Our Time to Rise in Midlife

Are you caring for aging parents while still supporting your young adult children? You're not alone. In this episode, Krista and Alex explore the emotional complexity of the sandwich generation — a season marked by grief, shifting roles, guilt, and unexpected growth. They discuss how to manage changing family dynamics, set healthy boundaries, reevaluate expectations, and embrace the opportunity for deeper relationships during this transitional stage of life. If you're feeling stretched between two generations, this conversation offers practical insight, encouragement, and hope. In this episode: Why grief and opportunity often coexist How guilt shows up in caregiving The importance of boundaries and self-care Parenting adult children with clarity and respect Listen in for wisdom and practical tools to help you navigate this complex season with intention. A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Podcast - Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast -Managing Leadership Anxiety: Yours and Theirs with Steve Cuss Book- Managing Leadership Anxiety by Steve Cuss Bible Verses: Exodus 20:12 Ephesians 6:1-3 Mantras *Stay relational, not controlling *Honor without self abandoning LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier  

Are you caring for aging parents while still supporting your young adult children? You're not alone. In this episode, Krista and Alex explore the emotional complexity of the sandwich generation — a season marked by grief, shifting roles, guilt, and unexpected growth. They discuss how to manage changing family dynamics, set healthy boundaries, reevaluate expectations, and embrace the opportunity for deeper relationships during this transitional stage of life. If you're feeling stretched between two generations, this conversation offers practical insight, encouragement, and hope. In this episode: Why grief and opportunity often coexist How guilt shows up in caregiving The importance of boundaries and self-care Parenting adult children with clarity and respect Listen in for wisdom and practical tools to help you navigate this complex season with intention. A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Philippians 1:6 James 1:5 Ecclesiastes 3:1 QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE What is your grief around in this season? Where is the opportunity, in this season for you? Where do you need to let go? What does it look like to offer your young adult freedom? What does it look like to infuse your young adult with belief? LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier  

The challenges of social media don't just affect young women, they impact those of us that are hitting our 40s, 50s, and 60s too! The expectations of what it means to age is moving the needle on what is expected. So how does one decide what to focus on? Care about? Lean into? And accept? We all have different specifics that matter to us, but God's care for our heart and our posture toward the world has not changed. If you are a woman who struggles with aging, have wondered how you can possibly measure up to the beauty standards of the day, or who simply wants to feel confident no matter your age, this conversation is for you! Kristin Wall is mom, mother-in-law, and grandmother and is reflecting on what it means to age in front of the younger women and girls in her life. This is a dynamic conversation that you won't want to miss. FIND MORE ABOUT KRISTIN WALL Kristin Wall- Instagram A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Proverbs 31:30 QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE What is motivating this desire, am I drawn to this out of joy and stewardship or am I drawn to it out of comparison, pressure or feeling less than? Is this helping me feel more like myself or less, does this choice bring peace and confidence or does it create more anxiety and self focus? If no one could see me, would I still want this? Would I still make this decision if it was just me or only because others might notice? Am I caring for my body or trying to correct it? Is this honoring what God gave me or trying to erase what time has done? Is this drawing me closer to gratitude or further into dissatisfaction? Do I feel thankful afterwards or more critical of myself? Would I want my daughter or grand-daughter to feel the same pressure, what message does this pass down? Does this choice expand my life or shrink it? Does it free me to Love, Connect and be present or does it make myself more preoccupied with myself? Have I prayed about this and invited the Holy Spirit into this decision? Am I anchored in who God says I am or in how I look right now? LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier    

It's one of our favorite episodes of the year—our annual Valentine's "Things We Love" tradition! This episode is all about the little things we love: beauty finds, cozy clothes, home upgrades, meaningful gifts, what we're watching and reading, and the random discoveries that made our lives better over the past year. Whether you're shopping for yourself (highly encouraged), building gift ideas, or just love hearing real-life recommendations, this one's for you. A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Toys for the Brain: Battle Shapes Reflex Ball Set Flip Side Hand Eye Trainer Beauty / Clothes: Dmrtlgy luminous under eye corrector Madagascar Centella soothing gel  WOW dreamcoat antifrizz spray Room Service pajamas and Nordstrom pajamas from you! KUT from the Kloth pants Shark Hair Tool - Flexstyle Air Styling + Drying SystemCozy Earth Bath Robes or Terry Bath Wrap Anthro puff sleeve topPants by MaeveSalt and Stone Deodorant  Ouai Hair MaskOuai Scalp and Body Scrub Modlilly Home: Krisi's Sur La Table ratchet pepper grinder Scrub Daddy Power Paste and sponges GE Profile washer/drier combo Travel Jewelry Case (that got lost and is now found) Miele Vacuum Anna Antique Brass Candle Holder  Faux Fur Electric Blanket Lola BlanketsShashibo Battle Shapes Wireless Charging Station for Phones / airpods / apple watchesLuggage Racks for Guests Gifts: Bowls from Costco Lego 3-1 sets Watercolor paints and paper and brushes from Walmart For Graduation:  a very nice men's watch Ballerina Farm Bread Knife + wooden measuring spoons Durable insulated bag for your Costo runs.  Haven Bag Co Merry Sockmas:  Bombas Essentials and Southern Scholar Dress Socks for Men  Cover Your AssetsTravel Jewelry Organizer Workpro Home Tool Kit (pink!) Personalized Minimalist Stationary Kitchen:  Ballerina Farm Protein Breville Smart Oven (air fryer) Thorne Creatine PowderFrozen Grapes Toasted Hazelnuts for Salads Roasted Chickpeas Media: Shows / Movies Knives out three: Wake Up Dead Man on Netflix, Father Jud's character Eras Tour docuseries on Disney Plus, themes of kindness and generosity and staying focused on who you serve House of David on Prime Ruth and Boaz The Rings of Power Books: My Friends: A Novel by Frederik Backman Wild Card interview with Michelle Obama (podcast) Built To Fly by Eric Scofield Shoe Dog by Phil Knight Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy The Great Alone by Kristen Hannah How to Know a Person by David Brooks Emotional Agility by Susan David Follows: David French Kate Bowler Heidi Kristensen (@sustainablefashionstyle on Insta) TandTTwinTalkImscottdonnell Thecodeofthewest Krisimonsivies Best Random Things:  Nobl Travel CarryOn Suitcase - so smart LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier  

It's February! So we are talking all things love! We are starting with the HOW of loving those in your closest circles. Bethany Kimsey is a mom to eight and has developed a system for studying the people she loves most so that she can love them well. We are all changing every day. Our needs, interests, doubts, celebrations, hopes, and struggles have nuance. How do we make sure that we are doing the best we can in loving those around us as they are TODAY?    Bethany offers us a framework for how she observes and listens to God as she considers how she will care for her people. It is a thoughtful process done over days and helps guide her as she parents, cares for her husband and her friends. It is an exercise you can do no matter the state of your relationships or your concerns for those you love. It is a process between you and God that guides your next steps.   As we consider what it is to love well - let's listen in and try out what we are now calling "Bethany's method". FIND MORE ABOUT BETHANY KIMSEY Bethany Kimsey's- Website and Instagram Bethany Kimsey's Podcast- Warrior Mama Podcast FEW THINGS MENTIONED Bible verses -Romans 4 -1 John -John 7: 37-39 -Isaiah 40:11 -Jeremiah 33:3 QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE How do you sense that you are God's beloved? Sit right now and accept His love. Who can you study in your circle, take some time to do an inventory and observe, then assess and ask God to give you eyes to see them and to have some insight and then pray if and when to speak what you observe. What questions can you have ready to ask when you want to get to the heart of an issue without giving a leacture? LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier  

