In this episode we take a look back at the life story of Kristy Keeter and highlight some of parts of her story that spoke to us. The special guest is Cindy's husband, Billy Foote. Originally Billy's sister was set to be the special guest but thanks to Covid-19 "Shelter in Place" rules we could not meet. So Billy offered to step in. We end with an inspiring Conversation Challenge for meaningful conversation around your dinner table.

Sponsors: Ignite: www.ignite-now.com Poro Coffee: www.porocoffee.com

Credits: Founder, Writer, and Host: Cindy Foote Producer: Josh Walker of www.onefiftymusic.com Web Design: Taylor Law Logo Design: Alicia Cartrite Website Photography: Jackie Maldanado

Social Media: FB: www.facebook.com/thestorykeypodcast IG: www.instagram.com/thestorykeypodcast Website: www.thestorykey.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cindy-foote

Contact Cindy with comments/questions at [email protected] Merch Link for T-shirt and Stickers www.thestorykey.com/swag

In this episode we hear from Kristy Keeter. Kristy shares her difficult life story beginning with growing up with alcoholic parents. There was a lot of dysfunction that shaped how she saw herself and who she would eventually become.

Kristy shares about her first marriage and first born son, Kylar.

• Divorce
• 5 miscarriages
• Birth of middle two children: Braydon and McKenna

And the second half of her story is focused on the birth and special needs life of her youngest daughter, Gracie. Gracie has Birk Barel Mental Retardation Dysmorphism Syndrome.

Sponsors: Ignite Consulting: www.ignite-now.com Poro Coffee: www.porocoffee.com

Credits: Founder, Writer, and Host: Cindy Foote Producer: Josh Walker of One Fifty Music.com Web Design: Taylor Law Logo Design: Alicia Cartrite Website Photography: Jackie Maldanado

Social Media: FB: www.facebook.com/thestorykeypodcast IG: www.instagram.com/thestorykeypodcast Website: www.thestorykey.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cindy-foote

Contact Cindy with comments/questions at [email protected]

Merch Link for T-shirt and Stickers www.thestorykey.com/swag

We begin with news of a new podcast producer and a shoutout to our two sponsors for season one. In the intro I also explain why the planned special guest, Amy Remling, was unable to join us (thanks a lot flu, quarantine and spring break). Libby Foote, my first daughter, stepped in as our special guest as we take a look back on the stories of Debbie and Vicki from Episode 10.

Libby tells us a little bit about herself and her thoughts on the 2020 quarantine and then we chat about how Debbie and Vicki surprised us and inspired us.

We end with a Conversation Challenge: 1 fun idea and 3 creative questions you can use around your dinner table. Enjoy!

Sponsors: Ignite: www.ignite-now.com Poro Coffee: www.porocoffee.com

Credits: Founder, Writer, and Host: Cindy Foote Producer: Josh Walker of www.onefiftymusic.com Web Design: Taylor Law Logo Design: Alicia Cartrite Website Photography: Jackie Maldanado

Social Media: FB: www.facebook.com/thestorykeypodcast IG: www.instagram.com/thestorykeypodcast Website: www.thestorykey.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cindy-foote

Contact Cindy with comments/questions at [email protected]

Merch Link for T-shirt and Stickers www.thestorykey.com/swag

In this episode, we have the opportunity to hear about living with Down Syndrome from two different perspectives. Debbie Chandler has Mosaic Down Syndrome, is in her late 50's and is the author of two published poems. Vicki Cabrera is the acting president of the Panhandle Down Syndrome Guild and mom to two sons, Gentry and Phillip. Phillip has a unique form of Down Syndrome different than Debbie's.

First, we hear from Debbie who amazed me with her ability to articulate her life and experience with Down Syndrome. Then we hear from Vicki about her PHDSG organization and life as a mom raising a son with Down Syndrome.

Two Mentioned and Recommended Books:

1. Angel Unaware by Dale Evans
2. A Room of Golden Shells: 100 Works by Artists and Writers with Down Syndrome

Quick Episode Summary:

• Meet Debbie!
• When Debbie was diagnosed
• Debbie's best childhood memories
• When Debbie feels left out
• Debbie's love story
• Meet Vicki
• How Vicki serves the down syndrome community
• Vicki's story
• Vicki's advice for you
• What NOT to say to a family with a child with down syndrome
• What Debbie wants you to take away from her story

Credits:

• Founder, Writer, and Host: Cindy Foote
• Producer: Cassidyy Atkins of Creative Podcast Co.
• Web Design: Taylor Law
• Logo Design: Alicia Cartrite
• Website Photography: Jackie Maldanado

Social Media:

• FB: www.facebook.com/thestorykeypodcast
• IG: www.instagram.com/thestorykeypodcast
• Website: www.thestorykey.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cindy-foote

Contact Cindy with comments/questions at [email protected]

Merch Link for T-shirt and Stickers www.thestorykey.com/swag

I introduce Dana Curtis as our special guest and together we tackle the challenging life story of Tania. The book referenced in this episode is called "About Us: Essays from the Disability Series of the New York Times.

Quote from Essay "How to Really See a Blind Person" by Brad Snyder

"For the first time in a while, I didn't feel like a spectacle or an outcast. I felt like a friend and an important part of someone else's journey. I felt valued, needed and involved, and all it took was a conversation. I realized that I'm not alone in being alone. Sometimes people ask me what I want others to know about being blind. I want others to feel more comfortable having conversations with people whose experiences are different from their own...Through talking, we find humanity...How do we do it? It all starts with a conversation "What's your story?"

Book Mentioned:

About Us Essays Disability

Quick Episode Summary:

• Dana's first reaction to Tania story
• When Cindy first heard Tania story
• The power of forgiveness
• Did Tania have a childhood?
• The effects childhood trauma has on your body
• When silence is the best gift
• How Tania broke the cycle 
• The moment that brought Cindy and Dana joy
• This weeks conversation challenge

Credits:

• Founder, Writer, and Host: Cindy Foote
• Producer: Cassidyy Atkins of Creative Podcast Co.
• Web Design: Taylor Law
• Logo Design: Alicia Cartrite
• Website Photography: Jackie Maldanado

Social Media:

• FB: www.facebook.com/thestorykeypodcast
• IG: www.instagram.com/thestorykeypodcast
• Website: www.thestorykey.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cindy-foote

Contact Cindy with comments/questions at [email protected]

Merch Link for T-shirt and Stickers www.thestorykey.com/swag

Trigger Warning: This episode includes content regarding child sexual abuse.

Tania is blind. She began losing her vision at 8 due to early-onset macular degeneration. But Tania's story is about more than the loss of vision. It's also about her loss of innocence. Tania was raised in an extremely unstable home with multiple, abusive and/or alcoholic step-fathers over the years and an alcoholic mother. Tania shares about forgiveness, adapting to being blind, marriage struggles and her love for Scripture by way of a unique marriage.

Quick Episode Summary:

• Meet Tania
• A look into Tania's childhood
• How Tania's eye site was damaged
• When Tania experienced sexual abuse
• How Tania started to walk in forgiveness
• Why Tania had a hard time trusting God
• When Tania started getting visions
• When Tania competed in the blind Olympics
• Tania's first marriage
• The advantage of being blind
• Cindy's biggest takeaways

Credits:

• Founder, Writer, and Host: Cindy Foote
• Producer: Cassidyy Atkins of Creative Podcast Co.
• Web Design: Taylor Law
• Logo Design: Alicia Cartrite
• Website Photography: Jackie Maldanado

Social Media:

• FB: www.facebook.com/thestorykeypodcast
• IG: www.instagram.com/thestorykeypodcast
• Website: www.thestorykey.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cindy-foote

Contact Cindy with comments/questions at [email protected]

Merch Link for T-shirt and Stickers www.thestorykey.com/swag

In this episode, I take a look back on Karen's story and life theme. Karen said her life theme is that she loved well. While I can't say what that looked like for her family, I can share what that looked like for me as her friend. Karen made several simple, but intentional, decisions to bring me into her life and develop a friendship. We can all choose to be a "Karen" to others. I also take note of Karen's honesty and this leads us into our Conversation Challenge: "How honest are you willing to be about yourself, with yourself? With others?" Near the end is a special bonus: A love letter from Tom to Karen. They've been married 56 years!

Ignite: www.ignite-now.com Book your complimentary discovery session today and you'll receive a FREE DISC assessment. DISC is a tool to help you discover your own communication style and the styles of others to help you reach a different level of connection in all relationships. At work and at home.

Poro Coffee: An Amarillo Coffee Company that works to give voice to displaced people. Order your coffee today at: www.porocoffee.com

• Essays from the Disability Series of the New York Times

Credits:

• Founder, Writer, and Host: Cindy Foote
• Producer: Cassidyy Atkins of Creative Podcast Co.
• Web Design: Taylor Law
• Logo Design: Alicia Cartrite
• Website Photography: Jackie Maldanado

Social Media:

• FB: www.facebook.com/thestorykeypodcast
• IG: www.instagram.com/thestorykeypodcast
• Website: www.thestorykey.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cindy-foote

Contact Cindy with comments/questions at [email protected]

Merch Link for T-shirt and Stickers www.thestorykey.com/swag

Karen is 75 years old and comes to this interview with a storehouse of wisdom and perspective on life, raising children, marriage and friendship. Karen shares her life story which includes raising two daughters, one with special needs. When asked what the major theme of her life is she said, "I loved well." But she is also honest... loving well doesn't mean loving perfectly. She made mistakes, but she kept moving forward and made it right.

Quick Episode Summary:

• Meet Karen!
• Karen's childhood
• What Karen's mom was like
• When Karen met Tom
• When Karen's family got saved
• When Karen's daughter was diagnosed
• What it was like raising a child with mental disabilities
• One of Karen's biggest moments with God
• Karen's best marriage advice

Credits:

• Founder, Writer, and Host: Cindy Foote
• Producer: Cassidyy Atkins of Creative Podcast Co.
• Web Design: Taylor Law
• Logo Design: Alicia Cartrite
• Website Photography: Jackie Maldanado

Social Media:

• FB: www.facebook.com/thestorykeypodcast
• IG: www.instagram.com/thestorykeypodcast
• Website: www.thestorykey.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cindy-foote

Contact Cindy with comments/questions at [email protected]

Merch Link for T-shirt and Stickers www.thestorykey.com/swag

In today's conversation challenge, we will discuss Sylvia's story from the previous episode... but with a twist. Sylvia mentioned she would love to have her son, Matthias, tell his own autism story. So we called up Matthias and his sister, Mikayla, and they agreed to be our special guests. Hearing about autism from someone who personally lives with it and from his sibling is invaluable. And we think you'll find their perspectives fresh, funny, honest and full.of.hope! Sylvia, you've done so well and are so loved.

Don't miss the end of the conversation challenge. We must ask ourselves, "What are we scared of?" The challenge: To say Hello, Good Morning, or Good-Bye with eye contact more often. We can begin getting comfortable with initiating a conversation by choosing to notice people with simple greetings and good-byes, with our words and with our eyes. Who knows how meaningful your simple hello maybe to someone secretly hurting today?

Quick Episode Summary:

• Meet Matthias and Mikayla!
• What it's like to have an autistic sibling
• What autism is like first hand
• What school was like for Matthias
• When Matthias started driving
• What you can do to make an autistic kid feel loved
• What we can learn from The Joker
• How Matthias affected Mikayla's friendships
• What to NOT say to families affected by autism
• What are we afraid of?
• Cindy's biggest takeaways
• What's coming up next on The Story Key

In this episode, Sylvia colorfully and authentically shares about life and raising a son with autism.

Quick Episode Summary:

• Welcome, Sylvia!
• Silvia's childhood
• How Sylvia met her husband
• When Sylvia got pregnant
• Sylvia's battle with postpartum
• When Sylvia and Rick received the diagnose
• What life with an autistic child is like
• How to help the autistic community
• When Sylvia's son suffered from suicidal thoughts
• What life is like now
• What Sylvia would tell her younger self

Ignite: www.ignite-now.com Book your complimentary discovery session today and you'll receive a FREE DISC assessment. DISC is a tool to help you discover your own communication style and the styles of others to help you reach a different level of connection in all relationships. At work and at home.

Poro Coffee: An Amarillo Coffee Company that works to give voice to displaced people. Order your coffee today at: www.porocoffee.com

• Essays from the Disability Series of the New York Times

Credits:

• Founder, Writer, and Host: Cindy Foote
• Producer: Cassidyy Atkins of Creative Podcast Co.
• Web Design: Taylor Law
• Logo Design: Alicia Cartrite
• Website Photography: Jackie Maldanado

Social Media:

• FB: www.facebook.com/thestorykeypodcast
• IG: www.instagram.com/thestorykeypodcast
• Website: www.thestorykey.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cindy-foote

Contact Cindy with comments/questions at [email protected]

Merch Link for T-shirt and Stickers www.thestorykey.com/swag