Prepare Them For Launch

Today's story is about the power of love and acceptance.  Co-host Natalie Washington introduces us to her husband Keith and shares a little about their life, their love for one another and God, and the gift of raising kids of mixed ethnicities.  The beauty of this story is found in the love that is woven between the characters, binding them together even in the toughest of times.  Listen as Natalie shares how her husband used a moment of prejudice to teach their children to be fully accepting of the beautiful humans God created them to be!

Our protagonist in this episode reminds us that she is living out "God's Story" for her life.  Letty was born in Cuba and came to America as a young girl.  In a late night game of dominos, her dad was inspired by a friend's passion for church which eventually led her whole family to know God.  It was the smallest of events that led to a much larger story. Her story reminds us that God is present in all of the small and the large moments.  Letty shares examples of that as she expresses her passion about the next generation and the children and families she works with through the non profit organization Lot318.  Her desire is to build a relational bridge between communities so that we can better understand life through the eyes of a different lens.  

Nothing re-writes your story or meanders the plot lines more than the introduction of a new character.  Becoming a parent for the first time infuses your life with emotions you never even knew existed.  In this episode we hear the beautiful story of Emily Hamilton.  She shares how God guided her into a life she didn't expect and blessed her with adventure, love and most recently...motherhood.  As she enters into this journey for the first time she shares with us how her story will help write her son's story and how grace will play a part in her life and in her son's life.  As a special treat, she concludes this episode by singing a sweet blessing over her her son. 

Stories have a way of surprising us, of taking us through doors we never thought we'd open and imprinting themselves on our hearts as we walk in step with the characters.  Today's story does just that, and as you listen your heart will be forever changed.  In this episode we sit down with Whitney who, along with her husband Collin, is raising three beautiful daughters.  Whitney's story begins with a surprise and as we turn the pages through the weeks and years that followed that surprise we are drawn in by her strength, her compassion, her faith, and her unconditional love.  This story is one the whole world should hear.  We hope you learn, grow and are blessed by this woman and her amazing family!

We learn to love and admire characters in stories as we journey, grow and overcome challenges with them.  The story held in the words and emotions of this episode allow us to do just that.  Ruby overcame unimaginable situations, found courage when most would succumb to fear and found a way to find peace and love despite chaotic circumstances.  Listen in as we journey with this amazing woman as she shares her amazing story of triumph!

Occasionally we can allow societal norms to dictate who we are.  When we do that, we are giving those norms the power to write unwanted chapters of our story.  Girls and women can run into identity and value issues as they navigate through who society tells them they can be and what they need to look like.  Terra Mattson is passionate about helping girls realize their full potential and to see themselves through God's eyes.  She dispels the pressure women feel to "Do more, be more" and fights against that message being passed down to the next generation of girls.  In this episode we sit with a friend who helps us see how the early chapters of our stories play into our parenting patterns and how learning to heal what is inside us can empower the next generation. Terra shows us that we can help our girls write their own story full of confidence, of strength and God's unfailing love. 

The best stories are the ones where the protagonist faces challenges, endures struggles, and in the end finds themselves a stronger, braver version of the person they once were.  That is the story of this episode's mom who lived in a world full of struggle and hurt.  She found the strength to pull herself out of that life and courageously began to step outside her comfort zone to learn and grow and....heal.  Listen as she shares her story and reminds us that God finds us and loves us even in our darkest moments.

The journey through parenting is filled with an abundant amount of unique experiences and challenges. It is easy sometimes to become so lost in our own story that we forget to slow down and take notice of the stories playing out around us.  In this season we will sit down with parents, mentors, and friends as they share their stories.  It is a rare opportunity to stop and to listen.  Join us as we turn the page and begin this new season.

In this closing episode for their first season, AJ and Natalie share how this season has impacted them, what they've learned and how they plan to apply it.  Listen in as they share their hearts for families and prepare you to launch into the next season!  

How can you be an ambassador of grace in your home? As parents, choosing to surprise our children with the unexpected gift of grace has never been more important than it is today. In this episode, we sit down with author and speaker Jonathan Pitts, who opens up about the loss of his wife, Wynter. As a pastor at Church of the City in Tennessee and the father of four beautiful daughters, he candidly shares his heart on parenting, grace, and the lasting impact of a sincere apology.