My husband Jarred and I were walking into a funeral one day this fall, and he said, "I feel like this is the fourth inning."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

He said, "I feel like it's the middle of a baseball game and there's a lot of game left and you just want to know if it's going to be OK. If we are going to win?"

I have thought about this often.

We are all playing a metaphorical baseball game of life, and we are in the middle of the fourth inning, wondering what the outcome will be.

This year, as I reflected on our family life, the ups and downs. The joys and disappointments. The mundane and the exciting, I am reminded how we're all in the middle of our fourth inning.

Will we win? Will be ahead? What will go on between the fourth and the ninth?

Listen to today's podcast where I give a little year-end summary of our family, and we talk about how we can be sure that we will win! We will all be OK thanks to our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Giving doesn't just change outcomes. It changes who we become.

In this episode, we reflect on the quiet power of generosity through real-life stories, the Light the World Giving Machines, and timeless truths from science and scripture. Discover why giving isn't about getting something back, but about becoming aligned with how life works and who we are meant to be.

I love the Christmas Carols! They are beautiful, inspiriing, and full of wisdom!

In this episode, we explore the hidden truth behind the Christmas song Do You Hear What I Hear? — the idea that no two people see or hear the world the same way. Why? Because story follows state.

Our nervous system shapes what we notice, how we interpret situations, and the story we tell ourselves about others and about life.

We will walk through powerful examples, personal insights, and a simple but life-changing question: "I wonder what state they're in?"

We learn how to shift from judgment to compassion, from reactivity to understanding.

Listen In!

In a recent podcast, Charles Duigg stated:

"Our brains are constantly looking for clues as to who we actually are. And when we give them the right clues, our brain becomes our partner and changes our behavior the way we want it to change."

Are we giving our brain the right clues?!

In today's podcast, we discuss some of the ways that we can give our brains the right clues to change the behaviors we want to change and become who we want to become.

We discuss:

1. Affirmations: Who do we say we are? Are our "I Am" statements intentional and creative?
2. Actions: Actions signal to our brains who we are. When we repeatedly take action, we begin to believe them. "I keep running, so I must be a runner!"
3. Truths: We are taught we are children of God with a divine heritage. Do we believe those truths and bank on them?

Listen in to this podcast as we dive deep into each of these points and give set ourselves up for the right clues as to who we are!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner!

Instead of stretchy pants and self-control guilt, let's go for gratitude! In this episode, w break down the surprising science of willpower, why it drains so fast, why we think we have more than we actually do, and how gratitude can literally replenish the brain's self-control system.

You'll learn:

• What willpower actually is (and why it's not just "trying harder")

• How decision fatigue drains your ability to make good choices

• Why gratitude calms cravings, reduces impulsivity, and restores mental energy

• The "Gratitude Before Gravy" method to stay intentional at Thanksgiving

• A simple 3-breath gratitude reset that kills cravings in 10 seconds

• How spiritual principles like "live in thanksgiving daily" line up perfectly with neuroscience

Whether you want to avoid overeating, stay patient with family, or feel lighter emotionally this holiday, this episode gives you a practical roadmap.

Listen in and learn why gratitude isn't just a warm fuzzy feeling! It's weightlifting for your willpower muscle.

Do you ever feel anxious, uptight, or "hyperaroused" for no clear reason?

In this extremely relatable episode, we dive into the surprising therapeutic benefits of intentional nostalgia! We reveal how recreating simple, sensory-rich childhood moments can literally calm your biology.

I share how recreating the simple act of crunching fall leaves on a walk to church felt and how that same tool can be used as a way to relieve day-to-day stress and anxiety.

We discuss:

* 🧠 The neuroscience of nostalgia: How positive memories reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) and activate your brain's reward system (dopamine and serotonin).

* 🧘 Shifting from "Fight or Flight" to "Rest and Digest" using sensory grounding techniques.

* 🔑 Your Joy Toolkit: How to find and use your own personal 'crunch'; whether it's an old song, a specific scent, or a favorite childhood game as an instant regulator.

If you're seeking a simple, accessible way to soothe your anxiety and reconnect with your authentic self, this episode is your guide.

Life has a way of teaching us in the most unexpected ways! This was the case just recently with football season this year.

In this podcast episode, I interview our youngest son Stockton, and we talk about his experience playing center on his football team.

We discuss team over self, sacrifice, the people and positions in life that don't get "noticed" but make major contributions.

This episode will make you think and give some pretty powerful life lessons on and off the field!

Fear doesn't always wear fangs! It doesn't scream and isn't loud; sometimes it wears and whispers, "not enough."

This week's episode, "When Fear Wears a Different Mask," dives into the sneaky ways fear shows up as scarcity. Scarcity is the fear of not enough time, love, money, or worth.

We'll discuss how to recognize it, its impact on your body, brain, nervous system, and actions, and provide simple and practical ways to move back into abundance.

We can tell the truth of what is, right now.

"Right now, I have enough."

"I have 15 minutes."

"I have a healthy body."

"I have enough to share."

Listen in to hear more about the sneaky fear we all live with called scarcity and how we can shift into abundance!

This episode is a special treat for us all!

WAY Back, on Lifting the Lifter's 100th episode, I finally got my favorite human on the podcast! My husband Jarred! We are doing a replay of an amazing interview!

Jarred is FULL of wisdom and good advice. We have worked together in life, family, and business. In this episode, we discuss our family motto. We talk about why we created one, what is in that motto, how it has blessed our family, and how you can create one!

If you are new to the podcast, take a listen, and if you are a frequent listener, enjoy a refresher!

I am sure you will have some insights and ideas for your family!

Do you ever catch yourself spiraling, thinking "everyone's judging me" or "everyone noticed that mistake"?

Chances are… It's not everyone. It's probably just two people.

In this episode, we're breaking down why small situations can feel huge in our minds, and how your nervous system is often the one behind the exaggeration. You'll learn what's actually happening in your body when fear or embarrassment kicks in, how your brain builds stories to match those sensations, and what to do to bring it all back to size.

We'll talk about neuroception (how your body detects threat before your brain does), story inflation, and simple ways to regulate when your nervous system starts blowing things out of proportion.

If you've ever overthought, overreacted, or made a mountain out of a mental molehill — this one's for you.

Takeaways:

• Why your body reacts before your brain understands what's happening

• How to notice when your nervous system is distorting reality

• Quick tools to calm your body so your thoughts can follow

• How to "turn on the light" and see the rope for what it is — not a snake

"Your nervous system may blow things up to protect you — but you don't have to live inside that storm."