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SUSAN MERRILL is the Director of Digital Marketing for Family First and oversees the content creation and digital marketing of all Family First platforms including All Pro Dad, iMOM, Mark Merrill, and The Family Minute. Susan blogs at Susan.me and is the author of The Passionate Mom—Dare to Parent in Today’s World as well as Lists to Love By for Busy Wives. She is married to Mark Merrill and is the mother of their five children.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How to model love and marriage for your girls
• How to make your marriage a priority during these busy years of parenting
• How to work through struggle and hard years of marriage
• Some of the Merrill Family rules on dating

Links

• Q&U app by iMOM – Questions for your family on dating and love
• Mark & Susan‘s books on marriage
• Passionate Mom – Susan’s book for moms
• Retreat by Family First
• Cherish by Gary Thomas
• Sacred Search – Book she suggests for teens and older as they search for a spouse

Sponsor For July: Funoogles

When Ella-Jane opened her eyes that morning, something had changed. The glasses she loved so much had grown too familiar. Why couldn’t she have something of her own creation? She wished for eyewear that would match her style and mood every single day.

Ella-Jane was born with a congenital Cataract, a disease that would try to claim the vision in her right eye. At just 5 years old, she had endured a procedure to ensure that her sight wouldn’t be lost forever.

Funoogles doesn’t just give children the ability to choose and interchange the color and style of their glasses. It gives them a way to express creativity, assert individuality and boost self-esteem. Just as importantly, it gives parents an affordable way to keep their kids in fashion.

Our products are made in America, but our purpose spans the globe. With a little imagination, a lot of fun, and the help of the like-hearted, our hope is to reach children across the world who lack access to proper eye care.

Today, Ella-Jane lives happily in New York with her father, her older sister and brother, and her mother, Jessica Darcy, the creator and president of Funoogles.

Coupon code: “leading girls”,  20% for the month of July on Funoogles.com

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Tammy Franklin is an Arlington, Texas native who is passionate about family and women. She’s been happily married to her best friend, GRAMMY Award-winning gospel artist, Kirk Franklin, for 22 1/2 years. Together, they have four children ranging from ages 17 to 30. Prior to marrying Kirk Franklin, Tammy was a single mother for 5 years, and knows first hand the hurt and shame of disappointing herself and family after becoming pregnant as a freshman in college. But, it was the added heartache of being ridiculed and overly judged by her church community that eventually led Tammy to want to help feel a void for young girls and women who find themselves in similar situations.  Having walked through disappointments, shame, rejection, but also great joy, and success, Tammy now has a desire to nurture, encourage, and equip women of all ages to be who they are created to be. Believing that when women come together to share both their triumphs as well as their failures, an atmosphere of real authenticity is created! Connect with her on Instagram.

In this episode we discuss:

• Blended families – giving their kids permission to love everyone and be godly in the process
• Team approach that Kirk and Tammy take with their kids in parenting
• How Tammy raises her girls to think about beauty, confidence and purpose
• How to teach our girls practically to build up other girls from a very early age and not tear each other down

Links mentioned:

• Kirk Franklin’s music
• Interview with Tammy & Kirk on  The Chat with Priscilla Shirer
• 2 Peter 1:3
• Tammy on Instagram

 

Sponsor For July: Funoogles

When Ella-Jane opened her eyes that morning, something had changed. The glasses she loved so much had grown too familiar. Why couldn’t she have something of her own creation? She wished for eyewear that would match her style and mood every single day.

Ella-Jane was born with a congenital Cataract, a disease that would try to claim the vision in her right eye. At just 5 years old, she had endured a procedure to ensure that her sight wouldn’t be lost forever.

Funoogles doesn’t just give children the ability to choose and interchange the color and style of their glasses. It gives them a way to express creativity, assert individuality and boost self-esteem. Just as importantly, it gives parents an affordable way to keep their kids in fashion.

Our products are made in America, but our purpose spans the globe. With a little imagination, a lot of fun, and the help of the like-hearted, our hope is to reach children across the world who lack access to proper eye care.

Today, Ella-Jane lives happily in New York with her father, her older sister and brother, and her mother, Jessica Darcy, the creator and president of Funoogles.

Coupon code: “leading girls”,  20% for the month of July on Funoogles.com

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Founder and CEO of Bible Belles and award-winning author of The Adventures of Rooney Cruz series, Erin Weidemann is committed to changing the world’s current definition of beauty. As a certified teacher, coach, and nationally recognized speaker, she offers speaking, workshops, and seminars to equip women of all ages to let go of fear and step into the unique leadership roles for which they were designed. She is also pleased to be a part of the Speakers Bureau for World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization.

A five-time cancer survivor, Erin lives in San Diego, CA and speaks at events, conferences, fundraisers, churches, and schools. Funny and real, Erin is also the host of the Heroes For Her podcast, interviewing celebrities, actors, musicians, and other women who are living out their passions in line with their personal values.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Raising our girls to be leaders
• Understanding our unique design as female – not trying to mimic men
• Understanding this unique design can help our girls lead well
• Defining what culture says about leadership vs God 
• What does leadership mean?  (not being first in line or telling people what to do)

 

June’s Sponsor: Bible Belles

This month’s sponsor – is also our guest! That probably will never happen again. You will hear all about how much we love them in this episode. They are offering you a great discount for just a few more days in June. Don’t miss it.

COUPON CODE: GIRLS

(for 10% off the book series)

VISIT this link to receive the discount in the month of June

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Marianne Richmond, author and artist of more than 50 books, is familiar with the topic of finding your brave. She did it as a young girl battling seizures, then later enduring brain surgery. You will hear wisdom, encouragement, wisdom (repeated)  and downright practical advice from that little girl who grew up to be quite the brave woman and mother. In this episode, she gives us practical ways we can show up for our kids who struggle with fear. (delete — and ways we can show up for our kids in the midst of struggle. For more inspiration on this topic, see her latest book Be Brave Little One or visit MarianneRichmond.com.

Links Mentioned:

• Be Brave Little One – her latest book
• If I Could Keep You Little (first book Courtney got from her mom by Marianne)
• Hooray For You (the book Courtney uses for teachers to sign)
• Marianne’s site and books

Free Stuff:

Marianne walked us through her “BRAVE” acronym which is so helpful for our kids. She is giving you a FREE printout today! Just head over to this link to get it! Did I tell you she is the artist on all of her books too? What in the world!

In addition, Marianne wanted to share another freebie with you moms of daughters – a letter that she first wrote for her daughter. Here is the link to that letter. Thank you Marianne!

Connect With Marianne, Really!

One of the things we LOVE about Marianne is that she is approachable. If you were touched by one of her books, reach out to her. If you have a question, reach out to her. If you want her to speak to one of your schools or your mom groups (especially if you are near NASHVILLE), reach out to her! Connect with her. Get to know her. She would love nothing more.

Connect with Marianne, here.

There is a beautiful, imperfect, brave soul behind those 50 books that is fighting for your kids to grow up and believe in themselves and find their own brave. We are so thankful that Marianne allows God to speak from her heart right to our hearts through her extraordinary books.

Thank you Marianne for being on our podcast! Honored!

“My hope is that my work is a bridge to the message of your own heart.

To share with a child or friend. ”

– Marianne Richmond

June’s Sponsor: Bible Belles

We are such a fan of Bible Belles and this series of books! All of our girls love the books and you will see why.

Bible Belles’ The Adventures of Rooney Cruz is an original children’s series that highlights five superhero women of the Bible. Together, the Bible Belles show all of us how to make a different kind of noise.

Help your little belle learn the true definition of beauty and unlock the secret of her own life: God made her a hero, too! In today’s world, the girls who are the loudest are the ones who get noticed. 

Thank you Bible Belles for offering us a great coupon and sponsoring this month!

