Letting the Light In

Hey Hey!

I've got 11 things for you this week, ranging from getting rejected at the DMV multiple times, to my baby's booty shakin. As always, I hope they encourage you to make your own lists of the light that permeates our days. On this week's lineup:

11. Not having a credit card

10. My favorite simple Summer Salad

9. The Real Mom Podcast

8. My Dad Sitting in on my Middle School Sunday School Lesson

7. Fossy Booty Shakin

6. Shopping with my Mama

5. The Black Panther Soundtrack

4. Coming home to a spotless living space (after 20 hours in the car)

3. Making beds with a 10 month old

2. Striking gold at the public library

Speak No Evil by Uzodinma Iweala

You Think It I'll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld

Heads of the Colored People by Nafissa Thompson-Spires

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

1. Feeling inadequate at the DMV

(Make it through the first 10 minutes and I promise the audio quality improves! Our wifi was having a special time connecting.)

Y'all,

This episode is incredibly special to me. As you'll hear in this episode, I fell in love with Hannah during rush when we overlapped at Carolina, and thankfully, our connection didnt end after she chose a different house! She has an unbelievably powerful story of grace and redemption as she walked through alcohol and substance addiction. In this episode we talk about who she was before we met, drugs and alcohol, rehab, the power of friendship, how choosing to following Jesus doesn't always mean everything gets fixed overnight, and her boo thang, of course. Because of who she is, she had no problem laying everything out on the table, so I know you'll be moved having listened. I've had a deep (and now growing) admiration for Hannah's honesty, and she is someone I constantly point to as a beacon of hope and testament to the Holy Spirit's power. I love this girl something fierce and I know y'all will too!

Happy Tuesday!

I've got seven things for ya this week, each of which have gave me a glimpse of glory since I've talked to ya last. On this week's list:

7. Nan Blair

6. Hiding behind doors (playing peek-a-boo with Fossy)

5. College Young Life

4. Sails by Pat Barrett ft. Steffany Gretzinger and Amanda Cook

3. The Cuckoo's Calling by Peter Galbraith (aka JK Rowling)

2. Middle Schoolers

1. Having margin

Melanie Shankle - Episode 40 by Kamri Phillippi

Hey Y'all!

Starting a new series that God stirred me about in the shower. Not kidding. He typically talks to me there. I've been wanting to share more things with y'all, so I am elated about this new facet of the podcast where I'll be sharing a list of things that have been lighting up my week. I'll still interview guests, but on the off Tuesday, you'll get one of these! On this weeks list:

10. The Nose Frida

9. Nanaimo Bars

8. Christy Nockels "Be Held: Lullabies for the Beloved" album

7. Walks after dinner

6. Wagon rides with Fossy

5. How to Be Married by Jo Piazza

4. Smartest Person In the Room Podcast

3. Tays wrist brace

2. Slowing down

1. Writing in my bible

Happy Tuesday, (and almost summer) Y'all!

Haley (or Wee, as you'll hear me call her) has been on my list of guests since the genesis of this podcast, but I never dreamt we'd be able to do it sitting face to face. As you'll hear in the beginning, we recorded this in my bedroom in Wichita, KS, after she surprised me in my living room the night before. That is just like Haley, though. She has the most adventurous and passionate spirit of any friend I have. It's hard to find the words to describe what this friend has meant to me over the course of the last 6 years. Initially meeting at Carolina, Haley was my lifeline my senior year of college. Of the 24 hours in a day, we probably spent 7 with each other almost every day that year, and with His grace, our friendship hasn't wavered being hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of miles apart. We all have friends we think we can talk about everything with, and then we have friends we actually talk about everything with. That is Wee for me. In this conversation, we catch up on her New Zealand and Australian travels, her new job working for the Olympic Committee, dating, fulfillment in jobs, and of course, flying to Chapel Hill last minute to see Carolina win the National Championship (and surprise her sister in a fraternity house). She is one of my absolute favorites. Happy listening!

Happy Tuesday!

Today I am delighted to introduce you to Lincee Ray - the gem behind the "I Hate Green Beans" blog. I stumbled upon Lincee's blog when her bachelor recaps became a weekly highlight as my husband and I laughed and "deer in the headlight" eyed our way through Arie's season of the bachelor. As a writer for Entertainment Weekly, Lincee is quite the expert in pop culture. In this episode we talk Bachelor (of course), writing for a living, her first book titled "Why I Hate Green Beans," what not to do when writing books, the importance of friendship, and why Christians can love pop culture, too. You'll laugh your way through this one, just like I did! Happy listening!

Happy Tuesday!

Ever been a huge fan of someone from afar and secretly wish you could sit down and talk with them and experience for yourself how incredible they are? Enter my conversation with Brittany. Church planter, wife, mama, comedian (ok, not totally, but she could be), sister and friend; Brittany wears many hats and does them with extreme humility and grace. Brittany and I went really deep, really quickly. We talked about loss, sin struggles, how God speaks to us tenderly and personally, facing Jesus when you are mad and hurt, and how each of her siblings could have a spot on SNL. We even talk about Joanna Gaines! I had chills on my body throughout the episode, as it felt like she was speaking directly to what my heart needed to hear. Happy listening!

Happy Tuesday Y'all!

What an honor to share this friend. Jessica and I originally connected via a connect group for women pursuing creative careers, but our friendship has turned into so much more! In this episode, we talk about being in the interracial marriage club, her and her husband's walk through trying to conceive a child, foster care, writing books, and why your only community can't be on social media. This episode is so special to me because of the courage it took for Jessica to share. Also, she's got a book releasing in a month!! After listening, I know you'll want to add it to your list.

Find her work at jessicanmathisen.com

Happy listening!

How has it already been an entire year?!

When I started this a year ago, I could never have fathomed what a year with this podcast would hold. So many huge life events (a baby, TWO moves) yes, but I have learned so much through hosting this humble project as well.

In this episode, a surprise guest puts me behind the microphone. Yes, I was interviewed, and it was really fun. We talk about our most recent move (2 weeks ago), celebrations and unexpected gifts from this podcast, and what you can expect from Letting the Light In over the next year! I've said it a hundred times and I'll say it once more here - THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! It always amazes me that people are willing to give an hours of their life to listen to this.