The Home and Hearth Podcast

Latest Episodes:

069: Ambiguous Loss and the Faithfulness of God with Pat and Tammy McLeod Jul 10, 2019

Show notes

Pat and Tammy McLeod are Harvard chaplains for CRU, founding members of the Mamelodi Initiative in Africa, parents of four children, including Zack who has suffered a traumatic brain injury, and now new authors as they set pen to paper to chronicle in Hit Hard their story with their son and the subsequent ambiguous loss they have experienced.

What we Chat about in This Episode:

~The McLeod's new book, what led them to write it, and what readers can expect

~Zack's traumatic brain injury and the lasting implications of it

~The importance of entering into someone's pain with them rather than just slapping a nice platitude on it

~The belief the McLeods hold to that what happened to Zack is part of a larger story that God is unveiling since the beginning of time; how that comforted them in their loss

~Our crucified God Who enters into our pain and feels it with us ~Meeting God in the Psalms

~The importance of lamenting

~Different ways of grieving and how the McLeods got through; the effect this loss had on their marriage

~Having to finally let go of the expectation of Zack being fully healed on this side of heaven; how the McLeods dealt with folks thinking that they had lost faith in God's ability to heal by doing so

~What life looks like for the McLeods now; how they have seen God bring good out of this journey

~What ambiguous loss is, and some coping mechanisms for it

~The importance of grieving in community

~And more!

For full show notes, head to www.hargraveshomeandhearth.com/podcast

HandH 068: The Power of Intentional Friendship with Joy Clarkson Jun 26, 2019

Show notes

Joy Clarkson, podcaster, writer, teacher, lover of all things beautiful, and student currently working on her PHd in Theology, Imagination, and the Arts at St. Andrews University in Scotland, joins me on the Home and Hearth Podcast to talk about the importance of cultivating friendship in this busy world. She recently co-authored, along with her sister, Sarah, and mother, Sally, the wonderful new book, "Girls Club: Cultivating Lasting Friendship in a Lonely World". You will walk away from this chat built up and inspired to go out there and pursue friendship and community of your own!

What we Chat about in This Episode:

~Joy's new book, "Girls' Club: Cultivating Lasting Friendship in a Lonely World" - what led her to co-author it and what readers can expect

~The importance of moms viewing and treating their children as real people with interesting personalities, thoughts, and things to offer in conversation and to the world

~The new office of "Minister of Loneliness" in the UK and what this development reveals about the current loneliness epidemic

~Admitting your loneliness as a first step towards seeking community

~Tips, tricks, and ideas for practically pursuing friendship and cultivating community in the midst of everyday busyness

~The necessity of being intentional

~Practical ideas for what to talk about when meeting up with someone new whom you're trying to get to know as a friend

~Training your children to ask people questions

~Why friendship is so important and how it can actually change the world

~Jesus' example of friendship

~An example from Joy's own life of a friend who dramatically influenced and changed her life

~The beauty of daughters inheriting beautiful friendships from the circle of their mother's friends

~Female friendships in history

~Cultivating friendships between mothers and daughters

~The "good Christian girl syndrome" of thinking you have to take whatever someone dishes out to you and always turn the other cheek; the importance of boundaries and making space between you and unhealthy friendships; what that looks like

~And more!

For full show notes, head to www.hargraveshomeandhearth.com/podcast

067: The Life-Changing Work of Placemaking with Christie Purifoy Jun 12, 2019

Show notes

Christie Purifoy, author of Roots and Sky and Placemaker, is a wife, mom of 4, and gardener who delights in the work and ministry of placemaking. You will walk away from today's chat built up and inspired to see your own home and place in a different light!

What we Chat about in This Episode:

~Christie's books, Roots and Sky and Placemaker

~The beauty of Christie's book, Placemaker, what led her to write it, what readers can expect, and how it inspires folks to see the value of the work of placemaking

~The beauty of God's creation and the part it plays in our understanding and knowing of God and our growth in Him

~Placemaking being for everyone, and not just homemaking, home decorating types - because we were all made in the image of a creative, place-making God

~Turning creativity and placemaking into a true source of ministry

~How Christie's journey towards being a placemaker began

~Being a humble placemaker - not just imposing one's own will on a place, but also learning and growing by a place's influence on oneself

~The correlation between hospitality and placemaking - how they differ and how they are similar

~Introvertedness and serving others

~The challenges Christie faces in placemaking

~The financial aspect of placemaking; the financial care of Christie's home, Maplehurst

~A story of placemaking that Christie wanted to share with the listeners

~The correlation between placemakng and peacemaking

~The Purifoys experience of moving around a lot; placemaking for families and individuals with very nomadic lifestyles; how to send your roots down deep and be placemakers in an area when you may not live there very long

~Receiving and learning from a place before rushing to change it

~Practical tips and first steps for getting started placemaking

~The beauty of the small acts of noticing a place

~The gift of the wilderness places

~And more!

Head to www.hargraveshomeandhearth.com/podcast for the full shownotes!

066: Miscarriage, Motherhood, and Learning from God in the Everyday with Erin Greneaux Jun 05, 2019

Show notes

Erin Greneaux, wife, mom of 2, and author joins me on the Home and Hearth Podcast to share about her two books, Learnable Moments for Moms: 100 Devotions to Discover God in the Everyday and Inconceivable Redemption: God's Presence in Miscarriage and Infertility. I know you will walk away from this episode incredibly encouraged!

What we Chat about in This Episode:

~Erin's two newest books, Learnable Moments for Moms: 100 Devotions to Discover God in the Everyday and Inconceivable Redemption: God's Presence in Miscarriage and Infertility, what led Erin to write them, and what readers can expect

~The ability we truly do have to - in the midst of the craziness of motherhood and our life as busy moms - spend time with the Lord and learn from Him in relevant ways in our everyday moments

~Wondering if the work of mothering is all there is to our lives; reorienting our viewpoint of motherhood

~Embracing not-so-quiet "quiet times"

~The building-block nature of today's work

~Erin's writing process for her devotional book

~Making time to be with the Lord

~Doing life with the Lord - bringing Him into every moment of our day

~What spending time with the Lord looks like in Erin's everyday life

~The way loss can change the way we view God

~Erin's journey of miscarriage and infertility, what God did through those experiences

~What to say and what not say to those going through miscarriage or infertility; things said to Erin which were not helpful in that season

~Encouragement for women who have experienced miscarriage or infertility

~Erin's tips for aspiring self-published authors

~And more!

For full show notes, head to www.hargraveshomeandhearth.com/podcast

065: Finding the Mission and Purpose in the Ordinary Part 2 with Tabitha Panariso May 23, 2019

Show notes

Tabitha Panariso is a wife, stay-at-home mom of 3, and writer who joins me on the Home and Hearth Podcast again today to share more of her passion for encouraging women to find the mission and purpose in the ordinary moments of everyday life.

What we Chat about in This Episode:

~What it looks like for Tabitha as a stay-at-home mom of 3 littles to use her own unique gifts in this season and context she's in right now

~Advancing the kingdom through home and family life

~Looking for opportunities and letting go of the excuses to use your gifts in the midst of motherhood

~Seeking to build your own platform vs. sitting back, being faithful, and allowing God the space to advance your work for His glory

~Believing God to take care of us, have perfect timing, and have our best interests at heart when it comes to the work of our hands

~The huge impact of reaching and changing just one life

~What it looks like to actually believe in and live out the abundant life Christ came to give us in the midst of our daily struggles and challenges

~Getting past comparison, competition, and being easily offended

~The mommy wars and the defensive posture they produce in us

~And more!

For full shownotes, head to www.hargraveshomeandhearth.com/podcast

064: Finding the Mission and Purpose in the Ordinary Part 1 with Tabitha Panariso May 16, 2019

Show notes

Tabitha Panariso is a wife, stay-at-home mom of 3, and writer who joins me on the Home and Hearth Podcast today to share her passion for encouraging women to find the mission and purpose in the ordinary moments of everyday life.

What we Chat about in This Episode:

~Making the most of the place, season, calling, and life that you are in, to the glory of God; the journey the Lord has had Tabitha on to come to this way of thinking

~Never planning or desiring to be a stay-at-home mom, and what brought Tabitha from being a school counselor to where she is today as a mom working at home; the grieving process she went through during that transition

~Finding our identity not in our work, but in Christ

~The prison of basing your identity in what you do

~The little idols we erect all the time - clean homes, perfect quiet times, etc. and how God prioritizes our relationship with Him above everything else

~What intentionality looks like in Tabitha's day-to-day life

~Striking a balance between focusing solely on your internal world and focusing solely on your external

~Taking thoughts captive, what that looks for Tabitha in her everyday life, and how that practice aids her in her desire to live intentionally

~The lies of the "self-help" gospel and the idea that we are enough on our own

~Fleeing temptation in our everyday lives

~Help, hope, and encouragement for the mom who feels stuck at home in the seemingly mundane everyday moments

~And more!

For full show notes, head to www.hargraveshomeandhearth.com/podcast

063: Minimalism, Decorating, and the Gospel with April and Bayleigh of the Nestled Podcast May 08, 2019

Show notes

April and Bayleigh of the Nestled Podcast join me on the Home and Hearth Podcast to chat about minimalism, home decor, hospitality, and what it all has to do with the gospel. Listen in and be encouraged in your everyday homemaking and ministry!

What we Chat about in This Episode:

~The impact hospitality has on our ability to share the gospel and love others well

~The struggle to declutter

~Cultivating minimalism in your own home when you aren't geared that way

~April and Bayleigh's journey towards minimalism and the struggle it took to get there

~Not holding on to things; freeing up space in your home so that there is room for the clutter people bring in emotionally

~Finding freedom to let go of sentimental items when needed

~Raising our kids with an open-handed mentality

~How minimalism and decluttering makes it easier to keep a clean home

~The ciclical nature of the hoarding mentality

~Practical first steps for the woman who wants to declutter and become more minimalistic but has no idea where or how to start

~How having too many toys actually does our kids a disservice and can inhibit their imaginations

~The positive impact minimalism can have on our ability to practice hospitality well and often

~Cultivating homes that are both a safe haven and safe place to land for our families and guests alike and also a launching pad for them

~Taking a hospitable heart everywhere you go

~Putting ourselves in situations where we can be the light and love of Christ with others

~Minimalism and decor; the part purposeful decor plays in our homemaking and hospitality

~And more!

For full show notes, head to www.hargraveshomeandhearth.com/podcast

062: Behind the Scenes at Spirit-Filled Woman Magazine with Kayla Nelson Apr 24, 2019

Show notes

Kayla J Nelson, creative director of Spirit-Filled Woman Magazine joins me on the podcast today, where we chat all about how our new magazine and shop came to fruition, what you can expect, and a whole lot more!

What we Chat about in This Episode:

~The history of Spirit-Filled Woman magazine thus far, where the idea came from, and how it all came to fruition

~The answer to the question, "Why a magazine?"

~Magazines that I grew up with and love now which have inspired me throughout my walk with Christ

~How my idea for this magazine has been expounded, increased, and magnified through God's goodness

~What has surprised me the most about launching a magazine

~Our hopes for the magazine over the next year

~Kayla's background in graphic design and how she came to be the creative director of the magazine, fulfilling a lifelong dream in the process

~A behind-the-scenes look into what goes into Kayla designing and layout out each issue

~Our desire at the magazine to be sensitive to others and celebrate and embrace diversity

~The additional products already in our shop - our planner, Bible study resources for kids and women, mugs, apparel, Scripture cards, prayer journal and planner, and more!

~Our Patreon

~Why we named the magazine "Spirit-Filled Woman", and what walking by the Spirit looks like in our own daily lives

~Rapid fire podcastaversary questions in honor of the podcast's 2nd anniversary

~And more!

Head to www.hargraveshomeandhearth.com/podcast for complete show notes!

061: Letting Go of Grumpiness in Motherhood with Valerie Woerner Apr 10, 2019

Show notes

Valerie Woerner is wife to Tyler, mama to Vivi and Vana, founder of the Val Marie Paper prayer journals, and now brand new author of the book "Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday", which released just yesterday! She joins me on the podcast today to talk about how we can let go of the grumpiness we battle in motherhood through the freedom found in the truths of God's Word.

What we Chat about in This Episode:

~Valerie's book, what led her to write it, and what folks can expect

~Lies about motherhood and the truths of God's Word which refute them

~The ability we have, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to choose joy no matter what our circumstances; how the Lord has grown Val in this area

~Abundance and soundness of mind in motherhood and how to get to that point of living the abundant life in the midst of motherhood

~Dispelling the myths the world tells us that motherhood means never sleeping again, never being alone with your husband, never having time to yourself, never having a clean house, etc.

~The martyrdom/victim mentality in motherhood these days; balancing the hard days with the truths of the gospel

~Jesus' example of living a life of sacrifice and service to others without being a victim

~The importance of church attendance even in the season of littles; how to cultivate that practice practically

~The difference between caregiving and caretaking; slowing down and equipping our kids to learn tasks that they can do on their own

~The reality that "fine" shouldn't be our legacy or goal; seeking excellence

~The hope we have to actually live differently

~And more!

For full shownotes, head to www.hargraveshomeandhearth.com/podcast

060: Thriving with Grace in Motherhood with Kara-Kae James Mar 27, 2019

Show notes

Kara-Kae James is wife to Brook, mama to four, founder of the ministry Thrive Moms, and now new author of the book Mom Up: Thriving with Grace in the Chaos of Motherhood. She shares with us today how we can go from merely surviving in motherhood to truly thriving in the abundant life Christ came to give us. I know you will walk away from this chat encouraged and built up in your role as a mom!

What we Chat about in This Episode:

~What led Kara-Kae to write her book

~Kara-Kae's journey of having three babies in under three years

~Going from surviving and barely getting by to actually thriving in motherhood

~Striking a balance between motherhood being portrayed as nothing but awful and hard and keeping you from ever having time alone with your husband, and portraying it as always being a dreamy breeze all the time

~Thriving in motherhood in the midst of the hard days

~God's "enoughness" and the lie that we are enough on our own

~Rising up out of the struggle of surviving into living the abundant life in Christ

~Mothering each unique child in unique ways

~Making time to be in the Word as a busy mom; the importance of being in the Word in front of our kids - not just reserving our Bible-reading time for when the kids aren't around

~Embracing the season you're in

~Being free of mommy guilt and how our missteps with our kids can become special moments of tangibly showing them the truths of the gospel

~Thriving personally as a woman; tackling the myth that self-care is selfish

~The importance of prioritizing your marriage in the midst of motherhood; what that looks like for Kara-Kae and Brook

~Suiting up in the armor of God as a mom

~The ministry of Thrive Moms

~And more!

Head to www.hargraveshomeandhearth.com/podcast