M Is for Mama Podcast

In our last show before we take a break for summer 2025, we chat about the final book in the M Is for Mama trilogy: You Bet Your Stretch Marks. 

I reveal where the title came from, why it’s countercultural to the common narrative about “worth it” in motherhood and flesh out what it means to have a “tiger-striped soul.”

Be sure to pre-order You Bet Your Stretch Marks (link below) for all the stories, Scripture, and lessons learned. But in the meantime, enjoy this preview + pep talk all rolled into...

Welcome to our monthly installment of me answering your burning questions on long-form here on the podcast. 

Today’s episode tackles topics I get asked about every single week (like prepping for adding a new baby to your clan and how to talk to your children about sex) and one I’ve NEVER received (“should I attend a divorce party?”).

As always, the goal is the ground every answer in God’s Word (and common sense: NO divorce parties). 

Enjoy! 

Want to Sub...

We are in a whirlwind season of finishing school, taking trips, meeting deadlines, and transitioning to different vehicles. 

It’s good stuff, but it can feel like a lot all at once. So today, we’re doing a good ol’ brain dump of all things life lately in the Halberstadt household to get you up to speed. 

Enjoy!

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Mother's Day Eclairs (We Substitute Normal Flour For the...

In this episode, my friend and fellow mom + author, Laura Wifler, and I dig into a plethora of motherhood topics from a biblical perspective—listening to the Lord for direction in our callings, grief in unmet expectations, struggles which are hard but not bad, and even those which are hard and bad.

Through it all, a central theme emerges: We are not victims of our circumstances, and Christ did not rise from the dead for us to wallow in our troubles—real and heavy though they are. 

Or, to put i...

We’re back with the fan-favorite monthly install of Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday in which listeners submit questions, and I answer in longer form than my usual WWKW slides on Instagram allow.

Today’s show centers around 2 themes that emerged from the questions submitted: outward appearance and earning an income from home. 

As always, I strive to approach every topic from a “what does the Bible say” approach, and neither of this week’s topics is an exception. 

God’s Word has plenty to say about both...

In this episode, we dive right back into the deep waters of “Christians and Fertility” with a continued goal of bringing this topic under the magnifying glass of Scripture and historical Christianity. 

We both truly believe that when the goal is to say, “What does God’s Word say about this,” we will receive wisdom and conviction that is timely and effective. 

As we tackle topics like surrogacy and “family planning,” we hope this conversation sparks thoughtful consideration and an ultimate desire to pursue God’s will above all else in this and e...

In this episode, Pastor Wit and I tackle one of my most requested topics: How to approach issues like childbearing, birth control, infertility, IVF, and so much more from a biblical perspective. 

Our goal is to equip, encourage, and exhort fellow believers to think about each of these topics from a place of prioritizing God’s Word, rather than cultural influences or man’s wisdom. 

We pray this episode is a useful tool to every Christian who finds him/herself grappling with how to approach fertility with integrity and righte...

We’re diving back with part 2 of our 100 Things for Moms episode in honor of 100 WHOLE episodes of M Is for Mama (can’t believe it!).

In this one, we tackle top 10 snacks, dinners, habits I find helpful, and much more, 

My goal with these episodes is to show you how many ways there are to do motherhood well, not to tell you, you should only do it like I do. I hope you’ll be encouraged to look for ways that work well for you and your family.

As I contemplated the milestone of filming 100 episodes for a podcast that, 10 years ago, I couldn’t have even fathomed making even one episode for, I knew I wanted to pack as much value for moms as I could into one show. 

To that end, you will find my favorite Bible verses, top 10 family meals, things I would let go, hills I’ll die on, and so much more. 

Consider this your handy-dandy reference episode for the top 100 things I prioritize in our home daily.

Enjo...

In this episode, Jenn Witmer (Wit’s wife!), and I tunnel deep into the rabbit hole of feminism, the “tradwife” movement, and what it truly means to be given the responsibility of being the keeper of our homes. 

Along the way, we examine what God’s Word has to say about our roles at home as Christian women and why this standard must be our guide, regardless of how loud the voices of our world become. 