COUPON CODE: GIRLS

(for 10% off the book series)

VISIT this link to receive the discount in the month of June

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Casey Darnell joins us as the first dad on the Leading Girls Podcast! Father’s Day is coming up and he definitely brings the Father’s love on this episode. He’s a fantastic husband to Anisa & super fun dad to four daughters. Casey is a singer and songwriter and has been leading worship at Northpoint for the last 13 years. When not doing laundry, diapers or dishes, he is riding bikes with his family and making up kid songs. Most recently, Casey joined his wife Anisa to help run Truth and Co – an interior design firm that aims to give busy families their dream home without the headache.

On this episode, you will basically cry. His heart for his wife and daughters is so touching. You will want to gently persuade the dads in your life to listen. Dads, he isn’t perfect – he will assure you. So much of what he says is on target about the needs of our precious girls. And how they need a dad to help build their confidence.

Follow along Casey and their precious family on Instagram.

 

Links mentioned:

Meg Meeker 

Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters

Truth and Co

 

June’s Sponsor: Bible Belles

We are such a fan of Bible Belles and this series of books! All of our girls love the books and you will see why.

Bible Belles’ The Adventures of Rooney Cruz is an original children’s series that highlights five superhero women of the Bible. Together, the Bible Belles show all of us how to make a different kind of noise.

Help your little belle learn the true definition of beauty and unlock the secret of her own life: God made her a hero, too! In today’s world, the girls who are the loudest are the ones who get noticed. 

Thank you Bible Belles for offering us a great coupon and sponsoring this month!

COUPON CODE: GIRLS

(for 10% off the book series)

VISIT this link to receive the discount in the month of June

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Buckle in for today’s episode. We have the hysterical, fun-loving and super wise Chrystal Evans Hurst. Chrystal brings so much life experience to our conversation because of her authentic and honest life. She’s a wife, mom, grandmother, author, speaker, sister, daughter and extremely gifted woman. In this episode, we talk about how to parent our girls with the challenging balance of grace and boundaries. We also discuss how to handle the mess ups well – because it’s not “if” our girls will mess up – it is when.

About Chrystal:

Chrystal is an energetic, life-loving “girl-next-door” who loves encouraging others to fulfill their potential in Christ. With humor and vulnerability, Chrystal tells it like it is but does so with grace, integrity, and love.

She is the best-selling author of She’s Still There and Kingdom Woman. You can find Chrystal regularly sharing encouragement via podcasts and blogs, where she poignantly reflects on faith and speaks with frank honesty and practical wisdom about experiences that affect women every day. Chrystal firmly believes God’s promise in Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans that I have for you…” and she desires to help other women believe and apply that truth to their lives. You can find Chrystal sharing chronicles of the journey at ChrystalEvansHurst.com.

About Our Sponsor:

Two of Courtney’s friends have teamed up to bring you such a perfect gift – now available at Lifeway! Julie is the owner of Ella B. Candles (you may own one of her neighborhood candles) and you may have been mentored by her amazing mom Bobbie Wolgemuth. Caroline Simas is an artist and has products all over our world. You might just own one of her coloring books or paintings or seen her studio in Charlotte, NC. The two of them joined forces to bring you this new candle for Lifeway and they are giving one away today!

GIVEAWAY:

Comment here on the blog or on the Instagram image for Chrystal and we will pick one random winner by June 11. Just say hello or what you enjoyed about Chrystal’s episode. Where You Go Candle burns for 65 hours!

Special Side Note: Bobbie was my (Courtney’s) mentor when I lived in Orlando and her life impacted mine and so many women out there . If you want to see how one mom can change the life of two daughters – please see Julie and her sister honor her at her funeral. Grab your tissues and you will NOT be sorry for your time spent. Watch and process THIS.

Lifeway has also decided to carry a candle in honor of Bobbie by Ella B. Candles by her daughter with her mom’s bird art. I love God. He’s in every detail. Momma Bird Candle.