Grab your tea because today we get to borrow another “grandmother,” my sweet friend Olivia, and open a piece of mail. Have you ever met someone who quite simply, just radiates sunshine? I hope your answer is yes, and if not, Olivia is here to change that for you. Although you will only hear her voice, you will be able to tell immediately what I mean. I can't wait for you to "meet" this grandmother.

The mail: A cute quick note from my Grandma, in a show of support.

The conversation: Olivia shares how both her Grammy and her Agir instilled in her a love of reading and collecting books, travel and a joyful prayer life. We also discuss the purpose of this podcast and her parallel self-challenge of going deeper into friends' conversations. Listen to this episode if you need a pick-me-up!

Grab your tea because today we get to borrow another “grandmother,” my cousin Kristy, and open a piece of mail. But I was drinking coffee this episode...

The mail: From Kristy for my recent 40th birthday in which she writes the sweetest note about feeling like our bond is more sisterly.

The conversation: Her stand-in mother, our Mamal, and how she shaped the person Kristy is today, especially in getting her through her cancer experience. Also, don't listen to this episode hungry! We talk about all the food memories including coffee and cookies (a recurring theme already), fried chicken, potato pancakes and peanut butter, mayo and banana sandwiches! Kristy's telling of this food memory is still making me laugh. You've gotta try it!

Grab your tea because today we get to borrow our first “grandmother,” Linda, and open a piece of mail.

The mail: From my Grams (my great-grandmother, Linda's mother). Fiercely family-focused, but also threw some nice everyday stuff into her correspondence. Bonus, both Grams and Linda have an amazing sense of humor and I think you'll pick up on that in both the letter and also of course, my conversation with Linda.

The conversation: We shared a laugh about an article of clothing I wear everyday and the curious way Linda's grandmother took her tea.

While I’ve lost friends and even parents, losing my last grandmother at age 38 was most impactful. What a unique blessing to have had such wisdom, comfort, and encouragement in my life for so long; but I immediately felt like there was an empty hole. Grandmothers tend to make you feel embraced by a warm hug. Let’s recreate that warm, happy place together by sharing “grandmotherly” insight, swapping a few pearls of wisdom and hearing from comforting voices.

I’ll be having a cuppa while chatting with wise mothers, aunts, cousins, sisters and friends and even borrowing other peoples’ grandmothers for these cozy conversations. Join me!