Old Ladies Know Stuff with Rhonda Stoppe & Friends

Holiday Family Drama- 10 Ways to Enjoy the Holidays without Regrets
You know the holidays are upon us. You want to do better than last year when you gather with your extended family. But let's be honest, there's also an angst over how difficult this time can be--especially if your family are not Christians. 
While you cannot do anything about how others interact around the family table, you can take steps to prepare your own heart to reflect Christ's love and show your kids what it looks like to cover offenses with the love of Jesus. 
Is it easy? Probably not. But God doesn't call us to "easy" He calls us to be salt and light. 
I'm praying for you, friend. May this holiday season be filled with true peace from our Prince of Peace.
Sequence of Topics Covered
Introduction to the Episode
Approaching the holiday season and its challenges
Purpose: Helping listeners enjoy holidays without regrets
Reference to an article with "10 steps to enjoy the holidays without regrets"
The Mixed Emotions of Holidays
Family gatherings and birthday celebrations
Acknowledgement of common post-holiday regrets
Holidays as a source of both joy and stress, or reminders of loss
10 Steps to Enjoy the Holidays Without Regrets
1. Remembering God’s Faithfulness
Biblical story of Joshua and the Israelites crossing the Jordan 01:30
Importance of reminders and memorials for God’s actions
Passing stories of faithfulness on to children and others 02:24
Reflection on national and spiritual heritage during holidays
2. Expecting Imperfection
Anecdote about a sweet potato cooking mishap 03:35
Story of a septic tank failure during a family gathering 03:58
Finding humor and bonding in unexpected problems
Recognizing that not all crises are personal; response matters
Children learn resilience from adult behavior during crises 05:11
3. Dealing with Unforgiveness
Family conflict surfacing at gatherings
The power and responsibility to address personal resentment or unforgiveness
Spiritual importance of letting go of past hurts 06:14
4. Setting Boundaries
Importance of clear boundaries for family harmony
Addressing issues like alcohol consumption at gatherings 07:02
Relying on personal conviction rather than family pressure
5. Preparing Meals and Shopping Ahead
Value of early preparation to reduce stress 07:48
Practical kitchen tips like prepping potatoes in advance 08:08
Encouraging guests to bring dishes
Emphasizing love and peace over perfection in hosting
6. Letting Peace Begin With You
Scriptural encouragement to live peaceably 08:33
Modeling peace for future generations
7. Thinking the Best About Others
Encouragement to view family through a lens of love 08:58
Asking for divine help to offer grace
8. Not Assigning Wrong Motives
Choosing to believe the best about others’ actions 09:29
Resisting negative assumptions in family interactions
9. Fighting for Joy
The importance of intentional joy, even amid grief 09:43
Dealing with the absence of loved ones during the holidays 10:01
The value of sharing memories and allowing emotions
Joy as a source of strength and hope
10. Expressing Gratitude
Practical suggestions for expressing thanks at family gatherings 10:42
Reading scriptures or personal testimonies of gratitude
Focusing on the spiritual and historical meaning of the holidays
Final Encouragements
Keeping the focus on gratitude and faith throughout the season 11:18
Trust in God’s providence and control 11:53
Encouragement to apply these principles for a regret-free holiday 12:20
Closing
Well wishes for the holidays 12:31
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"This podcast is for the purpose of mentoring only and is not a replacement for therapy. We suggest you seek out the help of a trained biblical counselor for help with your specific situation.”

What do a stranger's hand, a science notebook, and a purple butterfly with yellow wings have in common? They're all part of how God wove together this week's story.
Rhonda sits down with her friend Sherri Crandall, Vice President of Global Ministries and Leadership Experience for The Mom Co (formerly MOPS). The two met at MomCon when a silent hand-holding exercise left them both feeling seen. Now Sherri shares the story behind her new children's book, Lexi the Butterfly. It began at a campsite in the Rockies while her boys napped, as she waited through 18 months of paperwork to adopt her daughter from China.
Watch this interview on YouTube at Rhonda Stoppe No Regrets Woman Channel
In this episode, you'll hear:
How a hawk, a sparrow, and a meadow of white butterflies inspired a "belonging story" that helps children (and grown-ups) understand adoption, loss, and being chosen
Why the "damaged wing" in the story is a gentle way to talk with kids whose parents can't care for them, including grandchildren, foster kids, nieces and nephews, and stepchildren
Sherri's challenge to every mom with a dream on the back burner: make an appointment with yourself. Pour the coffee or tea, sit down, and say yes to it. You are a writer, speaker, or leader if you want to be
Rhonda's tips for aspiring authors, plus Sherri's honest look at the hybrid publishing route and hearing "no" before the right "yes"
Why we need real friends and mentor moms, and why Rhonda says she doesn't want a mentor who's perfect, she wants one who recovered when she blew it
A reminder that God doesn't make mistakes: He chose you to be the mom to the kids He gave you
Whether you're a young mom in the thick of it, an empty nester wondering what's next, or someone who longs to bless a family touched by adoption, this conversation will encourage, inspire, and maybe even challenge you.
Get the book: lexithebutterfly.com (signed copies available) or Amazon
Learn more about The Mom Co and MomCon: themom.com/momcon
Loved this episode? Share it with a friend, and consider gifting a copy of Lexi the Butterfly to a family in your church touched by adoption.
New from Rhonda: Moms of the Bible: Life-Changing Lessons from the Fearless, Flawed, and Faithful (Harvest House) is available now wherever books are sold. Discover timeless lessons from moms of all types and walks in the Bible, and learn more at RhondaStoppe.com.
Thank you for joining us. Please SUBSCRIBE & SHARE
Sign up for Rhonda's Monthly Newsletter @ NoRegretsWoman.com
CONNECT with Rhonda @RhondaStoppe
Facebook Page: Rhonda Stoppe No Regrets Woman
NoRegretsWoman.com

"This podcast is for the purpose of mentoring only and is not a replacement for therapy. We suggest you seek out the help of a trained biblical counselor for help with your specific situation.”

Guest Cast: PostPartum Empowerment with host: Samantha Newman and Guest: Rhonda Stoppe. Before she was known as "The No Regrets Woman," Rhonda Stoppe was a young mom living in a one-room mountain cabin with no electricity, raising two small children on a generator — and unexpectedly pregnant with her third. In this candid conversation, Rhonda takes us back to 1990: a surprise pregnancy, a sofa-bed bedroom, a husband racing to finish a nursery that wasn't ready in time, and a postpartum fog so heavy she hid in a bunk bed to cry where her toddler couldn't see her.
Rhonda opens up about the isolation of struggling silently in Christian community, the doctor who offered no real help, and the moment her husband walked in and said, "I don't know who you are." She shares how she leaned on older, honest women for mentorship, wrestled with mom guilt, and slowly found her way back — while also carrying real regret over what those hard years cost her oldest daughter.
This is a story about the gap between the dream you're chasing and the reality you're living in, and how God can redeem even the seasons we wish we could take back. Come back next week for part two, where Rhonda shares how she found her way through.
Listen to the original Episode with Samantha Newman: PostPartum Empowerment Episode 105
This episode discusses postpartum anxiety and emotional overwhelm. If you're struggling, please know you don't have to walk through it alone — reach out to a trusted doctor, counselor, or someone in your life who can help.
Thank you for joining us. Please SUBSCRIBE & SHARE
Sign up for Rhonda's Monthly Newsletter @ NoRegretsWoman.com
CONNECT with Rhonda @RhondaStoppe
Facebook Page: Rhonda Stoppe No Regrets Woman
NoRegretsWoman.com

"This podcast is for the purpose of mentoring only and is not a replacement for therapy. We suggest you seek out the help of a trained biblical counselor for help with your specific situation.”

Grandparent estrangement has jumped from 1 in 10 to 1 in 6 families — and Rhonda believes it doesn't have to be that way. In this episode, she sits down with author and family coach Lori Wildenberg (Grandparents Make Grand Partners) to talk honestly about the messy, tender work of staying connected across generations: navigating in-law relationships, setting boundaries without burning bridges, handling passive-aggressive family dynamics, and grieving well in front of your grandkids. Whether you're a new mom figuring out your in-laws or a grandparent longing for closeness with your grandchildren, this conversation offers real, faith-filled tools for building the kind of family glue that holds through the hard seasons.
Episode Highlights
Lori Wildenberg emphasizes that her guidance comes from real-life struggles and growth, not perfection, and discusses learning through hard family experiences 02:35.
Navigating in-law relationships requires grace, honest conversations, and a willingness to recognize shifting family roles 04:54.
Rhonda Stoppe and Lori Wildenberg talk about the increasing estrangement between grandparents and adult children, with Lori Wildenberg noting the statistic is now 1 in 6 families 09:08.
Addressing manipulation and passive-aggressive behaviors as the top causes of estrangement, they share the importance of being direct and striving for healthy communication 27:02.
Rhonda Stoppe shares personal stories of setting boundaries with her mother and modeling family honor, stressing the importance of letting adult children address issues with their own parents 21:08.
They explore the spiritual influence of grandparents, highlighting biblical examples like Timothy’s grandmother and Naomi’s legacy with Ruth 17:07.
The importance of processing grief openly as a family is discussed, with Lori Wildenberg sharing how their family honored her mother-in-law’s passing together 34:37.
Practical tips for honest family conversations include proactively apologizing for missteps and prefacing invitations or requests to prevent misunderstandings 41:05.

