Hello friend and welcome back to Work and Play with Nancy Ray! I'm Nancy, your host, and today we are doing something that I love doing every January, which is the State of the Podcast episode. This is where I get to look back at last year, celebrate some fun moments, and also share what I'm dreaming up for 2026.

Resources from this episode:

Dwell Bible App Discount

Work and Play Episode 279 : A Fun Summer Announcement

Work and Play Episode 280 : Two Roosters with Jared Plummer

Work and Play Episode 300 : Episode 300!

Work and Play Episode 271 : Winnie's Birth Story

Work and Play Episode 281 : Traveling with Kids : 3 Lists and All My Tips

Work and Play Episode 292 : 40 for 40 with Will Ray

Work and Play Episode 293 : 7 Weekend Rhythms We Live By

Work and Play Episode 296 : My 12 Week Year Planning Process

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Nancy Ray Book Club

Work and Play Survey

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Visit my Amazon Cornerstore!

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

Well friend, I've made it all the way to episode 300 and today's episode is a Q&A with my listeners. I'm so excited!

Resources from this episode:

Dwell Bible App Discount

Episode 223 : I Read the Bible in a Month

Episode 232 : A Year of Sabbaths with Will Ray : Part 1

Episode 233 : A Year of Sabbaths with Will Ray : Part 2

Made for People by Justin Whitmel Earley

A'Del Cosmetics

Timeless Book Series by Gabrielle Meyer

Kindle Paperwhite

Trello

Midliners

The Contentment Challenge

Episode 003 : The Contentment Challenge

Episode 004 : Seasons of Business

Episode 286 : 3 Lessons from Charlie Kirk

Psalm 73:25-26

Shepherd's Way Farms

Too Good by Jess Ray

Positive Parenting Solutions

Brick Device

Meeting with Jesus by David Murray

Rhythms Reset

Send Nancy an audio message!

Join my email list!

Visit my Amazon Cornerstore!

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

Merry Christmas! Can you believe we are here?! This episode is a little different. I am going to be sharing three really beautiful prayers that you can listen to as you'd like this week. One prayer is for the start of the Christmas season. Another is for the preparation of a meal and another is for wrapping gifts.

Resources from this episode:

Every Moment Holy by Douglas Kaine McKelvey

Rhythms Reset

Send Nancy an audio message!

Dwell Bible App Discount

Join my email list!

Visit my Amazon Cornerstore!

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

Today I'm sharing all about my favorite books from 2025.

Resources from this episode:

Every Moment Holy

Rhythms Reset

Nancy Ray Book Club

Work & Play Episode 266 : 2025 Book List

On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni

The Blooming of Delphinium by Holly Varni

Smart Brevity by Jim VandeHei

The Opt-Out Family by Erin Loechner

The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

40 Days of Decrease by Alicia Britt Chole

Anonymous by Alicia Britt Chole

Underestimated by Mary Marantz

Work & Play Episode 269 : Underestimated with Mary Marantz

Born to Eat by Leslie Schilling

Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin

The If I Run Series by Terri Blackstock

Restoration Series by Terri Blackstock

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen by Kate Strickler

Work & Play Episode 283 : I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen with Kate Strickler

Love Your Life by Rachel Awtrey

Work & Play Episode 282 : Love Your Life with Rachel Awtrey

My Name is Ashler Lev by Chaim Potok

When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin

A Cross-Country Christmas

Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

Polyanna by Eleanor H. Porter

The Mystwick School of Musicraft by Jessica Khoury

The Timeless Series Book 1 by Gabrielle Meyer

Follow me on Goodreads!

Send Nancy an audio message!

Dwell Bible App Discount

Join my email list!

Visit my Amazon Cornerstore!

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

You may have heard of my Contentment Challenge where I give up shopping for anything extra in my life for three months straight. Today's episode, I want to challenge and encourage you with four reasons you might consider doing the Contentment Challenge in 2026.

Resources from this episode:

The Contentment Challenge

Dwell Bible App Discount

Work & Play Episode 003 : The Contentment Challenge

Rhythms Reset

Send Nancy an audio message!

Join my email list!

Visit my Amazon Cornerstore!

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

Are you feeling like you need some encouragement as you are looking ahead to 2026? Do you love planning your year or maybe not so much? Do you need a good look at the rhythms in your life that serve you, bring you closer to the Lord, and ultimately help you carry out God's assignment for you? This episode is for you.

Resources from this episode:

Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung

Rhythms Reset

Living Fearless by Jamie Winship

The 12 Week Year

Send Nancy an audio message!

Dwell Bible App Discount

Join my email list!

Visit my Amazon Cornerstore!

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

This episode is for the mom who is overwhelmed by all the stuff in your house. All the kids' toys, clutter, stuffed animals, and tiny pieces. I see you. I am you. Maybe you can pop in some earbuds and just be encouraged today. You are not alone. This is part of our duty as mamas to take care of the stuff in our house. You've got this!

Resources from this episode:

Send Nancy an audio message!

Dwell Bible App Discount

Clear Plastic Toy Organizers

Large Storage Bins

Rhythms Reset

Join my email list!

Visit my Amazon Cornerstore!

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

I'm doing something new today and I have made an episode for the whole family. So you don't have to listen to this in your earbuds. You can push "play" while you're riding in the car and listen because this is all about thanksgiving and how we can practice gratitude.

Melody Beattie said:

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life."

That is what we're talking about today.

Resources from this episode:

Dwell Bible App Discount

Rhythms Reset

Send Nancy an audio message!

Join my email list!

Visit my Amazon Cornerstore!

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

During the week, we work, but during the weekends, we play. Today's episode is all about seven weekend rhythms that we live by.

Resources from this episode:

Dwell Bible App Discount

Shabbat Candles

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero

Art for Kids Hub

The Family Teams Podcast

Magnetic Whiteboard

Wet Erase Markers

Anchored Women

Rhythms Reset

Send Nancy an audio message!

Join my email list!

Visit my Amazon Cornerstore!

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

My incredible husband, Will, turns 40 today and I am so excited to have him on the podcast! He is going to give you forty pieces of wisdom for his 40th birthday, or as we like to call it, "40 for 40 will Will Ray."

Resources from this episode:

Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson

Episode 070 - Crucial Conversations

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Harry Potter Series

Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington

​Proverbs 22:7

Proverbs 11:25

God and Money by John Cortines

Financial Peace University

Parenting by Paul David Tripp

Unsung Hero Movie

The Family Teams Podcast

The Compound Effect by Darren Harden

Proverbs 4:7

F3 Nation

Colossians 3:23

Proverbs 3:13

Send Nancy an audio message!

Dwell Bible App Discount

Rhythms Reset

Join my email list!

Visit my Amazon Cornerstore!

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!