Once a month this year, we'll have an essay from me with some thoughts and ideas I am processing in real time, and we call those Always Annie episodes because I am, in fact, Always Annie. 

Last month, I told you how much Nashville means to me and how it feels to have my heart living in two cities right now. I am here today in New York City, the other city I call home and the other city that holds my heart.

Two days ago, we released Where Did TJ Go?, a children’s book about grief and loss but more important to me, a book about my nephews Sam and TJ. TJ was born in June of 2022 and died later that summer. I already loved New York then, but it never crossed my mind to consider this city my home...

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TSF Seasons Guidebook is available for you over at anniefdowns.com/seasons that will lead you through this entire year as well. When you purchase it, you’ll get a download of all of the questions and prompts for the winter season, and then we’ll email the content for each new season as it begins. 

. . . . .

Find the show notes here

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! 

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Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests!

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If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

. . . . .

If you liked this episode, here's last month's: Always Annie: I Love Nashville – Episode 954

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NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends.

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Today on the show, I get to introduce you to my sister, Tatum Green, and we’re also joined by David Thomas, whom you know and love from Daystar Counseling and the Raising Boys and Girls podcast.

Together, we’re going to share with you the story of my nephew, TJ, and why we wanted to put this brand new book, Where Did TJ Go? in your hands.

We keep saying this is a book we wish no one needed, but so many families do, and that was our reality as a family in 2022 when we realized we couldn’t find the right book to read to my nephew, Sam, about losing his baby brother.

We absolutely have the hope of heaven, but grief and loss can make it feel like it’s always winter and it will never end, so if you’re taking notes in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 19, and we’ve given space to process today as you listen.

. . . . .

Find the show notes here

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! 

. . . . .

Catch our special miniseries over on Annie’s miniBFF podcast for these weeks leading up to the release of Where Did TJ Go? It’s about Who We Are. Why We Are Here, and Where We Are Going. Be sure to subscribe for the miniBFFs in your life.

. . . . .

Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests!

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. . . . .

Thank you to our sponsors!

HiyaHealth: My friends receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. 

BetterHelp: Discover your relationship “green flags”, with BetterHelp.Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month.

Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter my code TSF at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide.

 . . . . .

If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

. . . . .

If you liked this episode you may also like So Happy to Know You! Behind the Scenes of Launching a Children’s Book!

. . . . .

NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re big Popcast fans around here at AFD Inc, and I honestly can’t believe it’s taken us this long to get Erin on the show. If you aren’t already obsessed with our podcasting cousins over at the PMG, then let me tell you more about Erin. She’s a writer, podcaster, and storyteller. She is the Resident Bible Scholar and host of the Faith Adjacent podcast, and senior creative at Popcast Media Group and her very first book, I’ve Got Questions just came out! 

Today we talk about it along with everything from aging and makeup to doing life with people we don’t always agree with. 

If you’re taking notes in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 18.

. . . . .

Show notes

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! 

. . . . .

Pre-order Annie's new children's book Where Did TJ Go?

. . . . .

Catch our special miniseries over on Annie’s miniBFF podcast for these weeks leading up to the release of Where Did TJ Go? It’s about Who We Are. Why We Are Here, and Where We Are Going. Be sure to subscribe for the miniBFFs in your life 

. . . . .

Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests!

#thatsoundsfunpodcast

. . . . .

Thank you to our sponsors!

AG1: AG1 is offering new subscribers a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You’ll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. So make sure to check out DrinkAG1.com/soundsfun to get this offer!

BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month.

Thrive Causemetics:  Right now, my friends can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/TSF. 

. . . . .

If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

. . . . .

If you liked this episode you may also like: TSF Couples 2019: Knox McCoy + Jamie Golden from The Popcast

 . . . . .

NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, Raechel Myers and Amanda Bible Williams from She Reads Truth are BACK for their *sweet sixteenth* episode! You know we love to talk about the church calendar around here and the way it guides our seasons. So today we're talking about Lent and digging into what the seasons are inside this winter season. 

The interesting thing about lent is that it takes us from winter to spring, so what does that mean for our spiritual lives? Our prayer lives? This is a note taking episode for sure so grab your journal or your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 17.

*Use code ANNIELENT for 15% off their Lent collection!* 

. . . . .

TSF Seasons Guidebook is available for you over at anniefdowns.com/seasons that will lead you through this entire year as well. When you purchase it, you’ll get a download of all of the questions and prompts for the winter season, and then we’ll email the content for each new season as it begins. 

. . . . .

Find the show notes here

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! 

. . . . .

Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single?

. . . . .

Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests!

#thatsoundsfunpodcast

. . . . .

Thank you to our sponsors!

BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month.

WayFair: Give your home the refresh it needs with Wayfair. Head to Wayfair.com right now.

Hiya Health: Go to hiyahealth.com/THATSOUNDSFUN for 50% off your first order.

Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter my code TSF at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide.

Ritual: Get 25% off your first month for a limited time at ritual.com/THATSOUNDSFUN

. . . . .

If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

. . . . .

NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, I get to keep talking with your pal and mine, Eddie Kaufholz. He needs no introduction around here, but do we cover the hard-hitting questions like does a snowman count as Christmas decorations or can they be part of just general winter decorations? 

We also talk a little bit about my new kids book coming out on grief and loss that I wrote with my sister, Tatum Green. You can find more info and preorder that here: Where Did TJ Go?

If you’re following along in the TSF Seasons Guidebook, there are no note-taking pages for this one BECAUSE WHY WOULD YOU NEED TO DOCUMENT THIS NONSENSE. But. There is a nice crossword puzzle on page 16 so if you want something to do with your hands while you listen, we’ve got you covered there! 

. . . . .

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! 

. . . . .

Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests!

#thatsoundsfunpodcast

. . . . .

If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

. . . . .

NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, I get to talk with Pastor Tyler Staton from Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon. He’s also the National Director of 24-7 Prayer USA and you know we love to talk about prayer around here so Tyler such is such a deep well on the topic. We’re going to talk about where God is in the winter and as we do we’re going to talk about his relationship with prayer and how he’s navigated praying in the middle of pain and a lot of unknown.

Tyler also has a new book releasing about the Holy Spirit and it is SO GOOD. It’s called The Familiar Stranger and this is one you’re really going to love.

If you’re taking notes in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 15. And if you’ve been on the fence about getting a copy, you still have plenty of time to jump in for Winter, so you can find that at anniefdowns.com/seasons.

. . . . .

Find the show notes here!

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! 

. . . . .

Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single?

. . . . .

Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests!

#thatsoundsfunpodcast

. . . . .

Thank you to our sponsors!

DailyLook:  Head to DailyLook.com to take your style quiz and use code THATSOUNDSFUN for 50% off your first order. 

Hiya Health: Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/THATSOUNDSFUN.

Thrive Causemetics: Right now, my friends can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/TSF. 

. . . . .

If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

. . . . .

If you liked this episode you may also like these:

NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year, every month, I’m going to be sharing one of these episodes, one of these stories, something that I am thinking about, wondering about, experiencing myself. Hence the reason we are going to call these “Always Annie”... because no matter the city I’m in or the situation I find myself in, I am, in fact, for better or for worse, Always Annie.

Today’s question, that I hope you will open your TSF Seasons Guidebook to page 14 and answer for yourself, is “How do I find cozy moments in this winter?”

. . . . .

TSF Seasons Guidebook is available for you over at anniefdowns.com/seasons that will lead you through this entire year as well. When you purchase it, you’ll get a download of all of the questions and prompts for the winter season, and then we’ll email the content for each new season as it begins. 

. . . . .

Find the show notes here!

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! 

. . . . .

Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single?

. . . . .

Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests!

#thatsoundsfunpodcast

. . . . .

If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

. . . . .

NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew and Ellie Holcomb are here and can you believe this is the first time they’ve ever been interviewed together?!

Today we talk about finding blessings in the winter, holding grief and joy, and seeing fruit after winter seasons. If you’re looking for a soundtrack for this season, Drew and Ellie have an album releasing on Friday that you. are. going. to. LOVE. It’s called Memory Bank and it’s coming your way this week, so you don’t have to wait long! Go pre-save it now and let’s plan to make it the soundtrack of winter!

If you’re taking notes in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 12. And if you’ve been on the fence about getting a copy, you still have plenty of time to jump in for Winter, so you can find that at anniefdowns.com/seasons.

. . . . .

Find the show notes here

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! 

. . . . .

Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single?

. . . . .

Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests!

#thatsoundsfunpodcast

. . . . .

Thank you to our sponsors!

AG1: Check out DrinkAG1.com/soundsfun to get a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You’ll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. 

Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter our code TSF at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide.

Hiya Health: Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. 

. . . . .

If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

. . . . .

NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I talk with my long-time friend Lindsay Sherbondy (or you may know her as Lindsay Letters). She’s a full-time artist, living just outside of Madison, Wisconsin with her husband, Dugan, and their two kids, Eva and Phoenix. Their world was turned upside down in August of 2019 when Eva sustained a traumatic brain injury, and as you can imagine, every day since has presented itself with new challenges and new beauty. Today Lindsay is generously sharing their story and it was an honor to get to hear her talk about the broken-heartedness of what they’ve walked through and I think you’re going to feel that too.

If you’re taking notes in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 11.

Shop Lindsay's amazing art at lindsayletters.co

. . . . .

TSF Seasons Guidebook is available for you over at anniefdowns.com/seasons that will lead you through this entire year as well. When you purchase it, you’ll get a download of all of the questions and prompts for the winter season, and then we’ll email the content for each new season as it begins. 

. . . . .

Find the show notes here

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! 

. . . . .

Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single?

. . . . .

Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests!

#thatsoundsfunpodcast

. . . . .

Thank you to our sponsors!

AG1: Check out DrinkAG1.com/soundsfun to get a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You’ll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. 

Thrive Causemetics: Thrive Causemetics is luxury beauty that gives back. Right now, my friends can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/TSF. 

. . . . .

If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

. . . . .

NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of our favorite pastors around is here- Pastor Mike Kelsey. As we were planning for this year on the podcast, we knew we wanted a pastor to help us set up each new season and give us a spiritual look at what it all means. SO WHAT AN ACTUAL GIFT that Pastor Mike is going to be here at the start of every season to help us really figure all of this out. Today, we’re going to talk about how we define winter in our own lives, and I cannot wait to see what God wants to teach us throughout this season. This is a note-taking episode for sure, because you know Pastor Mike is always bringing us some truth. (Guidebook page 10)

Today, Pastor Mike Kelsey is starting us off on our Seasons series talking about winter. He is here help us answer the question, “How do I define winter in my life?”

We have a TSF Seasons Guidebook available for you over at anniefdowns.com/seasons that will lead you through this entire year as well. When you purchase it, you’ll get a download of all of the questions and prompts for the winter season, and then we’ll email the content for each new season as it begins. 

. . . . .

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! 

. . . . .

Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single?

. . . . .

Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests!

#thatsoundsfunpodcast

. . . . .

Thank you to our sponsors!

AG1: You’ll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. So make sure to check out DrinkAG1.com/soundsfun to get this offer!

Daily Look: Head to DailyLook.com to take your style quiz and use code THATSOUNDSFUN for 50% off your first order.

Thrive Causemetics: Right now, my friends can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/TSF.

Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter my code TSF at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide. 

. . . . .

If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

. . . . .

NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices