The Joy Filled Podcast | Christian Motherhood & Encouragement

082 | The Heart of Homemaking - 4 Simple Truths For The Discouraged Homemaker

With the rise of the homemaker "aesthetic" of pretty dresses, beautiful kitchens, and freshly baked sourdough on social media comes *lots* of different feelings - am I right? While it’s a beautiful thing to be inspired by so many amazing women who do a wonderful job of sharing their homemaking, it can also leave you wondering, am I doing this right? Am I really a homemaker if my reality doesn’t look like that.
 
Here’s the thing - I love the homemaker aesthetic. I think wearing dresses makes me more productive. I have tried and failed TWICE now to learn the art of sourdough (I’ll get it eventually!). I love that homemaking is making a comeback! But the truth is: the heart of homemaking is so much more than all of those things.
 
As I’ve fought comparison in my own homemaking journey, God has been so faithful to renew my mind and remind me of the true heart of homemaking. So in this episode, I’m sharing with you 4 simple truths about homemaking that God has been reminding me of in this season that I hope will encourage you in your own homemaking — whatever that may look like.
JOY FILLED MOTHERS CLUB
Joy For The Journey: a free 3 day devotional for moms in the trenches
Connect with Jenna on Instagram: @jennamariegriffith

Mom Burnout - Live Free From Burnout For Good With This One Simple Question

Is burnout normal? Does it come with the territory of motherhood? Is this just the way it is? These are all questions I’ve wondered and I’m sure you have too. And while a busy and full life is a part of the deal – burnout doesn’t have to be. It IS possible to live our full lives, manage our homes, kids, and schedules, and take care of all the to-dos without burning out. The answer to avoiding burnout is simpler than you might think and no, it’s not a 5 step self care routine followed by an hour in prayer.
 
The answer, is simply a question – what is my source?
 
Listen in to find out more about how we can avoid burnout, once and for all.
JOY FILLED MOTHERS CLUB
Joy For The Journey: a free 3 day devotional for moms in the trenches
Connect with Jenna on Instagram: @jennamariegriffith
WORSHIP PLAYLIST

080 | How She Used Freelancing to Retire From Teaching and Fulfill Her Dream of Being Home with Her Kids with Micala Quinn

If you’ve been searching for a way to start making real money from home so that you can have the freedom to be home with your kids but you have no idea where to start, this episode is for you. Today’s guest is an absolute powerhouse of knowledge in helping moms bring in income from home by using the gifts and abilities they already have, and without building a “personal brand”.
 
Micala Quinn has helped over 2,000 moms start, grow, and scale their own freelance business, which in turn gives them an opportunity to earn an income while also never missing a soccer practice or doctor’s appointment. She created an online course and community that gives corporate moms, stay-at-home-moms and everyone in between the step-by-step guide to financial freedom (without having to sell an MLM product to friends and family!).
 
I know the struggle of feeling the pull to be home and not miss your kids’ childhood while simultaneously not being able to financially swing being a one income family. But what if there was a way to do both? Micala does a fantastic job of answering this question and holding your hand through every step of the process.
JOY FILLED MOTHERS CLUB
Joy For The Journey: a free 3 day devotional for moms in the trenches
Connect with Jenna on Instagram: @jennamariegriffith
GRAB MICALA’S FREE CRASH COURSE
(*affiliate link)
Connect with Micala

079 | Homeschooling Littles While Working a Full Time Job with Olivia Walsh

I had the privilege to sit down with Olivia Walsh, a homeschooling and work from home mama who works for Classical Conversations, a homeschool company. Olivia was homeschooled herself, and now she homeschools her young children while maintaining her full time job. I know so many of us are in the season of trying to find a way to balance all the things, so you’re going to love getting to hear from Olivia today. We talk about homeschooling littles and where to start, how to choose a curriculum, balancing work and home, and so much more. If you’re a homeschool mama or you’ve been curious about homeschool, lean in and enjoy today’s episode of the Joy Filled Podcast!
JOY FILLED MOTHERS CLUB
Joy For The Journey: a free 3 day devotional for moms in the trenches
Connect with Jenna on Instagram: @jennamariegriffith
Learn more about Classical Conversations:
http://classicalconversations.com/joy
Scribblers at Home:
http://classicalconversations.com/scribblers-joy

078 | Wishing Your Days Were More Productive? Start Here!

Do you ever feel like productivity is a mama’s elusive white whale that we can’t ever seem to catch? Yeah, same. And while it won’t ever be easy to be productive with littles around, there are things you and I can do to set ourselves up for as much success as possible. Today I’m sharing three foundational habits that have transformed my productivity as a stay at home mom.
JOY FILLED MOTHERS CLUB
Joy For The Journey: a free 3 day devotional for moms in the trenches
Connect with Jenna on Instagram: @jennamariegriffith
Learn more about Classical Conversations:
http://classicalconversations.com/joy
Episode Show Notes

077 | The Life-Changing Benefits of Journaling (And Why It’s Never Too Late to Start!) with Jennifer Dukes Lee

My friend, you are in for such a treat with today’s guest on the pod! Her name is Jennifer Dukes Lee. She’s a speaker, author, former reporter, mother, and Jesus follower and she recently released a super fun, quirky, and creative guided journal titled Stuff I’d Only Tell God.
 
When I tell you I’ve never seen a journal like this one - I mean it. Jennifer does an incredible job of creating space for you to reflect on our deepest feelings, fears, hopes, and dreams while also giving you permission to release your whole self into the hands of God with this guided journal. You’re going to love hearing from Jennifer just as much as I loved getting to talk with her. She’s honest, full of wisdom, a breath of fresh air, and just downright funny.
 
As someone who’s struggled to make journaling a habit but has always had a desire to, the tips and encouragement Jennifer shares on journaling are so helpful. Lean in and enjoy this episode of Joy Filled!
JOY FILLED MOTHERS CLUB
Joy For The Journey: a free 3 day devotional for moms in the trenches
Connect with Jenna on Instagram: @jennamariegriffith
Learn more about Classical Conversations:
http://classicalconversations.com/joy
Episode Show Notes

076 | My Story of Body Shame and How I’m Learning to Find Freedom

Body shame for me started, like most of us, at a young age. Growing up in purity culture meant that women’s bodies weren’t celebrated as beautiful — they were covered up so as not to cause our brothers in Christ to stumble. So when my curves started to develop as a young teen, I didn’t know how I should feel about my changing body. Nobody told me that my body is good exactly how it is because God made it and he only makes good things and it’s worth loving and celebrating.
 
It’d be a long time before I ever heard that.
 
It took having three kids and some extra baby weight that decided to stick around longer than I wanted it to to realize how much of a hold body shame had on me, and how absolutely tired I was of living like that.
 
I’m not perfect, I still struggle sometimes, but I hope that in sharing my story you are encouraged and reminded that you’re so not alone in this and you too can experience freedom in your body.
JOY FILLED MOTHERS CLUB
Joy For The Journey: a free 3 day devotional for moms in the trenches
Connect with Jenna on Instagram: @jennamariegriffith
 
Learn more about Classical Conversations:
http://classicalconversations.com/joy
 
Episode Show Notes
 

075 | Couch Chats: Where I’ve Been, What We’ve Been Up To, and Why I’m (sorta) Back on Social Media

Hey hey, sister! We’ve had a bit of a break from the pod but I’m back this week to share all the details on where I’ve been, what I’ve been up to, and more. Think of this as a girlfriend chat on my couch, filling you in on all the things that have happened over the last month or so.
Thanks for being here!
JOY FILLED MOTHERS CLUB
Joy For The Journey: a free 3 day devotional for moms in the trenches
Connect with Jenna on Instagram: @jennamariegriffith

074 | Working Through Overwhelm & Getting Back to God’s Design For Motherhood | Michelle Donnelly

If you are struggling with overwhelm in motherhood and wondering if there’s a way to move past it, or if you doubt that God is really at work in the midst of your overwhelm, then you will love getting to hear from our guest Michelle today. Michelle is a single mom and founder of PlusONE Parents, a ministry for single parents and she is no stranger to overwhelm and how isolating and crippling it can often feel. Michelle and I share a lot of our own experiences with overwhelm in motherhood and how it shows up in different ways, sometimes without even really being aware of it. We also discuss the world’s definition of “more” and the biblical definition of “more” and how that changes how we approach motherhood, how the enemy uses our overwhelm against us, and how God works through our overwhelm to invite us into more with him.
 
If you haven’t experienced overwhelm as a mom yet, there will probably be a time when you do and when that time comes, you’ll want to have the truth that Michelle shares in this episode tucked in your heart.
JOY FILLED MOTHERS CLUB
Joy For The Journey: a free 3 day devotional for moms in the trenches
Connect with Jenna on Instagram: @jennamariegriffith
 
More about Michelle:
Michelle Donnelly is the President and CEO of PlusONE Parents, a ministry devoted to
helping single parents overcome overwhelm to rebuild God-empowered lives and raise
up a new generation. A mother of three, Michelle is also the host of The Christian Single
Moms Podcast and author of Safe Haven: A Devotional for the Abused & Abandoned,
and Made for More: Life Beyond the Wreckage of Hurt, Loss, & Heartbreak. Learn more
about PlusONE Parents at www.plusoneparents.org

073 | How God Turned an Adoption Fundraiser Into a Thriving, Full Time Business | Katie Lewis of Dear Mushka

If you have ever wondered if starting a business is right for you in this season of motherhood, you’re gonna wanna lean in and listen close to today’s guest. Katie Lewis is a Jesus loving mama and founder of the Christian jewelry and accessories brand Dear Mushka. Katie tells the beautiful origin story of how Dear Mushka started as an adoption fundraiser and has turned into a thriving business and full time job for both her and her husband. In this episode, we talk all things motherhood, adoption, business, and so much more and I am so thrilled for you to hear from Katie today.
JOY FILLED MOTHERS CLUB
Joy For The Journey: a free 3 day devotional for moms in the trenches
Connect with Jenna on Instagram: @jennamariegriffith
CONNECT WITH KATIE