Podcasts about GMC

On today's episode of Renew Your Mind we are talking with Gaylord Methodist Church's new pastor Kevin Harbin. We are joined by Pastor Kevin Harbin, Youth & Family/ Worship leader Jordan Kettlewell and moderator Dana Hall. Questions/topics for today's episode include:- What exactly happened in 1986 when you were invited to a Methodist Church Service?- What churches have you served over the span of your life?- How did you become a Presiding Elder in the GMC? - Could you tell us what a Presiding Elder does? - How do you juggle those duties while pastoring your own church?Thanks for listening and we pray this podcast encourages you and helps grow your walk in the Lord! God bless!

ご無沙汰しております！久しぶりにGMCメンバーの近況回です！各メンバーの都合上、ラジオ前半:おーはる、ふじたりん、ゆうの3名。ラジオ後半:おーはる、カズマの2名で話しています。(おかのりはお仕事で欠席) 各自の生活や観た映画など、緩やかに話しております。そして、2025年もGMCラジオを聴いてくださったみなさま！本当にありがとうございます❤️‍

One week before the near-death hike that permanently scarred Micah Smith's children, police contacted Micah Smith alongside a roadway in a lifted white GMC with no plates, no registration, no insurance, and bald tires in cold rainy weather. The encounter escalates quickly as Micah Smith resists basic identification, and officers discover there are multiple weapons inside the vehicle. Smith reveals his obsession with hiking and going “to the top of the mountain” despite warnings about snow and conditions and reveals his marriage is falling apart. Did we just learn what might have motivated his reckless hike with his children? Let's walk through the traffic stop, the bizarre behavior and the RED FLAGS that screamed of minimization, bravado, grievance, control, and a fixation on the mountains just days before his children ended up in the hospital and he ended up in jail.#MicahSmith #CottonwoodHeights #SaltLakeCounty #Utah #WasatchMountains #LonePeak #BigCottonwoodCanyon #BroadsForkTrail #TrafficStop #BodyCam #OfficerSafety #ProbableCause #ChildEndangerment #TrueCrime #ProfilingEvil #MappingEvil #GIS #Esri #CourtTVEmail your questions to: ProfilingEvil@gmail.com========================================

Sermon by Janice Shepard

On today's episode of Renew Your Mind we are talking with Gaylord Methodist Church's new pastor Kevin Harbin. We are joined by Pastor Kevin Harbin, Youth & Family/ Worship leader Jordan Kettlewell and moderator Dana Hall. Questions/topics for today's episode include:- What exactly happened in 1986 when you were invited to a Methodist Church Service?- What churches have you served over the span of your life?- How did you become a Presiding Elder in the GMC? - Could you tell us what a Presiding Elder does? - How do you juggle those duties while pastoring your own church?Thanks for listening and we pray this podcast encourages you and helps grow your walk in the Lord! God bless!

Too much to list in here, but THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT is in this episode! Daddy's tacos, Spectrum sucks, GMC service writers, the crew that helped move storage containers..... and more...

Michigan Weather and Women: Part 2 Dancing, and other forms of sentimentality. Based on a post by CleverGenericName, in 4 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Connected.  As we finished the prep work, I asked Wilma about her day with Mary. "She is a good kid but is carrying a lot of anger and shame. We spent most of the day getting in touch with that anger. It takes some people years before they can express their emotions through art; it took her about five minutes. But we had to take some breaks to clean up the paint splatters afterward before they stained." "Oh shit! Sorry about that. I can pay to replace anything that;" "Nothing to apologize for; I asked her to express how she felt, and she did it in the way that felt right to her." "Well, I appreciate your taking the time. I am just her big brother; I feel so lost when it comes to parenting." "Being a parent doesn't mean that you know any more than anyone else, and it certainly doesn't mean that you know any better. For what it's worth, I think you are doing a fine job with your family. I know that you don't have your parents around to say it, but this old woman is mighty proud of who you are and of how you have stepped up for your brother and sisters. They are very lucky to have you." I turned away so that Wilma wouldn't see me getting choked up. I couldn't remember the last time that someone had said they were proud of me. Soon enough, though, it was dinner time, and Erin came into the kitchen with that same look of amusement on her face. "Sorry to bother the chef, but Lane needs some help that only a big brother can provide." When I gave her a quizzical look, she blushed. "It seems like he is going through puberty, which can pose; some new challenges. When I was assessing his ankle, he; well, indicated his interest in me in a way that can be difficult to hide, particularly while wearing sweatpants. It's natural for his body to react that way at that age, and it's nothing for him to feel badly about, but he was mortified. I think he could use a bit of brotherly guidance and understanding." I went to the living room and saw that Lane was curled up on the couch and looked like he was fighting back tears. "How are you doing, Buddy?" He couldn't even look at me he was so embarrassed. "I am so sorry; I just couldn't help it. I don't know why it started to get bigger, and I wanted it to stop, and it wouldn't and then she saw me, and;" he continued as he fought back a sob. "Can we just go home?" "Erin is a doctor. She knows how the human body works and has seen that kind of thing a hundred times. She isn't mad at you or embarrassed. She just feels bad that you feel so bad. This is just part of getting older and growing up. "Did I ever tell you about what happened in Miss Iron's class when I was a freshman? Miss Iron was a bit of a legend among the male students at our local high school. She was the youngest and prettiest teacher, by far, and even though she always dressed professionally, the clothing style had yet to be invented that could fully conceal her bountiful natural endowment. "Well, I liked Miss Irons a lot. She was one of the few teachers who looked past my difficulty with reading and writing. So, I developed a little crush on her, which was fine until the inevitable; hmm, physical demonstration of my crush; happened in class one day, just before she asked me to collect everyone's quizzes. I tried to delay, I tried to ask a friend to do it instead, but eventually, I had to stand up. It took me until my junior year to live that one down." As Lane listened to my story, he turned to face me and his second-hand embarrassment for me helped to push his embarrassment to the side. "So, what happened?" "Miss Irons was lovely and kind like she always was, but I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me or to get hit by a bolt of lightning. Things would have been fine if she hadn't mentioned what happened to the principal, who called Mom. She didn't find the story funny at all." I hadn't thought of the aftermath when I started telling Lane this particular story, but as they say, might as well put it in four-wheel drive and keep going. "Mom was mad?" "By then, Mom was pretty much always angry. I did my best to keep her away from you and the girls when she got that way, but yeah; she was mad." "Are you mad at me?" "No, Bud, I'm not. In a few years, once your embarrassment has died down a little, I will tease you mercilessly about this because that's what brothers do; and maybe threaten to tell your girlfriend, if you fall behind on your chores or homework. But I will never get mad at you for something that you can't control. And I promise that Erin isn't mad at you either." Just then, Mary poked her head in to tell us that dinner was on the table. "Are you safe now, or do you need a few more minutes." "I'm good. Thanks, Dad." After I helped Lane hobble into the dining room, we got down to the business of eating and teasing each other, but not necessarily in that order. It felt good; almost like what I imagined a real family would feel like. Eventually, the conversation turned to more serious matters, though, and Erin led off the questions. "So, how do you know Gran, and why are you wearing Grampy's favorite sweater? And, for what it's worth, I don't remember him filling it out in quite the way that you do." I blushed a bit as Wilma jumped in. "If Phillip had filled out that sweater like young Davis here, it wouldn't have stayed on him for very long, I can tell you that." "Gran!" Erin exclaimed, laughing while sounding scandalized. "I didn't need that mental image. Heck, none of us needed that mental image." "Oh, don't you worry, Dear. He still filled it out well enough, and it looked equally good on our bedroom floor." We were pretty much all blushing at that point, which I think was Wilma's objective, so I quickly changed the topic. "I am just your mother's plumber. I came out to fix her boiler and then finished the job earlier this week when a couple of parts came in that I needed." Wilma jumped in at that point and added her two cents to my story. "He also brought me my groceries and we had a lovely conversation. He is a real Renaissance gentleman, a rarity these days." Erin looked grateful but concerned. "Did you have enough money to cover the bill, Gran? You know I can help if you need;" I tried to jump in before Wilma could reply. "No need to worry, the bill was paid in full;" "Hogwash," Wilma exclaimed as I tried to finish, turning to Mary before she continued. "Your brother wouldn't let me pay him a cent for the work that he did. Not even for the parts that needed to be replaced! He is a very nice boy but a terrible businessman." I turned to Erin for support. "I figured your Gran has enough going on right now with her health and all. It was the least I could do to help her out." Erin looked at me with a strange expression on her face. I didn't have much experience with women, so I figured I must have made her angry somehow. Most of my interactions with women, including my sisters, seemed to end with them being upset with me for one reason or another, but she didn't sound angry when she spoke. "Thank you, Davis, that was very sweet of you." "Yeah, well; you see, it's just; pass the fish, please." "That still doesn't explain why you're wearing Grampy's favorite sweater. When I was a little girl, I used to curl up in Grampy's lap and snuggle into that sweater as he read to me. He was wearing it when I danced my first dance with him in front of the fireplace. Do you remember that old record player, Gran? You used to bring it out and we would waltz around the living room to Moon River." "I still have that record player here somewhere, let me go see if I can find it." Erin started to protest, but it was too late. "To finish answering your question, Erin, we were here today because your Gran offered to mentor Mary. I tried to politely decline, but your Gran is pretty persistent when she wants to be." "That sounds like Gran. Most of the time when she makes a suggestion, it is really a command." "While we are asking questions, how is Lane's ankle?" "It's pretty badly sprained, and he will need to use crutches to walk for the next couple of weeks. You should bring him to the hospital to get some X-rays done as well, to make sure that he doesn't have any fractures." I could feel myself deflate as she mentioned X-rays. "I'm not trying to be cheap, but are the X-rays absolutely necessary? We don't have the best insurance; we got it through the exchange. I guess it's better than nothing, but the deductible is pretty high, and my other sister, Alison, her college tuition is due soon. But if you say it's important, I will put in some extra hours to make it work." It didn't usually bother me that we were poor. Heck, most everyone we knew, except the McDougals, was poor. But it hit home when you had to tell a beautiful doctor with bright amber eyes that you couldn't afford an X-ray for your little brother unless it was urgent. "Tell you what. I will be working at the hospital in Petoskey tomorrow, so why don't you bring Lane by, and I will take care of him? I will make sure that he gets a pair of loaner crutches for as long as he needs them." "You don't need to do that for us." Erin gave me another one of her looks, this one I was more familiar with; I was pretty sure it was annoyance. "So, just to be clear, you can look after my Gran, fix her boiler for free, and bring her groceries whenever you feel like it, but I can't look after your brother and make sure that his ankle is treated properly?" "Well, when you put it that way, I sound like a bit of a jackass. I'm sorry." "Apology accepted. Come by the hospital at 11 AM tomorrow." Before we could continue, the sound of a 45 playing on an old record player filled the house. You could hear the hisses and pops before Ella Fitzgerald's voice began to sing "Dream a Little Dream of Me." Chapter 3. We got up from the table and followed the music back to the living room. I helped Lane out of his chair while he half-hobbled and half-hopped along beside me. Wilma had set her ancient record player up in the corner beside a stack of old 45s, and she had a faraway look in her eyes as she looked out the picture window toward the lake. "I think it's time for me to ask the prettiest girl in the place to dance," I said, as my eyes swept across the room. "But unfortunately, it's a three-way tie. So, will you do me the honor?" I said as I held out my hand to Wilma. "I haven't danced since Phillip passed. You know, we used to dance together every Friday night. It didn't matter where we were or what we were doing, we would always make time to dance at least one song together, even if the music was only in our heads." "I imagine I will be a pretty poor partner compared to Phillip, but I will try not to step on your toes." Wilma and I ended up dancing a slow foxtrot to "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole. She smiled at me as we slowly circled the living room. "You're a very good dancer, young man." "Our mother taught me when I was very young." Before she began with the drugs and men, our mother had been a showgirl in New York and then Las Vegas. When she got pregnant with me, she moved back to Mackinaw City and started teaching ballroom dancing at a local studio. By the time I was five, I was her practice partner of choice, and she always insisted that I lead, despite being only half her size. "The man always leads, Darling, that's just the way of the world." I was hardly a man at the time, but I never disagreed with my mother when she was in a good mood, because I knew it could shift in an instant. So, I learned to dance, and I learned to lead. The memories came flooding back as I guided Wilma into a soft over-sway, and she smiled with delight. "Oh my, you do know how to dance!" I couldn't help but smile back. "I can't take all the credit. I think Phillip must have infused this sweater with his fancy footwork." As the song ended, I took a step back and did my best to give Wilma a gracious bow. "It was a pleasure dancing with you, my lady." "The pleasure was all mine, good sir." I turned toward Mary and held out my hand. She hesitated before Wilma declared, "There are no wallflowers in this house." Mary slowly stood but looked anxious as I took her hand. "Davis, I don't know how to dance. Mom was; she was too far gone to teach me by the time I was old enough to learn." "That's okay," I reassured her. "If there is anything that Mom made sure of, it's that I know how to lead. Just relax, and I will guide you through it." Wilma helped Lane, who had taken over as DJ, to choose a slower song so that Mary would feel more comfortable, and I heard the opening bars of "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong. I started to lead Mary through a slow rumba, and she picked up the steps very quickly. She was a natural. I felt a sudden stab of regret as we moved together across the floor. "I'm sorry. I should have made time to teach you to dance. But the last few years, it has just taken everything I have to keep us;" "It's alright. You've had other things on your mind. And look; you are teaching me how to dance, now." As Mary grew more confident, I guided her through a simple underarm turn, and we ended with a dip, which made her giggle and earned a round of applause from the others. Finally, I turned to Erin, who was sitting on the couch beside Lane. I suddenly felt very shy and, for the first time that evening, she looked nervous as well. "Would you dance with me, Erin?" She didn't reply but stood and took my hand. We waited for a moment while Wilma and Lane chose a new 45 and then listened to the pop and hiss as it started to play. Soon, an alto saxophone introduced the Henri Mancini version of "Moon River," and we started a slow waltz. Although there was space between us, it was bridged by an electric charge that connected and drew us together. Even though I spent most of the dance looking over Erin's shoulder, every detail of her beauty was etched in my memory, and I felt a warm breeze pass between us, raising goosebumps on my skin. We barely noticed the pause as the song ended, and a new one began until Etta James began to sing. At last, my love has come along My lonely days are over And life is like a song The song was in 4/4 time, so I switched to a foxtrot and Erin followed as we glided across the smooth wood of the living room floor. I was so caught up in the moment, and in Erin, that I led her through a turn that transitioned into an over sway, before I stepped backward, allowing her to gently pivot into me. Our eyes met and I was lost in them again. Before we could break the spell, a heavy gust of wind shook the house, and the power flickered out. The room went dark, which sharpened my remaining senses. Suddenly, the warmth of Erin's breath on my neck felt like wildfire across my skin. We were motionless for a three-heartbeat eternity before the lights flickered and came back on. I let go of Erin and felt all of my longing and awkwardness rush back in. "Thank you, Erin. That was;" I couldn't finish; words didn't seem enough to express how I felt. "I should check the breakers and make sure that everything is alright, and then we should go. Why don't I wash these clothes and drop them back for you later." Wilma just smiled and shook her head. "If you like them, please keep them. Otherwise, they will just grow old and musty like me." A little while later, we said our goodbyes, but I promised to bring Lane to the hospital the next morning. Wilma told Mary that she would see her on Wednesday after school and again the next Sunday. I was expecting Mary to protest, but she just gave a meek, "Yes, Wilma." I was nervous when I took Lane to the hospital the next day. The deductible on our insurance was high enough that we paid for pretty much anything less serious than a severed limb out of pocket. Erin, however, was as good as her word. After the X-ray confirmed that there were no breaks or fractures in the bones around his ankle, she re-wrapped it and arranged for a pair of loaner crutches that he could use for as long as he needed them. Before we left, Erin asked me if I wanted to grab a coffee in the cafeteria, to which I readily agreed. I gave my phone to Lane so he could amuse himself while Erin and I talked. "I just wanted to say how much I appreciate what you did for Gran. I do what I can, but I spend half my time at the Children's Hospital down in Grand Rapids right now and I am often on call while I am here. I just don't have the time to give her the help that she needs." "Honestly, it's no big deal. I do a lot of work around Good Hart since the bigger plumbing companies don't like to travel that far, so I don't mind looking in on her while I am there. And she seems to have taken a real interest in Mary, so the least I can do is to bring her some groceries and help around the place a bit." Erin pursed her lips and looked like she had just bitten into a lemon. "The 'least you can do' is more than the rest of our family can be bothered to do put together, so thank you." "I meant to ask you about that. What did your Gran do to end up so isolated from the rest of your family?" "The rest of my family is; there is no nice way to put it, they're snobs. None of them have any interest in spending time 'up north' as they call it, and they can't wait for Gran to move into a retirement home and die so they can get their money and forget about this place. That's why no one comes to visit Gran anymore, even for Thanksgiving; it's part of their campaign to convince her to sell her land to the McDougals. Before you came along, I thought they were going to succeed." "Well, excuse my language, but fuck them. I don't know Wilma that well, but I will do what I can to make sure that she gets to spend her remaining days in the place that she loves." "That's easy to say, but harder to do once the McDougals and their minions start coming by your place, offering you money and making threats unless you back off." "Well, if they do, they will find out what every teacher who ever taught me learned the hard way. I am bad at taking orders and even worse at following instructions. I am not afraid of the McDougal boys." My exclamation brought a smile to Erin's pretty face. I decided that I would be willing to do quite a lot to see that smile on her face again. But there was one thing I still didn't understand. "Why aren't you on board with the rest of your family? You must be under a lot of pressure to abandon your Gran like the rest of them." "My father, Gran's youngest son, Max, died shortly after I was born, and my mother moved the family to California where she remarried into a family that had a little money but a great deal of pretension and ambition. My mother picked up that insatiable need for money and status like it was a virus. "When I was a child, my mother and stepfather spent summers and holidays traveling the world, staying in places where children weren't welcome. Although they wanted nothing to do with Gran and Grampy and their 'vermin-filled shack in the middle of nowhere', they were more than happy to leave me with them while they were away. "They would put me on a plane to Grand Rapids while they jetted off to their spas and their fine dining. Gran and Grampy were the only people who cared for me, and they became my whole world. "When I was 14, I was staying with Gran and Grampy, and I caught a fever that was so bad that I nearly died. It was a pretty grim time. My parents even thought about flying home from Monaco to be with me. They didn't, but it was the only time in my entire childhood that they considered it. But I will always remember how kind the doctors and nurses were to me when I was sick. That's why I became a pediatrician and moved home." "Isn't California home?" "Home is where the people that you love are, and so this will always be my home. Or it will be until Gran passes on, anyway." We sat in silence for a while, sipping our coffee. Before long, it was time for me to go. "This might sound crazy, but since the rest of your family aren't going to be here to celebrate Thanksgiving with your Gran, how about you and I try to give her one more Thanksgiving to remember." Erin brightened at the idea, and the smile returned to her face. "That would be amazing! Why don't I give you my number, and we can figure out how to make it happen!" Chapter 4. For the next few weeks, Mary continued to meet with Wilma on Wednesdays and Sundays. I would often take the opportunity to bring her groceries or other supplies while I dropped Mary off and, if the weather was agreeable, do some fishing. Once he could walk without crutches, Lane came along as well, in quest of another monster steelhead. Unfortunately, all he caught was some yellow perch and rock bass, but it was nice to spend the day with him down on the dock. I saw Erin a few times at Wilma's as we made plans for Thanksgiving. She seemed to particularly enjoy talking with me while I split firewood out by the shed. It was hard work, and I was often drenched with sweat by the time I was done, but she didn't seem to mind. And she worked while we talked, helping to stack the larger pieces and collecting the smaller ones for kindling. The one point of contention in our plan was how Erin would get to Wilma's on Thanksgiving Day. She was slated to work a 12-hour shift the evening before, ending at seven in the morning, and she worried that if she went home to rest, she would sleep through the entire day. Her solution was to drive out to Wilma's after her shift and catch a few hours of sleep when she got there. I thought that driving that far after working all night seemed like a terrible idea, so I offered to give her a ride instead. She did not like that one bit. "I don't want you to make an extra trip when I am perfectly capable of driving myself." It sounded like she was digging in for a fight, so I tried a different tactic to convince her. "I need to stop at the hospital anyway, to return Lane's crutches. I can kill two birds with one stone and pick you up at the same time." She didn't buy that rationale either so, reluctantly, I resorted to the truth. "I am sure you're a great driver, but if you drive yourself, I will be up that morning anyway, worrying that you are safe. I know it doesn't make sense, but I have been looking after my siblings for so long its second nature for me to worry, and I can't seem to turn it off. So please, let me pick you up. But for me, not for you. And do you know how rarely I get to be gallant these days? I will feel like your knight in shining armor." That finally got a laugh from Erin. "Alright, you win. Why don't you pick me up at 7:15 at the hospital? You can sweep me up onto your trusty steed and carry me away to Gran's house." "If by trusty steed you mean rusty old GMC truck, then it's a deal." The morning of Thanksgiving dawned chilly and gray, with a cold wind blowing in off the lake. I was up early to make sure that I made it to the hospital on time, and I was listening to the local AM country station as I drove when the DJ started his break. "A happy Thanksgiving to all our listeners. If you're on the roads today, be aware that there is a severe weather warning in effect for the area north of Cadillac and into the upper peninsula. We're expecting a combination of high winds and lake-effect snow to make driving hazardous, and you should be prepared for possible power interruptions and outages." I was relieved that Erin had agreed to let me pick her up and that I had invested in good snow tires for my pickup. The snow had already started by the time I reached the hospital, and I pulled my jacket tightly around me as I went inside. I dropped Lane's crutches with the duty nurse and waited for several minutes before Erin arrived. She looked exhausted, and the gentle smile that I loved was nowhere in evidence. "Hey, Erin. Are you okay?" "I'm fine. I just had a long shift, but I am ready to head out." She came up to me and gave me a hesitant look. "Actually, I could really use a hug if that's alright." Without a word, I wrapped my arms around her, and she buried her face in my sweater. Hidden from the world by the folds of my jacket, I felt her body start to shake. The tremors lasted for a minute before they gentled and then finally stopped. I looked out the window at the falling snow to give her a moment to compose herself. "Let's head to Gran's house. This weather isn't going to get better any time soon." With that, we got in my truck and started the drive up to Good Hart. Erin sat in silence and looked out the window. "If you want to talk, I probably can't help with doctor problems; but I am a good listener." It took Erin a minute before she opened up. "Most of the time, I love being a pediatrician. Kids come to me scared and in pain, and I help them to get better. But sometimes, it's just too much. Around midnight last night, an ambulance brought in a mother and daughter. Her boyfriend had been drinking; and he got violent. The little girl tried to protect her mother and; and; "It's one thing to treat a grown woman, you know. I mean it's still pretty bad, but; that little girl. Fuck. One thing I've learned from this job is that monsters are real." I wanted to give Erin another hug, but since I was driving, I just reached over to take her hand. "I'm sorry." My words seemed so incredibly inadequate; considering what she had just dealt with; but she squeezed my hand. "Thanks for listening." We drove on in silence, and by the time we pulled into Wilma's laneway, Erin was gently snoring with her head against the window. I stopped as close as I could to the house before lifting her out of the cab. She tucked her head into my shoulder, and I carried her inside, where Wilma was already busy in the kitchen. She came out to greet us, and I spoke to her in a low voice. "Erin had a very tough night. I think some rest will do her a world of good." Wilma helped Erin out of her boots and coat and then showed us through to the guest bedroom, where I laid Erin on the bed. The room was filled with pictures of Erin from when she was younger; standing on the dock with an older but handsome man who I guessed must be Phillip, curled up in a ball on the sofa, book in hand, and smiling in her cap and gown as she graduated. In each picture, I could see hints of the beautiful woman she would become. By the time I returned with the rest of my family, the storm had begun to pick up. Snow drifts were accumulating against the house and shed, so we brought everything with us into the house that we might need for the evening. It took some convincing, but Sharon and I took over in the kitchen while Wilma, Alison, Mary, and Lane started a game of Scrabble in the living room. Once the preparations were well underway, I laid in as much wood for the fireplace as I could. With the high winds and heavy snow, I was worried that we might lose power, and I wanted to make sure that we prepared, just in case. The radiators and boiler would provide almost no heat if there was a prolonged power outage, but the fireplace had a high-efficiency insert that would keep the house warm, as long as we built up a good bed of coals. Lane insisted on helping me with the firewood, and after a half dozen trips to the woodshed and back, we both looked like live-action versions of the abominable snowman. Wilma showed some sympathy for our plight, while our sisters had a good-natured laugh at our expense. By the early afternoon, dinner was almost ready, and Wilma sent me to wake Erin. She had barely moved since I had tucked her in and seemed so peaceful in her sleep. I leaned over and spoke softly to her until she opened her eyes. After a moment of confusion, she broke into a shy smile. "I guess we made it to Gran's." "That we did, we got here close to six hours ago." Her eyes flew open, and she tried to get up until I reassured her. "We've got things under control. Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes. Take your time; and maybe give yourself a few minutes for that pillow line on your cheek to fade." I turned to leave, so she could have some privacy, but she reached out and took my hand. "I just wanted to say thank you again for earlier. I am not used to having someone I can talk to; someone I can trust. It's only been Gran and Grampy, and me for so long, and I didn't want to burden them. But I shouldn't have dumped my troubles on you like that, we barely know each other." "I was just glad that you felt comfortable enough to share how you felt with me. Today was probably the worst day of that little girl's life. I am sure she was terrified, confused, and in a lot of pain. But what she'll remember is the angel who comforted her and treated her with kindness and love. "I need to get back to the kitchen, or I will burn something. Fair warning, this is my first time cooking a Thanksgiving turkey, so you may want to load your plate up with fixings and sides, just in case." As it turned out, the turkey wasn't perfect, but it wasn't that bad, and the gravy was tasty as heck (probably because Wilma made it.) We had mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, and peas as sides, with the obligatory cranberry sauce (from a can). The conversation at dinner was a chaotic mixture of laughter, stories, and the kind of teasing that you only get when you bring five siblings together over a hearty meal. It didn't take Erin long to choose a side in the battle of the siblings, and soon, it was the four girls against Lane and me, with Wilma as our impartial referee. I don't know how Lane felt, but for me, it was worth being ganged up on just to see Erin and my sisters smiling and laughing. Although he tried to hide it, it was clear that Lane still had a bit of a crush on Erin, so I imagined that he was just fine with making her smile as well. For dessert, Erin brought pumpkin and apple pies that she had bought at the bakery in Petoskey, which we ate with some vanilla ice cream from the local creamery. I was sure there would be some dessert left over, given the amount that we all ate for dinner, but somehow, we finished it all. Everyone pitched in with the dishes and then we moved to the living room where we played cards and some more board games. As we played, Mary asked Wilma about some of her more memorable Thanksgivings, and she got a faraway smile. For the next hour, she regaled us with stories of humble times with the kids by the lake and, in later days, fancier celebrations with some of the families that Phillip befriended while they sat for portraits. As our last game of Scrabble ended, Sharon looked at Wilma with a mischievous grin. "Mary was telling me about the dance party that you had a few weeks ago here in your living room. Rumor has it that my big brother can dance! I was hoping, if you asked him nicely, that we could all see him in action." Wilma got up from her chair and started to move toward the hall closet. "Lane, come along and help, please. I am far too old to be carting around a heavy record player." Lane hopped up and went to help Wilma, while the rest of us began to move the furniture out of the way. As Lane set up, Wilma admonished the rest of us. "Remember, there is only one rule about dancing in my house: no wallflowers." With that, Lane started the first song, and I asked Wilma to dance. Alison followed suit, asking Lane to dance, and soon she was teaching him how to lead. Finally, Erin stood as well and gave a deep bow to Mary. "It would be my honor, enchanting lady, if I could have this dance." With a laugh, Mary stood, and soon we were all moving around the room, trying not to bump into each other or step on each other's toes. For the next hour, we danced, laughed, and pretty much forgot about the world outside. Lane even got up the courage to dance with Erin, although he stayed so far away from her that you would have thought she was radioactive. I took a couple of turns with Erin and was amazed at the way she melted into my arms. When we danced, there was a wave of knowing smirks from my sisters and a pleased smile from Wilma, but I didn't care. I could have danced with her all night. Unfortunately, during my third dance with Erin, the real world decided to interrupt our festivities. Erin and I had just started a turn when the power went out. I instinctively pulled Erin into my arms to protect her, and then I leaned in through the darkness and kissed her. She returned the kiss, ran her hand through my hair, and let out a small moan. "Do you think the power will come back on?" Lane's question cut through the fog of my lust and longing. "Probably not until sometime after the storm has passed. So, we should all plan on spending the night here and then figuring things out in the morning." With Wilma's agreement, we got settled in for the evening. After some protest, Wilma agreed to sleep in the guest room since it had a direct line of sight to the thermoelectric stove fan that helped circulate the heat from the fireplace. My three sisters slept in Wilma's bed, both to share body heat and because it was the larger of the two beds in the house. Lane slept on the couch, while Erin and I slept on the floor in front of the fireplace. Erin laid out an older sleeping bag, for comfort, with some bedding and blankets on top. In deference to Lane, she waited until she was under the blankets before she shimmied off her pants, while I stoked the fireplace. I made one more pass through the house, to check on Wilma and my sisters, but it seemed they had already fallen asleep. Even Lane had passed right out, despite his proximity to the pants-less Erin. I set a quiet alarm on my phone for two-hour intervals so that I could get up and add wood to the fire, ensuring that it would last all night. Looking down at the makeshift bed where Erin was watching me, I suddenly felt incredibly shy and anxious. I took my sweater and pants off as quickly as I could and set them on a chair before crawling under the blankets next to her. I didn't want to be presumptuous, so I stayed as far over to one side as I could. I had just settled in when I heard Erin's soft voice from behind me. "You can come a little closer. I won't bite, you know." My brain froze with indecision, but my heart knew the score and it started beating at a furious rate. I heard her shifting behind me, and I felt an arm wrap itself around my chest. My senses were on fire. The faint scent of lavender from her hair washed over me like a field of wildflowers. "Was everyone safe when you made your patrol?" I slowly rolled over so that my forehead was lightly touching hers, and I could see the flickering of the fire reflected in her eyes. "I know it's silly, but I can't sleep until I know that everyone I love is safe. Even when she is away at college, Alison texts me each night to let me know she is okay. I will make another round later after I stoke the fire." "It's not silly at all; I feel safe when I'm with you too.  Why don't you tell me your story, Davis Crawford." She must have felt me stiffen, and she started to lightly brush her fingertips through the hair on the back of my neck. "You don't have to if you're not comfortable with me yet, but I would like to hear it someday when you're ready." We sat in silence for another few minutes, while the tension slowly drained from my body. It had been over 15 years; since before the drugs and alcohol got too bad with my mother; since someone had touched me with kindness and love, and I was helpless before the gentle onslaught of Erin's fingers. Eventually, I started talking. "Things weren't always bad with Mom; I remember there being more laughter than anger when I was little. She was very beautiful, and there was a procession of men in her life, even back then, but most of them treated me well. I guess they wanted to make a good impression on her. When I was four or five, though, she took up with a man from a rougher crowd. She started in with the drinking and drugs, and they never really stopped. She got pregnant with that man, and Alison was born. From there, it was like a rock sliding down the side of a hill. It starts slowly, but soon it's rolling downhill in leaps and bounds. "After Sharon was born, fewer men came around. My mom was still beautiful, but how many guys are interested in a single mother who has three kids from three different men? I had just turned ten when she left me in charge for the weekend and flew down to Vegas with some friends from the club where she waitressed and danced. A bit more than nine months later, she had Mary. "The one thing I can say for my mom is that she mostly managed to stay clean while she was pregnant. But once Mary arrived, the hill got steeper, and the rock started plummeting downwards. As fewer men showed an interest in her, Mom had to blame someone, and we kids were handy targets. That's when the hitting started. I learned pretty quickly that she didn't much care who she hit, so I made sure that I was always close at hand, to try and spare the little ones. If she was going to throw plates at someone, I figured it had better be me. "By the time I was 12, I was the only one caring for my siblings. When Mom came home drunk or stoned after her shift at the bar, I would steal enough of her tip money to buy food for my sisters' lunches. That was the worst of it, and I didn't think that we would make it through. I am not sure we would have without our landlord, Mr. Johnson. "He lived in the apartment below us and would take us in on the weekends when my mother was out with her boyfriends, feed us dinner, and let us watch a little television. I never found out why he lived such a lonely life, but he helped me keep our family together until I was old enough to handle things myself, so I will always be grateful to him." I could see tears starting to pool in the corner of Erin's eyes. "You don't need to hear the rest of this;" Erin stopped me mid-sentence by kissing my lips. "You never got to be a kid, Davis. My whole life I felt sorry for myself because my parents didn't want or care for me, but at least I had Gran and Grampy. You had no one." Even though we were lying on an old lumpy sleeping bag on a rough hardwood floor with only a fireplace for heat, I had never felt safer in my life than I did with her right then. To be continued in part 3. Based on a post by CleverGenericName, in 4 parts, for Literotica.

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Michigan Weather and Women: Part 2 Dancing, and other forms of sentimentality. Based on a post by CleverGenericName, in 4 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Connected.  As we finished the prep work, I asked Wilma about her day with Mary. "She is a good kid but is carrying a lot of anger and shame. We spent most of the day getting in touch with that anger. It takes some people years before they can express their emotions through art; it took her about five minutes. But we had to take some breaks to clean up the paint splatters afterward before they stained." "Oh shit! Sorry about that. I can pay to replace anything that;" "Nothing to apologize for; I asked her to express how she felt, and she did it in the way that felt right to her." "Well, I appreciate your taking the time. I am just her big brother; I feel so lost when it comes to parenting." "Being a parent doesn't mean that you know any more than anyone else, and it certainly doesn't mean that you know any better. For what it's worth, I think you are doing a fine job with your family. I know that you don't have your parents around to say it, but this old woman is mighty proud of who you are and of how you have stepped up for your brother and sisters. They are very lucky to have you." I turned away so that Wilma wouldn't see me getting choked up. I couldn't remember the last time that someone had said they were proud of me. Soon enough, though, it was dinner time, and Erin came into the kitchen with that same look of amusement on her face. "Sorry to bother the chef, but Lane needs some help that only a big brother can provide." When I gave her a quizzical look, she blushed. "It seems like he is going through puberty, which can pose; some new challenges. When I was assessing his ankle, he; well, indicated his interest in me in a way that can be difficult to hide, particularly while wearing sweatpants. It's natural for his body to react that way at that age, and it's nothing for him to feel badly about, but he was mortified. I think he could use a bit of brotherly guidance and understanding." I went to the living room and saw that Lane was curled up on the couch and looked like he was fighting back tears. "How are you doing, Buddy?" He couldn't even look at me he was so embarrassed. "I am so sorry; I just couldn't help it. I don't know why it started to get bigger, and I wanted it to stop, and it wouldn't and then she saw me, and;" he continued as he fought back a sob. "Can we just go home?" "Erin is a doctor. She knows how the human body works and has seen that kind of thing a hundred times. She isn't mad at you or embarrassed. She just feels bad that you feel so bad. This is just part of getting older and growing up. "Did I ever tell you about what happened in Miss Iron's class when I was a freshman? Miss Iron was a bit of a legend among the male students at our local high school. She was the youngest and prettiest teacher, by far, and even though she always dressed professionally, the clothing style had yet to be invented that could fully conceal her bountiful natural endowment. "Well, I liked Miss Irons a lot. She was one of the few teachers who looked past my difficulty with reading and writing. So, I developed a little crush on her, which was fine until the inevitable; hmm, physical demonstration of my crush; happened in class one day, just before she asked me to collect everyone's quizzes. I tried to delay, I tried to ask a friend to do it instead, but eventually, I had to stand up. It took me until my junior year to live that one down." As Lane listened to my story, he turned to face me and his second-hand embarrassment for me helped to push his embarrassment to the side. "So, what happened?" "Miss Irons was lovely and kind like she always was, but I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me or to get hit by a bolt of lightning. Things would have been fine if she hadn't mentioned what happened to the principal, who called Mom. She didn't find the story funny at all." I hadn't thought of the aftermath when I started telling Lane this particular story, but as they say, might as well put it in four-wheel drive and keep going. "Mom was mad?" "By then, Mom was pretty much always angry. I did my best to keep her away from you and the girls when she got that way, but yeah; she was mad." "Are you mad at me?" "No, Bud, I'm not. In a few years, once your embarrassment has died down a little, I will tease you mercilessly about this because that's what brothers do; and maybe threaten to tell your girlfriend, if you fall behind on your chores or homework. But I will never get mad at you for something that you can't control. And I promise that Erin isn't mad at you either." Just then, Mary poked her head in to tell us that dinner was on the table. "Are you safe now, or do you need a few more minutes." "I'm good. Thanks, Dad." After I helped Lane hobble into the dining room, we got down to the business of eating and teasing each other, but not necessarily in that order. It felt good; almost like what I imagined a real family would feel like. Eventually, the conversation turned to more serious matters, though, and Erin led off the questions. "So, how do you know Gran, and why are you wearing Grampy's favorite sweater? And, for what it's worth, I don't remember him filling it out in quite the way that you do." I blushed a bit as Wilma jumped in. "If Phillip had filled out that sweater like young Davis here, it wouldn't have stayed on him for very long, I can tell you that." "Gran!" Erin exclaimed, laughing while sounding scandalized. "I didn't need that mental image. Heck, none of us needed that mental image." "Oh, don't you worry, Dear. He still filled it out well enough, and it looked equally good on our bedroom floor." We were pretty much all blushing at that point, which I think was Wilma's objective, so I quickly changed the topic. "I am just your mother's plumber. I came out to fix her boiler and then finished the job earlier this week when a couple of parts came in that I needed." Wilma jumped in at that point and added her two cents to my story. "He also brought me my groceries and we had a lovely conversation. He is a real Renaissance gentleman, a rarity these days." Erin looked grateful but concerned. "Did you have enough money to cover the bill, Gran? You know I can help if you need;" I tried to jump in before Wilma could reply. "No need to worry, the bill was paid in full;" "Hogwash," Wilma exclaimed as I tried to finish, turning to Mary before she continued. "Your brother wouldn't let me pay him a cent for the work that he did. Not even for the parts that needed to be replaced! He is a very nice boy but a terrible businessman." I turned to Erin for support. "I figured your Gran has enough going on right now with her health and all. It was the least I could do to help her out." Erin looked at me with a strange expression on her face. I didn't have much experience with women, so I figured I must have made her angry somehow. Most of my interactions with women, including my sisters, seemed to end with them being upset with me for one reason or another, but she didn't sound angry when she spoke. "Thank you, Davis, that was very sweet of you." "Yeah, well; you see, it's just; pass the fish, please." "That still doesn't explain why you're wearing Grampy's favorite sweater. When I was a little girl, I used to curl up in Grampy's lap and snuggle into that sweater as he read to me. He was wearing it when I danced my first dance with him in front of the fireplace. Do you remember that old record player, Gran? You used to bring it out and we would waltz around the living room to Moon River." "I still have that record player here somewhere, let me go see if I can find it." Erin started to protest, but it was too late. "To finish answering your question, Erin, we were here today because your Gran offered to mentor Mary. I tried to politely decline, but your Gran is pretty persistent when she wants to be." "That sounds like Gran. Most of the time when she makes a suggestion, it is really a command." "While we are asking questions, how is Lane's ankle?" "It's pretty badly sprained, and he will need to use crutches to walk for the next couple of weeks. You should bring him to the hospital to get some X-rays done as well, to make sure that he doesn't have any fractures." I could feel myself deflate as she mentioned X-rays. "I'm not trying to be cheap, but are the X-rays absolutely necessary? We don't have the best insurance; we got it through the exchange. I guess it's better than nothing, but the deductible is pretty high, and my other sister, Alison, her college tuition is due soon. But if you say it's important, I will put in some extra hours to make it work." It didn't usually bother me that we were poor. Heck, most everyone we knew, except the McDougals, was poor. But it hit home when you had to tell a beautiful doctor with bright amber eyes that you couldn't afford an X-ray for your little brother unless it was urgent. "Tell you what. I will be working at the hospital in Petoskey tomorrow, so why don't you bring Lane by, and I will take care of him? I will make sure that he gets a pair of loaner crutches for as long as he needs them." "You don't need to do that for us." Erin gave me another one of her looks, this one I was more familiar with; I was pretty sure it was annoyance. "So, just to be clear, you can look after my Gran, fix her boiler for free, and bring her groceries whenever you feel like it, but I can't look after your brother and make sure that his ankle is treated properly?" "Well, when you put it that way, I sound like a bit of a jackass. I'm sorry." "Apology accepted. Come by the hospital at 11 AM tomorrow." Before we could continue, the sound of a 45 playing on an old record player filled the house. You could hear the hisses and pops before Ella Fitzgerald's voice began to sing "Dream a Little Dream of Me." Chapter 3. We got up from the table and followed the music back to the living room. I helped Lane out of his chair while he half-hobbled and half-hopped along beside me. Wilma had set her ancient record player up in the corner beside a stack of old 45s, and she had a faraway look in her eyes as she looked out the picture window toward the lake. "I think it's time for me to ask the prettiest girl in the place to dance," I said, as my eyes swept across the room. "But unfortunately, it's a three-way tie. So, will you do me the honor?" I said as I held out my hand to Wilma. "I haven't danced since Phillip passed. You know, we used to dance together every Friday night. It didn't matter where we were or what we were doing, we would always make time to dance at least one song together, even if the music was only in our heads." "I imagine I will be a pretty poor partner compared to Phillip, but I will try not to step on your toes." Wilma and I ended up dancing a slow foxtrot to "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole. She smiled at me as we slowly circled the living room. "You're a very good dancer, young man." "Our mother taught me when I was very young." Before she began with the drugs and men, our mother had been a showgirl in New York and then Las Vegas. When she got pregnant with me, she moved back to Mackinaw City and started teaching ballroom dancing at a local studio. By the time I was five, I was her practice partner of choice, and she always insisted that I lead, despite being only half her size. "The man always leads, Darling, that's just the way of the world." I was hardly a man at the time, but I never disagreed with my mother when she was in a good mood, because I knew it could shift in an instant. So, I learned to dance, and I learned to lead. The memories came flooding back as I guided Wilma into a soft over-sway, and she smiled with delight. "Oh my, you do know how to dance!" I couldn't help but smile back. "I can't take all the credit. I think Phillip must have infused this sweater with his fancy footwork." As the song ended, I took a step back and did my best to give Wilma a gracious bow. "It was a pleasure dancing with you, my lady." "The pleasure was all mine, good sir." I turned toward Mary and held out my hand. She hesitated before Wilma declared, "There are no wallflowers in this house." Mary slowly stood but looked anxious as I took her hand. "Davis, I don't know how to dance. Mom was; she was too far gone to teach me by the time I was old enough to learn." "That's okay," I reassured her. "If there is anything that Mom made sure of, it's that I know how to lead. Just relax, and I will guide you through it." Wilma helped Lane, who had taken over as DJ, to choose a slower song so that Mary would feel more comfortable, and I heard the opening bars of "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong. I started to lead Mary through a slow rumba, and she picked up the steps very quickly. She was a natural. I felt a sudden stab of regret as we moved together across the floor. "I'm sorry. I should have made time to teach you to dance. But the last few years, it has just taken everything I have to keep us;" "It's alright. You've had other things on your mind. And look; you are teaching me how to dance, now." As Mary grew more confident, I guided her through a simple underarm turn, and we ended with a dip, which made her giggle and earned a round of applause from the others. Finally, I turned to Erin, who was sitting on the couch beside Lane. I suddenly felt very shy and, for the first time that evening, she looked nervous as well. "Would you dance with me, Erin?" She didn't reply but stood and took my hand. We waited for a moment while Wilma and Lane chose a new 45 and then listened to the pop and hiss as it started to play. Soon, an alto saxophone introduced the Henri Mancini version of "Moon River," and we started a slow waltz. Although there was space between us, it was bridged by an electric charge that connected and drew us together. Even though I spent most of the dance looking over Erin's shoulder, every detail of her beauty was etched in my memory, and I felt a warm breeze pass between us, raising goosebumps on my skin. We barely noticed the pause as the song ended, and a new one began until Etta James began to sing. At last, my love has come along My lonely days are over And life is like a song The song was in 4/4 time, so I switched to a foxtrot and Erin followed as we glided across the smooth wood of the living room floor. I was so caught up in the moment, and in Erin, that I led her through a turn that transitioned into an over sway, before I stepped backward, allowing her to gently pivot into me. Our eyes met and I was lost in them again. Before we could break the spell, a heavy gust of wind shook the house, and the power flickered out. The room went dark, which sharpened my remaining senses. Suddenly, the warmth of Erin's breath on my neck felt like wildfire across my skin. We were motionless for a three-heartbeat eternity before the lights flickered and came back on. I let go of Erin and felt all of my longing and awkwardness rush back in. "Thank you, Erin. That was;" I couldn't finish; words didn't seem enough to express how I felt. "I should check the breakers and make sure that everything is alright, and then we should go. Why don't I wash these clothes and drop them back for you later." Wilma just smiled and shook her head. "If you like them, please keep them. Otherwise, they will just grow old and musty like me." A little while later, we said our goodbyes, but I promised to bring Lane to the hospital the next morning. Wilma told Mary that she would see her on Wednesday after school and again the next Sunday. I was expecting Mary to protest, but she just gave a meek, "Yes, Wilma." I was nervous when I took Lane to the hospital the next day. The deductible on our insurance was high enough that we paid for pretty much anything less serious than a severed limb out of pocket. Erin, however, was as good as her word. After the X-ray confirmed that there were no breaks or fractures in the bones around his ankle, she re-wrapped it and arranged for a pair of loaner crutches that he could use for as long as he needed them. Before we left, Erin asked me if I wanted to grab a coffee in the cafeteria, to which I readily agreed. I gave my phone to Lane so he could amuse himself while Erin and I talked. "I just wanted to say how much I appreciate what you did for Gran. I do what I can, but I spend half my time at the Children's Hospital down in Grand Rapids right now and I am often on call while I am here. I just don't have the time to give her the help that she needs." "Honestly, it's no big deal. I do a lot of work around Good Hart since the bigger plumbing companies don't like to travel that far, so I don't mind looking in on her while I am there. And she seems to have taken a real interest in Mary, so the least I can do is to bring her some groceries and help around the place a bit." Erin pursed her lips and looked like she had just bitten into a lemon. "The 'least you can do' is more than the rest of our family can be bothered to do put together, so thank you." "I meant to ask you about that. What did your Gran do to end up so isolated from the rest of your family?" "The rest of my family is; there is no nice way to put it, they're snobs. None of them have any interest in spending time 'up north' as they call it, and they can't wait for Gran to move into a retirement home and die so they can get their money and forget about this place. That's why no one comes to visit Gran anymore, even for Thanksgiving; it's part of their campaign to convince her to sell her land to the McDougals. Before you came along, I thought they were going to succeed." "Well, excuse my language, but fuck them. I don't know Wilma that well, but I will do what I can to make sure that she gets to spend her remaining days in the place that she loves." "That's easy to say, but harder to do once the McDougals and their minions start coming by your place, offering you money and making threats unless you back off." "Well, if they do, they will find out what every teacher who ever taught me learned the hard way. I am bad at taking orders and even worse at following instructions. I am not afraid of the McDougal boys." My exclamation brought a smile to Erin's pretty face. I decided that I would be willing to do quite a lot to see that smile on her face again. But there was one thing I still didn't understand. "Why aren't you on board with the rest of your family? You must be under a lot of pressure to abandon your Gran like the rest of them." "My father, Gran's youngest son, Max, died shortly after I was born, and my mother moved the family to California where she remarried into a family that had a little money but a great deal of pretension and ambition. My mother picked up that insatiable need for money and status like it was a virus. "When I was a child, my mother and stepfather spent summers and holidays traveling the world, staying in places where children weren't welcome. Although they wanted nothing to do with Gran and Grampy and their 'vermin-filled shack in the middle of nowhere', they were more than happy to leave me with them while they were away. "They would put me on a plane to Grand Rapids while they jetted off to their spas and their fine dining. Gran and Grampy were the only people who cared for me, and they became my whole world. "When I was 14, I was staying with Gran and Grampy, and I caught a fever that was so bad that I nearly died. It was a pretty grim time. My parents even thought about flying home from Monaco to be with me. They didn't, but it was the only time in my entire childhood that they considered it. But I will always remember how kind the doctors and nurses were to me when I was sick. That's why I became a pediatrician and moved home." "Isn't California home?" "Home is where the people that you love are, and so this will always be my home. Or it will be until Gran passes on, anyway." We sat in silence for a while, sipping our coffee. Before long, it was time for me to go. "This might sound crazy, but since the rest of your family aren't going to be here to celebrate Thanksgiving with your Gran, how about you and I try to give her one more Thanksgiving to remember." Erin brightened at the idea, and the smile returned to her face. "That would be amazing! Why don't I give you my number, and we can figure out how to make it happen!" Chapter 4. For the next few weeks, Mary continued to meet with Wilma on Wednesdays and Sundays. I would often take the opportunity to bring her groceries or other supplies while I dropped Mary off and, if the weather was agreeable, do some fishing. Once he could walk without crutches, Lane came along as well, in quest of another monster steelhead. Unfortunately, all he caught was some yellow perch and rock bass, but it was nice to spend the day with him down on the dock. I saw Erin a few times at Wilma's as we made plans for Thanksgiving. She seemed to particularly enjoy talking with me while I split firewood out by the shed. It was hard work, and I was often drenched with sweat by the time I was done, but she didn't seem to mind. And she worked while we talked, helping to stack the larger pieces and collecting the smaller ones for kindling. The one point of contention in our plan was how Erin would get to Wilma's on Thanksgiving Day. She was slated to work a 12-hour shift the evening before, ending at seven in the morning, and she worried that if she went home to rest, she would sleep through the entire day. Her solution was to drive out to Wilma's after her shift and catch a few hours of sleep when she got there. I thought that driving that far after working all night seemed like a terrible idea, so I offered to give her a ride instead. She did not like that one bit. "I don't want you to make an extra trip when I am perfectly capable of driving myself." It sounded like she was digging in for a fight, so I tried a different tactic to convince her. "I need to stop at the hospital anyway, to return Lane's crutches. I can kill two birds with one stone and pick you up at the same time." She didn't buy that rationale either so, reluctantly, I resorted to the truth. "I am sure you're a great driver, but if you drive yourself, I will be up that morning anyway, worrying that you are safe. I know it doesn't make sense, but I have been looking after my siblings for so long its second nature for me to worry, and I can't seem to turn it off. So please, let me pick you up. But for me, not for you. And do you know how rarely I get to be gallant these days? I will feel like your knight in shining armor." That finally got a laugh from Erin. "Alright, you win. Why don't you pick me up at 7:15 at the hospital? You can sweep me up onto your trusty steed and carry me away to Gran's house." "If by trusty steed you mean rusty old GMC truck, then it's a deal." The morning of Thanksgiving dawned chilly and gray, with a cold wind blowing in off the lake. I was up early to make sure that I made it to the hospital on time, and I was listening to the local AM country station as I drove when the DJ started his break. "A happy Thanksgiving to all our listeners. If you're on the roads today, be aware that there is a severe weather warning in effect for the area north of Cadillac and into the upper peninsula. We're expecting a combination of high winds and lake-effect snow to make driving hazardous, and you should be prepared for possible power interruptions and outages." I was relieved that Erin had agreed to let me pick her up and that I had invested in good snow tires for my pickup. The snow had already started by the time I reached the hospital, and I pulled my jacket tightly around me as I went inside. I dropped Lane's crutches with the duty nurse and waited for several minutes before Erin arrived. She looked exhausted, and the gentle smile that I loved was nowhere in evidence. "Hey, Erin. Are you okay?" "I'm fine. I just had a long shift, but I am ready to head out." She came up to me and gave me a hesitant look. "Actually, I could really use a hug if that's alright." Without a word, I wrapped my arms around her, and she buried her face in my sweater. Hidden from the world by the folds of my jacket, I felt her body start to shake. The tremors lasted for a minute before they gentled and then finally stopped. I looked out the window at the falling snow to give her a moment to compose herself. "Let's head to Gran's house. This weather isn't going to get better any time soon." With that, we got in my truck and started the drive up to Good Hart. Erin sat in silence and looked out the window. "If you want to talk, I probably can't help with doctor problems; but I am a good listener." It took Erin a minute before she opened up. "Most of the time, I love being a pediatrician. Kids come to me scared and in pain, and I help them to get better. But sometimes, it's just too much. Around midnight last night, an ambulance brought in a mother and daughter. Her boyfriend had been drinking; and he got violent. The little girl tried to protect her mother and; and; "It's one thing to treat a grown woman, you know. I mean it's still pretty bad, but; that little girl. Fuck. One thing I've learned from this job is that monsters are real." I wanted to give Erin another hug, but since I was driving, I just reached over to take her hand. "I'm sorry." My words seemed so incredibly inadequate; considering what she had just dealt with; but she squeezed my hand. "Thanks for listening." We drove on in silence, and by the time we pulled into Wilma's laneway, Erin was gently snoring with her head against the window. I stopped as close as I could to the house before lifting her out of the cab. She tucked her head into my shoulder, and I carried her inside, where Wilma was already busy in the kitchen. She came out to greet us, and I spoke to her in a low voice. "Erin had a very tough night. I think some rest will do her a world of good." Wilma helped Erin out of her boots and coat and then showed us through to the guest bedroom, where I laid Erin on the bed. The room was filled with pictures of Erin from when she was younger; standing on the dock with an older but handsome man who I guessed must be Phillip, curled up in a ball on the sofa, book in hand, and smiling in her cap and gown as she graduated. In each picture, I could see hints of the beautiful woman she would become. By the time I returned with the rest of my family, the storm had begun to pick up. Snow drifts were accumulating against the house and shed, so we brought everything with us into the house that we might need for the evening. It took some convincing, but Sharon and I took over in the kitchen while Wilma, Alison, Mary, and Lane started a game of Scrabble in the living room. Once the preparations were well underway, I laid in as much wood for the fireplace as I could. With the high winds and heavy snow, I was worried that we might lose power, and I wanted to make sure that we prepared, just in case. The radiators and boiler would provide almost no heat if there was a prolonged power outage, but the fireplace had a high-efficiency insert that would keep the house warm, as long as we built up a good bed of coals. Lane insisted on helping me with the firewood, and after a half dozen trips to the woodshed and back, we both looked like live-action versions of the abominable snowman. Wilma showed some sympathy for our plight, while our sisters had a good-natured laugh at our expense. By the early afternoon, dinner was almost ready, and Wilma sent me to wake Erin. She had barely moved since I had tucked her in and seemed so peaceful in her sleep. I leaned over and spoke softly to her until she opened her eyes. After a moment of confusion, she broke into a shy smile. "I guess we made it to Gran's." "That we did, we got here close to six hours ago." Her eyes flew open, and she tried to get up until I reassured her. "We've got things under control. Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes. Take your time; and maybe give yourself a few minutes for that pillow line on your cheek to fade." I turned to leave, so she could have some privacy, but she reached out and took my hand. "I just wanted to say thank you again for earlier. I am not used to having someone I can talk to; someone I can trust. It's only been Gran and Grampy, and me for so long, and I didn't want to burden them. But I shouldn't have dumped my troubles on you like that, we barely know each other." "I was just glad that you felt comfortable enough to share how you felt with me. Today was probably the worst day of that little girl's life. I am sure she was terrified, confused, and in a lot of pain. But what she'll remember is the angel who comforted her and treated her with kindness and love. "I need to get back to the kitchen, or I will burn something. Fair warning, this is my first time cooking a Thanksgiving turkey, so you may want to load your plate up with fixings and sides, just in case." As it turned out, the turkey wasn't perfect, but it wasn't that bad, and the gravy was tasty as heck (probably because Wilma made it.) We had mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, and peas as sides, with the obligatory cranberry sauce (from a can). The conversation at dinner was a chaotic mixture of laughter, stories, and the kind of teasing that you only get when you bring five siblings together over a hearty meal. It didn't take Erin long to choose a side in the battle of the siblings, and soon, it was the four girls against Lane and me, with Wilma as our impartial referee. I don't know how Lane felt, but for me, it was worth being ganged up on just to see Erin and my sisters smiling and laughing. Although he tried to hide it, it was clear that Lane still had a bit of a crush on Erin, so I imagined that he was just fine with making her smile as well. For dessert, Erin brought pumpkin and apple pies that she had bought at the bakery in Petoskey, which we ate with some vanilla ice cream from the local creamery. I was sure there would be some dessert left over, given the amount that we all ate for dinner, but somehow, we finished it all. Everyone pitched in with the dishes and then we moved to the living room where we played cards and some more board games. As we played, Mary asked Wilma about some of her more memorable Thanksgivings, and she got a faraway smile. For the next hour, she regaled us with stories of humble times with the kids by the lake and, in later days, fancier celebrations with some of the families that Phillip befriended while they sat for portraits. As our last game of Scrabble ended, Sharon looked at Wilma with a mischievous grin. "Mary was telling me about the dance party that you had a few weeks ago here in your living room. Rumor has it that my big brother can dance! I was hoping, if you asked him nicely, that we could all see him in action." Wilma got up from her chair and started to move toward the hall closet. "Lane, come along and help, please. I am far too old to be carting around a heavy record player." Lane hopped up and went to help Wilma, while the rest of us began to move the furniture out of the way. As Lane set up, Wilma admonished the rest of us. "Remember, there is only one rule about dancing in my house: no wallflowers." With that, Lane started the first song, and I asked Wilma to dance. Alison followed suit, asking Lane to dance, and soon she was teaching him how to lead. Finally, Erin stood as well and gave a deep bow to Mary. "It would be my honor, enchanting lady, if I could have this dance." With a laugh, Mary stood, and soon we were all moving around the room, trying not to bump into each other or step on each other's toes. For the next hour, we danced, laughed, and pretty much forgot about the world outside. Lane even got up the courage to dance with Erin, although he stayed so far away from her that you would have thought she was radioactive. I took a couple of turns with Erin and was amazed at the way she melted into my arms. When we danced, there was a wave of knowing smirks from my sisters and a pleased smile from Wilma, but I didn't care. I could have danced with her all night. Unfortunately, during my third dance with Erin, the real world decided to interrupt our festivities. Erin and I had just started a turn when the power went out. I instinctively pulled Erin into my arms to protect her, and then I leaned in through the darkness and kissed her. She returned the kiss, ran her hand through my hair, and let out a small moan. "Do you think the power will come back on?" Lane's question cut through the fog of my lust and longing. "Probably not until sometime after the storm has passed. So, we should all plan on spending the night here and then figuring things out in the morning." With Wilma's agreement, we got settled in for the evening. After some protest, Wilma agreed to sleep in the guest room since it had a direct line of sight to the thermoelectric stove fan that helped circulate the heat from the fireplace. My three sisters slept in Wilma's bed, both to share body heat and because it was the larger of the two beds in the house. Lane slept on the couch, while Erin and I slept on the floor in front of the fireplace. Erin laid out an older sleeping bag, for comfort, with some bedding and blankets on top. In deference to Lane, she waited until she was under the blankets before she shimmied off her pants, while I stoked the fireplace. I made one more pass through the house, to check on Wilma and my sisters, but it seemed they had already fallen asleep. Even Lane had passed right out, despite his proximity to the pants-less Erin. I set a quiet alarm on my phone for two-hour intervals so that I could get up and add wood to the fire, ensuring that it would last all night. Looking down at the makeshift bed where Erin was watching me, I suddenly felt incredibly shy and anxious. I took my sweater and pants off as quickly as I could and set them on a chair before crawling under the blankets next to her. I didn't want to be presumptuous, so I stayed as far over to one side as I could. I had just settled in when I heard Erin's soft voice from behind me. "You can come a little closer. I won't bite, you know." My brain froze with indecision, but my heart knew the score and it started beating at a furious rate. I heard her shifting behind me, and I felt an arm wrap itself around my chest. My senses were on fire. The faint scent of lavender from her hair washed over me like a field of wildflowers. "Was everyone safe when you made your patrol?" I slowly rolled over so that my forehead was lightly touching hers, and I could see the flickering of the fire reflected in her eyes. "I know it's silly, but I can't sleep until I know that everyone I love is safe. Even when she is away at college, Alison texts me each night to let me know she is okay. I will make another round later after I stoke the fire." "It's not silly at all; I feel safe when I'm with you too.  Why don't you tell me your story, Davis Crawford." She must have felt me stiffen, and she started to lightly brush her fingertips through the hair on the back of my neck. "You don't have to if you're not comfortable with me yet, but I would like to hear it someday when you're ready." We sat in silence for another few minutes, while the tension slowly drained from my body. It had been over 15 years; since before the drugs and alcohol got too bad with my mother; since someone had touched me with kindness and love, and I was helpless before the gentle onslaught of Erin's fingers. Eventually, I started talking. "Things weren't always bad with Mom; I remember there being more laughter than anger when I was little. She was very beautiful, and there was a procession of men in her life, even back then, but most of them treated me well. I guess they wanted to make a good impression on her. When I was four or five, though, she took up with a man from a rougher crowd. She started in with the drinking and drugs, and they never really stopped. She got pregnant with that man, and Alison was born. From there, it was like a rock sliding down the side of a hill. It starts slowly, but soon it's rolling downhill in leaps and bounds. "After Sharon was born, fewer men came around. My mom was still beautiful, but how many guys are interested in a single mother who has three kids from three different men? I had just turned ten when she left me in charge for the weekend and flew down to Vegas with some friends from the club where she waitressed and danced. A bit more than nine months later, she had Mary. "The one thing I can say for my mom is that she mostly managed to stay clean while she was pregnant. But once Mary arrived, the hill got steeper, and the rock started plummeting downwards. As fewer men showed an interest in her, Mom had to blame someone, and we kids were handy targets. That's when the hitting started. I learned pretty quickly that she didn't much care who she hit, so I made sure that I was always close at hand, to try and spare the little ones. If she was going to throw plates at someone, I figured it had better be me. "By the time I was 12, I was the only one caring for my siblings. When Mom came home drunk or stoned after her shift at the bar, I would steal enough of her tip money to buy food for my sisters' lunches. That was the worst of it, and I didn't think that we would make it through. I am not sure we would have without our landlord, Mr. Johnson. "He lived in the apartment below us and would take us in on the weekends when my mother was out with her boyfriends, feed us dinner, and let us watch a little television. I never found out why he lived such a lonely life, but he helped me keep our family together until I was old enough to handle things myself, so I will always be grateful to him." I could see tears starting to pool in the corner of Erin's eyes. "You don't need to hear the rest of this;" Erin stopped me mid-sentence by kissing my lips. "You never got to be a kid, Davis. My whole life I felt sorry for myself because my parents didn't want or care for me, but at least I had Gran and Grampy. You had no one." Even though we were lying on an old lumpy sleeping bag on a rough hardwood floor with only a fireplace for heat, I had never felt safer in my life than I did with her right then. To be continued in part 3. Based on a post by CleverGenericName, in 4 parts, for Literotica.

In this episode, I sit down with J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. Under J.D.'s leadership, The Summit has grown from a church of about 300 people to a movement of over 12,000. They have a bold vision to plant 1,000 churches by the year 2050. Woah!!  But what I love about this conversation is that it's not about numbers. It's about leadership in real life. We talk about the complexities and weight of leadership, how to find balance when everything feels overwhelming, and what it looks like to lead faithfully in a divided world without becoming cynical or jaded.  If you're leading people, carrying responsibility, or just trying to stay hopeful and healthy in the middle of it all, I think this conversation will really encourage you. Find JD's book here: https://a.co/d/eyosndF   Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube and watch the full interview with JD: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: https://www.adamweber.com/thecrew   Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode:  First Interstate Bank has a mission to help people and their money work better together. They do this by ensuring clients can manage their money conveniently wherever they are while also providing the friendly service. They have over 300 locations throughout 14 states! For more information and to find a location near you, visit https://www.firstinterstatebank.com/ Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit https://www.verneide.com/  

Sermon by Pastor Corky Calhoun

幻冬舎の暗号資産（仮想通貨）/ブロックチェーンなどWeb3領域の専門メディア「あたらしい経済 https://www.neweconomy.jp/ 」がおくる、Podcast番組です。 ーーーーー 【番組スポンサー】 この番組は、暗号資産取引におけるフルラインナップサービスを提供する「SBI VCトレード」のスポンサーでお届けします。 ーーーーー SBI VCトレードは、「暗号資産もSBI」のスローガンのもと、国内最大級のインターネット総合金融グループであるSBIグループの総合力を生かし、暗号資産取引におけるフルラインナップサービスを提供しております。暗号資産交換業者・第一種金融商品取引業者・電子決済手段等取引業者として高いセキュリティ体制のもと、暗号資産の売買にとどまらない暗号資産運用サービスや法人向けサービスの展開、さらにステーブルコインのユーエスディーシー（USDC）を国内で初めて取り扱っております。 ーーーーー SBI VCトレード公式サイト：https://account.sbivc.co.jp/signup?hc_ak=1RNML.3.M06AS ーーーーー 【紹介したニュース】 ・米OCC、リップルやサークルら5社を連邦信託銀行の条件付き承認 ・米SEC、個人投資家向けに暗号資産カストディ解説資料を公開 ・米CFTC、暗号資産の実物引渡しに関する従来ガイダンス撤回 ・豪州がデジタル資産向け規制を緩和、ステーブルコインとラップドトークンの二次流通に一部ライセンス免除へ ・ソラナの新バリデータクライアント「ファイアダンサー」稼働開始 ・R3、Cordaプロトコルをソラナ上にローンチへ。RWA利回りをDeFiに統合 ・米国で「予測市場連合」発足、カルシやクリプトドットコムなど参加。CFTCはデータ規制で柔軟対応 ・OSLグループがAva Labsと提携、トークン化RWA商品と決済ソリューションをアバランチで提供へ ・国税庁が暗号資産取引の調査結果を発表、追徴税額は46億円 ・JPモルガンがソラナ上でギャラクシーの商業証券発行を手配、コインベースらが購入 ・スーパーステートがトークン化株式の直接発行プログラム公開、ソラナとイーサリアムに対応 ・ペイパルのステーブルコイン「PYUSD」、YouTube米国クリエイターが報酬で受取可能に＝報道 ・ステートストリートとギャラクシー、ペイパル「PYUSD」対応のトークン化流動性ファンドを来年提供へ ・ブータン特別行政地域GMC、金裏付けデジタルトークン「TER」ローンチへ ・米DTCC子会社DTC、SECからノーアクションレター取得。規制下のトークン化サービス検証へ ・コインベース、ラップド資産のブリッジ基盤にチェーンリンクの「CCIP」採用 ・アブダビで「アバランチDLT財団」法人化、MENAでの取り組み強化へ ーーーーー 【あたらしい経済関連リンク】 ニュースの詳細や、アーカイブやその他の記事はこちらから https://www.neweconomy.jp/

On today's episode of Renew Your Mind we are talking with Gaylord Methodist Church's new pastor Kevin Harbin. We are joined by Pastor Kevin Harbin, Youth & Family/ Worship leader Jordan Kettlewell and moderator Dana Hall. Questions/topics for today's episode include:- What exactly happened in 1986 when you were invited to a Methodist Church Service?- What churches have you served over the span of your life?- How did you become a Presiding Elder in the GMC? - Could you tell us what a Presiding Elder does? - How do you juggle those duties while pastoring your own church?Thanks for listening and we pray this podcast encourages you and helps grow your walk in the Lord! God bless!

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Shawn Johnson. He is the lead pastor of Red Rocks Church, an author, and someone God has used to impact thousands. And he is the coolest! Shawn shares openly about being diagnosed with Parkinson's, the battle with depression that followed, and what it looks like to keep getting back up when life knocks you down. We talk about choosing joy on purpose, why fun actually matters in your faith, and the hope that will hold steady even on the hardest days. If you've ever felt like giving up, or you're trying to keep going when things feel heavier than you expected, Shawn's story will speak straight to your soul. It's honest. It's encouraging. And it's a reminder that God does some of His best work in the fire.   Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode:  International Justice Mission is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world, taking special care of survivors from the moment they're rescued all the way through their healing and restoration. To learn more and support their mission, visit ijm.org   Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit https://www.verneide.com/   Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube and watch the full interview with Shawn: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: https://www.adamweber.com/thecrew  

Sermon by Pastor Corky Calhoun

PJ talks to the Cork kids that rocked the Late Late Toy Show, hears what plans My Goodness have once they have taken over The Quay Coop, chats to Sparky and GMC about the Kabin Studio and Team Ireland. And more... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with Brittany (Thune) Lindberg. An incredibly gifted singer-songwriter who also happens to be the daughter of the current U.S. Senate Majority Leader.  We talk about the good and hard parts of growing up in the political spotlight.  She also shares honestly about learning to live in the world but not be of it, surrounding yourself with people who think differently than you, and finding her own identity and calling as an artist. I also have to mention that Brittany and her husband Luke are dear friends of my wife and I's. If you're trying to stay true to who God made you to be in a world full of expectations, this conversation will encourage you. Listen to Brittany's music here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Mq2zgB3Rw1wDwWonStjUa   Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode:  Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com Are you on the hunt for a new house? Genuinely look no further. The Tyler Goff Group has a proven process that has transformed the lives of many clients. With the Tyler Goff Group by your side, you're not just buying a house – you're investing in a future home you'll love. To learn more and to contact Tyler or his team, visit tylergoffgroup.com   Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube and watch the full interview with Brittany: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew  

Sermon by Pastor Jason Arnold

This week on the AutoKnerd Podcast, we're doing something fun, festive, and completely different. Andrew and Bridget take you behind the scenes of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to uncover the automotive magic no one talks about. From the Ram 5500s hauling Christmas down 6th Avenue, to the GMC workhorses of decades past, to the hidden drivers stuffed inside giant cartoon turkeys, this is the parade through the eyes of people who love cars, stories, and a little holiday chaos.   It is part history, part hilarity, part industry insight, and fully AutoKnerd. If you have ever wondered what really powers the biggest parade in America, and what breaks down along the way, buckle up. This is your festive deep dive into the tow trucks, floats, balloonicles, and behind-the-scenes heroes that make Thanksgiving morning roll.   A cozy, nerdy, joyful kickoff to the holiday season, AutoKnerd style.

This week, I got to sit down with Masey McLain. She's an actress, screenwriter, and producer who's doing some seriously meaningful work. Whether she's on set, writing, or speaking, Masey is passionate about telling stories that matter. One of the things I admire most about her is her conviction. She's said "no" to a lot of opportunities in Hollywood because they didn't line up with who she is or what she feels called to. That kind of integrity is rare. We also talk about her new movie, Soul on Fire, the true story of John O'Leary. And what I love about it is this: it's not a victim story. It's a choosing-hope story. A choosing-life story. If you've ever wondered how to chase a dream without losing yourself, or how to stay faithful in a place where faith isn't exactly the norm, you're going to love this one. Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube and watch the full interview with Masey: youtube.com/@adamaweber   Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew     Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode: First Interstate Bank & Vern Eide First Interstate Bank has a mission to help people and their money work better together. They do this by ensuring clients can manage their money conveniently wherever they are while also providing the friendly service. They have over 300 locations throughout 14 states! For more information and to find a location near you, visit firstinterstatebank.com Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com

Sermon by Pastor Corky CalhounLink to FCA video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2_99NH7tjU

Sermon by Pastor Janice Shepard

In this episode, we talk honestly about something so many of us feel but almost never say out loud: loneliness. It's crazy how life can look so full from the outside… so many people, so much activity… and yet on the inside, we feel completely empty. We've gotten really good at giving the illusion that everything's great, even when it's not. But that gap between what we show and what's actually real? It's exhausting! And it's taking a toll on so many of us. Loneliness can affect us mentally, spiritually, and even physically. But hear this: God never intended for you to walk through life by yourself. From the very beginning, He hardwired us for close friendships. Deep, honest, life-giving friendships. In this conversation, we talk about how to move past the surface, how to admit when we're lonely, and how to start pursuing the kind of real connection our souls are craving. 21 MUST FOLLOWS: Pastors   Noah Herrin - @noahherrin Megan Fate Marshman -  @meganfate Jonathon Pokluda - @jpokluda World Events Carlos Whittaker - @loswhit Sharon McMahon - @sharonsaysso Rich Villodas - @richvillodas Sharon Hodde Miller - @sharonhmiller Therapy/Knowing Yourself Jason VanRuler - @jason.vanruler Mike Foster - @mikefoster2000 Carl Lentz - @carllentz Goals and Outlook Carey Nieuwhof - @careynieuwhof Jon Acuff - @jonacuff Jon Gordon - @jongordon11 Ethan Bernard - @ethanbenard Nonprofits I love God behind bars - @godbehindbars IJM - @ijm Convoy of Hope - @convoyofhope Joy Jimmy Darts - @jimmydarts Cam Bynum - @cambeezy_24 Gabe Dannenbring - @gabedannenbring Style/Fashion Joe Burrow - @joeyb_9 Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode:   International Justice Mission is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world, taking special care of survivors from the moment they're rescued all the way through their healing and restoration. To learn more and support their mission, visit ijm.org   Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com   Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube youtube.com/@adamaweber Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew    

Join Lil' Lo and Big Shot Shae as they the difference between direct and indirect communication and which is more effective, GMC and Cadillac causing people to have engine issues, people being there through the highs and lows, and more ! Email for advice / to be featured: LetMeStayFocused@gmail.com Follow Our Hosts:@lilloworldwide@bigshotshae**DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A COMEDIC PODCAST** Scenarios and responses from this show should be taken with a grain of salt. In other words, this is all a joke. Unless otherwise noted, any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental.

Dr. Jason Vickers serves as professor of Christian theology and the Wesley Endowed Chair of Christian Theology at Truett Seminary, on the campus of Baylor University in Texas. He serves as a member of the Discipleship, Doctrine, and Just Ministry Commission of the Global Methodist Church. Ryan Barnett is an ordained elder in the GMC. Today, he serves on staff at Truett and as the Connectional Operational Officer (COO) of the MidTexas Conference of the Global Methodist Church. Together, Ryan and Jason have created a fabulous resource for the church -- Profoundly Christian, Distinctly Methodist. Their work gives us a great opportunity to talk about what it means to be Methodist, and what we can celebrate as we teach our people the joys of this tradition. 

Hey friends, welcome back to this episode of Anchored by the Sword Podcast. Today I'm sitting down with the incredible Rev. Beth Caulfield — pastor, filmmaker, screenwriter, and woman of God whose testimony is straight-up wild in the best way.Beth has a beautiful new project coming out called “Conceivable,” a faith-based film that tells the real and raw story of her late-in-life pregnancy, her wrestling, the surprising emotions that surfaced, and the spiritual battles she faced both medically and within the church.This movie was born out of Beth's own journey — one filled with ministry, motherhood, seminary, shock, surrender, and the unmistakable leading of the Holy Spirit. Today we talk about the making of the film, what it was like to return to screenwriting later in life, and how God is using her story to spark conversations about faith, life, and calling in a complicated world.Beth shares about:• God's unexpected adventures• Writing a screenplay in her 50s• Taking a faith-based film project onto a secular college campus• Raising her family while raising ministries• Her daughter's surprise role in the film• Her heart to help others step into Christian filmmaking• How God uses every season — even the ones we didn't chooseThis conversation is honest, tender, surprising, and full of hope. I can't wait for you to hear it.Listen in and be encouraged — God is not done writing your story.Bio:Rev. Beth Caulfield is the writer, co-director and producer of the new film and movement: Conceivable. The movie is about a minister in midlife that has an unplanned pregnancy. The movement is about building community around compassionate conversation and saving lives. Conceivable reimagines the traditional streaming experience utilizing new generation technology. Offered more than a traditional streaming experience, viewers can watch exclusive PVOD events, join live meet-and-greets with directors, actors, and specialists, take part in discussions, and directly connect with filmmakers to host local screenings. More than just an audience, participants can also earn by sharing, promoting, or organizing screenings—transforming engagement into tangible reward and social connection. Beth is an ordained Elder in the Global Methodist Church. She is a pastor, author, screenwriter, director, producer, actress and audio narrator. She is appointed by the GMC to a ministry of cinematic arts leadership and works ecumenically with people of faith worldwide to bring faith-based stories to the big screen. She brings over twenty years of ministry experience, including pastoring local churches, denominational administration, prison ministry and Bible study leadership internationally. Her BA from UPENN's Annenberg School of Communications, MDIV from Drew Theological School and Fortune 50 corporate background also inform her filmmaking ministry. She follows God's call to creating faith-based films understanding that movies profoundly influence people and culture.Her first full-length feature film, Conceivable, premiered at the prestigious Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival and is soon to be released to theaters and all digital platforms world-wide. She lives in New Jersey where she and her husband Tom have raised their three children.Anchor Verses:Zechariah 4:6John 10:10Connect with Beth:Website: https://www.conceivablethemovie.com/IG: https://www.instagram.com/bethcaulfield710FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/17UgdvXPdb/?mibextid=wwXIfr***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we'd be so grateful if you'd take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it's a simple way to make a big impact!*** 

Leadership, especially in ministry, can be lonely.  In this conversation, I got to sit down in person with pastor, bestselling author, and leadership expert, Carey Nieuwhof. We were surrounded by a room full of pastors and ministry leaders to talk about what it really looks like to lead well without losing your soul. We talk about the difference between real friendships and deal friendships, how to spot false intimacy, and why real connection matters more than ever. At the end, you'll also hear some honest questions from the room. The kind every leader wrestles with but rarely says out loud. It's a real, hope-filled conversation for anyone who leads, loves the church, or just wants to follow Jesus well between your Sundays.  Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube and watch the full interview with Carey: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew     Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode:  First Interstate Bank has a mission to help people and their money work better together. They do this by ensuring clients can manage their money conveniently wherever they are while also providing the friendly service. They have over 300 locations throughout 14 states! For more information and to find a location near you, visit firstinterstatebank.com Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com      

Sermon by Pastor Corky Calhoun

Sermon by Pastor Corky Calhoun

Welcome to the Earl Stewart on Live Stream! Call 877-960-9960 or text us at 772-497-6530 during the show. You can also submit your questions/comments anonymously at www.youranonymousfeedback.com. Today's Mystery Shop from GMC of Key West.To purchase Earl's book, "Confessions of a Recovering Car Dealer", go to www.earlsbook.com. This will forward to Earl's Amazon page to complete your purchase. All proceeds from the book go to Big Dog Ranch Rescue. For more information or to adopt one of their other dogs, visit their website at www.bdrr.org.

This week wraps up our Faith & Justice series… and it's good!  I sat down with Jessica Honegger, the founder of Noonday Collection, a fair-trade fashion brand that's changing lives around the world. Jessica shares how her faith led her to step out in courage. Starting a business that empowers artisans while also partnering with IJM to fight injustice. We talk about what it really looks like to live out your faith in your work, how to slow down when life feels full, and why small steps of obedience can lead to big impact. This one will leave you inspired to use what's in your hands to make a difference.   Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode:  International Justice Mission is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world, taking special care of survivors from the moment they're rescued all the way through their healing and restoration. To learn more and support their mission, visit ijm.org  Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com   Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube and watch the full interview -- youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew    

Multi-published author K.C. Harper joins host Sheridan Sharp on Am I Write? to talk about character purpose, emotional depth, and the one thing every story needs—GMC.  Plus, gain inspiration to keep writing and wisdom from both an author AND professional editor on where you can start. Connect with K.C. Harper Website Instagram X (Twitter) Bluesky Linktree K.C.'s Goodreads  Shadowed Moonlight (The Moonlight Series #1) by K.C. HarperShattered Moonlight (The Moonlight Series #2) by K.C. HarperScattered Moonlight (The Moonlight Series #3) by K.C. HarperRear View by K.C. Harper  Other ResourcesFantasma series by Kalie Smith:Phantasma (Wicked Games #1)Enchantra (Wicked Games #2) Deep End by Ali HazelwoodAbout K.C. HarperK.C. Harper is a romance and romantasy author represented by Helen Lane at the Ki Literary Agency. She is the author of The Moonlight Series, a romantasy collection published by Hodderscape (Hachette). The first two installments, Shadowed Moonlight and Shattered Moonlight, are available now, with the third book in the series scheduled for release later this year. Shadowed Moonlight was featured in Good Housekeeping Magazine as one of the “Best Romantasys to Read If You Loved Onyx Storm.”In addition to her fantasy work, Harper is expanding into contemporary romance with her recent novel, Rear View, published by Harlequin (HarperCollins) in 2025. Beyond her writing, she also works as a developmental editor, helping other authors refine their craft and bring their stories to life.

***TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES PART OF PODCAST UNFORTUNATLEY DID NOT RECORD***Welcome to The NWO Sports Podcast: Football Edition—your go-to source for all things football in Northwest Ohio! Each week, we break down the latest high school football action with in-depth game recaps, insightful interviews, and plenty of analysis. This week we break down the GMC, NWOAL, other Conferences and give our insight to game predictions! We'll also highlight the most exciting moments with our Play of the Week and shine a spotlight on the top athlete as our Player of the Week. We bring you hot takes, buy or sell, game predictions, and updates to the Power Rankings to keep you ahead of the game. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just tuning in, join us as we cover all the drama, action, and excitement of NWO football!We would like to thank all of our sponsors BSN Sports, Batt & Stevens Body Shop, Titan Sports, Fitzenrider, Edward Jones Melissa Stockman, Delarber Concrete & Hauling, Crystal Fountain Park, Defiance Chiropractic Center, Northwest Ohio Basketball, ReMax Realty Matt Joost, Tinora Rams Live, and the Drop Zone Pizzeria, Paulding Pancake House, Ensign's Pub, Gamble Home Improvements.

This week on Marketing O'Clock: Google has introduced a new Merchant Center for Agencies, designed to let marketing teams manage multiple client accounts more efficiently from one unified dashboard. GMC is also featuring two new analytics charts: giving merchants clearer visibility into how their promotion campaigns are performing in search. Plus, ads are rumored to be coming to Apple Maps & more digital marketing news.Get 10% off Cookiebot for 6 MonthsMarketingoclock.com/cookiebotVisit us at - https://marketingoclock.com/

Happy Halloween! Today, I discussed being an intuitive writer, my gripes with GMC, writing believable character-driven stories and my method behind cutting characters. Also, I'm molting. My wings are, I mean. Your friendly neighborhood author is doing author-ly things this upcoming month! Hummingbird House is officially OPEN FOR BOOKING Meet me Nov. 1st at the BookQuest A Day with Santa Fe Authors and Nov. 2nd at Books on the BosqueMagic Reborn has reached a half way point! And also, my two cents on how to make a living for yourself as a creative. Book your next writer retreat at Hummingbird House in Santa Fe here Upcoming Events ~Meet me at Books on the Bosque Nov. 2ndLearn more about A Day with Santa Fe Authors LoveLitCon is a weekend of romantasy and bookish fun and I will be attending! Buy LoveLitCon tickets here using LOVE8368 for $10 OFF! Tuscon Festival of Books is March 14th-15th this year! See you there *Wink* BooksPreorder MAGIC REBORN coming Nov. 30th!Among the Thorns will be here July 14th – Available for Preorder NowSTRANGE FAMILIAR is liveYou can always buy print copies of my books from my local indie, Beastly Books!As always, thank you for watching! If you've made it this far in the show notes, please let me know what you think of my Christmas cards and submit any questions in the comments or through DM's if you're unable to make it to my Q&A Nov. 1st and 2nd!Support the showSocials Join my Patreon and Discord for mentoring Sign up for my newsletter! Support the show! Find me on Threads Visit my website Follow me on Amazon Follow me on BookBub Find me on Instagram and TikTok! @jeffekennedy2016 @jeffe_kennedy The posture correcting sports bra I love almost more than life itself can be found here Thank you for watching or listening! See you all soon.

In this episode, I sit down with Christ-follower, author, pastor, and teacher, Sharon Hodde Miller, to talk about what it looks like to find real freedom. Not the kind the world talks about, but the kind that comes when we stop trying to control everything and let God be in charge. We talk about everything from how to respond to the next big news story, to how to tell the difference between the Holy Spirit's nudge and plain old overthinking. Sharon shares wisdom on what healthy responsibility looks like versus unhealthy control, and how surrendering to God's authority actually brings more peace (and not stress)! This conversation is honest, practical, and full of truth. If you've ever struggled with anxiety, control, or just feeling overwhelmed by the world around you, this is for you! Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode, First Interstate Bank and Vern Eide. First Interstate Bank has a mission to help people and their money work better together. They do this by ensuring clients can manage their money conveniently wherever they are while also providing the friendly service. They have over 300 locations throughout 14 states! For more information and to find a location near you, visit firstinterstatebank.com Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube and watch the full interview with Sharon: youtube.com/@adamaweber Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew

Sermon by Pastor Corky Calhoun

Welcome to part 3 of a very special podcast series we are calling Faith & Justice. In this series, we're diving into what it looks like to follow Jesus in a world that is deeply in need of hope, healing, and justice. We have been partnering with the International Justice Mission, an incredible organization working to end violence, exploitation, and modern-day slavery in some of the darkest corners of the world.  Today, we hear from former NFL linebacker Mark Herzlich. Mark's story is powerful. He's battled cancer, walked away from two dream careers in the NFL and sports broadcasting, and is now following God's call into ministry.  He also opens up about how his wife Danielle's story of childhood abuse has fueled his own passion for justice and standing up for those who can't stand up for themselves. This conversation is real and raw, especially for men of faith who want to live with purpose, courage, and conviction. Learn more about IJM and become a Freedom Partner: ijm.org    Listen to Part 1 with Ellie Holcomb here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ellie-holcomb-on-being-diagnosed-with-adhd-at-age-42/id1119318768?i=1000730732860  Listen to Part 2 with Nick Hundley here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leadership-gold-from-texas-rangers-executive-nick-hundley/id1119318768?i=1000731914448   Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode: International Justice Mission & Vern Eide International Justice Mission is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world, taking special care of survivors from the moment they're rescued all the way through their healing and restoration. To learn more and support their mission, visit ijm.org    Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and powersports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube and watch the full interview with Mark: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew  

Sermon by Pastor Corky Calhoun

Sermon by Pastor Jason Arnold

Welcome to part 2 of a very special podcast series we are calling Faith & Justice. In this series, we're diving into what it looks like to follow Jesus in a world that is deeply in need of hope, healing, and justice. Over these four episodes, we're honored to be partnering with International Justice Mission, an incredible organization working to end violence, exploitation and modern-day slavery in some of the darkest corners of the world.  Today, I get to sit down with former MLB player Nick Hundley, but even more than that, a man of deep faith and incredible leadership. Nick's now the Director of Team Freedom, IJM's program that brings pro athletes together to use their influence for good. Nick shares about his journey from playing in the big leagues to working in the front office with the Texas Rangers, how he juggles all his roles and what it really means to live out your faith right where you are.  And parents… there's a piece of advice Nick's dad gave him that you're gonna want to tuck away. It's gold. Learn more about becoming a Freedom Partner: ijm.org  If you missed Part 1 with Ellie Holcomb, go back and listen. It's so good. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ellie-holcomb-on-being-diagnosed-with-adhd-at-age-42/id1119318768?i=1000730732860  Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode: International Justice Mission & Vern Eide International Justice Mission is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world, taking special care of survivors from the moment they're rescued all the way through their healing and restoration. To learn more and support their mission, visit ijm.org  Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube and watch the full interview with Nick: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew  

Holman heads to Michigan to pick up his brand new AEV-built Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 and drive it back home to California. On Day 2 of this multi-part series, Holman meets his new Wrangler 392 for the first time, and walks through AEV's facility with Matt Feldermann. The Truck Show Podcast is produced in partnership with AMSOIL, Kershaw Knives, and OVR Mag.

Hey friends, Welcome to a very special podcast series called Faith & Justice. In this series, we're diving into what it looks like to follow Jesus in a world that is deeply in need of hope, healing, and justice. Over the next four episodes, we're honored to be partnering with International Justice Mission, or IJM - an incredible organization working to end violence, exploitation, and modern-day slavery in some of the darkest corners of the world.  Today, I sit down with singer/songwriter Ellie Holcomb who has supported IJM in lots of different ways. We talk about why justice and compassion matter so deeply to her, and some practical ways you and I can make a difference too. Ellie also shares how she was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 42 and how it has deepened  her relationships. She also opens up about how she navigates the challenges of parenting while pursuing her passion for music (oh, and she's got a brand-new album coming out too!).  This conversation is honest, encouraging, and full of hope. I can't wait for you to hear it. Learn more about becoming a Freedom Partner: ijm.org  Check out Ellie's new album Far Country Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode: International Justice Mission & Vern Eide International Justice Mission is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world, taking special care of survivors from the moment they're rescued all the way through their healing and restoration. To learn more and support their mission, visit ijm.org  Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube and watch the full interview with Ellie: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew    

Sermon by Pastor Jen Helms

FREEDOM - HEALTH - HAPPINESSThis podcast is highly addictive and seriously good for your health.SUPPORT DOC MALIK To make sure you don't miss any episodes, have access to bonus content, back catalogue, and monthly Live Streams, please subscribe to either:The paid Spotify subscription here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/docmalik/subscribe The paid Substack subscription here: https://docmalik.substack.com/subscribeThank you to all the new subscribers for your lovely messages and reviews! And a big thanks to my existing subscribers for sticking with me and supporting the show! ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION: In this episode I speak with Rehiana, a principled doctor who has endured a truly Kafkaesque ordeal with the GMC.She shares how politically driven complaints, including from Lawyers for Israel and the Jewish Medical Association, turned her professional life into a bureaucratic nightmare. Accused not of misconduct but of “thought crimes,” she was suspended for speaking about Palestine, human rights, and usury in global finance.We discuss double standards within medicine, the weaponisation of free speech complaints, and how the GMC is being used to police opinion rather than regulate practice.For alot more info see my substack post.Much love, as always.Doc MalikLinksInstagram ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/hcwsagainstcensorshipWebsite ⁠ https://hwac.infoIMPORTANT INFORMATIONCONSULTATION SERVICEIn a world of rushed 7-minute consultations and endless referrals, I offer you something rare: time, context, and clear guidance.As your health advocate, I can help you:Understand your diagnosis and decode medical jargonDecide who to see: GP, specialist, osteopath, physio, accupuntcurist, homeopath etc?Break down treatment plans in plain, easy to understand non jargon EnglishPrepare for surgery, understand your risks, obtain true informed consent, and optimise yourself pre-op Recover from surgery, advise you how to heal faster and quicker and minimise post-op complicationsManage chronic illness with lifestyle, mindset, and dietary changesExplore holistic options that complement conventional careImplement lifestyle changes like fasting, stress reduction, or movementAsk better questions, and get real answersGet an unbiased second opinionReady to Take Control?If you're navigating a health concern, preparing for a big decision, or simply want to feel more confident in your path forward, I'd love to support you.Book here https://docmalik.com/consultations/ Because it's your body, your life, and your future. Let's make sure you're informed and heard.WaterpureI distill all my water for drinking, washing fruit and vegetables, and cooking. If you knew what was in tap water, so would you!https://waterpure.co.uk/docmalik BUY HERE TODAYHunter & Gather FoodsSeed oils are inflammatory, toxic and nasty; eliminate them from your diet immediately. Check out the products from this great companyhttps://hunterandgatherfoods.com/?ref=DOCHG BUY HERE TODAYUse DOCHG to get 10% OFF your purchase with Hunter & Gather Foods.IMPORTANT NOTICEIf you value my podcasts, please support the show so that I can continue to speak up by choosing one or both of the following options - Buy me a coffee If you want to make a one-off donation.Doc Malik Merch Store Check out my amazing freedom merch

00 Ranger runs bad sometimes 19 Audi front end clunk 84 Mustang GT heater cable stuck 2012 F150 no crank 14 f150 transmission noise 14 Escape exhaust noise? 21 Mercedes transmission problems or not? 22 Jeep Compass transmission issues? 13 Acura MDX Transmission issues 79 GMC alternator problems

Last year, the Wall Street Journal reported that Bible sales are up by 22% from the year before (how cool is that?!). So in today's episode, we're hanging out with Amanda Bible Williams, the amazing co-founder of She Reads Truth. If you've never checked it out, it is an incredible community that helps women engage with the Bible every single day. Amanda opens up about her journey and shares some cool insights on why more people are opening up their Bibles, and why community matters when it comes to sticking with it. Plus She gives some practical tips for those just starting out on their faith journey (like what translation of the Bible to buy and what chapter to start with when reading the Bible for the first time).  She also offers some heartfelt encouragement to anyone who has been hurt by the church - find out who Jesus is for yourself by reading His Word. He loves you and will meet you right where you're at. Friend, this conversation will encourage you to keep opening your Bible and remind you that you don't have to do it alone. Grab a copy of The Bible is For You: https://amzn.to/3VyYuXY To learn more about She Reads Truth visit: shereadstruth.com To learn more about the American Bible Society “State of the Bible” survey visit: americanbible.org/news/state-of-the-bible/  To learn more about coaching with Adam visit: adamweber.com/coaching  Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode: Mission Haiti & Vern Eide Mission Haiti is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to love Jesus, love others, and make disciples in the country of Haiti. They live out that mission by training and coming alongside current and future leaders for the cause of Christ. To learn more, visit Mission-Haiti.org Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube and watch the full interview with Amanda: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew  

Today is part 4 of our marriage series and we're wrapping things up with an incredible couple: Justin & Trisha Davis. Their story? It's real. It's raw. In 2002 after planting their first church, Justin had an affair with a staff member (who was also Trisha's best friend). They walked through four years of deep pain, grief, counseling and by God's grace… restoration. Here's the thing… not every hard season happens because of choices we make. A medical diagnosis. A failed business. A struggling child. Family drama. A pandemic. These moments can easily pull us apart or force us to stand together even closer. Justin & Trisha remind us that marriage works best when you choose to face challenges as a team instead of as enemies. We talk about the importance of honesty, vulnerability and turning towards your spouse when things get tough.  This episode is full of practical wisdom and a whole lot of grace. I hope you are encouraged. Learn more about Justin & Trisha: https://justinandtrisha.com  To find out more information about the marriage event at Embrace Church visit iamembrace.com/marriage   Listen to Part 1 of the marriage series with Jason and Jodi VanRuler: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/living-on-mission-together-jason-jodi-vanruler-marriage/id1119318768?i=1000724686484 Listen to Part 2 with Gary & Lisa Thomas: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-keep-the-fun-and-sex-alive-in-marriage-gary/id1119318768?i=1000725836347  Listen to Part 3 with Nicky & Sila Lee: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-little-things-that-keep-love-alive-nicky-sila-lee/id1119318768?i=1000727147245  Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode: International Justice Mission & Vern Eide International Justice Mission is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world, taking special care of survivors from the moment they're rescued all the way through their healing and restoration. To learn more and support their mission, visit ijm.org  Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube and watch the full interview with Justin & Trisha: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew  

Charlie Eisenhood and Josh Mansfield recap the Green Mountain Championship before welcoming in GMC champion Paige Pierce for an interview. Then they get you ready for the second leg of the DGPT playoffs at the MVP Open at Maple Hill!Be sure to join the Ultiworld Disc Golf discord for weekly bonus content in the Live segment, Inside the Circle, available only for subscribers.

It's EV News Briefly for Sunday 21 September 2025, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show. Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDaily EUROPEAN EV BRAND LOYALTY AND CHARGING TRENDS https://evne.ws/4muN2HT GM EXTENDS EV LEASE INCENTIVES THROUGH YEAR-END https://evne.ws/4nFU2m2 PORSCHE CAYENNE EV DEVELOPED WITH SIMULATIONS https://evne.ws/4pA9z8W 35% OF UK DRIVERS LIKELY TO CHOOSE EVS https://evne.ws/422H7SW EREVS: CONSUMER MISUNDERSTANDING AND OPPORTUNITY https://evne.ws/47TxSIA TESLA-UBER FREIGHT TO DRIVE SEMI ADOPTION https://evne.ws/4ndDW3g TESLA SETTLES TWO 2019 AUTOPILOT LAWSUITS https://evne.ws/4mkObS5 MUNICH AIRPORT OPENS 275-POINT EV CHARGING PARK https://evne.ws/42ECC12 EV REALTY BUILDS TRUCK CHARGING HUBS https://evne.ws/4mv0MCd SPAIN 2025 GRID AND EV CHARGING https://evne.ws/46hgVXn ICELAND NEW CAR REGISTRATIONS RISE, EVS LEAD https://evne.ws/46M0QsJ U.S. EV CHARGING NETWORK GROWTH SLOWS https://evne.ws/4gz8mdZ UK PLANS £500M SOUTHAMPTON EV TERMINAL https://evne.ws/4nIRgg1 EUROPEAN EV BRAND LOYALTY AND CHARGING TRENDS An annual EV Driver Survey of 3,900 people across the UK and key European markets, finds high brand retention among current electric vehicle drivers: 93% in the UK, 87% in Spain, and 86% in Germany say they are likely to buy the same brand again. GM EXTENDS EV LEASE INCENTIVES THROUGH YEAR-END GM will extend EV lease incentives for Chevy, GMC, and Cadillac through December 31, protecting deals signed before September 30 despite the federal tax credit expiry. The program lets buyers lock in rebates for vehicles already in transit, with lease prices expected to rise after the commercial-credit route closes. PORSCHE CAYENNE EV DEVELOPED WITH SIMULATIONS Porsche's Cayenne EV, due for debut at the end of the year, was developed using extensive AI and digital simulations that cut development time and prototype count by 20%. The SUV, built on the 800V SSP platform, targets a fast charge from 10% to 80% in 16 minutes and offers wireless charging as an option. 35% OF UK DRIVERS LIKELY TO CHOOSE EVS Renault UK's survey finds 35% of British drivers are likely to choose an EV following the government's Electric Car Grant, especially younger buyers and men. Barriers include charging, range, and cost, but all Renault's EVs now qualify for grant thresholds, starting from £21,495. EREVS: CONSUMER MISUNDERSTANDING AND OPPORTUNITY Escalent research reveals most car buyers lack awareness of Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs), but favorability rises after learning about their hybrid nature. Automakers see EREVs as a bridge to EV adoption for hesitant buyers, and models like Ram's pickup and VW Scout are attracting more deposits than BEVs. TESLA-UBER FREIGHT TO DRIVE SEMI ADOPTION Tesla is partnering with Uber Freight to deploy electric Semis on freight routes, aiming to drive broader EV truck adoption and highlight operating cost benefits. Uber's network helps reduce uncertainties for operators, positioning Tesla's Semi to compete in commercial shipping lanes with “no compromises”. TESLA SETTLES TWO 2019 AUTOPILOT LAWSUITS Tesla discreetly settled two lawsuits from 2019 California crashes involving Autopilot; these come after a major Florida verdict against Tesla over FSD failures. The settlements underscore legal risks around Tesla's self-driving technology, which is central to the company's trillion-dollar valuation narrative. MUNICH AIRPORT OPENS 275-POINT EV CHARGING PARK Munich Airport opened Bavaria's largest EV charging park with 275 stations and a solar array of 7,216 modules generating up to 3 MW of renewable power. The €5.2 million project gives passengers 138 accessible EV chargers and supports broader adoption in Germany. EV REALTY BUILDS TRUCK CHARGING HUBS EV Realty is addressing grid limitations for electric trucks by building multi-fleet fast-charging hubs in California, using proprietary software to optimize site selection near industrial centers. The company raised $75 million for expansion, modelling its facilities after data centers and targeting hundreds of megawatts of unused grid capacity. SPAIN 2025 GRID AND EV CHARGING Spain's surging EV adoption in 2025 is stressing the nation's power grid, with current charging sites capable of 1–3 MW but future upgrades needed for heavy-duty vehicles and rural coverage. Experts warn grid upgrades must precede mass charge point rollouts to avoid bottlenecks as demand grows. ICELAND NEW CAR REGISTRATIONS RISE, EVS LEAD Iceland's new car registrations jumped 28% year-on-year, mostly driven by rental companies, with 80% of sales classified as “new energy” vehicles. Fully electric cars accounted for a third of registrations, hybrids 24%, plug-in hybrids 21%, and petrol/diesel just 20%. U.S. EV CHARGING NETWORK GROWTH SLOWS U.S. EV charging infrastructure growth slowed to 19% in the past year, even as demand rises, and total charging output increased 52%. A survey found 53% of U.S. respondents cited lacking charging access as the biggest barrier to EV adoption. UK PLANS £500M SOUTHAMPTON EV TERMINAL ABP plans a £500 million electric vehicle terminal at Southampton to handle surging imports of Chinese EVs, projecting over 100,000 vehicles in 2026—20% of UK car trade through the port. Expansion plans include multi-storey storage, new berths, and capacity to meet demand, as the UK takes a more open approach than the EU or US on Asian EV imports.