Real Connections

When traveling to Australia, I had a chance meeting with a Holocaust survivor that deeply changed me. In this episode I tell you his story he told me of being able to escape the horrors of the concentration camps with the help of strangers while most of his extended family were killed.

My relationship with God has been hard and confusing at times.  I trust Him conceptually, but I have a hard time identifying with Him past that.  On the other hand, I feel like I know, love and trust Jesus much more.  I want you to know that you aren’t alone if you have felt similarly. I’m not quite sure why I have had such a hard time with understanding God as a person or a parent.  I think that a lot of it stems from how I was raised.  I was raised to be incredibly independent and to not rely on others for anything.  So it’s hard for me to know how to even rely on God as a parent.  I’m fiercely independent. I talk about how I have found to trust Jesus and how he fulfills the promise He gave to Jacob in Genesis 28:15 “I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.”  I believe that Jesus is just like that.  He stays in the mess of our lives with us until He fulfills His promises He has made. Jacob then says in Genesis 28:16 “Surely the Lord is in this place & I knew it not.” There are so many times in my life that I fee like I am alone and then realize looking back, that the Savior was there with me the whole time - in the place I was in of loneliness, hopelessness, despair, shame, etc. He is always there - I just have to look to see Him.

Looking back at the years and weeks prior to the whole world basically shutting down due to the COVID 19 virus, I realized and have come to have tremendous gratitude for the big and little things that prepared me for this seemingly unpreparable situation. Here are just a few... 1. Powdered milk supply - because I am in the "high risk" category for getting the COVID 19 virus, I am extra grateful for the supply of powder milk we have right now because we shouldn't be going to the store at all. 2. I discovered Costco online a few weeks prior to everything going crazy and have used it several times during this pandemic so I don't have to leave my house. 3. I have recently been studying about how to call upon the power of God in my own life and how to do it more and it has made all the difference. 4. I took my son out of school a few days before they shut them down which could have been huge in protecting our family. 5. I had several spiritual experiences where I was told certain things that I had no idea would help me during this time. It wasn't physical instructions about getting ready, it was more of the spiritual things I would need to know to calm my heart. 6. Reading ancestor stories has helped so much in understanding that doing hard things is literally in my DNA. I have shared these stories with my kids for years too and we talk about them often and they give us courage. 7. Since we have owned a home, we have always kept several months of storage on hand like diapers, wipes, TP, etc. so when we couldn't find it, it wasn't a big deal. 8. We put in a fence last year which has given my kids the freedom to roam around in the yard and get lots of sun even during this time. 9. We had bad grass last year so we tore out a bunch of sod and the kids have been so entertained just digging in the dirt. 10. We have a decent supply of flax which is great to have on hand right now since eggs have been harder to find. They made awesome substitutes for eggs in baking. 11. Last year when there was a small earthquake, we purchased earthquake insurance so when this larger one hit us this year, it wasn't a huge deal because I knew we were prepared. 12. We have been meaning to donate a lot of toys and kids activities and haven't ever gotten around to it and it has helped so much on helping our kids through this time. 13. Last year I stocked up on school supplies during the sale so all that glue, paper, markers, and crayons are coming in really handy right now. 14. We had an old laptop we didn't even know would work and it has worked like it's new for my son to do his school work. 15. The past few months we have gotten more into puzzles and purchased a whole bunch so now we have some fun family entertainment. The point is that we all have things we can look at and be grateful for and the more we do that during this time, the better we will be able to cope.

This week has been such a whirl wind for most of us and a pretty scary time. Adjusting to social distancing as a new normal for now has felt like something out of a movie and yet it's actually happening. Today, I wanted to have a dear friend of mine, Jamie Johnson to come on the show to share with you her tips on how to have meaning in life despite all the craziness that is happening in the world right now. Here are her tips Make time for the Lord every day with scripture study and prayer and if possible, have your children do it at the same time you are.Go to the Lord and ask what you need to be doing with your family and kids at this time so He can help you make a map.Focus on connection over content as your kids are home. Reach out - obviously this can be a bit tricky, but there are so many creative ways people are showing up and sharing goodness and light in the ways they know how (and right now, it may just be a prayer for others and that is what so many people need)Reflect - a great way to do this is through journaling (Jamie has free journal prompts to help you at this time at her website www.jamiegjohnson.com)

Pull out the green dye and dye things green.  Morning of St. Patrick’s Day, we would wake up to green milk which was really fun to put on the morning cereal.  You can also make:Green pancakesGreen rice krispie treats and color the marshmallows greenGreen jelloDecorate sugar cookies or cupcakes with green frostingPretzels dipped in white chocolate dyed greenHave a tricky leprechaun come the night before - it’s like elf on the shelf, but just one dayTurned toilet water greenDraw green footprints on your kids arms or faces while they sleep - the leprechaun left footsteps of little green paint on my kids’ arms.  I’m not sure how how the leprechaun got our faces when I was a kid! We must have been deeper sleepers.Tiny footprints in flourLeave gold chocolate coinsMy 1st grade teacher was from England and on St. Patrick’s Day our room got all messed up from a leprechaun, but we came back in the classroom before it could escape and it had turned itself into a potato.  That was so fun for us - we watched the potato closely to make sure it wouldn’t turn back into a leprechaun and escape.Eat Irish food and have people overMy mom always made the Irish dinner, but when we lived in Wisconsin for a few years, we continued the tradition and made the dinner and invited people over.  Most people have never had corned beef so this is fun for them to try. I think most people like it! It’s actually really easy to make - you basically just put it in the crockpot and let it cook for a few hours.Colcannon - mashed potatoes with leeks or green onionsIrish soda breadCorned beef and cabbageRainbow jello - different layers.  Not traditional, but fun to do. It takes a few hours to make because you have to let every layer set. Definitely a labor of love, but really fun for the kids.Introduce your family to Irish cultureListen to Irish music - the Irish have a variety of instruments that they use You can always start with celtic women - we saw them in concert and they’re fantastic!Watch an irish dance performance - they often have free performances by local Irish dance students at libraries - in Wisconsin they even taught the kids how to do some of the dance.Watch an Irish movie - Leap Day is a fun one that takes place in Ireland.  I just started watching Luck of the Irish with my kids which is on Disney plus.  

Lizzy talks about what jail was like after she was caught in her opioid addiction. She also shares the lessons she's learned through it all.

I believe that addiction is such an important topic to discuss and be open about because it is so prevalent in our society and so many people aren't talking about it. The more we hide, the more power we give addictions. Lizzy is so brave and bold in the way she shares and in the hope she gives. I hope that by listening to her story, you will not only become more educated about the addiction, but that you can better understand what someone who is addicted is going through and how innocently many addictions can start. Lizzy is truly an inspiration and definitely worth the listen.

This week I talk about the amazing and creative way my husband proposed and why it meant so much to me.

Today I wanted to share something a bit more personal so you could get to know me on a more personal level. I don't believe that any of us have perfect lives, but I do believe we all have perfect moments, and today I am sharing some of those perfect relationship moments with you. I hope you enjoy it!

Sometimes it can be hard as moms to feel confident, but it is such an important skill as we are the ones making so many daily decisions and so many people will ask us for things, give us unsolicited advice, and tell us we aren't enough. It is so important for us to truly dig deep and have the confidence we need to navigate it all. Here are a few things that can help... Implement a voice filter. There are so many voices in the world and that others will tell you and and you need to quiet them and choose what to listen to carefully and thoughtfully.Under promise, over deliver. "No, thank you" is a full sentence and you are free to use it when necessary. There is no need to feel badly for protecting your time, and resources. You need to decide that carefully for what is best for you.Stop "shoulding" all over others - especially yourself. Understand what you need to do, like to do, want to do, and must do.Do a personal deep dive with your Creator. Understand that connection and build your confidence with him together. Create a "we" victory and relationship with Him.Own your story. Your story is yours and it is beautiful. You were sent here to be YOU! You weren't sent here to be someone else, but just yourself and that is more than enough. If doing all of these at once feels overwhelming, pick one and try practice just that one this week and see what improvements you can make. Once you feel you have a good handle on that one, maybe try incorporating another and see what happens - you deserve to feel confident!

