When Trust Feels Hard with Alena Pitts-Franklin

Grace Around the Table // Dina Deleasa-Gonsar

We live in a world where motherhood often feels like pressure, performance, and perfection—but God invites us into something far more meaningful: faithful presence in the everyday moments. In this episode of Courageous Girls, we sit down with Dina Deleasa-Gonsar—known online as Dish It Girl—to talk about girl mom life, faith, food, and the sacred work happening around our tables. From navigating postpartum depression and anxiety after an unexpected early delivery, to learning how to surrender control and trust God with her daughter’s story, Dina shares honestly about the beauty and tension of motherhood in today’s world. Together, we explore how mealtime can become more than just another task to survive—it can become a place of connection, healing, discipleship, and grace for both moms and daughters. 🔹 Grace over perfection – Why motherhood was never meant to look Pinterest-perfect, and how God meets us in the messy middle. 🔹 Raising girls with courage – How to navigate boundaries, identity, and cultural pressures while helping daughters know their worth in Christ. 🔹 The ministry of the table – Why gathering together, even imperfectly, creates lasting connection and spiritual legacy in our homes. 🔹 Letting God carry the weight – How surrender, prayer, and honest conversations help moms release fear and trust God with their daughters. With warmth, vulnerability, and wisdom, Dina reminds us that the small things matter deeply—whether it’s painting nails, sharing a simple meal, apologizing after a hard moment, or praying through our fears as moms. Let’s raise daughters who know they are deeply loved by God, and become women who believe that we are the right mamas for the job too. Website: www.dishitgirl.com [http://www.dishitgirl.com] Facebook: www.facebook.com/dinamdeleasagonsar [http://www.facebook.com/dinamdeleasagonsar] YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/dishitgirl/videos [http://www.youtube.com/c/dishitgirl/videos] Instagram: www.instagram.com/dishitgirldina/ [http://www.instagram.com/dishitgirldina] Learn more about the Courageous Girls movement at http://www.mycourageousgirls.com/www.mycourageousgirls.com [http://www.mycourageousgirls.com/] Follow along on Instagram: @mycourageousgirls [https://www.instagram.com/mycourageousgirls/] Read the book: Courageous by Terra Mattson [https://www.amazon.com/Courageous-Terra-Mattson/dp/1434712621?ref_=ast_author_dp] Download the Courageous Girls App—available on any app store.

When Trust Feels Hard with Alena Pitts-Franklin

We live in a world where identity is constantly shaped by comparison, performance, and what we can figure out on our own—but God invites us into something deeper: knowing who we are by first knowing who He is. In this episode of Courageous Girls, we sit down with Alena Pitts-Franklin to talk about grief, faith, and the journey of discovering God’s character in the middle of life’s hardest moments. After losing her mom suddenly at 14, Alena shares honestly about wrestling with God—loving Him, yet struggling to trust Him—and how that tension ultimately led her into a deeper, more authentic relationship with Him. Through her story and her book God Is, we explore how understanding God’s nature transforms the way we see ourselves, especially for teen girls navigating identity, loss, and uncertainty. 🔹 Faith in the wrestle – Why it’s okay to love God and still struggle to trust Him, and how honesty draws us closer rather than pushing us away. 🔹 God’s goodness in grief – How small, personal moments can reveal God’s presence even when life doesn’t make sense. 🔹 Identity rooted in truth – Why knowing who God is changes everything about how we see ourselves. 🔹 Letting go as parents – How surrender and trust—not control—help our daughters develop a genuine faith of their own. With vulnerability and wisdom, this conversation reminds us that faith isn’t about having everything figured out—it’s about learning to look up, ask questions, and trust that God is who He says He is. Let’s raise daughters who are free to wrestle, to seek, and ultimately to know Him for themselves. ONLINE: www.alenapitts.com [http://www.alenapitts.com] SOCIAL: Facebook - @alenapitts Instagram - @alenapitts BOOKS - God Is

Choose Connection Over Fear with Michelle Tae

We’re raising daughters in a world that feels faster, louder, and more overwhelming than ever—and if we’re honest, it can stir up fear in us as moms. But what if we didn’t have to have all the answers? What if the goal wasn’t perfection, but presence? In this episode of Courageous Girls, we sit down with Michelle Tae, a Courageous Girls mama, to talk about what it looks like to parent from a place of healing, honesty, and deep connection. Michelle shares vulnerably about her own story—how pain in her relationship with her mom shaped her fears of raising daughters, and how God has gently rewritten that story through community, consistency, and courage. Together, we explore how creating intentional space—month after month—can transform not only our daughters’ lives, but our own. This conversation is a powerful reminder that we don’t need to keep up with the culture—we can root our girls in something deeper. 🔹 From fear to connection – How facing our own stories can open the door to deeper relationships with our daughters. 🔹 The power of consistency – Why showing up over time creates safety, trust, and lasting impact. 🔹 Navigating a fast-changing world – How to stay grounded as our girls face social media, AI, and growing up too quickly. 🔹 Emotions as a gift – Learning to feel, process, and model emotional health for the next generation. With honesty and hope, Michelle reminds us that healing is possible, connection is worth the risk, and we are not alone in this journey. Let’s raise daughters who feel known and loved—and become women who live that way too.

Start the Conversation Sooner with Annie Horner

Talking to our daughters about sex can feel overwhelming—especially when our own stories are marked by shame, confusion, or silence. But what if these conversations weren’t something to fear… but an invitation to build trust, safety, and connection? In this episode of Courageous Girls, we sit down with Annie Horner to explore how to talk with our girls about sexuality in a way that is honest, grace-filled, and ongoing. Together, we unpack how our responses shape our daughters’ sense of safety—and why starting earlier (and softer) than we think matters more than getting it “perfect.” Through powerful metaphors and practical language, Annie helps us reframe these conversations—not as a one-time talk, but as a path we walk with our daughters over time. 🔹 Start sooner than you think – How early, everyday moments build a foundation of safety before the hard questions come. 🔹 Your tone shapes their trust – Why your response matters more than having the “right” answer. 🔹 Curiosity is not the enemy – Learning to guide your daughter’s questions without shame or fear. 🔹 It’s not too late to begin – How to repair, rebuild trust, and step back into the conversation—even in the teen years. This conversation reminds us that we don’t have to do this perfectly—we just have to be present. When we create a safe path, our daughters won’t have to navigate a confusing world alone. Learn more about the Courageous Girls movement at http://www.mycourageousgirls.com/www.mycourageousgirls.com [http://www.mycourageousgirls.com/] Follow along on Instagram: @mycourageousgirls [https://www.instagram.com/mycourageousgirls/] Read the book: Courageous by Terra Mattson [https://www.amazon.com/Courageous-Terra-Mattson/dp/1434712621?ref_=ast_author_dp] Download the Courageous Girls App—available on any app store.

When Dreams Don’t Happen with Julie Fowler

We all carry expectations about how our stories will unfold—especially when it comes to motherhood. But what happens when those dreams are delayed, derailed, or deeply wounded? In this episode of Courageous Girls, we sit down with Julie Fowler to talk about infertility, loss, and the long, painful road of waiting. Together, we explore what it means to trust God when the story doesn’t go the way we planned—and how to help our daughters build an identity rooted in Him, not outcomes. With honesty and hope, Julie shares her journey through miscarriage, failed adoptions, and grief—and how God met her in the middle of it all. This conversation is a reminder that suffering is not the end of the story, and that God is still writing something meaningful in every chapter. 🔹 God meets us in the waiting – How Scripture and community anchor us when life feels uncertain and painful. 🔹 You are not alone – Why isolation is a lie and how widening your circle can bring healing and perspective. 🔹 Identity beyond outcomes – Teaching our daughters their worth isn’t tied to motherhood, marriage, or milestones. 🔹 Grief and faith can coexist – Learning to be honest with God while still trusting His goodness and sovereignty. Whether you’re walking through loss, supporting someone who is, or raising daughters in a world full of expectations, this episode invites you to hold your story with open hands—and trust the God who sees. Website: www.juliefowlerministries.com/ [http://www.juliefowlerministries.com] Learn more about the Courageous Girls movement at http://www.mycourageousgirls.com/www.mycourageousgirls.com [http://www.mycourageousgirls.com/] Follow along on Instagram: @mycourageousgirls [https://www.instagram.com/mycourageousgirls/] Read the book: Courageous by Terra Mattson [https://www.amazon.com/Courageous-Terra-Mattson/dp/1434712621?ref_=ast_author_dp] Download the Courageous Girls App—available on any app store.