Elevating Motherhood

When was the last time you received a handwritten letter?
Not a text. Not an email. Not a quick DM.
An actual letter. Written by hand. Just for you.
There is something almost rebellious about that kind of connection now — slow, intentional, non-intrusive… and requiring just enough effort to mean something.

Today on Elevating Motherhood, I’m joined by Amy Daughters — keynote speaker, sports journalist, satirist, and the award-winning author of Dear Dana: That Time I Went Crazy and Wrote All 580 of My Facebook Friends a Handwritten Letter and You Cannot Mess This Up: A True Story That Never Happened.
Amy once wrote 580 handwritten letters to her Facebook friends. Yes — 580. And what she discovered in the process will make you rethink the power of pen and paper.
In this conversation, we talk about the lost art of letter writing, what happens inside us when we take the time to write byhand, and why meaningful, sacrificial connection between two human beings is more powerful than we realize.
If you’ve ever felt disconnected in a hyper-connected world…
If you’ve ever wanted to reach out but didn’t know how…
Or if you’ve forgotten just how impactful a simple letter can be ...this episode will stay with you.
 
Amy’s Bio: Amy Weinland Daughters is a keynote speaker, letter writer, satirist, sports journalist, and the award-winning author of two books: Dear Dana: That time I went crazy and wrote all 580 of my Facebook friends a handwritten letter and You Cannot Mess This Up: A true story that never happened. She is absolutely convinced that when human beings connect individually in a meaningful way that nothing can separatethem.
 
 
Elevating Motherhood Links:

Website:www.elevatingmotherhood.com
Instagram:@loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood
Please Visit Our Sponsors: www.elevatingmotherhood.com/sponsors
 
 
Amy’s Links:

Website: www.amydaughters.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyweinlanddaughtersauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smokinhotamys/

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-w-daughters-16352a227/

Bestselling author Jennifer Dukes Lee joins me to talk about her new book How to Love Your Morning and how to create a faith-filled morning routine that actually works for real-life moms. If you long to wake up with hope, purpose, and rhythms rooted in God’s mercies, this conversation will change the way you start your day.

Have you ever noticed how your entire day can beshaped before your feet even hit the floor?

Mornings can feel rushed, chaotic, and chore heavy— especially in a full season of motherhood. But what if the first moments of your day could actually become your anchor instead of your stress point?

Today on Elevating Motherhood, I’m joined for a second time by bestselling author, speaker, and self-proclaimed “morning evangelist,” Jennifer Dukes Lee. Jennifer is the author ofseveral incredible books, including Growing Slow and It's AllUnder Control. Jennifer lives on a fifth-generation family farm in Iowa where she and her husband are raising crops, pigs, two beautiful humans, and an enduring faith.

We’re talking about her brand-new book, How to Love Your Morning— and I’ll just tell you right now, it has completelychanged the way I start my day. It is officially my favorite read of 2026 so far.
In this conversation, we explore how to build a life you love one morning at a time — how to wake up with hope instead ofheaviness, how to discover your unique “morning archetype,” and how to create simple, personalized rhythms that actually fit your real life. This book is not a one size fits all type of book. Jennifer studied every single morning mentioned in Scripture — over 200 mentions—and what she found might surpriseyou.
If you’ve ever longed to believe that God’s mercies really are new every morning — but you’re not quite sure how to live that out — this episode is for you.
 
Jennifer’s Bio: Jennifer Dukes Lee is a bestselling author, speaker, and morning evangelist from Iowa. She is the author of several books, including How to Love Your Morning, Growing Slow, and It’s All Under Control. She’s a fan of queso, bright lipstick, and singing too loudly to songs with great harmony. She lives on a fifth-generation family farm, where she and her husband have made a life of growing crops, pigs, two beautiful humans, and an enduring faith.
 
Buy Jennifer’s Book Here: https://amzn.to/4cRjyCJ

Elevating Motherhood Links:
Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com
Instagram: @loribethauldridge@elevatingmotherhood
Please Visit Our Sponsors: www.elevatingmotherhood.com/sponsors
 
Jennifer’s Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferDukesLee
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferdukeslee/

If you’ve ever wanted to read the Bible more consistently but struggled to stay focused — or if you have a child who getsfrustrated, distracted, or overwhelmed by reading — today’s episode is especially for you.

In our last conversation, we talked about dyslexia for the first time on the show. And one of the questions that came up again and again was, What does support actually look like in everyday life? Not just in schoolwork — but in faith, too.

Today, we’re continuing that conversation in an interview with Laura Bartlett, Associate Publisher for ZondervanBibles, about a Bible designed specifically for readers withdyslexia and ADHD: the Clear Focus Bible.

This Bible uses Bionic Reading typography — a research-based layout that highlights parts of words to help the brain recognize them more easily, guiding the eyes across the page and improving focus and comprehension. For many readers, this removes the constant friction that makes reading feelexhausting or discouraging.

The Clear Focus Bible is being released throughZondervan, and it represents something really important to me: the idea that struggling to read doesn’t mean someone is less spiritual, less disciplined, or less capable of connecting with God’s Word.

This isn’t about shortcuts. It’s about accessibility. It’s about removing unnecessary barriers so more people — kids and adults alike — can engage with Scripture with confidence instead of frustration.

This episode is part of an ongoing commitment on this podcast to talk honestly about learning differences, faith, and motherhood — and while this conversation started with dyslexia, it certainly won’t end there.

Buy the Clear Focus Bible for Kids Here: https://amzn.to/3ZGgPEs

Buy the Clear Focus Bible for Adults Here:
https://amzn.to/40apTlc

Elevating Motherhood Links:
Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com
Instagram: @loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood
Sponsors: www.elevatingmotherhood.com/sponsors

Dyslexia touches so many families. And so many of us quietly wonder if our own child might have dyslexia. My kid wrote a letter backwards…now what?

For the first time on the Elevating Motherhood Podcast, we’re having a dedicated conversation about dyslexia — and while this is our first episode on the topic, it definitely won’t be the last. This is a conversation many moms are already having in their heads, often without clear answers or support.

I’m joined today by Jen Parra, who brings clarity, experience, and a calm, grounded approach to a topic that can feel overwhelming. We talk about what dyslexia actually is,how it can show up in kids, and what moms can do next — without panic, labels for the sake of labels, or unnecessary fear.

This episode is for moms who are noticing patterns, asking questions, or simply wanting to understand their child moreclearly. My hope is that this conversation offers reassurance, practical insight, and a reminder that struggling doesn’t mean failing — and understanding changes everything.

Jen’s Bio: Jen Parra founded the Multisensory Reading Center in 2015 and has over 20 years of experience working with children who have learning disabilities including dyslexia, autism, ADHD, and SLD. Her passion is using science-based interventions to unlock literacy for all students. Jen has anM.Ed. from Midwestern State University with an emphasis in dyslexia and is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Florida. Jen is a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) through the Academic Language TherapyAssociation and a Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist (C-SLDS) with the International Dyslexia Association.

Dyslexia is a neurobiological difference in the way the brain attempts to read and spell our written language. Through the use of research-backed learning practices, we can build the literacy capacity of struggling readers and writers so they canreach their academic goals.

Elevating Motherhood Links:
Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com
Instagram: @loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood
Sponsors: www.elevatingmotherhood.com/sponsors
Jen's Links:
Website: www.dyslexiasite.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msrcenter
Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/jenparra/
Instagram: @multisensoryreadingcenter37

Homeschooling is rewarding — but it can also feelmessy, overwhelming, and full of pressure. Choosing curricula, scheduling lessons, balancing priorities — it’s easy to feel like you’re drowning in decisions. It’s common for homeschool parents to question whether they are doing enough or even if they are doing it right.

Today, I’m talking with Carrie De Francisco, author, podcaster, homeschool coach, and “retired” home educator. Carrie knows firsthand how chaotic homeschooling can feel, and she’s written A Home Education Handbook: NineQuestions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning to help parents cut through the clutter and focus on what truly matters.

Carrie helps parents simplify homeschooling onestep at a time, without losing the joy or the faith-centered foundation that matters most. She’s the voice behind the Coffee With Carrie Homeschool Help podcastand the author of multiple homeschooling guides, including Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee) and Homeschool High School: A Handbook for Christian Education.

In this conversation, we dig into her approach toasking the right questions, embracing balance, and creating a homeschool that actually works for your family — not someone else’s. If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure about next steps, this episode is packed withpractical insights and encouragement to get you moving forward confidently.

Get Carrie’s Book Here: ⁠https://amzn.to/4c9TFO7

Join me for my next homeschool planning retreat! www.elevatinghomeschool.com

Homeschool Moms...imagine getting away for a fewdays at a 9,000 sq ft lodge on Lake Coeur d’Alene in beautiful North Idaho where you can walk along the lake, hike nearby trails, or relax in the lodge’s private hot tub. That’s exactly what I’m offering at the Elevating Homeschool SpringRetreat this May 15-17th, 2026. I’m hosting a small group ofhomeschool mamas at Lutherhaven Lodge where you’ll enjoy a 2 night vacation, 5 meals you don’t have to cook, threehomeschool planning workshops, fireside chats, a game night, and two live worship music sessions.
The Elevating Homeschool Spring Retreat is for moms who are ready to step back, breathe, and plan their upcoming homeschool with confidence, surrounded by other moms who truly understand the journey.
Spots are limited, so grab your homeschool besties,reserve a room together, and head to www.elevatinghomeschool.com to sign up!