Be Love

Today I have on Heather Avis who is the founder and chief visionary officer at The Lucky Few, a social awareness brand on a mission to make a more inclusive and loving world with an emphasis on shifting the Down syndrome narrative.   The author of Everyone Belongs and the New York Times bestselling children’s book Different—A Great Thing to Be!   She runs The Lucky Few's hit Instagram account and is the author of a book and co-host of the podcast by the same name. A former education specialist teaching high school students, Heather is a popular speaker and a mother to three adopted children (two with Down syndrome).   Heather and I talk about what it’s like to make spaces where everyone feels like they belong.   We talk about her life with two kids who have down syndrome, and how she wants to help change the narrative.   We talk about how we can make others with disabilities feel welcome, even if we don’t know what to do, and be uncomfortable.   You will gain so much knowledge in this conversation.   Listen t

Can you believe school is almost here? Some of us can’t wait, and some of us are wondering how we are going to get all the thing done before they head back.   In the midst of reminding our kids to finish their required summer reading, and school shopping, and all the other things we forgot, I want to talk today about preparing our kids hearts for the school year.   Today in this short podcast I talk about two things that we do to help our kid’s hearts and minds prepare for the new year.   If you have little ones here is a children’s book that can help get your kiddos hearts and minds ready.

This month we have some of the best of the best coming your way. We pulled from some of the most listened to podcasts of the year. We didn’t want you to miss some of the most talked about and listened to interviews.    Today we are re-releasing our conversation with the relatable and hilarious Jami Nato is sharing making intentional parenting simple. I love how she gives us permission to not do all the things. Just one thing at a time when it comes to parenting, and it starts with us!   Jami is the best at sharing ideas that all of us can do! Jami is a blogger, amazing mother, speaker, and one of my favorite parent instagram influencers. Today she talks about so many wise nuggets, especially to make intentional parenting simple, and how it starts with giving grace to ourselves.    Some things we chat about: We talk about how to recognize what is going on in our own heart and get our heart peaceful and right so we can express that to our kids. That comes first. How to help our kids navigate this world t

This month we have some of the best of the best coming your way. We wanted to re-release this important episode with Jemar Tisby, if you missed this one, you will definitely want to catch up today!   All of us want our kids to stand up to injustices in our world. As Christians we are to love others, come alongside one another, and help each other understand our God given worth and dignity. Fighting Racism should be something we want to dive into headfirst and do everything in our power to make sure this is not happening on our watch.   Today we are talking about how to fight racism, with Jemar Tisby, New York Times Best-Selling author. He has written the Color of Compromise and How to Fight Racism and How to Fight Racism (Young Reader’s Edition).   If you have ever wanted to talk to your kids about racism but just didn’t know where to start or didn’t know if you had the knowledge to give them the right tools, this is the conversation for you.   Jemar is a historian, author, and speaker, and helps teach and gu

This month we have some of the best of the best coming your way. We pulled from some of the most listened to podcasts of the year. We didn’t want you to miss some of the most talked about and listened to interviews. Today we are re-releasing our conversation with founders of She Works His Way, and our conversation of is there such a thing as work life balance and what does it look like.   The age old question for almost every parent is,“How do we find work/life balance?   Is there even such a thing? Many times, it feels like if we just balanced it all we would have a full, complete, and happy life. But sometimes that balance feels like a big unicorn in the sky, something completely unattainable.    If you are a parent who continues to struggle with this, Somer and Michelle are here to help us rethink this question. They are here to give us some practical tools and perspective of what it looks like to dispel the notion of the world that we must have it all together; that we have to wear all the hats perfectly.

This month we have some of the best of the best coming your way. We pulled from some of the most listened to podcasts of the year. We didn’t want you to miss some of the most talked about and listened to interviews. Today we are re-releasing our conversation with Carlos Whittaker, the human hope dealer!   He embodies our podcast’s definition of Be Love. do good. You may have read Carlos’ books, or maybe you have seen his good deeds on Good Morning America, the Nick Cannon Show, or anywhere they have gone viral, like raising a tip for Tonee the Piano man, or helping a woman get a service dog, or helping teens in Brooklyn.    Carlos sees people, like really sees people. People call him the Hope Dealer. He gives hope to people everyday and shares it with his hundreds of thousands of social media followers.    He gets to the heart of people and his passion is to help others see people too. People who are different from you, people you have bias against, people who get on your last nerve.    Today Carlos tells us

I have heard people ask about certain things, “Is it too late?” And I would say, “It’s never too late,” especially when it comes to apologizing. Today on this short episode I am reminded why it is so important to say, “sorry.”     I talk about when my husband came to Holden and asked for his forgiveness for not giving him space to process his emotions. I talk about how hard it is for me to say, “I am sorry,” because admitting I’m sorry feels like I am wrong, and I love being right!   This short episode reminds us it’s never too late to say we are sorry, even if the outcome isn’t what we want it to be, even if things aren’t “fixed.” Sorry is a powerful word, so we can’t be afraid to say it.

Today we laughed  A LOT!  If you don’t know the Skit Guys may I introduce you to some of the greatest and funniest people you will ever meet. Today we talk about their new feature film Family Camp. Family camp is fun for all ages, a movie you will want to take your family to. Through each scene and family portrayed you will see yourself in a little bit of all of the characters.    Tommy and Eddie talk about how this was a dream of theirs for years. What it looks like to have open hands and let God direct your steps, and how God, laughter, and fun can all go together.    I promise you will be smiling after this conversation and will be inspired to parent with grace, forgiveness and vulnerability.    Check out how you can get the film on demand or DVD June 28th.    Follow Family Camp on instagram or Facebook Get to know more about Tommy and Eddie here Get their book about friendship Smells like Bacon

I don’t know about you but there isn’t a compliment I don’t love, or that makes me feel good. So why is it, we don’t tell people more the positive things we are thinking about them? Are we nervous they will think we are crazy? Especially if they are a stranger?   I was reminded this week as several strangers complimented me on things, how great that felt, and how it really made my day, so much that it inspired a podcast episode.   Today in this short podcast I remind all of us if we are thinking something kind about someone, tell them, RIGHT THAT MOMENT. Words matter. If all of us made a commitment to share great things with others, to make someone’s day, to just say out loud what we were thinking, it would make a difference, I promise.   Let’s do it this week!

Today I have on author, licensed counselor, podcaster, and co-founder of Living Wholehearted, a professional counseling and organizational development firm, and Courageous Girls, an online curriculum equipping moms and daughters for every stage of their growing years.   Terra and I discuss the mother/daughter relationship, why it can be so tumultuous, and how we can connect throughout the years. We talk through some of the biggest fears parents have in raising their kids and how we can navigate these.   We also talk about one of the things I am learning a lot about, creating space for our own feelings and our kids’ feelings. How to normalize emotions so our kids grow up with a healthy understanding of them.   Grab Terra’s book Courageous Daughters: Rooted in Grace Get Terra’s online courses for moms and daughters here; Get to know Terra better here:

Today I am talking with Natalie Silverstein author of Simple Acts: The Busy Teen’s Guide to Making a Difference  and Simple Acts: The Busy Family's Guide to Giving Back she is the go to when it comes to helping our family live a life of service to others.    Natalie gives us practical ways we can help our kids, and especially teens, live a life outside themselves. We talk about ways we can come alongside our kids and teens to help them live the long game of service.    Some things we discuss:   Making service a priority in our family. How do we serve others when we are so busy? How can we help our kids serve in their passions and talents? How do we get our teens off their phones and off the couch to go be a changemaker.    Connect with Natalie:  https://simpleactsguide.com/   Get her books:  Follow her on Facebook Follow her on Instagram

This week I am talking all things summer! First of all can you even believe school is almost out? Some of us are so excited, some of us have that “deer in the headlights” look because you can’t believe it is already here! What in the world are you going to do all summer with kiddos at home. Especially if you work full time out of the house.    I give some ideas of how to teach a “life skill” this summer, some expectations you can give so your kids so their eyeballs don’t fall out from watching tv, and some ways we personally as parents can be present. Follow along on our instagram for more ideas Bestrongstory   And make sure you sign up for our newsletter this week for our Bucket list PDF, and our This or That PDF. 

Today I have on marriage experts Carla and Byron Weathersbee who founded Legacy Family Ministries. We talk about why having a strong marriage is important when it comes to having a strong family unit. We talk about ways we can make sure we strengthen our marriage when it gets hard, getting help in the rough patches, and how to make marriage a priority when life gets chaotic, (we can all raise our hands), and so much more.   We could have talked for hours about so many different things when it comes to the importance of marriage, but I know this will inspire you and give you some great ideas of how to foster your own marriage.   Marriage is one of the greatest gifts, but sometimes it has to be fought for, and sometimes it can be full of pain, but when we fight for one another, and learn to love one another through the hard, you can find beauty on the other side.       Get to know Byron and Carla https://countdowntomarriage.com/home Follow them on social: Instagram Facebook:   Would you do us a favor and leave

Today I talk to Becky Leach, a writer, author, artist, and a survivor of sexual assault. Becky just released one of the most vulnerable and brave books called: THE PIVOT: Believing God When You Really, Really, Don’t Want To.   We talk about the secret she held in for over 30 years, what happened when she finally told her truth, and how God came alongside her in her most difficult circumstances. She talks about real times when she didn’t believe God could handle her pain, and how she chose to believe in Him even when she didn’t feel like it.   You will immediately fall in love with Becky and her heart for others. We are so appreciative that she shares her painful journey so others can be free.   Grab her book here: Learn more about Becky here: Follow Becky in Instagram: Beckyleachtx

Today I have on the podcast author Anjuli Paschall and she teaches us how to stay awake to what really matters. Many times, we are looking for the next big thing before we feel successful, happy, fulfilled. Anjuli reminds us to stay awake to small moments that mean everything, and to not miss what’s right in front of us. She gives us practical ways we can do this daily.   Grab Anjuli’s book Get to know Anjuli

This week I am diving into the ways we have identified our kiddo’s God-given passions and talents and how they can creatively serve and love others with them. Our kids are very different and the way they serve others is also very different.   I have a kiddo who is extroverted and one who is more shy around others, loving others looks different for them.   Being curious about our kids and helping them identify what gifts they have and how they can use those to serve others has been a goal of mine as they grow. One of my kids love to build things. So how do I help him find opportunities to use that skill to serve? One of my kids loves and I mean LOVES little kids. How can I provide her with opportunities to use that gift?   In this podcast I give you practical ways to be a student of your children, to help identify what they love, and simple ways you can find places for them to love others in their gifts.   It’s a short one today but packed with ideas for you!   If you have been encouraged by our podcast, would

One of the quotes that has stayed with me after this interview is “You don’t need to wait for a desired outcome before you start healing.” Lisa Appelo tells her story of how her life was turned upside down after a shocking tragedy upended their family. She shares with us the details of her grief, the messy in between of healing, and how God put her life back together again when she thought it was over.   You will be touched by her story, her faith, and the hope she regained. If you want to hear more of her story, please grab her new book: Life Can Be Good Again: Putting Your World Back Together After It All Falls Apart.   Learn more about Lisa: https://lisaappelo.com/ Follow her on Instagram: lisaappelo   If this episode or any others encouraged you, would you please leave us a review?

This is the second part of my interview with Jason Ramos. If you haven’t heard the first part take a listen here.    Jason’s story is filled with brokenness, trauma, abuse, drugs, and prison, and how God completely transformed his life.    Sometimes we think there are some people who will never change, or they are too far gone. Many of us have loved ones we have given up on or felt like they were hopeless.   This story will help us see into a perspective many of us will never know. It helps us really SEE people. It’s a story of God’s power in the life of one of his children.

This is part 1 of my 2 part interview with Jason Ramos. This week I am sharing a story of complete transformation. And it’s too unbelievable to just do one part, so we broke it into 2.   Jason’s story is filled with brokenness, trauma, abuse, drugs, and prison, and how God completely transformed his life.    Sometimes we think there are some people who will never change, or they are too far gone. Many of us have loved ones we have given up on or felt like they were hopeless.   This story will help us see into a perspective many of us will never know. It helps us really SEE people. It’s a story of God’s power in the life of one of his children.   Tune in next week for the second part of my interview with Jason.

How many times do we ask the question or get asked “How are you?”   And the response is, “I am just so busy!” I understand as parents, employees, caretakers it can feel like life will never slow down.   Many times, we go through life rushing from responsibility to responsibility and we miss the most important things right in front of us. PEOPLE.  I know, if I have packed my schedule and create no space to be interrupted or to pay attention to the needs right in front of me, I will miss it every time.   Today I talk about 2 ways we can “see“ others, some ways we can shine God’s light on others without missing someone in need or in pain because we are just TOO busy. As busy as we all are we have a choice to slow it down and to ask God every day to “SEE” someone, to bring encouragement to one another. We all know that a kind word or even gesture can change someone’s entire day. Let’s be people that create space to see others.   If you have been encouraged by one of our podcasts, would you please leave a review?