 7 ways to rest, my Rest Needs Quiz, and the Graceful Transitions Meditation for Moms.

This year I've realized that the way my home looks impacts my mood, but it wasn't until I understood sensory rest that it began to make sense why that was happening.

When my senses are over-stimulated by clutter, it's hard for me to lean into rest.

Does this sound like you as well?

Well, if it does, this episode is exactly for you.

I'm talking with my new friend Renea Fieck, Occupational Therapist, host of the More Than Mom Summit and the creator of The Great Clutter Clear Out Challenge, as she shares the importance of not just clearing out clutter in our home, but how eliminating mindset clutter directly impacts the way we feel in our physical spaces.

What you will hear:

• Why rest shouldn't feel like one more thing to check off your to-do list.
• The impact of digital clutter on our mental condition.
• How clutter in our homes can reflect our state of mind.
• Renae will answer the question, "Does clutter really impact our moods?"
• What to do when you feel yourself spiraling into a negative mind space.

Alignment - kinda a buzz word we're hearing these days.

According to Merriam-Webster, alignment means this: the proper positioning or state of adjustment of parts in relation to each other.

My question is, what does it feel like when the work that you're doing feels mis-aligned?

Well, for me it usually includes choosing between what I think is the "right" thing and the "God-inspired" thing.

Cause honestly, God doesn't always follow marketing rules. He's not always interested in increasing revenue. And he's always, always, always has his kingdom on his mind.

Can you absolutely trust God to take care of you financially - without stressing about where the money is coming from - as you allow him to guide your work?

Truth talk, it's easier said than done, but it must be done if you desire to align your work - properly positioning your work in relation with God's heart for it.

In this episode, I'm chatting with Marlena Banks, founder of Big Idea Food™, a Christian media brand that produces faith-fueling content for entrepreneurs & creatives, about how she realigned her misaligned business, and after 1,000+ book sales later she's rediscovered God's heart for her work in this season.

What you'll hear:

• Marlena shares what it means to reconcile your purpose with what the market is saying.
• What to do when your customers say they want something from you, but your heart is screaming no.
• How marketing fits into your efforts to stay aligned with God's guidance.
• Why Marlena says she'd rather be broke - and why I'm in total agreement (you'll wanna hear this)!

So, here's the scoop on Dana and me.

We're two business-y, mom leader gals who've become good friends.

But when we get together, it's hard for us to talk straight up business.

Instead, we end up talking about some of the intangibles of being a mom entrepreneur (and sometimes that means we're riffing on exploding boob growth).

We can teach marketing.

We can talk $ scaling (like my jargon-y word there?).

We can go blue in the face on creating simple evergreen funnels that convert.

But, we both know it doesn't mean a hill of beans if you're not enjoying your work, not making room for rest, and end up burnt out as a result of it.

So, in this episode, Dana Malstaff, CEO of Boss-Mom™ is sharing what building a refreshing business actually means to her. And, it may not be what you think.

What you'll hear:

• How prayer helped Dana through her divorce.
• How small 1-minute anchors throughout her day helped her transition into her new parenting season as a single mom.
• The hardest part of her balancing act of business and kids.
• And we get into a discussion on how we give ourselves permission to show up fully as we are in our work.