We also tackle the myth of a one-size-fits-all approach to domestic responsibility—priorities principles o...

One of the biggest FAQs I receive weekly is how to tackle tough sexuality topics with our kids–one of the chief of which is pornography. 

Parents feel ill-equipped to handle this in an age-appropriate way. And yet, the world is more than eager to fill in the gaps and give our children images and words that aren’t appropriate for any age. 

In this episode, we tackle practical ways to equip parents with the tools they need to confidently address issues like what to do when being shown explic...

If you’ve ever found yourself discouraged in motherhood and wondering where to look for help, today’s guest, Whitney Newby from Brighter Day Press, has written a Scripture-drenched devotional geared toward helping you answer that exact question. 

In this episode, we chat all things motherhood, including the fallacy of “doing it all” (nobody does) and how to change our mindset when we’re being bombarded by negativity from the world. 

Be encouraged that there is hope and purpose in those moments of feeling stuck and not knowing where to turn. 

One of my biggest FAQs is, “How do you survive and thrive when you have only littles?” Followed closely by, “How do you find balance and meet the needs of so many different ages when you’re mothering multiple stages?”  And finally, “How do you adjust to being needed less and losing some of your primary role in your kids’ lives as they age?”

Clearly, moms are hungry for solid principles on which to build their motherhood skills at every stage and age. 

While this episode is hardly an exhaustive study of how to engage with...

Shaun and I are not huge Valentine’s folks, although neither are we the type who grumble about “manufactured holidays” and “forced love.” We typically view the holiday as a reason to get special treats for our kids and sneak in a yummy meal together. 

This year, though, Shaun thought it would be fun to make it a weekend away. 

And it was! But also, parts of it weren’t. 

And there were plenty of opportunities to both learn from our mistakes and some rather unfortunate circumstances out of our control and also to remember ane...

Welcome back to our monthly segment of Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday—Podcast Style, where you ask me questions, and I tackle as many as I can in an episode. 

In this episode, we address what personality I identify with most, how to overcome feelings of failure and hopelessness, what it means to be a lukewarm Christian, and so much more! 

I hope you'll be edified, encouraged, and, yes, at least a little but entertained by these Q&As! 

Enjoy! 

If You...

Have you ever found yourself crippled with fear or indecision when faced with a major life change or the prospect of an unknown outcome? 

If so, join the club!

The truth of the Christian life is we’re called to more than curling up in a ball of dread or allowing ourselves to get worked up in a tizzy of anxiety.

On the contrary, the Bible makes it very clear that, though we don’t know the outcome of our futures, we do know the Outcome Determiner. 

And that is better.

...

No matter on what side of the line you fall when it comes to issues like vaccines, birth protocols, hormonal contraceptives, and common pharmaceuticals, I hope we can all agree that knowing what the meds say about themselves is important to being able to make an informed decisions. 

This premise is the very foundation on which Alexandra has built her platform, Just The Inserts. 

Through her social media, free resources, and book, she urges consumers to read the inserts that accompany any pharmaceutical available to us and even teaches he...

We’re back with this month’s edition of WWKW where I answer all your burning questions from how I maintain daily energy to thoughts on natural family planning to—super niche!—a clear breakdown of the rules for “the kitchen” in pickleball. 

Hope you enjoy this little smorgasbord of topics!

If You Would Like to Send Feedback:

abbie@misformama.net

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“New year, new you” has a catchy ring. But what if it’s not your reality?

In this episode, I share some hard news from our family, as well as encourage you to find your strength in the Lord if 2025 already doesn’t feel like “your year,” or you feel like you’re still dragging the weight of sad circumstances from 2024 with you.

Take heart, friends. The Lord is neither surprised by nor apathetic about your struggles. And His strength truly is made perfect in our weakness.

If You Would Like to Send F...

Join me as I wrap up 2024 with answers to your burning questions like… “What was your favorite food as a kid?”

Okay, yes. That was one of the lighter questions I got asked, but I also dive into how to address sibling squabbling and what my favorite things about having only littles were, among other things. 

I hope you enjoy this last WWKW, podcast style, for the year. Can’t wait to share more with you in the new year!

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On this episode, my pastor, whom I call Wit, tackles one of the biggest FAQs I’ve received over the last two years—the issue of whether modern Christian women should physically cover their heads, especially while in corporate worship. 

As always, he looks to Scripture as his guide and does a great job of addressing this sometimes contentious issue with clarity and compassion. 

We also talk about a biblical argument for the confidence that babies who die in the womb or very small children who die before they are able to comprehend the gospel are gr...

Back by popular demand, my pastor, Rick Witmer (whom I call Wit), is on the podcast today to tackle some of your most pressing questions.

We start with one that’s relevant for this time of year: “Is it biblical to celebrate Christmas?”

And then, we move on to a biblical examination of why Christians worship on Sundays (instead of Saturdays) and what role Sabbath plays in the modern-day believer’s life. 

As you can see from the long list of Scripture references below, Wit infuses all of his answers with ample support from God’...

If we’re honest, we all have something to be grateful for: breath in our bodies, sun on our faces, a warm bowl of soup in our bellies, the sound of our children laughing in the other room… 

And then there are the even more obvious reasons to be thankful: job promotions, new babies, wishes fulfilled.

But what about the things we don’t feel thankful for? Could there be any room for gratitude there? Any purpose or meaning behind the struggles we didn’t hope for?

Join me as I chat with Kirk Cameron about how we as parents can have a godly influence on our kids, even with the clamor of worldly voices in their ears.

We chat about current culture, Kirk’s goal in leaving mainstream Hollywood content creation, and his new show, Adventures of Iggy and Mr. Kirk—a resource for young children to counteract anti-biblical messaging from secular society.

Be encouraged that you are not alone in the fight to disciple your children well in a way that honors God!

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In a world which champions ungodly parenting philosophies, mocks the traditional family unit, and glorifies self over sacrifice, it can feel daunting to swim against the current of culture.

But I have seen (and heard from) so many mamas who are doing just that and making a difference for good in their communities and the world at large.

This episode is “an attagirl” and an encouragement to buck the status quo and value God’s wisdom above man’s. 

I am honored to stand with the Mama Bears who fear God not man and are i...

Back by popular demand, we’re doing a podcast version of my Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday Q&A.

Just a few of the topics include parenting only littles vs. parenting a variety of areas, a typical “week in the life” around here, how I got published, my favorite literary character, and so much more!

Hope you enjoy this casual chat format. Be sure to submit questions via email to abbie@misformama.net if you’d like to be considered for the next WWKW episode.

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This week, we continue with our chat with my pastor, Rick Witmer (or “Wit”), as he lays out a biblical case for reformed theology. 

We also get into some real-world examples that answer the question, “If God is truly sovereign, then why choose to take action at all?”

Come unpack the “mystery box” of God’s sovereign will in conjunction with man’s responsibility to make choices in today’s thought-provoking episode!

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If you’ve ever heard of the doctrine of election or the five points of Calvinism, you may feel like you have more questions than answers about what those and many other tenets of Reformed theology mean. 

Since it’s Reformation Month—when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of a Catholic church—I thought it would be the perfect time to chat all things Reformed with my pastor, Rick Witmer, whom I call “Wit.”

In this episode, he’s giving us background and answering some of your most pressing questions that you always submit o...

It’s easy to see someone doing well in an area (or multiple areas) and assume they’re killing it in every other arena as well. 

The truth is, while we strive for the balance of doing all things excellently to the glory of God, we often found our capacities particularly limited during certain seasons and generally limited all the time (bc no one is good at everything). 

Whether we are unusually busy (where I find myself right now), postpartum, solo-parenting, or something else altogether, we find ourselves needing to focus on the main things while...

On this episode, we’re trying something a little different by doing a podcast version of the Q&A I do every week on my social media. 

I tackle serious questions (like how to turn a bad day around when you’ve lost your cool) as well as lighthearted ones (could either of our sets of twins fools us by switching places??).

I’d love to hear your thoughts and whether you’d like to see this as a regular installment of the podcast.

Enjoy!

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September 24th is a momentous calendar date in our home as four of our share a birthday on it. 

Yep! Both our sets of twins are born on the same day, eight years apart. 

Of course, something that could only be a “God thing” is such a good reminder His ways are higher than mine—from the way He orchestrated their birthdays to the fact that He gave me twins at all, even though I was convinced they sounded hard and no fun. 

Be encouraged, friends that God’s sovereignty is a very good thing...

In a world which trumpets the anti-biblical message of “you do you” and walking in “your truth,” it can be easy for Bible-believing Christians to swing to the opposite extreme of assuming anything we’re passionate about comes from love of self or can’t be trusted. 

But the Bible makes it very clear that God directs our paths and has very specific purposes for our lives. 

And when we walk in them confidently, we honor Him. 

Even so, it can be easy to question the path He has for us when we encounter naysa...

Ever wondered how you’ll make it through your day of work or homeschooling after a night of fractured sleep?

Ever felt completely stuck in a hard situation, without a clear path to a solution? 

Ever wished someone wise would just write you a step-by-step solution to a sticky situation so you can love forward?

The truth is, we rarely receive enlightenment or next steps in the way we hope we will. Instead, the Lord asks us to simply keep taking steps forward, doing the next needful thing. 

A truth God is t...

We’re back for part 2 of our chat with Blake Guichet about Christians and Politics. 

We chat about whether open borders and socialism are truly biblical, what it means that God is the one who raises up and brings down kings, and what this means for our political decisions as Bible-believing Christians. 

Wherever you fall on the political spectrum, we pray this episode will cause you to pray more, search your Bible diligently for truth, and trust yourself to the sovereign Lord of the universe whose purposes are always good, right, and true.

<...

Ever wondered whether Christians should vote and, if so, for whom? What about socialism vs. capitalism? Which is more biblical? And how will you handle it if you share something unpopular, and you receive backlash? 

We tackle all of these topics and more in this two part series on “Christians and Politics.”

Make no mistake: This is two conservative women grappling with all of these issues from a biblical perspective. We are not neutral. And we believe your theology (bc everybody has one) should dictate the policies you support. 

Ultimately, God is sovereign. But He...

Ever heard the term prolapse? Or struggled to sneeze without peeing on yourself?

Then, this episode is for you! 

Join us as we chat about why kegels can be a really bad idea, Google is the wrong place to go for prolapse advice, and even medical professionals don’t often have real solutions to our struggles. 

But take heart because God made our bodies capable of healing, and it starts with your willingness to learn about  + engage with this not-so-fun but oh-so-important topic!

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Buckle up, friends, because a lot has happened since last May, and I’m chatting about it all during today’s episode.

From family travel to trips abroad to really happy news, followed by sadness, it’s been a roller coaster ride of a summer. 

And yet, through it all, God is faithful and good to show Himself loving every step of the way.

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Hey, friends!  We’re back with new guests (Jep and Jessica Robertson of Duck Dynasty), new sponsors, and new encouragement. 

In this episode, the Robertsons share about how the Lord led them to adopt their son and the lessons God has taught them through the process. 

They also share about Dear Valor, the children’s book they wrote in order to share those lessons with others and chat about their backgrounds in coming to Christ + growing in their relationships with Him. Guest Info:

Jep and Jessica Robertson's Book

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to unplug from all “smart” devices and return to the simplicity of a landline and a knock on the screen door? 

Erin Loechner brings her passion for educating families on ways to avoid common technological pitfalls, as well as her love of slow living to the show today for a fascinating conversation with someone truly willing to practice what she preaches.

Plus, I love the fact that she brings all of her stories and data back to God’s Word and His Truth.

G...

Join me as I chat with Brent and Katie Kruithof from Yeah, Baby Goods about a perspective shift that allowed them to view their home as the hub of their business endeavors and their spiritual pursuits. 

We talk about entrepreneurship, stewardship, and what it looks like to include our kids in meaningful ways within our home. 

You’ll be encouraged by their passion for hard work, family togetherness, and keeping the Lord as the center of it all.

Guest Info: Brent and Katie Kruithof

Site: https://www.yeahbabygoods.com/ Sponsor Info: