I truly loved this conversation with my long time internet friend, Elizabeth Ensor. Elizabeth is so inspiring to me. She is intentional in her role as a wife, mother, home educator, a creative and as a woman. She wants to make the most and the best with what she has, and she is doing it! In this episode Elizabeth shares with us about the guide she created to glean wisdom from mothers farther along the path than we are. After Elizabeth’s mom passed away, Elizabeth missed being able to talk to her mom with questions and really she had a yearning for godly wisdom from seasoned mothers. So she made what she was looking for! Learn all about this resource she made. She tells us more in today’s episode.

Where to find Elizabeth:

Find her website here

Find her Seasoned Moms guide here

Find her on Instagram here

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Find the Seasoned Moms Interview Guide here

Some favorite quotes from this episode:

“My mom was always right there and very intentional about what we did.” Elizabeth Ensor

“Her approach to motherhood and life has inspired me and every good part of me is from her!” Elizabeth Ensor

“There is this idea in the business world, this 3 percent rule that if you invest back into yourself, you set money aside, then you are going to grow as a person and a leader. So even as a mom and home educator, we may not be bringing in a lot, but our emotional health and wisdom runs the home.” Elizabeth Ensor

“Every seasoned mom just tells me to enjoy it. Enjoy your kids.” Elizabeth Ensor

“Wisdom is mentioned in the Bible over 200 times and we are commanded to seek it.” Elizabeth Ensor

“We need to have the humility to say, ‘I don’t have this all figured out and I need some help and wisdom from someone farther along than me and someone whose children I admire. Those are the people I want to learn from.” Greta Eskridge

“The investment you make, not just in your children but in yourself as a mom, to raise your children well is valuable.” Greta Eskridge

“Whatever season I am in, I want to fully enjoy it.” Greta Eskridge

“We need to be heard in the moments when it’s hard and then we need to be reminded to really celebrate, even when it’s hard, because the seasons don’t last forever.” Greta Eskridge

I am thrilled to introduce today’s guest to you. Barrett Johnson is the founder of a ministry called Imperfect Normal Families Only. Barrett is just like the title of his ministry, so real and so approachable. I loved talking with him.

In this episode we talk about Barrett’s newest book, Disciple Them Like Jesus: Leading Your Kids the Way Christ Led the Twelve. We discussed what discipleship is and how we can disciple our kids. As a dad to 5 and grandparent to 8, Barrett is full of practical and Godly wisdom for raising our kids to know and love Jesus better. I found his book and our conversation so helpful.

Please be sure to listen to the end of this episode as Barrett shares a current battle he’s facing and yet manages to encourage mightily. I’d be so grateful if you’d join me in praying for him.

Resources:

His website here

His Instagram here

His book here

His courses here

My new book here

“We’re all imperfect, normal families and we serve a God who loves us that way!” Barrett Johnson

“The Bible is full of principles, guidelines, directives and stories about what is important to God. And that is training people up to know who Jesus is and join Him on His big agenda to redeem humanity. The Great Commission says to ‘go and make disciples’.” Barret Johnson

“If making disciples is important to God, why wouldn’t we be doing that in our homes?” Barrett Johnson

“Discipleship fundamentally is learning to walk in the ways of Jesus and join Him in His plan. Live out Ephesians 5:1. Be imitators of God.” Barrett Johnson

“Since our kids imitate us, we need to imitate God.” Greta Eskridge

“When we walk with God, He helps us discern and see what is really going on in the heart of our child. Not just their behavior, but what is happening in their heart.” Barrett Johnson

“We need to model to our kids how to pursue relationship with Christ.” Greta Eskridge

“When your kid comes to you and confesses something you can say to him, ‘we’re going to run together to the arms of God’.” Barrett Johnson

“Deeply connected relationships with our kids do not happen automatically or accidentally.” Greta Eskridge

“I am finding joy and wonder in lots of little things that I would have neglected before my current circumstance. I am saying, ‘God, show me the good things in this day that you’ve given me.” Barrett Johnson

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

*Don’t forget to pre-order my new book, It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity. You can get your copy here!

And would you consider leaving this podcast a rating and writing a quick little review? A sentence or two would be so great and helpful. You can leave one here.

Both of these things would be so helpful to me in spreading the word about my mission to help families create connection in a disconnected world. Join me!

Today I am so excited to welcome homeschool grad and young author, the wonderful Millie Florence! This was my first time meeting Millie, but we share some friends and life experiences, so it felt like we were old friends right away. Millie has multiple middle grade novels out in the world, and her newest novel, Beyond Mulberry Glen comes out in January of 2025. I loved talking to Millie about this new book, about home schooling, about creativity, writing, publishing and more! I know you’ll love this conversation too. Enjoy!

Where to find Millie:

Her website here

Her newest book here

Her Instagram here

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Pre-order goodies here

Brave Writer (a home school writing program) here

Honey Butter (Millie’s first book) here

Ingram Spark (self-publishing book distributor) here

Waxwing Books (Millie’s publisher) here

Some favorite quotes from this episode:

“Home school is customizable.” Millie Florence

“My mom wanted our home school to be directed by the things we delighted in.” Millie Florence

“There was never a time in my life when I didn’t want to be a writer.” Millie Florence

“You’re never going to be ready. You just have to do it.” Sarah Mackensie

“Look at what you have and use that to the best of your ability.” Millie Florence