Give flowers to people in a nursing home (fake or real and notes).  So many elderly people are lonely and LOVE seeing little kids at any time of year, but especially during holidays this can be the perfect thing to cheer them up.  I plan on dressing in our Sunday best and buying several bouquets of roses to hand out to the residents at a retirement home during their meal time.  I know it’s going to mean so much to many of them.Valentines Day kits to refugees.  Many refugees coming to America don’t know about American holidays and it can feel very isolating - especially for kids to go to a public school.  There are refugee organizations that will take Valentine’s Day kits (no candy) and hand them out to kids so that they can celebrate Valentine’s Day along with their classmates.  You can check out the Utah location @serverefugees.  They are only taking donations this year on Feb.3 & 5.Personalize sugar cookies with peoples name on them and give them to special people in your life.  Sugar cookies are nice, but it means that much more when someone goes out of their way to put a little extra thought and write your name on something.  It doesn’t have to be perfect, it’s the thought that is important.Make Ronald McDonald house mom kits.  There are many moms who are far away and who are spending this time of year worried and stressed out about their child who is sick or terminally ill in a hospital.  I saw this great idea @whitneystotesadorbs where she made kits that included a few little hard candies, a target gift card and little charm in a cute makeup bag.  I’m sure the recipients would be so touched to receive  it.Love Restaurant family mystery dinner.  My kids loved doing this last year so it’s something we are going to continue.  Basically, you create a nice “restaurant” in your living room and you’re the server.  When it’s time to eat, you give them each a menu that has words on it - but not the actual food name.  They write down what they would like and for every word they write, there is a corresponding food or drink associated with it.  So one menu item may be “Lucky to Have You” which is really pizza.  Another menu item might say “Together” which is really hot fudge.  They also get to pick a color for every course (red, pink or white) corresponds with a different utensil.  It’s so fun to see how into it all of the kids get.  You can grab the menus, food list, and instructions for FREE here https://mailchi.mp/5bc23a357e4d/valentinepackKeep your valentines day hearts you write for your kids on their door and string them and use as garland.  I know many people do this, but how fun if you kept them from year to year to reminisce and double them as decor.Write love notes to kids and spouse.  I love doing this and if you don’t do it, it’s the perfect time of year to start.  It’s important to not only write love notes to your kids and spouse for them to read later or in case of something happening to you, but to read them now.  Don’t you love getting love notes from others?  Me too!Call or leave little gifts to your extended family to let them know you’re thinking about them.  You may think that this one is really simple, but when was the last time you did it?  Every year on Valentine’s Day I get a phone call (usually a voice mail) telling me how much he loves me and is thinking of me.  He has a wife and is focused on her as well, but has made sure that we know how much he loves us.Play the “I love you because…” game with your kids the week of Valentine’s Day.  This is a game that I  made up for my kids to do this year and I can’t wait.  In this game, you write down someone’s name in your family that you love and why and roll up the paper and hide it.  Explain the game to your kids and that whoever finds the rolled up paper gets to read what was written, write down someone else’s name in the family they love, and hide it.  There is little to no work for you, but your kids will be so excited to find the special paper and write ...

To understand better the context of this episode, it may be helpful to understand my whole story. You can listen to part 1 here -http://realconnectionspodcast.com/dads-sudden-death-encore-episode-part-1-episode-58/ and part 2 here - http://realconnectionspodcast.com/dads-sudden-death-encore-episode-part-2-episode-59/ Here's the short of it. My dad was killed in a plane crash when I was 9 years old. He was with 7 other men who all lost their lives that day. Last week we celebrated his 24th angel anniversary and this week I've been reflecting on the things I've learned. My dad's death really shaped so much of who I am and what I think is important in life and I wanted to share some of those things with you. Life is about all of the little things.Writing Letters to my kids is important.Keeping a journal is important.Tell people you love that you love them early and often.Being mad at God sometimes is ok. He can handle it.Beauty can come from ash.Its' important to tell kids the truthGrief is a part of my story, but it doesn't define me.Relationships, experiences, and memories with loved ones are the most important things in life.Faith is a choice.Going to therapy doesn't mean you're weak.Allow yourself to feel all emotions.This life is temporary.Being a listening and validating ear can heal so much.It's ok to be happy again.Living in gratitude is much better than living in fear.I deserved to marry someone like my dad.Some people live a whole lifetime in 36 years.You'll never regret being prepared.Many angels appear in human form.Grief can show up years later and look totally different.Exercise is a great form of secondary therapy.We all handle life differently, and that's ok.Angels are for real. Also, I'd love to meet you in person and we totally can!!! I'm speaking at the Seek Retreat that will be happening on March 28, 2020 in Farmington, UT and I'd LOVE to see you there! You can use my coupon code "CAMI" until January 31 to get $8 off your ticket. If you're coming, let me know so we can meet up :)

I don’t know about you, but I always have big and grand goals and by the second week of January I’ve already forgotten about my goals and am right back in the same habits I’ve always had.  This year I said “no more” and have started implementing strategies that are helping me to really go after the goals that I have to make 2020 the best year ever! So I found this incredibly powerful exercise by Dan Sullivan which has helped me to figure out how to actually stick to the big goals I have.  He said that the first question you need to ask is “What do I not want in my life?’  It’s interesting that this question is something that most people can answer with ease.  They can tell you who they don’t want to work for, what car they don’t want to still be driving, how they don’t want their body to be, etc.  Now the next question is a bit harder but definitely well worth the effort. The question is  “Imagine it’s one year from today and when looking back over the past year, you realize that it was the best year of your life.  What does that look like for you?” Is it hard to answer?  It is much more difficult for most people to articulate what they DO want as opposed to what they DON’T want.   A few things to keep in mind as you do this is to put yourself in the moment that 2020 is over and you totally had the best year ever.  What are the emotions you’d feel?  What are the specific things you did?How do you act on the day to day?What did your relationships look like?What were your finances like?What did your marriage look like?How was your relationship with your kids? Feel how this feels and don’t let your current situation sabotage what you want 2020 to look like. Also, don’t overthink it or write down what you think others expect of you or what would look pretty on paper.  This is just for your eyes and you can write whatever comes from your heart. After you do the exercise, then it gets that much easier to break down these things into their own separate goals and habits that you can begin to change. Once you extract the goals out of your paragraph you wrote, you can start to break it down into actionable steps that you can plug into your calendar - even right now. I hope this was helpful! I want to cheer you on and help you however I can!   As always, feel free to reach out to me contact@realconnectionspodcast.com

So many of us struggle to find out purpose and I am so excited to have Kristin Brown on to share a few ways that can jump start you in that process. Uncover your gifts - Some suggestions to do this are to write down what you enjoyed doing as a child. You can also asked those close to you like your spouse, sibling, or parent what gifts and talents they see in you. You could also try asking close friends or relatives what talents you have that they would actually pay for. Be open to others suggestions and own your gifts and talents as part of your purpose.Decide what you want. Lots of times we can become paralyzed and not do anything because we think there is something we are meant for and want to find it. That may be true, but the best way to discover what that is, is to start looking and to begin moving in a direction. Write down and ponder what your ideal life would look like if it could be anything.Write your purpose statement. Write down the things that really matter to you in your life. When everything is stripped down to the bare bones, what do you want your purpose to be. What things do you want to cultivate in areas of spirituality and relationships, contributing to others and the world. Those things together become your mission statement. For more guided help, you can download Kristin's FREE guide to help you do this at www.theprogressproject.comSet a goal that aligns with your purpose. Sometimes we can get distracted and caught up in things that don't really matter to us in the long run. When you set a goal, see if it is in line with what your purpose statement is in order to figure out if that is where your time is the best spent. If you'd like even more help, Kristin and Laura have designed a workbook to guide you and hold your hand throughout the whole process. Full disclosure, I am an affiliate of "The Progress Project" and will get a small kick back if you purchase. http://www.jointheprogressproject.com/purpose?aff=8 Kristin Brown @jointheprogressproject

I am so excited to share with you an interview I did with Catrina Gandara from the Create Joy podcast. I am so honored that I was able to be on her show. She's so similar in her mission and her passion as far as life and podcasting go, so we are amazing friends now and I couldn't be happier about it. In this interview, I share how vulnerability has changed me in my life and why I do it, as well as tips and tricks on how I do it. I feel so strongly about vulnerability and living an authentic life and I shared my best thoughts, tips and tricks. I hope you pick an area of your life where you could live more vulnerably and chase it. I promise it will change your life. Want more from Create Joy podcast - Head on over to www.createjoypodcast.com or @createjoypodcast

Traditions for YOU Pick a theme for your life and pick something for this year that supports that (word, phrase, picture, song, scripture, etc.)Create a vision boardWrite a "Not to do" list for this year which could include things like Examples are Stop trying to please everyone. Stop being a perfectionist. Stop trying to do everything. Stop worrying about things that are out of your control. Stop beating yourself up for making mistakes. Stop trying to change other people. Stope spending time with people who don’t build you up. For your FAMILY Pick special meals for New Year’s Eve and New Years Day - We do cheese and chocolate fondue for New Year’s Eve and black eye soup with monkey bread for New Year’s Day.  Every bowl of black eye soup brings you luck and for you get a piece of monkey bread for every bowl you eat.Janis the dragon - take a sheet of paper and fold it in half and write the previous year on the top of the left side and write the new year on the top of the right side of the sheet of paper.  Everyone in the family should have their own sheet.  On the left side, you draw all of the things that happened that year (vacations, special events, achievements) and then write all of the things that are going to happen or goals that you have for the new year.  Let everyone have about 20 - 30 min. to draw theirs and then share.Do a Year in Review - collect all the photos you’ve taken this year and put the special ones that you love into a folder in iphoto and then set it to music and watch it as a family.Make a “family to do” list for the new year and get many of those items on the calendarPick a theme for your family.  If you didn’t do this at the beginning of the school year, this is the perfect time to start.  It could be a quote, phrase, scripture, etc.

Many people struggle with grief during the holidays. It can be hard when others are excited by the hustle and bustle of the season and you are grieving loved ones who have been around for the holidays past but who no longer are. How do you celebrate still? How can you cope with wanting to remember them but also creating new traditions? It can also be very tricky to know what to do or say if you aren't grieving, but someone close to you is. How do you help them during this time of year? What can you say or do to be helpful? These situations are real and hard and Karen Papin is here today to answer all of those questions you may be having surrounding grief and the holidays. She has some incredible tips during this episode for those grieving which include... Hang up a special ornament that is specifically for the person you have lost 2. Keep the traditions that you had with them to help you feel like they are still with you. 3. Remember that tradition is the spark that keeps you connected to the loved ones you still have. 4. Share about your loved one. Her tips for helping those you love who are grieving this season are ... Give a plate of cookies or a “thinking of you” card to let them know you are aware of them. 2. Invite them to join with you in your holiday traditions so they aren’t alone in their grief with the understanding that they may decline. 3. Create a safe place for them to talk and show them you are ok to sit with them in their grief. 4. Invite them to share photos and memories of those who they’ve lost. 5. Share your memories of their loved one that you remember. Resources she mentioned (so cool that her mom is the author of this one) "The Act of Ministering: From Heartache to Hope for Latter-Day Saints" https://www.amazon.com/Act-Ministering-Heartache-Latter-Day-Saints/dp/1718646569/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=from+heartache+to+hope&qid=1576216106&sr=8-1 Be sure to sign up on my website for all the SECRET family recipes my guests have given me. They would all be the perfect thing to bring to your holiday party this season. In this email I will send out tomorrow, you will get the recipes for pumpkin waffles and buttermilk syrup, peanut butter fudge, creme brule french toast, and many more. Sign up today because I'm sending out the email tomorrow!

It can be hard to come up with traditions that simple and meaningful. Today Tasha talks about 4 traditions that she does with her family that are both meaningful and fun. Find an organization in your area and serve. (Her family decorates and donates trees to the Ronald McDonald house) or www.justserve.org is an excellent resource.Have a Christmas bucket list day.See the lights somewhere and add a service element to it.Do the 12 days of service. Look for people who generally get overlooked. I will be implementing many of her traditions because they are easy to do and are so meaningful.

Do you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed during the holidays? Running everywhere to get the perfect gift for your kids, sending Christmas cards, making neighbor gifts and you end up just wanting to not do any of it but just enjoy the holidays. Well today I am talking all about what we are doing this year to simplify the holidays. Figure out what traditions you love and do those. 2. Revise the "Elf on the Shelf" 3. Donate the money you would use on neighbor gifts and don't worry about them. 4. Don't send Christmas cards. Instead send Valentine cards. 5. Make a secret code for your gifts so you don't have to try to write the "Santa" tags. 6. Create simple expectations. 7. Give your kids 1 gift from Santa, 1 gift from you and then give them a set amount to choose and budget for experiences they want to buy.

Do you make family dinner a priority?  Do you think of the impact that it will have on your family if you do in 5, 10 or even 15 years from now? These are some questions that Jennifer asks in my interview with her today and as a result, made me think of family dinner in a totally different way. In today’s interview, Jennifer talks all about the importance of family dinner, how to do it or improve what you are doing, and how to make it fun for both kids and teens to interact with each other during meal time. Be motivated to make it happen.Set up the environment to be welcoming and inviting.Keep it positive.No side conversations.Make it teachable. I have made having family dinner a priority for years but never really considered the actual interaction taking place once I got there. This episode really has made an impact on the way my family does meals together. Sometimes we do breakfast together, and other times it’s dinner but when we sit down at the table and use these suggestions that Jennifer gives, it truly has made a big difference in our family. I am doing a family holiday service project called “Wreaths for Refugees” where we are going to be making fresh holiday wreaths to sell for money to make kits for refugees in our community. We wanted a way for those who live far away to participate as well.  If you would like to donate (cash donation of your choice) you can do so and with that donation, we will make a wreath to take to a lonely elderly person in our community this holiday season.   https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hi-3MFdOLVQvwFgAeCjeUjt-QI_kc1NMS5-ElW3OHTo/edit?usp=sharing Jennifer Zumbiel @togathermoments website https://www.togathermoments.com/ freebie https://www.togathermoments.com/try

