Making Better Grownups

This winding, crazy cool story of how we decided to move back to the South after 11 amazing years in the North East. This is our journey of letting go, having faith, and seeing God's plan unfold in miraculous ways. 

My husband Jeff and I have lived in New Jersey for 11 years now, but we're originally from the South - I'm from Texas and he's from Louisiana. During the pandemic, we stopped booking weddings for our photography business. Instead, we pivoted to health coaching, which ended up being really successful. But then God told me to start shutting the doors on that business. Actually, shutting the doors on quite a few things!

In January 2023, after getting COVID, I felt God telling me a "great unraveling" was going to happen in our lives. And things did seem to start unraveling over the next few months as I got another round of Long Covid. This year has been a great challenge on so many levels but God has been faithful. About 5 weeks ago, Jeff and I had a huge disagreement and went to separate parts of the house to help diffuse the situation. That's when God spoke to each of us about needing to move back home to Texas. (That was WILD!) Suddenly we both felt this urgency to return to Texas, after loving our life in New Jersey for the past 11 years. Within just 72 hours we were looking at houses in Texas, calling our real estate agents, and making plans. This was moving VERY fast. 

So many things quickly fell into place, which I see as confirmation from God. The word behind my eyes was URGENCY, not to be confused with EMERGENCY. We had expedited availability of a lot in the sought-after neighborhood we wanted, agents who were Godsends and actually lived in the neighborhood, and everything started to fall into place for us. From the beginning, there was a sense of urgency. Later the timelines would reveal this is because of our son Trace - he needs to integrate into the school system in Texas by April so he can make friends before summer. Things were moving FAST and in our FAVOR. We were hanging onto our bootstraps and trusting God’s plan.

Jeff and I have already started packing up and selling things in our New Jersey house without having contracts yet! We were fueled by faith and trusting this is what we should be doing. We're listing our house in mid-February and hoping to move to Texas in March. God has been in full control of our hearts and timeline. We continue to follow His whispers as we keep closing doors to open new ones. Despite all the uncertainty, I have faith that this is our season to reunite with our family and start a new chapter back home in Texas.

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In this episode, you get to know me on another level, becoming a wife.  I tell the untold story of how I met my husband Jeff.  It's an atypical story starting with me insulting Jeff's hair, followed by making one of the hardest decisions of my life, and taking a huge risk for love.

Stick till the end to hear the song Leaha produced that got Jeff to the nightclub where he saw her perform her dance music LIVE and this story began. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for behind-the-scenes photos from back in the day and reminders of new show releases in the future. 

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In this intense and emotional episode, host Leaha Bourgeois shares the dramatic story of the day her oldest daughter Madison nearly died in her arms and how it transformed her from merely a parent into a true mommy. 

When Madison was just 3 years old, a freak accident happened leaving her wrist slit all while the entire family was away on a cruise. Leaha had to take emergency action to stop the bleeding and get Madison to the hospital, not knowing if her daughter would survive. Surprise…she was on her way to meet up with a blind date of all things! A stranger who became her guardian angel that day, comforting her through the ordeal and reappearing years later to reconnect. 

Somehow finding the strength to trust God in the darkest moment of her life, it was then that Leaha went from feeling like just a teenage parent to truly becoming Madison’s mommy. 

A must-listen episode for all parents! This stirring story illustrates the depths of a mother's love and the remarkable strength found in hardship. Leaha's journey demonstrates how we can gain wisdom and maturity when forced to grow up fast. 

⭐️ Be sure to listen to episode 6 which is the first part of this 2 part series!
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VmBXJ5GHRI

⭐️ On another note, if you want to help support the podcast, please consider joining us on Patreon. Your monthly donation helps me keep making episodes each week. Special giveaways for folks who are donating to help keep this show alive! 
➡️ https://www.patreon.com/makingbettergrownups

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Sign up for our newsletter & fun giveaways
https://www.makingbettergrownups.com

Donate on Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/makingbettergrownups

Watch the podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@makingbettergrownups

Follow me on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/hashtagleaha

Y'all, get ready for a crazy rollercoaster of a story. I'm bringing you way back to my teenage years to share how I ended up pregnant and in jail as a 17-year-old. I know it sounds wild. But it's all true.

In "How I Went to Jail & Wasn't Supposed To | Teen Mom Statistic (Part 1)," I get real about the mistakes I made as a naive girl who got mixed up with the wrong crowd. I open up about my controlling and near-death relationship with my first love and the heartbreak of being cheated on while carrying his child. And I share the absolutely wild story of how I ended up being arrested for shoplifting - something I never in a million years imagined I would do.

But here's the craziest part of all - I later found out I wasn't even supposed to be arrested! Even when we make big mistakes, God can use them for good. He was conducting it all along. And looking back now, I can see how all of this led me down the path I was meant to be on.

I'm ready to be vulnerable and unfiltered with y'all, getting candid about some of my darkest moments. My hope is that by opening up about my own struggles, I can help others going through tough times feel less alone. There's light on the other side, friends. This testimony of redemption taught me to keep trusting God, even when I couldn't see what He was up to.

So join me for this wild ride of a story! I can't wait to hear what stories this reminds you of and the lessons it has taught you. 

⭐️On another note, if you want to help support the podcast, please consider joining us on Patreon. Your monthly donation helps me keep making episodes each week. Special giveaways for folks who are donating to help keep this show alive! Check it out link.

➡️ https://www.patreon.com/makingbettergrownups 

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Sign up for our newsletter & fun giveaways
https://www.makingbettergrownups.com

Donate on Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/makingbettergrownups

Watch the podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@makingbettergrownups

Follow me on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/hashtagleaha

Y'all, family vacations are no joke! In this week's episode, I'm spilling the awkward, messy details from my first beach trip with my parents. Trust me, it was a doozy.

I'll share my funniest stories about crop-dusting family members, motels from the 50s, surviving the windy ass beach, and creating space and time to be with the ones you love and also ALONE! You'll hear all the ways I tried to make it through with my sanity intact - and what worked (or didn't!).

I'll give you a peek behind the scenes at the sticky kids, sand everywhere, and how I managed to find joy amongst the mess. You'll get my best tips for packing right, scheduling relaxation, keeping expectations realistic, and embracing the adventure. Vacation takes strategy!

No judgement here! I've been there and learned A LOT. Tune in for a mix of relatable moments and super practical advice to help your next family trip feel a little more like paradise all while laughing at my expense. Grab your spray tan safe sunscreen and let's do this!

On another note, if you want to help support the podcast, please consider joining us on Patreon. Any amount helps me keep making episodes for you each week. Special giveaways for folks who are donating to help keep this show alive! Check it out link:

Sign up for our NEWSLETTER for the extended list of vacation items
➡️ https://www.makingbettergrownups.com

Our Top 4 Items
Leaha's Favorite Bag - https://amzn.to/3LexecC
Leaha's Favorite Hat- https://amzn.to/3R8TwQH
Bad Ass Wagon - https://amzn.to/3Re8h4O
Beach Cabana that stands ALL WINDS - https://amzn.to/3RcWFil


// Mentions

⭐️ Our favorite Wildwood Hotel
https://www.daytonamotorinn.com/

⭐️ My North Jersey Tanning Guru
https://www.instagram.com/bronzedbabe1?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

⭐️ The Lobster House, Cape May
https://www.thelobsterhouse.com/

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Sign up for our newsletter & fun giveaways
https://www.makingbettergrownups.com

Donate on Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/makingbettergrownups

Watch the podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@makingbettergrownups

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In this week’s podcast, I will share incredible stories about discovering the difference between wealth and abundance. Abundance isn't defined by material wealth or possessions. As research shows, after basic needs are met, more money and possessions do little to increase happiness.

True abundance is a mindset rooted in gratitude, generosity, and faith. By cultivating these qualities, we can uncover the inner abundance we already have. Looking back in time, I will take you on a winding story of my relationship with my parents, mostly focusing on my father, and have some major AH-HA moments that I hope will inspire you to do the same. It kind of blew my own mind!

Check it out, here are some questions to help you tap into your own abundance mindset.

Reflection Questions:

• What blessings can you count right now? How can you strengthen your gratitude muscle?
• Is there a small act of kindness or generosity you can do this week? What would it mean to give freely?
• How can you share your unique gifts with the world? What brings you meaning and purpose?
• How can you recognize the abundance already flowing through your life? What helps you feel grateful?
• What would it mean for you to live abundantly, according to your values? How can you expand that this week?

Key Points:

• Gratitude shifts our mindset. I am so grateful for my humble childhood, despite resenting it at the time. Studies show gratitude reframes our outlook - we feel more optimism, connection, and life satisfaction. Take inventory of your blessings, big and small. Consider keeping a gratitude journal.
• Generosity expands abundance. My parents gave freely to others, even when they had little. Research by social psychologist Elizabeth Dunn found that spending money on others leads to greater happiness than spending on ourselves. Look for small ways to be generous.
• Giving deepens meaning. I felt most "rich" after buying gas for the woman in need because I gave out of compassion. Contributing our time and talents gives us a sense of purpose. Reflect on your skills and how to share them.
• Abundance flows from trust. My dad advised “Go give away what you need more of” - generosity plants seeds for unexpected abundance, like the $14k donation. Surrender outcomes and know abundance manifests in unexpected ways.

I hope these reflections on abundant wisdom help you uncover and strengthen the true abundance within you. When we shift to gratitude, generosity, and faith, we realize just how much we have to give and receive. Abundance is an infinite source we can tap into.

Till next week,
Leaha

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// Episode Mentions

McMaster New Holland - https://www.mcmasternewholland.com
Mercy Culture Church - https://www.mercyculture.com

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Do you ever feel as you get older you have fewer and fewer friends? Part of being a grown-up is creating and maintaining friends.

What is a friend?  What is a friendship?
Is it too late to make new friends at your age?

In this episode, we will chat about:

• How we are hardwired for connection
• The difference between friends and friendships
• What the “friendship regression” is
• “BFF“ the  grown-up redefined
• Hear how Leaha navigated another wild story and hardship that challenged her and reminded her what true friendship looks like as a grown-up and how sometimes people are only here for a season, reason or a lifetime.

Challenge of the week: (Pick 1 or ALL)

• Reconnect with an old friend, keep it simple and check in on them
• Introduce yourself to someone new and strike up a conversation, ask to meet up and get to know each other 
• Check on your current friendships, and show gratitude for your amazing connection. Make it normal to talk more often. Ask more questions. See how you can be the best advocate for one another as seasons change.

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Sign up for our newsletter & fun giveaways
https://www.makingbettergrownups.com

Donate on Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/makingbettergrownups

Watch the podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@makingbettergrownups

Follow me on Instagram
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Come here the origin story of how and why this podcast exist. Follow Leaha on an epic journey. Going back 15 years, five rounds of Covid, and some insane, isolated events that would all be woven together perfectly to create this podcast.

Hang on to your bootstraps, it’s about to get really interesting.

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Sign up for our newsletter & fun giveaways
https://www.makingbettergrownups.com

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https://www.youtube.com/@makingbettergrownups

Follow me on Instagram
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Introduction to Making Better Grownups Podcast.  In this episode, you'll get to know a little bit about me and my tattoos,  and hear what the podcast is about.

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Donate on Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/makingbettergrownups

Watch the podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@makingbettergrownups

Follow me on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/hashtagleaha