Holy Chaos: Real Conversations on Family, Life, and the Mess Between

We're Back! (A Little Later Than Planned...) Our summer break from Holy Chaos turned out to be a whole lot longer than we intended! And while we had plenty of fun along the way, life also threw us some unexpected challenges. In this episode, we're catching up on the last few months, including Brittney's journey through depression, anxiety, and a new ADD diagnosis, the impact those struggles can have on a marriage, and what we're learning about extending grace to one another when life gets hard. We're also talking about the challenges of raising three girls, navigating technology, and finding the balance between protecting our kids and preparing them for the world. It's an honest conversation about marriage, mental health, parenting, and discovering that joy and struggle can exist at the same time. Life isn't perfect, and neither are we. But God is faithful, even in the middle of the mess. Welcome back to Holy Chaos! We're glad you're here.

Summer sounds magical… until somebody’s crying over sunscreen, the house is covered in wet towels, and your grocery bill doubles overnight. In this episode, Larry and Brittney talk honestly about the chaos of summer family life, shifting rhythms, marriage connection during busy seasons, parenting pressure, and why the “perfect summer” probably isn’t the goal anyway. They also share practical things actually helping their family survive summer with their sanity mostly intact, plus a fun appearance from the older girls. Resources Mentioned Aimor Family Calendar (our favorite budget-friendly family organization tool): http://bit.ly/4tCtCUO Holy Chaos Summer Survival Amazon List (pool toys, family games, travel favorites, boredom-busters, and other things helping us survive summer): https://bit.ly/4eKDN6a TableTopics Family Conversation Cards: https://amzn.to/4eM9f41 Planning a Summer Getaway? This episode is unofficially sponsored by Anchor Getaways — helping real families plan real vacations with real budgets. Whether you’re dreaming about a cruise, family vacation, or just mentally surviving this summer by planning next summer, we’d love to help. https://linktr.ee/anchorgetaways Affiliate Disclaimer Some links mentioned in this episode may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting Holy Chaos and our family chaos.

Ever feel like you’re not “spiritual enough”? Like you should be further along in your faith than you are? In this episode, we get honest about the pressure to perform spiritually—and how easy it is to feel like you’re falling short. Whether you grew up in church or came to faith later in life, that quiet sense of “I should be doing better” can creep in. We talk about the difference between performance-based faith and grace-driven discipleship, and how God actually meets us in our weakness—not our perfection. If you’ve been feeling inconsistent, disconnected, or just plain discouraged… this one’s for you. In This Episode: Why so many of us feel like we’re failing spiritually The pressure of “doing more” vs. the invitation to simply be with God How our different faith backgrounds shape expectations What it looks like to reconnect with God in real, everyday life Encouragement for when you feel stuck or behind Helpful Resources: Lectio 365 App: https://lectio365.com/ Become New Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/become-new-with-john-ortberg/id1554045522 Confronting the Thief Within: https://amzn.to/48CcrLz

Let’s be honest… for a lot of us, counseling was never presented as an option. It was something people did when things were really bad—or something Christians weren’t supposed to need at all. In this episode, we talk openly about our own journey with counseling, what led us there, and how it’s changed our marriage, our parenting, and our emotional health. We also talk about the stigma that keeps people from getting help, the reality of parenting while still working through your own story, and the tools that have helped us grow along the way. This one is a little more serious—but if you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start, we hope it encourages you to take a step toward growth. Helpful Resources: 📘 Boundaries (book): https://amzn.to/4c2Rlbw 🧠 Feelings Wheel: https://feelingswheel.com/

Balance is a myth—and chasing it might be why you’re so exhausted. In this episode, we talk about why life doesn’t actually work in perfect balance, how that expectation creates guilt and burnout, and what it looks like to build rhythms that can survive real life instead. We also share how we handle busy seasons and a few simple practices that have helped us stay grounded emotionally and spiritually. If you feel overwhelmed, behind, or just tired… this one’s for you. 👉 Processing Styles Workbook: https://bit.ly/3NLZsQ7 📘 Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: https://amzn.to/4sAtV2R

Raising Kids With a Healthy Faith How do you raise kids with a healthy faith when your own spiritual rhythms aren’t perfect? In this episode of Holy Chaos, Larry and Brittney talk honestly about what faith formation looks like in real life. Even in a pastor’s home, family devotions don’t happen every night and prayer sometimes happens in the middle of bedtime chaos. They share some of the rhythms that matter most in their home, including making Sunday worship non-negotiable, encouraging their kids to serve, and looking for ways to connect faith to things their kids already love. They also talk about why intergenerational worship (“big church”) may be one of the most important predictors of a faith that lasts into adulthood. If you’re a parent trying to nurture faith in the middle of a busy family life, this episode is for you. Faith grows in ordinary homes — not perfect ones. Resources Mentioned • Lent & Easter Family Devotional: https://amzn.to/4t2vgzx • The Hero Bible: https://amzn.to/4lq8tLb • Living Room Liturgy: https://amzn.to/4lqWvRm If this episode encouraged you, please follow, rate, and share the podcast, and join us next time on Holy Chaos.

Before we jump in… yes, we know. Brittney’s mic had a little meltdown this episode. It’s fixed for next time. Consider it part of the brand. It’s Holy Chaos, after all. In this episode, we’re talking honestly about parenting — the sacred moments, the exhausting ones, and the absolutely ridiculous ones. We share stories from raising three girls, the emotional weight no one prepares you for, and the hilarious meltdowns over sock seams and the concept of Monday. We talk about the pressure parents feel, the illusion of control that parenting quickly destroys, and how sometimes the real formation isn’t happening in our kids… it’s happening in us. If you’re in the thick of it — tired, overwhelmed, wondering if you’re doing this right — this one’s for you. We also carve out some practical encouragement for struggling parents: Why repair matters more than perfection How to pick your battles Why protecting your marriage matters And how to play the long game Parenting isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. And showing up again tomorrow. Next time, we’re getting specific. We’re diving into what it looks like to raise kids with a healthy faith — not fear-based, not performance-driven, but real and resilient. Thanks for rolling with the chaos.

In this episode of Holy Chaos, Larry and Brittney talk about why communication in marriage often falls apart when we’re tired, stressed, and at emotional capacity. They share honest stories, practical tools, and one simple shift that has helped them avoid unnecessary conflict: timing matters as much as words. If communication feels harder than it should right now, you’re not alone.

Marriage rarely looks like what we expected — and that gap can quietly turn into frustration and resentment. In this episode, Larry and Brittney talk honestly (and humorously) about the expectations they brought into marriage, how family of origin shaped the way they handled conflict, and why unspoken expectations often do the most damage. From yelling vs. packing bags to chores, communication, and intimacy, they explore how naming expectations can lower the temperature and deepen connection. If you’ve ever thought, “This isn’t what I pictured,” this conversation is for you. 👉 Download the Couples Discussion Guide here: https://bit.ly/46enUzF

January comes with a lot of pressure to feel motivated, hopeful, and brand new — but what if it doesn’t? In this episode, Larry and Brittney talk honestly about seasons when the calendar changes but life doesn’t, and how to move forward with grace instead of guilt. A real conversation for anyone entering the new year tired, overwhelmed, or unsure what’s next. Purchase The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry here. Take the Hurry Sickness Evaluation Here.

Larry and Brittney kick off Holy Chaos by sharing their story and why this podcast exists—a real, unpolished space for marriage, parenting, and faith in the middle of the mess, not after it.

Welcome to Holy Chaos. First Episode coming in January.