Have you ever written something down and thought, “Ohhh… so THAT’S what’s going on inside me”?

A safe place to process thoughts without interruption 🐱

Helps slow racing thoughts and calm big emotions

A way to be honest without filtering for anyone else

Turns feelings into words—and words into clarity

Creates space to reflect instead of react

Helps identify patterns, triggers, and growth over time

Offers perspective you don’t always see in the moment

Encourages intentional living instead of emotional autopilot

Research shows journaling can:

Reduce stress and anxiety 🧘‍♀️

Improve emotional regulation

Increase self-awareness

Boost memory and comprehension

Strengthen mental health and resilience

Help process trauma and grief

Improve sleep and overall mood 😴✨

(And honestly? It’s cheaper than therapy… but still pairs nicely with it 😉)

A daily practice of writing three handwritten pages first thing in the morning

Stream-of-consciousness—no editing, no judging

Clears mental clutter and quiets inner noise

Not meant to be “good writing,” just honest writing

Think of it as brain detox 🧠➡️🗑️

Moves prayers from vague thoughts to intentional conversation

Helps you track God’s faithfulness over time 📖✨

Creates space to listen, not just talk

Allows you to process emotions with God instead of hiding them

Becomes a written testimony of growth, healing, and answered prayers

Proverbs 20:5 (NIV)

“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,

Psalm 102:18 (NIV)

“Let this be written for a future generation,

Journaling isn’t about being poetic or profound.

Grab a notebook. Start messy. God meets us there. ❤️📓

Illinois is famous for deep-dish pizza, Lincoln… and apparently some truly head-scratching laws and taxes. In this episode, Cathrine and Tracy dive into the ridiculous, outdated, and downright dumb things still on the books — and what we’re supposed to do with all that frustration as people of faith.

Cathrine kicks things off with four newer laws that many Illinois residents probably missed — because they quietly passed, sound fake, or make you say, “Wait… that’s real?” 😳

Tracy brings the heat with 12 ridiculous Illinois laws 

Cathrine fires back with 13 more absurd laws, proving that Illinois has range when it comes to legal nonsense. Some are outdated. Some are confusing. Some just make you wonder who hurt the lawmaker that day.

Along the way, we talk about weird and outrageous Illinois taxes — the kind that hit everyday people and feel especially painful at checkout.

Matthew 22:20–22 (NIV)

Jesus reminds us: yes, governments are flawed… but our ultimate allegiance is to God. 🙏

What do you get when two women turn 60, bring their husbands, invite best friends, and put four first-time cruisers on a 7-day Caribbean cruise?

In this episode, Tracy and Cathrine share practical, funny, real-life tips for first-time cruisers—so you can actually enjoy your vacation instead of just surviving it.

From accidental drink showers 🍹 to sunscreen disasters 🧴, we’re talking about what really happens on a cruise and what we’re so glad we knew (or wish we had known).

🚫 Rookie cruising mistakes to avoid

🧲 What to pack that will make your cabin instantly better (hint: magnets!)

⏳ Why patience is an essential carry-on item

🗺️ Why printed maps still matter (yes, really)

🃏 Simple games that turn waiting time into connection time

👒 The infamous Bushwacker incident in St. Thomas

🌞 How Kenny became the unintended star of the cruise (twice)

❤️ Why the best part of the trip wasn’t the ports—but the people

After raising five kids, Tracy and her husband decided it was time to stop waiting for “someday” and start enjoying the life God has given them—retirement dreams, milestone birthdays, and all.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24

Joy isn’t irresponsible.

Make a plan to enjoy your life.

It doesn’t have to be extravagant:

🚢 A Caribbean cruise

⛵ A twilight sail on Lake Michigan

🍷 A road trip to a winery

🚗 A simple weekend away

Put it on the calendar. Start the conversation. Choose joy on purpose.

Did this episode make you laugh?

Life happens… but laughter (and vacations) don’t happen by accident. 😉

Life doesn’t always line up neatly with our expectations. Sometimes it pours… and sometimes that rain washes in unexpected color.

🌧️ ➡️ 🌈

We begin by sharing the powerful true story of Gina Kell and Michael Spehn, whose losses collided and created a new beginning.

Their journey—from unthinkable grief to unexpected hope—invites all of us to see that God can bring color even after the darkest storm. 🌦️❤️

Tracy & Cathrine get vulnerable as we share:

Seasons where life made zero sense 😣

Moments we were pretty sure God had left the chat (He hadn’t) 🙃

How God faithfully met us—gently, quietly, and powerfully—right in the middle of our tears 💛

These real-life stories remind every listener that grief is not a sign of weakness—it’s an invitation for God to draw near.

Since we’re both marinating in Job these days 🧂📘, we take a deeper dive into:

Why Job’s suffering felt endless and confusing

How his friends said ALL the wrong things (we all know a friend like that… 🙄)

The emotional honesty Job brought before God

The truth that God never abandoned him, even in silence

The restoration God brought after the season of suffering

Job teaches us that grief is not a detour—it’s part of the human story, and God sits in the ashes with us. 🪵🔥

📖 2 Corinthians 5:17 — “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

📖 Matthew 6:33 — “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Our anchor in times when we don’t know which way is up. 🧭

Enjoy your seasons of peace fully ☀️

Life Happens Laugh Anyway Podcast

In today’s episode, Tracy & Cathrine break down digital hygiene—what it is, why it matters, and how to avoid becoming besties with the scammers in your inbox. We’re talking malware, fake bills, AI scams, passwords, social media safety, AND the Bible. Because Jesus loves you, but those scammers do not. 🙃

Digital Hygiene: Good online habits that keep you safe.

Malware: Bad software that harms or steals from your device.

Ransomware: Malware that locks your stuff until you pay.

Phishing: Fake messages pretending to be real to steal info.

Data Breach: When your private info gets exposed or stolen.

Antivirus: Software that finds and removes digital threats.

Two-Step Authentication: A double lock on your accounts.

Scammers thrive on urgency. AI makes their messages look legit.

Biblical Wisdom:

AI can fake voices, logos, bills… basically everything except common sense.

Biblical Wisdom:

Scams isolate people. Community protects people.

Biblical Wisdom:

🔒 Use strong, unique passwords

🧩 Use a password manager

🔄 Enable automatic software updates

🚫 Don’t share personal info on social media (address, phone, travel plans)

👤 Don’t accept friend requests from strangers

🛑 Don’t click links from unknown senders

🔑 Turn on two-step authentication for everything

💻 Install antivirus & run regular scans

Protects your identity

Keeps your devices healthy

Reduces your risk of scams

Keeps your data safe

Gives you peace of mind (and fewer panic attacks at 11pm over a sketchy email)

Digital discernment matters.

This week’s challenge:

Stick to a budget - even if you go over by a little 🤩

Invest in Consumer Reports (it will save you money in the long run)💰

Do what you want 😉

Budget creep is REAL 😬

Dust… everywhere… forever… 😵‍💫

Decision fatigue: “Do we want matte, satin, or eggshell?” 😵

A kitchen that looks like grown-ups live there 🙌

Organization heaven — A coffee bar and spices where you need them 🥲

Corner grate thingy to dry dishrag from Amazon for my sink  😍

Everything has its place… which means less yelling “WHO TOOK MY SPATULA?” 🍴

Budget restraints meant sacrifices 🥸

Living without a kitchen = character development 😒

Having to make 1,000 decisions while hungry 🍕

Just because they’ve done 100 kitchens doesn’t mean

Ask questions, double-check plans, get details in writing, and don’t be afraid to speak up. 🗣️✨

(Using the CabinetNow / ChatGPT top 10 common renovation mistakes list as inspiration)

Do set a realistic timeline — double it if you want to stay sane ⏳

Do measure EVERYTHING twice (and then still expect something to be off) 📏

Do prioritize storage — future you will thank you 🙏

Do plan for outlets — your air fryer, mixer, blender, and toaster need homes ⚡

Do think long-term — trendy today, dated tomorrow 🤷‍♀️

Don’t skip the budget cushion — unexpected expenses are basically guaranteed 💸

Don’t choose style over function — pretty means nothing if it doesn’t work 👎

Don’t ignore lighting — kitchens need layers 💡

Don’t cheap out on hardware — these little suckers matter 🎯

Don’t forget the workflow — beauty + usability = kitchen bliss 😍

Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

✨ A great reminder that God does renovations too — in our homes and our hearts. 🙌

🎯 Have a budget before you start!

🎙️ Episode 244: Finding Strength in Weakness

💡 Main Takeaways:

🧭 Call to Action:

📖 Verse of the Week:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

💬 Closing Thought: