WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.480 Hello friend and welcome back to the Live Out 00:00:02.480 --> 00:00:04.759 Loud podcast. I am so glad that you are here 00:00:04.759 --> 00:00:07.379 with me today. And I know I say it every time 00:00:07.379 --> 00:00:11.259 I get on, but I genuinely mean I am so glad that 00:00:11.259 --> 00:00:13.859 you are here. I am so excited to spend the next 00:00:13.859 --> 00:00:16.940 few minutes with you chatting about real topics 00:00:16.940 --> 00:00:20.620 and real life things that affect us as moms and 00:00:20.620 --> 00:00:23.500 us as humans. And I get really excited to spend 00:00:23.500 --> 00:00:26.539 a few minutes of a week with you. So again, I 00:00:26.539 --> 00:00:28.960 am so glad that you are here. So as we said in 00:00:28.960 --> 00:00:31.059 our last podcast, today we're going to be talking 00:00:31.059 --> 00:00:33.700 about simple things we can cultivate for maximum 00:00:33.700 --> 00:00:37.039 growth in our family life. I hope to give you 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:39.420 practical things that you can start implementing 00:00:39.420 --> 00:00:42.539 today in your life with your kids, with your 00:00:42.539 --> 00:00:46.289 family, that you will see results. for deeper 00:00:46.289 --> 00:00:49.090 connections with your kids, things that I have 00:00:49.090 --> 00:00:52.189 been doing for years that have worked. And perhaps 00:00:52.189 --> 00:00:54.469 as I am talking and sharing my own experience, 00:00:54.770 --> 00:00:57.210 you can note those things in your life that you 00:00:57.210 --> 00:01:00.070 already implement and already do that cultivate 00:01:00.070 --> 00:01:02.750 maximum growth and you can celebrate those things 00:01:02.750 --> 00:01:05.409 and be excited for that. So I think it'll just 00:01:05.409 --> 00:01:08.250 be good all around. Now, before we jump into 00:01:08.250 --> 00:01:11.049 today's topic, I have a couple of very exciting 00:01:11.049 --> 00:01:13.219 things to share with you, dear listener. but 00:01:13.219 --> 00:01:15.319 let me give you a little bit of a backstory here. 00:01:15.500 --> 00:01:18.340 I started this podcast a year and two months 00:01:18.340 --> 00:01:21.900 ago today just with the idea to put myself out 00:01:21.900 --> 00:01:26.040 there to push my own limits, my boundaries, the 00:01:26.040 --> 00:01:29.219 box that I live in of expressing my thoughts 00:01:29.219 --> 00:01:31.840 because it can be kind of a difficult thing for 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:35.319 me. But I really wanted to push myself and share 00:01:35.319 --> 00:01:38.420 my heart on being a mom and just putting it into 00:01:38.420 --> 00:01:41.670 words, which can be pretty hard for me. And boy 00:01:41.670 --> 00:01:44.930 has this podcast really pushed my limits. And 00:01:44.930 --> 00:01:48.569 what started as almost like a personal experiment 00:01:48.569 --> 00:01:51.629 for me has really turned into an exciting part 00:01:51.629 --> 00:01:54.469 of my week as I sit down and share some of these 00:01:54.469 --> 00:01:56.760 things with you. And then the feedback that I 00:01:56.760 --> 00:01:59.099 get back from you and you sharing some of your 00:01:59.099 --> 00:02:01.299 own experiences with some of these things with 00:02:01.299 --> 00:02:05.879 me. It is so encouraging as a mother who is just 00:02:05.879 --> 00:02:09.180 a normal, regular mom trying to figure life out 00:02:09.180 --> 00:02:12.560 with my four kids and pursuing building an intentional 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:15.900 kingdom family. The community that has come from 00:02:15.900 --> 00:02:18.939 this is so precious to me and it's only helped 00:02:18.939 --> 00:02:22.060 to fuel my passion for family life and my passion 00:02:22.060 --> 00:02:25.560 to share it with all of you amazing moms who 00:02:25.560 --> 00:02:28.180 are showing up every day in your own family life. 00:02:28.409 --> 00:02:30.990 And because of all of that, I get so excited 00:02:30.990 --> 00:02:34.870 to think about the new Moms Weekly Collective 00:02:34.870 --> 00:02:37.949 that I have just released into the world. I've 00:02:37.949 --> 00:02:41.069 put out there for moms like you, for moms like 00:02:41.069 --> 00:02:44.250 me, who are looking to connect with other Kingdom 00:02:44.250 --> 00:02:47.689 -minded moms, who are looking to continue to 00:02:47.689 --> 00:02:50.389 live intentionally. And as we do so, we look 00:02:50.389 --> 00:02:54.750 for encouragement from others. And so this collective, 00:02:55.250 --> 00:03:00.719 you can look it up on Instagram, So momsweeklyco. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:04.219 And you could also find it on the website. You 00:03:04.219 --> 00:03:08.360 can access a community of like -minded moms, 00:03:09.099 --> 00:03:13.020 and you will get monthly inspiration, monthly 00:03:13.020 --> 00:03:16.900 encouragement, and a letter from my heart to 00:03:16.900 --> 00:03:20.080 yours, a letter of encouragement. And not only 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:22.379 is it encouragement for me to you, but it is 00:03:22.379 --> 00:03:26.180 also deeply rooted in scripture. It is deeply 00:03:26.180 --> 00:03:29.520 rooted in the calling that God has for our lives 00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:32.520 as moms, as we lead our families together with 00:03:32.520 --> 00:03:36.020 our husbands, but as we take charge of the everyday 00:03:36.020 --> 00:03:39.300 things with our kids. It is a place where I pray 00:03:39.300 --> 00:03:42.759 you feel so connected to the Father's heart. 00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:45.680 because of the encouragement that is there and 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:48.699 that it helps you continue every day showing 00:03:48.699 --> 00:03:53.879 up and loving your family well and creating these 00:03:53.879 --> 00:03:56.280 kingdom -minded families which is such a beautiful 00:03:56.280 --> 00:03:59.500 thing. So the launch of this Moms Weekly Collective 00:03:59.500 --> 00:04:02.819 is our first thing to talk about our first announcement 00:04:02.819 --> 00:04:04.900 and if you want to check it out if you want to 00:04:04.900 --> 00:04:07.479 become part of this community it is we are waiting 00:04:07.479 --> 00:04:10.759 for you because you will make us better I know 00:04:10.759 --> 00:04:12.699 it I know the conversations that you will bring 00:04:12.699 --> 00:04:15.759 to the table the ideas everything that you will 00:04:15.759 --> 00:04:18.740 bring is going to make us that much better so 00:04:18.740 --> 00:04:21.420 we cannot wait to connect with you on there if 00:04:21.420 --> 00:04:24.240 you want to check it out on the website at elliantheboys 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:28.560 .co on the website or the instagram account moms 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:32.220 .weekly .co They are both there. Check it out. 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:34.279 We cannot wait to meet you there. Which brings 00:04:34.279 --> 00:04:37.680 us right to our second announcement for this 00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:41.259 podcast. And it is one that will tie in, I think, 00:04:41.399 --> 00:04:44.139 so much better with everything we are doing with 00:04:44.139 --> 00:04:47.800 the things we are pursuing on this, on this, 00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:50.800 in this space and on this platform. So we are 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:53.500 going to change the name from the Live Out Loud 00:04:53.500 --> 00:04:57.759 podcast to Moms Weekly, the Moms Weekly podcast. 00:04:58.029 --> 00:05:01.550 It will just help tie everything in and put it 00:05:01.550 --> 00:05:03.829 in this neat little box, you know, where we can 00:05:03.829 --> 00:05:07.370 remember the names and remember what we're here 00:05:07.370 --> 00:05:10.569 for. And it is for weekly encouragement. And 00:05:10.569 --> 00:05:12.850 while this podcast is not weekly right now, it 00:05:12.850 --> 00:05:16.290 is bi -weekly. There is weekly encouragement 00:05:16.290 --> 00:05:19.009 from Instagram or on the collective whenever 00:05:19.009 --> 00:05:22.709 you join or in this podcast and we can just receive 00:05:22.709 --> 00:05:25.370 encouragement in different ways. And so the Live 00:05:25.370 --> 00:05:28.350 Out Loud podcast will now be Mom's Weekly, the 00:05:28.350 --> 00:05:31.269 Mom's Weekly podcast. And I am so excited to 00:05:31.269 --> 00:05:33.769 continue these chats with you, these conversations, 00:05:33.769 --> 00:05:37.449 and it will be geared more towards our mama hearts 00:05:37.449 --> 00:05:42.279 and our relationship with, with. God the Father, 00:05:42.459 --> 00:05:45.319 with our family, with our spouses, and just growing 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:49.740 ourselves as mothers as we continue to live life 00:05:49.740 --> 00:05:52.259 with our families. Alright, I think that's all 00:05:52.259 --> 00:05:55.279 I have for little announcements. Now we can get 00:05:55.279 --> 00:05:57.579 into our conversation. I will see you there. 00:06:06.500 --> 00:06:09.740 Alright, so today's topic of conversation is 00:06:10.610 --> 00:06:13.529 cultivating small and intentional things in our 00:06:13.529 --> 00:06:16.850 daily lives, in our family lives to produce maximum 00:06:16.850 --> 00:06:19.490 growth. With spring right around the corner, 00:06:19.850 --> 00:06:22.589 I sat down a couple weeks ago, no, last week, 00:06:22.629 --> 00:06:26.410 I sat down last week with all of my seed packets 00:06:26.410 --> 00:06:28.990 that I am hoping to get in the ground this year. 00:06:29.089 --> 00:06:31.509 This will be my first year starting a garden 00:06:31.509 --> 00:06:35.649 from seeds. And I am very nervous and very excited 00:06:35.649 --> 00:06:38.029 at the same time. If you have any tips, please 00:06:38.029 --> 00:06:40.889 send them over. But I have high, high hopes for 00:06:40.889 --> 00:06:44.550 this garden this year. And I got all my seed 00:06:44.550 --> 00:06:48.329 packets in and I was making my schedule of when 00:06:48.329 --> 00:06:50.829 I'm supposed to plant them because we live so 00:06:50.829 --> 00:06:53.269 far north, we have a shorter growing season. 00:06:53.649 --> 00:06:55.750 So I need to make sure that they are good to 00:06:55.750 --> 00:06:58.949 go whenever the garden soil is ready and to temperature. 00:06:59.490 --> 00:07:02.930 So I made my plan. I actually made it with one 00:07:02.930 --> 00:07:05.870 of my sons who's 11 and he loves to garden. This 00:07:05.870 --> 00:07:07.889 is one of the things that we do together and 00:07:07.889 --> 00:07:10.750 it's so much fun. So him and I sat down and we 00:07:10.750 --> 00:07:13.569 looked at when we need to get certain seeds in 00:07:13.569 --> 00:07:15.970 their little pods and when we can plant them 00:07:15.970 --> 00:07:18.550 out. We're super excited for this. And as we 00:07:18.550 --> 00:07:21.089 were sitting there doing our schedule, one of 00:07:21.089 --> 00:07:23.389 the seed packets had a tiny little hole. Whenever 00:07:23.389 --> 00:07:25.069 we went to pick it up and put it back in the 00:07:25.069 --> 00:07:28.110 box, there were seeds all over our book and our 00:07:28.110 --> 00:07:31.379 table and It's just hard to imagine that such 00:07:31.379 --> 00:07:33.639 a tiny thing, I mean, if you look at these seeds, 00:07:33.699 --> 00:07:37.600 these were so small. And whenever you look at 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:40.220 those, it's hard to imagine that in just a few 00:07:40.220 --> 00:07:43.800 months, we could have a flourishing, beautiful 00:07:43.800 --> 00:07:46.459 tomato plant or pepper or whatever it is, you 00:07:46.459 --> 00:07:49.029 know, we plant. It really is hard to imagine 00:07:49.029 --> 00:07:52.610 that from such a tiny thing, something so beautiful 00:07:52.610 --> 00:07:55.990 and so nutritious and something that's going 00:07:55.990 --> 00:07:59.189 to feed us for the summer is going to grow from 00:07:59.189 --> 00:08:02.189 that. But that's how seeds work, right? They 00:08:02.189 --> 00:08:05.370 start so small, they grow, and whenever they 00:08:05.370 --> 00:08:07.769 have the right things, the right elements, they're 00:08:07.769 --> 00:08:09.889 in the right soil, they have water and sunlight, 00:08:10.290 --> 00:08:13.790 they're able to thrive. And as moms living with 00:08:13.790 --> 00:08:15.949 a kingdom perspective, and I think that that's 00:08:15.949 --> 00:08:19.110 you, and that's me, we're called to be faithful 00:08:19.110 --> 00:08:22.230 in the little things. Jesus himself reminds us 00:08:22.230 --> 00:08:26.889 in Luke 16, Luke 16 10, I think, whoever can 00:08:26.889 --> 00:08:29.610 be trusted with very little can also be trusted 00:08:29.610 --> 00:08:33.169 with very much. This isn't just about being faithful 00:08:33.169 --> 00:08:36.549 with our responsibilities as moms of keeping 00:08:36.549 --> 00:08:38.710 up with the laundry, of keeping the floors clean, 00:08:38.950 --> 00:08:41.990 of keeping food on the table. It is about understanding 00:08:41.990 --> 00:08:46.730 that small and intentional actions, those little 00:08:46.730 --> 00:08:50.190 moments of connection with our children are actually 00:08:50.190 --> 00:08:53.190 what lay the foundation for a kingdom -centered 00:08:53.190 --> 00:08:57.210 family life. I think it's easy to often get caught 00:08:57.210 --> 00:08:59.610 up thinking that if we're not doing those big 00:08:59.610 --> 00:09:02.789 things for our families, like taking elaborate 00:09:02.789 --> 00:09:05.889 vacations or achieving grand accomplishments, 00:09:06.350 --> 00:09:09.710 that we are falling short. But it is the small, 00:09:10.090 --> 00:09:13.470 simple things that make the most and lasting 00:09:13.470 --> 00:09:17.549 impact in our family. they start small just like 00:09:17.549 --> 00:09:20.269 those seeds in the seed packet. When you think 00:09:20.269 --> 00:09:23.070 about the daily rhythms in your home, the good 00:09:23.070 --> 00:09:27.289 morning hugs, the shared cups of coffee, the 00:09:27.289 --> 00:09:29.889 good night kisses and your routines before bed, 00:09:30.210 --> 00:09:32.309 the little songs you sing as you're buckling 00:09:32.309 --> 00:09:35.009 in your child into their car seat, those things 00:09:35.009 --> 00:09:38.710 that seem so small, these are the things that 00:09:38.710 --> 00:09:43.230 create trust, they create a space of love, and 00:09:43.230 --> 00:09:46.590 they create connection between your child and 00:09:46.590 --> 00:09:49.110 yourself, and they lay the groundwork for the 00:09:49.110 --> 00:09:52.470 bigger things. Sure, we see our children's eyes 00:09:52.470 --> 00:09:55.169 sparkle whenever we throw them a great birthday 00:09:55.169 --> 00:09:57.970 party, but we also see their eyes sparkle whenever 00:09:57.970 --> 00:10:00.870 we look into their eyes and tell them, I love 00:10:00.870 --> 00:10:03.190 you. Or sit at the foot of their bed and listen 00:10:03.190 --> 00:10:06.840 to them retell the stories of their day. It is 00:10:06.840 --> 00:10:08.980 easy to get caught up in today's day and age 00:10:08.980 --> 