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In part 2 of our 3-part series on goal setting and vision, we’re talking about clarity and how clear, God-given direction can simplify your life in a way that feels like peace. When you don’t know where you’re headed, everything gets heavier: indecision, overthinking, people-pleasing, and yeses that don’t align with what truly matters.

Today, I share a powerful conversation with my husband that changed how I make decisions. We talk about a “clarity test”, a simple filter you can run every opportunity, request, goal, or commitment through: Does this align with the mission of our home and the direction we believe God is leading our family… or not?

I also read parts of my personal 10-year vision (2036), a detailed “movie script” of the life we’re prayerfully working toward: a marriage that stays prioritized, a home marked by hospitality, children and grandchildren who are loved and strengthened, health that supports a vibrant future, a business built with integrity, and generosity that stays joyful. And I’m very clear about this: this isn’t “manifesting.” This is stewardship, planning with faith while holding everything with open hands before God.

We’ll walk through the four pillars that keep me anchored (the responsibilities only you can carry), and I’ll share practical examples of how clarity shapes everyday life: how I show up in my kitchen, how I protect time with my husband, how I parent adult kids with grace, how I communicate when things get heated, and how I set goals that match the legacy I want to live.

If you’ve been overwhelmed by goal-setting or you’ve felt scattered, pressured, or distracted… this episode will help you step back, get honest, and get clear so your yes can be yes, your no can be no, and your days can finally match what you say you value.

Next week in Part 3, we’ll talk about finishing your race strong—how to stay engaged when motivation fades and the year gets heavy.

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

Questions That Keep Your Direction Clear (True North):

If I fast-forward ten years, what kind of person do I most want to be?
What do I want people to experience when they are in my presence?
If my life produced fruit I could see only in eternity, what would I hope that fruit is?
At the end of my life, what would I most regret having neglected?
What do I believe God is inviting me to build, cultivate, or steward in this season?
What does faithfulness look like for me right now — not success, not speed, just faithfulness?

Questions That Align Your Daily Life With Your Long-Term Vision:

Did my choices today move me 1% closer to the life I believe God is calling me to?
Where did I say “yes” to something that pulled me off course — and why?
What small, ordinary obedience did I practice today?
Did I prioritize what matters most — or what was most urgent?
Did my schedule reflect my stated values?
What went well today?
Where did I drift?
Where did I align with my vision?
What will I do differently tomorrow?

Questions That Hold Your Plans Loosely Before God:

Am I clinging to my plan — or holding it with open hands?
If God changed this tomorrow, could I still say “He is good”?
What am I most afraid of losing — and what does that reveal?
Am I building my identity on outcomes or on obedience?
If my circumstances shifted, would my purpose still stand?
“Lord, I make plans in faith — but I trust Your leading more than my blueprint.
Shape my steps, even when they differ from my strat

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As we step into a new year, many of us feel a mix of hope, pressure, exhaustion, and uncertainty. In this opening episode of Season 3, Nikki invites you to pause, reflect, and reframe what it really means to move forward.

This episode kicks off a three-part series centered on running your own race, not chasing comparison, perfection, or unrealistic expectations, but pursuing faithfulness in the life God has entrusted to you. Nikki explores why so many goals fade after the initial excitement of a new year, what “Quitter’s Day” reveals about our habits, and why lasting change is built on consistency, clarity, and grace...not hype.

Through a powerful track-and-field story, honest reflection, and a biblical lens on habits, discipline, and stewardship, this conversation challenges listeners to consider not just the new habits they want to add, but the old ones they may need to let go of. Nikki unpacks how our daily choices shape who we are becoming, why faithfulness matters more than speed, and how staying in the race, even imperfectly, leads to real formation over time.

Whether you’re feeling energized, discouraged, or somewhere in between, this episode offers encouragement to keep showing up, adjust instead of quit, and remember that growth is a process. This isn’t about a “new you”, it’s about becoming more aligned, more intentional, and more faithful in the race you’ve been given.

Next week, we’ll continue the conversation by talking about clarity and how having a clear “why” changes everything about the decisions we make and the goals we pursue.

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If perfection keeps stealing your peace, this episode hands it back. In this season finale, we look at a year of growth in the real world — inside homes full of schedules, emotions, and people we love. We talk about the shift that’s changing everything for our families: saying less, being clear, and repairing quickly when we miss the mark. We also offer a simple way to reframe those “I’m failing” spirals — because most moms who feel behind are actually giving more than they can see.

You’ll walk away with practical rhythms to protect margin during the holidays, a kinder way to measure progress, and permission to simplify the parts of life that don’t matter as much as connection does. You’re doing better than you think. Let’s celebrate the wins, widen the gap between stumbles, and choose joy in the season we once prayed for.

If this encouraged you, share it with a friend who tries so hard too — and subscribe so you don’t miss what’s ahead in Season Three!

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When the calendar starts sprinting and the afternoons turn dark way too early, we get the chance to slow everything down. We can take a deep breath, look back on the year, and see it through three lenses that matter—gratitude, growth, and grace. Not to hustle harder or create picture-perfect plans, but to walk into 2026 with steadiness, a little more peace, and a whole lot more awareness of God’s goodness.

We talk about gratitude in the real, everyday ways—celebrating a daughter stepping into her calling, quiet nights by the tree and fireplace, and those little moments at home that shift the whole atmosphere. Then we dig into growth without the pressure—the boundaries we learned to set, the ways parenting older kids stretches us, the wisdom in saying no so our yes actually means something, and the practical helps (like a meal service) that make survival season feel a bit lighter. And woven through all of it is grace… grace for the losses, the weariness, the prayers whispered in the dark, and the strength God provided exactly when we needed it most.

You’ll also get reflection questions for adults and kids—easy prompts for a date night, a drive with your teen, or a few minutes around the dinner table. We’ll talk about why rhythms always outlast resolutions, how 10–15 minutes a day can reshape your spiritual life, and how choosing one simple word for the year can anchor your heart. And if you’re walking into this season feeling behind or tired, hear this: you don’t need to reinvent yourself. You need the daily mercies He’s already offering and the courage to take small, faithful steps forward.

If this episode encourages you, I’d love for you to tap follow, share it with a friend who needs a gentle landing place, and leave a quick review so more families can find their way here.

Episode 6 - Am I Good Medicine for My Family - Do I Pass The Joy Test?

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/6-am-i-good-medicine-for-my-family-do-i-pass-the-joy-test/id1719372285?i=1000645426505

Episode 9 - Reclaim Your Calendar: Does Our Family Calendar Reflect Our Values?

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/9-streamline-your-life-series-week-1-reclaim-your-calendar/id1719372285?i=1000648329013

Books By Justin Whitmel Earley:

Habits of The Household -

https://amzn.to/4nOrlTT

The Body Teaches The Soul-

https://amzn.to/3WSQlOI

5 Year Prayer Journal:

https://www.dayspring.com/hosanna-revival-one-thing-i-ask-5-year-prayer-journal-edinburgh-theme?ne_ppc_id=21066640061&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21059800542&gbraid=0AAAAAD3t-bW-euiPYlgCwBm3Ry1bFz9ro&gclid=CjwKCAiA_dDIBhB6EiwAvzc1cC4tviyipz95tl-tJRV2QC9hcpWHNPJ1klpv_Yfj7xL91YWIEsj85RoCIDcQAvD_BwE

Reflection Questions for 2025:

Adults - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_luDmtk8hdLhpFFd4as7vsNqtpFYQmHf/view?usp=drive_link

Kids-

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GcFg-pFWh06xSOwybvMj3MaFIA-N_vbj/view?usp=drive_link

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In this podcast episode, Nikki welcomes Natalie Abbott, co-founder of Dwell Differently, a ministry dedicated to helping people memorize scripture.

Natalie discusses her life as a wife, mom of five, and author. She shares her personal journey to faith, which started with reading various religious texts, including the Bible given to her by her great-grandmother. Through scripture, she discovered the transformative power of God's word.

Natalie explains how Dwell Differently began, recounting her sister Vera's story of overcoming anxiety through memorizing Bible verses.

Nikki and Natalie talk about balancing ministry, family life, and how integrating scripture into daily routines can provide strength and wisdom. Natalie emphasizes the importance of grace and finding small ways to engage with God’s word.

The episode concludes with practical advice for parents and Christians seeking to deepen their faith.

Dwell Differently:

Website:

https://dwelldifferently.com

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/dwelldifferently

Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dwell-differently/id1485331979

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In this engaging conversation, Nikki Smith interviews Justin Whitmel Earley, exploring the profound connection between our physical habits and spiritual lives. Justin shares his personal journey from a crisis in mental health to discovering the importance of habits in shaping our souls. They discuss the impact of technology in parenting, the significance of instilling healthy habits in children, and the grace that allows for growth and change. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community and shared practices in navigating the challenges of modern life, particularly in relation to technology and mental health.

Takeaways:

• The Christian life is about what we practice, not just what we know.
• Physical habits significantly impact mental health and spiritual well-being.
• Grace allows us to approach our habits without fear of failure.
• Instilling healthy habits in children creates a positive legacy.
• Technology can be both a blessing and a challenge for families.
• Small changes in habits can lead to significant improvements over time.
• Community support is crucial in maintaining healthy practices.
• Understanding the connection between biology and theology is essential.
• Parents should model healthy technology use for their children.
• Every small habit contributes to a larger narrative of growth and redemption.

Books by Justin Whitmel Earley:

Habits of the Household: https://amzn.to/48UjVum

The Common Rule: https://amzn.to/47Ef6mS

Made for People: https://amzn.to/4oezeTx

The Body Teaches the Soul: https://amzn.to/4qzCRVu

The Big Mess (Childrens Book): https://amzn.to/4343LLi

Connect With Justin:

Justin’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justinwhitmelearleyauthor/

Justin’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinwhitmelearley/

Justin’s X: https://x.com/Justin_W_Earley

Justin’s YouTube: www.youtube.com/@justinwhitmelearley1630

Justin’s Website: https://www.justinwhitmelearley.com/

Hang 10 Movement:

https://www.hangtenmovement.com/

Resources Mentioned in Show:

The Anxious Generation:

https://amzn.to/3LbS92F

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Today I get to sit down with a dear friend of mine, Debbie Neal.

For years, I’ve known Debbie as a woman of incredible drive and determination — a true leader, a go-getter, and someone who has inspired so many through her work and her example. But today’s conversation isn’t about her professional achievements. It’s about something far more personal — the way God has been working in her home and heart over the past several years.

Debbie and Scott are parents to four children. Several years ago, their marriage hit a breaking point, and they ended up divorcing. For a while, it seemed like the story had reached its end. But somewhere in the middle of all that pain and searching, Debbie encountered Jesus in a way that completely changed her life.

What followed is nothing short of a redemption story — one that only God could write. Over time, He began softening hearts, healing wounds, and restoring what was broken. Debbie and Scott not only found forgiveness but found their way back to one another. And now, years later, they’re preparing to remarry — a beautiful symbol of God’s grace and restoration.

We talk about what led to that season of separation, how Debbie found Jesus in the middle of it, what reconciliation looked like, and how her obedience to God has rippled through her family.

And we’ll end by talking about what success looks like now — not in terms of accomplishments or titles, but in the peace and purpose that come from walking in step with God.

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What happens when your “forever home” isn’t forever after all? We sit down with Lindsay Parks—wife, mom of five, creator, and co-host of Built for More—to unpack the surprising decision to sell the dream house she built in public, and the freedom that followed. This isn’t a story about loss; it’s a story about listening. Lindsay shares how a quiet nudge became a clear call, how she navigated pride and fear, and why obedience sometimes looks like doing less instead of doing more.

We dig into the messy middle of online life and real family. Lindsay explains how she and her husband Eric (a physician and seminary grad) sought margin—financially and emotionally.

Along the way, we talk about what home truly is: not square footage, but a place where burdens come off at the door. Lindsay offers encouragement for moms of littles to find community and swap support, and practical wisdom for parenting teens—know their friends, keep the conversation open, and expect beauty alongside the bumps. She also shares the simple marriage rhythms that sustain big decisions: midweek day-dates, evening walks that double as check-ins, and a yearly getaway that flexes with the season.

If you’ve been feeling a nudge to simplify, to create margin, or to choose peace over optics, this conversation will meet you where you are. Listen, share it with someone who needs courage for a hard choice, and if it resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and pass it on so more families can find practical hope.

Follow Lindsay at:

https://www.instagram.com/thehousetheparksbuilt?igsh=YjB3bHo5eHgzd2R5

Built for More Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/built-for-more/id1815081511

Comparison Trap - Land of Er:

https://youtu.be/3_IAvk1qgfY?si=kN5N4rqkgb37uy66

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