30 Oct 2026
Silly Books, Sweet Homes, and Discipline That Restores, with Macy Bassler
Foster and homeschool mom Macy Bassler talks about discipling kids through silly stories, a warm family culture, and discipline that restores fellowship.
Show notes
Terrie talks with Macy Bassler, a pediatric physical therapist, homeschool mom, and the voice behind The Fruitful Family. Macy and her husband said yes to foster care and were matched with a six-year-old girl who needed a forever home. Within two years they had three children. Macy shares what God taught her through advocating for a daughter with special needs, walking through three miscarriages, and choosing to step away from her career to homeschool.
Macy also introduces her first picture book, Ferdinand, the Fish Who Feared Bubbles. It began as a bedtime story for her very active four-year-old. She and Terrie discuss why a silly book can disciple a child just as well as a "living book." What children remember most is the time spent reading together.
From there, the conversation turns to building a family culture your kids will look back on as sweet. They talk about why a parent's own walk with God matters most, and about putting down the phone and looking your child in the eye. They also cover why consistency matters when you can't see fruit yet, and Macy explains why kids are like potatoes. Finally, they talk about what biblical discipline is really for. Its goal isn't punishment. It's restoring a child to fellowship with the family.
In this episode:
Saying yes to God when the road is harder than you planned
Why silly stories still have a place in discipleship
Meeting each child where they are
Creating a family culture of warmth and welcome
Consistency and the long game of faith
Discipline as restoration, not punishment
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome, guest intro, and the Storybook Inkspiration Retreat
02:23 Macy's unexpected path into foster care and motherhood
05:28 Miscarriage, Scripture, and renewed closeness with God
07:04 Stepping away from work to homeschool
07:44 Saying yes to God when you can't see the road ahead
11:25 Ferdinand, the Fish Who Feared Bubbles
13:25 Why silly stories and reading together matter
16:37 Meeting children where they are as learners
19:03 Family culture starts with the parent's walk with God
21:48 Eye contact, defining moments, and a home that welcomes
24:35 Beyond Sunday school answers: consistency and the long game
28:54 Discipline as restoration, not punishment
32:55 Wrap-up and Macy's book release
Resources mentioned:
Macy Bassler / The Fruitful Family: https://thefruitfulfamily.org/
Ferdinand, the Fish Who Feared Bubbles (releases November 17): https://thefruitfulfamily.org/ferdinand
Storybook Inkspiration Retreat, April 2027, Broken Bow, Oklahoma: https://www.hypurpleypublishing.com/storybook-inkspiration-retreat
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