The last week was full of challenges and many unexpected opportunities for me to trust God as I was mostly solo parenting while Jesse and Silas were on a father-son ski trip in Utah.

The heartbreak of our girls losing a dear friend and dropping everything to pick them up in their grief. Having my heart torn in shreds as I see them hurting so much.

A scary middle-of-the-night episode where Kierstyn couldn’t breathe and her oxygen levels were low (gratefully I was able to get them back up before we needed to go to the ER!)

An urgent care visit for Kathrynne when she got really sick.

A dr’s visit for Kierstyn. (She was diagnosed with pneumonia and an ear infection — which I wasn’t entirely surprised with how her lungs had been sounding and how her breathing was.)

David pooping in the bathtub twice and then pulling all his gauze off around his feeding tube port and it bleeding all over his clothes. His feeding tube coming out in the middle of a feed and making a big mess of formula all over.

One child throwing the worst fit they’ve ever thrown in their life (complete with them screaming, “you are the worst mom ever!!” They later came back and apologized.)

Almost having an accident on the highway when the car in front of me slammed on their brakes because there was a car stopped in the middle of the road. (It truly felt like there were guardian angels around us — the car behind us had to go over into the shoulder to avoid hitting me!)

Having book edits due in the middle of all this. It’s been a lot.

And yet, in the midst of the challenges, I’ve felt God’s goodness and supernatural strength and peace.

I’m so grateful that I don’t have to walk this life on my own or white knuckle my way through life in my own strength. He is faithful and we can rely on Him.

Q&A’s From This Week

I posted a question box on Instagram stories a few days ago and got a lot of questions. I wanted to share a few of my responses here…

Question: Advice on how to handle a pre teen boy? We have a 11 year old and the attitude is coming in big.

Answer: My best advice is to pray daily for your son and pray for God to give you wisdom to love them well. And then go be involved in his world.

Care about what he cares about – get interested in sports or video games or whatever your son is interested in. Take him out for lunch or got his favorite treat.

Praise every tiny little thing he puts effort into. Save your corrections for those times when it really, really matters. Be his biggest cheerleader instead of his biggest critic. Talk highly of him to him and to others. And clearly communicate expectations built upon a strong foundation of relationship. And keep him busy – bored boys are often frustrated and have lots of energy with no outlet.

Question: Bedtime routine for littles? 7 month old that’s nursing, we’re struggling to get a routine

Answer: Keep it super, super simple. Dinner, Pi’s, teeth brushed, read a book, pray and go to bed. Or something similar. I try to have a bedtime routine that can be done in 5-15 minutes if need be.

And by the way, some nights my kids don’t even change into PJs – they fall asleep in their clothes. Some nights we don’t read a book because they are too tired. And some nights we end up reading 10 picture books.

My biggest piece of advice is to make sure you don’t put your kids to bed until they are tired and then usually bedtime goes much more quickly. Also, we often let our kids listen to audio stories to fall asleep and it’s something they look forward to and it helps them wind down, and go to sleep very quickly!

Question: If you needed to lose 30 pounds, what would your diet look like? (Asking for me.)

Answer: I would start by tracking what you are eating to get an idea of how many calories you’re consuming and what your carbs/fats/protein/fiber ratio is. You ideally want to eat at least 90 grams of protein per day and 25 grams of fiber. I would also track your activity.

Could you add more protein and fiber + a 5-10 minute walk after each meal? Keep it simple a doable and don’t try to overhaul your life overnight. Pick 1-3 small habits to implement and stick with those until they become so normal that you do them without thinking. Then add another simple habit.

Question: Are you still using nourish? I finally signed up and have an appointment next week.

Answer: Yes! And to piggy back off the last question, if you are struggling to lose weight, need to gain weight, want to eat more nutritiously, need some accountability to prioritize your health, or are just curious if you are eating well to support your lifestyle, I highly recommend hiring a dietitian through Nourish! It has changed my life!!

And it’s fully covered by insurance for 94% of people!!! See if your insurance covers it here.

By the way, JJ just left a comment saying this, “I am losing weight with the help of my dietician. More than that, as someone who has struggled to lose weight for a long time, I often felt shame and guilt with food. Not any more! When my dietician said I can have dessert every day, I explained that there is no way. I have no self-control. She has been by my side (and I love how we can message them in between sessions!) and guides me so that I can have success and learn self-control without feeling bound. So, yes, I am eating foods I enjoy WHILE losing weight. I am learning not to fear food but to eat in such a way that I am truly full, happy, and healthy. Truly–thank you for posting and sharing!”

Introducing John, our new robot vacuum, who has become one of the hardest-working and most well-loved members of the family. He cleans and mops the floors while also keeping three young children fully entertained as they feed him dirt from the floor. It’s downright amazing!

Needles to say, we have been very impressed with our Yeedi robot vacuum!! They have four different models on sale right now and one of them is as low as $179 shipped!!

Do you have a robot vacuum? If so, what is his/her name??

You can get these Dream Pairs Toddler Girl’s Mary Jane Ballerina Flats for only $12.99 shipped when you use the promo code ERE178 at checkout!

These are regularly $33.99 and this is such a hot deal. Choose from several colors.

Kierstyn has worn these again and again — including when she was a flower girl dress at her uncle and aunt’s wedding! — and loves them!

Books I Finished This Past Week

People Skills – I loved this book and felt like it is a very helpful resource for anyone who is wanting to deepen relationships, build stronger community, and communicate with more kindness and genuineness. The chapters are short and action-packed and have followup questions and practical action steps. If you want to get a peek into what the book is about, be sure to watch this Instagram Live I did with the author here. It was SO good and convicting.

The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery — I really found this book so helpful and insightful. If you feel like you are stuck or that life is so overwhelming and hard and you are bombarded by discouragement, this would be such a fantastic book to read. Melding science and Scripture, the author gives such practical encouragement for how you can change your life by changing your thoughts!

What I’m Watching

The Olympics, of course, just like last week. I also watched quite a few episodes of When Calls the Heart. (I’m now on season 9!)

What I’m Listening To

I started listening to Holy Disrupter this past week at the encouragement of my sister. So far, it’s been very different than I expected. Have you read it or listened to it?

In Case You Missed It – Posts From This Week

How to Use the Swagbucks App to Earn Money — Looking for an honest Swagbucks review? Want to know how to make money on Swagbucks? I’ve put together a comprehensive guide to how Swagbucks works, how to earn free gift cards, and my top tips for earning more with Swagbucks.

Baked Potato Bar ($10 Family Dinner Idea) — A baked potato bar is such a fun, tasty, and simple meal! Get all the details here.

Brigette’s $55 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 4! — Check out what Brigette bought and is feeding her family this week on a budget.

Me Training to Be on the Olympic Luge Team — I hope this video makes you laugh! And if you need a smile, watch this short video of David.

How to Find the Cheapest Car Insurance + Smart Ways to Save Every Dollar — Auto insurance is actually one of the easiest bills to lower with a little intentional effort. Unlike utilities or rent, you actually have quite a bit of control over what you pay, and many families are leaving hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars on the table simply because they haven’t revisited their policy in a while.

This Week’s Podcast Episode

I have been eagerly looking forward to doing this episode ever since I got my hands on Dr. Lee Warren’s new book, The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery. The title alone had Jesse asking, “Wait… self-brain surgery?” Honestly, I actually had the same thought, but what Lee shares in this conversation completely blew me away. He is a brain surgeon, and he has discovered that the same principles he uses in the operating room can be applied by each of us to literally change our own brains – via our thoughts!

Most of what runs through our minds every day is false, negative, or repetitive, keeping us stuck, but when we intentionally practice new ways of thinking, we can rewire our brains in real time and reshape the life that follows, and, in this episode of The Crystal Paine Show, Lee and I talk about why our culture often convinces us that we are powerless to change, why 80% of our thoughts are false, and how the simple act of noticing and choosing our thoughts can literally transform our neurochemistry, our bodies, and our perspective!

Lee and I dive into practical tools – from prayer and meditation to quiet reflection – that help filter out the noise and build mental habits that help make us calmer, more resilient, and more intentional. We also explore the deeply human side of change – the grief, loss, and impossible days that can feel like they could crush us. Listen in as Lee shares his personal story of losing his son and welcoming a grandchild on the same day and how recognizing that two truths can exist at once (joy and sorrow) was life-giving and transformative.

Tune in this week and see how science and scripture beautifully reinforce each other and how small, consistent actions can rebuild your mind, your habits, and your hope. If you have ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or powerless to change your thoughts and your life, then this episode will very likely challenge you, encourage you, and give you hope that real change isn’t just possible; it’s built into how you’re wired!

Listen to this week’s episode here.

Tell me about your week! Anything interesting happen? Did you read any good books, watch any good shows, or tackle any projects?