The Motherhood Experience

20/06/2024

When I leave a podcast episode recording feeling edified and encouraged, I know it's going to make other listeners feel the same. This is one of those episodes. You can't listen to this episode with Candace and not feel a little lighter! Tune in wherever you stream podcasts, or listen on our website: themotherhoodexperience.com

19/06/2024

19/06/2024

Experiencing the fruit firsthand of how Candace has followed through on this vision the Lord gave her several years ago, I can say it might be one of my favorite missions ever. Tune in to hear the entire episode wherever you stream podcasts or on our website, themotherhoodexperience.com.

18/06/2024

Do you ever meet someone and right away think, "I need to be their friend." That was me meeting Candace! Listen in on our conversation that went so much deeper than her motherhood journey!

Listen on themotherhoodexperience.com, iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you stream podcasts, or catch the video version on YouTube.


Come Alive with Candace

17/06/2024

When the to-do list is too long, here's how Heather manages it in her home. What do you change up to make sure you tackle your to-dos?

Full episode on themotherhoodexperience.com, Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you stream podcasts.

17/06/2024

I wasn’t sure what kind of post to make today - so I hope this is the right one. 😁
Here’s to the men who made us mothers and who have been the fathers our children always needed.
And here’s to the man who has been my partner in this parenting journey from day one - through all of the best and worst days a parent can experience. Happy Father’s Day, Hubs.
Happy Father’s Day, dads. We appreciate you so much. 🥰

16/06/2024

From living alone one day to married with three boys the next. Find out how Heather started her motherhood journey and how her life looks today!

www.themotherhoodexperience.com or wherever you stream podcasts.

15/06/2024

🌲 These trees "block" our sunset view. Or do they help shape it?

🌞 It's all about perspective.

🤷‍♀️ Some days I can't believe the life I've lived... from the beach to the mountains to the prairie. From career-focused to family (and homestead) focused. From not being sure if I would ever have children to delivering three and having two survive.

❌ Collectively, my experiences haven't "blocked" me from experiencing anything different. Rather, they've shaped the life I have today.

🌄 Has it been easy? Not a chance. Has it been challenging? There are days I didn't think I would survive the weight of heartache or despair!

Has it been worth it?

Without question. ❤️

14/06/2024

Instead of worrying, Heather found herself in a "hospital retreat" of sorts, awaiting the arrival of her twins. Listen in how she handled it all in this week's episode: "Marrying Into Motherhood". This was SUCH a great conversation!

13/06/2024

Some of the texts and messages I've gotten from this episode have me so curious - raise your hand if you met your spouse online?? 🙋‍♀️

Then listen to this week's episode on themotherhoodexperience.com or wherever you stream your favorite podcasts!

12/06/2024

Remember every episode has a video version over on YouTube! Come catch how many times my mouth drops open when Heather shares her incredible story.

Heather was introduced to me by Kailyn (from episode 35), and is a mother of 7. She became a mom the moment she married her husband, as he had three boys. Th...

11/06/2024

I could have talked to Heather for so much longer. She's got a story unlike any I've heard before. You'll want to tune in to this and I'm curious to hear what part of her story most intrigued you!

10/06/2024

When Ashley & I recorded our episode, we hadn't been in touch for several years, as both of us had moved. But wow was this one so much fun to record - I still laugh about a few things she said, all these months later! Get your giggles on with this episode from several months back (and if you're looking for some pizazz in your style, Ashely will help you spruce up your look!)

Episode 016 "Diamond in the Bleachers" with Ashley Toops

www.themotherhoodexperience.com

09/06/2024

I once swore I would *never* homeschool (we'll be starting our 8th year homeschooling this year...) and Mari started attending homeschool conventions to learn about homeschooling and connect with the homeschool community before she ever became a mother! It illustrated to me the many different paths people can take to end up standing on common ground.

www.themotherhoodexperience.com to listen to episode 044 with Mari!

08/06/2024

When Mari and I recorded our episode, the program I used had a major glitch and we weren't even sure if this episode would make it to publication. A software fix and a hefty edit job later, it made it to the publishing floor! You can watch it on YouTube here:

07/06/2024

When I was pregnant with Harlynn, one of my most intense cravings was chocolate donettes - or as Hubs called them, "chocolate wax balls".
For several years on Harlynn's birthday, I would buy a pack of donettes and eat them in her honor - but now they're so gross to me, I can't do it anymore.
When we're back in Fargo near her birthday, we'll put a real bakery donut on her headstone.
I never thought donuts would have a sentimental value for me, but here I am in 2024 emotionally celebrating National Donut Day...

07/06/2024

I just got home from a work meetup. I don’t talk much about my work on here, but bear with as I share now…

I’ve been working since I was 17 (so for like five years… 😳) and I have been blessed to work with innumerable wonderful people over the course of my work life and career.

But this team - 🥹 Unbeatable.

I am a homeschooling, homesteading mom. It takes a lot to keep the household running. So why would I throw a job on top of that?

If it was a company or leadership outside of this one, I probably wouldn’t.

There are the perks like I set my own schedule (which is how we are still able to homeschool), I am fully remote (except for this annual meetup), etc. I even facilitated a meeting while babysitting once, holding a sleeping baby in my arms while leading discussion and no one was upset or phased by it.

But the real reason I keep working and keep showing up for this team, this company, this leadership is because they make every ounce of my efforts, struggles, and successes worthwhile.

It scares Hubs to hear me say if I ever get fired, I will just be retired. But I can’t imagine working anywhere else.

Being a working mom in any capacity is no small feat. I know how fortunate I am in being able to do work I love alongside a team I adore under the mentorship of leaders I deeply respect all while keeping my family first.

My kids don’t hear me complain about work. They don’t get the leftovers of Mama after a day at the office. They get to be right next to me every day, watching me manage all my irons in the fire. And I am so so grateful.

Receiving a Core Value Award for my desk was a nice perk as well. 😎 (Photo Cred: our social media queen, Sarah)

I don’t believe in a work-life “balance”. I believe I’ve been given the grace to juggle everything, dropping balls when I need to, or holding them still until I can catch my breath, and resuming juggling once more.

And maybe that’s the real reward in this season.

06/06/2024

When you were a brand new mom, did you have goals or hopes the same as or different from Mari?

Streaming on all podcast platforms or at themotherhoodexperience.com ~

05/06/2024

One of my favorite parts of Tracy's story, from episode 15. If you're newer to TME podcast, there is a library of powerhouse episodes I'd encourage you to catch up on; Tracy's episode is one of them!

Catch the video version on YouTube (https://youtu.be/rqydQwNYPvk), or stream wherever you listen to podcasts.

04/06/2024

Bottom middle - I spy The Motherhood Experience sticker on Bridgette’s (Ep. 30) laptop!! So fun seeing a podcast sticker in the wild!! But now I think I need to order bigger stickers. 😅

04/06/2024

"Dreaming Big as a Brand New Mom" is the new episode that published this week. Do you remember the plans, hopes, and dreams you had as a new mom?

www.themotherhoodexperience.com or wherever you stream podcasts.

03/06/2024

One more snippet from my episode with Olivia! Hear more about her "motherhood on the move" wherever you listen to podcasts, or on our website www.themotherhoodexperience.com

02/06/2024

Have you ever had a video call with your next-door neighbor? It might be a little awkward, but almost an hour after we started, I'm sure we could have found more to talk about. 😁 Come join our conversation over on YouTube!

Making a move from the PNW to rural South Dakota is no small feat. Olivia's story of motherhood and moving out here to plant roots (sight unseen!) is one you...

01/06/2024

Whether you're out running errands or weeding the garden, this episode will be a good listen while you're getting stuff done!

www.themotherhoodexperience.com or wherever you stream podcasts.

31/05/2024

Getting plugged into a new community is no small feat. Being married to an extrovert helps. 😂

30/05/2024

Five? Six years? between these two shots. I might be over here crying, but my heart is full. I pray these kids have friendships as rich and endearing as we have with their parents. 🥰

30/05/2024

The first AMAZING neighbors we had were John & Amanda. We still miss them. Then when Farmer John was in our lives for the 12 short months he lived across the road from us, we were in neighbor heaven (especially after we met "Fifs" from across the street).

You can't choose your neighbors, so it's pretty spectacular when the Lord chooses them for you. This week's conversation is with my next-door neighbor, Olivia! Listen in to see if she spills any tea on what living next door to us is like...

www.themotherhoodexperience.com

29/05/2024

A peek behind the curtain here. "Val, how do you do such a great job hosting?" Well - it's called EDITING, friends. Olivia got a front-row seat to my hosting shortcomings the second I hit "record" for our episode. She also happens to know and understand my sense of humor, so she was *on point* with her advice for how to salvage it. 😅

28/05/2024

Imagine Mr. Rogers is here singing, "Could you be mine? Would you be mine? Won't you be my neighbor?" as the intro to this week's new episode. From all the way (1/4 mile) down the driveway, this week's guest is my next-door neighbor. And does she have a motherhood story to tell!

www.themotherhoodexperience.com or wherever you stream podcasts!

25/05/2024

If you find yourself between activities this weekend, watching Jessica's episode is a great way to pass the time!

When she prayed about what her ministry role should be, Motherhood was the answer. Jessica is probably the friendliest, bubbliest, most encouraging person I ...