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Tommy and Desnekka Taylor are the esteemed founders of an internationally acclaimed online marriage coaching practice and the visionary creators behind the premier marriage program, Marriage 2.0 Their journey has been one of profound transformation and resilience, navigating the most tumultuous of marital challenges with unwavering courage—surpassing the trials that many could endure in a lifetime. Their relationship endured immense hardship, manifesting in an array of obstacles: - Numerous instances of infidelity, both physical and emotional - Various addictions - The complexities of physical, mental, and verbal abuse - The intricacies of rebuilding trust - Challenges in effective communication - Financial discord - Intimacy barriers - Crisis in identity - Overwhelming anxiety - Depression - The depths of suicidal contemplations - A multitude of emotional triggers Through relentless dedication and growth, Tommy and Desnekka have emerged as the top experts in the field of marriage enrichment, inspiring countless couples to rediscover the beauty and strength within their own relationships. They went on to build a global marriage coaching empire helping inspire to empower couples and individuals to save their marriages when everyone else told them to end it. They have given thousands hope and their program marriage 2.0 has impacted hundreds of people around the world. God called them to use their testimony and knowledge to help other couples save their marriages, create generational change, but most importantly build an army for God's kingdom. This is their passion and mission to change the world forever! They committed an impressive investment of $150,000 into exploring every available avenue to resolve the challenges. Out of this endeavor, they crafted a distinguished global marriage coaching empire, dedicated to inspiring and empowering couples and individuals to save their relationships, even when conventional methods suggested giving up. Their transformative program, Marriage 2.0, has touched countless lives, offering hope to thousands and leaving a lasting impact on hundreds of families across the globe. As high school sweethearts with 20 years together and 18 of those in marriage, their journey is a testament to enduring love and commitment. Answering a divine calling, they have dedicated their knowledge and personal testimony to guide other couples towards saving their marriages, fostering generational change, and most profoundly, building a devoted community for God's kingdom. This is not just their passion; it is their mission & calling to leave an indelible mark on the world for god. And for all our fans out there! If you've gotten any value from this podcast, don't forget to go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianmarriagecoaching to get over 30 Plus Hours Of Free Marriage Training Content! We're giving away bonus training and programs if you join the facebook group. Don't forget… We only spread our message when you share this knowledge with others that need it, so if you enjoy this episode, please share it on your social and tag @tommyanddesnekka, and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and give us a 5-star rating, so you don't miss any other great episodes. ONE STOP LINK TO CONNECT WITH Tommy and Desnekka: https://linktr.ee/tommyanddesnekka To book a free 15 min Marriage Clarity Call to see if we can help and it's a good fit, go to: https://calendly.com/d/dk5-dz5-ssv/marriage-clarity-call Trevor Lee is the artist who designed the intro and outro. Labeled as a leader in Houston music by Ky Meyer of Muzik Houston https://www.trevorleemusic.com/ Tommy and Desnekka Taylor are the founders of Purpose Driven Coaching, a global online marriage coaching practice, creators of the number one marriage program - Marriage 2.0 After they went through everything there was to go through quadruple times over in their marriage they went on to build a global marriage coaching empire helping inspire and empower couples and individuals to save their marriages when everyone else told them to end it. They have been featured on top level podcasts and shows and their training's impact thousands of people around the world. You don't want to miss this episode! And for all our fans out there! If you've gotten any value from this podcast, don't forget to go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianmarriagecoaching to get over 30 Plus Hours Of Free Marriage Training Content! We're giving away bonus training and programs if you join the facebook group. Don't forget… We only spread our message when you share this knowledge with others that need it, so if you enjoy this episode, please share it on your social and tag @tommyanddesnekka, and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and give us a 5-star rating, so you don't miss any other great episodes. ONE STOP LINK TO CONNECT WITH Tommy and Desnekka: https://linktr.ee/tommyanddesnekka To book a free 15 min Marriage Clarity Call to see if we can help and it's a good fit, go to: https://calendly.com/d/dk5-dz5-ssv/marriage-clarity-call Trevor Lee is the artist who designed the intro and outro. Labeled as a leader in Houston music by Ky Meyer of Muzik Houston https://www.trevorleemusic.com/
Humble followers of Christ avoid the traps of self-righteousness--pretending and performing. They take an honest look at their sinful hearts and find themselves overwhelmed by God's mercy. (Luke 18:9-14)
Quaranteam – Book 1: Part 20 Fiona fills in some gaps. Based on a post by CorruptingPower, in 25 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. Fiona giggled once more. "I think since we were both being stupid about it, it cancels each other out. Some, anyway. But then I got this message from Captain Linda Hayes in the Air Force, telling me that a request had been put in for me to be paired up with you out here in California, if I was interested in that." "Well," he said, teasing her back, "you did say you wanted me to reach out,” "I did, and you agreed to my condition, because there was no way I was coming without bringing Moira." "Thanks for that." "I did my homework first, though," she chided. "Even after I'd accepted, I still had about a day to change my mind, so I reached out to Xander and spent about five hours talking to him on the phone." "I thought you said you hadn't talked to him?" "Yeah, well, I was lying, but most of the time I was talking to him, I was asking about you." "Oh, and that was enough to convince you?" "Well, he answered a lot of questions, but the only thing I really cared about was if you were still, y'know, you. Doing good deeds without thinking too much about them in advance, trying to help every lost soul you bump into. He said of course you were still you, and probably even more you now than you'd ever been." She paused for a minute, then continued. "He actually told me all about the poker game, and how you were just trying to help one of Niko's friends, and had to do your best to save nearly every damn person that you could, and the more about it he told me, the more I knew that you hadn't changed a bit. Still jumping face first into the firing line, just like Moira." "I wish I could say I'd gotten a little wiser over the years, but I don't know if that's true." "If Niko, Ash and Emily are to be believed, I'd say so," she said. "They certainly grilled the hell out of us before they were okay letting us into the household. Emily's quite the little spitfire, considering how short of a time she's known you. Very protective of you, although maybe that's as much protective of Sarah as it is of you." "Yeah, that's definitely a possibility," Andy admitted. "Sarah's so insanely optimistic about things, maybe she needs Em to keep her down to earth. And the poker game caused lots of ripples out here, so everyone was a little on edge about all of it. Well, that and the fact that I just made the decision to invite you entirely on my own without talking to anyone in the household first. I mean, they'd told me to make sure I invited someone of my own choosing, but I think they thought I would've talked it out with them a little bit beforehand." "And you didn't?" "Didn't need to." "That confident, were we?" she chuckled. "I see we haven't entirely shed the overconfidence problem we had back in high school." "It was me taking a bit of agency back in my life, Fi. And while it surprised everyone a bit around here, I don't think anyone really complained, other than they hated waiting to learn more. I just figured, if you said no, there was no reason getting everyone excited for nothing." "Did you honestly think I would've said no?" Andy shrugged a little. "It'd been over a decade, Fi. I figured anything was possible." "I suppose," she said. "So what do I need to know about my new family? The short version, s'il vous plaît." He smirked at her dipping into French for a moment. She tended to do that when she was feeling particularly playful, knowing he didn't speak a word of it. "Well, there's three levels of partner here in the house, I guess. The fiancés, the partners and the staff." "How did you decide which fell into which category?" "I mean, I mostly didn't decide, or I suppose, basically they either chose to be partners or staff first and foremost, and from there, the ones who felt the most emotionally connected to me decided they wanted to eventually get married. I asked Aisling first, and she agreed, and then Niko asked me before I could ask her. When I announced that, Emily and Sarah both sort of insisted I accept their proposals as well." "Much like I did," she said with a titter of laughter. "See? Not as different as you thought. Nicolette, Jenny, Katie and Whitney all came here expressly because they wanted to be staff, and not partners." "And you're okay with that?" Her voice didn't have a tone of judgment to it, just a hint of curiosity. "It's what they wanted, so who am I to tell them that's wrong?" "That's completely fair," she said. "It just surprises me that you sort of made peace with that so easily. I would've thought you would've taken more time to get your head around it." "After you get past the notion of the first one, it's pretty easy to make peace with the rest, and Nicolette was very good at making that clear to me early on. Katie's the weirdest of the cases, but we've made it work." "How so?" "Oh," Andy said, amused in how offhandedly he mentioned it, "she's completely a lesbian, so she gets everything secondhand." "I'm sure there's a story behind that one." "There is, but I was giving you an overview." "Fair enough, Mr. Rook," she said, mirth layered in her voice. "Do continue." "Everyone who isn't a fiancé or a staff member falls into the category of partner, but even there, there can be quite the range of attachment." "How many others are there that don't fall into either category?" "Eight, not counting you or Moira, with one more on the way, and one more to maybe fall into staff but maybe into partner as well." She giggled a little. "You, sir, are drowning in cunt." "Yeah, well, it comes with its own complications." "And you know I'm going to be a fiancé, as is Moira." "Well," Andy admitted, "I knew you wanted to be, but I didn't want to jump to any conclusions about Moira." "You were the first man she ever loved," Fiona sighed. "As much as she might have tried to pretend otherwise, she never hid that very well." "Well, fair's fair, Fi," he chuckled. "You were the first person I ever loved, so I guess it all works out in the end." The rain had actually gotten heavier rather than easier since they'd been talking, but the fog was starting to roll in a bit, so it was harder to see, wisps of clouds covering the grounds of the manor. "What am I going to do with myself here, Andy?" she said, leaning into him. "I'm a reporter. It's my job to report things. I'm used to covering the White House, the Senate, the House of Representatives, even the military. Granted, I hated DC, but how is any of this ever going to compare?" He shifted a little bit. "I mean, you could write a book about the whole pandemic, document the whole thing from top to bottom. I know there's going to be the 60 Minutes news story in less than a week, but they're only going to have an hour to cover so much. You could write a book like Bob Woodward, cover everything." She stood quietly for a minute, then nodded. "You're right. Maybe I could do something like that." She reached a hand and smoothed it across his chest through his shirt a bit. "So, now I want to get the juiciest piece of dirt here in the house. Who's the best in bed?" "Oh hell no," he laughed. "Even if I could make that kind of judgment, which I can't, there's no way in hell that I would. Everyone's amazing in their own way." "Picked up any new fetishes I should know about, or just the ones you had back in college?" she teased, her fingertip trailing down his sternum. "And what old fetishes those would be?" "Oh come on, Andy," she said with a smirk. "I haven't forgotten. Sweary wife, happy life. I bet if I started telling you that my cunt still ached from the fucking you gave it last night, you'd be getting,” Her fingertips teased against the waistline of his sweatpants. "See? There it is, right on cue." "Tease," he scolded. "No no no, love," she giggled. "Tease would be if I wasn't going to do anything about it. I am, but I just want to know what else you've done with whom else." "Too many things to list all at once," he said. "Maybe just ask some specific questions, and you'll get your answers." "Did you fuck Emily in her costume from the movie?" she said, rubbing one of her thighs along the front of his. He was amused by the question. "I did, but that was her idea, not mine." "Doesn't matter whose idea it was, only that you've done it. Doesn't make it any less hot. How many different girls in the house have blown you?" "Almost all of them?" "Done any of them in the ass?" "I think five or six of them." "Was it the first time for any of them?" "For most of them, not that it matters." "Everything matters, Andy. Everything matters." She slid her hand to rub against Andy's cock a bit through the sweatpants and boxers. "Any of them as loud as I was the first time you fucked me in the ass?" "Only Niko," he said with a chuckle. "Most of the others were loud, but Niko really howled in pleasure loud enough to shake the walls." "You gonna do all of them that way?" Her fingertips stroked his shaft just a little through the fabric, her eyes looking up at him in amusement. "Only if they want to." "Anyone said they don't want to?" "Piper said she wasn't too sure about it, and Sheridan said the idea scares her, which she said also turns her on a little, but she was still pretty nervous about it, so we'll see I guess. If they want to, I will, but if they don't, I won't. You know me, Fi. I'm never going to make anyone do anything they don't want to do. Ever." "What about that plump Japanese teenager you've got?" "Hannah?" he said with a laugh. "Oh, she's eager for it, but she's always rushing towards new things like a cat after a laser pointer. I think if one of the girls said she wanted to have sex on a trapeze, Hannah would say she had next. " "Done any bondage?" "A little bit with Whitney, the newest staff member, but she's very much into that kind of thing, so I felt like I'd be letting her down if I didn't at least give it a go. And I suppose you could say Nicolette and I dabble at that back and forth all the time." "How did it feel?" Her hand slipped up and then pushed down beneath the waistband of his sweatpants and boxers, moving to close around his naked cock. "Did you like being a Master for a day? Everyone doing only what you told them to?" He grinned, feeling her cool touch against his warm skin. "It's a fun hat to put on from time to time, but certainly not one I want to wear too often, and definitely not one I want to get too comfortable wearing. Too many people get a little taste of power and then run away with it." "Did you like our little game yesterday morning where we were all touching and kissing and sucking on you at once?" He nodded, maybe even a bit too quickly. "It was intense. Overwhelming and hard to focus, but it felt so damn good. Was that your idea?" "Of course it was my idea," she giggled. "Well, it wasn't entirely my idea, but I started coming up with the plan. Niko and Ash both helped a little bit. I'm not stepping on anyone's toes by being here, am I? It seems like you and those two are especially close." "Other than Lauren, we've been together the longest. But Lauren and Taylor are a couple. They love both me, but they love each other more, which is absolutely fine. So we've all worked pretty hard to make each other happy." "Where do you think Moira and I are going to fit in here?" "It feels like the fiancés have their own little clique, and I expect you'll slide right in there before you know it. I know you, and you've always been one of the most adaptable people ever. You've always been the kind of person to go up and pick a fight with the biggest person in the yard, if it's what you thought you needed to do." "Prison metaphors?" she laughed softly. "Not exactly your most romantic approach, is it, Rook? Shouldn't you aim a little higher?" "I actually think you and Ash are going to become the most dangerous team I've ever seen, and that's before you rope in the partnership that Emily and Niko are already building," he said with a little laugh. "I'm just a guy in the background, a meat puppet for you ladies to steer me around into whatever conflict you need me to put down." He gave her shoulder a little squeeze. "You're gonna love her. She reminds me a lot of you. Or you remind me a lot of her. Take your pick." "Well, while redheads are an acquired taste, it's one you know I've already acquired," she said, her thumb teasing over the head of his cock. "So maybe I should just tell you that I'm looking forward to get a taste of her, hmm?" Fiona smirked. "Or maybe that I already did?" "You didn't," Andy said, tilting his head to one side. "No, I haven't, but I will soon enough," she said with a laugh. "So I don't need to worry about the fiancés, because we're all going to get along like a house on fire. Do I need to worry about the partners? Do you think any of them aren't going to like me?" Andy grinned. "I don't know anyone who didn't like you the moment they met you, Fi." "But Ash is the lady of the house." "We don't have a lady. I thought we were an autonomous collective," he said to her, smugly. She gave his cock a firm squeeze, enough to make him yelp a little. "You're fooling yourself. And the two showing up today? Those are going to be the last ones? Or is there space for one or two more, if the right girl strolls in front of you?" "I mean," Andy said, as she begun to stroke his cock very slowly and deliberately. "I said in the interview with 60 Minutes yesterday that if I had my say, we were definitely done adding people to the household, but Emily pointed out I really don't have the final say in these kinds of things." "All I'm saying is that you shouldn't shut any doors permanently, Andy." Her fingertips were sliding back and forth. "I think you're almost ready for me again." "Twice in two days?" he said, trying to shift a little bit against her cold touch. "The other girls are going to think you're greedy." "I paid close attention to the briefing when they were giving us the injections, Andy," she scolded. "You can pump out a good five loads a day without any trouble, so I'm making up for lost time." "I mean, I didn't say that I didn't understand." "Good," she said, turning around, putting her back to his chest, letting go of his cock as she leaned forward, and tugged her yoga pants down to the middle of her thighs, exposing her cunt to him. "So get to it." He reached down to grab his shaft, moving to get it lined up before he pushed forward, sliding good and deep inside of her, feeling her honeyed walls clench on him even as he filled up her hungry cunt with his shaft. "Ffffuck," she hissed. "That's never going to get old, feeling you slide inside of me. God, I'd forgotten how much I fucking missed this. Promise me we'll never be that stupid again, Andy," she said as she started to swivel her hips a little bit, not pumping into him, just making his cock press against one side of the inside of her snatch then the other. "I'm never going to let you go again, Fi. You have my word on that." "Right now, there's only one word I give a shit about," she said. "Fuck." Her hips slammed back against his in time with the word. "Fuck." She repeated it, both the word and the motion. "Fuck!" The tempo and the force of her body thrusting back into his increased with the intensity of the word. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" They'd fallen back into their old, familiar rhythm, each of them remembering the other's personal turnons. They knew how to get each other going quickly, and while Andy had expected that Fi would want to savor their moment alone, she was hellbent on getting another orgasm from him. Patience was not on the cards. Each time he pushed forward, she whipped back, as if every second he wasn't inside of her was a second she couldn't afford, that she couldn't abide by him being anywhere else. She wanted him to be inside of her as much as she could get it. "C'mon, Andy," she whispered. "Just you and me, just like old times. Just do it already!" The familiarity was a heady cocktail of lust, and her body gripped his cock in just the perfect way, and before he knew it, the moment as on top of him, just as he was on top of her. His body seized and she started to spasm just as he began to unload his hot spunk inside of her body, the two shivering in one unison, a completed pair once more. A minute or two later, they were both laughing softly again, his cock having slipped out of her, both of them having tugged their clothes up, Fi having slipped back into his arms once more. "I'm gonna love getting that regularly," Fiona giggled. "Not that you weren't great at sex before, but man, the chemical life is quite a trip." She reached up, tipped his head down and kissed him again. "I still love you, Andy. Always have." "Me too, Fi. Me too." They stood there on the balcony listening to the rain for a few minutes. "So who's coming today? You said you've got a few more lined up?" "One of Em and Sarah's friends, plus my new bodyguard." "Bodyguard, huh?" Fiona smirked as they turned to walk back into the house. "Gotta admit, sounds kinda hot." Lexi arrives to the House Of Rook. Chapter 35 When they sneaked back into the bedroom, Andy could hear the shower running, and he and Fiona stepped into the master bathroom, closing the door behind them. They each stripped and hopped into the running shower, where Niko was just finishing washing her hair. He leaned in and gave her a soft kiss before Fi moved to hug the smaller girl warmly. "Thanks for being so welcoming, Niko," Fi said to her. "You've really been the best at welcoming both me and Moira. Not that any of the girls have been bad, but you were there to talk with us the whole time the treatment was going on, and it means a lot to me that you were willing to answer all our silly questions." Niko smirked, leaning in and kissing Fi on the cheek. "Not a problem," she said. "I just wanted you both to feel as comfortable as possible here, and we all knew that if Andy invited you personally, you'd get along with everyone great. Which reminds me, Andy. I don't think anyone told you yet, but Moira will actually be passed out in the imprinting process for a significant amount longer than normal, but that's expected and nothing to worry about, so don't freak out when she sleeps through all of today, okay? That's exactly what's supposed to happen, and nothing's wrong." Andy tipped his head a little in curiosity. "Why's the treatment taking to Moira differently?" "Unlike everyone else in the house, Moira actually had dengue fever during her time working for Doctors Without Borders, and while she's fully recovered from it, the antibodies for that complicate the serum so it takes longer to settle in and take hold. It's a minor flap, and it won't have any impact in the long run," Niko said, as she stepped out of the shower. Fiona stepped out after her, grabbing a towel as well. "She's lived a way more interesting life than the rest of us. You'll be astonished by some of her stories from when she was performing triage in warzones. It turns out people can be far more horrific than I ever imagined." Andy turned off the water and stepped out last, grabbing the one massive black towel that was his and exclusively his. Andy sometimes wondered if Nicolette always had laundry running, what with all the people in the household. He knew she had a system of some kind, and had yet to give any woman someone else's clothes, so the last thing he wanted to do was jinx it by asking for details, though he had complimented her on it several times, something that always made her smile. "Oh, some people suck," Andy grumbled as the hot air from the fan blew down on him even as he was lightly caught in the backwash of Niko and Fiona's hair dryers. "I've known that since I was a kid, and it's basically the backbone for the career of any writer. I'm sure we're going to hear a bunch more about that starting today, since we'll be adding an ex spook to the family." Niko nodded, as she flipped off her hair dryer. "She and Maya won't be showing up at the same time, either. Lexi will be here around lunchtime; Maya won't get here until late in the evening. People are passing through the base at such a high speed that we're just treating everyone as soon as they arrive rather than batching them like we used to." She grabbed her clothes from the shelf and started tugging them on, clearly getting ready to head to the base. She'd been taking a lot of time off to meet new arrivals to the Rook family, but she was determined to get back into some sort of normal rhythm now. "Lexi's a tough one to get a read on, but I think she'll warm up to you eventually," she said, giving him a firm hug. "She's had a pretty rough go of it for the last several years, so try and be patient with her. I know you always are, but a little extra patience here wouldn't go amiss, if you know what I mean. This is quite the severe change for her." Andy nodded. "Of course I'll be patient," he said before giving Niko a soft kiss. "You liked her though? She seemed like a good person? You get to meet everyone before most of us do, so I trust your judgment on these kinds of things." "She'll take care of you, and that's the most important part for a bodyguard. The rest we can figure out as we go." While Fiona finished getting her hair dried and shaped, Niko got dressed and headed out. They would see her again in the evening, but people needed to start getting back to work. Lauren was already changed into her workout clothes and heading down to the cars, as she was heading off to training camp, something that Andy had just heard about yesterday. Knowing full well there were going to be huge amounts of dead players, the NFL was preparing something truly unheard of. The following season would be the first co ed season played in the history of the league, and would be that way moving forward, so thousands of adjustments were being made, but the last thing the owners were going to allow to happen was the death of their livelihood because many of their players died. The 49ers had asked Lauren to consider playing, but for the time being, she had insisted she only wanted to continue as a trainer for players. That just meant instead of training exclusively men, she was mostly training women with some men, mostly new incoming players from other countries. Andy couldn't even begin to imagine how much restructuring and revamping of the game itself going completely coed was going to result in, but he imagined it would be no slight shift. They had nearly a year before the scheduled 2021 season would start, with the 2020 season already fully canceled, but the amount of changes they were going to be making meant they needed to get a head start on them, particularly so they could figure out how to start recruiting women to play. It had come as a bit of a surprise to him that they hadn't just started recruiting men from other countries, considering the rest of the world hadn't faced casualties anywhere near as badly as the US, but the last time he'd talked with Phil, Andy heard that DuoHalo was flaring up again in many other parts of the world, as piss poor world leaders had convinced themselves the dangers had passed, and that they could just "endure" through the resurgences. It would likely take a few more million deaths overseas to prove them wrong. He wondered if there was a collapsing of other American leagues, such as the NBA and the WNBA, into one league. For non contact sports, the changes would be exceptionally minor, but the recruiting would be the biggest challenge, although he wondered if entrenched sexism would impact more international things like FIFA or the Olympics. He suspected it would have to, eventually. Most of the other girls were still either working from home or not working at all, so most people tended to be around the house for the majority of the day. Both Sheridan and Piper were getting up as Lauren left, however, the two getting ready to start their morning workout, although Andy suspected they might grab Hannah and Asha to join them. Andy had tried participating in their morning workout routine once, and had found himself unable to keep up with the girls, despite his best efforts. They were just in far better shape than he was. Lauren had also allowed Taylor to get dressed and had taken her to work, as she was training her partner to work with the 49ers with her. By midday, most of the girls were up and tending to their own worlds, Sarah and Emily taking meetings with studio folks and their projects about upcoming agents, Ash working away on some project or another for Google, Hannah and Asha were both doing some coursework having enrolled in remote courses at Stanford until onsite learning could begin again. Tala and Jade wouldn't be up until late afternoon, so Andy spent the rest of the morning doing edits and rewrites on the draft of the newest Druid Gunslinger novel. Everyone met up for lunch, however, as they usually did, and just as they were finishing up, the doorbell rang and Nicolette hopped up to rush towards the door before Andy could even get up. "Oh, let her have her moment," Sarah said to him with a smile. A minute or so later, Nicolette entered the dining room with Lexi in tow. While Andy had spoken to her a little bit on FaceTime, it was their first meeting in person. He smiled, rising up and walking over towards her. "Hey Lexi, welcome to your new home," he said, extending a hand to her. Lexi was an odd mishmash of styles, two differently contrasted vibes struggling for dominance in the woman's look. She had on tight blue jeans and a leather motorcycle jacket, but beneath the jacket she had on a pastel pink top that seemed a little frilly. The Latina woman's scars were more prominent in person, the right side of her face from the cheekbone downward warped and wrinkled, definite burn scars that had healed but had been severe enough that cosmetic surgery would prove difficult. He could see the scars covered almost half of her neck and disappeared down into the neckline of her shirt, so he assumed it spread over at least some of her torso. He knew it bothered her, but wanted to assure her that it didn't bother him at all. She took his hand and shook it, certainly a different greeting than the other girls had gotten, but Andy wanted to give Lexi the space to settle in however she wanted. Their relationship hadn't been defined yet, and both Jenny and Katie had made it clear that they suspected it would blossom into something more than a professional relationship, but at first, that's what it would need to be. "Let me introduce everyone. You know Katie and Jenny already, obviously, you met my fiancé Niko on the base, and you met Nicolette at the door," he said. "These are my other fiancés Aisling, Sarah, Emily and Fiona, and these are my partners Piper, Sheridan, Hannah and Asha. This is the house IT tech Whitney. My partners Tala, Jade and Moira are all still recovering from the imprinting process, and my partners Lauren and Taylor are both off at work. I know, I know, it's a lot of names to remember all at once, so don't worry, everyone will be happy to remind you for a while." Lexi tried to shake hands with all of them, but many of the girls insisted on hugs, something that seemed to take the Latina a little aback, although she didn't retreat from any of the contact. "It's very nice to meet all of you," she said. "Mr. Rook? Would you mind giving me a bit of a tour of the grounds, just so I can get my bearings?" "Not at all, Lexi, but please, you're welcome to call me Andy if you like." She offered a brief tight lipped smile that appeared and was gone just as quickly. "Let's stick to 'Mr. Rook' or 'sir' for now, and we'll see where that goes, okay?" He grinned, shrugging his shoulders. "Play it where it lies. C'mon, I'll give you the tour." The two walked out of the room, and once they were down the hallway a bit, he could see Lexi visibly relax a little. "Sorry about that," she said to him. "That was a lot of people all at once, and I know they're all your family, and that it's part of the gig, but it's a ton of information to take in all at once. The longer I stayed in there, the more worried Jenny was gonna get about me, and that's all I need, is her up my ass worrying that I'm going to have another episode." "Episode?" he said, as they walked out into the back yard. He figured he would give her a tour of the grounds first before doing the house, that way they would be a good distance from people, allowing her to have a bit of time to wrap her head around all of it, and to get to know him one on one before having to adapt to all the other people. "We talked a little bit about this when we spoke earlier, but I do have PTSD, so from time to time, I can go through panic attacks, nightmares or even brief flashbacks, although nothing that should prevent me from doing my job, which is to keep you and your family safe," she said. There was a confidence to her walk, a sense of purposefulness, like she was always on task. "And I do want to stress that while I'll do my best to keep all of your family safe, you will be the primary protectorate, and that means your health and well being will always have the highest priority. You seem like a good guy, and that may take some getting used to, but if I'm going to do my job properly, it's a thing you're going to have to get your head around pretty fucking quickly, pardon my language." "Okay, first thing's first," he said with a laugh. "Never apologize for swearing around me. Ever. I happen to like women who swear, and while that may not be what you're used to, it's S.O.P. around here and you don't need to waste words on apologizing for things you don't need to." She laughed a little, a genuine warm laugh, and that made Andy feel a little bit better. She'd been putting on a very cold exterior since her arrival, and Andy wanted to make sure she felt like she didn't need to be so guarded from the whole family. "Fuckin' a, then," she said, nodding to him. "But my point still stands. If it comes down to keeping you safe or keeping one of your women safe, I am always going to put your safety first. You don't have to like that, but you're gonna have to fucking accept it, because that is the way it's going to be. If you die, it sounds like there's a good chance that all of your partners die with you, and the protection business is about understanding the very basic math of it, which is that in a situation where I can let one of these women die or I can let all of these women die, I am going to protect you first, and will mourn the loss of the woman I couldn't save afterwards. I realize that may sound particularly cold, but I don't want you thinking about it like that. Trust me to do my job, and I will keep you safe with my last dying breath, if I have to." "I can't imagine it'll ever come to that," he said, as they walked past the pool, heading out to walk into the large grassy field off to the side of it. "I get everyone wanting to make sure that I'm safe, knowing that their health is dependent on mine, but I don't live a high risk life. I haven't pissed off arms dealers, drug dealers or crime bosses. There aren't any foreign governments trying to kill me. I'm not in the line of fire for anything or anyone." "Can I speak plainly, sir?" "Always. In fact, you should never worry about saying something that will offend or anger me, Alexis. If we're out in public, maybe use some tact in conversations then, but when we're at home, and this is your home now, if you want it to be, just speak your mind." She nodded a bit, walking along side him. "Copy. That's horseshit, sir, about you not being in the line of fire for anything or anyone. I spoke with Niko some yesterday, and as one security person to another, she told me that I should consider this Covington to be a hostile operator, and that should extend to anyone in his family or household." "Arthur?" Andy said. "Sure, I bet he's pissed at me, and that man has a lot of resources he could bring down to bear on me, but I wouldn't think he's the kind of guy to hire a hitman to rub me out or anything. That sounds a little too 'Goodfellas' and not enough 'Trading Places,' for his tastes. He's an asshole, but I doubt he's up to out and out murder." "I have to keep reminding myself that despite this house and your large collection of beautiful women, you're extremely new to this lifestyle, sir," Lexi said to him. "The ultrawealthy are almost exclusively assholes with no regard for human life or the well being of anyone who isn't providing something of use to them. You may think Covington's harmless now, but at any moment, he could turn far more malevolent, and it's my job to ensure that he doesn't get to you." "You know, I'm just going to trust your judgment on this, then. When I got an agent, I had to learn to let my agent to do all the things an agent should be doing. The same when we signed a five book deal and I got an editor. I had to learn to trust the editor's judgment on what did and didn't belong in a story. So third time's a charm. If you take on the job here, then I'll defer to you in all things of this kind of nature, and if you tell me someone could be a threat, I'll consider them a threat." "If I take the job here?" she asked, stopping in her walk as they neared the fence at the edge of the property. "I thought I'd already made it clear I accepted it." "Well, you did, but up until you're imprinted, you can still change your mind," he said. "And I always give everyone up until that moment to reconsider if they want to. Jenny said she thought you were looking for your Prince Charming, and if you take this job, if you get imprinted to me, that effectively ends that search for you for the foreseeable future. That's a huge step to take, and if you have any misgivings about it, you shouldn't commit to it, to me, to us, to this." "Well, Jenny established pretty clearly that I am absolutely disinterested in intercourse with any of the women in the house, right?" "Absolutely. And if that's what you want, nobody's going to push. You and I can have our intimate time one on one without anyone else around, and if you like, I can even spend a night with you in your bed regularly. The key is that you're going to have to accept that I'm also attached to all these other women, and while I'm going to do my best to divvy up my time equally, I won't always be perfect at that." "Anytime you go anywhere, I'll be by your side, so we will get plenty of time together, sir," she said with a little laugh. "A better question is how good have you been at not comparing your partners? I'm sure someone's got to be the best, which means someone's also got to be the worst." "No bests and no worsts," he said sternly. "Everyone's different, and that's exactly how it should be. Hell, I think everyone's different enough that it makes comparisons nearly impossible anyway." "Do the scars bother you?" she asked him, turning to face him directly as they stood near the fence, a big metal monstrosity that was far enough from the house that its appearance was mostly masked by trees. "At some point I could get cosmetic surgery, but up until recently, I've constantly been working, and there hasn't been any time for it." "That's entirely up to you, Lexi," he told her. "I don't mind the scars. I think they add character and personality." "You haven't seen how far they go," she sighed. "Not yet, anyway, but I will when you're ready to show me." "They go down to my ribs, and my right boob is scarred up like my neck here. Not very sexy, I know, but it's what I got." He took her hand for a moment, which made her jump a little bit at the sudden contact. "Lexi, don't worry about it," he said emphatically. "You're a beautiful woman, and I do not mind the scars. If you want to have them corrected at some point, you are welcome to do so, but you do not need to think you have to do so on my behalf, okay? I'm going to trust you so I need you to trust me on this." She looked down, drew in a heavy breath then sighed it out. "I got hit with a molotov cocktail in the jungles of Peru. The doctors there did everything they could to tend to the burns, but they were severe, and we were several hours away from a real hospital, so before I could get the best treatment, a lot of the damage had already been done. There's some nerve damage anywhere I'm scarred, so I have to be careful if I get into scraps, because I could be bleeding from there and not notice it. I also get phantom itches all the time, but I've mostly gotten the compulsive need to scratch under control at this point. Some people, a lot of people actually, have trouble seeing past the damage." Andy's other hand moved to brush along the underside of her chin, touching some of the scarred flesh for the first time, forcing her to look back up and at him. "There's where they're going wrong," he said. "You don't look past the damage. You learn to see that the damage is part of what you're seeing, and integrate that into the whole. Everyone's damaged, Lexi. Everyone. Some people, they just have an easier time hiding the scars. But you are a beautiful, sharp witted woman, and anyone who gets fixated on the scars is looking at the wrong thi " He didn't get a chance to finish his sentenced, because she leaned up and kissed him, shutting him up, her hand holding onto the back of his head. The kiss took him but surprise, but it wasn't unwelcome. Still, he let her set the tempo and intensity of it, their tongues remaining in their mouths, and the kiss only lasted a few seconds before she pulled back, lifting her free hand up to wipe a tear from her eye. "That's, that's very sweet of you to say, sir. It's been a long time since anyone's looked at me with something other than sympathy." "I can tell you've never read any of my books," he said with a soft laugh, She blushed a little, frowning. "I'm sorry sir, I haven't,” "Don't worry about it," he said, waving a hand. "The reason I said that is because the main subtext of my books is that everyone has damage, and how they manage that damage is the important part, not the damage itself." She laughed a little bit dismissively. "You've got two world renowned actresses and an Olympic hopeful athlete here. I somehow doubt they've got all that much damage to them." "Well, Piper was imprisoned by Covington and left in a sexual frenzy locked in a room without clothes or a toilet for days, so maybe don't go implying around her that she does have any idea what damage looks like." The laughing died immediately. "Oh my god, that's horrible. I didn't even realize " "As for Sarah and Emily, someone attempted to rape Sarah about six years ago, and while she got lucky and someone interrupted it, the person responsible was a studio mogul and still hasn't been really punished for it. Emily, on the other hand, has had stalkers for years, and had her home broken into a couple of times, once when she was even in it. She told me once the interview airs in a few days, announcing that she and Sarah are partners, but also that they're going to marry me, that we may get some hate mail and death threats, although she says they're generally just people venting. But I suppose you can add that to your list of possible threats against my life." She nodded somberly. "I expected that, although I did not know about Miss Washington's near rape, obviously. Powerful men are such bastards." She chuckled a moment. "Present company excluded, clearly." "Oh, I've probably been a bastard a couple of times in my life, of that I have no doubt." They started walking along the fence line, so that Lexi could see the outskirts of the property. "But I draw the line at assaulting innocent women." "But assaulting non innocent women's cool then?" she said with a slight smile. "Look, if a woman's coming at me with a weapon in hand, all bets are off," he chuckled. "And I think that's fair, don't you?" "Absolutely fair, sir." They walked along the fence for a minute or so in silence. "Now that we've sized each other up a little, do you still think I'll be a good fit here, Mr. Rook?" "Oh, I knew you'd fit in here after our first conversation, Lexi, but that's not what's important right now. What's important is if you want to be here, and if you can stomach having to be sexually involved with me on the regular." That made her giggle, a sound he was particularly pleased to draw from her. "You make it sound like you're some oafish brute with a face not even a mother could love." He smirked. "I have no illusions about who I am, Lexi. I'm losing my hair. I have a bit of a belly. Hell, I've got hair on my back. On the best of days, after a good amount of prep work, I am a six, at best, and certainly not deserving of all the beautiful women I'm surrounded with. But I'm alive, and most of the men who were nines and tens aren't any more, so women are reevaluating their standards, I guess, and I'm the beneficiary of the new sliding scale. Is that fair? Oh fuck no, but that's where we find ourselves. But the social game is radically different than it was a year ago. No matter what you may think of yourself, I can assure you that you are well out of my league. But you have friends here, in that you know Jenny and Katie, and they'd both love to have you around the house. I know Jenny's worried about you, and all the girls are worried about my safety, so this seems like an easy two birds with one stone solution to me. But if you look at me and think 'God, I just can't see myself fucking this dude every week or so,' then I get that, and I'm not gonna be angry." She smirked a little bit. "I can see myself fucking you every week or so. I just don't know that I can see you wanted to fuck my scarred ass every week or so." "The scars go down to your ass?" he said with a grin. "That's even sexier." That set her off giggling again. "No, they don't extend down to my ass, you jerk," she said, still smiling. "But you know what I mean." "No," he said, shaking his head. "I really don't know what you mean. The scars are beautiful, they're a part of the beautiful woman that you are. Anyone who's been put off by that is a fucking idiot, and isn't worth your time." "And my past isn't a dealbreaker?" He arched an eyebrow at her in surprise. "You're kidding, right? I didn't want to say anything, but when Jenny showed me that photo of you holding an AK 47 in the jungle, looking like an utter badass, I got an immediate hard on. How the fuck would that be a dealbreaker?" "Some people think hooking up with an ex spy is risky." "I accept you, Lexi," he said. "I'll keep repeating that as long as it takes. The decision's really yours to make." They were nearly back at the house again, approaching the small pool house first. "It okay if I build a small gun range out here?" "I mean, as long as you set it up so there's minimal risk to us or the neighbors, although I guess if you point it that way," he said, gesturing off in one direction, "there really isn't any risk, as any missed shots will just go into the hillside." "And you know I'm going to have guns in the house?" "I sort of expected that, what with the whole body and guarding aspects of what you're going to be doing. I just ask that you make sure they're stowed safely, either on your person or in a case. My cats are assholes, but they won't open cases. That's all I'm really worried about." "Well, and babies, eventually," she said to him. "Oh you heard?" She nodded. "Niko mentioned it yesterday, which was why she was grilling me so hard for my professional qualifications. She's remarkably competent for someone so young." Andy returned the nod. "It's easy to forget she's barely old enough to drink, considering how much she runs around here. I think you'll learn that between her, Ash and Em, I really don't get to make all that many decisions in the house," he laughed. "Not that I'm complaining." "And any specific sexual kinks I can't practice on you?" He grinned. "No poop, no pee, and my ass is exit only." "Then is it fair of me to say mine is as well?" "Absolutely fair." "And you're gonna be okay fucking in a bed with a gun on the nightstand?" "Are you kidding?" he chuckled. "That might make it hotter. Anyway, this is the pool house, which is going to get converted into Tala's bedroom and work space. You haven't met her yet, but she's both a wood worker and a musician, so giving her her own area where she can hammer away on oak, metal, guitar or drums whenever she wants to seemed to make sense." "She won't be sleeping in the master bedroom regularly?" "Regularly, yes. Often, no. I expect her to be the main bedroom like once a week or so, but there won't be any kind of rigid schedule for that kind of thing. Jenny said you're the kind of person who likes to have schedules and follow them, but with this many people in the family, there's got to be some room for give. That going to be a problem?" "Nah," she said. "Who you fuck when isn't any of my concern, as long as I'm getting my regular fix within my timeframe." "So you're going to stay then?" "I think we both knew I was going to before I got here, but yeah, I feel comfortable saying I'm in now that I've had a chance to size you up a little more. I've heard about most of the girls here either from Jenny or from when I was talking with Niko yesterday, and while there may be the occasional personality clash here and there, I don't think it'll be anything we can't work out together." "And I'm not too ugly for you?" he teased. "Look," she sighed with a hint of exasperation. "If I'm not allowed to be bothered by my scars, then you can't call yourself ugly, deal? You're a handsome man, and I won't have you demeaning the man I'm going to be fucking on the reg, got it?" "Yes ma'am." The tour of the house gave them a little bit more time to discuss the general routines people were in within the house, what times and days people were coming and going, and when people woke up and went to sleep. She seemed especially amused by the Needs board, tracking the last time each of the girls in the house had gotten their fix, and the point when they were going to start being mentally affected by not hooking up. "You've got a few here you're gonna need to tend to soon," she said, tapping the schedule. "Yeah, the last few days have been pretty busy, but I'll make sure I take care of them in the next couple of days. And we'll have to add your name up here on the board, assuming you're joining the household." "Didn't I say I was going to?" "I mean, not explicitly, no." He shrugged slightly. "You've been strongly hinting that you're going to, but you need to say it to finalize it." She was quiet for a bit, as they walked away from the board, heading towards the stairs. "Fine. Fine then. I'm in. I'll join this weird household you have and become part of your family, as well as taking on the job of your personal protection. Just don't ever ask me to be a play partner with any of your girls, or invite any of them into my bed." He raised his hands as they walked up the stairs, heading into the hallway that lead down towards some of the individual bedrooms, finding Jenny and Katie standing down in front of one of the doors down near the end. "Are you gonna do it?" Jenny said, stepping forward to take Lexi's hands in her own. "Yeah, I am," she said. "It seems like you're right. He seems like a good guy, and finding those in this world's new layout is going to be a bitch in the best of circumstances. And if you say he's a good fuck, I have no reason not to trust you, Jen. Plus, the idea of having lots of people around, of having friends around, that sounds pretty fucking great to me. So what's next then?" She turned to look back at Andy. "You want to do it now or later?" "I mean, that's entirely up to you," Andy said. "You can wait up to a couple of days if you want to, or we " "I wanna fuck right now, if that's okay," she said, interrupting him, blushing a little bit. "Not to be pushy or anything, but I haven't gotten laid in a couple of years, and even before the treatment, I was fidgeting more than a whore in Sunday School. So if it's alright with you, maybe we can go and do that right now?" Jenny leaned back and pushed the door open behind her, as Katie gestured to the open room. "This'll be your bedroom, Lex," Katie said. "It has its own attached bathroom, like most of the bedrooms do. You can decorate all of it however you want to, but Jen had one little touch that she wanted to throw up to make you feel more at home." Lexi stepped into the bedroom and then began howling with laughter, reaching behind her to slap several times at Jenny's arms playfully. "You! Utter! Bitch! Oh my fucking god! Where did you fucking find it?" Andy moved closer to peek his head inside of the room and noticed that on one wall was a large poster of a shirtless Enrique Iglacias on the wall, like something from Teen Beat magazine back in the day. The image had to be at least ten or fifteen years old, and Andy suspected he had wandered into a private joke between the two women. "I had to buy it off the internet, but when I talked to Andy about bringing you here, I ordered it so that if you came, you could have it up on your wall, just like you did in your bedroom at our old apartment." "I can't tell if I want to rip it down immediately or leave it up forever!" "Well if you take it down, don't rip it up," Jenny teased, giving her friend a big hug, one that Katie joined in on. "Good to have ya here, Lex," Katie said. "Now we'll leave you two to it." The two women excused themselves and headed back down the hallway, as Lexi stepped into her bedroom, Andy stepping in behind her, closing the door behind them. Lexi was glancing around the room, but still slid out of her leather jacket, tossing it on top of a dresser in the room. Beneath the jacket had been concealed a shoulder holster with a firearm in it, that she slowly slid off, placing next to her jacket on the dresser. "I have some serious decorating to do in here, but I can make it work."
I love talking! Ask any of my elementary school teachers, and they will all tell you, "Debbie spends too much time talking and not enough time studying." That's why I was thrilled when the Functional Moms Podcast reached out to interview me on their show. I love an opportunity to talk about why I think I got cancer and what changes I've made in my daily life to lower my risk of all types of illness. I will also tell you that change can be OVERWHELMING. That's why I started with small changes to develop new habits. Adding more fiber to my daily routine is one of my favorite new ways to improve my health. I often add chia seeds to my cottage cheese or on top of a salad, and I always have washed apples in my fridge and handbag. Another BIG CHANGE that I made after cancer was to sit down and ENJOY MY FOOD. I've spent most of my life rushing through meals (and many other things), and what I've learned is that eating and truly staying focused on the meal (no screens!) allows my body to digest it properly. When your digestion is strong, your body absorbs and assimilates more nutrients from the food! ______ Vitali Stin Care Have you heard about copper peptides? I hadn't either until I listened to today's guest talk about them on her podcast. She interviewed the founder of Vitali Regenerative Skin Care, Debbi Barber. I was so intrigued with their discussion about copper peptides and how they can soften scars, regenerate skin, and even help crepey skin look better. It's not often that I stop what I'm doing, read research, and order the products, but that's precisely what I did! And then I emailed Vitali Skin Care and asked for a coupon for my community. In hindsight, I should have asked for the coupon for my order, but nonetheless, you get 20% off your order! I'm trying body creme and skin serum. I will keep you posted on my results! https://www.vitaliskincare.com/discount/cancerwarrior?ref=cbkmpsij ______ Martinelli Apple Cider Here's the link to my favorite non-alcohol cocktail: https://www.martinellis.com/recipes/martinellis-mule/ ______ Connect with Functional Moms Instagram: https://instagram.com/functionalmomspodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/functionalmomspodcast X: https://x.com/functionalmoms ______ Connect with Deborah Deborah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whydidigetcancer/ Deborah on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DebsHealthCoachKitchen Deborah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ydidigetcancer Deborah on Pinterest: https://in.pinterest.com/whydidigetcancer/ Join Deb's weekly newsletter! -https://whydidigetcancer.us14.list-manage.com/subscribeu=1c37affeccf004c8957941069&id=a8572db3c2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Little by Little Homeschool - Homeschooling, Motherhood, Homemaking, Education, Family
DESIGN YOUR FAMILY'S UNIQUE HOMESCHOOL THAT YOU'LL LOVE! https://littlebylittlehomeschool.com/blueprint There are so many demands during the homeschooling years and moms can quickly spiral into feeling overwhelmed. Today's guest, Whitney Newby, of Brighter Day Press is sharing her journey and practical tips so you can use these years to grow in your faith and walk with God. She knows what it feels like to be in the trenches and found that turning towards Scripture and Truth gave her the peace she needed. Whitney will also be speaking at Little by Little Homeschool Conference this year and we'd love to see you there too! ♥ Leigh Whitney's website: https://brighterdaypress.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brighterdaypress/ Lift Your Eyes: https://rstyle.me/+LFZqihhCVBYH5Fc-w5bSig JOIN WHITNEY AT LITTLE BY LITTLE HOMESCHOOL CONFERENCE: https://littlebylittlehomeschool.com/conference CREATE YOUR HOMESCHOOL FAMILY'S HOME TASK SYSTEM https://www.littlebylittlehomeschool.com/tidyhome GET EXCLUSIVE MENTORSHIP WITH LEIGH https://littlebylittlehomeschool.com/mentorship SIMPLIFY YOUR MEAL PLANNING https://littlebylittlehomeschool.com/meal ASK YOUR QUESTION TO BE ANSWERED ON THE PODCAST: https://bit.ly/homeschoolquestion Website - https://www.littlebylittlehomeschool.com Newsletter - https://littlebylittlehomeschool.subscribemenow.com/ Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/homeschoollifestylecommunity Follow - https://www.instagram.com/littlebylittlehomeschool/ Connect - info@littlebylittlehomeschool.com Listen to these related episodes: 192. Get the Balance You Want in Your Motherhood, Marriage, and Homeschool: Is It Possible to Be Content? 222. Needing Balance In Your Life? Master These 2 Times In Your Day As A Homeschool Mom 366. 4 "Controversial" Things We Did In Our Parenting
What if the key to better decoding, spelling, and vocabulary was hidden in the very structure of words? In this episode, we're diving deep into how morphology can transform literacy instruction—starting as early as PreK. Our guest, Sarah from Snippets by Sarah, shares how she helps students understand meaningful word parts and why it's never too early to start.In this episode, we'll talk about:How to teach morphology in PreK–3rd grade classrooms.Why even young students are ready for prefixes, suffixes, and bases.Easy ways to introduce morphemes through word sums and read-alouds.The difference between roots, bases, and affixes (and how to explain them to kids).How morphology builds a foundation for stronger decoding and spelling skills.Show LinksSarah Paul- Website / InstagramShine Learning ServicesJoin Malia on Instagram.Become a Science of Reading Formula member!Rate, Review, and FollowIf you loved this episode, please take a minute to rate and review my show! That helps the podcast world know that this show is worth sharing with other educators just like you.Scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review". Then let me know what you loved most about the episode!While you're there, be sure to follow the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and I don't want you to miss out! Follow right here.
Richard A. Mansfield Restart Series, Part 9
Richard A. MansfieldRestart Series. Part 9
Where do you go when life seems overwhelming? We often run to something that would give us comfort, but that is not what God wants us to do. He wants us to rest in His comfort.
Today's episode of Heal Here is all about tuning out the noise and tuning in to your power. If you've been feeling off lately - scattered, drained, or caught in the chaos of the collective - you're going to want to listen in. We're diving into channeled messages from the Akashic Records about manifestation, boundaries, and how to protect your energy in times that feel overwhelming. There's also guidance around activism, social media, and what it means to stay grounded without being pulled into the chaos around you. In this episode: Spiritual karaoke – soul-aligned manifestations finally coming to fruition How the current energies might be wiping you out AND supercharging your manifestations The difference between spiritual bypassing and self-preservation Performative activism vs true energetic alignment Peace is always present, but you must find it first Why trying to “fix the world” while ignoring your own inner peace can drain your energy One person's healing and embodiment creates space for collective change How collective distractions (news, drama, social media, and yes, even my beloved Caitlin Clark & Love Island…) pull us away from our intuitive clarity A reminder that you don't need to protest or pick sides to be impactful Guidance for navigating chaos without feeding the division or getting pulled into fear-based loops Grounding, diet, and movement as energetic game-changers Trusting your inner magician and remembering that the answers are already within Reclaiming your energy and staying aware of hidden agendas My 1:1 Akashic Healing Journey is my closest proximity container - a 3-month experience where we combine Akashic Records guidance with Reiki energy healing to support your soul on every level. You'll receive personalized sessions, Telegram support, and channeled messages to help you heal, remember who you are, and align with your highest path. Limited spots available. Meet Your High Frequency Ancestors Healing Ceremony $22 USD Submit a question to be answered on the podcast Free Solar Flare Support Healing Experience Co-creating Your Highest 2025 Timeline (free healing event replay) Free Empowered by the River of Peace Experience Replay Karuna Master, ICRT Animal Reiki Level I & II Training dates releasing soon - be sure you sign up for my newsletter to stay in the know:) Sign up for my newsletter to stay informed on all classes, trainings, and healing experiences FREE "Meet Your Inner Child" Reiki Meditation 10% OFF All Workout Witch Programs for somatic healing with code ORACLELIGHTWORKER at checkout Get a free sample pack of LMNT with your order Connect with me: me 1:1 for a personal healing session & guidance (Akashic Reiki Sessions) Book Here Instagram: @oraclelightworker Email: oraclelightworkerhealing@gmail.com Website: www.oraclelightworker.podia.com
Tommy and Desnekka Taylor are the esteemed founders of an internationally acclaimed online marriage coaching practice and the visionary creators behind the premier marriage program, Marriage 2.0 Their journey has been one of profound transformation and resilience, navigating the most tumultuous of marital challenges with unwavering courage—surpassing the trials that many could endure in a lifetime. Their relationship endured immense hardship, manifesting in an array of obstacles: - Numerous instances of infidelity, both physical and emotional - Various addictions - The complexities of physical, mental, and verbal abuse - The intricacies of rebuilding trust - Challenges in effective communication - Financial discord - Intimacy barriers - Crisis in identity - Overwhelming anxiety - Depression - The depths of suicidal contemplations - A multitude of emotional triggers Through relentless dedication and growth, Tommy and Desnekka have emerged as the top experts in the field of marriage enrichment, inspiring countless couples to rediscover the beauty and strength within their own relationships. They went on to build a global marriage coaching empire helping inspire to empower couples and individuals to save their marriages when everyone else told them to end it. They have given thousands hope and their program marriage 2.0 has impacted hundreds of people around the world. God called them to use their testimony and knowledge to help other couples save their marriages, create generational change, but most importantly build an army for God's kingdom. This is their passion and mission to change the world forever! They committed an impressive investment of $150,000 into exploring every available avenue to resolve the challenges. Out of this endeavor, they crafted a distinguished global marriage coaching empire, dedicated to inspiring and empowering couples and individuals to save their relationships, even when conventional methods suggested giving up. Their transformative program, Marriage 2.0, has touched countless lives, offering hope to thousands and leaving a lasting impact on hundreds of families across the globe. As high school sweethearts with 20 years together and 18 of those in marriage, their journey is a testament to enduring love and commitment. Answering a divine calling, they have dedicated their knowledge and personal testimony to guide other couples towards saving their marriages, fostering generational change, and most profoundly, building a devoted community for God's kingdom. This is not just their passion; it is their mission & calling to leave an indelible mark on the world for god. And for all our fans out there! If you've gotten any value from this podcast, don't forget to go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianmarriagecoaching to get over 30 Plus Hours Of Free Marriage Training Content! We're giving away bonus training and programs if you join the facebook group. Don't forget… We only spread our message when you share this knowledge with others that need it, so if you enjoy this episode, please share it on your social and tag @tommyanddesnekka, and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and give us a 5-star rating, so you don't miss any other great episodes. ONE STOP LINK TO CONNECT WITH Tommy and Desnekka: https://linktr.ee/tommyanddesnekka To book a free 15 min Marriage Clarity Call to see if we can help and it's a good fit, go to: https://calendly.com/d/dk5-dz5-ssv/marriage-clarity-call Trevor Lee is the artist who designed the intro and outro. Labeled as a leader in Houston music by Ky Meyer of Muzik Houston https://www.trevorleemusic.com/ Tommy and Desnekka Taylor are the founders of Purpose Driven Coaching, a global online marriage coaching practice, creators of the number one marriage program - Marriage 2.0 After they went through everything there was to go through quadruple times over in their marriage they went on to build a global marriage coaching empire helping inspire and empower couples and individuals to save their marriages when everyone else told them to end it. They have been featured on top level podcasts and shows and their training's impact thousands of people around the world. You don't want to miss this episode! And for all our fans out there! If you've gotten any value from this podcast, don't forget to go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianmarriagecoaching to get over 30 Plus Hours Of Free Marriage Training Content! We're giving away bonus training and programs if you join the facebook group. Don't forget… We only spread our message when you share this knowledge with others that need it, so if you enjoy this episode, please share it on your social and tag @tommyanddesnekka, and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and give us a 5-star rating, so you don't miss any other great episodes. ONE STOP LINK TO CONNECT WITH Tommy and Desnekka: https://linktr.ee/tommyanddesnekka To book a free 15 min Marriage Clarity Call to see if we can help and it's a good fit, go to: https://calendly.com/d/dk5-dz5-ssv/marriage-clarity-call Trevor Lee is the artist who designed the intro and outro. Labeled as a leader in Houston music by Ky Meyer of Muzik Houston https://www.trevorleemusic.com/
Yesterday's exclusive set a record for email's following the Henry Ruggs discussion. With that, Hondo Carpenter addresses the overwhelming response. Join #LasVegasRaiders Beat Writer @HondoCarpenter for Thursday's Ridin' w/the Carpenters on the @FansFirstSN. #Raiders #RaidersNation #NFL Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jack Friks (@jackfriks) is the founder of PostBridge, a social media scheduling tool that grew from his own frustration with spending hours posting across platforms to a $18k/month business. We explore the evolution of social media toward authenticity, the challenges of building lean products as a solopreneur, and how to navigate the noise while maintaining a genuine human connection in an AI-driven world.The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/jack-friks-building-tools-that-empower-without-overwhelming/ The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/396-jack-friks-building-tools-that-empower-without-overwhelmingCheck out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fmSend me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvidYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comHere are a few tools I use. Using my affiliate links will support my work at no additional cost to you.- Notion (which I use to organize, write, coordinate, and archive my podcast + newsletter): https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx- Riverside.fm (that's what I recorded this episode with): https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid- TweetHunter (for speedy scheduling and writing Tweets): http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid- HypeFury (for massive Twitter analytics and scheduling): https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60- AudioPen (for taking voice notes and getting amazing summaries): https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ- Descript (for word-based video editing, subtitles, and clips): https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q- ConvertKit (for email lists, newsletters, even finding sponsors): https://convertkit.com?lmref=bN9CZw
The bipartisan ruling class is repeating the same War on Terror script in order to sell war with Iran to the American public. Glenn Greenwald dissects the dangerous propaganda and lies. -------------------------- Watch full episodes on Rumble, streamed LIVE 7pm ET. Become part of our Locals community Follow System Update: Twitter Instagram TikTok Facebook LinkedIn
Why are there so many denominations? How did they get started? Why does the apostle John tell us to not love the world if God loves the world? I feel overwhelming guilt for my past, and I don't know what to do. I've tried everything! Are some sections of the Bible not of any benefit to us today?
HR leaders are feeling the squeeze. With limited resources and growing pressure to improve engagement, performance, and retention, many are tasked with building manager support systems from scratch, often without the time or tools to do it effectively. In this episode, Morgan Webb, Senior Strategic Advisor at 15Five, and Yen Tan, Evangelist, Expansion & Manager Products at 15Five, share how HR can take a more focused and sustainable approach to manager enablement. They discuss why blanket training programs rarely work, how to use data to identify where support is needed most, and why piloting and iterating can drive better results than aiming for perfection. This conversation guides HR teams ready to stop doing it all and start doing what works. Join us as we discuss: (00:00) Meet HR Superstars: Yen Tan & Morgan Webb (03:24) Yen Tan on management journey and challenges (04:43) Morgan Webb shares leadership lessons (06:55) The current state of HR and why HR owns manager enablement (10:04) Managers are the bridge between HR goals and culture (16:26) The danger of generic training and what to do instead (18:18) The 70-20-10 model and learning styles (20:01) Piloting and adapting learning based on feedback (28:01) Overcoming skepticism and finding champions (31:41) Measuring the effectiveness of manager enablement (35:12) Continuous measurement for engagement and health (37:07) Using manager meetings and existing rhythms for reinforcement Resources: For the entire interview, subscribe to HR Superstars on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube, or tune in on our website. Original podcast track produced by Entheo. Listening on a desktop & can't see the links? Just search for HR Superstars in your favorite podcast player. Hear Karina's thoughts on elevating your HR career by following her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinayoung11/ Download 15Five's Manager Enablement Playbook: https://www.15five.com/content/15fives-manager-enablement-playbook-for-hr-leaders/?utm_source=&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Podcast For more on maximizing employee performance, engagement, and retention, click here: here:https://www.15five.com/demo?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Q2-Podcast-Ads&utm_content=Schedule-a-demo
Phewwwww connecting with spirit at first can feel crazy. This is because we are not used to the energy, which this amount of energy & unfamiliarity with energy can feel overwhelming. I talk about how it's overwhelming & how you can begin connecting in a way that's grounding, healing & deeply supportive!I discuss...what spirit energy iswhat spirit energy feels likewhy it's overwhelming but safeimportance of groundingget in touch with your bodyethical practicesWatch this episode on Youtube HERETo receive support from me...BOOK A 1:1 SERVICE HEREFOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAMREAD MY SUBSTACK
When parenting a child with ADHD or anxiety, the emotional rollercoaster can feel unrelenting and the mom guilt? Overwhelming! In this episode, I'm joined by Dana Baker, ADHD and anxiety parenting coach, speaker, and mom who's lived this journey firsthand. Dana opens up about her own parenting story, how she learned to trust her instincts, and what finally helped her advocate for her daughter in a world that said, “She's fine.” We talk about how to recognize your child's triggers, why adjusting expectations is essential, and how validation, not perfection, is key to connection. Dana shares actionable tools for handling emotional outbursts, increasing resilience, and building emotional awareness without losing yourself in the process. Whether your child has a diagnosis or you just feel like you're constantly walking on eggshells, this episode will help you feel seen, supported, and better equipped to parent with clarity and compassion. To find out more about Ivy, check out her links: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Website The C.A.L.M. Family PlannerSchedule a Free Coaching Call Now!Essential Minute | Thinker
Welcome back to the show! In this episode, Steve discusses the dangers of jumping into investing opportunities before obtaining "Sophisticated Investor" status. If you haven't been told yet, investing in anything comes with many inherent risks. But how do whole groups of people get into investment deals and make money without having to work much at all? The answer is simple: those groups of people all fall under one umbrella term: sophisticated investors. Still confused? Hit that play button and let Steve help. Please remember that Steve is always available to talk to his listeners, which means you! Just send your questions, comments, and concerns over to AskSteve@TotalWealthAcademy.com today!
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Sign Up to Underdog Fantasy Using Promo Code 'ANIMALHOUSE' for 100% Match Deposit Up to $100(0:00 - 14:00) NBA finals recap; Pacers rally late again and take shocking Game 1, but get romped in Game 2, is OKC just too much to handle?; (14:00 - 16:00) Stanley Cup Finals had a shocking Game 3 blowout after back-to-back overtime games; (17:00 - 26:00) MLB roundup; Red Sox call up Roman Anthony; Phillies sliding; Soto heating up, as predicted; (27:00 - 34:00) Court rules that colleges can begin paying student athletes directly, what does this mean for NIL and the future? (35:00 - End) 'From the World of John Wick: Ballerina' ReviewTwitter: @_JohnGrimaldi @AnimalHouse_USAInstagram: @frommypointofviewpodTikTok: @frommypointofviewpodOutro: Chasing California - Oh, Weatherly
Manage Overwhelming Emotions and break free from the cycle of intrusive thoughts. Negative self-talk—like “I'm not good enough” or “I can't handle this”—can feel relentless, but you don't have to stay stuck. In the audiobook "Who Am I Without You?: Fifty-Two Ways to Rebuild Self-Esteem After a Breakup," Dr. Christina Hibbert introduces the Thought Record, a simple yet powerful tool for recognizing harmful thought patterns, separating emotions from thoughts, and challenging self-doubt. This audiobook excerpt explores how shifting your perspective can help you regain confidence, develop healthier thinking habits, and manage overwhelming emotions with greater ease. The post Manage Overwhelming Emotions appeared first on Your Great Journey.
As we wrap up our look at Moses' calling at the burning bush, we see that he lacks faith and tries to turn God down. This week we will see how a patient, loving God overwhelms Moses with his grace and empowers him to fulfill his calling. Come learn how we too can experience God's grace and live confidently in his strength.
Marvel at Jesus. Keep studying your Bible. Think deeply. Ask questions. Be okay with mystery. And then marvel at Jesus some more.
Marvel at Jesus. Keep studying your Bible. Think deeply. Ask questions. Be okay with mystery. And then marvel at Jesus some more.
Can Giving Feedback Really Feel as Hard as Receiving It? If you're a highly sensitive person (HSP), you already know how painful criticism can feel—but what if giving it feels just as overwhelming? You're not alone. This episode dives deep into the emotional landscape of offering honest feedback without guilt, stress, or self-doubt. Why This Matters to You As an HSP, you might avoid giving feedback because you fear hurting others, damaging relationships, or reliving your own painful experiences with criticism. But holding back can lead to disconnection and missed opportunities for real, heartfelt communication. This episode helps you break that cycle with compassion and clarity. What You'll Walk Away With A powerful understanding of why giving criticism feels emotionally loaded for HSPs. Insight into how your personal history with feedback shapes your present-day reactions. A gentle, practical inner work process to help you express truth with kindness—without compromising your peace. Listen Now and Learn How to Give Feedback That Heals, Not Hurts Tap into your natural sensitivity and transform it into a strength—press play and learn how to offer honest feedback with confidence and care. Todd Smith, founder of True Inner Freedom Dreaming of a stress-free, balanced life? Visit trueinnerfreedom.com and complete the HSP Stress Survey. Gain clarity on your stress triggers and enjoy a free 15-minute Inner Freedom Call designed to guide you toward lasting inner peace and fulfillment. Are you a highly sensitive person (HSP) or someone who identifies as hypersensitive or neurodivergent? This podcast is dedicated to helping highly sensitive people (HSPs) navigate overwhelm and stress by using The Work of Byron Katie—a powerful method for questioning stressful thoughts and finding true inner freedom. We dive deep into stress management strategies, coping with stress, and stress relief methods specifically tailored for HSPs. Learn how to manage emotions, especially negative ones, and explore effective stress reduction techniques that go beyond the surface to address the root causes of anxiety and pressure. Whether you're interested in learning how to lower stress, handle stress and pressure, or reduce stress through practical techniques, we provide insights and support based on The Work of Byron Katie. Discover how this transformative approach can help you decrease stress, find inner peace, and create balance in your life. Join us to learn about various coping strategies for stress, all designed to support HSPs in their journey toward emotional well-being.
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In this deeply honest episode, James sits down with commercial and fashion photographer John S. Miller, whose work has appeared in publications like 303 Magazine and Mile High Sports. From leading worship for nearly two decades to launching his own creative business, John opens up about his transition, his faith, and how being a father to a daughter with special needs transformed his entire outlook on work and life.A creative entrepreneur, and former worship pastor who's built a career and life around service, humility, and family. More than tactics or tools, this episode is about the deeper things we rarely talk about in business — identity, ego, burnout, faith, and showing up fully for the people who matter most.Whether you're running a $500K cleaning company or managing a team of 200, this is your reminder to build something that works for your life, not the other way around.
Hey Sis! There are times when emotional pain becomes overwhelming and you need a quick way to release it. Today I'm sharing a specific tip that will help you gather yourself emotionally, and release that negative energy. Let's jump into it. Resources and Services Grieving The Living Ecourse (Use the coupon code PODCAST20 at checkout for a 20% discount) My YouVersion Bible Plans Goodbye Heartbreak Hello Purpose, 365-Day Devotional (Use coupon code PODCAST10 at checkout for a 10% discount) 60-minute Heartbreak Coaching Session Get featured on the podcast. Leave me a voice message. My TeePublic Merch (Tee shirts, mugs, toes, pillow, and so much more) Get a FREE Hello Fresh box on me Free prayer: A Prayer To Move On After A Broken Heart Facebook group: The Healing Heartbreak Community Instagram: @goodbyeheartbreakhellopurpose Let me know what topics you want me to discuss or questions you want me to answer on the podcast. Send me a message here! ***Check out these episodes that are related to this one Ep. 026 Minisode: Expose The Pain Ep. 089 6 Healthy Ways To Release Negative Emotions (IMMEDIATELY) Ep. 213 Feeling Intense Pain After a Breakup? Here's Why and What To Do Next Sis, are you enjoying the content from the show and want to support? Here's 2 easy things you can do: 1. Make sure you are subscribed to the podcast wherever you listen and 2. Leave a 5-star written review on Apple Podcast (grab your friend's phone for a second if you're not an Apple user lol). Know that I really appreciate you!
Over the past two decades, Bret Taylor has quietly helped shape the arc of Silicon Valley.From co-creating Google Maps to steering Facebook, Salesforce, and OpenAI, he's been behind some of the most consequential products in tech. Now, with his new company Sierra, he's starting from zero—again.In this conversation, Bret opens up about how founders navigate identity, why the best ideas often come from everyday friction, and how staying relentlessly focused can unlock real momentum in AI.Guest: Bret Taylor, Co-Founder of SierraChapters:00:00 Trailer00:49 Introduction01:57 Saving OpenAI09:15 Overwhelming yet capable of a lot13:36 Father and founder16:49 History is written by the victors22:13 How you price matters35:58 Stickiest piece of software49:48 The first realtime social network55:34 Facebook CTO who rewrote Google Maps1:02:10 Least known, most impressive1:11:39 The best way to predict the future1:16:22 Most personally passionate1:21:22 Currency of reputation1:27:17 Away from work1:28:35 Who Sierra is hiring1:28:58 What “grit” means to Bret1:29:18 OutroMentioned in this episode: Google Maps, Salesforce, OpenAI ChatGPT, Meta Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Google, Marissa Mayer, Excite, MSN, AltaVista, Amazon, Harvey, Airbnb, Coinbase, Apple, John Doerr, Cursor, Codeium Windsurf, Perplexity, xAI, Kleenex, Amazon Web Services (AWS), FriendFeed, Tumblr, Kevin Gibbs, Google Maps, Yelp, Trulia, iOS App Store, Blackberry, Facebook Messenger, Marvel Avengers, Slack, Quip, Leonardo da Vinci, Clay Bavor, Microsoft, Eric Schmidt, Alan Kay, Brian Armstrong, Brian Chesky, Shopify, SiriusXM, Patrick CollisonLinks:Connect with Bret TaylorXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins
On the first day of Karen Read's defense presentation, Read's defense lawyer Alan Jackson asked the court to drop the charges against her, Hank Brennan summed up the evidence against Karen Read in less than ten minutes. In this episode, we examine what can be looked at as a preview of Brennan's closing argument. Also, we return to DiSorga's cross-examination. Will the jurors take his power point presentation to heart?Get access to exclusive content & support the podcast by becoming a Patron today! https://patreon.com/robertaglasstruecrimereportThrow a tip in the tip jar! https://buymeacoffee.com/robertaglassSupport Roberta by sending a donation via Venmo. https://venmo.com/robertaglassBecome a channnel member for custom Emojis, first looks and exclusive streams here: https://youtube.com/@robertaglass/joinThank you Patrons!l Karen Pacini, Jen Buell, Marie Horton, ER, Rosie Grace, B. Rabbit, Sally Merrick, Amanda D, Mary B, Mrs Jones, Amy Gill, Eileen, Wesley Loves Octoberfest, Erin (Kitties1993), Anna Quint, Cici Guteriez, Sandra Loves GatsbyHannna, Christy, Jen Buell, Elle Solari, Carol Cardella, Jennifer Harmon, DoxieMama65, Carol Holderman, Joan Mahon, Marcie Denton, Rosanne Aponte, Johnny Jay, Jude Barnes, JenTheRN, Victoria Devenish, Jeri Falk, Kimberly Lovelace, Penni Miller, Jil, Janet Gardner, Jayne Wallace (JaynesWhirled), Pat Brooks, Jennifer Klearman, Judy Brown, Linda Lazzaro, Suzanne Kniffin, Susan Hicks, Jeff Meadors, D Samlam, Pat Brooks, Cythnia, Bonnie Schoeneman-Dilley, Diane Larsen, Mary, Kimberly Philipson, Cat Stewart, Cindy Pochesci, Kevin Crecy, Renee Chavez, Melba Pourteau, Julie K Thomas, Mia Wallace, Stark Stuff, Kayce Taylor, Alice, Dean, GiGi5, Jennifer Crum, Dana Natale, Bewildered Beauty, Pepper, Joan Chakonas, Blythe, Pat Dell, Lorraine Reid, T.B., Melissa, Victoria Gray Bross, Toni Woodland, Danbrit, Kenny Haines and Toni Natalie. Get $10 credit towards your next livestream using this affiliate link! Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6616403606241280
Guiding Question: Where is the fear of failure holding you back—and what does real success look like in God's eyes? Summary: Robert Lewis unpacks the paralyzing effect of the fear of failure and how it can quietly dominate and define our lives. He opens with a dramatized workplace scenario and a personal story about the film Jaws to illustrate how fear—especially the fear of failing—can sabotage even our noblest ambitions, opportunities, and God-given callings. Using the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25), Robert shows that the servant who buried his talent did so out of fear. That fear led to lost opportunities, diminished personal growth, and ultimately, loss of what he had. The message is clear: a fear-driven life doesn't stay static—it shrinks. Robert identifies five key sources that stir the fear of failure: Personal pessimism – underestimating God and overestimating our limitations. Exaggerated observations – seeing challenges through the distorting lens of fear. Concern over others' opinions – fearing how we're perceived more than what God desires. Overwhelming obstacles – allowing Goliath-sized fears to bully us into inaction. False definitions of success – confusing worldly approval with spiritual triumph. He counters this by redefining success based on Deuteronomy 30: Loving God Obeying His Word Courageously pursuing His inspired dreams Finally, Robert offers four sources of courage to overcome fear: Knowing God is with us Trusting that God will help us Believing we will succeed in God's terms Asking others to pray for us The message concludes with a call for vulnerability and community prayer, encouraging those burdened by fear to stand and receive support. Key Takeaways: Fear of failure can sabotage God's call on our lives. Real success is defined by faithfulness, not worldly accolades. The risk of obedience leads to growth, joy, and greater spiritual capacity. Courage is inspired through God's presence, strength, and community. Scripture References: Matthew 25:14–30 (Parable of the Talents) Exodus 3:11; 33:12–15 (Moses' calling and fear) Joshua 1–2 (spies and differing perspectives) 1 Samuel 10 & 17 (Saul's fear; Goliath's challenge) Deuteronomy 30:15–20 (true definition of success) Philippians 4:13 (strength through Christ) 2 Corinthians 2:14 (God leads us in triumph) 1 Thessalonians 5:25 (Paul asks for prayer)
Welcome to another Rise Up video! In this Pentecost Novena reflection, Fr. Jonathan Meyer invites you to be honest about the struggles weighing on your heart—and then to entrust them to the Holy Spirit. Drawing from John 16:33 (“In the world you will have trouble; but take courage, I have conquered the world”), Fr. Meyer reminds us that no burden is too heavy for Christ to carry. When you feel overwhelmed, write down your worries, name them before God, and pray, “Come, Holy Spirit!” for the gift of courage and fortitude. Timestamps: 0:00 – Welcome & Introduction to the Pentecost Novena 0:45 – Why Naming Our Troubles Matters 1:30 – Scripture Reflection: John 16:33 2:15 – How to Pray for the Gift of Courage 3:00 – Encouragement & Final Blessing ——————————
New solo episode for you! I'm sharing some the ways I've been supporting myself when life feels a bit overwhelming -- I hope it supports you too! In this episode I also share about a new method I've been diving into - "Rapid Rewire Method." DM me "Rapid Rewire" on IG @ivf.manfesting.a.miracle for the chance to receive some FREE coaching as you're working through a challenge or feeling stuck in some area.Thank you again for being here and celebrating the 5 year birthday of my book, 'HOLD ON, BABY!'Stay connected. I'm cheering you on. CONNECT with Lisa & get IVF COACHING SUPPORTBOOK a complimentary DISCOVERY CALL BOOK: ‘HOLD ON, BABY! A Soulful Guide to Navigating the Ups & Downs of Infertility & IVF.'INSTAGRAMWATCH on YOUTUBELISTEN to the PODCAST on Apple and Spotify:**Please Rate the show & Subscribe! THANK YOU so much for your Reviews of the podcast!Music Credit (Closing Song) by Sam Costigan. Follow her on Spotify and IG
Have you ever felt completely stuck when facing a difficult situation? Like you're drowning in endless possibilities and can't find your way forward? You're not alone. Most of us get trapped in decision paralysis, overthinking every angle until we're more anxious than when we started. In this powerful episode, Duane and Eric Osterlind break down a life-changing framework that can transform how you handle any problematic situation. Based on Marshall Linehan's Dialectical Behavior Therapy work, they reveal that no matter how complex your challenge feels, you actually only have four choices available to you. Download The Worksheet Whether you're struggling with addiction recovery, facing a major life transition, or simply feeling overwhelmed by daily stressors, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to move forward. The hosts share practical examples of how to apply each choice, including how to reframe withdrawal symptoms as signs of healing and how to use acceptance as a tool for reducing suffering rather than avoiding it. You'll discover why "staying miserable" is sometimes the right choice and how recognizing this can actually empower you. More importantly, you'll learn how to break free from the endless cycle of "what-ifs" and take meaningful action in your life. This isn't just theory – it's a practical roadmap that puts you back in the driver's seat of your own life. By the end of this episode, you'll have a simple but powerful tool that can help you navigate any challenge with greater confidence and less overwhelm. Download The Worksheet Supporting Resources: If you live in California, Idaho, Vermont, or Florida and are looking for counseling or therapy, please visit Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center. NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Please leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Have you ever felt completely stuck when facing a difficult situation? Like you're drowning in endless possibilities and can't find your way forward? You're not alone. Most of us get trapped in decision paralysis, overthinking every angle until we're more anxious than when we started. In this powerful episode, Duane and Eric Osterlind break down a life-changing framework that can transform how you handle any problematic situation. Based on Marshall Linehan's Dialectical Behavior Therapy work, they reveal that no matter how complex your challenge feels, you actually only have four choices available to you. Download The Worksheet Whether you're struggling with addiction recovery, facing a major life transition, or simply feeling overwhelmed by daily stressors, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to move forward. The hosts share practical examples of how to apply each choice, including how to reframe withdrawal symptoms as signs of healing and how to use acceptance as a tool for reducing suffering rather than avoiding it. You'll discover why "staying miserable" is sometimes the right choice and how recognizing this can actually empower you. More importantly, you'll learn how to break free from the endless cycle of "what-ifs" and take meaningful action in your life. This isn't just theory – it's a practical roadmap that puts you back in the driver's seat of your own life. By the end of this episode, you'll have a simple but powerful tool that can help you navigate any challenge with greater confidence and less overwhelm. Download The Worksheet Supporting Resources: If you live in California, Idaho, Vermont, or Florida and are looking for counseling or therapy, please visit Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center. NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Please leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Exodus 19Support the show: https://www.oneandall.church/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28 May 2025. That's according to Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei. We ask energy expert Robin Mills where that power will come from and how the grid will cope. Plus, M&A activity is heating up in the UAE. We speak to one of the companies involved in the latest deal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Exodus 19Support the show: https://www.oneandall.church/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Life is already complicated—dinner doesn't have to be. In this refreshingly down-to-earth conversation, Ginny Yurich sits down with Emily Ley, bestselling author, planner designer, and creator of The Simplified Cookbook, to talk about what it really takes to make family life easier. Emily shares her journey from climbing the corporate ladder to launching a wildly successful business that helps women ditch the overwhelm and embrace simplicity—starting with dinner. From “stupid easy” recipes and genius hacks like perpetual grocery lists to the power of deciding once (hello, pizza Fridays!), Emily offers practical tools that make daily life feel lighter and more joyful. But this episode isn't just about food—it's about freeing up time and headspace to focus on what really matters. Emily and Ginny dive into the beauty of assembly meals, why three out of four goals is enough, and how Substack has become a space of encouragement for overwhelmed moms. Whether you're trying to simplify your meal routine, build meaningful family traditions, or just find permission to let go of perfection, this conversation is your breath of fresh air. ** Get your copy of Emily's new cookbook here Learn more about Emily and all she has to offer here A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them ALL out below: Geviti: Visit https://www.gogeviti.com/1000hoursoutside for 20% off your first three months of membership! Active Skin Repair: Visit www.ActiveSkinRepair.com to learn more about Active Skin Repair and their commitment to 1% for the planet and use code: 1000hours to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products Select Quote: Head to www.selectquote.com/1000hours to learn more. Crowd Health: Learn more at www.joincrowdhealth.com and get started today for just $99 per month for your first three months by using code 1000HOURS. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Fay Nutrition: Visit https://tinyurl.com/1KHOFayNutrition to see if you qualify for a dietitian for $0 CRU: Visit https://tinyurl.com/1KHOCru to sign up for a $24 monthly gift, and receive a free copy of Until The Streetlights Come On Reliefband - Get 20% off plus free shipping at https://tinyurl.com/1KHOreliefband Quince - Visit https://tinyurl.com/1KHOQuince and get free shipping and 365 day returns Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You've been taught that emotions are bad.Overwhelming. Irrational.That if you feel, you're too much… or maybe even broken.But what if that's the biggest lie of all, one designed to distract you from the power your feelings actually hold?What if emotion is divine technology...a built-in feedback system designed to help you evolve in real time?In today's episode, we're diving deep into how emotion is your soul's diagnostic system.It pinpoints where your internal code is outdated, distorted, or ready for an upgrade.You'll learn how emotions act as frequency-based feedback loops, how they mirror false programs or soul alignment, and why feeling deeply is the key to recoding your reality. If you've ever thought your emotions made you too much...this will flip everything.This episode will shift the way you relate to emotion.You'll start to see it as the most powerful mechanism in your evolution.One that, when embraced, can transmute pain into power……resistance into remembrance.Welcome to the next phase of your awakening. A full-on reclamation of your emotional body as a divine technology here to help you ascend. Connect with Nikki on Socials: https://www.instagram.com/oathtogrowth/Work with Nikki 1:1 in her Subconscious Awakening container: https://www.oathtogrowth.com/coachingConnect with OOOM on social:https://www.instagram.com/ooom.pod/Check our the OOOM Membership: https://www.ooomies.com/oasis
Join Premium! Ready for an ad-free meditation experience? Join Premium now and get every episode from ALL of our podcasts completely ad-free now! Just a few clicks makes it easy for you to listen on your favorite podcast player. Become a PREMIUM member today by going to --> https://WomensMeditationNetwork.com/premium Join our Premium Sleep for Women Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Sleep podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here --> https://bit.ly/sleepforwomen Join our Premium Meditation for Kids Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Kids podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here → https://bit.ly/meditationforkidsapple Hey, I'm so glad you're taking the time to be with us today. My team and I are dedicated to making sure you have all the meditations you need throughout all the seasons of your life. If there's a meditation you desire, but can't find, email us at Katie Krimitsos to make a request. We'd love to create what you want! Namaste, Beautiful,
Join Premium! Ready for an ad-free meditation experience? Join Premium now and get every episode from ALL of our podcasts completely ad-free now! Just a few clicks makes it easy for you to listen on your favorite podcast player. Become a PREMIUM member today by going to --> https://WomensMeditationNetwork.com/premium Join our Premium Sleep for Women Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Sleep podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here --> https://bit.ly/sleepforwomen Join our Premium Meditation for Kids Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Kids podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here → https://bit.ly/meditationforkidsapple Hey, I'm so glad you're taking the time to be with us today. My team and I are dedicated to making sure you have all the meditations you need throughout all the seasons of your life. If there's a meditation you desire, but can't find, email us at Katie Krimitsos to make a request. We'd love to create what you want! Namaste, Beautiful,
Decorating your home shouldn't feel like a guessing game. But if you're constantly second-guessing your choices, returning items, or wondering why this feels so hard when everyone else seems to make it look easy—you're in the right place. If you're a REAL mom with a REAL budget and a REAL home who wants a cozy, beautiful, pulled-together home but feels overwhelmed and unsure where to begin, this episode is your personal roadmap. In today's episode, I'm sharing a 10-step action plan to help you move from stuck to started—so you can finally decorate your home with confidence (and without wasting money or time). Here's what you'll learn: How to identify your design style (in a way that actually makes sense) How to address your limitations—budget, time, space, or confidence—so they don't hold you back Why making a mood board and a plan is your decorating BFF How a redecorating roadmap keeps you focused and out of decision fatigue The importance of pacing yourself (no, you don't need to do it all in one weekend) Why installing pieces in phases creates clarity and prevents regret How to repeat your plan and stay on track with your vision and budget The power of stopping to revel, delight, and feel proud—yes, celebrate your wins! What to expect once your confidence grows (hint: you'll want to keep going!) How to take everything you've learned and repeat it again and again throughout your home xo, dani // Links mentioned in show: // Become a Design Bestie by joining the newsletter: https://bit.ly/designbestie Email: hello@figandfarmathome.com Website: https://figandfarmathome.com Join The Collective (monthly membership): https://www.figandfarmathome.com/thecollective Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/figandfarm/ FREE Facebook Community: https://www.bit.ly/design101group LIMITED TIME: Grab the REDECORATING ROADMAP: https://figandfarmathome.thrivecart.com/redecorating-roadmap/
Ask Me A Question For Next Week's Episode!Included in this episode: 1. Resistance to lasting dietary changes is complicated. 2. Brain & behavior3. Practical ways that are most commonly suggested to improve overall mental health 4. What happens when that stuff doesn't work? 5. Figuring out your own subconscious mind6. It's okay to feel how you're feeling7. Treat your mind like a legacy code base8. Everything is made up9. Self belief10. End comparison and focus on yourselfSign Up For Coaching With Me: HERE.https://caloriedeficituniversity.com/
This is something we all need at times throughout life: liminal (@Liminal1988) “Read this when life feels overwhelming.” There is a lot to this post where it gives us plenty of ideas on how to help ourselves to feel a bit better and more grounded when we are feeling a bit overwhelmed. Let's face it, life can do that to all of us at any time. This post has many different connections for all of us to pay attention to. Thanks for listening. Please take a few moments to subscribe & share this with someone, also leave a 5 Star rating on Apple Podcasts and ITunes or other services where you find this show. Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachtoexpectsuccess/ on Twitter / “X”: @coachtosuccess and on Instagram at: @coachjohndaly - My YouTube Channel is at: Coach John Daly. Email me at: CoachJohnDalyPodcast@gmail.com You can also head on over to https://www.coachtoexpectsuccess.com/ and get in touch with me there on my homepage along with checking out my Top Book list too. Other things there on my site are being worked on too. Please let me know that you are reaching out to me from my podcast.
Hallie answers the biggest questions CFs have about the first year.Hey hey, SLP fam! Whether you're stepping into your CF year or just landed your first gig in the schools, this episode of SLP Coffee Talk is your new best friend. Hallie's got your back with the top 10 questions every new SLP secretly wants to ask—from “What should I even do on my first week?” to “Am I totally faking it?” Spoiler: You're not. Tune in for tips, laughs, and the kind of real talk you wish grad school gave you. No fluff, just Hallie being your go-to SLP cheerleader with practical answers, scheduling sanity, and confidence boosters.
Chimpanzees use medicinal plants for first aid and hygieneResearchers have observed wild chimpanzees seeking out particular plants, including ones known to have medicinal value, and using them to treat wounds on themselves and others. They also used plants to clean themselves after sex and defecation. Elodie Freymann from Oxford University lived with the chimpanzees in Uganda over eight months and published this research in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.Why this evolutionary dead end makes understanding extinction even more difficult540 million years ago, there was an explosion of animal diversity called the Cambrian explosion, when nature experimented with, and winnowed many animal forms into just a few. A new discovery of one of the unlucky ones that didn't make it has deepened the mystery of why some went extinct, because despite its strangeness, it shows adaptations common to many of the survivors. Joseph Moysiuk, curator of paleontology and geology at the Manitoba Museum helped identify the fossil, and published on it in Royal Society Open Science A quantum computer demonstrates its worth by solving an impossible puzzleImagine taking a sudoku puzzle, handing bits of it to several people, putting them in separate rooms, and asking them to solve the puzzle. A quantum computer using the weird phenomenon of “entanglement” was able to do something analogous to this, which serves as evidence that it really is exploiting quantum strangeness, and could be used for more practical purposes. David Stephen, a physicist at the quantum computing company Quantinuum, and colleagues from the University of Boulder published on this finding in Physical Review Letters.Roadkill shows that most mammals have fluorescent furA researcher who used a range of mammal and marsupial animals killed by vehicles, has demonstrated that the fur of many of these animals exhibit biofluorescence – the ability to absorb light and re-emit it in different wavelengths. They were able to identify some of the fluorescent chemicals, but don't know why these animals would glow like this. Zoologist Linda Reinhold observed bright colours such as yellow, blue, green and pink on Australian animals like the bandicoot, wallaby, tree-kangaroo, possums and quolls. Their research was published in the journal PLOS One.Science suggests humans are not built for the information ageWe are living in the age of information. In fact, we're drowning in it. Modern technology has put vast amounts of information at our fingertips, and it turns out that science is showing that humans just aren't that good at processing all that data, making us vulnerable to bias, misinformation and manipulation.Producer Amanda Buckiewicz spoke to:Friedrich Götz, an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia.Vasileia Karasavva, a PhD student in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia.Timothy Caulfield, professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta, and was the Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy from 2002 - 2023.Eugina Leung, an assistant professor of marketing at the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University.Jonathan Kimmelman, a medical ethicist based at McGill University.
Andrew Schlecht and Michele Berra discuss OKC's defense, the Game 4 win and preview Game 5 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.