Francie Winslow has a special place in our hearts. A woman of the Spirit, she humbly speaks wisdom to us at every turn. Whether her earnest prayers or gentle approach to guiding her children's hearts, we are always encouraged to take that next step, do that next thing.
As a homeschooling mom who tries to simplify her life in order to keep quiet and restful rhythms, she often goes against the grain, or at least the typical. She has been speaking and writing often these days on intimacy in marriage, but this episode centers on her family rhythms and her intentionally minimal use of technology in her daily life so that she might make space for God to speak to her heart and for her to respond.
In this episode you will learn how their family creates and practices daily declarations about the truth of who they are, how she is keeping multiple journals at once, and the power of words to build people up or tear them down. Like all of our conversations with Francie, you will leave feeling inspired to focus with more intentionality on the parts of your life and the relationships that matter most. Please listen to our precious sister!
Annie Pajcic’s last name rhymes with magic. That’s no surprise to us because she is pure magic and joy. in fact we think the expression “she lights up a room” was created with Annie in mind. She radiates Jesus with her every fiber. She is a joy because she overflows with joy.
In this episode, Annie talks with us from her home and studio in Jacksonville, FL the week following Hurricane Matthew. A mom of four, the hurricane might be a good analogy for how life feels sometimes. But Annie's joy prevails. An artist, Annie creates Bible studies for teen and tween girls and women that incorporate art making. Her ministry Thou Art Exalted Ministries, Inc., is a valued resource for parents and youth group leaders looking for creative ways to engage their daughters in God's word. In fact the aim of Thou Art Exalted Ministries is to equip this generation to know Christ through the creative expression of God's Word.
We promise you'll love this conversation about following dreams, making art and watching God do things you never thought possible. In true sisterhood fashion we hear everything from Annie's prayer life to her favorite chapstick. From using art as a conversation starter to why you must only use low temp glue guns when working with kids. An episode of fun and inspiration all wrapped up into one package. Kind of like our friend Annie.
What happens when a girl turns 21? How about when a podcast does? We have a little bit of a party. And we reflect on how far we've come and where we're going.
That's exactly what we're doing on this 21st episode of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast. Co-hostesses Krista Gilbert and Alexandra Kuykendall talk through what this whole podcast thing is about. Why they're doing it. What the intent is and what the core values of the sisterhood are.
Though these two typically interview other guests, in this episode they interview one another, giving listeners an insight into their friendship and their unique personalities. Join in to hear how they met in a college theater production, what keeps their lives working well as they each parent four children and the difference between full schedules and full lives.
You only need to go on Teresa Swanstrom Anderson's Instagram feed to know she likes all things girly and pretty. But don't let the pink and glitter fool you into thinking she is meek. Quite the opposite, Teresa is a fierce mother of six who has traveled to the other side of the world more than once to bring home four of her children.
In fact in this episode you will hear stories of Teresa's childhood years in Guatemala City where she often army crawled from room to room in the airport hanger she lived in with her family as gunfire rang around their makeshift home. Weren't we right? Fierce.
In this episode of the Open Door Sisterhood Podcast you will hear about Teresa's recent Bible teaching efforts, how she manages 5 school pick-ups and drop-offs, why she began throwing dinner parties for women she often didn't know well and how she welcomes dinners delivered on her doorstep (to a pink front door we might add). You will be charmed, entertained and inspired by Teresa's stories.
Did you know that as soon as 8th grade you can start preparing your child for college? Many of us wait until our student is a junior or senior to start the process, but there are some important things we need to know and do before that point. And if you are already there? Well, this interview will be very timely and important for you.
Jeannie Burlowski is my guest on this episode. She is a full time college consultant who helps parents set their children up for success after high school. Her new book, Launch: How to get your kids through college debt free and into jobs they love afterwards, will release in late 2016.
Whether you have young children, middle schoolers, or high schoolers, this interview will put invaluable tools in your college toolbox.
t's no wonder our interview with Jess Wolstenholm was all about living an authentic faith in front of our kids. It was her combination of authenticity and love for Jesus that drew us to her at our first "chance" meeting. Two years ago we sat next to Jess and her partner at Grace for Moms, Kristi Chowny, at a conference luncheon and immediately hit it off. Jess has a warmth and a genuine interest in others that is evident in every interaction. We know you will love her too.
During this episode we cover what it means to live an authentic faith in front of your kids, how to simply and naturally talk about spiritual matters as a family and Jess' newest discovery to help with dark circles under her eyes. (Sidenote Alex ordered this trick from Amazon within days of recording this episode). We know you will appreciate her emphasis on grace. There is no right way to mother and no right way to talk to your kids about Jesus. And yet Jess is full of great ideas and resources for you to try and find what works for your family.
We recorded this episode before the three of us were most recently together. Just this weekend Jess came to Idaho to spend time with the sisterhood at the Open Door Sisterhood Mastermind Retreat. Whether in person or through the podcast airwaves, Jess is a delight and an encouragement to moms. We know you will love to sit in on our conversation with her.
Kendra Tillman wants you to know you are stronger than you think. Yes you mama, with the work to be done at home and in the office. With dinner to be made and bills to be paid. She sees women doing the calling God has put in front of them and she is their cheerleader.
A mom of three herself, Kendra recently took a huge leap and quit her full-time job to pursue her dream of being a full-time entrepreneur. She made this move before it made sense on paper. But her husband was supportive and the change hasn't looked exactly as she thought it would, but that's what a step of faith is, one where the results aren't guaranteed.
In this episode we hear some about this recent decision, her annual event she puts on for women and teen girls in the Phoenix area titled, you guessed it, You Are Stronger Than You Think, and starting a local chapter of Black Girls Run. In our discussion on StrengthsFinder as a tool to know yourself and others better, we discover that all three of us, Krista, Alex and Kendra, share a top strength: Belief. Which explains a lot about Kendra's decision to take a risk in order to live as she believes God is calling her.
Sarah Harmeyer is a special guest on our podcast because she is so dear to both of us. In fact we taped this episode when Sarah was sitting in Krista's real life kitchen. Sarah is a people gatherer. A woman on a love mission as she likes to say and she has invited many to join her in loving people around the table.
In this episode you will hear the how and why behind Sarah starting Neighbor's Table, the difference between being a good cook and a good hostess, and why others are buying Sarah's dad's handcrafted tables. You won't want to miss this genuine expression of Sarah's desire to make others feel welcome in her backyard and how we can do that in our own homes with the people right around us.
Join Sarah on her love mission and listen to this episode to hear more about Neighbor's Table.
Our interview with mother and writer Wynter Pitts delighted us with surprises. With four girls at home Wynter unknowingly founded a magazine for tween girls. By unknowingly, we mean she didn't set out to make a magazine, she simply was a mom wanting to create something for her daughters. Appropriately named, For Girls Like You, organically developed into a quarterly magazine and is now a project her entire family works on together.
But the family's creative flare is not isolated to the written word. Wynter's eldest daughter Alena acted alongside Priscilla Shirer in the box office hit War Room. In this podcast episode we hear what the movie taping process was like, how Alena trained for the double dutch stunts and how a mother's understanding of God's use of her children was broadened.
Wynter's interview inspired us to broaden our thinking about how we could be world changers WITH our children right where we are. God's plans for Wynter's family are unique and suited just perfectly for who they are. What next step might you take with your family to walk through a door that God has opened?
Months ago Krista's sister, Kendra, said to Krista, "You have to meet Katie!" Soon after, Krista told Alex the same thing. And now we are saying to you, "You have to meet Katie!"
A writing instructor at Whitworth University, a contributor to the popular Coffee and Crumbs blog, Katie's writing is stunning. It puts words to our feelings and more importantly points us toward a larger truth as we grapple with the uncomfortable. Her own journey this summer has been marked by her son's developmental diagnosis, moving him from temporary delays to perhaps lifelong challenges. This has shaped every aspect of Katie's life. From her work to her marriage to her faith, she keeps returning to what she knows to be true. About her family. And about who God is.
You will hear Katie's tender spirit in this conversation as we talk about this journey she is still on, what has helped her the last few months, and how she memorizes Scripture. From pens to cold brew coffee Katie's life (and writing) are in the details. We're not kidding when we say, "You have to meet Katie!"
Kendall acts as the Executive Producer and Emcee of MOMcon (MOPS International's national gathering of over 3,000 moms) and has recently taken on the job of Leadership Experience Content Strategist for the organization. In our conversation we talk through how to make work/life balance decisions when there are kids to raise and expectations to be examined. What a difference a mentor makes and our responsibility to call out the good we see in others.
We also cover the rounds from who will be on the main stage at MOMcon, to what music Kendall is listening to and who she reads first thing in the morning. You won't want to miss this fun and significant conversation.
Cherie Lowe is known as the Queen of Free. She developed a reputation for freebies as she shared her story of debt reduction on her blog. Soon she was not only sharing money saving tips, she was sharing the heart behind why she and her husband Brian wanted to eliminate their consumer debt. And it wasn't just a little credit card bill, they had over $127,000 worth of consumer debt.
We talk with Cherie about their decision to pull back in spending, pay off debt and how that plays out in their current budget. We also talk about how to use our most precious commodity: our time.
You won't want to miss this episode with Cherie. It is both practical and inspirational as we all try to be wise with our money.
Susie Davis is the kind of woman we could talk to for hours. Because she is in a word: wise. She talks to us in this episode about how mentoring relationships have naturally happened over the years through her relationships with younger women.
Susie is a mom to three and a mother-in-law to almost three. We talk about the tragedy Susie's own young life that began a journey of intense fear. This fear followed her into adulthood and an encounter with God. Out of that came her book Unafraid: Trusting God in an Unsafe World.
Listen in to hear about her favorite pens that come in seasonal colors (Oooh yes!) and why going outside helps her clear her mind. You really won’t be sorry you joined us for this episode and you will have a new podcast to add to your list in Letters to My Daughters because you will want more of Susie!
It's our tenth episode of The Open Door Sisterhood podcast and we are pleased to welcome Stacey Thacker to the sisterhood! In this interview we hear about Stacey's life with her husband and four daughters, how she found the title of her new book Fresh Out of Amazing, and what she read that helped her when her father died unexpectedly a few years ago. This is a story of God opening unexpected doors in the midst of grief and a child with chronic illness. You will be encouraged as you hear Stacey's story.
Krista and Alex talk with writer and blogger Tammy Strait about the struggles of parenting, about believing Psalm 139 when it says that we are enough, and about great running gear for runners (and wanna-be runners).
This is part 2 of a two part interview with my co-host and author Alexandra Kuykendall about her new book, Loving My Actual Life. Tammy Strait joins us as a guest co-host. We talk about health, body image, what to do about our constant connection to social media, and how to keep perspective in the midst of parenting.
This is part 1 in a 2 part interview with author Alexandra Kuykendall about her new book, Loving My Actual Life. We talk about how we met, the book cover, finding adventure, breath prayers, dates, and how it's a challenge to love our actual lives.
With all of our goals and structure for the summer we sometimes forget to take a load off with our kids and play! A session full of ideas on how to do this for all ages. From preschoolers to teenagers we’ll have the ideas you need to be “fun mom” once in a while.
The weather is nice, and the opportunities are plentiful for hiking, biking, running, and swimming. We will explore how to make summer exercise fun, how to get on top of healthy eating, and other ideas for promoting health and wellness as a family.
Wait, we need to teach our kids to tie their shoes? And ride public transportation? And manage money? All by the time they need to leave the house? Summer is a great time to fit in those practical teachings that will allow them to be functioning adults someday. No matter the age of your children, moving them toward independence can be a fun adventure for mom and kids.
Because Alex was on a well-deserved vacation, Krista was joined in this episode by special guest and life skills extraordinaire Rebecca Coors from Colorado.
Our children become ninjas when it comes to media and summer. How do we possibly stay on top of their use? From implementing limits to using technology for good, we’ll look at how to develop some safeguards and strategies that not only protect our kids, but keep us from flushing their tablet down the toilet.
From referee to memory maker, moms can’t control sibling relationships, but they can shape them. For many households summer is the season with the most “together time.” This can create tension and opportunity for connection. We’ll look at how to use your influence to minimize sibling conflict and increase bonding during the long days together.
It’s always better to go into summer with a plan. How will you schedule your summer days? Your weeks? What are your goals for the summer as a whole? For you and for your family? These are some of the questions we are tackling in week #1 of the Summer Survival Series.