In this episode of Moms Take Ten, Lyssa is joined by Kayla Moffitt of @makingthemoffits for an honest and deeply encouraging conversation about foster care, adoption, and the realities of parenting children from hard places. Kayla shares her family's unexpected journey from planning for two foster children to welcoming five siblings into their home—and how God expanded their capacity along the way.

Together, they talk about the tension of "uncomfortable, not unsafe," navigating relationships with biological families, and the importance of naming our discomfort so it doesn't quietly shape our parenting. Kayla also speaks candidly about the challenges of trauma-informed parenting, the impact it has on a family, and the necessity of finding support and community.

Whether you're in the foster/adoptive space or simply walking through a hard season of motherhood, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone—and that inviting others in may be one of the most powerful steps you can take.

Lyssa is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/

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In this episode of Moms Take Ten, Lyssa is joined by fellow Connected Families certified parent coach Merrie Beth Eubanks for an honest and hope-filled conversation about parenting children with special needs. Drawing from her own family's journey, Merrie Beth shares how traditional parenting approaches often fall short—and how shifting expectations, embracing accommodations, and slowing down can open the door to deeper connection and growth.

Together, they explore the Connected Families Framework, offering practical encouragement for reframing meltdowns, breaking down skills into manageable steps, and approaching both coaching and correction with grace. You'll be reminded that while this path can be stretching and humbling, it is also rich with purpose—shaping not only our children, but our hearts, our families, and our dependence on God.

Whether you're navigating a diagnosis, supporting a neurodiverse child, or simply longing for fresh perspective in your parenting, this conversation will help you breathe, reset, and remember: you're not alone, and God is at work in every step.

Merrie Beth Eubanks is a wife and mother of four children ages 21 to 8, and lives just outside of Chattanooga, TN. Her journey as both a parent and educator has deeply shaped her passion for supporting families and helping children thrive. She is a certified Connected Families Parent Coach, and loves walking alongside parents as they build strong, connected relationships with
their children.

She holds a master's degree in education and serves as the Director of Curriculum, Individualized Learning, and Family Support for a new school opening this year. This school is designed to provide individualized instruction for students who need extra support, meeting them where they are academically, socially, and emotionally.

Merrie Beth is passionate about helping families feel encouraged, equipped, and not alone in their parenting journey, and she is grateful to be part of conversations that bring hope and practical tools to everyday life.

Lyssa is a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/

Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thank you for your time!

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In this episode of Moms Take Ten, Lyssa is joined by her friend Erin for another conversation in the Moms in the Bible series, focusing on Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Together, they reflect on Elizabeth's quiet but powerful faith—her trust in God's timing, her joyful acceptance of her calling, and the way she wholeheartedly encouraged Mary without comparison or jealousy.

Through honest conversation and a few laughs, Lyssa and Erin explore what it looks like to find joy in the role God has given you—even when it looks different than you expected—and how Elizabeth's story reminds us of the importance of community, empathy, and supporting one another in motherhood. This episode is an encouragement to embrace your own story with gratitude, look for God's goodness in every season, and be the kind of friend who speaks life and truth into others.

Elizabeth's story can be found in Luke 1. Listen to the other episodes on Elizabeth: Elizabeth's Testimony and Elizabeth part 2.

Erin Muehlfeld is a wife and mom of three, a deep thinker and an avid board gamer. She serves at her local church, helping women find connection as they pursue Christ together.

Lyssa is a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/

Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thank you for your time!

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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.

Do you ever wake up already overwhelmed by the day ahead? In this episode, Lyssa shares how a simple shift—starting her mornings with "This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it"—began to change her mindset and her parenting.

By anchoring herself in Psalm 118, she discovered that rejoicing isn't about feelings—it's a daily choice rooted in God's truth and faithful love.

If you're in a hard season, this episode will encourage you to reset your heart, speak truth over your day, and remember: you don't walk through it alone.

Lyssa is a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/

Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thank you for your time!

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Watching doors close on our dreams can break our hearts and cause us to question God's good plan for us. Years later, after watching doors close in her own life, my guest Audrey Frost sees how God used that to guide her to new doors and new dreams, including caring for children through Safe Families for Children. She has experienced the wonder of love for children not her own and the sustaining power of God through the hard of showing them that love.

Audrey Frost is a wife and mom of two daughters, ages 19 and 16, who loves God, baking and opening her home to children through Safe Families. https://safe-families.org/

I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/

Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!

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Did you know that sometimes behaviors we see as wrong, or out of control, or mean, are actually anxiety in disguise? This is something that we are learning in my house and it has changed the way I think about those behaviors and my responses. Julia Crickenberger joins me today to talk about what anxiety is, what is can look like, and ways we can respond. She offers a grace-filled way of caring for our children, and for ourselves, when anxiety shows up.

Julia is a Christian Counselor trained through the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation (CCEF) and parent coach trained through Connected Families. She specialises in helping adults with anxiety and OCD, and helping parents with sensitive and intense kids. She counsels and coaches people from all over via telahealth through https://cedarcovecare.org. She also meets with people locally in Myrtle Beach, SC through https://www.theoakscounselinggroup.com."

I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/

Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!

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Email me at momstaketen@gmail.com

Mary had the incredible privilege of birthing and raising the Son of God. And she also had the incredible pain that came with that, watching her son suffer and even die. As mamas, we all want to protect our children and shield them from suffering, but what if in doing so, we are shielding them from blessings and purposes that the Lord has for them? Stephanie Geisler joins me today to discuss how Mary's example has challenged her in this area of mothering. She shares how our desire for our children to follow God means allowing them to suffer for his sake and holding onto trust that God will use it for his good purpose.

Stephanie Geisler serves as the women's director at Harvest Bible Chapel. She has a degree in psychology and worship leadership, with a master's in counseling. Prior to coming to Harvest, She has served in several different areas, including student ministry, worship ministry, and private practice counseling before God led her to women's ministry. Her heart is for the local church and women worshipping God in spirit and truth. For fun, she enjoys traveling, singing, and being with friends. She is married to Larry Geisler, not related to Norm, and welcomed her baby Ryan in August.

I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/

Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!

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Email me at momstaketen@gmail.com

Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.

We talk a lot on Moms Take Ten about identifying our toxic beliefs, as Connected Families calls them, and replacing them with grace-filled truths. But that takes work, doesn't it? How can we bring those truths into our every day moments more and more so they become deeply rooted in us? One suggestion that Connected Families gives is to share those truths with our children. That sounds good, but I've found it isn't the easiest thing for me to do. Listen in as I share three hang-ups I have identified for while that is challenging and some biblical perspective on how we can overcome those hang-ups.

Scripture Referenced:

• 2 Corinthians 10:5
• Psalms 66:16
• Deuteronomy 6:6-7
• 1 Thessalonians 2:8

For simple conversations starters for spiritual conversations with kids, check out this instagram post.

I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/

Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!

Want to say hello?

Follow me on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko
Email me at momstaketen@gmail.com