Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.

Your child has been begging you for a phone (or video game, social media, tablet, etc). You have held out for a long time but this Christmas, you decided to wrap that phone and place it under the tree. What can you expect after the gift is given? What kind of guidelines can you present with the phone? How can you set up your child for success and not failure? On today's 25 Days of Christmas episode, Arlene shares:

2:00 What was the lamest Christmas present you ever got? 

5:30 Pre-order Arlene’s new book Making Marriage Easier 

5:00 The gift (phone, iPad, etc) has been given, now what?

8:20 You are not manipulated into giving a gift, it’s voluntary 

9:40 What if my child made a Powerpoint presentation begging me? 

11:05 Ground rules for the phone 

13:30 You need systems, not just good intentions 

15:00 Protect Young Eyes, monitoring and more, DNS, Clean Browsing 

18:00 Warning signs that your child is not ready for that phone or game 

20:45 What if you need to take the gift away from your child? 

24:50 What can I do right now to help my child have a better relationship with technology? How did we get here? 

Arlene Pellicane is the host of the Happy Home podcast and author of books like Screen Kids (co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman) and Calm, Cool, and Connected: 5 Digital Habits for a More Balanced Life. Arlene and her husband James have raised three kids in Southern California who went through high school without smartphones, social media, or video games (and actually enjoyed it).

Pre-order Arlene's new book, Making Marriage Easier: How to Love (and Like) Your Spouse for Life https://makingmarriageeasier.com/

You've got a little time - check out family devotions and activities in Arlene's free resource, 25 Days of Christmas. https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe

Read Arlene's book Screen Kids https://arlenepellicane.com/book/screen-kids/

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Please email Arlene your questions and the topics you want covered on the show! [email protected]

Save the date: Arlene's next Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.

As we count down the 25 Days of Christmas, your family could probably use some help in the kitchen! Kathi Lipp has a new cookbook Sabbath Soup with plenty of tips to make meal time easier. Plus you'll be invited to consider the important rhythm of Sabbath rest. Learn how to make the most of meals together with family and friends this Christmas season to enjoy more emotional connection and less fuss and stress. On today's episode, we're talking about: 

2:50 Help! I don’t know how to cook! 

4:40 Do this and take the stress out of mealtime 

8:30 Some tips and tricks for how to save money on groceries 

13:30 How to honor the Sabbath as a mom 

21:23 Magic meals???

25:38 Tips for picky eaters 

29:00 I need to declutter - but where do I start?

Kathi Lipp is a Publishers Weekly bestseller of 20 books including the Accidental Homesteader, Clutter Free, and the Husband Project. Her new book is Sabbath Soup: Weekly Menus and Rhythms to make space for a day of rest. 

Learn more about Kathi Lipp and her cookbook, Sabbath Soup https://sabbathsoup.com/

Get Arlene's free 25 Days of Christmas - your family guide which includes 10 devotions, 10 fun and easy activities, and 5 ways to serve. https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Please email Arlene your questions and the topics you want covered on the show! [email protected]

Save the date: Arlene's next Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.

You're supposed to feel joyful during the holiday season. But if you're honest, you're feeling more tired and overwhelmed. We're counting down the 25 Days of Christmas. How can you delight in Jesus once again at Christmastime and throughout the year? Asheritah Ciuciu will show us how to approach this season with faith, wonder, and worship. Her new book is Delighting in Jesus - Rhythms to restore joy when you feel broken, bored, or burned out. Today we'll talk about:  

2:35 Where did all of my joy go?

12:32 How do we delight in Jesus 

17:07 Is there a difference between joy and happiness?

19:53 Should we chase happiness?

25:50 How to get your joy back

Asheritah Ciuciu is an author, speaker, and founder of One Thing Alone Ministries. She is a wife and mama of three. Her books include Unwrapping the Names of Jesus for Kids, Bible & Breakfast, and Full: Food, Jesus, and the Battle for Satisfaction. 

Learn more about Asheritah and her new book Delighting in Jesus. https://onethingalone.myshopify.com/products/signed-copy-of-delighting-in-jesus

Discover your devotional personality type https://onethingalone.com/

Get Arlene's free 25 Days of Christmas - your family guide which includes 10 devotions, 10 fun and easy activities, and 5 ways to serve. https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Please email Arlene your questions and the topics you want covered on the show! [email protected]

Save the date: Arlene's next Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.

Could you use more bubbles and fun this holiday season and less stress? The one and only Bob Goff shares how we can live daily with joy and expectation from his new book, Catching Whimsy. We are kicking off the 25 Days of Christmas with a fun and meaningful conversation about whimsy, remembering the good, baseball caps, fresh starts and much more. On today's episode, we'll talk about: 

2:26 What do you mean by whimsy? 

3:30 Your first car was...

6:50 How to get on the same page with your spouse 

11:14 What is the role of remembering in our lives? 

18:52 Wait, you cut a hole in your left pocket because...

20:17 How to start fresh 

27:22 Helping our children through the “spot” moments of life

Bob Goff is the New York Times bestselling author of Love Does and Everybody Always. He’s appeared on Good Morning America, NPR, the Dave Ramsey show, Forbes and Relevant. He is the host of the Dream Big podcast and loves balloons, cake pops, and helping people pursue their big dreams.  

Learn more about Bob Goff and his new book Catching Whimsy here: https://www.bobgoff.com/

Get Arlene's free 25 Days of Christmas - your family guide which includes 10 devotions, 10 fun and easy activities, and 5 ways to serve. https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Please email Arlene your questions and the topics you want covered on the show! [email protected]

Save the date: Arlene's next Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.

Are your kids going to be all right? Is your job secure? Will your marriage get better? We live in an age marked by worry and anxiety for adults and kids. Many who wrestle with anxiety know the Bible calls them to trust God, but how does that actually work? Pastor and author Jonny Ardavanis invites us to open God's Word for answers. In this conversation about his new book, Consider the Lilies, you'll learn:  

3:30 I had a front row seat to teen anxiety as a camp director 

5:25 If you’re a parent, this is what you need to know

7:00 Even if your child doesn’t suffer from anxiety, he or she lives in a performance stressful culture 

8:30 How can we protect the minds of our kids? 

10:45 One of the main schemes of Satan is to make sin look normal and righteousness seem strange

15:00 Every worry is an invitation to get closer to God 

17:10 What’s the difference between a good godly concern and an ungodly worry? 

20:00 We were told our daughter had a syndrome with strokes and seizures

24:00 When your kids have sports injuries 

27:55 God allows you to go through trials because…

Jonny Ardavanis is the pastor of Stonebridge Bible Church in Franklin, TN. He’s the founder and president of Dial In Ministries serving the next generation. He has served as camp director at Hume Lake Christian Camps and as a dean at The Master’s College. He and his wife have two young daughters. Today, we're talking about his new book, Consider the Lilies: Finding Perfect Peace in the Character of God. 

Learn more about Dial In Ministries https://dialinministries.org/

Get Jonny's book, Consider the Lilies https://www.amazon.com/Consider-Lilies-Finding-Perfect-Character/dp/0310368243/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.yBlnH-e3bSsBJoLo-Hv3vz_bwdX2IgWB9ezQ8PNYtkaw7ElP9_sLVDpE9it02M9F.-mnpeyrtjwUwqjpImQmTFaHlktyPYWQe-SMuf20w318&qid=1722298799&sr=1-1&ref=dialinministries.org

Subscribe to Arlene's free email list and get your free Gratitude Workout and the 25 Days of Christmas https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Please email Arlene your questions and the topics you want covered on the show! [email protected]

Save the date: Arlene's next Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.

The pressures and demands of life can leave you overwhelmed, discouraged and stressed out. Stress affects us as adults, and it can weigh down our kids too. Counselor and author of "I'm Stressed" Eliza Huie is here to show us how to manage stress better and experience more peace at home. Trade in your stress and anxiety for something far better. On today's podcast, you'll learn:

2:13 What stress can actually be good 

6:20 Does my child need counseling?

11:00 The difference between worry and anxiety 

14:00 How to change the “what if’s” to “even if’s”

16:50 What is your responsibility as a parent (and what's not) 

21:17 How do we become stressed over temptations 

27:02 What is A.W.E.? 

Today’s guest Eliza Huie is a biblically trained, professionally licensed counselor. She is the director of counseling at McLean Bible Church in Virginia. She and her husband have three grown children and a grandson. She is an author of several books and a frequent speaker for conferences.  

Learn more about Eliza Huie and her book, I'm Stressed: A Path from Pressure to Peace https://www.elizahuie.com/books

Subscribe to Arlene's free email list and get your free Gratitude Workout for your home https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Please email Arlene your questions and the topics you want covered on the show! [email protected]

Save the date: Arlene's next Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.

Our kids are being bombarded by sexual images through social media, YouTube, porn, and music. As parents, we cannot be silent about sex, but it's such an awkward subject to talk about. Jim Burns is here to help us with conversations from his new book, A Student's Guide to Sexual Integrity: God's plan for sex and your body. In this episode, you'll learn: 

4:53 Is God like the grinch when it comes to sex and pleasure? 

7:26 Start conversations like this 

12:33 How to parent differently within this confusing time 

16:00 What does God say about sexuality?  

18:52 How to talk about dating with your kids 

24:41 Why your kids need to be different (and why they'll thank you) 

27:09 How to teach your kids how to bounce their eyes

Jim Burns is the president of HomeWord. He speaks to thousands of people around the world each year and his more than 3 million resources in print in 20 languages. He and his wife have 3 grown daughters. He’s the author of numerous books including Doing Life with Your Adult Children. Today he's talking about his newest book, A Student’s Guide to Sexual Integrity: God’s Plan for Sex and Your Body. 

Learn more about Jim Burns at Homeword.com https://homeword.com/

Get the book, A Student's Guide to Sexual Integrity https://homeword.com/product/students-guide-to-sexual-integrity-gods-plan-for-sex-and-your-body/

Get the online course, A Student's Guide to Sexual Integrity https://homeword.com/product/online-course-a-students-guide-to-sexual-integrity/

Get Arlene's book Screen Kids (co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802422209/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0802422209&linkCode=as2&tag=arlenpelli-20&linkId=837f2447fde5b4a57b13b75b78236083

Subscribe to Arlene's free email list and get your free Gratitude Workout for your home https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Please email Arlene your questions and the topics you want covered on the show! [email protected]

Save the date: Arlene's next Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.

We all have hopes and dreams for our kids, but what if we are expecting too much? Could we be putting too much pressure on our kids to be perfect? Author and marriage coach Jill Savage joins us to talk about her book, No More Perfect Kids. Get ready to breathe a sigh of relief as we talk honestly about: 

2:37 Do you have the perfection infection?

9:00 How to appreciate your kids individually for who they are

13:57 Excellence is different than perfection 

20:07 How to fight perfection infection in yourself and your kids 

25:39 Managing expectations for your children

Jill Savage is an author of several books and international speaker who helps moms and marriages be the best they can be. She is the founder of Hearts at Home, a mother of five, and has been featured on KLOVE and Focus on the Family just to name a few places. She and her husband Mark serve as marriage coaches. 

Learn more about Jill Savage here: https://jillsavage.org/

Get Jill Savage's book, No More Perfect Kids https://www.amazon.com/No-More-Perfect-Kids-Love/dp/0802411525/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1487697432&sr=8-1&keywords=no+more+perfect+kids&linkCode=sl1&tag=jilsav0c-20&linkId=31a159c7ea4880717a7fce880161b282

Subscribe to Arlene's free email list and get your free Gratitude Workout for your home https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Please email Arlene your questions and the topics you want covered on the show! [email protected]

Save the date: Arlene's next Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.

What happens when you leave everything behind to sail around Africa with your three kids? Raeanne Newquist is here to talk about life on a Mercy Ship and seeing miracles firsthand. But you don't have to take a trip like this to support missions with your family. On today's show, you'll learn about: 

3:41 Trusting God with the next move 

6:20 How your kids can have a heart for the world 

9:10 Going through challenges as a mom doing ministry 

15:09 How we can involve our kids in reaching others for Christ 

19:30 What is Mercy Ships all about?  

27:40 How to trust God with hard decisions

Raeanne Newquist along with her husband and 3 children joined Mercy Ships in 2019. After leaving everything behind in Southern California, they boarded the Africa Mercy in Las Palmas and made their first sail down to Dakar, Senegal for their first field service. On board, Raeanne volunteered in the communications department and later in chaplaincy. Currently, Raeanne works in the Mercy Ships U.S. Marketing department. Raeanne is the host of the New Mercies podcast, is the voice of the Mercy Minute daily radio broadcast and serves as a staff writer.

Mercy Ships, founded in 1978, operates hospital ships that deliver free surgeries and other healthcare services to those with little access to safe medical care. Mercy Ships bases its work from its two hospital ships, the Africa Mercy®, which went into service in 2007, and the Global Mercy® — the world’s first purpose-built civilian hospital ship—which began serving African nations in 2022.

Find out more about Mercy Ships here https://www.mercyships.org/

To learn more about how you might serve on Mercy Ships, visit https://findyourplace.mercyships.org/immediate-needs/

Get your copy of Parents Rising here https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802416608/?tag=arlenpelli-20

Save the date: Arlene's next Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025

Subscribe to Arlene's free email list where she shares what she is learning in her home for yours. https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Please email Arlene your questions and the topics you want covered on the show! [email protected]

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.

In the whirlwind of modern parenting, it can be easy to lose sight of what’s most important. It's time to get back on track to nurture authentic faith and relationship with God above all. Father of five, Barrett Johnson has a new book to help us, Disciple Them Like Jesus: Leading your kids the way Christ led the twelve. What can we learn from Jesus about connection, teaching, and modeling? You'll find out in today's conversation about: 

2:45 Why is parenting so exhausting nowadays?

6:10 Your main priority as a parent is…

12:30 How do you disciple a child? 

16:49 Noticing the little wins with your children  

22:20 How dads can uniquely step in  

28:00 How can we pass on a love of the Bible to our kids

Barrett Johnson is the founder of I.N.F.O. for Families (Imperfect and Normal Families Only), a nonprofit that helps parents have critical conversations with their kids and much more. He and his wife Jenifer lead marriage and parenting events across the country. They have five children and seven grandchildren.

Learn more about I.N.F.O. for Families here https://www.infoforfamilies.com/

Learn more about Barrett's new book, Disciple Them Like Jesus: Leading Your Kids the Way Christ Led the Twelve https://www.infoforfamilies.com/disciple-them-like-jesus

Get your copy of Parents Rising here https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802416608/?tag=arlenpelli-20

Save the date: Arlene's next Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025 

Get your free "Reset Your Tech" tip sheet and more free resources from Arlene https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Please email Arlene your questions and the topics you want covered on the show! [email protected]

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.

Are you facing a crisis or challenge in your family? Suffering isn't anything we volunteer for. Today's guest Rachel Wojo knows what it's like to suffer profound losses and cry out to God in desperation. She shares how you can embrace the power of prayer in life's darkest moments with lessons of hope from her new book, Desperate Prayers. In today's conversation, you'll learn about: 

2:24 A mysterious envelope and an answered prayer 

9:45 How suffering can bear fruit 

12:25 Pain presents us with a choice, what will you choose?

17:52 If you want quick healing, start here 

20:30 I didn’t know how to move forward 

23:38 God is a God of second chances 

28:00 Our incredible adoption story

Rachel Wojo is an inspirational author, speaker, and podcaster. Through her biblical approach and personal life experiences, Rachel empowers women to discover strength and hope in everyday situations. Despite enduring the loss of her mother, father, and adult special needs daughter, Rachel remains resilient. She is crazy in love with her husband Matt and cherishes her six children on earth and two in heaven.  

Learn more about Rachel Wojo and her book Desperate Prayers. https://rachelwojo.com/desperateprayers/

Get Rachel's free When You Can't Pray Guide https://rachelwojo.com/freebie-2/

Get your copy of Parents Rising here https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802416608/?tag=arlenpelli-20

Save the date: Arlene's next Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025
Get your free "Reset Your Tech" tip sheet and more free resources from Arlene https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe
Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Please email Arlene your questions and the topics you want covered on the show! [email protected]