We have anxiously been waiting for the arrival of baby kittens at our house! The momma kitty, Molly, has been growing and growing, and she looks like she's ready to pop! 

Each one of us wants to get our hands on them, and Stockton exclaimed in a bit of a fit one day, "I just want Molly to have her kitties! They make me happy!"

I am not typically a fan of relying on outside resources for happiness; however, there is something to this. Pets can help decrease our stress and anxiety levels, increase our feelings of peace, comfort, and satisfaction, and provide a sense of purpose and meaning, which also contributes to overall happiness.

In today's podcast, we talk about pets and the impact they have on our nervous systems, bodies, and brains. How even a brief interaction can shift our feelings and thinking! 

We also talk about them giving us a sense of purpose by providing something to care for, look after, feed, and love.

Our Heavenly Father has given us so many amazing creations for our benefit. Nature, animals, and so much more! How often do we forget to take advantage of these creations, enjoy them, and experience the happiness that can come so naturally!

Listen in to this podcast to hear more about the impact pets can have!

If you are in our home, you'll more than likely hear Jarred, or one of us say, "That was WAY good!" It is one of those one-liners that we use often.

We use it to celebrate and notice the good, and accentuate it with "Way Good!"

We forget or underestimate the power of our words.  The words we say, we speak, and think change how we feel. When we say something is good and way good, it signals to our brain and nervous system that everything is OK. We Are safe, not in danger, can relax, be present, enjoy, and connect. 

I wondered what would happen if we all started to look for the "Way Good" moments and cultivate them? How would life change and be different?

I think it would be Way Good!!!

The most prominent instances in scripture where something is described as "good" are found in the creation account in Genesis. In the first chapter of Genesis, God repeatedly assesses His work and declares it "good."

Here is a breakdown of those moments:

 * Genesis 1:4 - After creating light, "God saw that the light was good."

 * Genesis 1:10 - After separating the land from the sea, "God saw that it was good."

 * Genesis 1:12 - After creating vegetation, "God saw that it was good."

 * Genesis 1:18 - After creating the sun, moon, and stars, "God saw that it was good."

 * Genesis 1:21 - After creating sea creatures and birds, "God saw that it was good."

 * Genesis 1:25 - After creating land animals, "God saw that it was good."

 * Genesis 1:31 - After creating humanity (man and woman) and surveying all of His work, "God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good."

This culmination on the sixth day is particularly significant, as the creation of man and woman completes the creation week, and God's final assessment is elevated from "good" to "very good."

 Or in this instance: “Way Good!”

We are Way Good! 

As we understand that, embody that belief that we are way good, look for the moments of way good, then we can practice cultivating those moments into our lives and be a source of it for others!

Do any of you feel like your summer is blasting away? Or time in general! Are we moving so fast that we no longer enjoy anything?

In this podcast episode, we are going to talk about savoring those summer moments that we have.  We don't have to change or cancel our plans, just slow down a little to savor the moments that we have.

Shifting down is our focus.  A simple shift in one direction can change the momentum of our pace and the rest of our day.  Could a simple downshift from fifth gear to fourth make all the difference in our connection, our feelings of hurry and anxiety, and peace?

Listen in for simple tips to shift down, like taking in nature, putting away our phones, and writing down golden moments.

We could all benefit physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually by a simple downshift to get us on a better track!

In this podcast episode, we discuss cover-ups.

I spent some time this weekend trying to cover up the scuffs, marks, and spots on walls that needed some touch-up.  

After stepping back, I could see a different sheen and look on those spots.  They didn't blend perfectly! UGH! With different views, lighting, and perspectives, the look of each of those spots changed.  Sometimes visible, sometimes not.  

Each of us has vulnerabilities, spots, or weaknesses we do our best to cover.   We adapt to look and make sure that we don't show that we are struggling.

Satan was quick to point out Adam and Eve's weaknesses and vulnerabilities and told them to cover themselves and HIDE.  And so began our mortal experience.  

Christ, on the other hand, chose to keep his scars. He showed them as a reminder of His love, sacrifice,  and victory over his challenges.

In this episode, we talk about not always having to remain "covered."

We don't always have to have the perfect cover-up.  Sometimes our weak spots are seen, but it makes us relatable and reminds us we are putting up a good fight!

In today's podcast, we talk about the benefits of sunlight!

I use sunlight as a stain removal source when I'm working on tough spots and stains in a piece of clothing.  The sunlight can lighten, bleach, and remove those tough stains from baby blowouts and all sorts of other stains!

Sunlight can help us lighten and remove the heaviness that we may be experiencing mentally, emotionally, and physically as well!

We discuss how the sun stimulates Vitamin D production, helps regulate our sleep cycles, and also regulates our nervous system.

We also talk about the other sun, the "Son," Jesus Christ, and how his light helps us spiritually.

Many times we compartmentalize all of the components of health, but they are all connected and each one needs attention!

Listen in as we discuss light, how it affects us personally, and how it will trickle in to the parent, spouse, and friend that we can be!

What do you do when you've been caught red-handed and know you're guilty? Do you lie? Do you get defensive? Or do you admit you were wrong and tell the truth?

In this week's episode, we talk about telling the truth. We talk about an experience I had when I got pulled over by a police officer and how I chose to tell the truth. 

We have the opportunity to model honesty and truth-telling to our children, families, and coworkers, and this toolkit will help us.

In the Truth Talk Toolkit, we discuss these four keys:

1. Clarity: Make truth a core value.
2. Connection: Make it safe to be honest.
3. Consistency: Model what you teach.
4. Curiosity: Teach truth through questions.

We've heard the phrase, "The truth shall set us free." 

It truly does.  It frees us from the guilt and the shame.  Telling the truth fosters connection with ourselves, with others, and with God.

Listen in!

Food is a central part of celebrating! It is a way we show love, how we like to gather, how we enjoy each other's company, and such an integral part of gathering! However, when dealing with dietary restrictions or just trying to observe what you are eating, it can feel isolating and a big frustration. To the point that you may just want to stay home!

Don't do it!

In this podcast episode, we discuss making our celebrations for the 4th of July and other holidays more than just about food, using these four suggestions.

1. Plan Activities Beyond Eating.
2. Embrace a Healthy Menu.
3. Practice Mindful Eating and Portion Awareness.
4. Remember, Perfection is not the Goal! 

   Enjoy your 4th of July by focusing on the people, the freedoms we enjoy, and make food a part of celebrating, but not the entire focus!

Jarred gave me a carwash pass for Mother’s Day, and after lots of lugging, shuttling, and adventuring, one day I noticed how bad my car needed to be washed, specifically the windshield.  It was so dirty! So I pulled through the carwash, and when I got out, it was like a breath of fresh air! Being able to see through that dirty window, it was like a whole new world was opened up!

It reminded me of the same experience I’d had when I put a new screen protector on my phone after the previous one had been cracked and damaged.  Same experience. A breath of fresh air.

The word I would use to describe both of these experiences is CLARITY

Clarity generally refers to how clear, understandable, or free of confusion something is.

I want to discuss mental clarity, because when our head is cluttered and full, we don’t show up as our best, can’t think and perform clearly, and don’t connect with others as well. Mental clarity refers to a state where your thinking is sharp, focused, and not clouded by confusion or distraction.

Here are 10 Steps to Clarity:

1. Clear the mental clutter.
2. Get enough sleep.
3. Practice mindfulness or meditation.
4. Exercise regularly.
5. Eat clean and hydrate.
6. Prioritize and plan.
7. Take a digital detox.
8. Talk it out.
9. Optimize the time of day.
10. Get Present.

Sometimes clarity comes with just a carwash or a new screen protector, but mental clarity, when the world opens up and our minds open up, may be a little different. When we hike, the higher we are, the further we can see. Sometimes we are stuck in a rabbit hole and spinning in circles. So we need to get a bigger picture and a greater perspective.

Try just one of these 10 steps and see if you experience some clarity in your day today!

I love a good, tight pattern.

I love to see straight lines, uniform paterns, and regularities.

My eye doesn't just love a good pattern, but my brain does too!

Brains love patterns because they create safety, control, ease, and comfort.

With summer underway, are you creating a good summer pattern, or are you still struggling to get a good one going? Well, if so, this podcast is for you!

In today's podcast, we discuss why patterns are helpful, why some of our patterns are not so helpful, and how to recognize the patterns in our lives.

Then we discuss how to create a summer pattern that weaves in work, play, and so much more!

Listen in as I give some insight into the patterns we've created and love to help us connect, create, and more!

Do you remember your 5th-grade science classes, where we learned about rocks, weathering, and erosion? Where there is molding and shaping, weathering, and change?

This week, I took a journey back to those classes as I recalled the processes and related them to Jarred and my marriage.  

We celebrated 25 years this week, and it has been a ride for sure! 

There has been molding and shaping and building during those 25 years, and they have come through our life together, the family we have created, the work, the hobbies, and our homes!

In this episode, we talk about what builds, molds, and shapes us. We relate this molding and shaping to the processes of weathering and erosion, and learn how growth and change come through processes of breakdown and change.

I share the 25 things that have built Jarred and I, and as promised posted the YouTube video below!

Take a look back on your life and/or your marriages and see what things have broken you down, but also in the process molded and shaped who you are today!

Jarred and Jesser's 25th Anniversary Video