Uniquely Beautiful Stories

Hi friends! It's me, your very part-time podcaster. ;) I  finally sat down to edit this encouraging conversation I had back in MARCH, with my friend, Katie Mahoney. (How does time fly by so quickly?!?)  You might laugh at the fact that it is now fall, but back then she mentions "March Madness basketball", but no matter how many months have passed, this conversation is beautiful and relevant. Katie shares the turn of events that led to her pre-term delivery of their first precious son, Keon (one of my favorite little guys!), and the lessons they have learned along the way, as they raise and love a son with Cerebral Palsy.  The way Katie fights for Keon and works as a team with her husband, Ryan, to raise both of their boys, is a huge encouragement to me. I know you will love hearing this chat, no matter where you are in your life's journey.Katie mentions a couple of books that have given her direction:We Carry Kevin and A Different Dream For Your ChildShare this podcast with a friend.... and go out and live your own uniquely beautiful story. xo

Hi friends! Today I had the joy of sitting down with a woman I have known for two decades, and have literally watched her pursue and achieve her dreams. Lauren-Elaine is the owner of Dance Studio 150, and was nominated in the Arts Category for the "30 Under 30" award in 2019. In addition to pursuing her calling to teach dance, LE is a wife to Matt, a mom of two and a follower of Jesus. I think you will be encouraged by her story... and I hope you are able to stop and reflect on moments when God has shown up right in the middle of your mess. Share this podcast with a friend... and go out and live your own uniquely beautiful story. xo

Friends, it's time for the final episode in our marriage mini-series. This time Garrick and I chat about what seems to be the least talked about and understood of the vows we made to each other: to cherish. What does that mean? What does it look like to cherish each other? How can we practically make sure our spouse feels cherished? Listen in! We hope you are encouraged to pour time and energy into your marriage... because your marriage matters! Go out and live your own uniquely beautiful love story!

Hi Friends! The McAnears are back this week, talking all about celebration! In cultivating a strong marriage, the art of celebration - celebrating each other, our differences, our victories & our marriage - is an important aspect. Today we talk about what that looks like practically and how celebration is more than throwing a good party (although that's one of my favorite things!). We hope you are encouraged to see your spouse as a gift - all of the things that make them who they are. Learning to celebrate even the hard seasons and our "unlovely" qualities opens up opportunities to learn and deepens our love for one another. We hope you the episode and share it with a married couple in your life! Shout out to my husband who went along with my dream of a "Roaring 20's" anniversary party for our 20th (pictured above)!

Hi friends! We are back with the next episode in our Marriage Matters mini-series: Connect. Today, Garrick joins me and we chat about how to cultivate a healthy marriage by regularly connecting relationally, emotionally, spiritually and physically. Life is busy and full. If we aren't careful, our interactions will only be limited to exchanging the facts about our day, children and schedules, even though we know intimacy grows as we intentionally connect with one another on deeper levels. Join us as we seek to pursue a lifelong love affair, connecting deeper as the years go by! Share this episode with another married couple... and go out and live your own uniquely beautiful love story! xo

Hi Friends! Welcome to the first episode in a very special mini-series on marriage, where my one and only joins me in the studio! Garrick and I have a passion for marriage and have been working with married couples for many years... so I asked him to join me for a few episodes to share his wisdom. In today's episode we talk about the "whys" and "hows" to cultivating a healthy marriage, keeping in mind that we are always planting something into our marriage - whether healthy or unhealthy habits. We also chat about what it looks like to live an intentional life, keeping the "end" in mind. We hope you love this episode and are encouraged to have a good conversation with your spouse - maybe over a Valentine's dinner. ;) Share this podcast with another couple... and go live YOUR uniquely, beautiful (love) story! xo

Hello friends! The UBS podcast is baaaaaack! Woo hoo! New year, new episodes! As I pondered how to relaunch UBS, I could think of nothing more important right now than holding tight to the Word of God. In times that are uncertain, unprecedented and often unnerving, we need the anchor for our souls that nver changes and gives life and strength to us day by day. Vickey and I chat about finding time to dive into God's word in various seasons of life, and she gives some great recommendations of reading plans including: the NT260, topical or John 21-Day on YouVersion, F-260 from Replicate Ministries and any number of options from She Reads Truth (available in hard copies and an app). The important thing is recognizing your personality, season of life and current spiritual goals - there's truly something for everyone. Welcome back to UBS... I hope you enjoy the show!! xo

Friends, today I've got quite a story for you! Saudra Traywick shares the journey their family went on when her daughter, Hannah, developed an illness literally overnight. The symptoms were terrifying and left doctors confused, but Saundra was an advocate and researcher for her daughter and eventually got a diagnosis for PANDAS, an auto-immune disorder, attacking Hannah's brain. After trying medication and seeing little change, Saundra stumbled upon evidence that drinking donkey milk might help her, due to the incredible health benefits. Willing to try anything, they gave the milk to Hannah and the results were almost instant! Fast forward a couple of years and Saudra now runs FOUR different organizations all connected to donkey milk! You can order incredible beauty products here: https://dulcededonke.com/ and also find out more info about the benefits of the raw and freeze-dried milk. The Donkey Dairy Farm is hosting a FREE health event for families, ESPECIALLY those with sick children: Saturday, November 2nd, 2019 Where: Oklahoma Donkey Dairy 13150 N Peebly Rd Luther, OK 73054 Be sure to rsvp for the event & spread the word! I hope you enjoy this episode and pass it on to a friend! xo

Friends, get ready to be encouraged! As you know, October is breast cancer awareness month & I wanted to share the story of my sweet friend, Kyla Pace and her cancer journey last year. Kyla is an incredible woman who loves Jesus dearly. You will be inspired by her honest details about the moments right after she heard the life-changing news, "you have breast cancer". She left the appointment, tears streaming down her face, got in her car... and praised God. I'm so thankful for Kyla's friendship and her example of faith in the very middle of a terrible storm. Listen up, then pass this on to a friend, in honor of all the strong & brave women who have fought cancer. xo

Friends, you're going to love this chat with Katie Harder! She takes us through the story of how the Lord made it abundantly clear that she was no longer a "boy mom", by putting the longer for a daughter on her heart and even a face in her mind of a sweet Chinese baby. She and her husband began the year and a half process of adopting and in May 2019 traveled to bring Millie home! I know you will be encouraged by this story! Also, #theluckyfew is the hashtag we chat about (do yourself a favor and look at the precious photos there!). As always, I hope you share the show with a friend & go live your own story! xo

Friends, you’re listening to episode 37 and today I have 3 beautiful guests - yes, 3! It’s a party in here! This is our 2nd Enneagram episode I’m calling the Ennea-girls RETURN + 1 (Joanna)! Our 1st Enneagram episode was #18 and featured Hill (also on #12) + Claire (also on #16). Today we are adding one more “expert” to the lineup, who has also been on the show before, Joanna Willcox (on #30). So go back and listen to all those but today... we’ve got some great info for you all things Enneagram. Our listeners submitted questions and we are diving in! In this episode we talk about Ian Cron and Suaznne Stabile, who we consider to be true experts. Any of their books or podcasts are high on our list of recommendations! We hope this podcast is an encouragement to you and shed some light on the intricacies of the Enneagram, as we went a little nerdy! Share this podcast with a friend, explore the Enneagram... and go live your own story! xo

Hi friends! Back for a 2nd episode on UBS is Lauren McAfee. (Check out her first ep. #15!) I sat down with Lauren to chat about the book she wrote with her husband, Michael. Their book, Not What You Think: Why the Bible Might be Nothing We Expected Yet Everything We Need, was released this May and addresses the tragic fact that millennials and Gen-Z are engaging with the Bible at alarmingly low rates. Among this demographic, the Bible is often misinterpreted, misunderstood and misrepresented. How in the world do we steer the ship back on course? To be honest, hearing these stats can feel overwhelming and heavy to me, but thankfully the McAfees have a different perspective. Lauren described to me the desire they felt to write a book truthfully addressing some of the most difficult aspects of the Bible, sharing their own doubts and struggles, then asking the reader to give the Bible a fair chance. We also chat about what it was like writing with her husband AND she gave me the exciting update on the adoption journey they've been on for 6 years! You will want to listen and pass this episode on to a friend! Now go live your own story! xo

Friends! If there ever was an episode that is the definition of this podcast, it's this one! Paula Cummings is a one-of-a-kind friend, who effortlessly wove her uniquely beautiful story throughout our entire conversation. Just like me, Paula believes that our calling is actually much easier to discover than many people think - we simply must look around us and see what God is up to and where we've been. He will use the experiences in our lives (ie: your uniquely beautiful story!), crossed with where He has us RIGHT NOW to reach who He has placed around us. Paula and I chat about how God used some teen friends to bring her to Jesus and older women to mentor her, which is exactly where she now finds her passion - mentoring younger women. Paula is so full of wisdom, you will NOT want to miss this conversation... and you'll definitely want to pass it on to a friend! Now go live your own story! xo

Hi friends! I've got a treat for you! I sat down with my new, beautiful friend, Scotia Moore and we had the best conversation! Scotia and her husband have been involved in camping ministry together for two decades and had ten children in fifteen years! (Yes, 10!) As a mom myself, I was so intrigued by the way she runs her household, her intentional emphasis on finding rest in the midst of our busy lives and a couple of life-hacks she had to offer (how else could she keep up with the demands of 10 children?!). Along with the ministry of motherhood, Scotia is also passionate about unity in our city. This is a topic she understands first-hand as she herself dealt with racial tension, moving to the mid-west as an adult. Scotia is a woman who is intent on facing what could be difficult conversations with grace, love and boldness. Her desire is to see families and communities building bridges and as she so beautifully shared with me, it starts around our own dinner tables. I left this conversation determined to do a better job of listening and learning, excited to get behind their work at Shiloh Camp, and eager to pray for reconciliation in Oklahoma City and around our world. I promise you will love Scotia & this conversation and I think you'll leave encouraged to love your community better. If you want to reach out to Scoia, the best way to get in touch is: info@shilohcamp.com Share this podcast with a friend and go live your own story! xo

