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Jun 11 • 57:35
Navigating Pregnancy Loss with Jackie Gibson
Episode:

Navigating Pregnancy Loss with Jackie Gibson

June 11, 2024 • 57:35 • Greta Eskridge

Todays episode is tender and contains topics that can be challenging if you have walked through, or are walking through, pregnancy loss. But this episode also has the potential to bring a lot of hope and healing wherever you are on your journey. You will feel less alone if you have walked through miscarriage or still birth. And if you havent, youll come away feeling better equipped to come alongside someone who has. It is my prayer that through the conversation in this episode, God will meet you where you are with His kindness and care. 

 

Today I talk with my new friend, Jackie Gibson, an Australian living in Philadelphia with her husband and children. Jackie is also the author of the book, You Are Still a Mother: Hope For Women Grieving a Stillbirth or Miscarriage.   

 

I read Jackies book in one sitting. Even though I experienced a miscarriage 14 years ago, her book deeply ministered to my heart. I felt so seen and comforted and so equipped to help my fellow mamas who experience this kind of grief. I cant recommend this book enough, whether you have walked through pregnancy loss yourself, know someone who has, or just want to have resources to refer to when loss comes. 

 

Jackie shares her own story of losing her daughter at 39 weeks to still birth. And then we discuss the hardship of suffering, and the way Jesus comes alongside us in suffering. We also cover a lot of other topics, like how we can share about loss after it happens, the strange feeling of shame that can happen after pregnancy loss, how we can help moms who are experiencing loss, PTSD and trauma after pregnancy loss and so much more.  

My tears were near the surface through this whole episode because I have such a tenderness for every other mama who has lost a baby. I hope youll listen to this episode knowing that if you are hurting you are not alone, and in my heart I am giving you the biggest hug. 

 

Here are some quotes that really stood out to me in this episode: 

*This is a club no one wants to be a part of.   

*Miscarriage can be such a very lonely grief.  

*We need to invite people into our grief and ask them to walk through it with us and pray for us. But for some reason we have this fear in doing that and part of that is this shame that we have done something wrong or that our bodies have failed us.  

*Id been a Christian for many years, but in those moments, I felt like I met Him (Jesus) again for the first time.  

*God can give us gifts even in suffering.  

*Even though your arms are empty, your heart still carries your baby wherever you go.  

*To write names down or to say them, when these mothers rarely get to hear their babies named or acknowledged, means so much to a grieving mom, whether it is fresh grief, or its been years.  

*Our babies have dignity and value no matter their size because they were made by God.  

*From the very start, their lives matter and they are worthy of both grief and honor. GE 

*It is never too late to remember your baby and to mark that little ones preciousness. JG 

*This is a story about Him and how He is always good, even in the darkness. JG 

*The moon is still round even when we cant see it, and God is still good, even when we dont feel like He is. JG 

*Are we going to keep believing in the darkness what we have seen in the light? Lilias Trotter 

 

More about Jackie: 

Jackies husband wrote a book about loss for kids as a result of talking to their son through the loss of his baby sister. It is called, The Moon is Always Round.  

Jackie isnt on social media, but please share her book and this episode with friends who need the comforting and helpful message she brings. 

 

If you havent already, please take a minute to subscribe to this podcast. Id also be so very grateful if you leave a 5-star rating and write a quick review.  

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster. 

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.  

I love you guys! 

Greta 

 

Podcast:

The Greta Eskridge Podcast

With Greta Eskridge
We're living in a time filled with distraction and disconnection from the things that matter most. Things like faith, family, friendship, and childhood innocence feel harder and harder to hold onto. But I believe a joyful, connected life is possible with Jesus's help because he offers us life to the full! It's time to open our eyes to the wonder God has put all around us, so join me each week on The Greta Eskridge Podcast as some of my favorite friends and I explore ways to create connection in our families and chase joy through both the peaks and valleys of parenting and life.
All Episodes:
Jan 7 • 47:16
French Feast with Madame Lee

Hello friends and happy new year! This is the first episode of 2025 and it is a wonderful one. Before we get to it though, I want to be sure to remind you to pre-order my upcoming book, It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn: A Parent's Guide to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity. You can place your pre-order here . When you pre-order, you wont pay until the book is sent to you,, youll get the lowest price on the book, and best of all, youll be helping get this book and its vitally important message out into the world! Pre-orders really can do that. The book will release on March 4th, so please get those preorders in today!| 

Now about todays episode. 

I loved talking with my friend, Sue Lee, or Madame Lee, as her French students call her. Sue is a real life friend of mine, a home schooling mom to 3 and a home school French teacher to students all over the US. She is wise and funny, smart and cultured, motivational and kind. Shes just great! 

Sue shares her story of learning 4 languages, and ultimately landing on French as her absolute favorite. She also shares why she believes it is so important for everyone to learn a new language and how doing so opens up worlds of culture, art, food and culture. You will come away from this episode inspired to learn French alongside your kids with Sues new course, French Feast with Madame Lee. I know youll love this episode! Find all the info about Sue and her courses below. 

 

Where to find Madame Lee: 

On her website here 

On Instagram here 

 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Find French Feast here 

Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry here 

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Dec 31 • 33:19
Q & A with Greta! with Greta Eskridge

Hello friends and Happy New Year! Or happy New Years Eve, depending on when you listen to this. Whenever it is, I am so glad you are here. Thank you for being a part of my community in 2024 and I pray you continue in 2025. 

For this last episode of the year I decided to do a Q & A. It was a lot of fun! And I promise that if I didnt get to your question this time, I will in the future since I am going to be adding these to my podcast line up every month or so. Thank you for sending in such great questions. You make my job easy! 

And this is your last reminder of 2024 to you to grab your copy of my upcoming book, It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn: a Parents Guide to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity. If you pre-order now youll get it as soon as it releases, wont get charged until the book ships, and your orders get the book out into more book stores and retailers. It truly helps more people see this book and get the message they need so much! Pre order info below! 

I am already looking forward to all that 2025 holds and I cant wait to share it with you. 

God bless you! 

 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Pre-order your copy of Its Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn here 

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Dec 24 • 15:34
A Christmas Tale from 1914 with Greta Eskridge

Merry Christmas all! Whether you are up late wrapping presents, up early making breakfast, or on a long drive to visit family and friends, I am glad to spend a little bit of Christmas with you. 

In this episode I am so excited to share one of our familys favorite Christmas stories with you. It is a true story from WWI, and happened on Christmas eve and Christmas day in 1914. There are numerous places where you can read about the real life event. There are even pictures, taken by soldiers who were there experiencing it. 

This is a heartwarming tale and I hope it fills your heart with hope. And that it will remind you that even in the darkest times, the light still shines!  

God bless you all. 

 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Get your copy of Shooting at the Stars here 

Read more about the Christmas truce of 1914 here 

See pictures and watch a video about the Christmas truce of 1914 here 

See James and Lillys original coloring sheets here 

Dec 17 • 52:35
Making Christmas Meaningful with Lyndsey Mimnagh

In this episode I got to talk with the wonderful Lyndsey Mimnagh of Treehouse Schoolhouse. Lyndsey and I talk for a bit about home schooling and then we get to the heart of the episode, celebrating Christmas with our families in meaningful and intentional ways. This episode is full of inspiration and ideas, but also there is a lot of grace for the mom who might feel overwhelmed by Christmas when shes in a tough season. Lindsey offers fun and creative ideas, but shes also great at providing simple and practical ways for any family to have fun at Christmas. 

There are so many ideas for Christmas this year and next. I came away inspired and I bet you will too. 

 

Where to find Lyndsey: 

Find Lyndsey on her website here 

Find Lyndsey on Instagram here 

Find Lyndsey on You tube here 

 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Get 15% off all products from the Treehouse Schoolhouse shop here  

*Use the code GRETAESKRIDGE15 

Find Gretas cinnamon roll recipe here 

Find The Legend of the Candy Cane book here 

Find An Orange for Frankie book here 

Find The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey here 

Find the Favorite Things party details here 

Find the If Youre Sad at Christmas post here 

 

Some of my favorite quotes from this episode: 

We need to see something pretty that helps us strive toward something and at the same time we need to know how to do it. I want to be a place that provides both. Lyndsey Mimnagh 

We can see who God has designed our children to be when they play. Lyndsey Mimnagh 

School doesnt have to be in a classroom. School doesnt even need to be in a home. School can be outside! Lyndsey Mimnagh 

If you missed the start date of advent, you can start on whatever day of December youre on! This is the freedom we need as we celebrate Christmas. Greta Eskridge 

Wherever you are at this moment in December, its OK to say, I am going to put some of these ideas into practice this week. Its not too late! Greta Eskridge  

If you are in a season where it feels heavy and hard, and you have circumstances that dont lend themselves to doing all the Christmas things, that is OK. But also, if you are in a season where you can, or you are a person who finds doing all the crafts and Christmas activities life giving, that is OK too. We can be in both places at different times. Greta Eskridge 

What kids want and need is a calm and peaceful mom. Lyndsey Mimnagh 

Even if I want to be the Pinterest Christmas mom, if that comes at the expense of my peace, then it is not worth it for me. Lyndsey Mimnagh 

You have the freedom to do as much or as little as you can mange this Christmas because the focus of Christmas is Jesus and that is what we want to bring our kids back to over and over again. Greta Eskridge 

 

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org 

 

 

Dec 10 • 1:0:09
Tending to Your Heart with Alyssa Bethke

Dont forget to pre-order my new book, Its Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn: A Parents Guide to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity. This is the book you need to give you all the tips and tools for keeping your kids safe from the danger and damage pornography can cause. And most importantly, this book will help you feel confident and comfortable having some of the most challenging conversations with your kids. Pre-order it today, right here

What a perfect time to talk to my friend Alyssa Bethke about her new book, When Doing it All is Undoing You: Meeting God in Your Unmet Expectations. The Christmas season feels so full of to-do lists and activities and many, many expectations that are impossible for us to meet and that leaves us feeling like were letting down others and often feel let down ourselves. Alyssa shares her own journey of coming to a place of being undone and what it looked like to draw near to Jesus and His care for her when she began to tend her heart. 

We also talk about the importance of travel, having novelty and wonder in our lives, and peeing in the woods! So take a deep breath and settle in to be encouraged by this episode. I know youll come away from this episode feeling refreshed. 

 

Where to find Alyssa: 

Find her and her husband Jeffs website here 

Find Alyssa on Instagram here 

Find Alyssas book here 

 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Matt 11:28-30 Come to me,all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 

Ann Voskcamps gratitude journal here 

 

Some of my favorite quotes from this episode: 

When I go for my walks, I try to notice one thing that is different or new. It helps me be less distracted and more present, to put away my phone and to ask myself what do I see and what do I feel? Alyssa Bethke 

Being an observant person, a curious person, a person who finds joy in your every day are powerful and important things to make a part of our everyday life. Greta Eskridge 

I felt like it was my responsibility to make sure everyone around me was OK. Alyssa Bethke 

I think you need a season of caring for your heart. Alyssa Bethke 

The goal of life is not to be free of pain but to be more and more intimate with the Lord, and letting Him see us through the pain rather than keep us from the pain. Alyssa Bethke 

Its OK to come undone and come to the end of ourselves because that is where God does His best work in our lives. Alyssa Bethke 

I wanted to live in my ideal life not my reality, but when we are honest with God He will meet us in our reality. Alyssa Bethke 

God always meets us with such grace and kindness. Its His kindness that leads us to repentance. Alyssa Bethke 

We have to ask ourselves, who or what are we doing all this for? What is my legacy? What do I want to leave behind? Greta Eskridge 

Every day I go for a 30 minute walk, without my phone, and Im going to talk to God. And I ask myself, where have I felt Gods presence and where have I not felt Gods presence? This was such a time for me to tend to my heart and commune with Jesus. Alyssa Bethke 

The world is telling you all these things you need to be and do and that is going to leave you disappointed. But instead, by tending your heart and going to Jesus youre going to find the antidote to that anxiety and stress and disappointment. Greta Eskridge 

There is always wonder to behold so go on a wonder hunt! Alyssa Bethke 

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

About the Host

Greta Eskridge

Greta Eskridge is a second-generation homeschooler, an author, a speaker, and a podcast host. Greta’s faith in God is the lens through which she sees the world.

Greta loves encouraging parents to pursue joyful, connected parenting. And she is passionate about helping families create connection in a disconnected world through things like purposeful adventures, online safety, and keeping their eyes wide open to wonder. Greta firmly believes that “joy is the serious business of heaven” and is on mission to chase joy through both the peaks and valleys of parenting and life.

Greta lives in sunny southern California with her artist husband, Aaron, and their four kids--1 young adult and 3 teens. Greta loves nature, books and coffee and her favorite place to be is on a hiking trail. 

More from Greta →

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