TEA of Life Podcast

Today, I'm jumping right into our topic and talking about stating our why. Think about why it is that we want to do whatever it is that we want to do. Our why is not our reason, and we need to understand that stating our why is important to help keep us motivated. It leads us to our specific goals. It's what gets us there. It's what gets us up in the morning and what keeps us awake at night. It doesn't lay the process of getting there out for us, but it actually helps us vision the end result in the here and now. For a transcript of this episode and all links and show notes, go to teaoflifepodcast.com. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @teaoflifepodcast.  

When we are contemplating something new, it is wise to find someone who is already doing it and ask them a lot of questions. Asking others who are already successful in doing what we want to do helps us gain knowledge. They can pass on wisdom and experiences that we may not have ever considered. For complete transcripts and show notes, visit teaoflifepodcast.com. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram: @teaoflifepodcast  

There are times when we need to relax, take a breath, and breathe, and the start of a homeschooling journey is definitely one of those times. One of the many things that I have learned during my time homeschooling is that staying calm usually helps in every situation. The more calm we approach our homeschooling journey, the easier, more enjoyable, and more rewarding it is going to be for everyone. For full transcripts and show notes, go to teaoflifepodcast.com. Follow me on facebook and Instagram: @teaoflifepodcast.  

Today, I want to encourage you that you are enough. There's this idea going around that says that we are not enough, and I feel like I am here to tell you today that you are enough and that having self-worth is not wrong. In fact, it is how Jesus sees us. For full transcripts, visit teaoflifepodcast.com. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @teaoflifepodcast

Today, I pull pull an ever-relevant episode from the vault. In this episode, my former co-host and I talk about why school is not THAT important. The pressures for good grades and high end of year test scores contribute to rising depression, cutting, and suicide rates among middle and high schoolers. This could be related to the feeling of not measuring up among peers or the pressures that parents, teachers, and professors put on their students. What matters is recognizing these stressors in your child's life and helping them navigate through them or not allowing them in your child's life at all. Your relationship with your child is more important than school or any test scores, and we share why we believe that. For show links, go to teaoflifepodcast.com Follow me on: Instagram: @teaoflifepodcast Facebook: @teaoflifepodcast    

If I had to name someone who undeniably left a positive legacy on my life, my aunt and uncle would definitely be at the top of my list. The influence they left on my life was definitely unlike any other, and today, I want you to consider the legacy that you are going to be leaving for your children, your children's children, and their children's children. For full transcripts and to listen straight from my website, go to teaoflifepodcast.com. Follow me on: Instagram @teaoflifepodcast Facebook @teaoflifepodcast  

In today's episode, I talk about a time when God asked me to do something really hard, and I rebelled. In the end, I ended up submitting to His will, even though it wasn't easy. Today, I am grateful for that hard journey, and I want to encourage you to go where He's asking you to go. For full transcripts, visit teaoflifepodcast.com. 

I'm back! I took some time in 2021 to reflect and refuel, and now I'm ready to get back to it! Enjoy this introductory episode for season 6 and make sure you SUBSCRIBE for future episodes! For full transcripts and links, visit teaoflifepodcast.com. 

Today, I hope to make you feel a little better and possibly put a couple of things into perspective with your homeschooling journey. My hope is that, after listening to this episode, you will be able to feel a bit more prepared and encouraged as you begin, or continue, homeschooling through high school. For show notes, links, transcripts, or to subscribe to our podcast, visit http://teaoflifepodcast.com/.   

Homeschool High School - We Did It and So Can You! Part 1 This past May, we graduated our firstborn from high school, but not just any high school...homeschool high school. It was scary, awesome, terrifying, amazing, and all the feels at the same exact time. We did it! We graduated our son from homeschool high school, and YOU CAN TOO! These next few episodes, we will go through what it takes to homeschool high school and give you the encouragement you need to know that you can do it too! For transcripts, show notes, and links, go to http://teaoflifepodcast.com/. 

I can't believe it, but this is officially Season 5 of the podcast! I know a few of you have been listening since the beginning, and I'd like to say a great big THANK YOU for the continued support and encouragement. Lately, I've noticed a huge spike of downloads, and that's been really super exciting! Thank you all so much for joining me in this journey. In my last episode, I made a reference to how I have been taking time to reflect and consider how I want to move forward with this podcast. There are things about doing this podcast that I love, and things that I really don't love. Join me as I unpack this on this episode, and then tell me what you think I should do. For full transcripts, links, and show notes, go to http://teaoflifepodcast.com/. 

I am hearing that for Thanksgiving, there are some places that aren't allowing people to gather in groups of more than 10 people. Is this in your area, or do you have a similar but different mandate that your authorities are trying to implement? If so, what, and how do you feel about it? Are you planning on following it, or are you gonna ignore it and do what you want to anyway? How does your Thanksgiving celebration today look different than your celebration as a kid? I read a recent article from Mike Rowe called It's Enough to Make a Grown Man Weep and chat about holiday depression.  For the full transcript, links, and show notes, go to teaoflifepodcast.com.

The Edge of Everywhen is a fictional book by Author, Allison Mackey, that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is written for upper elementary/middle school ages; however, I found that I couldn't put the book down, and I am...well, let's just say that you should never ask a lady her age. I first interviewed Allison Mackey back in episode #30, How to Pursue Your Writing Passions. In that previous episode, we talked about how she became a writer and why. Also during that interview, she was in the process of writing The Edge of Everywhen and had actually just presented her book to her publisher that very morning. My favorite quote from that episode was, "We don't seek perfection in order to obtain the Father's blessing. We seek perfection because we already have the Father's blessing." During our current chat and also in her book, Allison refers to quite-a-few other books that are great reads for everyone. Here are just a few of the books she referred to that can help you start your very own amazing journey of fictional reading this summer. The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore The Giver Narnia Old Possum's Books of Practical Cats Great Expectations Oliver Twist You can find and follow Allison on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram @author_asmackey, and on the web at asmackey.com. To download your copy of the Activity Sheets, follow this link. Download a sample of The Edge of Everywhen here. Visit this link to purchase your copy of The Edge of Everywhen.

While quarantined during the Coronavirus shutdown, Shelley also found herself in a similar situation as us and a lot of other people. She too has had to sit back and watch all of her work disappear. Due to this, I wanted to invite her on to have a chat and get her perspective on how she is handling being shut in and unable to get out, make money, and hang out with her friends and family. So, as everyone should know by now, this video is part of a series released in order to get perspective on how others out there are handling being quarantined during Coronavirus / COVID-19. I am asking the same questions to all of my guests in all of the videos in this series so that we can see how others are doing. My hope is that my guest can say something that you can identify with that will help you feel better about the situation you may be experiencing as well.  Even though we may feel like it sometimes, we are not alone, and I hope that you are able to identify with Shelley and our conversation can help you. We first had a conversation with Shelley back in episode #29, where she shared her passion for Ireland. In this episode, Shelley mentions her love for Valor Coffee House in Alpharetta, GA.       

This quarantined conversation with Rayson took place on May 5th, 2020, at the height of the world-wide Coronavirus Pandemic. Rayson is the host of the Raygacy Show, where he is a motivational and inspirational speaker, where he has had the privilege of interviewing top entrepreneurs such as Gary Vaynerchuk and Grant Cardone. He is also a nurse at the Institute of Mental Health in Singapore. I invited Rayson on today because I wanted to get his personal experience with being quarantined from Singapore with the current COVID-19 / Coronavirus crisis. There, they are also experiencing shutdowns and stay-at-home orders; however, they call it the “Circuit Breaker.” Rayson shares a little bit of how the Circuit Breaker got its name. I first interviewed Rayson about 2 years ago in episode #59, and at that time, he had about 1000 followers on Instagram, and now, just 2 years later, he has over 10,000 followers! He was kind to give us a quick rundown of how he has been able to grow his brand so quickly. Rayson tells us about the 5-Points to Hand Hygiene, which are, “Wash your hands…” before touching a patient, before clean/aseptic procedures, after body fluid exposure/risk, after touching a patient, and. after touching patient surroundings. Rayson ends with encouraging everyone to take this time, while quarantined, to reconsider what it is that you want your life to be and go for it. You only have one life to live. No one can live your life for you, and there is only one you. It's up to you to build the life that you want. He encourages us to come out stronger and let yourself be known to the world.  Follow Rayson on:  YouTube: Raygacy Vlogs  Facebook: Rayson Choo Instagram: @raygacy Rayson's Telegram Group Additional: Rayson mentions the book, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, which is a book about the laws of attraction, positivity, mindfulness, etc…, and you can watch Rayson's interview with Bob Doyle here.

Erica Greene is juggling her experience with being a new mom while being quarantined from COVID-19. She shares how not being able to depend on others to step in and help her has been really tough.  Erica's husband is a pharmacist, and his work demands have been drastically increased, making her time at home even more difficult. Both with taking care of her 9-month-old son and not being able to have grown-up conversations on a regular basis has been the toughest part of this for her. During this conversation, you can watch Erica as she is even juggling taking care of her son, who has also just learned how to crawl making him more mobile, and video-calling with me at the same time.  Erica says that she misses her friends the most, and she misses the pressures of obligations the least. Make sure you watch the other videos in this series. If you've missed them, you can see them here: http://teaoflifepodcast.com/.

Welcome to Part 5 of Our Quarantined Life. In this episode, I chat with a long-time friend, Kelsie Stone. Kelsie is the author of Glass Dust, and her wisdom certainly goes beyond her years.  Kelsie is passionate about people. In fact, she shaved her head in order to raise money for MUST Ministries during the COVID-19 crisis. Even though she is in isolation due to being immune-compromised, she wanted to continue to contribute to helping others in her community. She petitioned for people to donate money to this ministry in hopes of allowing more people to be fed during this pandemic. Kelsie has a connective tissue disease called Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, or HEDS for short. This disease is considered rare; however, Kelsie, along with others who have also been diagnosed, thinks that it is more common than we are aware.  Kelsie is immune-compromised and was also diagnosed with a disorder called Scheuermann Disease, and then eventually Ankylosing Spondylitis, after she found out that her spine was broken in three different places without her knowledge of ever having broken it.  We mention how, in high school, Tiffany was awarded a trip to the counselor's office because of a poem she wrote for The Cherokee Review, a book of poems and short stories submitted by the high school students. Who knows? Maybe I'll publish it as an article at http://teaoflifepodcast.com/, and then you can give me your opinion on whether or not that trip was truly deserved. Kelsie is a passionate gamer, specifically VR (Virtual Reality). We talk about how she has been able to turn her passion for gaming into physical therapy for her body, and she shares about her desire to introduce gaming techniques to the disabled community.  Kelsie encourages everyone to remember that lives matter...everyone matters. She hopes that we can hold on to the adversity that we are experiencing right now so that we can continue pulling together going forward. Relationship and community have always been important, and we hope that we can remember that when this all comes to an end. Visit Amazon today to buy your own copy of Kelsie's book, Glass Dust. 

Kristina Thrasher shares her answers and perspective to my quarantined questions. If you've been listening for a while, you will remember my first conversation with Kristina in episode #53, Aneurysm Survivor Finds Her Purpose. If you haven't heard that conversation, please make sure you take some time to listen. You'll be glad you did! This is the 4th video in “Our Quarantined Life” series. To see the first 3 videos, go to teaoflifepodcast.com or watch them straight from YouTube. Don't forget to subscribe while you're there, and hit that bell. We have more videos coming your way!

In part 3 of this video series, I invited Garrett Holcombe to share his perspective on how he and his family are handling our current situation with the COVID-19, Coronavirus shutdown. We talk through my quarantined questions in hopes of shedding some positivity, hope, and good news. Garrett is the President of Horizon Planning Group Inc, and he is known for having a heart of a teacher when it comes to his clients. He currently serves clients across the US and is a Smart Vestor Professional with Dave Ramsey. His passion for financial independence and prosperity for all is very evident in our conversation. For show notes and video links, go to http://teaoflifepodcast.com/. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv2CveelJEmC8UriSTHMt3Q

In this conversation, April spoke to our audience regarding how she and her family are handling being quarantined due to the global COVID-19, Coronavirus, outbreak. She has some really great advice on dealing with being shut-in, along with some great apps and videos to watch in order to bring some light and good news into the situation. For links and show notes, visit http://teaoflifepodcast.com/. To watch the full video, visit our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv2CveelJEmC8UriSTHMt3Q

We answer questions regarding how we have been handling the shelter-in-place quarantine order due to the Coronavirus outbreak. We want to give you a little glimpse of what our life has been like during the past 6 weeks and hopefully let you know that, no matter how you feel or what you're experiencing, you are not alone. We also desire to inspire you to look for your own adventure right now wherever you are. Visit http://teaoflifepodcast.com/ for more episodes that will inspire you to Transform Every Area of [YOUR] Life.

We are currently in a state of shutdown due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, and a lot of you are fearful. Fear is paralyzing. There is no preparation in fear. Fear doesn't allow you to think properly or logically. Fear drives you to think about every possible scenario that could happen, or in your mind, will happen and doesn't allow you to think logically about how things will actually and ultimately turn out. There is truth and there are lies. Sometimes, it's hard to distinguish between the two. For show notes and transcripts, go to http://teaoflifepodcast.com/.

According to some research, having an identity crisis can sometimes be considered a psychological issue. Some people can suffer from identity crises all of their life, while others may experience it periodically, and then others may begin to experience it at short times during their life when they are in situations that they allow to “define them.” It's not the questioning that causes an identity crisis, it's the failure to execute that causes an identity crisis. The crisis part comes after not being able to execute who you really are after you have identified yourself. For show notes, transcripts, links and more, go to http://teaoflifepodcast.com/.

We've talked about the 7 Simple Steps to Loving Your Life, and if you have no idea what I am talking about or you haven't heard that episode, I want to encourage you to go listen to that episode. I believe that doing those steps can actually help you find more happiness and contentment, but sometimes, we don't actually know what would make us happy, so we don't really know what goal we're working for or what goal we are trying to achieve, regarding our happiness, so in today's episode, I want you to explore more about what really makes you happy and why and then set a goal to meet that target. I also introduced a new company founded by a few friends of ours and offer our listeners 10% off your entire order with a coupon code, so listen in to find out more about this and about what makes you happy!

Today, I have some exciting news! April Abraham is back for this episode as a guest-host, and I couldn't be happier about it! In this episode, we chat about: April's new bidet and her experience using it

We all want to feel known in a sense of having a deep connection with someone else or maybe even a group of someone else's. We all long for the security that we feel that it will bring to us. There is something about having a deep relationship with others by their physical presence that cannot be replaced with virtual reality. For some, we may have been told that we don't fit in, or maybe we have felt or currently feel that we don't fit in; that we don't measure up or that we are different than those around us. We may feel different. We may think differently. We may even look different or dress differently. We are constantly wondering where we fit into this world we call home. If you have ever felt this way or are currently feeling this way, today, I talk to you. I let you know that you are not alone, and I talk about how to begin to see change. 

Sudio Tolv Earbuds - Unboxing and Review + why we like them better than Apple Airpods. GASP! Recently, we received another collaboration with Sudio Sweden in exchange for our review of their new Sudio Tolv Wireless Earbuds. In this episode, we do an audio unboxing, plus a review of what we think about them so far. We discuss purchasing a set of Apple Airpods only to return them about a week later and what we think about these in their place. To check out the Tolv Earbuds and to purchase a set for yourself, go to Sudio Sweden; then, be sure to shop around their website to see all the amazing products that they have to offer. For a limited time, enter code: Teapod15 at checkout and receive 15% off your ENTIRE order + FREE shipping all over the world.  ALSO, right now (at the time of this episode release) receive a FREE Passport Cover with every purchase. That's another $20 value...FREE! Can I get a Woot! Woot!? So, you really need to listen to this entire episode to hear all about what we love about the Tolv Earbuds, why we like them more than the Apple Airpods, and how you can get a pair for yourself and a friend. Visit teaoflifepodcast.com for links, show notes, and articles.

My husband and I have a lot of really great stories of living debt-free. It truly is a passion of ours that started when we became engaged in 1996. We decided that we didn't want to start a marriage with debt because we had seen the destruction that debt can cause in a marriage (and just in life in general), and we knew that we wanted no part of that. I can tell you that there is no faster way of getting out of debt than to tell your fiance that you cannot marry him until we are both debt-free! And, we did it! We were completely debt-free the day we got married, and for the next 4-1/2 years, we lived on $14,500/year. We were very passionate about living on what we made; no matter what we made, and we believe that God honored that and believe that God can and will honor that for you too, but it has to be a true desire. You have to live it, for Him to honor it. For complete transcripts, show notes, and product links, go to http://teaoflifepodcast.com/.