Hi friends, happy Monday! You are going to LOVE this conversation with Susie Davis! Susie an author of 6 books, a speaker and co-founder of Austin Christian Fellowship with her husband. She is married to her high school sweetheart, and have 3 delightful young adult children (who are all married and living their one beautiful life) and one DARLING grandson. Susie is host of the podcast, Dear Daughters and just released a book by the same name, which you can find here: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=dear+daughters+susie+davis&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 In this chat we also talk about Susie's book, Unafraid, which you can find here:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=unafraid+susie+davis&ref=nb_sb_noss_2 You will devour this book if you are dealing with any type of fear or lack of trusting God. In true fashion, Susie also spends a minute as a spiritual mama to me, offering encouragement in this new mothering season I find myself in. It was a breath of fresh air & I hope you are as encouraged as I was by Susie! Be sure to connect with her on instagram: @susiedavis & @deardaughters AND sign up for her newsletter at: www.susiedavis.org. Share this episode with a friend... and go live your own story! xo

Hey friends! I'm excited to introduce you to my friend, Corey Penry! In this episode I refer to her as a "hippie at heart" and you'll hear why... but this conversation is about so much more than the fact that her family sold their house, jumped in an RV & have been traveling for the past 2 years. In this conversation, we talk about how the Lord has gently worked to heal parts of their hearts that were wounded and shown them a purpose on the road - to bring the love of Jesus to the people they meet and help others tell their stories. You will love this conversation and it might even inspire you to jump in the car for a road trip this summer! You can reach out to Corey on Insta: @coreypenry and follow their brand new page @rysyn_fam. As always, I hope you enjoy the show and share it with a friend. Now go live your own story! xo

Hi friends! Today I'm excited to share a conversation with my friend, Beth. Beth and I talk about many things including her time in the Air Force, her marriage and difficult divorce, the way she was able to heal and move forward - today living more fully as the woman God created her to be. We also talk about her battle with cancer and the importance of community! This is such an encouraging conversation for you to listen to and pass on to a friend! Now go live your own story! xo

Friends, UBS is back from hibernation! I'm so excited to bring you this episode from the beautiful Joanna Willcox. In our conversation she shares about mothering two sons, and the journey she went on when her youngest son was sick for three years, followed by an Autism diagnosis, and landing in her current season of seeing both boys as the unique and beautiful creations God made the to be. Whether you are a parent or not, you will find Joanna's deep faith and wisdom refreshing and encouraging! I hope you'll listen and pass on this episode to a friend. Joanna can be found on Facebook at: Joanna Parker Willcox, Instargram @joeywillcox and over on her blog: www.coldcoffeeclub.com. You'll want to follow her for updates on the historical fiction book she is finishing up and life/family posts of her darling boys! Share this podcast with a friend - and go live your one, uniquely, beautiful life! xo

Hi friends! This week on the podcast we are diving into the Lent season. What does it mean? Is it for every believer? What does it look like to make space in your heart for this forty day period? I will share the story of how in my adulthood I began observing Lent and how it changed me. I will also share what the Lent season has in common with cleaning the pan under my gas stove. :) I hope you are encouraged and inspired to pray about how you can make this special time in the church calendar a part of your own calendar. Here are some helpful resources for you: On Spotify - A Uniquely Beautiful Lent Season playlist! Here is a blog post I wrote on "How Lent Changed Me" & it includes several links to resources for you to check out - even a free kindle download of the book I'm reading this Lent season called, The Way of the Cross. https://www.councilroadwomen.org/blog/how-lent-changed-me#comments-5c7de6ad085229ec836d1957= Another special part of our Easter weekend is an annual Fun Run, 5 & 10 K that our family participates in. ALL proceeds go to help teen girls involved in the House of Healing. Sign up here: www.House-of-healing.org. No matter how you choose to observe Lent, I pray it is a set-apart time for you to be still with the Lord, meditating on His great sacrifice and growing in your own faith in Jesus. Share this episode with a friend and go live your one uniquely, beautiful story! xo

Friends, I'm so very excited to introduce you to my DEAR friend, Julie Smith. You hear her voice each week on this podcast as the intro and outro, but today you're gonna really get to know my girl! Julie is a self-proclaimed open book, her laugh is contagious and she can bring the party anywhere she goes. We reminisce about the early days of raising our daughters, chat about the many places she has lived and the Veggie Tales characters she played... (Yes! She's been in movies!) :) But we also go DEEP into the difficult seasons of her marriage and things she has learned on the other side. Married or single, I think you will love this chat! (Listen all the way to the end of our conversation because we can't stop sharing things we've learned along the way.) I LOVED this chat with Julie! Check out these things Julie mentions: Two books: Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers and Evangelism as a Lifestyle by Jim Pertersen. Also, you can find her on the following Veggie Tales if you want to hear her amazing character voices: Mo and the Big Exit & Wonderful Wizard of Has. Share this episode with a friend and go live your own story! xo

Hi friends! In this conversation with Dr. Carisa Wilsie, we talk about the beautiful way the Lord brought her three children to her and how her life has been woven together from childhood experiences all the way to the 2 jobs she has. Carisa is a smart and passionate women, fighting for kids who have been through traumatic and chaotic places. If you want to reach out to Carisa you can email her at: wilsie@councilroad.org. Share this podcast with a friend, and go live your own story! xo

Hello friends! You are going to love this conversation with the beautiful Sarah Hall! Today Sarah and I talk about everything from when God changes the course of our lives in surprising ways, her love story with husband, Charlie Hall, and how they have worked hard at blending their families, holy yoga...and more. You will find so many nuggets of wisdom from Sarah! We would love to hear from you, so feel free to reach out to Sarah @sarahdawn.hall or on FaceBook at Sarah Hall. You can find me @uniquelybeautifulstories or @hmcanear. Go out and live your own beautiful story! xo

Welcome to season 2! I'm so thrilled to be back with new episodes for a new year! As I thought about the fresh slate of 2019 and small changes I might want to implement in my life, I thought about consistency in taking care of my body. I know many people make health and fitness goals for the New Year, but my spin on it is this- I am not an advocate for change for the sake of extreme make-overs or completely overhauling your life. My hope is to make small, attainable steps toward health that add up over time. ALL for the sake of becoming the very best version of YOU, so that you can go out and live your uniquely beautiful story! _____________________ My friends today have so much wisdom and practical advice in the way of health and fitness - you are going to love hearing Teri & Tallie (beautiful mother & daughter pair!). @tthommom and @tallie_sarah They mention that the lifestyle they've adopted is plant based, and while this may not be your desire, you will want to check out the websites and instagram pages for their recipe inspirations - all so YUMMY looking!! www.halfbakedharvest.com; www.ohsheglows.com On Instagram: @thefeedfeed.vegan, @letscookvegan, @rabbitandwolves We would love to hear from you, so reach out and say hello or give us your favorite recipes! Go out and live your one, uniquely beautiful story! xo

Hello friends! Today my beautiful sister, Hillary Glaze joins me to bring you our Christmas Gift Guide! We have selected several items that we not only LOVE, but they all give back in one way or another! Also, each and every one is offering YOU a special discount for a limited time, using the code BEAUTIFUL. -> Most of these are only good through next week, so listen up to hear more about these awesome gift ideas and then get SHOPPING! Here are links to all the shops and organizations! https://www.etsy.com/shop/AriseCreations Arise is offering YOU $5 off from December 5 - 15! http://harvest-ethiopia.shoplightspeed.com Harvest is offering YOU 20% off between December 3 - 15! wwww.beadsofgood.org Beads of Good is offering you 10% off between December 5 - 12! www.dulcededonke.com Dulce de Donke is offering you 5% off until December 14! --> THESE 5 ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE IN-STORE ONLY!! At Blue 7 (7518 N. May Ave; OKC 73116) Blue 7 is offering 20% off on each of THESE ITEMS now until December 20! Use code BEAUTIFUL at check out. 1) Kammock products 2) LYNT SOCKS 3) Parks Project shirts 4) Seed Co. Jewelry 5) Project Social T items. You guys!! As you can see we have such a great list of items for you to purchase and they all give back!! We would also LOVE for you to consider the following four organizations if you are looking for year-end or monthly giving opportunities: www.http://criointernational.org www.http://rdic.org https://www.house-of-healing.org www.karisadoptionfund.org

Hello friends! I am so excited to bring you a different kind of episode, encouraged by a couple of conversations I had about cultivating and savoring the Christmas season, rather than surviving a stress-filled December. I was giddy and even teary a couple of times chatting about all things Christmas including: Advent studies and ideas, simplifying and eliminating stress, planning ahead, decorating and celebrating traditions. I talk about our family's favorite way of celebrating - which is with and Advent calendar - and I will Insta-story photos of all the things I mentioned so that you can have a visual. Above all, my hope is that you are encouraged to embrace a Christmas season true to your own family and filled with things that bring you JOY and point to Jesus. ---------------------------------- Here is the complete list of advent activities: Ice skating, go to a movie, go Christmas Caroling, host a Happy Birthday Jesus Party, Bake treats,(for teachers, friends, neighbors), Make ornaments, look at Christmas lights, read a Christmas book in PJs, play a board game, play Christmas charades, popcorn and a movie at home, go to Starbucks and pay for the car behind us, shop for your siblings/parents, Foster Wishes/Angel Tree or shop for a family, fill truck stop stockings, attend a Christmas concert, musical or ballet, School parties, Cousin and friend parties, Read Luke 2 by the fire place, Serve at a food pantry or homeless shelter... the options are endless! What are some of your favorite traditions? I would love to hear from you! Here are some of the Advent studies I mentioned: www.shopshereadstruth.com/products/advent-2018-study-book-she-reads-truth _______________________________ I hope you have the best Christmas season! xo

Welcome back! The past couple of weeks have been a bit hectic and hard to get this episode out...but I'm SO HAPPY to finally get it in your ears! :) Makenzie Magnus is a woman with SOOOO much good info and life experience that we can learn from. She has a huge heart to help the marginalized and has practical ideas on how anyone can do (even small) things to make a real difference! In honor of Orphan Sunday (recognized in many churches as a day to encourage and equip people in the adoption and foster care world) Makenzie focuses on mostly how we can come alongside foster and adoptive families and love them in practical ways. You will LOVE this girl, I promise! Things we chat about: www.safefamiliesok.org https://careportal.org www.thegiftgoeson.com https://okfosters.org/events/night-of-lights-oklahoma-city/ Books: The Connected Child by Karen Purvis In On It by Elizabeth O'Tool Jason Johnson's BLOG-- The movie coming out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUfZq3DUd3Y Other organizations: NOVO Halo Project Reading Buddies Church kid's area Red Bird Coffee OKAY...that's a lot of links to research!! So you can definitely go out an live your one, uniquely beautiful story! xo

Friends, you are going to LOVE this episode with my beautiful friend, Julie Moore. Julie and her husband Will have four daughters and today she shares how their fourth daughter, Josie, came to them in an unplanned, unexpected way, as she just said "yes" to the next thing the Lord put in front of her. Julie's story includes the pain of two late-term miscarriages, yet how she can see God bringing beauty from even those tragedies. I think you are going to be encouraged as you listen to Julie's story and I hope you'll be challenged to look at the things right in front of you and say "yes" to the story God is writing in your life. The book Julie is loving is: Never Split the Difference Thank you so much for reviewing and sharing these stories with your friends. We have received such sweet comments and it means the world to our guests to know that their stories are being used for good in the lives of others! Go out and live your own story! xo

Friends, I'm so excited for you to hear this conversation with Kendra Crabtree! Kendra is the founder of Harvest Ethiopia, a socially conscious fashion company founded by Kendra and her husband, Tommy. Kendra shares with us the journey of how God moved them from Oklahoma to Ethiopia, without a specific plan, just knowing without a doubt they were called to go. Once in Africa, after many dead-end plans, they became aware of the need for social businesses to bring jobs and economy to communities, literally changing lives for generations! You will be so amazed and encouraged by how they researched and developed a business plan for Harvest Ethiopia, which is now a thriving fashion company, sustained by Ethiopian men and women. You will definitely want to check out their beautiful products at: https://harvestethiopia.com Also be sure to follow them on FaceBook and Instagram @harvestethiopia! We would love for you to reach out on our Instagram page and let us know how God has used these stories in your life! Give us a review or rating and pass your favorite episode on to a friend! Go out and live your own story! xo

Friends, you do not want to miss this conversation with Sarah, as she shares her journey through more heartache and loss before the age of 40, than many of us will face in a lifetime. Sarah's story includes infertility, the diagnosis and loss of her husband to cancer, a miraculous pregnancy and subsequent medical crisis of her newborn daughter and now a new marriage to none other than her high school sweetheart! Through all the trials Sarah held on to hope and as she looks back, she is able to see God's redemptive hand in her life. Sarah's shares her story candidly in her memoir, From Depths We Rise (which I highly recommend!) Her story was featured in People magazine and she has published articles in Huffington Post. You can follow her blog over on: www.journeyofsarah.com and follow her on FaceBook, Instagram and Twitter @journeyofsarah. Please take a minute to rate and review the show...then go out and live your own story! xo

Hello friends! Welcome back after a loooonnngggg summer break, we're ready to kick off season 2! In this first episode we're chatting about all things Enneagram! Although the enneagram personality profiling tool has been around for decades, it's really having a moment in our culture, so I asked two of my friends who I consider enneagram enthusiasts (or EnneaGirls) to chat with us today. To get to know then a little better, Hillary Glaze was on episode 12 and Claire Westbrook was on episode 17, so please do give a listen to those if you haven't already. Things/books/websites we mention: Suzanne Stabile (enneagram expert) can be found here: https://suzannestabile.com Ian Cron (also an expert) can be found here: www.iancron.com and his enneagram podcast here: www.typologypodcast.com Another helpful website is: www.enneagraminstitute.com Books: The Path Between us and The Road Back To You We hope this podcast spurs you on toward understanding your own personality better, so that you can go out and fully live your own uniquely beautiful story! Thanks for listening! Be sure to leave a comment if you have other enneagram questions we can answer and share this podcast with a friend! xo

Friends, on this episode I share with you Suzy's Leukemia journey and path to remission. In the midst of chatting about this battle, Suzy offers words of wisdom and hope for any person, in any season. I know you will be encouraged! Reach out to Suzy on Instagram @svbiggs (and oooh & ahhh over her darling grand baby!) or find her on Facebook at Suzy Light Biggs. As usual, thank you SO much for joining us here. If this episode is an encouragement to you...share it with a friend! And thank you for your ratings and kind reviews! Now go live your own story! xo

Hi friends! I'm so excited to introduce you to Claire Westbrook today! We chat about many things, including a season in her life when she experienced anxiety and panic attacks and how she copes with that currently, motherhood and the need for women to let go of the assumed expectations of others and do the things God has put on your heart to do - whether that is how you choose to feed your child or how you use your gifts and talents. We even talked about how God often speaks through dreams! No matter what season you are in, I think you'll find this conversation refreshing! You can find Claire's blog here: http://www.mydevising.com and her music on Instagram here: @clairewestbrook or here: @maryanntheband. Here are some passages in the Bible where God used dreams to speak in the Old Testament: Genesis 37, 40 & 41 (to Joseph); to Samuel in 1 Samuel 3; to Daniel in Daniel chapter 2 and 4. And here are some examples from the New Testament: Matthew 1:20, Matthew 27:19, Acts 9:10, Acts 16:9-10, most of the book of Revelation was a vision God gave to John. God also promises to use dreams and visions in these days: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.'" Acts 2:17 Claire was encouraged by this book: https://www.amazon.com/Nothing-Prove-Stop-Trying-Hard/dp/1601429622/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1531758533&sr=8-1&keywords=nothing+to+prove&dpID=61wY9Scxmc Share this podcast with a friend... and go live your own beautiful story! xo

Friends! I can't wait for you to listen to this conversation with Lauren McAfee. She is wise beyond her years and so full of encouragement. Lauren's life is nothing at all as she dreamed it would be as a newly-wed. She imagined a family and 9 years later, she and her husband continue to hope and pray for children. Yet, she candidly shares about the surprising twists and turns her life has been full of and the way God has given them hope. She is fully living in the present, while still hoping for the next chapter in her future. Lauren is the corporate ambassador for Hobby Lobby stores and a published author. Check out her debut book, Only One Life and follow her on Twitter and Instagram @LaurenAMcAfee. Here are links to other things we talked about: No More Faking Fine by Esther Fleece Her husband works for the Museum of the Bible: https://www.museumofthebible.org Hebrews 12:2 & James 1:2 Be sure to share this podcast with a friend and go live your own story! xo

Hi friends! I'm so glad you're joining me here for this episode! Roxanne Foster is a brand-new friend to me. I "met" her as a customer of her business, Easy Freezy, that has been such a blessing to our family! (If you haven't heard episode 12 with Hillary Glaze yet, add that one to your list! We both talk about our love for Easy Freezy!) Roxanne is a wife, mom of three and business owner. Only a year ago did Roxanne have the dream of making mealtime easier for busy people - BUT in that amount of time her dream has been a HUGE success, as Easy Freezy made over 83,000 meals in it's first year! Today we chat about Roxanne's transition form corporate world to motherhood (a surprising journey, as she thought she wouldn't have kids), transition to staying home, then starting Easy Freezy, a chronic illness she developed last year and all the fascinating ins and outs of running her business. As you can see we cover a lot of ground...and I know you'll love this story! ANNNDDD... listen to the entire episode because Roxanne offers us a coupon code!! YAY! I truly hope you'll give these meals a try - they make dinner time so much less stressful! Here is where you can find Roxanne and Easy Freezy: Instagram: @easyfreezyokc Facebook: Easy Freezy Freezer Meals Website: www.easyfreezyfreezermeals.com As always, please give us a rating and/or a review so that other listeners can find our show, and pass your favorite episodes on to a friend! Now go out an live your OWN story! xo

Friends, I am thrilled to bring you this week's conversation with Tammy Jensen. Tammy is the Dean of Students at Crossings Christian School, wife to John and mom to Mack, Malcom and Hannah. Today we talk about life with a child who has special needs (and ALL the miracles they have seen in Hannah's life!), marriage, parenting and the story of how God brought Malcom to them. Tammy is an inspiration to me in the way she daily sacrifices for her daughter and the way she and John make such a powerful team. (And the day this episode releases happens to be their 24th wedding anniversary!) Grab a tissue, because when she talks about seeing Hannah whole and healed in heaven, I dare you to have dry eyes! ;) Be sure to check out the instagram account they have for Hannah: @lifewithhannahgrace and you can get in touch with Tammy on all the social media channels under Tammy Jensen or on IG: @jensenmom We are both big fans of Orange Theory Fitness! www.orangetheoryfitness.com Scriptures we mention: Psalm 139:14 Tammy loves the book of James __________________________ As always, please give a rating or review - it helps other listeners find our show! And if an episode encourages you, we'd love for you to share it with a friend! ...Now go out and live your one uniquely, beautiful story! xo

Hi friends! What a FUN conversation I have for you this week! My wise, wonderful and lovely sister, Hillary Glaze joins me and we talk about growing up with a single mom, moving during high school, marriage, motherhood, answered prayer, the Enneagram...and a few more things! Just like a couple of sisters, our conversation is real and all over the place. Hillary is truly one of my very favorite women ever. She oozes Jesus, wisdom and always has excellent book recommendations...you don't want to miss those at the end of the episode! Here are links to the many things we talk about:) ______________________________________ Easy Freezy Freezer meals (truly a life-saver!) https://www.easyfreezyfreezermeals.com Bible Study Fellowship https://www.bsfinternational.org ______________________________________ HILLARY'S AWESOME BOOK RECS: 1) Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot by Mo Isom 2) The Path Between Us by Suzanne Stabile and 3) The Road Back to You by Suzanne Stabile by Ian Cron (Both on the Enneagram) 4) Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids by Dr. Laura Markham 5) How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish 6) Hello Mornings by Kat Lee ___________________________________ I hope you are SO encouraged by our chat. Please do rate and review the podcast, share the episode with a friend...and go out and live your own uniquely beautiful story! xo

I'm so excited for you to hear this conversation with my dear friend and ministry partner, Vickey Banks! We sat down and had a very personal conversation about the intense season of grief she endured and the priceless lessons she learned and lives by today. You will not want to miss the advice she gives us on how to love those around us in and through their own messy seasons. Vickey and I mentioned a lot of scriptures and books: Love Letters to My Baby Sharing His Secrets Doug Manning's grief booklets www.councilroadwomen.org (also: @councilroadwomen on Instagram & Facebook) Psalm 30:11 Psalm 34:8 John 11 - story of Mary, Martha & Lazarus I hope you are encouraged by this conversation! Go out and live your own uniquely beautiful story! xo

Friends, I'm a romantic....I L O V E a good love story! And today I've got one for you. Lindy Green has been a long-time friend and I'm so excited to have her share the journey when God out of the blue relocated her across the U.S., led her into a very difficult season, and then introduced her to the love of her life! :) You just have to listen to how He crossed their paths...literally! Lindy and I had a great time chatting and *warning* I laugh a lot in this episode, sorry. I told you, I'm giddy over a good love story! I would be so honored if you would share this podcast with a friend, and also leave a rating or review over in iTunes - that helps other women find our show. Also, if you're new to this podcast we'd love for you to go back and check out past stories. Now go out and live your own story! xo

Hi friends! Today I'm excited to introduce you to my youngest guests so far (in the few episodes we've published)! Sisters, Elizabeth & Allison Grantham have been passionate about social justice issues since the young ages of 5 and 8, when their eyes were opened to poverty and they began what became an ongoing conversation with their parents about what they could do to help. Thankfully, their parents didn't think they were too young to do anything and they have supported the girls all along the way as they founded their own organization (YES, they really did!) called Beads of Good. Last week released their book, The Girl Chronicles, telling their story, with the powerful message that every girl - young or old - can use her girl power to do good in the lives of others! You will be inspired and encouraged by this conversation and I do hope you'll go to the website to order a book or bead kit (or both!) to help girls in Africa have an education, employment and a chance to do good in their communities! Here are all the things we chatted about: www.beadsofgood.org (you can order the book here, too.) Local stores carrying their book: Plenty Mercantile Blue Seven Commonplace Books Organizations we mentioned: loveworksleadership.org thesperoproject.com criointernational.org Thanks so much for listening! Share the podcast with a friend and go live your own story today! :)

Friends, I cannot wait for you to hear this conversation with Elizabeth Hodge. She is not only a beautiful woman and friend, she's my sister in law! Today, Elizabeth shares with us the 10 year journey she walked with my brother as he lost and then found his faith. Warning: get your tissues! This one had us both emotional. It is truly one of my very favorite stories of God's faithful pursuit. If you want to reach out to Elizabeth, you can message her on Facebook under her name or instagram @ejhodge. The scriptures Elizabeth mentioned are: 2 Samuel 7:18 Psalm 40:3 Psalm 42:5 Hebrews 11:39-40 The things making her life beautiful: - The Ten Year Journal (available on Amazon) - Dulce de Donke skincare (Elizabeth and I both love the soap and moisturizer!) www.dulcededonke.com Share this episode with a friend who needs to be encouraged! Then go out and live your own story! xo

Hi friends! I just can't wait to share this story with you today! If you are listening with "little ears" know that our conversation includes mature topics. I love the story of restoration God wrote (and continues to write) in the lives of my friend, Elizabeth Weems and her husband, Jacob. In a decade of marriage, they faced all of the major battles a couple can face: teen pregnancy, abortion, infidelity, pornography and financial struggle. However, in an account only God could have written, on the brink of destruction, their souls and their marriage were saved! And, a fun side note, in our conversation, Elizabeth talked about the 10th Anniversary photos they took and how things looked pretty on the outside but they were falling apart. So I used that photo here. Elizabeth and I talk about their family business: Restored design + remodeling (check them out on Facebook & Instagram) You can also reach out to Elizabeth personally on her Facebook and Instagram pages if you'd like to connect. And the two passages of scripture I mention are: 1 Corinthians 5:17 and Revelation 12:11. Enjoy this amazingly, uniquely, beautiful story....then go out an live your own story! :)

Friends, I can't wait for you to hear the story of how Kari Moroz maintained hope through her battle and victory over breast cancer, as a 29 year old mom of a brand new baby and a three year old. It's truly a remarkable story! Kari has also written a book: Stage III Mommy, and she can be found on her Facebook page: Kari Moroz, Author. We hope you are encouraged live each day to it's fullest, put your trust in the Lord and remember to hold on to hope. The different scriptures we mention are: Revelation 2:17 Joel 2:25 2 Corinthians 7:5-7 Psalm 86:2-13 Now go out and live your own uniquely beautiful story!

Hi friends! I'm so excited to introduce you to my beautiful friend, Kathy Boekman today! Kathy's story is truly amazing...I'm serious, as she shares you might think you are hearing the script to a movie! Be sure to listen to the end because if there is one major theme of this conversation it is God bringing things full circle! Kathy is the founder and director of the House of Healing for the teenage soul. Through this ministry Kathy has been able to reach countless Oklahoma teen girls by using various methods: one-on-one mentoring, group Bible studies, relationship and life skills training for the teens and their parents, and the equine program. Although her passion stems from childhood abuse, it gives her understanding for some of the situations these girls face...and that's what I call uniquely beautiful. One of the scriptures God used to direct Kathy's calling is: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9 Here are links to the different things we chat: www.house-of-healing.org. www.celebraterecovery.com www.councilroad.org www.houseofhealingeasterrun.org (to register for the Easter Run.) I'd love to hear from you! Let me know what's making your life uniquely beautiful today! Find me on Instagram at: hmcanear. Go out and live your uniquely beautiful story!

Friends, I am so excited for you to hear a beautiful story from a beautiful woman today. Stacee is married to her college sweetheart, Doug, and they just celebrated 25 years! (woo hoo!) They have two daughters, Shelbee and Rylee, who are both students at Dallas Baptist University (where Stacee and Doug met). Today Stacee shared with me her thirty year battle with anorexia and depression and the way the Lord used many different things including doctors, medication and a community of women to get her to the place she is now...still walking the journey, but victoriously. Stacee has a blog: speakoutloud.me, “Speaking words of hope out of the darkness of anorexia, depression, and self-harm.” Along with the blog you can connect with her on the facebook page for Speak Out Loud, and she recently published a book entitled You Are Worth Saving: Letters of Hope from a Desperate Heart, available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and at Books Etc. at Council Road. Stacee and I hope you are encouraged by this message and share it with a woman who needs to hear the hope!

Before I introduce you to today's session, I have a couple of notes for you listeners! 1) This interview was originally a video recorded for the women’s ministry at our church, Council Road, but the response was so positive I knew our podcast listeners would be encouraged! So the audience “watching” is obviously YOU our podcast listeners. 2) Hayley and I mention a couple of resources: - Her favorite fitness app: MyFitnessPal - Her husband, Cody Bobay's ministry for men: https://soulcon.com - The upcoming Easter Run we would LOVE for you to join us: www.house-of-healing.org. Hayley Bobay is wife to Cody and mom to Ty and Parker and makes OKC her home. She has been involved in the fitness world for many years and in several different ways, and has a passion to encourage women toward a healthy lifestyle - not for aesthetic reasons, but to serve God fully out of a healthy mind, heart and body. In our interview we chat about everything from the benefit of community to nutrition to our own personal struggles with fitness to actual fitness plans for all levels of activity. So grab a cup of coffee and listen to this interview while folding laundry, nursing a baby, walking on the treadmill or commuting to work. As we suggest at the end of the interview, we would love to hear from you or connect with you, this invitation is not only for the women in our physical community at church, but we want our listener community to feel free to reach out. So please comment or message us if you desire to connect with Hayley or other like-minded women who desire to respond in a balanced way to health & fitness. I think you will be encouraged to seek to be the strongest version of yourself, living out your one uniquely beautiful story well.

In the first episode you'll hear the story behind this brand new podcast. Take a listen and then stick around to hear some of my favorite stories. But most importantly, go out and live your own story! Find me on Instagram @ hmcanear!

In this week’s podcast, Daysha shares candidly about delivering two very pre-term baby boys and and the subsequent journey to adopting their daughter. I know you will be encouraged by the ways God took care of her family during very difficult circumstances. Daysha said she held on dearly to Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope hope and assurance about what we do not see.” She knew she wanted to share their home and their hearts with one more child, and clung to hope during circumstances out of her control. Her story had some difficult days, weeks and months, but there is also so much beauty and redemption in it. I hope you enjoy this interview and are encouraged to go out and live your uniquely beautiful story!