Ep. 124 From Lonely to Loved: A Blueprint to Building Lasting Friendships
Building Strong Homes: Blueprints to Strengthen Your Faith and Family podcast
Release Date: 04/15/2025
Ep. 160: Your Scars Tell Your Story with Carol Roper
Building Strong Homes: Blueprints to Strengthen Your Faith and Family podcast
What scars do you carry? Maybe you’ve had a c-section (or 3) and don’t want to wear a bathing suit anymore (among other reasons). Maybe you’ve been injured in an accident and try to disguise the evidence. Or maybe you’ve suffered from cancer and now have an ugly scar as a reminder of your survival. Whatever the reason, it’s natural for us to want to cover unsightly scars from public view. When I was in my mid-twenties and almost put my eye out from accidentally shoving my face into a large splinter, I didn’t realize the permanent damage that could have been done until the ER sent...
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Ep. 159: Oaks of Righteousness: Raising Families with Deep Roots with Carol Roper
Building Strong Homes: Blueprints to Strengthen Your Faith and Family podcast
Home isn’t just a place—it’s a story. When my husband and I set out to build our forever home on his family’s farm, we weren’t just choosing land; we were choosing legacy. Every step across those pastures reminded us that roots matter—both the ones in the soil and the ones in our hearts. And as we stood beneath a solitary oak, we realized this journey was about more than a house. It was about building on a foundation that time can’t shake. This is the eighth episode in the Blueprints for Building Your Spiritual Dream Home series. If you’ve missed any of the previous episodes, I...
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Ep. 158: The Power of Light: Becoming a Spiritual Lamplighter with Carol Roper
Building Strong Homes: Blueprints to Strengthen Your Faith and Family podcast
I’ll leave the light on for you. Have you ever heard that line before? Motel 6 turned that phrase into a promise—but spiritually, it’s a calling. Darkness is everywhere, but one light can change everything. That light is Christ in you. Just like lamplighters once walked city streets to protect their communities, you’ve been called to guard your home with vigilance and faith. The Proverbs 31 woman never let her lamp go out—and neither should we. In this episode, you’ll learn practical ways to keep your spiritual flame burning, strengthen your connection to the Holy Spirit, and...
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Ep. 157: Why You Matter: The Hidden Strength in Every Home with Carol Roper
Building Strong Homes: Blueprints to Strengthen Your Faith and Family podcast
Sometimes the most important role is the one that feels the least glamorous. We live in a world that celebrates big wins and visible achievements. But what about the quiet, everyday work—the kind that rarely gets applause? Have you ever felt unimportant in your own home, wondering if anyone notices the meals, the clean laundry, the late-night homework help? The truth is, your role isn’t just important, it’s essential. You are the strength that holds everything together. This is the sixth episode in the Blueprints for Building Your Spiritual Dream Home series. So far, we’ve seen why we...
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Ep. 156: The Secret Behind a Strong Spiritual Home (Hint: It's Not Being Pinterest Perfect) with Carol Roper
Building Strong Homes: Blueprints to Strengthen Your Faith and Family podcast
Picture this: a stunning home with gleaming floors and perfect décor—but underneath, the foundation is cracked. Eventually, everything starts to tilt and crumble. The same thing happens in our spiritual lives when we focus on appearances instead of what’s beneath the surface. Without a strong foundation, even the most beautiful house will eventually crack and crumble. The same is true for our spiritual homes. Discover why appearances aren’t enough, how to check for cracks in your spiritual foundation, and practical ways to build a home rooted in faith and grace. Whether you’re...
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Ep. 155: How Building a Dream Home Tests Your Marriage-and Your Faith with Carol Roper
Building Strong Homes: Blueprints to Strengthen Your Faith and Family podcast
What happens when building your dream home nearly breaks your marriage? In today’s episode, I’m sharing a raw, honest story from my own life—a season when stress, exhaustion, and unmet expectations left me wondering if my relationship with my husband would survive. But through that struggle, I learned a powerful truth: when we try to manage everything in our own strength, we end up drained and discouraged. The good news? God is the ultimate builder and the best general contractor for your home and family. This is the fourth episode in the Blueprints for Building Your Spiritual Dream Home...
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Ep. 154: Envision Your Dream Home with Carol Roper
Building Strong Homes: Blueprints to Strengthen Your Faith and Family podcast
Every great home starts with a dream—a vision for life within its walls. But before the first nail is hammered, the blueprint must be drawn. After decades of designing houses, I’ve learned a blueprint isn’t just about rooms and square footage; it’s about reflecting the heart of the family. The same is true for our spiritual homes. God, the Master Architect, has a design for each of us—a home filled with abundant living that’s better than anything we could imagine. Today, we’ll start by asking: What does your spiritual dream home look like? And how do we align that vision with...
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Ep. 153: How to Build a Godly Home: Choosing the Right Location with Carol Roper
Building Strong Homes: Blueprints to Strengthen Your Faith and Family podcast
Ever feel like building a godly home is overwhelming? You’re not alone. In this episode, we uncover the very first step to creating a home that stands strong—starting with the right location. Deciding where to put a dream house is the most important part of the design process. Putting so much effort into creating a great home only to realize later it was built in the wrong place can shatter any hopes we have for a strong family. This week is the first in my Kitchen Table series called Blueprints to Building Your Spiritual Dream Home. These episodes are based on the award-winning blog...
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Ep. 152: Unlocking the Secrets to Effective Communication with Your Teen with Mark Gregston
Building Strong Homes: Blueprints to Strengthen Your Faith and Family podcast
We’ve all heard it before—bridging the communication gap with a teen can feel like trying to build a bridge with spaghetti. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We’re diving into one of the most critical aspects of parenting: communicating with your teenager. Today’s guest, Mark Gregston, a renowned expert and founder of Parenting Today’s Teens, will share his invaluable insights and practical tips to help you connect with your teen in meaningful ways. Mark will guide us through the challenges and nuances of communicating with teenagers and will explore common...
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Ep. 151: Celebrating 5 Incredible Years: Your Favorite Christmas Traditions, Young Mom Insights and Our Top 10 Episodes
Building Strong Homes: Blueprints to Strengthen Your Faith and Family podcast
We’re celebrating five amazing years of incredible testimonies and conversations! In this special anniversary episode, we’re sharing your favorite Christmas traditions, chatting with two inspiring young moms, Carli McNamara and Rebecca Edwards, about holiday memories and motherhood, and revealing the top 10 most-loved episodes of the podcast. Plus, I’ll share how many countries the podcast has reached and the surprising number country where we’re downloaded the most outside of the United States. We also announce the first and second place winners of our celebration giveaway! Whether...
info_outlineWhen I started this podcast, my two best friends, Frieda Younts and Julie Bagwell, graciously agreed to be my first interview. We wanted to help other women find and experience friendship like ours, because good, godly friends can have an amazing impact on your life, as we all can testify. One of the things Frieda said during that interview describes the foundation of our friendship.
She said, “We started with [honoring God in our get-togethers]. When we started with that, God knit us together. That’s why we don’t have huge arguments because we’re knit together by God. He started our friendship, and I think we’ll be friends till we die.”
I sure hope so.
You might be listening to this thinking, “Good for you, Carol. I’m glad you found your friends but I’m still lonely, wishing I had at least one good friend I could count on.” And I understand. I remember how hard those days were when I was a young mom. Or maybe your kids have moved out and you’re struggling to learn how to live this new empty-nest lifestyle and would love to pour out your heart to other women in the same stage of life. Or you may have recently moved to a new community, and you don’t know how to find someone you can relate to.
As I look back at how our friendship formed, I see lessons I’ve learned and things we did right when we weren’t even aware of it. In this episode I share some things we did that I hope will help you find your own lifelong friends.
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If you'd like to connect with me or have an idea for a Kitchen Table episode you can email me at buildingstronghomes@gmail.com
Watch on YouTube From Lonely to Loved: A Blueprint to Building Lasting Friendships with Carol Roper