00:10:12.000 of social media, of scrolling through other people's 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:16.100 accounts and seeing them do these amazing gestures 00:10:16.100 --> 00:10:19.320 of love for their children, which are so beautiful 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:24.120 and amazing. But the trick is not to get caught 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:26.840 up in thinking that every moment of every day 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:29.750 has to be big for our children. We can continue 00:10:29.750 --> 00:10:33.870 to show up in big ways and we can for sure show 00:10:33.870 --> 00:10:37.889 up in little ways that will create impact and 00:10:37.889 --> 00:10:40.049 connections with their hearts. And I'm going 00:10:40.049 --> 00:10:42.769 to give you some examples of small things that 00:10:42.769 --> 00:10:45.610 lead to big impacts, small things that we have 00:10:45.610 --> 00:10:48.169 done and then others that I also found that other 00:10:48.169 --> 00:10:50.909 moms have cultivated and have gotten maximum 00:10:50.909 --> 00:10:53.470 growth out of them. So get your pen and paper 00:10:53.470 --> 00:10:56.450 out to jot these down or just store them in your 00:10:56.450 --> 00:10:59.090 brain because I know that they are going to help 00:10:59.090 --> 00:11:02.350 your family and you and the relationship with 00:11:02.350 --> 00:11:05.710 your kids. So if you are ready, let's jump in. 00:11:06.070 --> 00:11:09.029 One of my go -tos and very easy one to start 00:11:09.029 --> 00:11:11.610 and implement, it doesn't matter how old your 00:11:11.610 --> 00:11:15.570 children are, is hand motions in a crowded room. 00:11:15.769 --> 00:11:18.730 And honestly, hand motions anywhere. It can be 00:11:18.730 --> 00:11:22.600 at a park, at a store, in a crowded room at a 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:25.559 party in your own home, but little hand motions 00:11:25.559 --> 00:11:27.779 that say something specific that you want your 00:11:27.779 --> 00:11:30.279 child to know in that moment without having to 00:11:30.279 --> 00:11:32.360 say the words, without having to cross the room 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:35.980 to say them. These work great to put a sparkle 00:11:35.980 --> 00:11:38.539 in your kid's eyes and I have seen it so many 00:11:38.539 --> 00:11:40.940 times and it is always so exciting to see their 00:11:40.940 --> 00:11:43.700 little eyes light up. So an example of this for 00:11:43.700 --> 00:11:46.879 us and a very basic one for us is to say I love 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:49.500 you across the room and I know I love you can 00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:52.480 get old if you overuse it but we use it all the 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:54.899 time and it hasn't gotten old and I would encourage 00:11:54.899 --> 00:11:57.600 you to continue using it with your kids and for 00:11:57.600 --> 00:12:00.200 us it is we point to ourselves. Well, first we 00:12:00.200 --> 00:12:02.740 make eye contact. and then we point to ourselves 00:12:02.740 --> 00:12:04.679 and then we make a little heart with our hands 00:12:04.679 --> 00:12:07.919 and then point to them. And it's so subtle, it's 00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:11.600 so quick, but their eyes light up immediately. 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:15.200 They will always return it, but a lot of times 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:17.860 they will start it. And so it is so sweet to 00:12:17.860 --> 00:12:21.440 also watch them stop their play at a park or 00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:24.340 wherever they're at and just think to tell you 00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:27.460 that I love you. It is so precious. Another one 00:12:27.460 --> 00:12:30.320 I have used and it is so simple, but it is a 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:33.000 thumbs up. and my little girl likes this one 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:36.379 the most. No, she likes the I love you one, but 00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:39.279 she really likes this one as well. It is just 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:41.960 a little thumbs up whenever I want to let them 00:12:41.960 --> 00:12:45.159 know that maybe I saw something kind that they 00:12:45.159 --> 00:12:48.000 did for somebody else and I can't leave the conversation 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:50.299 that I'm in the middle of and I can just give 00:12:50.299 --> 00:12:52.759 them a little quick thumbs up from across the 00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:56.059 room. it just immediately lets them know that 00:12:56.059 --> 00:12:59.679 I was watching and they did an amazing job being 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:04.220 kind or sharing or whatever action they took. 00:13:04.580 --> 00:13:08.429 It was amazing and it was Good job keep going 00:13:08.429 --> 00:13:10.950 and sometimes we do a double thumbs up We just 00:13:10.950 --> 00:13:13.429 put both thumbs together kind of like a fist 00:13:13.429 --> 00:13:16.769 pump, but wait your thumbs up. That's like amazing 00:13:16.769 --> 00:13:20.870 that is They get so excited over that and again 00:13:20.870 --> 00:13:24.250 little things that we do You can come up with 00:13:24.250 --> 00:13:26.649 your own for your family. That'll work It's just 00:13:26.649 --> 00:13:29.009 a really fun thing to do with your kids Whenever 00:13:29.009 --> 00:13:32.389 you're out with around other people to keep this 00:13:32.389 --> 00:13:35.350 little communication with them open A second 00:13:35.350 --> 00:13:37.490 thing that you could apply in your family today 00:13:37.490 --> 00:13:41.450 is what I call little encouragements. What do 00:13:41.450 --> 00:13:43.129 I mean by that? Let me tell you a quick little 00:13:43.129 --> 00:13:45.870 story. Recently I had taken one of my boys on 00:13:45.870 --> 00:13:48.429 a date and we had gone to a grocery store. You 00:13:48.429 --> 00:13:50.789 know how fun it is to push a cart whenever you 00:13:50.789 --> 00:13:53.799 are a kid? You have free rein of the cart. It 00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:56.779 is so much fun to go down the aisles really fast, 00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:59.419 try to find an open spot between aisles and just 00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:02.659 kind of do donuts, right? Well, my boys love 00:14:02.659 --> 00:14:05.440 to do this. I had a short window where I had 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:07.940 to get my groceries bought in a short amount 00:14:07.940 --> 00:14:10.899 of time. I needed to focus. And so I needed the 00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:13.700 cart driver to also focus. And in this case, 00:14:13.700 --> 00:14:17.019 it was my 11 year old son. So as we were getting 00:14:17.019 --> 00:14:19.659 out of the car, I was thinking through, okay, 00:14:20.019 --> 00:14:22.000 well, I actually asked him if he could push the 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:24.429 cart in the store. And then I started thinking 00:14:24.429 --> 00:14:27.509 through him pushing the cart. I didn't want to 00:14:27.509 --> 00:14:30.350 be constantly having to remind him to stay on 00:14:30.350 --> 00:14:33.529 track because we had a short time. And so as 00:14:33.529 --> 00:14:35.649 we're walking in the store, I had asked him to 00:14:35.649 --> 00:14:39.429 grab the cart and I... proceeded to encourage 00:14:39.429 --> 00:14:42.269 him, and this is the little encouragement. I 00:14:42.269 --> 00:14:45.009 proceeded to tell him how thankful I am that 00:14:45.009 --> 00:14:47.429 he is a good cart driver because he really is. 00:14:47.710 --> 00:14:50.590 He's gotten tall enough to where he can see really 00:14:50.590 --> 00:14:54.129 well over the cart, and he does a good job navigating 00:14:54.129 --> 00:14:58.429 that cart through crowded stores. But I wanted 00:14:58.429 --> 00:15:01.830 to focus on that part instead of not playing 00:15:01.830 --> 00:15:04.950 in the store today. So I encouraged him and I 00:15:04.950 --> 00:15:08.889 told him that I was so thankful of his good driving 00:15:08.889 --> 00:15:12.009 skills and how responsible he is with a cart 00:15:12.009 --> 00:15:14.169 and how I appreciate that whenever I need to 00:15:14.169 --> 00:15:15.830 put something in the cart, he's right there, 00:15:15.870 --> 00:15:18.940 right behind me and he stays on track. which 00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:22.019 are all true things. And as I was telling him 00:15:22.019 --> 00:15:24.820 this, just giving him this encouragement, you 00:15:24.820 --> 00:15:27.860 could see him walking a little taller. He kind 00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:30.039 of stood up a little straighter and his eyes 00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:32.960 started to sparkle. And let me tell you, he did 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:35.080 such an amazing job in the store pushing that 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:37.720 cart around. We got in and out of there so fast. 00:15:37.820 --> 00:15:41.320 It was amazing. But what I'm trying to say is 00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:44.240 little encouragements go a long way with our 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:46.690 kids' hearts. We don't want to be constantly 00:15:46.690 --> 00:15:49.549 focusing on the negative and only on the things 00:15:49.549 --> 00:15:52.389 that need to be corrected and fixed, but giving 00:15:52.389 --> 00:15:54.110 our kids encouragement in the ways that they 00:15:54.110 --> 00:15:56.610 are already excelling and that the ways that 00:15:56.610 --> 00:15:59.330 they are growing will show them that you are 00:15:59.330 --> 00:16:01.389 interested in their growth. You are interested 00:16:01.389 --> 00:16:04.509 in their heart, not