Do you feel the pull between protecting your family and kids while having compassion on the orphan and the widow who are crossing our borders? Do you feel confused about immigration laws and sustainable immigration practices? 

Today Bri Stensrud, author, human dignity advocate, and the Director at Women of Welcome shares her heart on immigration. She began her career as a pro-life advocate and after going to Mexico and seeing the reality of so many women and children, compassionate care quickly became her mission. 

Bri tells us that we can advocate for secure, safe, and legal borders and also the dignity of those arriving here in America. Fear and confusion can often cause us not to engage in the conversation or the communities around us but the Lord has called us to be salt and light. Stick around for the end where she gives practical ideas on how to reach out to those who have fled from desperate situations to bring friendship and hope. 

Connect with Bri Stensrud: 




Website:  Bri Stensrud - Women of Welcome

Facebook: Women of Welcome | Facebook

Instagram:  Women of Welcome (@womenofwelcome)


Links Mentioned:  




Start with Welcome: The Journey toward a Confident and Compassionate Immigration Conversation: by Bri Stensrud
World Relief 
Compassion International

Show Me the Way by Henri Nouwen (the lent study Heather is doing) 

Private Refugee Settlement Program  

Related Episodes:




The Ministry of Presence in a Broken World :: Tess Clarke [Ep. 252]
Compassion Changes Everything :: Jonathan Almonte [Ep 264]
Many Hues, One Humanity :: Dr. Lucretia Berry [Ep 282]

Featured Sponsors: 




BetterHelp–This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/dma and get on your way to being your best self.
Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Secure Borders and the Compassionate Christian :: Bri Stensrud [Ep 455]

Today’s show starts with a small hiccup and then really gets going with our guest and listener Rachel Green (but not that one ;)).  We discussed what we had for breakfast and it was everything from a frittata, to coconut milk yogurt with all the toppings, to a Diet Dr. Pepper with saltines. Can you guess who ate what? 

Rachel admits to being sidetracked by ruminating over her busy calendar, and how Cynthia’s book is helping her, “get comfortable with being uncomfortable so she can bring others in”. We share what the Lord is teaching us lately including Kingdom success vs. the world’s success and how to prioritize relationships over tasks. All while Cynthia starts a new segment called, “How are we even friends?”. Lastly, don’t forget to tag us on socials with your amazing dog names (Heather promises not to judge). 

Connect with Cynthia Yanof: 




Website:  https://cynthiayanof.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.yanof 
Instagram:  @cynthiayanof 
Podcast: Episodes – Cynthia Yanof


Links Mentioned:  





 Life Is Messy, God Is Good: Sanity for the Chaos of Everyday Life: by Yanof, Cynthia

Jordan's Skinny Syrups Sugar Free Coffee Syrup, Vanilla
Life Is Beautiful (English Subtitled)
Right Where You Belong: How to Identify and Fully Occupy Your God-Given Space: by Heather MacFadyen

Women, Food and Hormones 
Jesus cookies

Lume deodorant (use DMA to get $5 off starter pack)
Clothes Steamer

 Related Episodes:




“Plump it Up”:: Sidetracked by 10 years of Podcasting [Ep 437]
Balancing Work and Family Life :: Tricia Goyer [Ep 7]
Strengthening Our Friendships :: Susan Seay [Ep 289]

Featured Sponsors: 





Greenlight–So stop putting off the “Money Talk” and start putting your kids on the right path. Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free at GREENLIGHT.com/dma.


Lume– As a special offer for listeners, new customers GET $5 OFF a Lume Starter Pack with code DMA at LumeDeodorant.com. That equates to over 40% off your Starter Pack.

Trust and Will –Secure your assets and protect your loved ones with Trust and Will. Get 10% off plus free shipping of your estate plan documents by visiting trustandwill.com/DMA.
Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Sidetracked by Throat Gurgles, Unlikely Friendships and Trash Can Valentines :: special guest Rachel Green  [Ep 454]

If you need a reminder that God can redeem and restore a broken marriage, this week’s guest, Kathy Bush shares her powerful restoration testimony. 

