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Moms! Don’t you wish you could sneak in the head and heart of your daughters sometimes? Well, we get to do this today! Writer and speaker, Cierra McKenzie, shares amazing wisdom with us today – from the perspective of a daughter. It’s so humbling and encouraging to hear her talk about her mom.

Be sure you play her spoken word from the Compass Mother’s Day service – it”s SO impactful!

“You’re love is enough.” – Cierra McKenzie

Listen up on these specific moments:

• • Single moms – you will LOVE her story and gain so much encouragement and practical tips
  • All moms – towards the end, she’s drops a BOMB of wisdom on how to handle the emotional teen years
  • Depression – she gives us some perspective from her journey

About Cierra

Cierra McKenzie wants to help start a conversation where peace is a top priority again; a space where the God-given desires of the heart take center stage again.

As a long-time poet and fairly new Christian lifestyle blogger, she’s spent most of her career on the stage in Baylor University’s Student Union Building while completing her undergraduate degree, as well as onstage at her home church of Compass Christian church in Colleyville, TX

When she’s not writing poetry or blog posts, you can find her working hard at being a godly wife to her husband of 10 months and figuring out how to make a decent pork loin.

Visit her blog allinthenameoffreedom.com to read her latest blog post about 5 things you shouldn’t say to people struggling with mental illness or follow her on Instagram  @allinthenameoffreedom

Giveaway

Comment here to receive and we will pick one random winner to receive a set of Virtue Memory Cards. Enter to win by June 8. Video below explains the difference between ABC Scripture Cards and Virtue Cards – available at CourtneyDeFeo.com

 

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Some of you have already had a few awkward talks with your daughters and you’re wondering if you did it right. Some of you have little girls and you’re wondering about the best age to start or how to say it.

Well, all of you are going to learn something from this episode! I sure did! You will LOVE Mary Flo. She is the founder of Birds & Bees and has been encouraging and equipping parents in this area for more than 30 years.

In this episode, we cover.

• What is the right age to have these talks?
• What is the goal of having these talks?
• What are ways we can talk to our kids about body protection and safety?
• Is it ok to feel awkward and nervous about all of this?
• What are some resources to help me?

More About Mary Flo:

In 1986 Mary Flo Ridley began presenting a popular parenting seminar in the Dallas area teaching parents how to talk to their children about sex. Armed with medical research, personal stories, and humor, Mary Flo walks parents through very specific ways to answer their children’s early questions with confidence. She gives parents a simple strategy that allows them to share their values along with basic biology and develop a positive plan for introducing the subject of sex in the preschool and early elementary years.

Through her first book and DVD Series, Simple Truths with Mary Flo Ridley, and as an international speaker, Mary Flo gives parents the simple tools they need to begin these conversations. In her second book, God’s Very Good Design, parents can see this strategy unfold in a Biblical context. She is thrilled to partner with Megan Michelson to bring this message to a new generation.

Mary Flo grew up in El Paso, Texas, and graduated from SMU. She has been joyfully married to her husband Dave for 36 years and they have three married children and six grandchildren. Contact her at Birds & Bees.

Looking To Sponsor An Episode?

If you have a product or service and would like to advertise that to moms of girls, we are taking submissions. Just fill out this form and we will get back to you. Limited spots available.

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Today’s episode is my (Courtney’s) mom – Meese! That is her grandmother name.

Meese is not just dear to our family, but to so many across this world. You will see why.  Please note, recording a podcast is about the LAST thing she’d want to do. I begged her to do it, and I’m forever grateful to have these moments recorded.

For our family, my mom has modeled the power of LOVE. She loves us so fiercely and creatively and with such intention. That unconditional love has done some impactful things in all our lives – you can ask my siblings and all the grandkids. They would say a resounding AMEN!

When we come home to Meese and Pop’s house – we are SURE that we belong. God has used my mom over and over again through her extraordinary love . She would tell you she’s ordinary and anything extraordinary is because Jesus is in her and she follows Him.  I’m inspired to pass on her legacy of love to generations that follow.

Thank you for letting me take this chance to honor and celebrate my precious mom. I am so very grateful and humbled to be her daughter.

Some fun photos of Meese in action.

 

 

Verse for encouragement:

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2-3

 

Make sure you get to the END – her encouragement is priceless about nests. Photo from her window.

Sponsor: Karama Collection

Want to make every dollar count and show your mom that she raised you well? Purchase an ethically-made gift from one of my favorite fair trade companies … Karama Collection!