Do you struggle with what to wear or find yourself staring at your closet wondering what actually looks good on you? You're not alone — and that's exactly what we're talking about in today's episode. We're joined by Lisa Davenport, an Australian body archetype and style expert who helps women understand how to dress in a way that truly works for their bodies. Lisa has spent years in the fashion industry and is passionate about helping women stand tall in the bodies they've been given, dressing with confidence instead of comparison. In this conversation, Lisa breaks down what body archetypes really are, why certain styles flatter you while others don't, and how small shifts in fit, cut, and proportion can completely change how you feel when you get dressed. Her philosophy is simple but powerful: it's not your body that's the problem — it's learning what works for it. If getting dressed feels frustrating or overwhelming, this episode will help you see your wardrobe in a new light. This year, step into confidence by wearing what looks great on you and finally leave the guesswork behind. FIND MORE ABOUT LISA DAVENPORT Lisa Davenport- Instagram QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE Stand Infront of a mirror and look at your shape and be honest, what shape am I? Then go to Pinterest and look-up that shape and see what people are wearing. Who can you enlist to help you thin out your closet? What time can you set aside to organize and then shop your own closet? What two things can you do this week to up level your confidence through what you wear? LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier  

What happens when all of the things that used to work, stop working? Or maybe your body doesn't respond to exercise, diet, supplements or alcohol like your friend's does. Why?! We bring you Dr. Devan Szcepankski, the Founder and CEO of Nu Well Medicine. She is a board-certified family medicine physician with post-graduate certifications in Nutritional and Genomic Medicine. She uses nutrition and genomics to find how our bodies uniquely respond to our environments. She works one-on-one with patients to see what exactly THEY need to thrive.  So back to the why? You may be asking, Why doesn't my body work like it used to? Why does my BFF get different results with the same workout plan? Because you are a unique person with unique traits. Dr. Devan walks us through the factors from gut health to genetic predisposition that could help answer your questions and ultimately get you to better health. If you are wanting the new rules to midlife health, look no further. It's just the rules might be just as unique as you are. FIND MORE ABOUT DR DEVAN SZCZEPANSKI Dr. Devan Szczepanski- Website and Instagram Dr. Devan work - Website 2 FEW THINGS MENTIONED Books Fast Like a Girl- Dr Mindy Pelz Eat Like a Girl- Dr Mindy Pelz A Diet for Your Blood Type- QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE What would it look like to pay more attention to your gut health this year? If sleep is one of the main indicator of health what shift do you need to make in your sleeping habits? What would it look like for you to advocate for greater health with your practitioners? LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier  

What happens when all of the things that used to work, stop working? Or maybe your body doesn't respond to exercise, diet, supplements or alcohol like your friend's does. Why?! We bring you Dr. Devan Szcepankski, the Founder and CEO of Nu Well Medicine. She is a board-certified family medicine physician with post-graduate certifications in Nutritional and Genomic Medicine. She uses nutrition and genomics to find how our bodies uniquely respond to our environments. She works one-on-one with patients to see what exactly THEY need to thrive.  So back to the why? You may be asking, Why doesn't my body work like it used to? Why does my BFF get different results with the same workout plan? Because you are a unique person with unique traits. Dr. Devan walks us through the factors from gut health to genetic predisposition that could help answer your questions and ultimately get you to better health. If you are wanting the new rules to midlife health, look no further. It's just the rules might be just as unique as you are. FIND MORE ABOUT DR DEVAN SZCZEPANSKI Dr. Devan Szczepanski- Website and Instagram QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE What are your challenges health-wise in midlife? What is one wrong-right thing that you've been doing that you can stop doing? Has your body responded to something months or years later, where you have realised now that your body was responding to stress that happened a long time ago? How does it make you feel to consider your body responding and holding on to that stress for so long? What are you wanting to do better in your health as far as understanding your body in 2026? LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier    

Many of us feel the pressure of needing to reinvent ourselves every January.  Maybe what we actually need is a more sustainable, compassionate approach to growth. Instead of drastic resolutions, what if we explore the power of realistic goals, small shifts, and emotional agility—the kind of changes that actually stick?  This episode speaks directly to seasons of burnout and stagnation,reminding us all that acceptance is not giving up—it's often the first step forward. We discuss the circle of control, helping you discern what's yours to carry (and what isn't), and why reclaiming agency begins with clarity, not force. You'll also hear a thoughtful exploration of identity and motivation—how who we believe ourselves to be shapes the choices we make—and why mindfulness matters more than ever in midlife. This conversation is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and make room for change that feels aligned instead of exhausting. The episode closes with a prayer for guidance and peace, offering grounding and hope as we step into 2026 with intention, grace, and trust.  In this episode: Why incremental change is often more powerful than big resolutions How acceptance can coexist with growth Recognizing burnout and stagnation without judgment Using the circle of control to reduce overwhelm The role of identity in lasting motivation Simple mindfulness practices for everyday life A closing prayer to anchor you as a new year begins A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Emotional Agility- Susan David Atomic Habit- James Clear QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE What do you need to accept? What is in your circle of control and what isn't? What is your "I am someone who" statement? What can you keep doing, what can you stop doing and what can you start doing in 2026? LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier  

Christmas magic makers - do you have a group you are needing to feed? Perhaps you have one significant meal you are preparing for, or like us, you have days of meals that are needed to feed more than are usually home. We have some tips for you! From how to make the food stretch (think loaves and fishes but in soup format) to how to get others to help (assign jobs or favorite foods) we've got ideas for you. We also cover how to balance from sit down to feed yourselves, how a "food bar" helps meet various preferences and dietary restrictions, and how bigger kids eat more, but also can take on a lot more responsibility.   Food during the holidays can bring an extra dose of nostalgia. Let's not let it also bring an extra dose of stress. Plan ahead. Bring a joyful attitude. And celebrate that you have mouths to feed and food to offer them. Expectations might need to be adjusted, but we believe in you and trust that, along with your team of helpers, you can feed ALL the people this holiday season. A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Proverbs 11:25 Italian Meatball Orzo Soup Italian Sausage White Bean Soup Apres Ski Chicken Dumplings Soup Zuppa Toscana Clam Chowder in bread bowls panini maker Chicken Marbella Soft Peanut Brittle QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE What does success look like to you as you gather people this season? What is one way you can prepare now to gather and feed people near Christmas? What would it look like to involve others in the cooking this year? Make a list of possible meals that you can make or you can download Krista's Christmas planning guide, get it out of your head to the paper. How can you embody the spirit of Christmas this year as you host others? LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make y  

Are you hosting over the holidays… or avoiding it? Do you ever wonder what actually matters when you open your home—and what absolutely doesn't? If so, this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale. This week, Alex and Krista sit down with author and hospitality mentor Abby Kuykendall, whose book Let the Biscuits Burn gives permission to let go of entertaining to embrace the true heart of hospitality. Let's peel back the pressure, perfectionism, and Pinterest-level expectations surrounding hosting—especially during the holidays—and get honest about what true Biblical hospitality really looks like. Takeaways: Hospitality is both a spiritual gift and a discipline. True hospitality focuses on making others feel loved and seen. Entertaining is different from hospitality; it's more self-centered. Setting boundaries is crucial to prevent burnout during hosting. Practical tips can help incorporate hospitality into daily life. Creating a welcoming environment is key to effective hospitality. Hospitality can be transformative for both host and guest. Personal experiences highlight the power of opening one's home. Hospitality doesn't have to be perfect; it's about connection. The conversation encourages embracing hospitality as a rhythm. FIND MORE ABOUT ABBY KUYKENDALL Abby Kuykendall- Website and Instagram Abby Kuykendall's Book- Let the Biscuit Burn A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Revelation 19 1 Peter QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE When have you felt seen, known and loved, what did the other person do to help you feel that way? How can you be disciplined to build hospitality into your rhythms? What is one visual reminder you can create in your home or office that will trigger an invitation of hospitality? How can you get ready to be ready this holiday season? LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier  

How is the world feeling to you these days? How does Christmas fit into all of the headlines of the day? What about grief during a time when we are told we should be celebrating? Alex reminds us of why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Jesus came BECAUSE OF the grief of the world. He surprised the world with his arrival and now we wait with expectation for his return. Whether you aren't sure how to celebrate when your neighbors are suffering, or you are the one facing difficult circumstances - this is your annual reminder that Jesus is the hope of the world and this is why we remember his arrival every year. A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Books Celebrating Abundance by Walter Brueggermann Loving My Actual Christmas by Alex Kuykendall Episodes Episode 311- Christmas is Coming Episode 105- Loving My Actual Christmas Episode 480- Make Room for Hope Episode 481-Make Room for Peace Episode 482- Make Room for Joy Episode 483- Make Room for Love Episode 310- Moving Through Grief and Loss at Christmas Episode 507- Walking Kids Through Grief + Loss Sermon Colorado Community Church LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

How are you doing this week friend? Are you experiencing the busy of Thanksgiving week? The threshold of the holiday season can be overwhelming with so many responsibilities and shoulds. We are often the holiday makers for those ahead of us in life (our parents) and those behind (our kids and grandkids.) On top of the to-do list there can be the relational heaviness midlife can bring. The holidays can highlight where we are already hurting. Other midlife stressors can be equally painful. But we don't have to dread our life - or our holiday season. Gary Thomas is here to remind us that we live in freedom because Jesus offers us this gift. Yes, we have heartache, but more than that we have the promise of Christ that he has overcome the world. As you are baking your pies and basting your turkey over the next few days, join us as we dismantle some lies that are keeping us from walking in the way of Christ. Gary is honest, humble, and not wrong! This season of midlife can be disorienting and difficult. We also can experience the contrast of hope and good news that is in the resurrected Christ. FIND MORE ABOUT GARY THOMAS Gary Thomas- Website and Instagram Gary Thomas Book- The Life You Were Reborn to Live A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Genesis 3:16 Romans 7 1 Corinthians 15 John 16:33 1 Timothy 6:8 QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE What does it look like to pursue wisdom of God over everything at this stage in life? What does it look like to offer up your child to God, like Abraham did with Isaac? Is there an area of life where you feel you have unknowingly tipped into entitlement? Is there an area of good in your life that has become normal that you can see with fresh eyes again? LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

Midlife can be exhausting. The amount of change we go through in this season of life brings grief. At the same time our bodies are changing in a way that can make us feel even more out of sorts. That is why Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is talking to us about emotional rest.   It's not a surprise that fear peaks its head and identity is questioned in this storm of change. Dr. Dalton-Smith reminds us we must pray for God's clarity and as we move through this journey. We need to watch our self-talk and the messages we are repeating in our own minds. And we must find a community of true belonging, where we are safe to explore these changes and how they impact our self perception.   We hope this is a place that feels like true belonging to you. As you experience the stress of midlife, we hope you press play, exhale, and remember that you belong to God no matter your age or stage. FIND MORE ABOUT DR. SAUNDRA DALTON-SMITH Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith- Website and Instagram Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith Book- Being Fully Known A FEW THINGS MENTIONED DR. Saundra's other books Sacred Rest QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE Where in your life are you resisting change? If your pot is being stirred, is there something coming up in you that you need to pay attention to? What does it look like to accept your current situation so you can find the joy in what is? What form of sacred rest are you practicing so your soul is being watered? How can you explore what is underneath a fear you have? What have you been avoiding facing? What part of you are you holding back? LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier  

