Happy 2026! It's a new year and a new season of the show!

This year, I am excited to start sharing the miracles of Our Lady, practical ways to increase your devotion to her and ways she has impacted my life and my family as a mom.

Relentless in their pursuit of us, Jesus and Mary seem to keep chasing us down, even in dreams to get our attention. I share a couple of amazingly prophetic dreams I've had, their relationship to Marian miracles and how I trace her initial invitation back to my childhood.

Shownotes and links:

https://snows.org/

https://www.basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/en/basilica/storia-e-arte/sacra-culla.html

https://www.basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/en.html

https://duomo.firenze.it/en/discover/cathedral

https://www.carmelitefathers.com/

Krystal discussed her experiences as part of the "sandwich generation," where millennials like herself are caring for both children and aging parents. She noted that this demographic faces unique financial challenges and shared that her mother was 36 when she was born, which is relatively late compared to previous generations.

Krystal reflects on her experience growing up in a family where financial management was unclear, and she witnessed judgment towards both the poor and the wealthy. She realized that her parents struggled financially, which led to her applying for a scholarship to continue attending Catholic school. Despite these challenges, she appreciates her parents' sacrifices and is committed to managing her finances differently for her child's future.

Krystal shared her reflections on balancing the responsibilities of being a millennial mom with caring for aging parents, expressing concern about not wanting to become a burden to her son Apollo due to potential health issues. She discussed how her perspective changed after becoming a mother, acknowledging her past focus on health coaching and personal training. Krystal explored Mary's example as a mother and grandmother, using the Rosary's mysteries to reflect on how Mary managed her relationships with her parents and how she might have sought advice from Anna, Jesus' grandmother. She encouraged listeners facing similar challenges to share their experiences and seek support, emphasizing the importance of prayer and community.

When I was ready to go "back to work" outside the house, God hired me. I took a deep breath and a chance reaching out to my own parish church to see if they needed help.

I stopped making decisions out of fear and asked God to help search my heart for the reasons "why" I was clinging so hard to an identity that wasn't right for me.

I reveal how childhood lessons wrote a story I told myself over and over again - creating a lot of limiting beliefs about myself and my capabilities.

#Catholic #CatholicMom #Millennials #Faith

As a Millennial mom, I felt a lot of guilt when I was still. I always felt like I could be doing more, achieving more, worried about finances, worried about the future. As St. Padre Pio said, "don't worry!" If only it were that easy.

When I acted out of fear and not love and trust in God, things went pretty terribly. This is the lesson I learned the hard way. Stay tuned for part 2, learning to be still and actually discern what God wanted in my life.

Charisms, something I only first heard about a year ago, are spiritual gifts given to us that enable us to spread the Gospel. These aren't necessarily the "gifts" you use to do ministry in your church, although they often contribute to those. Rather, these gifts help us serve the big "C" Church in our every day lives. I found them fascinating and I bet you will too!

Leave it to our children to keep us current on pop culture. Krystal shares the unexpected insight to her Catholic faith she learned while watching a children's movie and reflects on the Seven Sorrows of Mary through the lens of our own motherhood.

Summary

In this episode of the Messy but Marian podcast, Krystal shares her journey of faith, self-discovery, and the transformative power of trusting in God. She reflects on her personal relationship with God, the challenges of identity and self-worth, and how stepping out in faith led her to unexpected opportunities, including participating in a beauty pageant. Krystal emphasizes the importance of gratitude, prayer, and recognizing God's providence in life's ups and downs, encouraging listeners to embrace their own spiritual messiness.

In this episode of the Messy But Marian podcast, Krystal shares her personal journey of faith, exploring the meaning of encountering Christ and how her childhood experiences shaped her relationship with God. She discusses the impact of a 12-step program on her spiritual growth and emphasizes the importance of progress over perfection in practicing faith. Through her reflections, she encourages listeners to embrace their own journeys and make space for God in their lives.