Karama Collection develops beautiful, handmade products providing dignified work for artisans in Africa and Haiti. Each purchase allows the creativity of the artisans to shine while creating transformational impact among families, communities, and local economies. View their work at Karamacollection.com.

Proceeds from the sale of these gorgeous goods are reinvested in Young Life in the communities where artisans live and work.

Grab your gorgeous leather, jewelry and home goods now through the end of May at 15% off using my podcast code: GIRLS15.

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Karen Stubbs is the mentor every mom wish she had next door. Karen equips and mentors so many moms around the country through her books, curriculum, events and GREAT conference (Soar). On this episode, we kick off with the topic of wisdom, guidance and mentors. How do you get the best information when making decisions as a mom? Who did she turn to when she was raising her kids? She gives us permission to ask for advice and guidance. We also discuss some other common mom struggles with raising girls – comparison, competition, personalities and jealousy among siblings.

Links Mentioned:

Personality Plus For Parents

Grace Walk

Soar Conference

 

About Karen

Karen Stubbs is the founder and leader of Birds on a Wire, a ministry designed to equip moms through truth, encouragement and community. She is the author of 3 books, Letters to Moms, Moments with God and Tips on Motherhood.  She has also developed small group curricula for moms that is being used across the United States and in nine countries.  Karen is the wife of Greg Stubbs, they have four grown children and resides in Cumming, Ga.

 

Sponsor:

Rick and Jackie started their business, RAD JOY, almost 2 years ago, after Rick was laid off from his financial position at a local oil and gas company. They had been praying for awhile that God would open doors widely or close them loudly and they wanted to make sure that they were in His will.  When Rick lost his job, they knew that God was closing that door and opening the doors to RAD JOY!  Their mission is to create products that help others live a surrendered life to Christ.

Surrender™ Crosses

Rick handcrafts wooden Surrender™ Crosses, where you write your burdens down on a sheet of paper and nail them to the cross.  Each cross is handmade from reclaimed wood and because each piece of wood is different, each cross is one of a kind.  All Surrender™ Crosses come with pre-drilled holes and nails for piercing your burdens to the cross.  As part of their ministry, they personally pray over each cross before they send it to you.

COUPON CODE: GIRLS15 for 15% off until the end of May

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We are SO thrilled to have Kirsten Watson on for Episode 3. Courtney and Kirsten met way back in the corporate world when she was only an intern with a super cute UGA football boyfriend. Fast forward some years – and she is now his wife and they together have survived 14 seasons in the NFL while raising 5 children (3 are girls).

Many of our girls yearn to be famous, but don’t stop to think about the cost that comes with that role. And is that even a good idea or quest? Kirsten gets real about life in the spotlight and shares how they talk about influence in their family. Some of the things we discuss …

• How can we encourage our girls to view their unique gifts in this world?
• How do you balance mom of 5, NFL wife and your own calling/desires?
• How can we ALL think about obeying, following and honoring God every day without worrying about being noticed or famous? So that if it does happen – we are ready.

Links:

See just one example of how Kirsten & Ben Merge Football & Faith – GREAT VIDEO

Glimpse of Kirsten encouraging other wives on CBS News 

Benjamin’s Website

Benjamin’s Books

 

CONNECT with Kirsten on her brand new Instagram – we convinced her to get out there. Go encourage her on Instagram!

 

Sponsor: Mom Set Free Bible Study

Giveaway!

Just comment below and we will pick one of you to receive a copy of Mom Set Free. Random winner drawn by May 17. Online bible study begins May 17 – details here.

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As soon as we knew we were going to do this podcast, we called our friend Sissy Goff. We have both read and re-read her book Raising Girls. On this episode, we talk about:

• What is normal for our girls?
• What’s a phase at various ages?
• How can we help our girls with anxiety?

Verse Shared:

My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. I John 3:18-20

SISSY GOFF, M.Ed., LPC-MHSP spends most of her days talking with girls and their families, with the help of her counseling assistant/pet therapist, Lucy the Havanese.  She has worked as the Director of Child and Adolescent Counseling at Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville, Tennessee since 1993, with a Master’s degree from Vanderbilt University.  Sissy speaks to parents across the country and is the author of nine books including Raising Girls. Sissy is a regular contributor to various podcasts and publications and recently released a podcast with David and Melissa based on their newest book, Are My Kids on Track.  You can follow her on social media at raisingboysandgirls and catch the latest Technology Tuesday’s and parenting resources on her blog at www.raisingboysandgirls.com.

 

Episode Sponsor: For Girls Like You