simply their behavior. And 00:16:04.509 --> 00:16:07.230 that my friends is such a gift to your relationship 00:16:07.230 --> 00:16:09.710 with your child. Then we have our tip number 00:16:09.710 --> 00:16:13.899 three, connection over perfection. As moms, we 00:16:13.899 --> 00:16:16.620 often strive for perfection, I think. I know 00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:19.480 I do in my home. I think somewhere in my mind, 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:23.000 I feel like I need to show up perfectly for my 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:25.580 family. And that couldn't be more wrong. And 00:16:25.580 --> 00:16:28.559 I have to constantly remind myself that they 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:31.759 need connection over perfection. In Ephesians 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:35.080 4 .2, Paul encourages us to be completely humble, 00:16:35.419 --> 00:16:38.620 to be gentle, be patient, bearing with one another 00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:41.899 in love. When we prioritize connection over perfection, 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:44.840 we create a space for grace. We create a space 00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:48.000 for authenticity. Nowhere in Ephesians 4 -2 does 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:52.059 it say to show up and be completely perfect because 00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:55.179 that would be ridiculous. So instead of trying 00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:58.480 to create a perfect picture, perfect family life, 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:01.860 I want to aim to be meaningful and to show up 00:17:01.860 --> 00:17:04.859 in meaningful ways with my kids. And here's what 00:17:04.859 --> 00:17:07.079 that looks like sometimes. Perhaps I'm in the 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:10.670 middle of making dinner and my family needs to 00:17:10.670 --> 00:17:13.230 eat at a certain time so that we can get to bed 00:17:13.230 --> 00:17:15.269 at a certain time because it is a school night. 00:17:15.809 --> 00:17:18.069 But I noticed that one of my children needs a 00:17:18.069 --> 00:17:21.690 little extra attention and a little extra connection. 00:17:22.289 --> 00:17:25.009 So it would look like me pausing dinner. giving 00:17:25.009 --> 00:17:28.950 10 -15 minutes for a quick card game. Their favorite 00:17:28.950 --> 00:17:31.369 card game, I don't know, pick one, Monopoly Deal 00:17:31.369 --> 00:17:34.930 or Taco Cat. Playing with them for a few rounds 00:17:34.930 --> 00:17:37.750 and connecting with them, even if it means that 00:17:37.750 --> 00:17:40.490 dinner's going to be late a little bit this evening. 00:17:40.809 --> 00:17:43.990 That's okay. My child needs connection in that 00:17:43.990 --> 00:17:46.700 moment. Or maybe it looks like saying yes to 00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:48.579 them tagging along whenever you have to go to 00:17:48.579 --> 00:17:51.119 the grocery store, even though it might take 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:53.119 you a little bit longer. You could get it done 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:55.019 quicker and come home and be present whenever 00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:58.720 you're home. But connection over perfection says, 00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:01.160 okay, you can tag along with me. We will make 00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:04.779 the best of this time, even if it adds time to 00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:07.039 going to the grocery store. But they might need 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:09.599 that connection with you. And what a beautiful 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:12.400 thing it is whenever we put away social media 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:15.000 and the pressures that we feel as a mom to show 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:17.960 up in certain ways and simply show up in the 00:18:17.960 --> 00:18:20.819 ways that our family needs us to show up in, 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:23.940 which is connecting with their hearts, connecting 00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:26.940 with them and their minds. That, again, is such 00:18:26.940 --> 00:18:30.960 a gift to them over perfection. Okay, friends, 00:18:31.099 --> 00:18:32.920 I just saw how long we're going on this one. 00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:35.880 This is a little bit more winded than our other 00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:38.750 ones, but I have so much to say on this. If you 00:18:38.750 --> 00:18:41.089 could just bear for a few more minutes, let's 00:18:41.089 --> 00:18:43.990 go through the last few and close this out. All 00:18:43.990 --> 00:18:46.329 right, another small one that has a really big 00:18:46.329 --> 00:18:49.589 impact in my book because I tell you this from 00:18:49.589 --> 00:18:52.690 experience growing up, my mom did this. She didn't 00:18:52.690 --> 00:18:55.529 do it like all the time, but she did it often 00:18:55.529 --> 00:18:59.730 enough that it stuck with me and I still do it 00:18:59.730 --> 00:19:02.650 with my children because of how it made me feel 00:19:02.650 --> 00:19:05.650 when this was done. And that was leaving little 00:19:05.650 --> 00:19:08.549 notes on my pillow when I was a kid. And it's 00:19:08.549 --> 00:19:11.109 something that I've done with my children. And 00:19:11.109 --> 00:19:14.789 it is such a precious way. It just goes out of 00:19:14.789 --> 00:19:17.849 our normal routine of doing the same things over 00:19:17.849 --> 00:19:20.130 and over. It's a different way of saying, I love 00:19:20.130 --> 00:19:23.150 you. You are seen and you are precious to me. 00:19:23.849 --> 00:19:26.420 And let me tell you, I still have... a couple 00:19:26.420 --> 00:19:28.839 of the cards my mom made for me. I mean, she 00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:32.319 took time out of her busy day to do this. And 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:35.380 those words in there are precious to me. I think 00:19:35.380 --> 00:19:37.990 it's the same for our children. Because they 00:19:37.990 --> 00:19:41.210 make cards all the time. They know how much time 00:19:41.210 --> 00:19:45.210 it takes to write a letter, to make a homemade 00:19:45.210 --> 00:19:49.869 card. And so whenever we, as busy moms, take 00:19:49.869 --> 00:19:52.349 the time to do this, and then we just put a little 00:19:52.349 --> 00:19:55.250 note in there and put it on their pillow, it 00:19:55.250 --> 00:19:58.109 speaks so much to their hearts. I know it does 00:19:58.109 --> 00:20:00.990 for my kids, and I think it would be the same 00:20:00.990 --> 00:20:03.869 for yours. And honestly, you do not have to be 00:20:03.869 --> 00:20:06.450 a crafty mom to do this. You can get a blank 00:20:06.450 --> 00:20:08.650 piece of paper, you can get a sticky note out 00:20:08.650 --> 00:20:11.809 of your drawer and just jot down, I was so proud 00:20:11.809 --> 00:20:14.490 of you today when and fill it in or whatever 00:20:14.490 --> 00:20:16.289 you want to put on there and just put it on their 00:20:16.289 --> 00:20:18.890 pillow or put it on their bathroom mirror where 00:20:18.890 --> 00:20:21.950 they're going to find it somewhere where you 00:20:21.950 --> 00:20:24.410 know they're going to see it. This will speak 00:20:24.410 --> 00:20:27.690 so much to their heart. It is an easy way to 00:20:27.690 --> 00:20:30.799 grow your relationship with them. And our last 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:34.160 one, our last tip for the small things that we 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:37.220 can do to cultivate maximum growth. For me, it 00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:39.819 would have to be saying yes to things when I 00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:43.140 could say no. And I have to be honest, sometimes 00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:46.339 these aren't quite as small as they seem. Just 00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:49.240 because as moms, I get it. We are touched out. 00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:52.500 We are tired. We might be, our brains might be 00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:54.799 overloaded. But I think if we were to look at 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:57.430 our family through a - a kingdom perspective 00:20:57.430 --> 00:21:00.230 lens, we would see these things as small things 00:21:00.230 --> 00:21:02.970 and not the big things that sometimes they feel 00:21:02.970 --> 00:21:05.410 like they are. And so I would just encourage 00:21:05.410 --> 00:21:08.609 us to push through that and really ask God to 00:21:08.609 --> 00:21:10.990 give us a kingdom perspective whenever these 00:21:10.990 --> 00:21:13.849 things show up because I know I have to do this 00:21:13.849 --> 00:21:17.130 almost daily and ask God to give me a kingdom 00:21:17.130 --> 00:21:19.990 perspective for my family to say yes to the things 00:21:19.990 --> 00:21:23.170 that I could say no to. And here are a few examples 00:21:23.170 --> 00:21:26.970 for this. In the mornings, I have one of my children 00:21:26.970 --> 00:21:29.589 wakes up super early compared to the rest of 00:21:29.589 --> 00:21:32.250 their siblings. The mornings are my quiet time. 00:21:32.630 --> 00:21:35.210 I enjoy sitting in the morning by myself with 00:21:35.210 --> 00:21:37.769 my Bible reading. That time is precious to me. 00:21:38.309 --> 00:21:41.309 And whenever my child gets up and wants to snuggle, 00:21:41.329 --> 00:21:45.269 which they do every morning, that is my time 00:21:45.269 --> 00:21:48.769 and it's my time with God. And sometimes I want 00:21:48.769 --> 00:21:51.529 to say no, that is Just the honest truth, I want 00:21:51.529 --> 00:21:54.450 to say no. But every time I say yes, and every 00:21:54.450 --> 00:21:57.230 time I move the blanket over and I invite them 00:21:57.230 --> 00:21:59.869 to snuggle with me, read out loud with them and 00:21:59.869 --> 00:22:03.809 continue my morning routine, but with them, their 00:22:03.809 --> 00:22:07.190 eyes will sparkle and it almost sets a tone for 00:22:07.190 --> 00:22:10.730 the rest of the day just by me saying yes. Another 00:22:10.730 --> 00:22:13.170 simple way might be saying yes to whenever they 00:22:13.170 --> 00:22:15.210 ask if they can read to you out loud at the end 00:22:15.210 --> 00:22:18.569 of the day. If you can join them in their room, 00:22:18.930 --> 00:22:21.369 you are very tired and you just want to go lay 00:22:21.369 --> 00:22:24.069 down. And joining them in their room and laying 00:22:24.069 --> 00:22:26.210 at the foot of their bed and just listening to 00:22:26.210 --> 00:22:29.289 them read out loud. So saying yes whenever we 00:22:29.289 --> 00:22:32.190 could say no is a small way that we can speak 00:22:32.190 --> 00:22:34.829 to our children's hearts. So just to go over 00:22:34.829 --> 00:22:37.869 them one more time, we have small hand motions 00:22:37.869 --> 00:22:41.470 in crowded rooms or really anywhere you're at. 00:22:41.930 --> 00:22:45.150 Number two, little encouragements that go a long 00:22:45.150 --> 00:22:47.609 way instead of nitpicking all the little things 00:22:47.609 --> 00:22:51.390 we can encourage. Number three, connection over 00:22:51.390 --> 00:22:54.630 perfection. Number four, leaving small notes 00:22:54.630 --> 00:22:56.829 for them anywhere in the house where they will 00:22:56.829 --> 00:22:59.329 find them. If your child is a driver, put it 00:22:59.329 --> 00:23:01.750 in their car. anywhere where there are going 00:23:01.750 --> 00:23:05.329 to be small notes. And number five, saying yes 00:23:05.329 --> 00:23:08.269 to things when we could say no. So dear mama, 00:23:08.430 --> 00:23:11.930 as we reflect on these small actions, let's remember 00:23:11.930 --> 00:23:16.309 that they are all done as unto the Lord. When 00:23:16.309 --> 00:23:19.329 we choose connection, when we choose love and 00:23:19.329 --> 00:23:22.089 grace, we are living out our kingdom purpose. 00:23:22.460 --> 00:23:24.940 It's not just about improving our family life 00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:27.940 for the sake of a better home. It's about creating 00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:30.980 a space where God's presence can dwell and then 00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:34.480 we can reflect His love to our children and then 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:37.859 from there to the world. In Matthew 6 .33 we 00:23:37.859 --> 00:23:41.680 are told, Seek first the kingdom of God and His 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:44.240 righteousness. And all of these things will be 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:47.660 given to you as well. Our homes, they can be 00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:50.240 a reflection of God's kingdom if we intentionally 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:53.559 seek God first in the little things. I truly 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:56.380 believe that as we do these small things, what 00:23:56.380 --> 00:23:59.599 seem so small like the tiny seeds from that seed 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:02.059 packet that were just spilled across my desk, 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:05.079 when we do these small things, we are giving 00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:08.220 our families, our children a glimpse of the kingdom 00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:12.009 of God on this earth. So my encouragement to 00:24:12.009 --> 00:24:15.150 you today is it doesn't have to always be grand 00:24:15.150 --> 00:24:18.529 things. It doesn't always have to be flashy Instagram 00:24:18.529 --> 00:24:21.150 worthy moments that define your family's life. 00:24:21.630 --> 00:24:24.670 It is the small things that most of us don't 00:24:24.670 --> 00:24:28.589 even see. The intentional things like connection 00:24:28.589 --> 00:24:31.930 over perfection or small hand gestures that we 00:24:31.930 --> 00:24:35.150 do with our children that will cultivate an environment 00:24:35.150 --> 00:24:38.329 where your family will thrive. So let's keep 00:24:38.329 --> 00:24:41.480 building. Let's keep loving and showing up and 00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:44.500 keep seeking God's kingdom in the little things. 00:24:45.160 --> 00:24:47.299 Thank you so much for joining me today on the 00:24:47.299 --> 00:24:50.059 Live Out Loud Podcast. I am praying for you as 00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:52.480 you cultivate a home that reflects God's kingdom 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:55.619 one small intentional step at a time, dear mama. 00:24:55.880 --> 00:24:56.740 Until next time.