If you are a mom, you can definitely relate to falling prey to the comparison trap. It happens to us all for one reason or another. It can be so easy in this social media age to compare our weight, looks, nutrition, children, achievements, interior design skills, party planning abilities, husbands and the list goes on and on. I get it because I've been there and I will tell you that it is a constant battle. Today on the show, Jamie and I chat about our struggles with comparison in our own ways and what we have learned what works for us to combat it. Here are some of the tips we talked about to help you combat comparison every day. get clear on who you are and what your purpose isreframe your response to comparison by either celebrating or developingrinse and repeat - it's a journeywrite down things you love about yourself (20 to start and work up to 100)genuinely compliment others on their gifts and talentsdo a social media fast and then follow hashtags that remind you not to compare #comparisonisthetheifofjoy & #nocomparisonreach out to people on social media and attending events in real life to meet real peoplelisten to music and write down lyrics that resonate with you that may help you find your purpose I got to share one of my secret family recipes today on the show - cookie salad. Yes, it's a thing. If you want to get the recipe and the other secret family recipes of the guests I have on the show, be sure to click the link below so I can send them monthly, right to your inbox. https://mailchi.mp/b481a3a31e08/secretfamilyrecipes2 You can learn more about my guest, Jamie at https://www.jamiegjohnson.com/ or on Instagram @journeytowonderful

Doing a family service project is something that can sound really tricky but it doesn’t have to be, and the benefits can be huge.  Today, my guest Tawni Beardall, shares all about a service project she and her family did with 3 other families last year and how it has changed her and her children.  Her kids loved it so much, they are doing it again next year.   Listen to the podcast to hear her 3 simple steps for coming up with you own holiday family service project. Things to Remember When Doing Your Own Family Service Project remember to take photosif possible, involve other familiesprovide a service people would already be paying for or already need during this time of year Examples of Service Projects You Could do rake leavesmake fresh wreathsmake sugar cookie kitsmake gingerbread kitsdeliver and/or haul away real Christmas tree Examples of People in Need During the Holidays homeless in your own communityrefugeeselderlyfamilies who are struggling financially Resources Carleen Tanner “Positive Parenting” youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCshIopgVSrtm-ots1xiwxgw Becoming for Teens podcast  https://becomingforteens.podbean.com/ Becoming for Teens podcast Episode 16 “Doin’ Work” https://becomingforteens.podbean.com/e/16-doin-work/

Today my dear friend, Catrina Gandara, shares 5 simple ideas on how to celebrate the Day of the Dead. She shares everything from watching Coco to discussing family ancestors at dinner. If you love celebrating and you love connecting, the Day of the Dead is the perfect way to do both.

In this episode I share how I will be taking the podcast in a different direction for this season. This season I want to share with you simple ideas on how to make connections that matter. Whether it is with your spouse, kids, self or others, connection is well worth the effort and something we are lacking in our society. If you are a mom who wants more depth and meaning in your relationships - this is the season and podcast for you. I will be interviewing experts as well as other moms on all things connection to give you tangible ideas and strategies to feel and be better connected to the people who matter most.

I'm so thankful for all of the support and love I've had this season. It's time to take a break and I can't wait for season 2!

I talk about what was helpful after my dad's death and specific people who reached out to our family. I share how this experience has directed my life and the traditions I now have with my family. I also discuss the letters I found from my dad only a few years ago that are now some of my most prized possessions.

I've made it to a year of having this podcast! Because of that, I want to share an encore episode with you! It is a huge part of why I started the podast and it is actually my story. My dad died in a plane crash when I was 9 years old. In this episode, I talk about the day my dad died and what that was like for me as a child.

Dani's husband, Denny died only 4 short months ago and she has made it her mission to talk about it because she wants to stop the stigma surrounding suicide. About a month ago, Dani posted a video that went viral showing some of the real trauma her family experiences on a daily basis as a result of him being gone and the people it has helped it truly is inspiring. In today's episode she her story and what each of us can do to help those in our influence who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts.

Audra explains her eating disorder which is Body Dysmorphic Disorder and how she manages it. She talks about her victory of gaining weight for the first time in years and gives advice on the big and small things you can do if you struggle with body image yourself. She shares how her marriage works not with her choice to become active in her faith again even though her husband is not. Audra offers so much hope for those who find themselves in similar circumstances. She also shares advice to those who are questioning their own beliefs. Audra talks about how she views her life and relationships differently as a result of all she has experienced.

Audra talks about growing up in a traditional Christian family. She shares how she met and fell in love with her husband and his decision to leave his faith shortly after. She talks about how that effected her and how she stopped attending church as well. Audra shares how their marriage began to really struggle and how she experienced several miscarriages. As a result she began to hate her body and talks about how she started developing an eating disorder. At one point she weighed only 95 lbs. Audra talks about what prompted her to look at her body differently and her journey back to faith.

Shonee describes what it was like receiving news that her tumors were back and that she only had 3-6 months to live and then talks about her miraculous recovery. Shonee shares the changed that happened in her when she really realized how precious life is and that every second counts. She talks about her experience creating her bucket list and some of the amazing adventures she has had so far. Shonee also shares how to start a bucket list of your own. This interview will inspire you to look at your life in a deeper and more meaningful way.

Shonee talks about what it was like growing up in a family where she wasn't allowed to express emotion. She shares how she was unexpectedly diagnosed with a brain tumor and the treatment involved. Shonee also talks about going into remission and getting married. On her honeymoon, she was in an accident and after being in and out of the hospital, doctors discovered that she had 2 more brain tumors that were cancerous. Shonee describes her emotions as she struggled with her emotions and was admitted into a mental health hospital for several months. After being released she talks about her desire to disappear and her attempt at suicide. Shonee describes the miracle that saved her and her way back to faith.

Caris talks about how she has been able to cope with her anxiety and depression by talking to a counselor, finding a support group of women who she can just be real with. She also addresses how medication has been helpful for her. She shares how often times you won't know someone is dealing with depression or anxiety because they are some of the happiest and funny people you will ever meet and why that is the case. She talks about how unedited journaling was so helpful for her. She needed to just get them out of her head but she also needed scriptures that she would put in her mind to replace it and constantly re-read those scriptures to battle the negative thoughts. Caris shares how God has used her experiences not only for her own good, but also how He inspired her to write a devotional about anxiety and depression to share with others that has already helped so many people. She talks about being honest and vulnerable in her interactions and in admitting that she isn't ok when she's not. She's learned that help isn't bad, community is important, and God wants to use those who are willing.

Caris shares her life prior to experiencing anxiety and major depression. She vulnerably shares how she didn't believe it was actually real until she experienced it herself. Caris talks about the lonely path anxiety and depression can be - especially when you feel you are the only one. She shares her tormenting thoughts that anxiety would bring up and how she tried for so long to keep everything together and looking perfect on the outside with the hope that it would all just go away.

Makenzie talks about discovering the devastating diagnosis that came after going through genetic testing for her 2 boys. She shares how that news changed everything for them - knowing that her reality wasn't what she had always pictured - but that she felt a tremendous amount of peace through it all. She explains her boys disabilities in more detail and the struggles they face on a daily basis. McKenzie shares how her faith sustains her daily and the lessons she has gained through her experiences. Makenzie is truly inspiring and a huge example of faith and trust.

Makenzie shares about her struggle with infertility and the heartbreak that came along with it. She talks about the joy that came as she and her husband were finally able to get pregnant with their son, Mason. Makenzie shares how that joy quickly turned to concern as she recognized Mason was gradually falling behind developmentally. She talks about her experience having her second baby, Beckham and realizing quickly that he too was falling behind. Makenzie shares both her grief and hope that she has clung onto as she raises her 2 little boys that share the same genetic disorder. It's an amazing story of faith, love, and never giving up on God's promises.

Brittany shares what her recovery was like. She talks about re-building her relationship with God and how she let Him into her life. Brittany talks about the advice she would give to someone who is in the middle of an addiction and shares more in-depth about her attempted suicide and cutting.

Brittany shares her journey with addiction. She talks about why she began drinking in college which leg to harder and harder drugs. Brittany shares the shame she felt and the moment she hit rock bottom and tried to take her own life. She sheds light on the life and mentality of an addict and her road to recovery.

Hilary talks about her husband losing his job while they were living in California and the whirlwind move they needed to make to Arizona in order to have an income. Unfortunately, the job situation didn't work out in Arizona and Hilary and her family spent a few years without an income. She talks about what a difficult time that was for her emotionally, as well as spiritually. Hilary shares how at times she felt like God was completely silent in her life and that he faith was tested and tried. She also talks about the thing that changed for her and the unexpected blessings that she began to see that God had never been silent, but had a bigger plan than she could have had for herself and her family.

Sarah talks about her miraculous recovery from having her brain tumor removed as well as the difficulties she wasn't prepared for. She shares the purpose she found in writing down her experiences and the healing that came as a result. Sarah shares how she has changed through this experience, how her faith played a role in her healing and the biggest lessons she has learned through it all.

Sarah talks about the events that led up to her completely losing her hearing in her right ear when she was only 17 years old. She talks about the stress of that situation but that she learned to live with it and to adapt. Sarah shares the things that led up to her discovering that her hearing loss was caused by something much more serious than she ever imagined - a brain tumor. Come listen and be inspired as Sarah talks about her relationship with God and her faith and perspective that changed everything for her. it's a story full of miracles and the power of faith.

Today Becca shares the specific resources that have been most helpful to her in navigating her husband leaving his faith. She talks about how she has talked to her children about this experience, and the advice she has for those who find themselves in a similar circumstance.  Becca also surprised me something her husband wrote regarding his perspective which is both beautiful and helpful. Lessons Becca has learned: 1) FAITH and trust in Heavenly Father. "Come cast your burdens on the Lord and TRUST in His constant care." Hymn 1252) HOPE- "There may be times when we must make a courageous decision to hope, even when everything around us contradicts this hope". -Elder Uchtdorf3) CHARITY- "Charity Never fails" Someone reminded me that my husband has a Savior and I'm not it.  My job is just to love him. You can connect with Becca @becminerbuff or on Facebook - Rebecca Buffington Resources Becca mentions that she has found helpful: “The Seven Principles for Making a Marriage Work” by John Gottman “When He Stopped Believing” - July 2012 Ensign Facebook Group - “Believing LDS Members with Doubting Spouses” “In Praise of Those Who Save” - Elder Dieter F.  Uchtdorf “Jesus Beholding Him Loved Him” - Elder S. Mark Palmer “The Infinite Power of Hope” - Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Becca talks about growing up in a very religious family and how important it was to her to marry someone of her same faith. A few years into her marriage, her husband confided in her that he no longer believed the faith that he had grown up with. She shares how difficult that was for both her and her husband. Becca talks about how they handled it and the lessons she has learned along the way.

Angie shares the prognosis of her husband's chronic illness and how her faith has helped her through it all.

Angie talks about what is was like having her spouse be diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune disease when he was just 30 years old. She talks about what it was like getting the news, and how she was able to cope as a wife as well as a mother of 3 young children. Angie shares her story about what life looks like now for their family and how they deal optimistically with their new normal, and embrace the life they have.

Sarah (not her real name) talks about her relationship with who she thought was the man of her dreams. She shares how they were married and the first day of their honeymoon she realized marrying him was a mistake. Sarah talks about living with an abuser and what ultimately led to her leaving him for good. She shares the warning signs she wishes she would have seen and the amazing life she has now.

Katy talks about the third adoption she had from the same birth mom, and the miracles that came with that experience. She talks about the empathy she gained for the birth mom of her 3 babies, as well as advice she has for those who are thinking about adopting.

Katy shares her struggle with secondary infertility and her heartbreaking miscarriage. She also talks about what got her thinking about adoption and how she and her husband decided it was the best option for them. Katy shares the stories of her first two adoptions (which are drastically different) and they lessons she learned along the way.

Amanda talks about how her biological mother became pregnant with her when she was only 16 years old. After a few months, her mom realized she couldn't take care of her and left Amanda with her maternal grandmother to raise her. Her biological father also left right after she was born. She talks about meeting her mom only a few times in her life and the feelings of abandonment that crept into her life as a result. Amanda shares how she continued to face more and more adversity, and every time she did, her abandonment issues grew. They really ended up taking a toll on her relationships and her marriage. Come listen as she talks about the hope she has found as she had to move through each of her difficulties and the significant role her faith has played in her healing.

Today's episode is an encore and is part 2 of Jami and Keri’s story of growing up as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and coming out as gay. Jamie and Keri talk about their differences in coming out as gay in an LDS culture. They also discuss advice they would give someone struggling with wanting to come out as gay. Jami and Keri talk about some different things they have personally experienced and how their families reconcile them being gay while also being members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Also, at the end of this podcast, I've included bonus content from the interview and post interview with Jami, Keri, and Jami's mom Kathie. To listen click the link below. iTunes https://apple.co/2LKZm5v Website www.realconnectionspodcast.com I'd love to connect with you!!! You can shoot me an email at contact@realconnectionspodcast.com or find me on instagram @realconnectionspodcast

This week we are going to revisit one of the first episodes I have ever done. Jami and Keri are some incredible women who share their story of going up LDS and coming out as gay. They share their differences and the difficulties that each of them faced. They also share how they continue to make their relationships with their families work, despite leaving their LDS faith while their families remain faithful members.