Hey, she's Italian- her name ends with a vowel!  Welcome to episode 26 where we have some laughs with Katie Candalino from SC, NC and VA...then Idaho.  Katie shares her faith filled stories about her desire to be a mother while she sips her bougie Coors Light- 10Barrel "Pub Beer".  This girl has so many stories!  She met her husband on catholicmatch.com, so yes, it apparently works.  She loves reading Anne Patchett, C.S. Lewis and Storyteller by Dave Grohl.  In the end, Katie defies all preconceived ideas about what you might have thought you knew about her.  I am so glad she joined us!

You know a great marriage and an amazing voice when the husband says he sees the face of God when his wife sings in church. (sigh). So listen up in church and look for Mary Lund!  Here's the deal, Cradle-Catholic Mary doesn't think she is very interesting, but she really is.  She works at Holy Rosary Catholic School (21 years), she sits on the Idaho Falls Library Board, she is an avid reader and extensive traveler.  Ireland? Been there, done that and ready to go again.  Her books?  Currently, she is into Andrew Greeley, a priest author of historical mystery fiction- (they are all about Ireland). But Mary's faith story is a three-part story... and we wonder why the number three is so important.  Check it out!

Jason and Kristina commiserate over their progress on the Book Challenge and try to determine the best way to prep for lent.  Swear Jar for Jason!

Valentine's Day and we talk with another small-towner married to her high school sweetheart:  Vanessa Prairie, an Idaho girl married to a Bear (her husband's name).  Vanessa shares her current favorite drink (a martini) and the books that inspire her (anything by Brene Brown), but her favorite place is on the river with her son. Cheers to Vanessa for sharing her faith story and saying nice things about our basement!

In this episode, Jason and Kristina discuss the Extreme Book Nerd Challenge, goals for the Lenten season, Kristina's death bench theory, and lament a possible oversharing on the last episode with their children.  

You might say this was a pursuit in gaining four more listeners because this podcast features our four kids!   The four Batalden children, Justin, Jordan, Gaby, and Gunnar sit with us and tell some tales.  Tall tales, short tales, tales with no meaning, and definitely some embellished tales (they are the best ones!) are shared around the table in our first episode of 2022!  Enjoy! (warning: they are LOUD).

Redemption for Scrooge!  Don't we all wish for an opportunity to be better?  This is the end of The Christmas Carol as told and talked about by Jason and Kristina.  Merry Christmas!

Ghost of Christmas Present read by Jason.  Listen afterwards for our silly commentary on food, clothes, and eating your words.

Stave 2: Ghost of Christmas Past.  This week, Jason reads Stave 2 and Kristina joins in for a discussion- maybe even a little disagreement here and there (sometimes, things can get chippy during the Christmas season).  So, we all have to wonder, what made Scrooge into the grumpy old curmudgeon?  Stave 2 offers insight, take a listen!