Kathy and Tim have been married for 42 years, many of those years filled with hurt, pain and infidelity. Their story centers around a primary marriage challenge —bringing two stories,  backgrounds, and expectations together. It took Kathy and Tim hitting rock bottom to begin a two-year process of counseling where they found a place of healing. 

Kathy reminds us that God designed marriage before He designed the church and that it can be a powerful tool against the enemy if we can walk in step together. Today Kathy and Tim run War Room Ministries to serve men, marriages, families, and churches across the country and help families find healing. 

Connect with Kathy Bush: 

Website:  Home - War Room Ministries

Instagram:  War Room Ministries (@warroomministry) 


Links Mentioned:  




Sex on The First Date by Tim and Kathy Bush
The Bible Recap
Family Life –Weekend to Remember Conferences

Genesis Women's Shelter---resources if you are in an abusive relationship



Related Episodes:




Building Strong Marriages :: Kimberly Beam Holmes [Ep 374]
Finding the Courage to Speak Up When You’re Not Ok :: Kristen Glass [Ep 427]
Rebuilding from an Abusive Marriage :: Jeni B [Ep 246] 
Infidelity, Divorce and Redeeming Love :: Rebekah Greer [Ep 8]
Walking Through Divorce :: Lara Williams [Ep 324] 
Sinners Married to Sinners–How God Refines Us :: Cheryl Scruggs and Jae Carpenter [Ep 195]

Featured Sponsors: 



Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Hope for the Hopeless Marriage :: Kathy Bush [Ep 453]

Did you know panic attacks can happen even when everything around you looks “perfect”? 

They can sneak up seemingly out of nowhere and be frightening. But a panic attack is a warning light to slow down and see what is happening in our bodies and emotions.  Panic is a behavioral and physical response to anxiety locked in our bodies. So many of us can feel alone and isolated even when surrounded by people. 

My guest today, Kasey Van Norman, an author, counselor, and teacher, shares the neurological and physical science behind panic attacks and anxiety. She gives us insight into why they happen and reminds us that the key to living a life free of anxiety is a present relationship with Jesus. Kasey dives into Luke 10 where Mary and Martha show the pull between anxiety and peace.  She reminds us that sitting at the feet of Jesus is the way to peace and always available to us.  

Connect with Kasey Van Norman: 




Website:  Kasey Van Norman 
Facebook: The Made Well House

Instagram:  Kasey Van Norman, LPC | Therapy + Theology (@kaseyvannorman)

Made Well House: The Made Well House Counseling and Wellness




Links 




Freedom Prayer Ministries
People Fuel: Fill Your Tank for Life, Love, and Leadership by  John Townsend
Ultimate Leadership Conferences
Soul of Shame by Dr. Curt Thompson

Don't Mom Alone: Growing the Relationships You Need to Be the Mom You Want to Be: by Heather MacFadyen 



Related Episodes:




Freedom from Anxiety :: Ashley Willis [Ep 180] 
Getting Brave About Anxiety :: Sissy Goff [Ep 311]
Panic Attacks and Growing Trust :: JJ Heller [Ep 238]



Featured Sponsors: 

Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

The What, Why and Work-through of Panic Attacks :: Kasey Van Norman [Ep 452]

Boys today are struggling more than ever with social anxiety.  

They feel hesitant, anxious, and struggle to take healthy risks. How do we know when to push them into uncomfortable places? Many boys are even struggling with life milestones like getting their driver's license, asking a girl to the school dance, or applying to college. OCD and ADHD are on the rise and we want to understand when to step in and get them any help that is needed.  

My guest David Thomas, a licensed professional counselor, is back to bring wisdom, advice, and tools to navigate life with our boys. He tells us the top three reasons why these issues are on the rise. David helps us learn how to support, challenge, and help boys be more outward moving and have more purpose. He reminds us that our sons are first a child of God and we can anchor them in that truth as we parent and guide them through life. 

Connect with David Thomas: 

Website:  Raising Boys and Girls (raisingboysandgirls.com)

Facebook: Raising Boys and Girls | Facebook

Instagram:  Raising Boys and Girls (@raisingboysandgirls) • Instagram photos and videos


Links Mentioned:  





Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life by Susan David 
The Worry-Free Parent: Living in Confidence So Your Kids Can Too by Sissy Goff
Feeding the Mouth That Bites You: A Complete Guide to Parenting Adolescents and Launching Them Into the World by Kenneth Wilgus 

Legacy Changer by Kristen Hallinan
Life 360 App 

Your Enneagram Coach (a gospel-centered approach to the Enneagram)

 Related Episodes:




David Thomas Episodes
Freeing Your Adolescents to Step Into Adulthood – Ages and Stages – Teens :: Dr. Ken Wilgus [Ep 382] 
The Enneagram and Motherhood :: Suzanne Stabile [Ep 232] 

Featured Sponsors: 



Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Helping Socially Anxious Boys :: David Thomas [Ep 451]

Kids plus nutrition often equals a storm of thoughts and emotions. What should I serve my child? How do I get them to eat it? Is what I heard on the internet true? We don’t come to these questions with blank slates either. Words spoken to us or ideas we’ve internalized can make this area of life rife with trouble. 

But my guest this week is mom and registered dietician Kacie Barnes and she is here to help! She’s got broad guidelines and specific tips to help us through snacks and mealtimes. 

The one thing she made sure to say in our interview? 

“Give yourself some credit because I know that you work really hard to feed your kids and it is not an easy job.”

Connect with Kacie Barnes: 




Website:  https://mamaknowsnutrition.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamaknowsnutrition/ 
Instagram:  @mamaknowsnutrition 




Links Mentioned:  




 Renzo’s Pick Eater Multivitamin with Iron 
Find Simple Mills foods or Harvest Pea Snaps at your favorite grocer



Related Episodes:




Fed is Best || New Baby Series Pt 2 :: Dr. Bridget Young
Healthy Habit Building :: Kat Lee [Ep 300] 



Featured Sponsors: 



Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Feeding Your Kids Without Mom Guilt :: Kacie Barnes [Ep 450]

Where do you turn when life gets messy? 

Cynthia said it best, “98% of life is the messy part.” But that sentence doesn’t have to end there, with us shaking our fists at the sky. Instead, get Sidetracked with Cynthia and me as we dive right into life’s messy parts, clinging to the brilliant hope that God is still good to us, and for us. 

Pre-order Cynthia’s new book, Life is Messy, God is Good and enter our contest to be on a future episode of Sidetracked! 

Connect with Cynthia Yanof: 




Website:  https://cynthiayanof.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.yanof 
Instagram:  @cynthiayanof 
Podcast: MESSmerized 

Links Mentioned:  




 Life is Messy, God is Good: Sanity for the Chaos of Everyday Life by Cynthia Yanof

Enter our Sidetracked Giveaway 



Featured Sponsors: 

Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Life is Messy, God is Good :: Sidetracked with Cynthia and Heather [Ep 449]

How do you measure yourself? How do you decide if you’re succeeding or failing in life?

One ruler we often reach for is comparison. Sometimes comparisons are helpful tools we can use to evaluate our processes or methods. But we’ve all seen comparisons go wrong. Who hasn’t thought, “I’m not like her. I must be less than”? 

Comparison isolates. It causes us to withdraw from our community or to put up perfect-looking walls that keep people out.  My guest this week is recovering comparison-chaser, Jenn Schultz. 

Her new book, She’s Not Your Enemy, shows us the root of the problem isn’t how we are different from one another, it’s that we don’t truly know who we are. Armed with the knowledge of who God made us to be, we are free to celebrate other women and build God’s kingdom together. 

Connect with Jenn Schultz: 




Website:  https://jennschultzauthor.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennschultzauthor 
Instagram:  @jennschultzauthor 
Podcast: Called Into Being @calledintobeing   

Links Mentioned:  





 She’s Not Your Enemy: Conquering Our Insecurities So We Can Build God’s Kingdom Together by Jenn Schultz
Inner Healing Prayer :: Jennifer Barnett [Ep 323]
Psalm 103
Romans 8
Ephesians 1

Related Episodes:




Be Vulnerable, Find Your People :: Jennie Allen [Ep 354]
Move From Comparison to Compassion :: Karen Ehman [SOM Wk 5]
Sidetracked with Fall, Homecoming and Sibling Conflict :: Cynthia & Heather [Ep 432]

Featured Sponsors: 



Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

She’s Not Your Enemy  :: Jenn Schultz [Ep 448]

Have you ever asked yourself, “Is what’s going on with my body normal?” 

So often as women, we are quiet about what’s going on with our bodies.  Our concerns have been dismissed before. We’re worried about what will have to change in our lives to fix this nagging symptom. The doctor is busy.  We have to leave this appointment soon to make it on time to the next thing on our lists. So we just deal. 

But my guest this week, Dr. Kamilia Smith, says that “quality of life issues should not be extra credit for women.” Our conversation covers a gamut of topics from menopause to sexual health to supplements. 

Dr. Smith is the Founder and Director of Charleston House Gynecology in Dallas. Her practice is geared toward caring for all of a woman on the zig-zag road through midlife healthcare. 

Connect with Dr. Kamilia Smith: 




Website:  https://charlestonhousegyn.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlestonhousegyn 
Instagram:  @charlestonhousegyn 

Links Mentioned:  




 Estrogen Matters: Why Taking Hormones in Menopause Can Improve Women’s Well-Being and Lengthen Their Lives – Without Raising the Risk of Breast Cancer by Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris 
Dallas Pyschologist/Therapist: https://behavioralhealthdallas.com/dr-katie-sardone-psychologist-therapist

Dallas Counseling: https://www.mend-counseling.com/


NY Times article on Menopause 

Featured Sponsors: 



Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Is This Normal? A Women’s Health Conversation  :: Dr. Kamilia Smith [Ep 447]

What would you do to make sure your child’s faith life is growing strong? Is this something you’re taking on yourself or getting help with?

Join us this week as Ben Bevis, a passionate advocate for youth empowerment through faith, shares insights on gathering Mentor Circles around our young people. As the founder of Encircled, Ben is dedicated to helping to launch the Next Generation with sustained faith. Ben and Encircled do this by helping to equip parents, grandparents and mentors by grounding youth in their identity in Christ, discover their God-given gifts and create a vision for their lives. Listen in about how you as a parent can gather a Mentor Circle around your child!
Connect with Ben Bevis:

Website: https://encircled.org/

Instagram: @encircled.official

Email: ben.bevis@encircled.org


Links Mentioned:


FREE Encircled Parenting Resource (https://encircled.org/parents/)

Fuller Youth Institute (https://fulleryouthinstitute.org/)

Connected Families (https://connectedfamilies.org/)
The Intentional Father: A Practical Guide to Raise Sons of Courage and Character by Jon Tyson 

Related Episodes:



Build Lasting Faith in Your Kids :: Dr. Kara Powell [Ep 290]
Equipping Your Kids for Difficulty :: Kim Sorgius [Ep 356]
Relationships you Need to Be the Mom you Want to Be :: Heather Macfadyen [Ep 341]
Exchanging False Beliefs for True Identity :: Jamie Winship [Ep 433] 

Featured Sponsors: 



Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Gathering a Mentor Circle :: Ben Bevis [Ep 446]

Happy New Year! We’re starting the year off right with mile-long to-do lists and a complex highlighting system so we don’t forget to wash the dog in the midst of crocheting that giant bow. 

JK!  

But we are thinking about what went well in 2023 and what we’re focusing in on 2024. Whether you make resolutions or not, evaluating how things are going is helpful and the flip of the calendar is a natural time to do just that. But because we’ve been victimized by the to-do list just as often as we’ve been helped by it, we brought in professional help. Laurel Denise, better known as Lolly, from Laurel Denise Planners joins us to talk about planning and to help us make sense of all those task-thoughts running around our brains. 

Getting Sidetracked may be a little more productive than usual this month! (but still with plenty of laughs!)

Connect with Cynthia Yanof: 




Website:  https://cynthiayanof.com/ 
Podcast: Messmerized

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.yanof 
Instagram:  @cynthiayanof 



Connect with Laurel Denise: 




Website:  https://laureldenise.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/laureldeniseloves 
Instagram:  @laureldenise 
TikTok: @_laureldenise





Links Mentioned:  




Right Where You Belong: How to Identify and Fully Occupy Your God-Given Space by Heather MacFadyen
Cultivate What Matters PowerSheets
Life is Messy God is Good: Sanity for the Chaos of Everyday Life by Cynthia Yanof
**ENTER to be a guest on our March Sidetracked episode (giveaway ends Feb 9th)

Laurel Denise Planners 
Pilot Frixion Erasable Pens



Related Episodes:




Organize Your Mental Load :: Laurel Denise [Ep 444]
Cultivate What Matters :: Lara Casey [Ep 146] 



Featured Sponsors: 



Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Out with the Old Cherry Bomb Exhaust and In with the New :: Sidetracked by the New Year feat. Laurel Denise [Ep 445]

How are you handling your mental load? Are you a well-packed Sherpa able to take on any terrain or Sisyphus rolling the ball up the hill only to watch it roll back down? 

This is the time of year when it feels natural to look back and look forward. We can evaluate what worked and what didn’t, but more importantly we can listen to what space the Lord is asking us to occupy. Maybe things need to drop off our list. Maybe God isn’t saying “let go” but is tasking you with bringing order to your every day. My guest this week is mom and planner creator Laurel Denise. Laurel shares her journey thus far through motherhood and owning a small business and how she made sense of it all. 

Connect with Laurel Denise: 




Website:  https://laureldenise.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/laureldeniseloves 
Instagram:  @laureldenise 
TikTok: @_laureldenise


Related Episodes:




Sunday Planning :: Retha Nichole [Ep 349]
Listening for God’s Leading :: Caroline Cobb [Ep 405] RWYB Week 4
Cultivate What Matters :: Lara Casey [Ep 146]

Featured Sponsors: 



Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Organize Your Mental Load  :: Laurel Denise [Ep 444]

Have you heard the Bible verse “Women will be saved through childbearing”? (It’s part of 1 Timothy 2:15) What do you think that verse means? What do you think it means for the woman facing infertility, or singleness? 

My guest this week, Dr. Sandra Glahn, wants to dispel some iffy interpretations of this verse many of us grew up hearing. Dr. Glahn is Professor of Media Arts and Worship at Dallas Theological Seminary and has spent over 20 years trying to better understand what Paul meant in these verses in 1 Timothy, and what they mean for us today. Join me for this fascinating conversation that delves into the role of women and the cultural context of Paul’s letter, 1 Timothy. 

Connect with Dr. Sandra Glahn: 




Website:  https://sandraglahn.com/ 
Instagram:  @sandraglahnauthor 

Links Mentioned:  




Nobody’s Mother: Artemis of Ephesians in Antiquity and the New Testament by Sandra L. Glahn 

Vindicating the Vixens: Revisiting the Sexualized, Vilified, and Marginalized Women of the Bible by Sandra L. Glahn  



Related Episodes:




On the Role of Women :: Joel Muddamalle [Ep 397]
Every Mom a Theologian :: Phylicia Masonheimer [Ep 389] 



Featured Sponsors: 



Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Nobody’s Mother :: Dr. Sandra Glahn [Ep 443]

Ready or not, the holidays are upon us! What are your favorite holiday traditions? What are the ones you could leave behind? 

Get sidetracked with Cynthia and me as we discuss everything from trees (real, fake, and Jesse) to gift giving philosophies (more or less presents than Jesus?) to elves and shepherds and the awful name your pie might get if it doesn’t come out just right. There’s even help for the mom who just wants to help her kids see Jesus in the midst of all the holiday stuff!   

Connect with Cynthia Yanof: 




Website:  https://cynthiayanof.com/ 
Podcast: Messmerized

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.yanof 
Instagram:  @cynthiayanof 

Links Mentioned:  




The Jesse Tree
Heather’s  Mother-in-law’s Wassail Recipe→ combine in a pot: a gallon of apple cider (or juice) with 12 whole cloves, 4 tsp whole allspice, 12 sticks of cinnamon. (optional: 2 cups of sugar, 1 cup orange juice, 6 Tbsp lemon juice). Bring to a slow boil and then simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and serve hot. 
Pioneer Woman Cinnamon Rolls Recipe 
Pioneer Woman Chocolate Marshmallow Pumpkin Pie 
Courtney DeFeo’s Light ‘Em Up 
Cultivate What Matters Powersheets 
Christmas Eve Service Printable 
Come, Let Us Adore Him: A Daily Advent Devotional by Paul David Tripp
“Pilgrim Rick” Season 1 Episode 8 of This Is Us

Related Episodes:




Truth in the Tinsel with Amanda White (Ohamanda) :: [Ep 3] 
Celebrating Advent :: Tsh Oxenreider [Ep 305]
Christmas Traditions with Little Ones :: Jacki Rucksdashel [Ep 142] 

Featured Sponsors: 



Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Sidetracked with the Holidays :: Pie-arrhea, Dutch Cabbage Patch Dolls and Advent Fails :: Cynthia and Heather [Ep 442]

How are you doing? 
Honestly.
What is the pace of your day? What do you long for and feel you are missing out on? What activities have you crammed in your life out of a “should” mentality? When do you focus on your spiritual life?

Today we are getting honest about our lives. And discussing ways to deepen relationships, simplify schedules, and connect spiritually.
This week’s podcast guest is the talented, Shauna Niequist. Author of several books (“Cold Tangerines”, “Bread and Wine”, etc), she has a new devotional available called, “Savor: Living Abundantly Where You Are, As You Are”.

If you are longing for friends you can share vulnerably with, Shauna offers a simple plan.
If you struggle with the concept of slowing down and “savoring”, we discuss our own struggle and practical ways to start. If you want to expand your spiritual life beyond time alone with your Bible, then Shauna paints a beautiful picture of what that can look like.
Shauna dishes out oodles of wise words. Enjoy!

Connect with Shauna Niequist: 




Website:  https://www.shaunaniequist.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sniequist/ 
Instagram:  @sniequist


Links Mentioned:  




 Savor: Living Abundantly, Where You Are, As You Are by Shauna Niequist

Cheddar Sage Shepherd’s Pie–switch out the sage for thyme and extra cheddar
Nigella Lawson’s Guiness Chocolate Cake

Brene Brown’s Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

Wayne Muller’s “A Life of Being, Having, and Doing Enough” 
Concentric Circles of Care



Related Episodes:




Soulful Over Frantic :: Shauna Niequist [Ep 127]
Walking Through Seasons of Unbelonging :: Shauna Niequist [Ep 362]
Recovering from Mom Burnout :: Nicole Zasowski [Ep 257]




Featured Sponsors: 



Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

How to Get Real and Savor More (Replay) :: Shauna Niequist [Ep 441]

What do you think of when you hear the phrase “college tuition”? Does your heart rate speed up? 

Sending a child to college is the culmination of a lot of effort. It’s emotional and there are a lot of logistics to manage. In this hands-on, information-packed conversation Kristi and I cover the basics of applying for financial aid for college. We talk through deadlines and how-to’s to help relieve some of the logistical stress of sending a child to college.  

Connect with Kristi Steele: 



Website:  https://www.kc360.co/ 
Links Mentioned:  




FAFSA

Federal Student Aid 
CSS Profile
MyCap College Funding Services 

Kristi’s The College Project  

Lunch and Learn: A Deeper Dive Into Financial Aid and Scholarships: November 27, 11:00am CST (Webinar will be recorded and recording sent to all who register)
**Private School Special Circumstance Form will be found with the specific university your child is applying to**

 Related Episodes:



Work of Worth :: Kristi Griem [Ep 39]
Featured Sponsors: 

Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Demystifying Financial Aid :: Kristi Steele [Ep 440]

What are two words to describe your mind when your head hits the pillow most nights? 

The quiet space before sleep can be our most vulnerable moments. Whether it’s to-do’s or dredging up memories from the past, our thoughts can feel overwhelming. If we let our mind spiral we’re sacrificing the rest God intends us to enjoy. But my guest this week, Emily Ley has some bedtime rituals that can help us stop the spiraling. Crafted to help herself with the nighttime barrage of thoughts, Emily’s simple routines and reminders can set you on a path to the peace that comes, not from an easy life, but from an abiding trust in God. 

Emily is a mom of three, a best-selling author, and the founder of organizational products and tools company, Simplified.   

Connect with Emily Ley: 




Website:  https://emilyleybooks.com/  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplified 
Instagram:  @simplified 

Links Mentioned:  





The Simplified Planner Heather uses

Raising Them Ready: Practical Ways to Prepare Your Kids for Life on Their Own by Jonathan and Erica Catherman  
How to Be a Person Camp - Emily Ley on Substack 
Near in the Night: 100 Evening Meditations on God’s Peace and Rest by Emily Ley

Sure as the Sunrise: 100 Morning Meditations on God’s Mercy and Delight by Emily Ley 
Growing Boldy: Dare to Build a Life You Love by Emily Ley
A Simplified Life: Tactical Tools for Intentional Living by Emily Ley 

Related Episodes:




Fighting Toxic Thoughts :: Jennie Allen [Ep 272]
Freedom From Anxiety :: Ashley Willis [Ep 180]
Getting Brave About Anxiety :: Sissy Goff [Ep 311]

Featured Sponsors: 

Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Bedtime Rituals to End Worry Spirals :: Emily Ley [Ep 439]

Do the sights and sounds and feels of parenting overwhelm you some days? Or most days? How can we parent kindly and intentionally when we desperately need a break from all the stimulation? 

My guest this week is Mary Van Geffen. She is a mom who has striven to cultivate good relationships with her children and husband while also navigating life as a Highly Sensitive Person with diagnosed ADHD.  She knows firsthand the struggles moms face with sensory overload and she’s not trying to “fix” you - you’re not broken! But she does offer a bevy of tips to help us take care of ourselves amidst the din of life and to parent in a calm and connected manner. 

Connect with Mary Van Geffen: 




Website:  https://www.maryvangeffen.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parentcoachforspicyones 
Instagram:  @maryvangeffen 



Links Mentioned:  




 How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty Class with Mary Van Geffen 

Heather and Mary’s Instagram performance–Body Posture in Parenting



Related Episodes:




Body Awareness in Parenting :: Mary Van Geffen [Ep 333]
When Your Child is on the Autism Spectrum (Part 1) :: Terri Conlin [Ep 182]
When Your Child is on the Autism Spectrum (Part 2) :: Terri Conlin [Ep 183]
Parenting Neurodivergent Children - Summer Edition :: Carrie Cassell [Ep 413]
Parenting Sensitive and Intense Kids :: Lynne Jackson and Lydia Rex [Ep 395]
Helping Your Child with Sensory Processing Issues :: Lynne Jackson [Ep 258]



Featured Sponsors: 

Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Parenting as a Highly Sensitive Person :: Mary Van Geffen [Ep 438]

Pull out the petit fours and lip plumpers - it’s time to celebrate! Don’t Mom Alone has officially reached double digits!! 

Get Sidetracked with us as Cynthia leads us on a surprising, only mildly teary ride as we look back on 10 years of the podcast.  There’s even a Cameo from Bob Ross! Jk, there isn’t.  But we do have a great lineup of special guests and listeners to help us commemorate 10 years of mom-ing together. 

Connect with Cynthia Yanof: 




Website:  https://cynthiayanof.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.yanof 
Instagram:  @cynthiayanof 

Links Mentioned:  





Don’t Mom Alone 
Right Where You Belong: How to Identify and Occupy Your God-Given Space
PREORDER: Life is Messy, God is Good: Sanity for the Chaos of Everyday Life by Cynthia Yanof  

Milani Keep It Full Maxxx Lip Plumper **Plump At Your Own Risk**

Related Episodes:




Helping Our Kids Foster Friendships :: David Thomas and Sissy Goff [Ep 338]
Raising Girls :: Sissy Goff [Ep 141] 
The Worry-Free Parent :: Sissy Goff [Ep 421]
Getting Brave About Anxiety :: Sissy Goff [Ep 311]
Raising Worry-Free Girls :: Sissy Goff [Bonus]
Raising Emotionally Strong Boys :: David Thomas [Ep 368]
A Lil Help with Boys and Screens :: David Thomas [Bonus]
Understanding Boys Better :: David Thomas [Ep 315]
The Art of Nuturing Boys :: David Thomas [Ep 119]

Shrinking or Swelling to Fill Your Space :: Courtney DeFeo [Ep 406] RWYB Wk 5 
Light ‘Em Up :: Courtney DeFeo [Ep 50]
“Help, I’m Tired of Fighting with My Daughter About Clothes” :: Kari Kampakis [Ep 429]
Connecting with Your Daughter Through Humility and Compassion :: Kari Kampakis  - Part 1 [Ep 390]
Steady Identity in Shifting Roles :: Kari Kampakis - Part 2 [Ep 391]
The Goldmine of a Mother’s Hindsight :: Chrystal Evans Hurst [Ep 71]
Rescuing the Girl in You :: Chrystal Evans Hurst [Ep 172]

Featured Sponsors: 



Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

“Plump it Up”:: Sidetracked by 10 years of Podcasting [Ep 437]

Some moments create a “before” and “after” in life. Whether it’s a circumstance we live through or a person we encounter, we see the world and our lives differently after these experiences. 

In choosing the most memorable moments to go back to, I thought about, “What were the conversations that changed my own life and parenting?”  Don’t forget, we are walking together down this path of motherhood! I’m sharing these conversations again because they have impacted my journey in encouraging, clarifying, and simplifying ways. 



Full Episodes: 



Anchoring Our Kids’ Lovability in Christ :: Jeannie Cunnion [Ep 91]
Motherhood, Career, and Identity :: Kat Armstrong [Ep 171]
When to Have the Talk :: Mary Flo Ridley [Encore]
The Window of Tolerance :: Charissa Fry [Ep 260] 
Gospel Parenting :: Paul David Tripp [Ep 176]

Connect with: 


Jeannie Cunnion 

Website:  https://www.jeanniecunnion.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeannieCunnion 
Instagram:  @jeanniecunnion 




Mary Flo Ridley 

Website: https://birds-bees.com/ 
Podcast: The Birds and Bees 

Instagram: @birds_bees 




Kat Armstrong

Website: https://www.katarmstrong.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katarmstrongauthor 
Instagram: @katarmstrong1 



Charissa Fry Lopez

Website: https://charissalopez.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharissaFryCounseling/ 



Paul David Tripp 

Website: https://www.paultripp.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pdtripp

Instagram: @PaulTrippQuotes 




Links Mentioned:  


Books by Jeannie Cunnion 

Parenting the Wholehearted Child: Captivating Your Child’s Heart with God’s Extravagant Grace by Jeannie Cunnion 
Mom Set Free: Find Relief from the Pressure to Get It All Right by Jeannie Cunnion
Don’t Miss Out: Daring to Believe Life is Better with the Holy Spirit by Jeannie Cunnion 

Never Alone: Parenting in the Power of the Holy Spirit by Jeannie Cunnion 

Books by Kat Armstrong 

The In-Between Place: Where Jesus Changes Your Story by Kat Armstrong
No More Holding Back: Emboldening Women to Move Past Barriers, See Their Worth, and Serve God Everywhere by Kat Armstrong 

The Storyline Project by Kat Armstrong  

Resources from Charissa Fry Lopez 


Regulation Pack 
Keys to Playing with Your Kiddo 

Resources by Mary Flo Ridley 

God’s Very Good Design by Mary Flo Ridley
Birds and Bees Courses 

Resources by Paul David Tripp

Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family 
New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional 

Marriage: 6 Gospel Commitments Every Couple Needs to Make 

Complete List of Paul Tripp’s Resources 



Related Episodes:

In Light of Eternity :: Jen Clouse [Ep 100] 
Quiet Your Inner Critic and Practice Self-Compassion :: Kim Fredrickson [Ep 188]
Lessons Learned in 87 Years (Part 1) :: Vickie Kraft [Ep 73]
Lessons Learned in 87 Years (Part 2) :: Vickie Kraft [Ep 74]
Donut Dates with John Price [Ep 6]

Jeannie Cunnion

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