Crazy Cool Family

In this episode of the Crazy Cool Family Podcast, Madeline Jones sits down with her friend Lauren to talk about one of the most important roles of a parent: teaching your kids how to spend time with Jesus. 
Drawing from their personal experiences growing up in faith-filled homes—and now raising young children themselves—Madeline and Lauren unpack what it looks like to move beyond religion and into a genuine relationship with God. 
Rooted in John 15, this conversation centers on the truth that apart from Jesus, we can do nothing—and that includes parenting. 
You’ll hear: 
Why a daily relationship with Jesus is the greatest gift you can give your kids  
How consistency—not perfection—builds lifelong faith  
Practical tools like worship, Word, and prayer for all ages  
Creative ways to disciple kids who can’t read yet  
How to model authentic faith in everyday family life  
From quiet time baskets and Bible story routines to real-life strategies for busy parents, this episode is packed with encouragement and simple, actionable ideas. 
The heart behind it all: 
When kids learn to meet with Jesus daily, they gain a foundation strong enough to carry them through anything. 
Whether you’re just starting or looking to grow deeper as a family, this episode will equip you to raise kids who don’t just know about God—but truly walk with Him. 
Podcast Resources:
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Hot Take - Burned out parents don’t build spiritually thriving families.
In this episode of the Crazy Cool Family Podcast, Don and Suzanne talk about how parents can learn to lead from overflow instead of exhaustion. They share honestly about what their own relationship with God looked like in different seasons of marriage and parenting — from babies and busyness to work stress, spiritual dry seasons, and building rhythms that last. 
This episode is a practical and encouraging conversation for parents who want to stay connected to God, but feel like they don’t have enough time, energy, or margin. 
In this episode, families will hear: 
why parents need overflow to lead well  
how to pursue Jesus in busy parenting seasons  
practical ways to spend time with God when life feels full  
what to do in spiritual dry seasons  
how worship, Scripture, prayer, and simple habits can help parents stay spiritually filled  
Don and Suzanne also share personal stories, spiritual practices that have stood the test of time, and encouragement for overwhelmed parents who want to raise kids who love Jesus. 
If parenting has felt draining lately, this episode is a reminder that God wants to fill parents up first — so they can lead their families from a place of hope, peace, and overflow. 
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Listen to this before your next Credit Card Statement...
In this episode of the Crazy Cool Family podcast, Don and Suzanne tackle one of the most tension-filled topics in marriage: money. 
After 35 years of marriage, they openly share how finances were one of the biggest sources of misunderstanding and conflict in their relationship — not because of bad intentions, but because they came into marriage with completely different money mindsets. 
Don, a CPA with a master’s in tax accounting, approached finances with structure, planning, and spreadsheets. Suzanne, a self-described free spirit, had never balanced a checkbook before marriage and associated financial control with painful childhood memories. What one saw as responsibility, the other experienced as restriction. What one saw as freedom, the other interpreted as carelessness. 
The result? Decades of miscommunication, avoidance, and tension around money. 
In this honest and practical conversation, they unpack: 
How early money misunderstandings created distance in their marriage 
Why systems like strict budgeting and cash envelopes didn’t work for their personalities 
The importance of building a financial system that fits both spouses 
How generosity — especially tithing — changed their posture toward money 
A simple “10-10 rule” concept: 10% giving, 10% saving, live on the rest 
The importance of aligning spending with shared family values 
Why discussing money before it’s spent prevents conflict later 
The danger of credit card debt and the power of tackling it together 
How hiring a financial coach became a turning point in their communication 
They also reflect on how their financial journey shaped their children — and how today their married kids are handling money in healthier, more unified ways because they learned from their parents’ mistakes. 
One of the most powerful takeaways from this episode is this: The enemy will use money to create division if you let it. 
But through communication, generosity, flexibility, and faith, money can shift from a source of contention to a tool for unity and blessing. 
If you are in a season where finances feel tense, tight, or divisive — you are not alone. There is hope. The best is still ahead. 
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Money Deep Dive
MoneySavingMom - podcast from earlier this month and a great resource! 

March is about Money!
Episode 330 is a fun, practical, and faith-filled conversation as Suzanne sits down with Crystal Paine (MoneySavingMom.com) to help families approach money, time, and motherhood with wisdom and peace. 
Crystal—mom of six (from almost 21 to age 3), writer, speaker, podcaster, and CEO of a small team—shares how her family learned to live intentionally and stay out of debt during law school by getting creative with groceries, simplifying, and focusing on what actually works in real life. She breaks down why saving money doesn’t have to mean clipping paper coupons (hello, digital deals!) and introduces a powerful mindset shift: time is money—so any “money-saving” habit should be worth the time it takes. 
You’ll hear practical, step-by-step encouragement for overwhelmed moms, including why menu planning is the best first step (before trying to overhaul a budget), how to set a realistic grocery budget, and how to make slow, steady progress without stress. Crystal also explains why learning money systems can feel like learning a foreign language—and why starting small is the key to long-term success. 
The conversation goes deeper as Crystal shares her parenting journey through a hard season, how God reshaped her heart, and the story of foster care, adoption, and unexpected pregnancies that changed everything. She reminds listeners that the foundation for home management isn’t hustle—it’s starting with prayer, trusting God with the day, and letting Him multiply what we don’t have. 
Crystal leaves families with one central takeaway: Emmanuel—God with us. You don’t have to white-knuckle life alone. God is present, powerful, and faithful in the details. 
Podcast Resources:
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MoneySavingMom

Don't save your marriage for.... later!
In this episode of the Crazy Cool Family Podcast, we sit down with McKenzie (our 4th daughter) to introduce the marriage Deep Dive “Fostering Love in Your Marriage.” She has been married for 4 1/2 years and has two tiny, beautiful daughters. 
Together they unpack why the word fostering matters — nurturing, cultivating, and fighting toward something good — and why so many couples drift into fighting against each other instead of fighting for their relationship. Suz and Kenz talk about how marriage can become a “back burner” once kids arrive, but why it’s worth prioritizing again because children can feel unity and disunity in the home.
The conversation centers on returning to what God says about love and marriage, using Scripture as the anchor rather than relying only on the world’s tools. They also share practical rhythms couples can start using right away, including making time, practicing honesty, doing regular check-ins, and choosing to love with intentionality.
If you are looking for a way to invest in your marriage this month, this is the podcast for you. Listen and share with a friend, today! 
Podcast Resources:
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In this episode, Don and Suzanne talk with Casey and Meygan Caston from Marriage365 about simple, practical marriage tools for busy parents. If your relationship feels stuck in logistics, resentment, or disconnection, this conversation gives you actionable habits you can start right away. 
You’ll learn how small, daily investments — not grand gestures — build strong, lasting marriages. 
In This Episode:
The weekly marriage check-in meeting that reduces conflict 
How to share the mental load as a couple 
Why thriving marriages use tools and systems 
How to apologize in a way that actually repairs relationships 
The power of forgiveness and humility in family life 
Why initiation is leadership in marriage 
How to work on your marriage — even if your spouse won’t engage yet 
How healthy marriage habits impact your kids 
Get Their BOOK! The Marriage Habit — practical habits and tools to build connection, repair conflict, and strengthen your marriage. 
Something to Try This Week:
Schedule a 30-minute weekly marriage meeting 
Practice one intentional apology 
Initiate one connection moment daily 
Ask your spouse how you can lighten their load 
Podcast Resources:
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Still Feeling Stuck? Here's Part 2!
In Part 2 of this conversation, we shift from personal and marriage goals to setting vision and goals for your family.
Healthy family goals don’t start with changing your kids—they start with aligned parents. Building on the foundation of personal growth and marital unity, we talk about how to intentionally design your family culture instead of letting it drift.
In this episode, we cover:
Why family goals work best when parents are unified
How to create family vision without overwhelming your kids
The difference between family goals and family values
How to invite your children into the process in age-appropriate ways
Setting rhythms and priorities that shape your home over time
You don’t need a perfect plan—you need clarity, unity, and direction.
🎧 Listen to Episode 327 and start designing your family culture for 2026 with purpose.
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Buy the Deep Dive TODAY! (Listen to the episode for a special offer)
 

Designing 2026: Goals That Matter 
Feeling overwhelmed by goal-setting? In this episode, we share a simple, biblical framework for setting meaningful goals for 2026—starting with you and then your marriage. 
Using Mark 12:30, we break goals into four areas: heart, soul, mind, and strength, and talk about how small, realistic steps can lead to real growth over time. 
We also dive into: 
How to set personal goals without burnout 
Why the soul is often overlooked—and why it matters 
Protecting your mind in a world full of noise 
Designing your marriage instead of letting it drift 
How to set marriage goals without creating conflict 
Progress matters more than perfection. 
🎧 Next episode: Setting goals as a family and building unity at home. 
Podcast Resources:
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Buy the Deep Dive TODAY! (Listen to the episode for a special offer)
 

Season Finale: Wrapping Up 2025 with Crazy Cool Family
As 2025 comes to a close, Don and Suzanne are taking a moment to reflect, celebrate, and cast vision for what’s ahead. 🎉 In this final episode of the year, you’ll hear highlights from Season 7 of the Crazy Cool Family Podcast and learn how God has been using this ministry to impact families across the U.S., Europe, and even Africa. 🌍 
This isn’t just a podcast—it’s a global movement to inspire and equip parents to build strong, Christ-centered families. From practical parenting strategies to sibling relationships, guest interviews, and the launch of new resources like The Playbook and Deep Dives, 2025 was packed with tools to help parents win at home. 
In this episode, Don and Suzanne share: 
🎙 Their favorite moments and guests from the podcast this year 
📘 How The Playbook and Deep Dives are helping parents apply simple, powerful principles every day 
🌍 Updates on Crazy Cool Family’s international impact, including teaching families in Africa 
💡 Their one big piece of advice for parents heading into 2026 
Whether you’ve been listening since episode one or just discovered Crazy Cool Family this year, this season finale will encourage and equip you to keep going. Parenting is learned one step at a time, and every family can win. 
👉 Tune in now, get inspired, and step into 2026 ready to notice your kids, be present in the moment, and make family your greatest investment. 
Podcast Resources:
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Holiday Chaos or Holiday Memories?
Creating Traditions That Last 
The holiday season is here—and with it comes the mix of joy, chaos, and never-ending to-do lists. 🎁 From decorating the house to wrapping gifts, baking cookies, and attending every school or church event, it’s easy for parents to feel more overwhelmed than joyful. 
In this episode of the Crazy Cool Family Podcast, Don and Suzanne Manning share candid reflections and look back on 30+ years of parenting seven kids through the holiday hustle. They’ve been through the late-night wrapping sessions, Christmas concerts, chaotic car rides to find the “perfect tree,” and even baking sessions where the cookies didn’t turn out quite right. Through it all, they’ve discovered that holidays aren’t about perfection—they’re about shaping memories. 
You’ll hear practical ideas and “holiday hacks” for:
Including your kids in the preparations (even if it’s messier and slower).
Shifting the focus from getting to giving through serving neighbors, writing notes, or sibling gift exchanges. 
Creating simple family traditions—from decorating bedrooms with mini trees to baking monkey bread—that knit kids’ hearts to yours. 
Letting go of busyness and embracing peace, even when schedules get overwhelming. 
Whether you’re a parent of toddlers, teens, or grown kids, this conversation will encourage you to slow down, laugh at the chaos, and focus on what truly matters. Because the greatest gift you can give your children this season isn’t perfect cookies or matching wrapping paper—it’s the gift of connection. 
👉 Tune in today and start creating holiday traditions that will outlast the chaos and shape your family for generations. 
Podcast Resources:
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