Do you want to make the most of this holiday season?  Do you want to let go of what doesn't matter and grab onto those things that make real and lasting memories?  So do we.     In this episode, Jessica Smartt joins us to discuss how to create lasting memories during the holidays while balancing traditions and new experiences. We talk about the importance of creating a welcoming home environment, managing expectations, and engaging older kids in meaningful activities.   We also dive into the significance of building sibling relationships and the challenges that come with the holiday season, always landing with both feet on the hope that comes from celebrating together despite difficulties.   If you want to prepare your head and heart for the holiday season, listen in!     Takeaways The holidays are a time to create special memories with family. Strong families are built through intentional moments and connections. It's important to balance time-honored traditions with new experiences. Creating a welcoming home environment can enhance family gatherings. Managing expectations is crucial to enjoying the holiday season. Flexibility is key when planning holiday activities. Engaging older kids in meaningful traditions can strengthen family bonds. Sibling relationships can be nurtured through shared holiday activities. Every family faces challenges during the holidays, and that's okay. Celebrating the holidays is an opportunity to embody hope and joy. Titles Creating Lasting Holiday Memories Balancing Traditions and New Experiences Sound Bites "I want our memories to be special." "What is your howling coyote?" "That's hope. That's beautiful." FIND MORE ABOUT JESSICA SMARTT Jessica Smartt's- Website and Instagram Jessica Smartt's Book- Come on Home A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Jessica's Other Book Memory Making Mom The Light at Tern Rock- QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE What would it look like to take a posture of flexibility this holiday season? As Jessica said, God has uniquely wired you with gifts for your family, how can you capitalize on those gifts that you already have to create more of a nest for your family? How can you embody the spirit of the holiday you are celebrating? What is one action step from the podcast you can implement and be specific is it an idea, posture, game or tradition? What is the opportunity God is inviting you into your specific hard this holiday season? LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

The holidays are approaching, which means conversations around the dinner table. Are you looking forward to them or dreading them? We can prepare mentally and spiritually for those moments, by choosing the opposite of our natural inclinations. Jesus calls us to be peacemakers, but often we don't feel like it when our buttons are being pushed. So how? How do we choose the opposite of anger, and gotcha, when that is what our instincts are indicating?   On the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us to not only consider the opposite, but also practice it. Tammy Melchien, a teaching pastor at Community Christian Church in Chicago, joins us as we consider what it means to be people of peace this holiday season. We do not need to meet anger with anger. We CAN make different choices with the help of the Holy Spirit. We can allow God's goodness to work in us, and therefore through us. Push play to listen in.   FIND MORE ABOUT TAMMY MELCHIEN Tammy's- Website and Instagram   Tammy's Book- Choosing the Opposite   A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Finding Nemo Movie   QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE Where is a place in your life where you could choose the opposite? Is there a person you will see over the holidays that may cause you to respond in a way that is not aligned with who you want to be? How can you prepare now to practice healthy detachment in the moment when you are with them? How can you cultivate becoming more of a person of peace both internally, what you're experiencing in your soul and externally how you respond to other people? LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will imme  

Letting go is the name of the game in midlife. We're invited to open our hands, releasing what was and receiving what is. Whether it's a role we once held, a relationship that's shifted, a long-held dream, or even our health, midlife invites deep transformation through loss and renewal. In this episode, Krista Gilbert and Alex Kuykendall explore the sacred art of letting go through the lens of Scripture and grounded psychological insight. They discuss the necessity of grieving what's been lost while making space for new beginnings. Ultimately, letting go isn't a passive act - it's an intentional, faith-filled practice that opens the door to freedom, peace, and deeper trust in God's unfolding story. If you find yourself in a surrendering season, this episode is for you! TAKEAWAYS: It's essential to discern when to end something and when to persevere. Letting go is a gradual process, much like building a muscle. Midlife brings significant changes that require us to let go. Grief is a natural response to change and loss. Surrendering to God's will is a key aspect of faith. Self-regulation is essential in navigating life's transitions. Letting go can be painful, as it often involves loss of identity. Ending well is important for personal growth and closure. Recognizing expectations can help in the letting go process. Scripture provides numerous examples of letting go and trusting God. FEW THINGS MENTIONED Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 John 12:24 Episode 469- Who Am I if? QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE Is there an area where you need to surrender? Thinking of Ecclesiastes 3, what season is changing for you right now? Can you form a statement much like in Ecclesiastes 3 that says there is a season for one thing and a season for another in your life, be specific in how your seasons are changing. What is God inviting you into as you discern your next steps? When have you been blessed by letting go? LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will imme  

Jessica Kastner isn't afraid to talk about divorce. Though it's not part of what she anticipated as part of her story, it is and she wants to give women, especially Christian women, the space and place to talk about it. What does it feel like? How do we understand it in terms of faith? How can we move forward in health for ourselves and our children? Midlife is often a time when divorce enters the picture. The changes and stressors that happen can accentuate hurtful patterns. This episode is meant to be a reminder that God meets us in all circumstances. Whether divorce is part of your story or you have friends walking that road, this conversation provides a framework for forging a path toward healing. FIND MORE ABOUT JESSICA KASTNER Jessica Kastner/Blog – Website and Facebook Jessica Kastner Podcast- Free Failing Jessica Kastner Book- Hiding from My Kids in the Prayer Closet FEW THINGS MENTIONED Psalms 91 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 Alex's Book- Seeking Out Goodness QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE How has divorce impacted you? What insights did you gain from this conversation and how will it impact your relationships? How can you be a good friend to someone else that's been impacted by divorce LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier  

Most resources around adoption focus on early childhood—when questions are simple and development is more predictable. But what happens when our kids become teens and young adults, and the questions grow deeper? In this episode, we sit down with Sherri Crandall, children's book author and VP of Global Ministries and Leadership Experience for The MomCo, Sherri opens up about her family's path to adoption and the evolving conversations she's having now with her daughter, Lexi, as she steps into adulthood. Together we explore: Why it's important to invite young adults to lead conversations about identity, heritage, and belonging How to honor each child's unique story, rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all narrative Practical ways to help adopted young people connect to their cultural roots If you're a parent, family member, or anyone who loves an adopted child, this episode is especially for you. Join us as we dive into what it really means to walk alongside someone through adoption during the teen and young adult years. FIND MORE ABOUT SHERRI CRANDALL Sherri Crandall's – Website and Instagram Sherri Crandall's Book- Lexi the Butterfly QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE If you are not adopted, consider for a moment what it would be like to enter adulthood with no connections to your birth family, what questions would you picture rising up in you? If you are an adoptive parent, how can you let your child or young-adult lead the conversation around adoption? How can you honor your child's heritage and birth family in both your traditions and conversations? What message do you want to make sure they know from you? LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier  

John Trent and his daughter Kari Trent Stageberg understand family dynamics. They want families to be strong and welcoming. But how? How do you offer a blessing to those you hold most dear? The father-daughter duo take a fresh approach to the classic book The Blessing to encourage families today to incorporate key Biblical elements so that kids grow up knowing they are loved. Parents are setting patterns for future relationships. Parents pay attention. No matter the age of your children - you can give them building blocks to receive God's love. Push play on this episode for more. FIND MORE ABOUT JOHN AND KARI John Trent's – Website and Instagram Kari Trent Stageberg - Website and Instagram John and Kari's Book- The Blessing FEW THINGS MENTIONED Books The Merge for Marriage Bible verses Genesis 27 Genesis 48 Deuteronomy 23:5 Ephesians 1:1 Ephesians 1:2 Quote "It's not that we fear God's best, we fear how painful His best can be" Cs Lewis QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE Who was it who looked at you with unconditional love and acceptance? What part of this interview felt most relevant to your life now? If you could make one shift or change based on what John and Kari said, what would it be? LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier