Small black and white checkered flags lined our front walk. Bouquets of wildflowers picked from the field across the street brightened our tables. The smokey smell of brisket and pork hung in the air. The loud buzz of race cars could be heard in every conversation. And it was LIFE-GIVING. Our first party in I don't know how long? To open our home to friends, neighbors, and strangers was exactly what my soul needed.

I sure have missed connecting with folks during this last year. I hadn't even recorded an episode in six months. So when I sat down with today's guest, my cup was full. And I loved everything about it. Maureen Cook is someone I met two years ago and I instantly felt connected to her story. With the recent launch of her family's campaign, Dave Gives Back, Maureen was ready to begin sharing her story publicly.

Today, Maureen talks about her husband, Dave, an accomplished mountain climber who's zest for life and adventure impacted everyone around him. When tragedy struck their family, Maureen had to navigate leading their three children through incredible loss as well as picking up the reins of Dave's new company.

Through their experience, Maureen and her children saw the selfless efforts of search and rescue volunteers that place themselves in dangerous situations to help those in need. They created Dave GIves Back to raise funds and awareness for these volunteers and mountain safety education.

Maureen lovingly shares the story of Dave's life. I have no doubt you will be blessed by this conversation.

December. Did you think we'd make it? Many would say this has been the world's longest year. The hardest year. The most frustrating year. The wackiest year. And while we may agree on some of these descriptions, I hope we can all find some good that came from this year. 

We slowed down. Albeit it was a forced slow down, but in our house we noticed one another. We created together, adventured together, found new ways to do church, school, work, birthday celebrations and even doctor's visits. 

As hard as it's been to be separated from family for so long, we formed a family with neighbors that encouraged one another, met each other's needs, traded canned goods and shared toilet paper. We've celebrated an entire year's worth of holidays with those we live right next to.

Today's guest has formed a family with those around her for the last several years. Jen Ludlow is an old friend that has lived the expat life in a few different countries. Her family has experienced rich cultures and traditions and formed community with folks very far from home.

Jen shares the hard parts of being alone and feeling different in unfamiliar surroundings and reveals the extraordinary blessings God had planned for her family. 

I pray this episode encourages you to look at the challenges you've faced this year and recognize the good work God has done in ways you least expected.

Fall is my favorite season. Growing up in Houston, we seldom had cool days and leaves never turned the amazing colors I'd see in magazines. Our "pumpkin patches" consisted of dirt fields where trucks would offload pumpkins grown in other parts of the country. God gave other places the right soil and climate to generate all the beauty of fall-but I loved it anyway.

Now that I'm back in Texas again, it doesn't feel right to decorate for the season until it cools down a bit. My sweaters and boots are taunting me in my closet. But this weekend, my girls and I couldn't wait any longer. We outfitted in the house in shades of orange, gold, and cream, lit pumpkin spice candles, and baked warm and spicy cookies.

My guest today shares a similar love for fall and turns out she lives right here in my new town and even grew up not far from me in Houston! Sharron Davis is the Executive Director of Solace Retreat, a destination that provides respite, support, resources, and community for families who experience loss due to sudden physical trauma. My neighbor recently told me about Sharron's ministry and I wanted to know more.

We sat down and Sharron began to unpack her story. We talk about the life she and her husband Matt created and the sudden turn she experienced five years ago. Friends, God will use you and your story for His glory. You will want to share this one with a friend.

Although we've been home most of this year, we still have been able to stay connected to those we love thanks to our smartphones and social media. You know what I haven't given much thought to recently? That I can still have conversations with my friends and family, but meeting new people has essentially stopped. 

I met today's guests in an unexpected way. Six days later, I sat down with fellow Texas podcasters, Jay and Jess Norman. We connected right away and I can say I have great new friends that I've never met in person! 

The Norman's are farmers and since I lived in America's heartland for so many years, we bonded over sweet corn instantly! The hosts of the Moving On podcast each walked through difficult seasons of life with separation, divorce, and single-parenting. After marrying four years ago, they began blending their families. Jess and Jay speak from their hearts about the challenges of connecting with stepchildren and navigating parenting in their new family dynamic. 

We talk a lot about relationships and how they've learned that without grace, tensions can escalate quickly and become tugs-of-war that are difficult to overcome. The Norman's coined the hashtag #droptherope which has given me a new perspective on stopping a crucial conversation before it becomes an exchange I regret.

Friends, you're going to love Jess and Jay as much as I do, and I think you'll learn so much wisdom from their experiences. Enjoy today's conversation and be sure to share it with a friend!

I don't know about you, but there's a few things I miss. Lipstick, jewelry, coffee dates, and I'd probably say, cleaning wipes. We've gone without some of our favorite things for a long time now.

A few weeks ago, we had to tighten up again because numbers were going bonkers. The highlight of our day is a car trip through a local drive-thru to satisfy our cravings for sweet iced tea.

The complexities of 2020 seem to continue to pile up and tensions about returning to school are escalating. Even in our own home we are asking, do we buy school supplies? Are back to school clothes even needed?

Like my family, you may be wondering how can we communicate without killing each other. Why is he acting that way or why is she talking like that? We continue to consult the enneagram to try to navigate how we are interacting with one another in this season.

For our final episode in our quarantine series, we take listener questions and ask our guest, enneagram teacher, David Bell. David has great insights and I'm sure you'll find lots of useful information to take away!

We miss our friends! We are more than ready to get back to work on the Spoken Freely podcast. Given the events of the last several weeks, we felt it was important to stay quiet, to listen, to learn, and reflect. 

Today's episode is a bit different as we ease back into our routine. Kevin and I talk about recent happenings in our nation and local communities. We share about how we are guiding discussions in our home with our children and how we are navigating our exposure to media that we all experience daily.

We feel it is important you know what we believe here at Spoken Freely Ministries and encourage you to connect with us any time. 

Friends, we made it! We made it to the end of May! These last three months may have felt like some of the longest months of our lives, but WE ARE GETTING THROUGH SOME TOUGH THINGS. Summer is right at our doorstep and while it may look a little different this year, there are still all kinds of ways we can make memories with those we love.

We are on our third episode during quarantine and I am loving the conversations we are having here on the Spoken Freely podcast! Last year, we did a mini series on the enneagram with Enneagram Insight teacher, David Bell. He is back to take us through how our numbers may be impacted by this pandemic.

David helps us understand how stress can influence our responses and actions and why although we identify with one number, we may be feeling and acting in ways that are not typical for us. He breaks down the complexity of the enneagram, providing clarity for us as we seek to understand ourselves and one another. 

If you are new to the enneagram and want to know more about my conversation with David, I encourage you to check out our 4 part series from last spring as well as on Facebook @DavidBellEgram. 

Enjoy my conversation with David!

Every morning when I wake up, I have to think really hard about what day it is. Then I make the tough decision: green joggers or black joggers. Top knot or just unbrushed mess? Do you find yourself making the same three decisions in the midst of this monotony? Does everyday feel like Friday?

Well friends, we are two months into quarantine and just this week, restaurants have opened to a slim capacity and some shops are allowing a handful of customers at time, encouraging face masks and cleaning continually. It's still weird, even after all these weeks.

I'm so grateful for daily conversations with friends that remind me that I'm not on this journey alone. None of us are. In fact, it is the encouragement of others that maintains my sanity and lifts my spirits. Today, we meet with a few guests that share their quarantine experiences thus far. Hearing their perspectives will nudge you to seek the good in what's happening around us.

Our first guest is Meleice VonMinden, an old and dear friend that I haven't spoken to in years! At the start of lockdown, Meleice and her family make a huge life change-a move across the country in a pandemic. We talk about anxiety and panic, unsettling feelings that can take over at a moment's notice. Meleice shares how God has been so kind to show her His goodness throughout this challenging experience.

You've probably heard some fantastic ways to celebrate high school seniors during this seemingly disappointing end to a major milestone. We talk with high school senior, Cambrie Luce. She tells how many are navigating these emotional days, hoping for graduations and proms to happen later this year.

The last two guests of this episode are living out shelter-in-place right in my own home! My two girls, Bella and Caia, talk about the adjustments we've all had to make being at home for days on end. We dish on the positives and negatives of at-home learning and reveal what are some new practices we hope do not "go back to normal."

Everyone has a story being written during this unsettling time. Pause and notice the good around you. Use your stories to bless and encourage someone else this week!

When I woke up, I could hear the rustling of leaves from trees blowing in the wind outside my window. I heard songs of the neighborhood regulars, the birds that frequent the feeder swinging from our live oak tree. The sun was bright, and the sky was clear. 

You know what? I can't say that I pay attention to much of the outside details when I'm preparing to leave the house for work each day. But quarantine? That's changed everything about my routine; from how and when I wake up, to what I wear, to if I even brush my hair. Now, I even have to wait in line for my own coffee pot!

My guess is, a lot about this life has changed for you, too these last few weeks. We see images in the media, we hear stories from the news, neighbors, and our social media feeds. We know some people felt the strain of a suddenly changing economy early on. We commiserate with other moms and dads on the new territory of homeschool. 

Last week, God laid on my heart the idea for the next two episodes of the Spoken Freely podcast. I sit down with different women and have conversations about life in quarantine. One is a small business owner who's had to make significant changes. Abby McKinney, owner of Ella Mae's Boutique in Indiana, shares the realities of how shelter-in-place affects our local stores.

Then I visit with a guest we've learned from before, Sarah Goodman. The Tackling the Clutter organization expert is back to talk about the gift of time. We've been given weeks of it. How are we using it? She talks about the pressures to accomplish big tasks and what's realistic for each of us. She points out that our kids have been given this same gift and how we can make this time meaningful for them as well.

Friends, I hope you find wisdom in today's episode. I can't wait for you to hear from these two women. 

Birthdays are a big deal in my family. My mom always celebrated BIG and I've carried that on with my own kids. We even celebrate our half birthdays with half a cupcake, half a candle, and we sing half of the happy birthday song. Even our dog Max gets a birthday party.

We can't believe it's been ONE YEAR since we launched the Spoken Freely ministry and podcast. In today's episode, we recap some of our favorite items of the week, takeaways from several episodes, and thoughts from what we've learned this past year.

Would you celebrate with us? We wouldn't have a podcast if it wasn't for fabulous listeners like you. We are so grateful for all God is doing through the stories of our amazing guests and for the encouragement of those who listen!

The best birthday gift we could receive is you sharing your favorite episode with a friend!