My guest for The Happy Hour #210 is Taylor Nichols. Taylor is one of the kindest friends I know, and I'm so honored to have her on the show today. Taylor is momma to two boys and a girl, with another sweet baby girl on the way! Taylor will soon be launching a podcast called Speak Life with Taylor Nichols so be sure to keep an eye out for that.

You guys, I have been wanting to bring my friend Taylor on the show for a while now. She has an incredible story and speaks such hope and encouragement - I just know you're going to love our conversation.

Taylor and I start off the show talking about her beautiful family, and how their daughter through adoption and her baby girl will be just 11 months apart! Taylor then shares her story of her childhood church experience that resulted in a great deal of hurt for her and her family. Taylor speaks of the challenges she dealt with regarding faith and the church once she was able to leave. Taylor admits that her walk with God has been hard, but she is so thankful for the gift of faith in Him that has remained throughout.

In the second half of the show Taylor opens up about losing her father. Taylor talks about learning to have grace in grief and the importance of walking through every part of it. I loved hearing her describe how her dad never missed a chance to "love big" and share his heart, and how that has impacted how she lives her life today. Taylor offers such wise encouragement when she says, with grief, "you don't get over it, you learn to walk through it.".

I am so proud of my friend and am so thankful to her for sharing her story. Life is messy and it's hard, but what stands out to me in all of the stories is that when we look closely, amidst the mess, God is always there, with us and for us.

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