Girlfriends (A Podcast for Catholic Women)

What is your relationship with Mary like? Do you struggle sometimes to feel close to our mother in heaven? Author Marge Fenelon writes extensively about Mary, from personal experience and from a historical perspective. Her newest book is My Queen, My Mother: A Living Novena. She joins me for a conversation about this book and others this week. Check out all of Marge’s work at her website, MargeFenelon.com (https://margefenelon.com) Snippet from the Show “Whether you’re anxious about your work, or your children, or your marriage–Mary cares about that.” RESOURCES * Praymorenovenas.com (https://www.praymorenovenas.com/) * MargeFenelon.com (https://margefenelon.com) * How to Pray Like Mary (https://ascensionpress.com/collections/collection-book/products/how-to-pray-like-mary) EVENTS * July 30-August 2: Catholic Marketing Network in Lancaster, PA * Saturday, November 16, 2019: You Are Enough Retreat at Holy Family Catholic Church in Orlando, FL * Saturday, January 11, 2020: You’re Worth It Retreat, St. Michael Church, Exeter, NH * Saturday, March 7, 2020: You’re Worth It Retreat at Precious Blood Parish in Jasper, IN * Saturday, March 28, 2020: Women’s Conference in Norwich, CT Check out this episode at ascensionpress.com/girlfriends for more! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Failure feels terrible. Maybe you didn’t get a job you applied for, maybe your idea for a school fundraiser was a total dud, or maybe you just got impatient and yelled at your kids. Again. When we fail, we are sometimes tempted to live in denial or drown our sorrows in unhealthy ways, but this week I want to invite you to spend some time thinking about healthy ways to respond to failure—so we can learn and grow from our experiences. See the full shownotes as ascensionpress.com/girlfriends Snippet from the Show “Sometimes when we fail, the temptation is to feel like you don’t have any control, but in any situation, you can choose how you react.” 1) Acknowledge how you feel. Don’t pretend it didn’t happen or that it doesn’t matter. If you are feeling angry or sad or embarrassed, allow yourself to fully experience that feeling without judgment. 2) Stop any negative coping. Avoid engaging in numbing behaviors like drinking or overeating. A little indulgence might be soothing, but make sure this is not your go-to for bad feelings. 3) Find helpful outlets. Find out what will help you process what you are feeling in a healthy way. Calling a friend or venting to your husband can be helpful. Or maybe go for a long drive or take a walk to be alone for a while. Of course prayer works here too! 4) Accept responsibility. Find out how you might have contributed to the failure. What did you do or not do that caused it? Don’t look to blame others. 5) Learn from it. Failure can help us to better understand the kind of people we are, the kind we want to be, or in what ways we still need to work on ourselves or gain new skills. What can you learn about yourself, about others, or about what your goals are and should be from your experience of failure? 6) Make a plan for the future. Do not stay there in your failure! Make a plan to apply for a new job, make a new friend, learn a new skill, or … whatever you decide comes next! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week’s show was recorded live on Facebook with listeners interacting with me live as I recorded. This was a fun way to do the show and I hope you enjoy listening to it, even after the fact. We talked about the topic of sharing your faith with non-believing family and friends. How can we avoid conflict and share authentically in a way that might inspire others to explore the Faith themselves? Here are some ideas I shared: 1) Show, don’t tell. As much as you can, lead others to the Faith through your example of joyfully living it out, rather than trying to teach them or lecture them about it. 2) Pray! Pray for the grace to know how to share your faith. Pray for the people you hope to convert, and pray for the opportunity to share your faith with others. 3) Remember it’s God’s job. It’s not about you! You can cooperate with God’s grace, but only God can convert people’s hearts. 4) Invite them to something. Invite people to your church, to a parish event, or just into your home. Invite them in to see your life and be a part of it. 5) Ask them questions. Ask others questions about what they believe and why they believe it, and then listen to their answers. You can find out a lot about them while letting them know you care about their perspective. Check out this episode at ascensionpress.com/girlfriends to see my upcoming events! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My daughter got married last weekend, and despite all the planning that goes into weddings, we survived! In fact, I enjoyed it! I am so grateful to God for the gift of this blessed event and all that we enjoyed in the process of planning and hosting. When I shared photos on Facebook and Instagram, many people asked me to do a podcast about wedding planning … so here you go! Snippet from the Show “As you’re planning a wedding, it’s important to lean on Mary ... She is such an understanding, consoling, compassionate mother. In those moments when we’re tempted to stress about things we know we shouldn’t, she’s very helpful in calming our stressed out souls.” SHOWNOTES Here are my un-professional thoughts from a mother-of-the-bride: 1) There are no “have-to’s” So many times, the pressure we feel to do things a “certain way” or to meet other people’s expectations is completely unnecessary. I encourage you to examine what things you feel pressured to do and consider letting go of things that are not meaningful or that you cannot reasonably afford. There are no “have-to’s” about wedding receptions. 2) Focus on the sacrament Of course there are some “have to’s” about a Catholic wedding ceremony, and I encourage you to focus there. On the beautiful gift of grace the couple is receiving in the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Focusing there has a way of keeping all the other stuff in perspective. 3) Talk to Mama Mary Our Lady demonstrated a special kind of loving care about weddings and the stress they can entail through her words and actions at the wedding at Cana. Focus on the role she played in that story and then entrust her with all of your own wedding-related anxieties. Ask Mother Mary to intercede for you with regard to all the details you might be stressing about, but also ask her to help you maintain proper perspective about stuff that does not matter. 4) Invite helpers From the decorations to the favors to the cake to the music, there are lots of ways others can pitch in and help you with planning a fun celebration without breaking the budget or freaking out with the stress of the whole thing. Ask others to help! Many of your friends and family will be honored to play a role in making your day special while taking some of the financial and emotional stress off of you. 5) Feel all the feelings Weddings are emotional events! As you are planning your special day or your child’s special day, or participating in a friend or sibling’s special day, you will have some bittersweet feelings. Don’t hide from them! Don’t deny them! Allow yourself to feel them and share them with others in appropriate ways. Doing so as you plan will help you emotionally prepare for the big event and allow you to enjoy the moment of the special day even more. This week, I also share feedback from listener Teresa who shares some inspiring and encouraging ideas for ways to make good habits stick. Her excellent feedback is like a mini podcast within a podcast and you will not want to miss what she shares! Check out resources, events, and opportunities to connect at ascensionpress.com/girlfriends Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week I am excited to share a recent conversation I had with my friend, author Katie Curtis. Katie is a wife, mom, and author of The Wideness of the Sea, a beautiful novel about a young woman’s life transition in her career and among her family members and romantic interests. I loved reading this book recently and know you will enjoy it too! Katie is working on a second novel, even as she raises her family of six kids (including toddler twins!) and working as a freelance food writer. You can read her food writing at her food blog, The Humble Onion, and more about all her work at her website, KatieCurtis.net. I also share a question from listener Samantha about how to handle small children during Mass. Do you have ideas to share? Let me (and Samantha) know! I would love to include your ideas and input on a future show focused on this perennial topic. Snippet from the Show “Reading is sort of like the Trinity. There’s your consciousness, the writer’s consciousness, and the words that pass through the page.” Check out the resources and shownotes from this episode at ascensionpress.com/girlfriends Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Do you struggle in friendships? So many of us do. But I am a firm believer in the idea that if you want a good friend you should be a good friend. So in that spirit, this week, I am sharing five things that good friends do. Snippet from the Show “It’s a beautiful opportunity we have that God allows us to pray for other people. Good friends approach their relationships in prayer.” SHOWNOTES Good friends pray with and for their friends. Ask your friends how you can pray for them. If you want to grow closer to someone, consider adding their intentions to your daily prayer life. If you are longing for friends, bring that longing to your prayer life as well. Tap into the power of prayer for your growth in friendship! Good friends are courageous. They step out and make the first move. They engage others, even if it means stepping outside their comfort zones. Ask someone over for coffee or for a playdate. Be vulnerable in your conversations with friends you have already—sharing honestly about your struggles and imperfections. Good friends are patient. Especially at the start of a new friendship, good friends are patient with the time investment it takes to grow truly close to another person. Also, inside of established friendships, good friends are patient in the natural ebb and flow that happens in personal relationships. Good friends are themselves. Don’t adopt behaviors or personality traits that are outside your character in order to please someone else or fit in with a group of people you want to please. Be your authentic self as you are meant to be a gift to others, especially your friends. Good friends are thoughtful. It’s tempting to become self-focused sometimes in our relationships with others, but good friends are focused on others and their needs. Look for ways to be of service to your friends, or to those people you want to grow closer to. Even simple things like sending a note of encouragement, or remembering them on a special day can mean a lot. Find out how you can be supportive of others by focusing on small things that give meaning to your friendships. Check out more, including a link to our exclusive facebook group at ascensionpress.com/girlfriends Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week I am chatting with one of my heroes, author Colleen Carroll Campbell about her newest book, The Heart of Perfection: How the Saints Taught Me to Trade My Dream of Perfect for God’s. Colleen shares about life as a wife, mom, and successful author, speaker, and media personality, and the ways in which she was brought to a deeper understanding of God’s love for her through her struggles with perfectionism and coming to know saints who struggled too. Colleen’s previous book is My Sisters the Saints: A Spiritual Memoir, another great read that will inspire you to learn more about saints who can accompany you on your life’s journey. Check out the shownotes as ascensionpress.com/girlfriends Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week I am answering a question from listener Erin who wants to know how to get herself to do the things she wants to do. We all struggle with making good habits. We have values and priorities, but sometimes when it comes to following through, we need what Erin calls a “kick in the pants.” Snippet from the Show “God wants us to set reasonable goals out of self-love, not self-loathing.” SHOWNOTES There are some things that can help us find success in establishing the good habits we want and stopping the bad habits we don’t want. This week I am sharing four ideas: Identify your pitfalls. Think about what might make you fail before your failure happens. What obstacles might get in the way? What temptations might you fall prey to? Make a plan now for how you will handle your pitfalls or avoid them altogether. Make laziness work for you. We are all creatures of efficiency and so we can really increase our chances of success if we make good choices easy to do and bad choices hard to do. Make the things you want to do super convenient, even in small ways, and you will be much more likely to do them. Hold yourself accountable. You might share your goals with a friend, with your spouse, or on social media. Write down your goals and check in with yourself and others to see how you are doing. Accountability can go a long way toward helping us make the good choices we want to make. Set goals that are S.M.A.R.T. Your goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-based. Each of these is a key ingredient to defining new habits you will want to stick with! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This is the show you’ve been waiting for! This week, my husband Dan joins me on the show for an original interview—the first male guest we’ve ever had on Girlfriends. Dan takes readers’ questions from Instagram, discussing pregnant women, complementarity between the sexes, and even foul language. And then Dan tackles the same topic we discussed last week from my point of view—discipline. Dan shares some of his ideas about the importance of setting and enforcing rules as parents, but also talks about establishing a “family culture” that will form your kids and serve them well, even when they leave home. For the full shownotes, including a list of my upocoming events, check out this episode at ascensionpress.com/girlfriends Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

In anticipation of next week’s show, when my husband Dan will be coming on to share about discipline, I thought this week I would share my own perspective on effective discipline. At the beginning of this episode, I mention a new video series on Divine Mercy from Fr. Chris Alar!! If you don't know much about Divine Mercy, or you want to learn more, check out this free video series at ascensionpress.com/pages/divinemercyvideos (https://ascensionpress.com/pages/divinemercyvideos) I also share feedback from listener Megan who listened to the first forty episodes of Girlfriends through all of Lent. Thank you, Megan! :) Snippet from the Show “What a privilege and honor that our children’s first experience of who God is is through their relationship with us [their parents].” Here are four ideas I have to share – let’s see how Dan’s list compares next week when he comes on! Be clear. Set standards for your kids and expect them to meet them. Follow through. If you set a standard and a child fails to meet that standard, there must be consequences. It’s not personal. Kids are young and immature, and they are figuring out the world. They are going to choose wrongly sometimes, and if we react emotionally, it’s not helpful to any of us. It actually is personal. Invest in healthy, loving relationships with your kids, and discipline will become less necessary, and more effective when you use it. For more detailed shownotes, check out this episode at ascensionpress.com/girlfriends Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Do you know that next Sunday we will observe Divine Mercy Sunday? This time of year is a wonderful opportunity to focus on Jesus’ gift of Divine Mercy. I mention Fr. Chris Alan in today’s episode, and I just found out that he has created a video series on Divine Mercy with Ascension! Go to ascensionpress.com/pages/divinemercyvideos (https://ascensionpress.com/pages/divinemercyvideos) to sign up to receive exclusive access to this FREE video series! A great way to celebrate Easter for all fifty days is to plan to practice the Corporal Works of Mercy in your family and in your community. In this week’s show, I share ideas for creative ways to practice each of the works of mercy. Feed the Hungry Give Drink to the Thirsty Clothe the Naked Shelter the Homeless Visit the Sick Visit the Imprisoned Bury the Dead How do you plan to practice mercy in the coming weeks? I would love to hear your ideas! I also share feedback from listeners Christian and Melissa. Melissa shares how much she loves using the Hallow app for meditative prayer. Check it out for yourself! Snippet from the Show “Anybody can do this. In our imperfect ways we can practice this devotion [Divine Mercy] to Jesus.” Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week, I had the opportunity to chat with author Dawn Eden Goldstein about her newest book, Sunday Will Never Be the Same: A Rock & Roll Journalist Opens Her Ears to God. Dawn shares about her conversion from the Jewish faith to Christianity and eventually the Catholic Faith through the telling of the fascinating story of her life. The book is beautifully written and inspiring to readers and seekers from all walks of life. Check out the shownotes for this episode at ascensionpress.com/girlfriends Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Holy cow, you guys! I heard from so many of you after my recent show (5 Ways to Grow in Patience) and you were all about the fasting. I mentioned in that show that I believe fasting is a helpful way to work on becoming more patient, and many of you wanted to know more. To begin, I share voice feedback from listener Andrea who wanted to know some practical tips for making fasting more successful. I share some ideas along those lines at the start of the show: Stay busy Drink plenty of water Start small And then we move on to some ideas I want to share about what I believe are the main spiritual benefits of fasting: Fasting quiets your inner “self.” This is the main thing we are called to do as Christians—deny ourselves and focus on God and others. Fasting teaches us to not seek immediate gratification. You are not going to die because you feel hungry. Through fasting, you gain power over physical desires. We are meant to control our physical passions with the use of our reason, and fasting is a practice in exactly that. If you can master your hunger, you can master your anger, lust, pride, and so on. Fasting helps you grow in gratitude. It’s hard to be grateful for food when we are constantly eating it and never truly experience hunger. We don’t even really enjoy food when we are eating very frequently. Fasting teaches us to appreciate food, but also many other blessings and pleasures in our lives. When you fast, you can “offer it up.” When Jesus went into the desert to pray, he fasted too. Prayer and fasting go hand in hand. You can offer up your fasting for yourself, for your marriage, for a friend, for the Church, or for some special intention. It’s powerful! Through fasting, we gain strength to do hard things. The practice of fasting teaches us to accept suffering that comes our way and be patient in it, because we know it will not last forever. It’s a discipline that teaches us to trust in God for our strength. Fasting empties you and prepares you to receive God. When we empty ourselves out physically, we become prepared to receive God’s grace, strength, love, and presence. Physical hunger is a physical manifestation of a spiritual hunger and longing for God. fasting helps us to see this and practice being receptive to God in our “emptiness.” Are you fasting? Let me know how it’s going! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

We all have times in our lives and in our days where we feel worn out and sluggish, but today we will combat these feelings and boost our energy in simple ways! We talk a lot about things we should spend our time and energy on, things like: hospitality, prayer, exercise, and volunteering. These are all amazing things that we should strive for, but so often our energy is put into the things we have to do, that we have so little left for the things we want to do. We often think of the body/mind connection in terms of what the mind can do. The phrase “mind over matter” implies that we can accomplish anything, so long as we have a will of iron. But the body is important here too. Let’s talk about some of the things we can do to get our body on board with our mind and boost our energy. Some of these things require a bit of will power at the beginning, but once you’ve started, your body will respond as well! I also share feedback about hospitality from listener Elizabeth and some fasting support from listener Dawn who shares this link to a helpful article on the topic. Please, let’s remember to pray for Dawn as she completes the process of entering the Church this Easter! Snippet from the Show There are Catholic forms of meditation, like praying the Rosary and lectio divina. Relaxing your mind and letting go in that way gives you a boost in energy. Your body needs that kind of rest. To see my resources and contact information check out the shownotes for each episode at ascensionpress.com/girlfriends Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Patience is something we can all afford to work on. Not just because patience is a virtue and so we should avoid impatience, but because we can negatively affect relationships with others and our own happiness when we are impatient. This week, we also hear feedback from listener Aubrey who appreciated our recent show about talking to your kids about tough moral topics. Thank you, Aubrey! Is patience a struggle for you? Join the club! Here are five ways I suggest that can help you become more patient. Find out the cause. Figure out what your triggers are and then work on changing your approach to those people and those situations that lead you to impatience. Are you stressed? Are you multitasking? Are you running late? Are you tired? Figure out the cause of your impatience so you can work on addressing the problem at its cause. Try fasting. Fasting is a spiritual practice that can help you to grow in patience. I have been experimenting with spiritual fasting this Lent and have been surprised to find that it truly helps me to be more calm and patient even in frustrating situations. Fasting helps to quiet your focus on yourself and constant seeking of immediate gratification. Pray. Do you ever pray for the virtue of patience? Try praying before your day even starts, asking for help in those situations that you know will try your patience. Also, you can pray for those people who make you impatient. This can help change your focus away from yourself and toward others’ perspectives. Breathe. We’ve talked about the importance of remembering to breathe when we discussed stress on the show before. When you get stressed, you naturally begin to breathe more shallow breaths, which can increase your feelings of stress. Pause to breathe when you start to feel impatient. It’s a great way to hit your inner “pause” button, remember to pray, and assess the situation fairly. Use the word “YET” This is a fun little trick to help you remember to be more positive and less frustrated in your everyday thoughts. When you think of something negative, try adding the word “yet” at the end of your thought: “Jamie hasn’t taken out the garbage … yet.” “I don’t understand this math problem … yet.” Adding yet switches your focus from negative assumptions to positive and optimistic thoughts. Try it! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Let’s talk about having people over! Why does hospitality feel so hard sometimes? The idea of having people over is so nice. Chatting in my clean living room, having beautifully prepared hors d’ourves, not running ahead of someone to make sure the bathroom is presentable ... But that’s not reality. We don’t need to have perfect homes and lives to invite someone in. So just do it! Here are some tips I want to share with regard to hospitality: 1. Stop putting it off. Be honest about the kinds of excuses you might be making and just invite someone over already! I have a challenge for you: invite someone over before the end of Lent this year. 2. It’s not about your house. Reflect on the differences between the idea of “entertaining” versus “hospitality.” If you are worried about your house instead of about welcoming people, you might be focused on the wrong things. 3. Keep it simple. No one says you have to throw a fancy dinner party. Just invite friends over for dessert, or another mom over for coffee. Make sure it’s not overwhelming and you will more likely to do it again. 4. Do not make your family insane. Hospitality is more likely to be a pleasant experience for all of you if you calm yourself down beforehand. You are not allowed to make your family insane while preparing for company. Again, if you do this, maybe you aren’t focused on the right things? (Here is the funny video I mentioned) 5. Prepare for conversations. Spend a little time before your guests arrive thinking about who will be there and what kinds of things you can ask them about. What is going on in their lives? What might you ask them about? A little thought goes a long way toward making people feel comfortable and creating meaningful connections with others. Have feedback or an idea to share? I would love to hear from you! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Today we’re talking about how we can help the global Church through prayer and offerings, and the ministry of The Church in Need, a papal charity that supports the Catholic faithful and other Christians where they are persecuted, oppressed, or in pastoral need. My guest this week is Brooke Taylor, an author, runner, mama, wife, and a friend of mine. Brooke shares about her upcoming half marathon she will be running in the Holy Land, in order to raise funds and awareness for The Church in Need. We’re almost a week into Lent! How is it going for you so far? Let me know in the comments! Check out these previous Lent-themed Girlfriends episodes: Pray Fast Give and Girlfriend’s Guide to Fasting I also share feedback from listener Tereza who asks about how to handle a tricky situation with her mother-in-law. Snippet from the Show “Sometimes you see the news and feel helpless in the face of evil. But there is something you can actually do.” RESOURCES FROM THE SHOW Brooke’s website: http://brooketaylor.us/ Support Brooke’s run: churchinneed.org/jerusalem-marathon/ Church in Need: churchinneed.org The Litany of Trust: sistersoflife.org/litany-of-trust Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Our guest this week is Andrea Zachman, author of The Sacred That Surrounds Us: How Everything in a Catholic Church Points to Heaven, a book that helps reveal our Catholic churches as shrines of devotion, packed with symbolism and deeper meaning. Andrea shares how she came to write this beautiful book, and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at its inspiring content. This book is a great gift idea and perfect for anyone looking to discover more about the Church. You can find it at shop.ascensionpress.com I also share feedback from listeners Amy and Kelly. If you have feedback you want to share on this or any episode of Girlfriends, I would love to hear from you! Links to my contact information can be found in the shownotes of every episode at ascnesionpress.com/girlfriends I would love to hear from you! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Inspired by Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, I’ve been thinking a lot about all the areas in my life that need decluttering. It’s not just my home that is in need of tidying, but also my digital space, and (most importantly) my spiritual space. To that end, I’m issuing a decluttering challenge for these three spaces—Marie Kondo style. Listen in to hear the challenges and change your life! Have feedback or an idea to share? I would love to hear from you! SHOWNOTES Declutter your living space - I’ve been working on decluttering my home, and I want to encourage you to do the same. Remember Marie’s rule: if it doesn’t spark joy, then get rid of it. Challenge #1 Deep clean a space in your home you have been putting off or avoiding. Challenge #2 Deep clean a storage space in your home. Declutter your digital space - Maybe you don’t often think about the ways in which your digital spaces clutter your life, but this week I want to challenge you to think about this. Challenge #1 Track your screen time on your phone. Challenge #2 Clean up the home screen on your phone and/or laptop to make it cleaner and more useful. Declutter your spiritual space - What is weighing you down spiritually? What can you do to let go of the burden? Challenge #1 Go to confession! Challenge #2 Forgive someone, or ask for forgiveness. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week my guest is Leila Miller, author of Made This Way: How to Prepare Kids To Face Today’s Tough Moral Issues. Leila is a wife, mom, grandma, and author who has been combating evil in the culture for decades. She speaks with wisdom and from experience on this important topic. We chat about how to talk to your kids about hard-hitting Catholic issues like abortion, same-sex marriage, pornography, and transgenderism, and the reality of children encountering these topics. Go to ascensionpress.com/girlfriends for the shownotes and links to the resources from the show! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Whether you think Valentine’s Day is romantic fun or an over-commercialized beast, we can use it as an opportunity to spread joy. This holiday seems reserved for couples without kids, but celebrating love is something everyone can partake in. So whether you celebrate on your own, with friends, a significant other, or kids, here are some ideas to spread joy on Valentine’s Day. Send anonymous Valentines Send a secret Valentine to someone who will not be expecting it. Write a note of thanks or encouragement on it and surprise them! Maybe your pastor? The old lady who works at Target? Who will you give this secret gift to? Express gratitude Think of someone in your life that you are grateful to and write them a real note of thanks. Spread the joy by thanking multiple people if you like! Volunteer somewhere Your local crisis pregnancy center or food pantry or nursing home would probably love for you to offer a few hours of your time doing whatever they need done. It could be as simple as making phone calls or making deliveries. Find out what they need and do it for them. For extra joy, bring your kids along! Give anonymous service Will you shovel your neighbor’s walkway? Do an extra chore around the house? Clean the classroom for your child’s teacher? Make this Valentine’s Day a joyful one by giving someone a gift of unexpected service. Love yourself Especially if you are tempted to throw a pity party for yourself because it’s not the Valentine’s Day of your dreams, look for a way to enjoy something and love yourself a little bit. Take some time to sip a cup of tea and read a book, enjoy a special treat, watch a show you love, get your nails done, or buy yourself flowers. Whatever will make you feel loved, take the time to take care of yourself and you will be ready to spread joy to others. Have feedback or an idea to share? I would love to hear from you! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

It’s that time of year when the thrill of setting our New Year health goals starts to wear off and we are in danger of giving up on exercise. Let’s talk about how to deal with the temptation to throw in the towel, why you might be giving up on exercise, and how to make adjustments to reach your goals! 1) Your workouts are too hard. Did you take on a big goal, expecting big results, only to find yourself struggling? Consider adjusting your workouts to the fitness level you are at right now and working from there. 2) Your workout schedule does not fit into our life. Is working out in the morning harder than you thought it would be? Do you struggle to find the time after dinner? Be realistic about what your lifestyle is like right now and where you can fit your fitness in. 3) You don’t like your workouts. Are you bored, or do you just plain hate spin class? Mix it up! Try something new. Be honest about what your preferences are and then work with them. Meet with friends to make it fun or join a class or team for something new. 4) Your workouts hurt. Is there a potential injury you should see a doctor about? Is running too hard on your knees? Do not “push through the pain,” but find a way to adjust your exercise routine to allow yourself to heal, not hurt. 5) Your workouts are not balanced. You should not be doing the same thing every single day of the week. Try to vary what you do by activity and by intensity. Your schedule should absolutely include rest days and “easy” days as well as more challenging ones. 6) You are not seeing results. You may not be seeing the results you want (like on the scale), but maybe you need to adjust your thinking a bit. The scale is just one measure of your progress, and if you are putting on muscle while losing fat, it will not show much progress at all. Consider how you feel, your strength and energy levels, as well as how your clothing fits for a more accurate measure of your results. Have feedback or an idea to share? I would love to hear from you! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week I am sharing a recent conversation I had with etiquette expert Jacquelyn Youst who talks about how her Catholic faith intersects with her work teaching children and business people about the basics of manners. I know you will find her inspiring! We touch base on cell phone etiquette, receiving compliments, gratitude, thank you notes, small talk, and other soft skills. Check out more of her work at her website: JacquelynYoust.com Also this week, I share the exciting news that I am beginning work to record an audio version of my newest book, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth. More to come! I also share some feedback from listeners Kim and Kelly about how to handle after-school snacking and decluttering at home. Have feedback or an idea to share? I would love to hear from you! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Humility gets a bad rap. Too many of us associate being humble with weakness, insecurity, and unlikability. But that is not the case! Humility is a virtue that goes hand in hand with trust–which is what we have been talking about on the podcast recently. To see the full shownotes, listen to the episode at ascensionpress.com/girlfriends Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

FOMO stands for “fear of missing out”. It refers to the times we feel left out or like we’re not measuring up to others. This happens a lot when we compare ourselves to the carefully crafted versions of people on social media. FOMO happens when we pay too much attention to other people’s lives. This attention can make us insecure or jealous, and it almost always distracts from where we should be focusing—on our own vocation and calling. Snippet from the Show "If I make a conscious efforts to “like” other people’s posts and leaving genuine comments of praise for the good things God is doing in their life, I come away feeling uplifted, positive, and encouraged." For the full shownotes, including my tips to avoid FOMO, check out ascensionpress.com/girlfriends and click on today's show. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

These 3 goals can actually be achieved by those striving for balance in 2019. It’s that time of year when everyone is thinking about and making New Year resolutions. Are you a resolution-maker? How good are you at keeping your new year commitments? This week, I want to encourage you to set small goals (you do not have to call them resolutions) in 3 different areas of your life. Rather than focusing on large and lofty goals, I think it’s helpful to consider small changes that are doable in different areas of your life. For the full shownotes, including a list of resources I mention in the episode, go to ascensionpress.com/girlfriends (https://media.ascensionpress.com/category/ascension-podcasts/girlfriends/) and click on this episode. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Danielle Bean wishes all the Girlfriends listeners a Happy New Years! Tune back in on January 8th for the first full length Girlfriends episode of 2019. For video content and articles that unpack the beauty of the Christmas season, visit www.media.ascensionpress.com. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Danielle Bean wishes all the Girlfriends listeners a Merry Christmas! Tune back in on January 8th for the first full length Girlfriends episode of 2019. For video content and articles that unpack the beauty of the Christmas season, visit www.media.ascensionpress.com. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Is it even possible to find peace at Christmas when everything and everyone seems maxed out with preparations and celebrations? Well, Christmas is the celebration of Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace, so I think it definitely should be part of your Christmas plans to find some peace in the holiday season. To see the shownotes and my tips for finding peace this Christmas, check out the show on ascensionpress.com/girlfriends Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Staying healthy through the holidays is hard, but not impossible! It’s the crazy holiday season, so all of our health and fitness goals should go out the window, right? Um, no. I am not here to snatch the Christmas cookies from your hands, but I am here to say we can do some basic things to care for our health, even during the crazy Christmas season. Your body will thank you for it! Check out the full shownotes at ascensionpress.com/girlfriends Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week I’m sharing ideas for ways to have your best Advent ever and not drive your family crazy in the process. Know that it won’t be perfect. Add something spiritual to your daily routine. Add something fun to your daily routine. Plan a gift for Jesus. Let go of control. For more detailed shownotes and announcements, go to media.ascensionpress.com/category/girlfriends and don't forget to check out my book at bit.ly/2PnZevb. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Holiday preparations, with all the “extra” that they require of us as wives, mothers, and homemakers, threaten to send us over the edge from Christmas stress. We want to make everything merry and bright, but sometimes the pressure of outside expectations and (let’s be honest) our own inner expectations can turn us into the Grinch. Check out my tips for how to fend off holiday stress over at media.ascensionpress.com/category/girlfriends and don't forget to check out my book at bit.ly/2PnZevb Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

The holidays, with all their gatherings and expectations are rife with conflict. It’s time to talk about setting boundaries with family. Are you dreading the holidays because of the conflicts you know you will face with extended family members, or because of the unpleasant challenges you know you will hear from your own family or your husband’s family? Check out my tips for how to set boundaries over at media.ascensionpress.com/category/girlfriends/ and don't forget to check out my book at bit.ly/2PnZevb Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

How clean is your closet? How confident are you in your fashion choices and personal style? It’s OK to admit that these things are challenging. Catholic stylist Meghan Ashley is here to help! This week, I share the details of my own Closet Cleanse Challenge and Meghan Ashley walks us through some of the small details of fashion dilemmas and why we are tempted to hold onto that dress that no longer fits. Give yourself the gift of a streamlined closet and take on the challenge today! My newest book, You Are Enough, is available for order! Check out this episode on media.ascensionpress.com/category/girlfriends/ for an exclusive deal! As a regular segment beginning this week, and for the next several shows, I am sharing a bit of the content from my new book, You Are Enough. This week, we consider the story of Moses’ sister Miriam and the Pharaoh’s daughter, and what we can learn from them about the strength and value of cooperation and friendship among women. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week we are talking about how to raise compassionate kids who care about the thoughts and feelings of others. Isn’t that ultimately our goal? To raise good human beings? These ways I’m sharing are not a guarantee for a good outcome; they are just ways I have observed to help you raise kids who love and care for others. The ways I share are: 1) Give them structure. 2) Regulate their relationships with others. 3) Be aware of the example you set. 4) Extend compassion outside of your family. As a regular segment beginning this week, and for the next several shows, I am sharing a bit of the content from my new book, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth. This week, we consider the story of Judith and the ways in which she uses her womanly gifts and her God-given strength to accomplish what seems impossible. Finally, I share some feedback from new listener Jennifer who appreciated my long-ago episode on the subject of Natural Family Planning (NFP) and wanted to share her own experience. Please join me in praying for Jennifer this week. Go to media.ascensionpress.com/category/girlfriends/ (https://media.ascensionpress.com/category/girlfriends/) for an exclusive deal on my new book, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week we are talking about Halloween and all the ways we can (as well as how we should) observe Halloween and All Saints Day. I share some of my own struggles with this issue as well as some practical ideas for ways to celebrate this season. For detailed show notes, including a discount code for my new book go to media.ascensionpress.com/category/girlfriends (https://media.ascensionpress.com/category/girlfriends/) Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week we are talking to and about the sleep-deprived—which probably means you. Whether you are lacking sleep because of insomnia, illness, small children, worries, work, or all of the above, this week’s show offers ideas for ways to get the rest your body needs to be physically, mentally, and emotionally your best every day. A few of the tips I share: Be disciplined about bedtime. Give yourself a “caffeine curfew.” Exercise regularly. Consider supplements. Have a bedtime routine. Limit technology before bed. Take a nap if you need to! Go to media.ascensionpress.com/category/girlfriends/ (https://media.ascensionpress.com/category/girlfriends/) for an exclusive deal on my new book, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week I am sharing a recent conversation with Allison Gingras, a friend and colleague who is a blogger, podcaster, author, speaker, and retreat leader. For contact information, resources, and offers on my new book, go to media.ascensionpress.com/category/ascension-podcasts/girlfriends (https://media.ascensionpress.com/category/ascension-podcasts/girlfriends/) Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

First of all, my newest book, You Are Enough, is available for pre-order (https://shop.ascensionpress.com/products/you-are-enough-what-women-of-the-bible-teach-you-about-your-mission-and-worth)! Use the code, GIRLFRIENDS to get 10% off! I share the introduction to the book, as well as some special, limited-time offers for free stuff and discounts, so check it all out at the start of this week’s show! This week I am sharing a conversation with Sonja Corbitt, an amazing lady who calls herself the Bible Study Evangelista. You can check out all of her work at her website, BibleStudyEvangelista.com. You are going to learn so much from Sonja and her studies, but you need to also subscribe to her podcast, Bible study Evangelista Show, and follow her on Instagram so you don’t miss a thing! At the end of this week’s show, I share some feedback from listener Julie about our recent show on the topic of spiritual leadership and husbands. Please say a prayer for Julie and her husband and family this week! "Love is something everybody can remember and nobody loves the Word like Mary loves the Word. The Word is her son. She taught that love to him. We can do that to our children." Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Are you all in for Jesus? Or is there something you are keeping from God? It has been my experience that we like to think we’re doing God’s will, but when it comes down to it, we struggle to turn over our lives to God and accept his will over our own. I share some of my recent struggles with this, along with some thoughts about various areas of life where you might be tempted to hold something back from God and keep control for yourself. Your time Are your own plans so precious that you resent interruptions, even if they come from God and his plan for your life? Your money Do you trust God to provide for you and your family, even in tough times? Even if you are not in financial distress, do you recognize that all you own comes from God? Your fertility It can be scary to open ourselves up to God’s plan for our families. Do you struggle with a desire to control when, how, and how many children you have, in ways that exclude God from the conversation? For more on this, check out Girlfriends Episode 62, Real Talk About NFP (https://girlfriends.fireside.fm/63). Your children Sometimes we tend to think of our children as our own little projects that reflect upon us, for better or worse. But we must remember that they belong to God first, and he has a plan for their lives that may not match our own. What are you keeping from God? Is there anything not on this list? Sound off in the comments or contact me using one of the links below! I am so excited to share my newest book with you, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth. Click here to sign up to be notified when the book becomes available for pre-order! (https://shop.ascensionpress.com/collections/featured/products/you-are-enough-what-women-of-the-bible-teach-you-about-your-mission-and-worth) When you pre-order through Ascension, you can get a free copy of the companion journal for You Are Enough! I cannot wait to share this book with you! "This is a mother’s dilemma, constantly feeling interrupted … C.S. Lewis says, “What one calls the interruptions, is precisely one’s life. The life God is sending one day by day.” Ouch. I need that reminder as much as anybody. I got frustrated on Saturday with my time. That’s a clear indication that I’m not trusting God with my day." Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Do you want a better marriage? I know I do! Today I encourage you to think about some ways in which you might be falling into bad habits or negative spirals in your relationship with your spouse, along with four ideas for improvement. Making bad assumptions. Do you assume the worst about your spouse’s intentions, especially inside of conflict? Many of us do this out of insecurity or defensiveness, but it’s not fair and hurts your relationship. Having unspoken expectations. Do you have problems, expectations, wants and desires that you fail to communicate to your spouse? And then do you wind up feeling disappointed when he fails to meet your unspoken expectations? We need to be clear in our communication, especially about expectations in marriage. Apathy Have you gotten lazy in your relationship? What small efforts and kindnesses have you let slide in recent years? Think about it and demand better from yourself. Your marriage is worth the investment! Negative Communication Habits Step outside your relationship for a moment and observe patterns of behavior, especially between you and your spouse during moments of conflict. What habits have you fallen into? What dumb arguments do you have over and over again? Find out the role you play in these habits and make a change. "It’s not your spouse’s job to make you happy. It’s their job to get you to heaven." Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

I offer six different ways every wife can support her husbands to be the spiritual leaders in the home and community: Think about what you want. Consider what you want from your husband and then ask yourself, “Is it fair and reasonable to ask this of him?” Recognize what he is already doing. There are many different ways of being a “spiritual leader.” Recognize and appreciate the things he is already doing right. *Don’t boss him. *This is ugly. Don’t boss or try to bully him into being the person you wish he would be. Give him room to be a husband and father, by focusing on the ways in which you are called to be a wife and mother. Figure out what is getting in the way. Is he tired? Are the kids misbehaving? Does he have no time? Find out what the obstacles are so that you can help with them. Find out what his goals are. Ask him about his spiritual goals for himself and for your family. Think of ways to help him meet those goals and offer your support. Do your own stuff. You have spiritual goals and you are called to be a spiritual leader as a wife and mom. Focus on what you can do, and then just do it! "Sometimes we women want to make spiritual leadership what WE want it to be. That’s actually dumb because what our husbands bring to the table is a completely different perspective, different skill set, different temperament, different preferences, different strengths, different focuses. That’s a beautiful gift to you and your family." Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Listener Tarcy reaches out this week with a question about how to stop yelling at her kids. She recognizes that it’s a bad habit, but struggles to stop. Do you yell at your kids sometimes? Or maybe your husband? Or co-workers? Let’s talk about why this happens and some ideas for ways to stop. Follow through. We need to teach our kids that we mean what we say the first time we say it, and this requires upfront discipline on our part. So hard! And yet so worthwhile in the long term! Listen to yourself. Pay attention to the ways you communicate to others, especially when angry or frustrated, and decide if that is what you want for your personal relationships. Remember that your kids will copy what you do. Do you want them to be “yellers”? Pay attention to the example you are setting. Whisper, or use a very calm and quiet voice to get your kids’ attention. It works surprisingly well! Check in with yourself and ways you might be tempted to compare yourself to others. Often, our frustrations with our families are borne of unfair comparisons to others. When you mess up, say you’re sorry. It is valuable for our kids to see ways in which we fall short of our ideals and how we work to fix it when that happens. Forgive yourself, and give them the opportunity to forgive you too! I also address a listener’s question about how to talk to friends and family who are leaving the Church because of the recent scandals. "When my kids were very little, I remember my oldest daughter running away from me when I was calling her to come do something, and I felt and heard that pounding blood pressure in my ears. I was having a physical response to the level of frustration I was feeling..." Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

The Church is in trouble, and we feel powerless in the face of this evil, but we are not powerless. I have been spending some time thinking and praying about what we can DO, actually DO to help save our Church and I am sharing them here today: Pray for, encourage, and support our good priests. (8:00) Renew your family prayer life, especially with the Rosary and devotions to Mary, and talk to your family about the needs of the Church. Prayer is not a passive approach, it is healing and empowering. (16:07) Take action. You can do good things in your parish community. If you see anything in your own parish, it is your job to ask questions. (23:44) Tell me how you are coping and what you are doing to take positive action to do good things in our wounded Church. I would love to share more ideas in the coming weeks. Here is a link to the Fr. Mike episode I mentioned: Fr. Mike Schmitz Addresses the Pennsylvania Sex Abuse Scandal (https://media.ascensionpress.com/video/the-pennsylvania-sex-abuse-scandal/) I also share some feedback from listener Julie who asks about discerning whether or not to homeschool her kids. "The atmosphere of secrecy is what has allowed this to go on and become the global problem it is today. I don’t know how to fix it all, but we can, as lay people in our church communities, demand that this not go on anymore … You are part of your church community, and if there are things there that make you uncomfortable, then you have a right to challenge them." Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe