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

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 System
Cozy Earth Bath Robes or Terry Bath Wrap

Anthro puff sleeve top
Pants by Maeve
Salt and Stone Deodorant 

Ouai Hair Mask
Ouai 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 Blankets
Shashibo Battle Shapes

Wireless Charging Station for Phones / airpods / apple watches
Luggage 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 Assets
Travel Jewelry Organizer

Workpro Home Tool Kit (pink!)
Personalized Minimalist Stationary

Kitchen: 

Ballerina Farm Protein

Breville Smart Oven (air fryer)
Thorne Creatine Powder
Frozen 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)

TandTTwinTalk
Imscottdonnell
Thecodeofthewest

Krisimonsivies

Best Random Things: 

Nobl Travel CarryOn Suitcase - so smart

LET’S CONNECT!

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Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!

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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

1. How do you sense that you are God's beloved? Sit right now and accept His love.
2. 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.
3. 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!

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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

1. 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.
2. Who can you enlist to help you thin out your closet?
3. What time can you set aside to organize and then shop your own closet?
4. What two things can you do this week to up level your confidence through what you wear?

LET’S CONNECT!

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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

1. What would it look like to pay more attention to your gut health this year?
2. If sleep is one of the main indicator of health what shift do you need to make in your sleeping habits?
3. 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

1. What are your challenges health-wise in midlife?
2. What is one wrong-right thing that you've been doing that you can stop doing?
3. 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?
4. How does it make you feel to consider your body responding and holding on to that stress for so long?
5. What are you wanting to do better in your health as far as understanding your body in 2026?

LET’S CONNECT!

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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

1. What do you need to accept?
2. What is in your circle of control and what isn't?
3. What is your "I am someone who" statement?
4. What can you keep doing, what can you stop doing and what can you start doing in 2026?

LET’S CONNECT!

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Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

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

1. What does success look like to you as you gather people this season?
2. What is one way you can prepare now to gather and feed people near Christmas?
3. What would it look like to involve others in the cooking this year?
4. 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.
5. How can you embody the spirit of Christmas this year as you host others?

LET’S CONNECT!

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Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!

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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

1. When have you felt seen, known and loved, what did the other person do to help you feel that way?
2. How can you be disciplined to build hospitality into your rhythms?
3. What is one visual reminder you can create in your home or office that will trigger an invitation of hospitality?
4. How can you get ready to be ready this holiday season?

LET’S CONNECT!

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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!

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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

1. What does it look like to pursue wisdom of God over everything at this stage in life?
2. What does it look like to offer up your child to God, like Abraham did with Isaac?
3. Is there an area of life where you feel you have unknowingly tipped into entitlement?
4. Is there an area of good in your life that has become normal that you can see with fresh eyes again?

LET’S CONNECT!

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Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

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

1. Where in your life are you resisting change?
2. If your pot is being stirred, is there something coming up in you that you need to pay attention to?
3. What does it look like to accept your current situation so you can find the joy in what is?
4. What form of sacred rest are you practicing so your soul is being watered?
5. How can you explore what is underneath a fear you have? What have you been avoiding facing?
6. What part of you are you holding back?

LET’S CONNECT!

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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

1. What would it look like to take a posture of flexibility this holiday season?

2. 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?

3. How can you embody the spirit of the holiday you are celebrating?

4. What is one action step from the podcast you can implement and be specific is it an idea, posture, game or tradition?

5. What is the opportunity God is inviting you into your specific hard this holiday season?

LET’S CONNECT!

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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

1. Is there an area where you need to surrender?
2. Thinking of Ecclesiastes 3, what season is changing for you right now?
3. 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.
4. What is God inviting you into as you discern your next steps?
5. When have you been blessed by letting go?

LET’S CONNECT!

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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

1. How has divorce impacted you?
2. What insights did you gain from this conversation and how will it impact your relationships?
3. How can you be a good friend to someone else that's been impacted by divorce

LET’S CONNECT!

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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

1. 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?
2. If you are an adoptive parent, how can you let your child or young-adult lead the conversation around adoption?
3. How can you honor your child's heritage and birth family in both your traditions and conversations?
4. What message do you want to make sure they know from you?

LET’S CONNECT!

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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

1. Who was it who looked at you with unconditional love and acceptance?
2. What part of this interview felt most relevant to your life now?
3. If you could make one shift or change based on what John and Kari said, what would it be?

LET’S CONNECT!

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Motherhood and identity often get so tightly woven together that it feels impossible to separate the two. But what if motherhood isn’t our highest calling? What if it’s a beautiful and significant part of who we are, but not the ultimate definition of our purpose?

As our children grow, into their teen and young adult years especially, it becomes crucial to rediscover and redefine who we are beyond motherhood.

Today, we are joined by author and speaker Vicki Courtney. Vicki is not only a seasoned writer but also a mother who has walked this journey, learning how to release control and embrace life outside of her children.

Moms, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. It’s a timely reminder that while motherhood matters deeply, your ultimate identity rests in something far greater.

FIND MORE ABOUT VICKI COURTNEY

Vicki Courtney's – Website and Instagram

Vicki Courtney's Book- Motherhood Is Not Your Highest Calling

FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Vicki's other books

-Move On

-5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Daughter

-5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Son

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. How does it sit with you to hear that motherhood is not your highest calling?
2. How can we be more intentional about how we speak about our calling and identity with our children?
3. What can you do to cultivate intimacy and growth in your marriage in this season or this week?
4. What can you do to cultivate parts of yourself toward growth and discovery?

LET’S CONNECT!

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Life is not meant to be lived alone. Throw some midlife stress in the mix and we really aren't meant to handle life's storms without the scaffolding of a community of friends. Toni Collier joins us to share her experience facing huge life challenges and how her friends were there in her darkest moments.

What does friendship look like these days for you? Do you feel like you are pulled in multiple directions? You have guilt you haven't offered your friends more of your attention? How about vulnerability? Are you willing to trust those around you? How about repairing when things have been fractured? How can you find friends if you are feeling all alone?

We talk through the unique aspects of female friendships in midlife. How to discern who to invest in, who to hold tight, and who to welcome to the larger group. If you are lonely this episode is for you. If you are exhausted this episode is for you. If you want to be a good friend to those around you this episode is for you.

FIND MORE ABOUT TONI COLLIER

Toni Collier’s – Website and Instagram

Toni Collier's Book- Don't Try This Alone

Toni Collier's Podcast- Still Coloring

FEW THINGS MENTIONED

-Kurk Thompsons Concept

(To be Seen, Soothed, Safe and Secure)

-Jim Murphy Book- Inner Excellence

-Lysa TerKeurst Book's- Good Boundaries and Goodbyes

- Forgiving What You Can't Forget

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. In what area of your life have you been isolating or hiding?
2. Who could you bring into your close circle?
3. If there is one thing you are taking away from this interview, what would it be?

LET’S CONNECT!

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Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!

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Parenting doesn’t stop when our kids turn 18, but it sure does change. In this episode, we’re talking about what it really looks like to navigate the young adult years with these children we love so much.

We dig into that tricky shift, moving from the role of “director” to more of a “guide on the side.” You’ll hear honest insights about letting go, building trust, and learning how to communicate in a way that actually works for this new season.

It’s not always easy, especially when every instinct tells you to jump in and fix things, but there’s real beauty when we step back, trust our kids’ choices, and cheer them on.

Joining us for this episode is Catherine Hickem, a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and the founder of Parenting Adult Children Today. With over 40 years of experience in parenting and therapy, Catherine is dedicated to equipping parents with the tools needed to love and support their adult children effectively.

If you’re ready to build healthier, stronger connections with your adult kids (and maybe even enjoy the ride a little more), this conversation is for you.

FIND MORE ABOUT CATHERINE HICKEM

Catherine Hickem – Website and Instagram

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. Is there an expectation you need to grieve when it comes to your adult children inorder to enter with curiosity into their lives?
2. What would a pause or a statement look like if you don't know how to respond?
3. Is there a conversation that needs to be had, in order to move forward with a young adult child?
4. Is there any anger you need to get underneath and what fear or sadness lies underneath that anger?

LET’S CONNECT!

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Hosanna Wong has been traveling the country (literally, you need to listen to her story) and speaking to women about what it means to know and and believe what God says about us. Our pathway to freedom is allowing God's good words in Scripture to meet us in our daily experiences. It's through the everyday soaking that we can know God better and therefore know ourselves better.

We know that childhood messages can set a trajectory for identity and so we talk about how to both counter negative messages we've absorbed along the way, and offer words of hope to future generations. Hosanna is now married and a (little) more settled in San Diego, but she still travels frequently to present to groups about God's love for them.. She often hears women say they wished they'd known and absorbed these messages earlier in life, and so she has created a children's book titled, What God Says About You.

Listening to Hosanna's story, her thoughts on friendship, faith, and truth, will remind you of how dramatically God can intervene in each of our hearts. We can live in freedom. Our first step is listening to what God says about us.

FIND MORE ABOUT HOSANNA WONG

Hosanna Wong's - Website and Instagram

Hosanna Wong's Book- What God Says About You

FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Poem- I Have a New Name

Book- Live no Lies by John Mark Comer

Book- You are More Than You've Been Told by Hosanna Wong

Book- The Seven Primal Questions by Mike Foster

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. How do messages from your childhood impact your understanding of who you are?
2. How are you learning about who God says you are?
3. How can you spend time in scripture that works for how you are wired?
4. In what ways is God calling you to move forward in freedom?

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 feel like standing at a crossroads - full of change, transition, and often, questions we didn’t expect. It’s a season that can shake our confidence, but it’s also a powerful invitation to pause, reflect, and grow.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Terri Watson, a board-certified clinical psychologist, to explore how counseling can be a life-giving tool for women in midlife. Dr. Watson shares wisdom on when therapy might be especially helpful, the unique benefits of returning to counseling at different stages of life, and what to consider when choosing between online and in-person sessions.

Whether you’ve been curious about therapy or are simply navigating the uncertainties of midlife, this conversation will encourage you to embrace support and step more fully into who you’re becoming.

FIND MORE ABOUT DR. TERRI WATSON

Dr. Terri's Book- The Client's Guide to Therapy

FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Soul Collage

The Book of Romans on Hope

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. What thinking has blocked you from considering counselling?
2. How might God use counselling as a vehicle for healing in your life?
3. Who could help you find trusted counsellor in your area?
4. If you did the visualization exercise, how can you keep your word or phrase accessible for when you need it?

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!

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Our bodies need our attention. When stress comes knocking, we often don't realize how much we hold. We need a way to slow down and release the physical tension. Our guest Whitney Simpson discovered this need after a major medical crisis. Stretching and holding poses through yoga allowed her to be fully present in her skin while praying and meditating. A Christian spiritual director - she helps people work through practices that are attuned to their whole selves.

Much of what we talk about on this episode has to do with slowing down and noticing what is happening in our bodies. It is tempting to ignore how our bodies keep the score, but ignoring doesn't offer what we need. Our bodies need our attention.

In a stage of life where you may be caring for people above and below you in age, working hard at your paid job, and feeling new aches and pains, it is often easier to push aside physical discomfort or tension than to acknowledge it. This episode will remind you how to be present enough to notice what your body is carrying and how God can meet you in your movement and breath.

FIND MORE ABOUT WHITNEY SIMPSON

Whitney Simpson- Website

Whitney Simpson Book- With God in Every Breath

Whitney Simpson Podcast- Exploring Peace Meditations

FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Whitney's Other Books

• Holy Listening with Breath, Body, and the Spirit
•  
• Fully Human, Fully Divine: An Advent Devotional for the Whole Self

Hebrew "ruach", "nouma"- Breath, Spirit or Wind

Alex Kuykendall's Book- Loving My Actual Life

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. If you were to choose one word to describe your relationship with your body now, what would it be?
2. Where in your day could you build in the habit of taking several deep breaths or practicing breath prayer?
3. What practice can you put into place to feel more integrated with your body?
4. Is there a time in the next few days, you could commit to 10minutes of meditation?

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

Have you ever wondered how science can actually deepen your faith and help you know God more fully?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. William West—respected medical doctor, author of Sacred Science, and someone whose own life has been shaped by both the lab and his faith. Together, we explore how faith and science aren’t enemies at all, but beautifully woven together in ways that reveal the wonder of God’s creation.

Dr. West shares moving stories from his work in oncology and his personal journey of belief, showing how each breakthrough in science can point us closer to the Creator. You’ll hear about the divine fingerprints hidden in the details of the universe—and how scripture and scientific discovery can speak in harmony.

If you’ve ever felt torn between your faith and your curiosity, this conversation will remind you: God is the Author of it all.

FIND MORE ABOUT DR. WILLIAM WEST

Dr. William Book- Sacred Science 

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. What has been your understanding of the connection between science and faith?
2. What did you learn in this interview that reinforced your faith?
3. How can we consider more of what is happening around us and how it reflects God's creation?

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

You have controlled some aspect of your child's life their entire life and now you are expected to let go?! To let them make mistakes and decisions without you?! Yes and no. Yes to letting go and making decisions on their own. But you don't have to leave them completely alone. This is the fine line of parenting young adults, you are now the coach.

In the second part of this two-part conversation, Krista and Alex talk through some of the ways they are letting go as they launch young adults toward independence. There is no one, right way. However there are questions we can ask ourselves as we enter conversations and decisions with intention. What do we pay for? And for how long? Do we speak up if we see a red flag in a relationship? What about when they need to move back home?

We know that parenting young adults in today's world can feel a bit like running in the dark. We are here to say you are not alone and this is your moment to rise to meet the newest challenge of the day!

A FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Phrases to use on your young adult

• That sounds really hard.
• I know you will make a thoughtful decision.
• I believe you will find the courage you need to get through this.
• You're made for good things and that doesn't change based on what happens today.
• I know this is your decision, I trust you'll figure it out and I am cheering for you.

Quotes

"Adolescents may also share what's on their minds as a way to spill their jumbled thoughts on the table where they can survey and perhaps organize them. Adults can help create the space teenagers need to do this. So long as we remember to listen without interrupting and hold back from adding our own thoughts to the pile. Much of what bothers teenagers cannot be solved. We can't fix their broken hearts, prevent their social dramas, or do anything about the fact that they have three huge tests scheduled for the same day. But having a problem is not nearly so bad as feeling utterly alone with it." Lisa Demore

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. How can you take on more of a coaching role with your young adult?
2. What part of your relationship could use some clarity and how can you be kind through clarity this week?
3. How can you encourage your young adult to create a web of supportive relationships?
4. How can you live your faith out authentically in front of the young adults in your life?

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