Today By The Way

Yesterday’s bonus episode was about how Jesus changed everything in my life so today’s bonus episode is what that looks like, practically speaking, for me as a busy mom and for us as a family with little kids.  This is a bonus episode, so if we don't share the same faith or if you carry church hurt, please feel free to skip this. I'll see you Friday. Production this month was made possible by The Upper Room. Enjoy a free 30 day trial of their email or app service by visiting upperroom.org/welcome. An open thread to discuss this episode will be in our FB community, My Internet Besties. Wanna talk one on one? I'm here. DM me on Instagram @IndianaAdams.

Up top: Please know that I realize that there are people in our community who practice a different faith than I do and there are others who do not ascribe to any faith traditions at all. I also know that in a community the size of ours, there are people carrying around the heartache of being hurt or abused by the church, so personal stories about Christianity can be triggering. I am deeply sorry if that is you. Please protect your heart and opt out. We’ll be back Friday with our regularly scheduled content. I’m doing this episode because… well… because people keep asking me to. Because I’m a Christian and previously and currently work for companies that served the Christian segment of our population, a lot of our listeners happen to be Christians, as well. Every time I open up the podcast for questions or do an ask me anything on Instagram Live, I’m asked how I became a Christian. I’ve been reluctant to share because I think of TBTW as a lunch date with good friends instead of a stage for a sermon. All are welcome here. No matter who you are, I’ve saved you a seat. I’ve shared this story in bits and pieces with my church and my closest friends know the details, but I’ve never shared it in a public space, despite living somewhat publicly online most of my adult life. I hope you can hear it not as my story, but rather as God’s redeeming story in my life so far. Wanna talk? I'm here. DM me on Instagram @IndianaAdams.

It’s my birthday week! I thought I’d kick off this episode with how not great my 40th year has been… except when it comes to my skin! My adult skin hasn’t looked this good maybe ever and that’s because my skincare routine used to be: Step one: sometimes wipe my face off with a makeup remover wipe. Step two: There is no step two. Now I have lots of steps and I’m trying new makeup and honestly? It helps get me moving in the mornings.  Today’s episode is brought to us by The Upper Room. Enjoy a free 30 day trial of their email or app service by visiting upperroom.org/welcome. Find the full show notes at TodayByTheWay.com/episodes and connect with me on Instagram at  @indianaadams. Our FB community is My Internet Besties. Join us.

We’ve established that I was not a cool kid, right? Despite this, one day in 7th grade I decided to rap my student council speech. Today I discuss how I see a little bit of that in one of my kids and ponder if I might give her a heads up. Our #TBTWChallenge this week is to try something different with your makeup and our good time / good deal is super cheap bedding and J.Crew’s early access Black Friday 50% off sale. Today’s episode is brought to us by The Upper Room. Enjoy a free 30 day trial of their email or app service by visiting upperroom.org/welcome. Find the full show notes at TodayByTheWay.com/episodes and connect with me on Instagram at  @indianaadams. Our FB community is My Internet Besties. Join us.

I was making fun of the way Chris draws a star (guys, he starts at the top! I thought everyone started on the lower left!) and we started chatting about all the mundane things that we that others do differently. Toilet paper: over or under? Stars? Start at the top or lower left? Toothbrush: toothpaste goes on a wet brush or a dry brush? Brushing your teeth? Before or after breakfast? Mac & cheese: follow the directions on the box or do whatever? Seatbelt: buckle before you start the car or after? Which goes on first: socks or pants? Toilet paper (part 2): set number of squares or a wad that you’ve never counted? Toilet paper (part 3): More or less than seven squares? PB&J: Peanut butter on one side or on both slices?  Click over to the Today By The Way Instagram to settle these debates and see where you stand among our TBTW community.  Today’s episode is brought to us by The Upper Room. Enjoy a free 30 day trial of their email or app service by visiting upperroom.org/welcome. Find the full show notes at TodayByTheWay.com/episodes and connect with me on Instagram at  @indianaadams. Our FB community is My Internet Besties. Join us.

The is an entire episode in the format of our Good Time / Good Deal Section! Today and tomorrow Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Amazon are having Black Friday-esque sales. All the deals mentioned are linked at TBTW.IN/86.  Today’s episode is brought to us by The Upper Room. Enjoy a free 30 day trial of their email or app service by visiting upperroom.org/welcome. Find the full show notes at TodayByTheWay.com/episodes and connect with me on Instagram at  @indianaadams. Our FB community is My Internet Besties. Join us.

Warning: I say the word sexy a lot. Like a lot a lot. If you don’t want to have to answer “Mommy, what’s ‘sexy’ mean?” pop those headphones on.  If last week was the heaviest episode this is the lightest. Today I discuss our family’s Halloween history and then tell the story of when I found out that Sexy Halloween wasn’t just something from the movies.  Today’s episode is brought to us by The Upper Room. Enjoy a free 30 day trial of their email or app service by visiting upperroom.org/welcome. Find the full show notes at TodayByTheWay.com/episodes and connect with me on Instagram at  @indianaadams. Our FB community is My Internet Besties. Join us.

CONTENT ADVISORY: This is the heaviest episode we’ve had to date as we discuss emotional exhaustion, cancer, death, depression, and infant loss and grief. As a parent, I thought I knew tiredness, but collective exhaustion is a whole new kind of tiredness. If you’re feeling hardened and delicate, just know, you’re not alone.  Today’s episode is brought to us by The Upper Room. Enjoy a free 30 day trial of their email or app service by visiting upperroom.org/welcome. Find the full show notes at TodayByTheWay.com/episodes and connect with me on Instagram at  @indianaadams. Our FB community is My Internet Besties. Join us. If you or someone you know is suicidal or in emotional distress, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 1-800-273-TALK (8255) - TTY: 800-799-4889 or Live Online Chat.

Chris joins me for an unscripted, unedited conversation about autumn, the best month of the year, the worst exercise ever created, and how to give every person the best gift ever. Today’s episode is brought to us by The Upper Room. Enjoy a free 30 day trial of their email or app service by visiting upperroom.org/welcome. Find the full show notes at TodayByTheWay.com/episodes and connect with me on Instagram at  @indianaadams. Our FB community is My Internet Besties. Join us.

So American Girl just came out with a doll for their HISTORICAL line who is from 1986. Guess I’ll go lay down with the Crypt Keeper now. Just kidding. I plan to put myself on the Paul Rudd plan and just not age.  Today’s episode is brought to you by Better Help, the largest online counseling platform, worldwide. You can get 10% off your first month of counseling by visiting BetterHelp.com/indiana. Find the full show notes at TodayByTheWay.com/episodes and connect with me on Instagram at  @indianaadams. Our FB community is My Internet Besties. Join us.