Resources Mentioned
Books by Lori Wildenberg:
Grandparents Make Grand Partners: How to Have an Eternal Impact on Your Grandchild's Life
Messy Hope: Help Your Child Overcome Anxiety, Depression, or Suicidal Ideation
Messy Journey: How Grace and Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home
Other People Mentioned:
Timothy’s mother and grandmother (Biblical figures)
Naomi and Ruth (Biblical figures)
Larry Fowler (referenced via Legacy Coalition/Grand Monday Nights)
Events & Tools:
Raising Disciples Conference, October 10th, Pompano Beach, Florida (Register at: raisingdisciplesconference.com)
Lori Wildenberg’s website with free resources and book links
Moms Together Facebook community

Next Step
Check out Lori Wildenberg’s books or join the upcoming Raising Disciples Conference to deepen your family connections and faith legacy.
Thank you for joining us. Please SUBSCRIBE & SHARE
Sign up for Rhonda's Monthly Newsletter @ NoRegretsWoman.com
CONNECT with Rhonda @RhondaStoppe
Facebook Page: Rhonda Stoppe No Regrets Woman
NoRegretsWoman.com

"This podcast is for the purpose of mentoring only and is not a replacement for therapy. We suggest you seek out the help of a trained biblical counselor for help with your specific situation.”

One year ago today, the Christian world said goodbye to one of its most beloved voices.
Dr. James Dobson went home to be with Jesus — and left behind a legacy so vast, so deep, and so far-reaching that it is impossible to measure this side of eternity.
I am one of the countless women whose life and ministry was shaped by his work.
I remember reading Dare to Discipline as a young mom — exhausted, uncertain, and desperate for someone to hand me a biblical framework for raising my kids. Dr. Dobson's books did exactly that. They met me where I was, they pointed me to the Word, and they gave me the confidence to parent with purpose and without apology. I would not be the mom, the author, or the speaker I am today without the foundation his ministry laid in my life.
And I know I am not alone.
That is why today — on this one year anniversary of his blessed home-going — I wanted to share something very special with you.
This is a replay of my interview with Dr. James Dobson on Family Talk — one of the greatest honors of my speaking and writing ministry. In this conversation, Dr. Dobson interviewed me about my bestselling book Moms Raising Sons to Be Men: Guiding Them Toward Their Purpose and Passion — and what unfolded was one of the most honest, heartfelt, and hope-filled conversations I have ever had on any platform.
I share the story of my son Brandon — the severe seizure that left me crying out to God at the foot of my bed, ready to walk away from my faith. I share what God whispered to my broken heart in that desperate moment. And I was blessed to tell Dr. Dobson how his book, When God Doesn't Make Sense was what God used to get me through that difficult season. 
This episode is for the mom of a son who is wondering —
Am I doing this right?
Is God paying attention?
Will my son become the man I'm praying for?
The answer — as Dr. Dobson so beautifully understood and devoted his entire life to declaring — is yes. God is for your family. He is for your son. And He will use every ordinary, imperfect, faith-filled moment of your motherhood to accomplish something far beyond what you can see right now.
This conversation is proof of that.
And it is also a reminder of something I believe with everything in me —
books matter.
The right book in the hands of a struggling mom at the right moment can change the entire trajectory of a family. 
Dr. Dobson knew that. He built his ministry on that conviction. And I pray that Moms Raising Sons to Be Men — and every book I write — carries forward even a fraction of the impact that his words have had on this generation.
Dr. Dobson — we honor you today. We miss your voice. And we are grateful beyond words for the legacy you have left us to carry forward.
Well done, good and faithful servant.
Come listen, friend. And share this episode with every mom you know. 💛
📚 Book Featured: Moms Raising Sons to Be Men: Guiding Them Toward Their Purpose and Passion — Rhonda Stoppe
🎙️ Original Broadcast: Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk
🔗 Listen to Part 1 of the original broadcast: drjamesdobson.org
📩 Connect with Rhonda: NoRegretsWoman.com | @RhondaStoppe
🎧 Old Ladies Know Stuff Podcast — available wherever you listen to podcasts
Share this episode today in honor of Dr. Dobson's legacy — and in honor of every mom who is faithfully, imperfectly, courageously raising the next generation of men.
Thank you for joining us. Please SUBSCRIBE & SHARE
Sign up for Rhonda's Monthly Newsletter @ NoRegretsWoman.com
CONNECT with Rhonda @RhondaStoppe
Facebook Page: Rhonda Stoppe No Regrets Woman
NoRegretsWoman.com

"This podcast is for the purpose of mentoring only and is not a replacement for therapy. We suggest you seek out the help of a trained biblical counselor for help with your specific situation.”