Dreams, Dirt & Grace- Business, Homeschooling, Simple Living & Parenting Hacks for Moms

279-The Date that Steadies Our Marriage with Special Guest, My Hubby

What started as a goal-setting meeting eventually became one of the most grounding rhythms in our marriage.

In this episode, my husband and I sit down together to share the end-of-year date we’ve been returning to for over a decade—not because we’re disciplined or perfect, but because life moves fast and marriage needs tending.

We talk honestly about:

• Why this tradition didn’t start as a spiritual practice

• How chasing goals and achievement left us misaligned

• What shifted when we invited God not just into our plans, but over our year

• What this date actually looks like (spoiler: it’s simple, sometimes messy, and never fancy)

• How reflecting before planning has steadied our marriage through busy, uncertain, and hard seasons

This conversation isn’t about productivity or having it all figured out. It’s about pausing long enough to see each other again, listening for God’s voice together, and choosing alignment over achievement.

If you’re a mama craving intention, connection, and a marriage rhythm that brings peace instead of pressure, this episode is an invitation to slow down and pull up a chair.

Marriage isn’t something you perfect.
It’s something you return to.

 

If you want to learn how to embrace the Dirt on your journey, come join me over on Substack at kawailani.substack.com

278: Mama, Your Plate Is Too Full (And God Didn’t Ask You to Carry All of This)

In this episode we’ll talk about…

• Good things can still crowd out God things
  
  
• Discernment over people-pleasing
  
  
• Choosing what’s mine to carry and what isn’t
  
  

This is for the overwhelmed mamas who feel stretched thin and quietly resentful (like me when I crowded my calendar with toooo much).

 

If you want to learn how to embrace the Dirt on your journey, come join me over on Substack at kawailani.substack.com

277: When God Stripped It Away (2025 as a Pruning Season)

This isn’t a teaching episode.

This is a testimony.

2025 was the year God stripped it away.

Not gently.
Not quietly.
Not one thing at a time.

But layer by layer… identity by identity.

And for the first time in my entire adult life, I was left standing without the things that told me who I was.

 

 

If you want to learn how to embrace the Dirt on your journey, come join me over on Substack at kawailani.substack.com

276: When God Clears the Garden So New Growth Can Come

I'm kicking off the new year of 2026 with a Season of  episodes called When God Clears the Garden So New Growth Can Come

Every episode fits under one gentle truth:
God has been stripping, simplifying, strengthening, and re-ordering.

This season isn’t about doing more.
It’s about seeing clearly.

 

Make sure you Subscribe to the show so you get notified when the next episode is released.

 

If you want to learn how to embrace the Dirt on your journey, come join me over on Substack at kawailani.substack.com

275- More Than a Feeling: Learning to Hear God in Your Decisions

Have you ever said “yes” to something just because it felt good? Same here. I used to make big life decisions based on that warm, peaceful feeling and call it confirmation. But over time, I learned that following God isn’t always about the feelings—it’s about faith, obedience, and listening for His voice in deeper ways.

In this episode, I share a personal story about how I almost said yes to an opportunity that looked perfect on paper—but instead, God took me on a journey of prayer, discernment, surrender, and clarity. I walk you through the steps I’ve learned to take when making big decisions—from praying alone to seeking wise counsel, waiting in stillness, and asking God to search my heart.

This one’s for you if you’re in a season of “should I or shouldn’t I?”, if the old ways of “feeling led” aren’t quite working anymore, or if you’re learning to trust God with your yes and your no.

 

If you want to learn how to embrace the Dirt on your journey, come join me over on Substack at kawailani.substack.com

274: Mama Systems That Actually Work (For Us)

Real-life rhythms, chore strategies, and sanity-saving systems from a homeschooling mama of 5.

 

Let’s be real—keeping a household running, homeschooling the kids, and keeping everyone fed (without losing your mind) requires more than just a good planner. In this episode, I’m opening up our real-life mama systems: the chore rhythms, life skills training, tech boundaries, and daily routines that have actually helped our family thrive—not just survive.

You’ll hear how we’ve:

• Taught our kids independence (yes, they can do laundry and cook!)
  
  
• Shifted from reward systems to responsibility mindsets
  
  
• Built chore routines that don’t cause daily arguments
  
  
• Managed electronics in a way that honors their growth and our peace
  
  
• Created rhythms that invite rest, structure, and more Jesus into our days
  
  

Whether you’re overwhelmed by dishes, drowning in socks, or just curious how another mama makes it work—this episode is here to encourage you with practical ideas (and a whole lot of grace).

🔁 Because what works for one family won’t work for all… but sometimes, hearing someone else’s “working messy” helps you find your own.

 

 

If you want to learn how to embrace the Dirt on your journey, come join me over on Substack at kawailani.substack.com

273: What We Learned Outside the Lesson Plan

Spoiler alert: Some of the best lessons don’t come from a textbook.
In this episode, we’re talking about the learning that happens off the page—in the dirt, in the backyard, in the chicken coop, on the trail, at the playground, and in all those beautifully unplanned moments that make homeschool feel alive.

From incubating quail eggs to building bike ramps, from visiting small local businesses to crafting DIY Halloween costumes, we discovered that “school” doesn’t always come from a workbook. Sometimes the most meaningful lessons happen when life interrupts the plan.

If you’ve ever felt guilty because you couldn’t stick to the schedule… or because your kids learn better in the wild than at the table… this episode will breathe fresh grace into your homeschool.

This is your permission slip to embrace the rabbit trails, the muddy boots, the spontaneous field trips, and the joyful chaos that actually counts as learning.

Grab your coffee (or your cold reheated one 😉) and let’s talk about all the magic happening outside the lesson plan.

 

 

If you want to learn how to embrace the Dirt on your journey, come join me over on Substack at kawailani.substack.com

272: This Curriculum Is Not the Boss of You

Feeling behind? Burnt out? Like the stack of curriculum you bought is staring you down with judgmental eyes?

Been there, mama. 🙋🏽‍♀️

In this episode of Dreams, Dirt & Grace, we’re talking about the moment when your beautiful, color-coded homeschool plan falls apart—and what to do next. I’m sharing real stories, honest struggles, and what I’ve learned about making curriculum serve us, not the other way around.

You’ll walk away with encouragement, practical mindset shifts, and a whole lot of grace for those "we're behind again!" days.

✨ Because curriculum is a tool—not your taskmaster. And you, mama, are the teacher God chose.

 

If you want to learn how to embrace the Dirt on your journey, come join me over on Substack at kawailani.substack.com

271- Homeschooling in the Wild: How to Keep It Joyful, Simple & Rooted in What Matters

In this episode, we’re diving into the real-life mess and magic of homeschooling. Whether you're knee-deep in lesson plans, wondering if you're "doing it right," or just trying to survive another day without someone crying over math (and it might be you), this one’s for you.

We’ll talk about:

• How to simplify your homeschool rhythm
  
  
• What to do when you feel burnt out
  
  
• Why joy and curiosity matter more than a perfect curriculum
  
  
• How to invite God into your homeschool planning (without needing a seminary degree)
  
  
• And real-life tips from our own family’s homestead-homeschool mash-up
  
  

By the end, I hope you feel encouraged, grounded, and reminded that your homeschool doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. Because your family, your story, and your pace is part of God's perfect plan.

 

 

 

If you want to learn how to embrace the Dirt on your journey, come join me over on Substack at kawailani.substack.com

270: “What If I Just Gave It All Up?” When You’re Tempted to Walk Away from the Calling (of Being a SAHM)

Ever wonder if all this staying home, pouring out, and homeschooling is really worth it?

In this honest episode, I’m sharing a moment where I almost walked away from the calling—and what helped me stay rooted. We’ll talk about the tug-of-war between purpose and pressure, and how God reminded me that this season of motherhood matters deeply.

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Takeaways:

• Doubt doesn’t mean you’re not called.

• Obedience sometimes looks like staying.

• Your faithfulness at home is kingdom work.

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For the mama who feels tired, torn, or tempted to chase something else—this one’s for you. 

 

If you want to learn how to embrace the Dirt on your journey, come join me over on Substack at kawailani.substack.com