Pardon the Mess with Courtney DeFeo Christian Parenting

Welcome to Week 8 of our Summer of Stories series! This summer we have been featuring stories of incredible moms that have endured significant challenges. Through these stories, we pray you will remember that God is faithful and always with you through life’s most challenging moments. 

In this week’s story, you will hear from the extraordinary Cleere Cherry Reaves. It’s very likely that you have one of her beautiful products and didn’t even know it. Her massive heart for Jesus pours right into her beautiful company. I have enjoyed so many of her books, devotions and gifts for years. 

In the first part of our chat, we talked about her business and entrepreneurial spirit. So many of us moms have a creative stirring from God and we often aren’t sure what to do with that. How do we pursue a creative idea while raising kids? We often get overwhelmed and just put it aside. I’m praying that there’s a few moms listening that need to regain confidence and motivation to explore the creative ideas God put inside your heart.

The second part of our talk was my favorite! Cleere shares her story of going into labor prematurely and the miracle story that follows. Cleere’s son, Sledge, has faced so many uphill battles and has suffered more than any mom wishes on their child. Maybe you have a child with a tough diagnosis? Or you know of another mom with a motherhood journey that went differently than expected? This episode is for us all. We can all learn from Cleere’s undeniable faith and perseverance as she raises one strong and mighty boy.

Love, Courtney

Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Small Talk
04:48
Creating Products that Serve a Purpose
09:36
The Challenges and Rewards of Entrepreneurship
13:03
Starting a Business with a Specific Person in Mind
16:11
Supporting and Celebrating Others in the Entrepreneurial Journey
28:12
From Challenges to Miracles: Trusting God's Plan
35:45
The Impact of Perspective on Others
37:37
Embracing Authenticity and Finding Joy
46:01
Trusting in the Character of God
49:59
The Power of Community and Support

Connect with Pardon The Mess:
Christian Parenting
Pardon The Mess 
Courtney DeFeo

Get your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of Faith

Resources from today’s show:
Cleerely Stated
Promises from the Psalms - card set I bought Ella
Unfiltered - Cleere’s new devotional
StrongHeart

Pardon the Mess is part of The Christian Parenting Podcast Network. As a donor funded ministry, we rely on generous supporters like you to keep this show going. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider giving a gift today. Join the Christian Parenting Legacy Builders community



Our Sponsors:
* Check out Seed and use my code 25MESS for a great deal: seed.com


Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Welcome to Week 7 of our Summer of Stories series! This Summer we have been featuring stories of incredible moms that have endured significant challenges. Through these stories, we pray you will remember that God is faithful and always with you through life’s most challenging moments. 

In this week’s story, you will hear from the delightful, creative and intentional Erin Burchik. She is a family friend and I have long-admired her approach to parenting. She desperately wants to enjoy each of her kids and embrace the “good ole days” of kids in the home. She will share how traveling and taking trips became a passion of hers. And she will share some super practical ways to make trips doable and affordable when you’re on a budget.

Before we get to the scoop on traveling for less, she shares her story about becoming a mom. Through many trials and some devastating financial loss, Erin has fought through doubt and frustration with God. She felt called to adopt and then it didn’t go as smoothly as she had hoped. It’s so fun to see her on the other side of this battle and see the family that God designed from the very beginning. 

My favorite part is when she explains the WHY behind their family adventures. She’s not traveling to flex on Instagram or show off or waste money. She’s traveling because she wants to create memories with her kids, to carve out time to adventure together and to get out of their comfort zone. I love her approach!

In this episode, we discuss:
Erin’s journey to motherhood - foster care and adoptionHow to find community with other adopted familiesHow to exchange gifts for experiences at ChristmasHow to find creative ways to do big trips on a little budget
Enjoy!!
Courtney
Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Background
04:02
The Journey of Adoption
08:57
Building a Supportive Community
18:13
Creating Lasting Memories
20:05
Santa Bringing Christmas Trips
22:10
Maximizing Credit Card Points
25:29
Saving Thousands on Family Trips
28:21
Benefits of Traveling with Kids
30:15
Building Independence and Confidence
33:31
Enjoying Motherhood and Savoring the Moments

Connect with Pardon The Mess:
Christian Parenting
Pardon The Mess 
Courtney DeFeo

Get your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of Faith

Resources from today’s show:
StrongHeart
Erin’s Instagram
Erin’s travel site - Points For Families
Erin’s book - Animals of the Nativity
Erin’s book - The Bear Hug
TBRI for families that have adopted


Pardon the Mess is part of The Christian Parenting Podcast Network. As a donor funded ministry, we rely on generous supporters like you to keep this show going. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider giving a gift today. Join the Christian Parenting Legacy Builders community




Our Sponsors:
* Check out Seed and use my code 25MESS for a great deal: seed.com


Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

When I engage with young moms, I often get asked a lot about alcohol. These women are wanting me to give them an “official answer” about how a Christian woman should handle alcohol. And I often don’t have the specific answer they want - because it is so often in the gray area. And only the person asking the question knows what’s going on under the issue.