Change is hard! SO! HARD! People can say that they like change, but not a lot of people like TO change, or, to be more exact...people don't like to BE changed. Some people do like to try to change us though, and I get into that a little bit on this episode as well. Sometimes change is necessary in order for things to be different. Albert Einstein said that “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again...expecting different results.” Sometimes we decide to change ourselves or our circumstances because we're bored with where we are. The boredom forces us to get past it and do something else or actually...do...something. Some of us have been taught that we should never be bored because that's when the devil creeps in and bad things happen; then, there's also a saying that “if the devil can't make you bad, he'll make you busy.” So, which is it? Is he going to creep into my boredom, or is he going to creep into my busyness? For show notes, links and transcripts, go to http://teaoflifepodcast.com/podcasts/changeandhabits/

What would you do right now, if you could do anything? What do you think it would take to get you there? Courage? Financial Independence? Support from family or others? I once asked someone this question, and their answer was surprising and not something I could get on board with. What about you? Leave your answer now at teaoflifepodcast.com. For show notes, links, and transcripts, visit teaoflifepodcast.com. Subscribe now on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify and never miss an episode!

We need to know that in order to get to where we want to be, we need to surround ourselves with people who are already there. We need to seek out and ask questions to those who have already achieved our desired status or who have achieved our desired position in society. Rayson Choo, host of the Raygacy show, recently posted that one of his listeners commented that he (Rayson) should be financially successful before interviewing people like Gary Vaynerchuk and Grant Cardone - both of which have already been on Rayson's show and have encouraged him in many ways, and both have also agreed that what he is doing is fantastic and he should keep on keeping on! This is a total misconception, and today, I will tell you why. For show notes and transcripts, visit http://teaoflifepodcast.com/.

Are you feeling stuck; like you're not going anywhere + that you're on a path or a virtual treadmill to nowhere? Do you feel like no matter what you do, you cannot move ahead? All of us have been there at one time or another. In fact, we (my husband and I) are just coming out of a place where we have felt stuck. I have been teaching others how to become the best that they can be and how to live their best life, all while feeling somewhat stuck in our own lives. That didn't happen because this stuff doesn't work. It happened because we allowed it to happen; however, we have recently become unstuck, and the feeling has been AMAZING! Listen in today as I talk about how to become unstuck in your own life and begin to love the life you're living. Visit http://teaoflifepodcast.com/ for transcripts, show notes, and links.

If you've ever felt guilty or anxious for saying no or have been talked into doing something that you never wanted to do in the first place, you may have a boundary problem. If you constantly deal with too much drama in your relationships or have difficulty making decisions, you may have a boundary problem. If you care too much about what other people think about you, you may have boundary issues. These are just a few examples as the list is long, so even if the above isn't you, you could still have boundary issues, and in this episode, I help you solve them. For show notes, links, and transcripts, visit http://teaoflifepodcast.com/.

Henry David Thoreau, a philosopher, and poet said, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.” I am giving you 7 simple steps that I hope will help you get out of your desperation and on to achieving your goals. Whether your goal is to become a better person, change your circumstances, or maybe even your attitude, I hope these encourage you and help you to achieve it. My hope for you is that by giving you these steps and breaking them down one-by-one, it will help you get to your goal easier and create a vision for what needs to be done along the way. For snow notes, links, and transcripts, visit http://teaoflifepodcast.com/.

Today, we break down the 5 components to setting and accomplishing your goal of creating the life you love to live or how to become a better person. We break down SMART goals and talk through each of these components: 1. Specific/Simple/Significant 2. Measurable/Meaningful/Motivating 3. Achievable/Attainable/Announced/Authored by YOU 4. Relevant/Reasonable 5. Time Bound/Time Sensitive For show notes and complete transcripts, visit http://teaoflifepodcast.com/.

Along my way, I have met so many people who all have one thing in common, they are not loving this precious life that we have been given the opportunity to live; they are not living their best life. Not only that, but lately I see commercial after commercial “selling” us ways for you to love our life - whether it be through a new online counseling agency, gym memberships, food, medication...basically more items and ways than I can even think about right now. I want to ask you what are you going to do this year to make your life better because it IS up to you. It is not up to anyone else to change your life. It is not up to anyone else to change your life for you. It's not up to anyone else to create the life that YOU want to live. It is up to you! I can only give you a nudge in the right direction through encouragement and presenting some tools that you can use to achieve your goals. If you have a goal this year to change your attitude or situation, YOU are the only person who can achieve that goal. For some, just changing your attitude can change your life. For some, you already have a really good life circumstance, job, family life, or whatever, but you have a really bad attitude about it. Some of you may need to make some changes to the life you're living, while others of you just need to change your attitude about the life you're already living. Journey with us today on the life-changing opportunity of loving the life you live and becoming irresistible to those around you. To read the complete set of show notes and transcripts, visit my website at http://teaoflifepodcast.com/.

Today, I talked about a book that changed my life years ago, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie and how it can change your life too! It's weird to think that winning friends and influencing people can have an impact on you loving the life you're living, but it really does. When you treat others this way, it makes a big difference in the influence that you have on them and the world around you. It makes your life and relationships a whole lot less stressful and demanding. People tend to respect you and look up to you when you treat them this way. For show notes and links, visit our website at http://teaoflifepodcast.com/.

Reclaiming joy during the holidays can be tough; especially if you have a hard time enjoying those around you. News Flash! The holidays are upon us! Just in case you didn't know. For some, these holidays bring joy and happiness, but for others, and maybe you, the holidays bring nothing but pain and misery; however, you have the ability to take back your joy during this holiday season! I want you to know today that these holidays do not have to be dreaded. They can actually bring you joy and happiness if you preemptively set some healthy boundaries by taking control of your schedule, money, emotions, and the time you dedicate spending with those who tend to suck the joy and life right out of you. You are in control of you; no one else! YOU have the ability to choose how you come out of this holiday season. YOU can choose to be refreshed instead of exhausted, excited instead of depressed, and joyful instead of miserable. I believe this is Jesus' wish for us - to have a joyful celebration of His birth; for us to choose to love the life we are living or choose to change it. My wish for you during this holiday season is for you to love this year like no other, set the pace for years to come, and for you to find excitement in reclaiming your joy during the holidays!

Jennifer Langley shared a story of a child predator incident that she witnessed right in front of her face, and after hearing her story, I knew that we had to get this word out to parents and caregivers of children as soon as possible. We want to make sure that our children are as safe as possible, and someone needs to hear this message. So,  what Jennifer was witnessing was the perpetrator “befriending” the children there (mostly girls I might add) so that they would no longer be strangers; that they would see him as a familiar face in order for the little girls to feel more comfortable around him. He was also “showing off” for the parents as well. He was showing them how much he “loves” little children (yeah, I bet he does) and “grooming” them to the point to where they feel that he is a safe adult for them and probably thinking, “Wow! He's really great with kids!” This way, they inch their way in little by little; seeing how far they can go, getting the child more and more comfortable with them until it's gone too far. I did a little research on how to keep our children safe from child predators, I found that one Psychologist says, in an article written for the NY Times, (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/14/opinion/the-wrong-way-to-keep-kids-safe-from-predators.html), she's “noticed that most parents...believe children are safe only when they are in the care of [familiar] adults...but as a psychologist with an expertise in child abuse, I can tell you this theory is hogwash. It's exceedingly rare for a child to be taken by a stranger, and in around 90 percent of sexual abuse cases, the perpetrator is someone the kid already knows.” A writer for Psychology Today had this to say about child predators, “Most often, that someone is either a family member or an acquaintance, such as a coach, counselor, priest or teacher. So ironically, when we put our kids into educational programs and organized sports to keep them safe, we may actually be putting them in more danger than if they were just playing outside with their friends.”  This is an episode that every parent or child caregiver needs to hear. So, grab a notebook because you're gonna want to write some of this stuff down. For show links and show notes, visit our website at teaoflifepodcast.com.

What if I don't want to be more than average? Is that really not Ok? Today we talk about an article that I came across on social media titled, "What if All I want is a Mediocre Life?"  This is an article that I feel that I could have written myself. It truly speaks to my heart for myself and my family. I was so relieved to find out that I am not alone; that I am not the only one feeling overwhelmed or even rebellious of what society tells us we need to be or have accomplished by my age or in my near future. Carolyn Penner is a guest with me again today, and we talk more through living a "mediocre life" through motherhood and how we desire to be more than ok with where we are on our journey through life. We are tired of all of the outside influences constantly telling us that we need to be better, bigger, faster, achieve more, be better leaders; better wives, moms, and daughters. We are tired of always having to have a picture-perfect house and lifestyle. When is enough enough? For us, it is now! Know that wherever you are in your journey through motherhood that you are enough! You are worthy of being a mom to your children. God has deemed you their mom. You are your kids best knowledge-bearer when it comes to taking care of them. I believe that God gives us the knowledge through the Holy Spirit that allows us to be a good mom to our own children, and no one loves them more than you do. We just need to learn how to listen to that still, small voice, and not be persuaded from the outside world telling us that we are not good enough and that we are doing it all wrong. Be strong, mom! You CAN do this! I believe in YOU!   *To follow the links mentioned in this podcast, visit our website at teaoflifepodcast.com.    

Whether we are parents of newborns or teenagers, we can sometimes feel a little overwhelmed by parenting; however, most of the time, those feelings may not be coming from the kids; they may actually be from outside influence. When my kids were smaller, I sometimes felt that if others just left me alone, I could actually be somewhat successful at being a parent. Something else that we may feel as parents is that this current season with our infant is our forever. It isn't! In fact, it changes faster than I can type out these show notes. Yesterday, my son was 6. Today he is 16! At least, that's how it feels. Today, I invite Carolyn Penner, our interviewee from episode #23 and a mom to 3 boys of her own, to discuss some of the difficulties of parenthood. Along the way, she asks me a question that leads to an answer that every parent should hear. We end our talk with a list of shows that we binge-watch with our kids now that they have become older. This has become our new bonding-time with them. We have loved inserting ourselves into our kid's world and falling in love with all the shows that they love as well - some new, some old, and some old with a new twist. It's all very interesting and entertaining if you relax a little and allow it to be.    For links to the things that we talked about in the show, visit this episode on our website at teaoflifepodcast.com.     

Have you ever thought of going on a mission trip and just never thought that it would be possible? Is God telling you to GO, but you are hesitant because of the thought of paying for the trip or leaving your family behind? In this episode of TEA of Life Podcast, I talk with Amanda Heutig, and she shares how God told her to go on a mission trip years ago, but she used all these excuses and more to stay at home where she was more comfortable. Amanda's trip was planned in order for her to go and help change the lives of others, but, in return, it was her life that was ultimately changed. She traveled to Ecuador where she had the privilege of being a part of a group providing medical care for children and families. Her stories of change are amazing, and you can see her absolute delight on her face as she is sharing every detail.  For links, show notes and to see additional pictures from Amanda's trip, visit our website at teaoflifepodcast.com.

A while back, I wrote an article called The Dangers of Journaling. In this article, I briefly mentioned how God and I started on a journey last April 2016. The big reveal is that I was dealing with some major life-long issues that were (but are no longer) leading to depression. Through the healing process, God is teaching me to be transparent as He continues to form my story. It's super hard! The good news is that I am learning how to deal and manage the depression; however, the source still remains. As I began to track back through my prior months, I was able to pinpoint almost when it started. It was at that point, it all began to make absolutely perfect sense; thus, promptly beginning my long, grueling, healing process. For links, show notes, and a transcript of this episode, visit our website at teaoflifepodcast.com. 

Taking the time to make sure that we allow our kids the opportunity to grow into great leaders could be more important than ever before. I am really not sure that there has ever been a time where it has seemed to be more imperative to focus on a new generation of upcoming leaders. I am passionate about a lot of things, and another thing would be quality leadership. As far as my kids are concerned, quality leadership at the foremost of my mind most of the time. I feel that every decision that I make, in both my professional and personal life, boils down to what kind of leader I want to be, what kind of leader I want my kids to see me being, and what kind of leader I want them to be. The more I read, study, listen and learn about how to grow myself as a quality leader, I realize that I also have a big responsibility as a leader (and a parent) to teach my children to become great leaders. We hear about natural-born leaders, but I feel that no leader is naturally-born. Some may acquire more training in this field than others because to some it may come more “naturally,” but having the qualities to be a great leader and actually being a great leader is not the same. Just because someone has the qualities of being a great leader, doesn't mean that they are actually a great leader. A lot of learning, training, and discipline are still required for them to become a great leader. For links, show notes, and a transcript of this episode, visit our website at teaoflifepodcast.com.   

Here, at TEA of Life Podcast, we want you to do life better...YOUR life better, and we want to give you the encouragement and tools you need in order to achieve this. This week, I talk about a video that's being shared around Facebook about the effects of using cell phones. They call this effect, Digital Dementia, and their purpose is to persuade you to stop using your cell phone so often. Although I agree with lowering the use of our digital devices, I am not sure that I agree with some of their reasoning.  The video that I talk about starts out with slow, emotional piano music and a guy who looks like he about to have a nervous breakdown. I'm sure you've seen it. He says that he cannot even imagine what the rates of suicide, homicide, rates of depression, and accidental deaths due to overdose is going to look like in the future. He is blaming all of this on the use of cell phones. After this scene is over, it automatically goes to another guy who introduces the Digital Dementia word that spawned the name of this episode. He says that we rely on our smartphones so much, that it is making us stupid. Now, I have watched other videos of people who talk about how they don't need to know certain things because Google can tell them anything they need to know, so I understand where these comments are coming from, and this is similar to a conversation that my husband and I have had together before, but, this guy in the video is saying that we have lost the ability to memorize phone numbers, and he's referring to pretty much everyone in this statement. He equates this to having our arm in a sling for 6 months and the muscles atrophy because they are not being used. He implies that using our phones to keep our schedules and to-do lists is not using our brain muscles to remember things. It seems that he's assuming that we aren't filling our brain with other things instead. Visit teaoflifepodcast.com for show notes, links, and a transcript of this show.  

I posted a picture on Facebook with a comment about investing in your kids that has gotten quite a bit of attraction. The comment ended with this, "Do what it takes to invest in your kids! Do something crazy! Do something out of the ordinary! Do something they love! Insert yourself into their world for a bit! Don't be afraid! Take a chance! Just go for it! #noregrets" Time with your kids is way more important than anything that you could possibly own. Our oldest son is 16, and we have only 76 more weeks until he turns 18. Because of this, we decided that family adventures were a top priority for our family. These adventures come with a price, but because we are debt-free and living below our means, we are able to invest our money in any way that we desire. We chose this, and we want this for you too. Listen in today, and receive the encouragement you need to GO FOR IT!  Visit our website at teaoflifepodcast.com for a transcript, show notes, and episode links.

Rayson Choo is the host of The Ragacy Show where he encourages others to become the best at who they are and what they do. After losing his job as a Japanese Clinic Nurse, along with experiencing other difficulties, including taking care of his mom who suffers from schizophrenia, Rayson was inspired to seek his passions. Through this, he also gained a deep desire to help and inspire others to chase their own dreams as well. Rayson believes that "...why some people thrive in challenging times while others don't is clearly distinguished between their mindset and choices." Rayson's desire is to inspire 50,000 people by the year 2020. Visit teaoflifepodcast.com for additional show notes and links. 

Jessie Cole works at the Chick-Fil-A Dwarf House in Woodstock, GA. Today, we discover the man behind the smile and learn that his desire is to finish strong. If you've ever visited the Chick-Fil-A Dwarf House in Woodstock, GA, chances are you've seen him. He is a bundle of joy and his smile is completely contagious to everyone he comes in contact with.  Every time you step foot in the door and he is anywhere around, he will immediately greet you and make you feel loved. I feel that it is impossible to be in his presence and not walk away with a smile. Because of this, I wanted to get to know Jessie and the man behind the smile and share his story with you. Jessie talks about his life and how he wants to be remembered. 

Chanelle Neilson is the host of Moms Who Know Podcast, in addition, she is also a wife, a mom to 5 kiddos, and has a passion for family, health, fitness, and personal growth. I wanted to have her on the podcast today because sometimes momming can become very overwhelming; therefore, wonder, “What have I gotten myself into?” Sometimes, in order for moms to love their life, they may need a little change. That change can sometimes be something as simple as just taking better care of themselves in small, practical ways and, most importantly, not feeling guilty for it. Chanelle has 5 easy self-care ideas for moms who want to be the best they can be.  Visit our website at teaoflifepodcast.com for links and show notes.

This week, I invite my husband, Brandon, into the podcast, and we talk about the art of saying, “NO!”, in order to say, “YES!” Saying no can be super hard; especially if you've always been taught that telling someone no is a bad thing. Whether we say yes or we say no, there's always an opportunity cost involved. What we need to figure out is which opportunity cost we're most willing to give up or live without. We talk about how we only have 936 weeks of influence from the day our children are born until their 18th birthday. (We actually said 986 in the podcast. That was not the right number. The actual number is 936.)YES! 936 weeks, people! That's it! So... I went out and bought 1872 marbles to represent both of our boys (and counted each and every one) as a visual that we will be using in a video later this week, so stay tuned. You get to see how many marbles (weeks) of influence we have left with our older son. I seriously wanted to cry! Visit our website at teaoflifepodcast@com for shownotes and links.

April began the podcast by sharing two verses that came to her while she was getting ready for her goodbye episode. Yes, you read that right. Today, April says goodbye to TEA of Life Podcast. Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Matthew 6:11 "Give us this day our daily bread...." Visit our website at teaoflifepodcast.com for shownotes and links.