Practical and Spiritual Lessons From Caregiving and Parent-loss ft. Lois Flowers

Top Five Episodes for Multigenerational Caregivers

Click here to send a text and tell us how you like the show! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2455380/fan_mail/new] Celebrate one year of the Sandwich Season Sanity Podcast with us!!! This episode highlights the top five most-downloaded episodes, shares updates on coaching and upcoming seasons, and offers practical advice for caregivers and parents navigating multigenerational relationships. Resources below are highlighted in this special episode. Please listen and share the podcast, so we can reach more multigenerational caregivers with the message of peace, even in multigenerational mayhem! Resources: * Exchanging Expectations of Adult Kids for Peace in Empty Nest ft Jill savage [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2455380/episodes/18449705] * Jill’s Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-more-perfect-podcast-with-jill-savage/id1513616533] * Jill’s FB Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/emptynestfulllife] * BUILDING HEALTHY CONNECTIONS WITH ADULT CHILDREN AND IN-LAWS FT. SUZY MIGHELL [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2455380/episodes/17996940] * Suzy’s book [https://emptynestblessed.com/book-landing-page/] * Overcoming Old Wounds While Caregiving ft. Laura Acuña [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2455380/episodes/18526790] * Still Becoming Hope, Help, and Healing for the Diet-Weary Soul [https://www.amazon.com/Still-Becoming-Hope-Healing-Diet-Weary/dp/1949856798] * Lisa Serugo’s Trauma Tree [https://www.amazon.com/Trauma-Tree-Survival-Growing-Wholeness/dp/0825448743] * Caregiving Special Needs Children and Aging Parents ft. Kelly Hall [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2455380/episodes/17905293] * Kelly’s podcast [https://kellyhall.org/unshakable-hope-podcast/] * Kelly’s website [http://www.kellyhall.org] * Practical Ways People Pleasers Can Balance Identity and Daily Demands ft. Lori Schumaker [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2455380/episodes/17759652] * Lori’s resources [http://orishoemaker.com.] Enter to win a free coaching package with Ruthie! To enter, fill out this form. [https://forms.gle/iSqdyoqQ8o1fxgsF6]Giveaway closes Monday, May 4, at 12:00pm, est.  Visit Ruthie's Website at RuthieGray.com [https://www.ruthiegray.com/] Get Ruthie's Sandwich Season Pieces Newsletter [https://creative-creator-6398.kit.com/8cabd8b294] Read Ruthie's book, Empty Nest Awakening; Weaving the Threads of Your Passions into Purpose [https://www.ruthiegray.com/book/]

Navigating Ideological Differences Across Generations ft. Michelle Rayburn

Click here to send a text and tell us how you like the show! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2455380/fan_mail/new] Ever felt caught in a struggle between your beliefs and that of your adult children and your aging parents? You're not alone. In this episode, Michelle Rayburn and Ruthie open up about their own struggles and wins in bridging those generational divides with kindness and faith. If you're juggling family differences, craving peace, and seeking practical ways to stay grounded, this conversation will help. Resources: * Book: This Reimagined Empty Nest [https://amzn.to/4cbYR2j]  * Midlife Repurposed blog and podcast [https://michellerayburn.substack.com/] * Michelle’s Website [https://michellerayburn.substack.com/] Bio: Michelle Rayburn is an author and podcaster who blends humor with honesty in the midlife season. She writes Midlife Repurposed on Substack, where she explores wisdom, wonder, and the laugh lines that come with growing older and growing up at the same time. She’s a boy mom, grandmother of six, and lives in the northwoods of Wisconsin. Visit Ruthie's Website at RuthieGray.com [https://www.ruthiegray.com/] Get Ruthie's Sandwich Season Pieces Newsletter [https://creative-creator-6398.kit.com/8cabd8b294] Read Ruthie's book, Empty Nest Awakening; Weaving the Threads of Your Passions into Purpose [https://www.ruthiegray.com/book/]

A Caregiver’s Guide to Gentle Morning Rituals ft. Jennifer Dukes Lee

Click here to send a text and tell us how you like the show! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2455380/fan_mail/new] Ever feel like mornings are just too overwhelming to handle? Trust me, I’ve been there. Whether you’re caring for loved ones, managing a busy household, or navigating life's chaos, establishing a morning ritual can be your anchor. In this episode, we explore practical ways to make mornings matter—no matter what season you're in.  In this episode, we delve into how the biblical concept of mornings as new beginnings can transform your day. We discuss the four archetypes of morning routines—are you a doer, mover, meditator, or social seeker?  Tips for connecting your routine with your unique temperament and season of life are provided, alongside the science behind God-centered thinking and its brain-changing power.  Practical ideas for busy caregivers to prioritize self-care through morning rituals are also included. Remember, only you can choose to prioritize your peace each morning—because mornings are for new mercies, and your day is waiting to be transformed. Resources: * How to Love Your Morning + Free Resources [https://jenniferdukeslee.com/how-to-love-your-morning/resources/] 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 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. Visit Ruthie's Website at RuthieGray.com [https://www.ruthiegray.com/] Get Ruthie's Sandwich Season Pieces Newsletter [https://creative-creator-6398.kit.com/8cabd8b294] Read Ruthie's book, Empty Nest Awakening; Weaving the Threads of Your Passions into Purpose [https://www.ruthiegray.com/book/]

How Caregivers Can Maintain Mental Health ft. Kim Cusimano

Click here to send a text and tell us how you like the show! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2455380/fan_mail/new] Ever feel like caregiving is wearing you thin? You're not alone—and the good news? You can find moments of joy, hope, and even peace amid the chaos. In this heartfelt episode, Kim shares honest stories and simple strategies that help caregivers like us keep dreaming, connecting, and nurturing ourselves. In this episode: * The power of creating a bucket list to nurture hope and joy * Practical ways to incorporate small, meaningful activities into daily life * How using your home as a supportive space can lift your spirits * The importance of honest sharing and protecting your peace * Simple ways to manage your feelings and prevent overwhelm * Embracing creativity—painting, writing, gardening—as a form of self-care * The art of being unoffendable and extending grace in caregiving relationships Remember, you’re not just surviving—you're creating moments of joy and peace. Take that first small step today. Dream big, protect your peace, and lean into what refreshes your soul. Because, friend, your well-being is just as important as those you care for. You’ve got this—one small act of kindness to yourself at a time. Resources: * 15 Ways Caregivers Can Protect Their Mental Health [https://fulljoyministries.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/15-Ways-Caregivers-Can-Protect-Their-Mental-Health.png] * Moments of Grace for Teachers [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1639528954] * Moments of Grace for Moms [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1639528946] * This Reimagined Empty Nest: Stories and Poems for Moms Embracing New Chapters [https://www.amazon.com/This-Reimagined-Empty-Nest-Embracing/dp/1954576064/] * Life in the Estrogen-Free Zone: Humor and Heartfelt Wisdom from Boy Moms [https://www.amazon.com/Life-Estrogen-Free-Zone-Heartfelt-Wisdom/dp/0988528681] * Kim's Facebook Profile [https://facebook.com/kim.kusamano.79] * Kim's Instagram Profile [https://instagram.com/kimberley.kusamano.79] * Full Joy Ministries Website [https://fulljoyministries.com/] Bio: Kim Cusimano is a collaborative author and mother of adults with special needs. Beyond her family, she spends time encouraging others to reach their full potential through hospitality, mentoring, and the arts, weaving in the faith lessons she learns as a wife, mother, and caregiver. Visit Ruthie's Website at RuthieGray.com [https://www.ruthiegray.com/] Get Ruthie's Sandwich Season Pieces Newsletter [https://creative-creator-6398.kit.com/8cabd8b294] Read Ruthie's book, Empty Nest Awakening; Weaving the Threads of Your Passions into Purpose [https://www.ruthiegray.com/book/]

Practical and Spiritual Lessons From Caregiving and Parent-loss ft. Lois Flowers

Click here to send a text and tell us how you like the show! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2455380/fan_mail/new] Sometimes life throws a curveball when you least expect it. This episode is a heartfelt conversation about resilience, faith, and finding peace amid chaos—like Lois Flowers’ story of surviving a traumatic brain injury or navigating her parents' last years without fear. We discuss: * How fear influences caregiving and the importance of trusting God's plan * Practical tips for capturing memories with loved ones * The power of scripture, especially Psalm 139 and Deuteronomy 31:8, during difficult seasons * Learning to surrender and find peace in God's sovereignty * Encouragement for those walking through unexpected health crises or loss Resources: * Free 7-day devotional called Faith, Fear, and the God Who Goes Before Us [https://subscribepage.io/LoisFlowers-7daydevotion] * Blog: https://www.loisflowers.com/ [https://www.loisflowers.com/] * Parent Loss page: https://www.loisflowers.com/help-for-parent-loss/ [https://www.loisflowers.com/help-for-parent-loss/] Bio: Lois Flowers is a book editor, blogger and lifelong Midwesterner who values authenticity. She’s a wife of 31 years, mom of two young adult women, sixth of seven siblings and daughter of two parents in heaven. The tagline of Lois’s blog is “Strength for Today, Hope for Tomorrow.” and she writes—one pilgrim to another—to encourage us all as we navigate the long walk home together. Visit Ruthie's Website at RuthieGray.com [https://www.ruthiegray.com/] Get Ruthie's Sandwich Season Pieces Newsletter [https://creative-creator-6398.kit.com/8cabd8b294] Read Ruthie's book, Empty Nest Awakening; Weaving the Threads of Your Passions into Purpose [https://www.ruthiegray.com/book/]