Welcome to Little Shoots Deep Roots, the podcast that equips busy parents to gently nurture faith in their families one simple habit at a time! In this episode, host Christie Thomas sits down with Elizabeth Santelman, author and podcaster, to explore practical, approachable spiritual disciplines for every season of family life.

Feeling overwhelmed by perfectionism or "falling behind" in faith routines? Elizabeth Santelman shares her real-life strategies for remembering God's presence (even during the busiest or most exhausted days) and reveals why celebration is the most underrated (and joy-filled!) spiritual discipline of all.

Whether you're a mom, dad, or caregiver, you’ll discover how little habits can create deep spiritual grooves in your family’s heart, no matter how hectic life gets.

✨ In this episode:

• How to tend the soil of your own heart without aiming for faith perfection

• Tiny practices for busy parents that fuel spiritual growth

• Why “remembering” (not striving) is the real purpose of spiritual disciplines

• The forgotten discipline that brings energy, connection, and delight to family faith

• A peek inside "Gently Tended," Elizabeth Santelman’s new Bible study crafted for women (and adaptable for teens)

• Making habits work for you: why flexibility and grace are key

EPISODE PAGE (including transcript)

📚 FOLLOW-UP RESOURCES:

1. "Gently Tended" by Elizabeth Santelman – Preorder + free bonuses

2. Start Little Guide: 5 simple habits for family faith

3. Book: "Little Habits, Big Faith" by Christie Thomas:

Join us bi-monthly for gentle encouragement, creative ideas, and real talk on growing lasting faith...one little shoot at a time!

Monica Tanner draws from her own journey, as a child of divorce and now a mother of four, shares why intentionality in marriage matters, especially in the busy seasons of raising kids.

Learn practical and doable habits, like the 3% rule for staying connected, reigniting curiosity for your partner, and navigating through "roommate syndrome."

🔗 Episode Webpage (with written summary)

📚 FOLLOW-UP RESOURCES:

1. 🖥️ ⁠⁠Secrets of Happily Ever After (Monica's Podcast)⁠⁠
2. 📚 Book: ⁠⁠Bad Marriage Advice⁠⁠
3. 📱Instagram & Facebook: @monitalksmarriage

Summary:

• Why a strong marriage impacts parenting and sets the relational blueprint for children (02:18).

• The 3% rule for connection (07:34).

• How intentional curiousity and asking meaningful questions can reignite connection and spark, even after years together (14:07).

• The importance of modeling emotional vulnerability, empathy, and accountability (12:10).

• Why it's not too late to invest in your marriage (24:29).

  
  

  #christianity #marriageadvice #christianparenting

This episode is for every mom who’s ever wondered if her daily sacrifices matter. Whether you’re deep in the trenches of parenting littles, guiding teens, or simply trying to hold it all together, Shalene Roberts’s story and wisdom will encourage you to:

- Recognize and honor the challenges of feeling unseen and unappreciated

- Exchange external validation for seeing yourself through God’s eyes

- Find practical ways to connect with God even in busy, chaotic days- Shift your mindset and see the sacred value in your everyday tasks

- Use small discipleship moments with your kids to nurture your own faith

- Embrace the slow, sometimes hidden, fruit of mothering as Kingdom work

Connect with Shalene Roberts:

🖥️ ⁠Website & resources⁠

📚 Book: ⁠When Mothering Is Hard and No One Sees⁠

📱Instagram & Facebook: @shalenerobertsblog

Shalene Roberts shares from her journey as a former magazine editor, now raising five children in Texas, and what it looked like to give up worldly validation...but then discover how God sees and values the hidden work of mothering. Hear how a viral blog post, a transformative encounter at the kitchen sink, and lessons from the life of Susanna Wesley all shaped her approach to faith and family.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 – Welcome & Introduction

00:39 – Shalene Roberts’ Family Story

02:02 – The Loneliness and Challenge of Feeling Unseen

03:32 – Breaking Down: When You Can’t Do It All

04:46 – Meeting God in Our Need: Hagar and El Roi

06:04 – You’re Not Alone: The Power of Shared Struggle

09:00 – God’s Grace for Every Season10:01 – The Ongoing Journey to Feeling Seen

12:12 – Why Motherhood’s Fruit Isn’t Always Immediate

13:19 – Emotions, Truth, and Renewing Your Mind

14:25 – A Story of Surrender: Praying for Your Kids

16:26 – Habits & Disciplines for Staying Connected to God

17:27 – Praying in Chaos: The Susanna Wesley “Apron” Method

19:20 – Making Ordinary Discipleship Sacred

20:01 – Drawing Near to God with Your Kids

21:01 – Seeing God’s Kingdom in Ordinary Days

22:27 – Encountering the Sacred at the Kitchen Sink

23:54 – You Are Doing Kingdom Work: A Mindset Shift

#unseenmotherhood #motheringishard #sacredordinary #faithfulparenting #momlife #familydiscipleship #shaleneroberts #christythomas #littleshootsdeeproots #christianparenting #spiritualformation #kingdommotherhood