Today’s story is about a mom that got curious about her relationship with alcohol in her early 30s. As you hear her story, you will be inspired to take an honest assessment and just get curious about your relationship with alcohol. She called it “getting sober minded.” 

Although I don’t drink - I have my own vices which we discuss. I joke about my love of the phone, cookie dough and TJMaxx. If I’m honest, I often use those to outsource my comfort. This isn’t an episode for moms that drink - this is an episode for all of us. 

My favorite part is when Jenn shares about the benefits of operating in a sober mind. She reminds us that being present with our kids is worth the fight. Let’s lean into Jenn’s story together and be brave enough to hear what God is nudging us to do in response. 

Don’t forget to check in our Jenn’s community called Sober Sis and utilize all of the fantastic resources that are helping thousands of women become sober-minded and enjoy this life to the fullest!

In this episode we chat about: 
Jenn’s journey with alcohol and finding a sober-minded lifeHow to pay attention to what God is saying to us directlyHow to get curious about areas of addiction in our livesHow to fight for presence with our families 
00:00
Introduction and Connection
02:33
Early Years and Introduction to Social Drinking
05:46
The Influence of Mommy Wine Culture
07:41
Outsourcing Comfort and Dealing with Anxiety
09:44
Questioning the Relationship with Drinking
12:30
Understanding the Mindset and Motivations Behind Drinking
19:28
Questioning Your Relationship with Drinking
21:57
Introduction: Jenn's Journey of Sobriety
25:08
The Importance of Addressing the Root Cause
28:40
Taking the First Step: Sobriety Curiosity
33:28
Shifting Mindset: Gaining, Not Giving Up
39:11
The Power of Community in Sobriety
42:59
Personal Growth and Sobriety
45:07
Conclusion: Encouragement for Moms

Connect with Pardon The Mess:
Christian Parenting
Pardon The Mess 
Courtney DeFeo

Get your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of Faith

Resources from today’s show:
 Sober Sis Home Page - ​Happy Hour Survival Guide - Free Guide​21 Day Reset Challenge Sober Sis - Facebook ​Sober Sis - Instagram​​Sober Sis 2024 Retreat ​ Look Alive, Sis! by Jenn Kautsch (book) - Little Habits, Big Faith
Pardon the Mess is part of The Christian Parenting Podcast Network. As a donor funded ministry, we rely on generous supporters like you to keep this show going. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider giving a gift today. Join the Christian Parenting Legacy Builders community



Our Sponsors:
* Check out Seed and use my code 25MESS for a great deal: seed.com


Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Happy July 4th!

This week’s story features my friend, Stacey Morgan, who is an astronaut’s wife! Her life is truly fascinating. Her family is currently living in the Marshall Islands which is 5 hours south of Hawaii. 

Stacey honestly shares the truth about loneliness. She has had to start over multiple times as a military spouse. I love her hard truth about loneliness: we have to make the first move. She also shares how her kids are thriving as they were uprooted from the cultural norm in Texas, and now live on an island with 1,200 people total. They are learning valuable life lessons about what’s most important.

My favorite part is at the very end when she talks about her top learning as a mom of over 20 years. Her encouragement to “let go” was really timely for me. I am having trouble letting go of my oldest who is a rising senior. I need that reminder over and over again. 

In this episode, we chat about:
How to navigate marriage when you are both strong leadersHow to start over when you move into a new city (or island! :)Why community matters in motherhoodHow to make friends as an adult woman What to do when you’re deeply lonelyChapters
00:00
Introduction and Background
02:47
Moving to the Marshall Islands
05:58
Supporting a Spouse's Career
11:04
Living in a Small Community
15:01
Transition and Loneliness
23:57
Supporting Military Spouses and Moms
26:30
The Importance of Community for Military Families
31:16
MomCo: Supporting Military Moms
39:19
Lessons in Trust and Letting Go
44:28
The Power of Grace and Understanding in Parenting

Connect with Pardon The Mess:
Christian Parenting
Pardon The Mess 
Courtney DeFeo

Get your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of Faith


Resources from today’s show:

Stacey Morgan’s site 

Stacey’s Instagram

Stacey’s Book: The Astronaut’s Wife

MomCo - Military Meetups

How to start an online MomCo group


Pardon the Mess is part of The Christian Parenting Podcast Network. As a donor funded ministry, we rely on generous supporters like you to keep this show going. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider giving a gift today. Join the Christian Parenting Legacy Builders community




Our Sponsors:
* Check out Seed and use my code 25MESS for a great deal: seed.com


Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

If she wasn’t one of my best friends, I don’t know if I would believe this story. However, it is true and real and incredibly powerful. My friend, Kylie White, was fully healed from near blindness. Her story and her miracle has exploded my faith the last several years. It has given me courage to pray bigger prayers. 

I will never be over what God did for Kylie. Even though I’ve heard this story many times, I heard even more details during this conversation which exploded my faith yet again. God is so good. I’m truly excited for us all to have this reminder today through Kylie’s story.

My favorite part is hearing how she got to the miracle day. Listen closely as she shares the years leading up to her miracle. Lean into what God was pressing on her heart. And let’s lean into what God wants to say to you through her story. What is He asking you to release and surrender? What miracle do you believe is too far gone? 

In this episode, we chat about:
Kylie’s miracle story and healing How we can trust God and lean in when we don’t understand the full storyHow to parent the pain endured with adoptionHow to love our kids unconditionally 
Don’t forget to share the Summer of Stories with your friends - so that they can also be reminded that: God is good. You are not alone. And He is with you during life’s hardest moments.

Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Catching Up
03:35
Adoption and Navigating Challenges
06:45
Parenting and Unconditional Love
09:40
Experiencing a Modern-Day Miracle
28:13
Asking for Healing
30:14
Miraculous Healing
35:23
Confirmation of Healing
39:26
Orphan Prevention and Untold
42:19
Lessons Learned as a Parent

Connect with Pardon The Mess:
Christian Parenting
Pardon The Mess 
Courtney DeFeo

Pardon the Mess is part of The Christian Parenting Podcast Network. As a donor funded ministry, we rely on generous supporters like you to keep this show going. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider giving a gift today. Become a Christian Parenting Legacy Builder

Resources from today’s show:
Kylie’s Instagram
Kylie’s blog
Untold - Nonprofit Kylie supports
Father’s House - Bible study by Rachel


Our Sponsors:
* Check out Seed and use my code 25MESS for a great deal: seed.com


Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Welcome to Week 3 of our Summer of Stories series! For the next 10 weeks, you will hear one powerful story after another. We are featuring 10 stories of incredible moms that have endured significant challenges. Through these stories, we pray you will remember that God is faithful and always with you through life’s most challenging moments.

I need everyone to take a massive deep breath before listening. And listen to the entire episode, not just the first few minutes. This is not a political episode. This is a story of one incredible mom, Amy Ford, that chose to keep her baby boy after an unplanned pregnancy and the God-sized story that followed. 

My favorite part is when she shares about her love for the women that walk with the shame of abortion. She is for all women and all stories. And she walks closely with women who have endured every part of the unplanned pregnancy journey. 

I am praying deeply that this story reaches an untold number of women and heals their hearts in a special way. And that we may join together and support women with unplanned pregnancies in the way God would. That we would love them deeply. 

Don't forget to share this episode with women in your community that need encouragement and healing around unplanned pregnancies.

In this episode we chat about: 
Amy’s unplanned pregnancy Amy’s encouragement for those who live with shame of abortionHow to create a safe and supportive church environment with unplanned pregnanciesHow to turn towards God in some of life’s biggest mistakes or struggles
Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Amy's Family
03:34
The Love Box and Volunteer Opportunities
06:08
The Rejection from a Pastor and the Healing Journey
09:21
The Impact of Amy's Story on Her Son
14:35
Creating a Safe and Supportive Church Environment
19:28
Healing and Hope After Abortion
22:26
Creating Safe Spaces in Churches for Unexpected Pregnancies
26:34
Taking Small Steps of Obedience
29:15
Celebrating Women Who Turn Towards God

Connect with Pardon The Mess:
Christian Parenting
Pardon The Mess 
Courtney DeFeo

Become a Christian Parenting donor

Resources from today’s show:
Amy Ford
Embrace Grace
A Bump In Life
Love Box
Support After Abortion



Our Sponsors:
* Check out Seed and use my code 25MESS for a great deal: seed.com


Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy