Welcome to Week 9 of our Summer of Stories series! This Summer we have been featuring stories of incredible moms that have endured significant challenges. Through these stories, we pray you will remember that God is faithful and always with you through life’s most challenging moments.  In this week’s story, you will hear from the hilarious and wise Karen Stubbs. How many people can say they married a Top Gun fighter pilot? Well, Karen married that guy we saw in the movies. However, she very quickly realized that the cute uniform wasn't that cute when he was away most days of the month. Karen’s story is one of raising her young four kids without support. So many of you know this road - whether you are a single mom, have a husband that travels or works often or even if you live from friends and community. Karen shares the very honest truth of what God did when she felt completely alone and isolated in motherhood. Make sure you get to the end when Karen shares about parenting very different personalities. She explains why it’s so important that we really know how our kids operate and the benefits of parenting them with strengths in mind.  I am praying Karen’s story reaches so many moms that feel in over their heads and you find reassurance that God is with you every step of the way. Karen is now a grandmother and runs a global ministry for moms. She has mounds of wisdom and truth that you will enjoy! In this episode, we discuss: How to parent alone from single parenting to a traveling husbandHow to practically survive in a world with little support and communityWhen you realize your husband cannot meet your needsHow to parent kids with unique personalitiesWhen your child questions their faith Love, Courtney 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:53 Challenges of Military Life 08:01 Relying on God to Meet Needs 11:03 Impact on Children and Marriage 14:25 Understanding and Parenting According to Temperaments 20:13 Navigating the Challenges of Raising Kids in the Church 24:16 Finding Hope in Difficult Circumstances 31:49 Practical Parenting Advice from 'The Survival Guide to Motherhood' Connect with Pardon The Mess: Christian Parenting Pardon The Mess  Courtney DeFeo Get your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of Faith Resources from today’s show: Birds On A Wire Moms Wire Talk Podcast Survival Guide to Motherhood by Karen Stubbs Pinc Ministries with Ashley Hicks Temperament & Personality Quiz Parenting Together NLT Student Thinline Reference Bible Hope for your Homeschool Pardon the Mess is part of The Christian Parenting Podcast Network. As a donor funded ministry, we rely on generous supporters like you to keep this show going. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider giving a gift today. Join the Christian Parenting Legacy Builders community Our Sponsors: * Check out FamilyAlbum: family-album.com Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy