I can't recall the exact day or even the exact words my sweet friend sent in her message ....But, I distinctively remember that it was the link to the podcast below that intrigued me!

It was February, COLD, and I NEEDED some motivation to step on that treadmill. I NEEDED to take my mind somewhere else besides the bold red numbers staring back at me. You see my home gym was unfinished and still in its non-climate controlled stage. Let me be perfectly clear. I. HATE. THE COLD!!! (But, before I digress, my home gym is a story for another day).

I stuck my ear buds in and clicked the link. With the help of my friend, my treadmill, and my mobile device, I walked right into the world of podcasts and never looked back.

You see as a blogger I not only write but I read lots of blogs too. Podcasts just weren't my thing. But all that changed with a click.

The words that followed her, "come join me for coffee" greeting, encouraged my heart and filled my soul. It was just like sitting down with a best friend. You know the one I'm talking about.....!? The friend that is encouraging and gentle, but bold and truthful; every word saturated in the love and truth of God's Word. In just 20 minutes, there was rich conversation, the kind that reaches the raw heart of being a mom. You know, the really hard stuff!

"Oh sweet mama," she says, "there is power in God's Word".

I had no idea how much the first click of that link would change me, but I soaked it in that day and every time I hit play after that. From marraige, to choosing homeschool curriculum, to cultural issues that fill our social media, television, and radio headlines, each topic of discussion laced with biblical truth.
​
Over a year and a half ago now, this is when it happened.......I ENTERED INTO BECOMING.....Becoming the MomStrong Mom I always wanted to be ! And it truly was the beginning of one the most change filled years of my life. God used it in a major way! And He is still using it.

Hearing Heidi's wisdom and passion for teaching and bringing up our children in the Word of God set my mama heart on fire. More of THIS is what I wanted for our homeschool day and for my children! Less than six short months later I was a faithful follower of The Heidi St. John Podcast.

So naturally, when the time came announcing that there was going to be a book and she needed a launch team, the application was up on my screen before her podcast closing jingle was finished. ​

Then....... it landed in my inbox. Over the Moon Excited, I WAS IN! ​

I had heard her voice weekly and seen her picture on the website BUT NOW......
I was seeing her live on my screen! That sweet mentor who had been speaking into my life and into my heart was now talking right to little ole me (and 499 other beautiful mamas, Haha)! Something about being face to face with her in those following weeks and digging into her book just knit my heart right to hers. Her uninhibited passion for teaching God's word to our children could do nothing less than seep into my heart further.

She took us through what it means to be a warrior for the hearts and minds of our children.
She encouraged us to face our giants and choose to obey in spite of our FEAR.
Assured us that a season of surrender is only re-purposed passion.
​And gave us confidence that,
"Your greatest accomplishment as a mom may not be something you do , but someone you raise".

She often will say, "We can't give our children what we don't have."
​So for those weeks ahead she poured her heart into us in hopes that this message God gave her, the message of BECOMING MOMSTRONG, would be spread in and through us. But she has made sure that this message wasn't just for moms...... this powerful message was to encourage and help equip any woman who has influence in the life of a child. ​

LAUNCH DAY came and we were all ready with our reviews (Read my review on the blog here). My pre-ordered extra copies of the book and the companion bible study were on their way.
​Our AMAZING book launch team pulled together and put Heidi on the Amazon BEST SELLER list in the first day!
Wowza!
How cool was that!?!
And of course I had also purchased a book with a request for a signed copy from Heidi, an accompanying bible study. and journal.

As if a book like Becoming Mom Strong wasn't enough to impact this generation of mothers and their children, Heidi continued to reveal her heart and God's plan for a new ministry to follow the Becoming Mom Strong book and Bible Study. And this vision was like no other I'd seen before. As the pieces began to unfold for this new Heidi St. John ministry we saw how she would integrate a more intense bible study into her already existing scripture writing challenge and weekly podcast. MOMSTRONG International was another tool to help us all in our "Becoming".

​The best part of this journey of BECOMING, is that it was not over. This story that I've just shared with you is just a small piece of my Becoming. It was just the beginning really.

For months I have been praying about how Becoming Mom Strong and MomStrong International Ministry would fit into a greater vision God gave me more than 4 years ago. In the last several months I felt God giving me more clarity and I'm excited about the direction He is taking me.

One year  after the launch of Becoming MomStrong  I have been able to be apart a second launch team for Heidi's follow-up book Prayers for the Battlefield  . Preparing for the launch of this new book has been just as amazing as the first. 
You'll see my review posted here on the blog Wednesday September 19th. The book officially releases Tuesday September 18th. 

I am also beginning my own MomStrong Bible study in my home and hope to give highlights in some Facebook live videos and here on the blog if I'm able to keep up. I haven't quite decided where those videos will be posted yet. If following along with this study interests you just send me a quick message here via my email
 
"Today's moms need a special kind of strength- the kind that comes from God. We need support to get through. We need to learn how to live in right relationship with others. We need to take better care of ourselves.And most important, we need an ever-deepening desire to know God and His Word. In other words, we need to be MomStrong." ~ Heidi St. John

Even if you are not (or not yet) a mom, but have influence in the life of a child/children this is also for you! Grandmother, Aunt, Teacher, Church volunteer, or caregiver......THIS IS ALSO FOR YOU!

My desire is to start this bible study to develop a community of women who want to deepen their relationship with the Lord and support each other in Becoming MomStrong. God has called us to raise up the next generation.......AND WE CANNOT GIVE THOSE CHILDREN WHAT WE DON'T HAVE!  So let's link arms sweet sisters and study God's Word together. I look forward to spending time with you all.

This is how my Story of Becoming began. What will yours look like?

This book has encouraged and empowered me to suit up and fight for the hearts of my little people. Because mamas, this IS A BATTLE we are in! Satan's desperate attempt to steal the hearts of the next generation is fierce. His schemes are found in the culture shift we are in right now; just look at the headlines, on social media and sadly in our back yards. Words are often laced with hate and pride. But this IS NOT the end! Heidi encourages us to rise up, engage in the battle! Not by defending our beliefs and opinions on social media or rallying in our streets; our battle begins in our homes, equipping our children with the truth of God's Word.  

How do we fight this battle when all we can see are the GIANTS in front of us? If you are asking this question, you are not alone.
I think of the Israelite's as they faced the Philistine army of war. Goliath a fierce Philistine champion, brought fear to the Israelite's as he challenged them to battle. 
Like the Philistines, I admit that I have struggled with fear for much of my life. Satan has used this tactic on me many times. Heidi illustrates the bravery of David, a mere boy, facing that giant with the truth of God's word, a few stones, and a sling. He had the courage to defeat his giant..... do we? If not then, "Sometimes the only way to do something is to do it afraid", says Heidi. 

Take comfort sweet sisters, God does not expect us to face this battle alone.

Becoming Mom Strong brings light to what it means to face motherhood with the strength only God can give. Heidi St. John does this from the perspective of the raw reality that her own life and motherhood struggles brought her, speaking from her own experience as a homeschooling mother of seven. In the trenches she has prevailed, and now she is calling us as moms to equip ourselves for the battle of our own children's hearts and raise up the next generation of God fearing leaders.

Heidi often says, " We can't give our children what we don't have". This begins with the acknowledgment and surrender of our weakness where God's strength is at it's best. Becoming Mom Strong has definitely allowed me to see more clearly the importance of being a mother. We ARE raising the next generation of warriors!

  There were so many inspiring nuggets of encouragement and truth in this book that it's hard to share all in one post.  I hope you will meet me back here as I 
share more thoughts in future blog posts.

Friends, author Heidi St. John has a vision that this would not just be a book alone, but be a movement! Becoming Mom Strong is NOW AVAILABLE coupled with a bible study and journal and I encourage you to get your own copy today! I assure you this is sweeping the nation and beyond as mothers are already banning together in bible study groups for become Mom Strong together. I will even be starting my own bible study group here in my home town very soon. Will you join us in Becoming Mom Strong!?!  

​Meet Heidi St. John
Heidi St John has delighted tens of thousands of readers through her blog, her Facebook page and her books. Her transparent style and her rich sense of humor combine to draw her readers into what feels like a very personal conversation over a cup of coffee.
Heidi's ability to bypass our prejudices and preconceptions allows her to speak directly to the heart of every reader as she offers wisdom, inspiration and grace to those who are all-too-often feeling overwhelmed by all that's on their plate.