Transcript
Speaker: Hello and welcome to the Girl I Slept In My Makeup podcast by three sisters who are at three different life stages and have three different perspectives. They're excited to learn and grow alongside of you. This is a space full of love and acceptance. No judgment, because let's face it, sleeping in your makeup is more than a podcast title. It's a reminder that we all mess up.
Speaker: So give yourself and others lots of grace. Please welcome my three little sisters, Lauren, Megan, and Kristen.
Speaker: Hey, sisters. Hey. Oh my gosh. I mean we talk all the time but we're recording so this is fun. It's been a while. oh Hey, listeners, we missed y 'all. Yes.
Speaker: but I think last time we... Chatted, we... Well, I guess our last episode was an amazing guest, Sarah. Yes. Yes.
Speaker: So that was fun. The one before that I was kind of deep in a. Hard. dark season. So I bet we're back. I'm back. Yeah. In case you're wondering. Yeah. We're alive.
Speaker: I feel like even more. Stuff has happened since then. Y 'all got to fill people in on what's going on in your lives. i know well let's start with them Most exciting first, Kristen. Yeah. The most ex exciting. Lauren had surgery. Oh, and no, that's not what I I'm just kidding.
Speaker: Let's start with the fun stuff. I'm pregnant. Yeah! yeah Oh my gosh. So fun. So we got back The week we got to Nashville, I got pregnant. So Michael jokes that he's only fertile in Nashville.
Speaker: That's powerful. True, technically. you know yeah yeah It's amazing. We'll tell everyone more. Well... like Oh, like that we found out the gender?
Speaker: Yeah. Well, we're having a little girl. what if it's wrong that would be crazy if it was wrong it would be crazy I know, because I'm like technically like... It could possibly be wrong, right? I don't know.
Speaker: Yeah. I guess so. yeah So. But we think we're having a girl. Yeah. Yes. Because we just did the blood test. Where I'm 13 weeks.
Speaker: Right now, so. It sounds like at 16 weeks is when you can actually start to tell the gender through ultrasound. so Yes, we'll confirm it in a few weeks.
Speaker: Yeah. well not only that y 'all started building a house and DFW and then you move back to Nashville. And then you're going to move back here. So I feel like you've been doing so much. I know, like give a high level update because since we last recorded, you've literally moved.
Speaker: Closed down a house, had an anniversary, got pregnant. Yeah. Found out it's a girl. We've had a lot going on. Yeah. We were back in Nashville for a while until our house got complete in Texas. And then we'll be.
Speaker: coming back to Texas, but we're keeping our house house in Nashville. So I guess we'll always have a little piece of Nashville with us. Yeah. And then we got pregnant and we found out it's, ah and I've been so sick. It's crazy. Cause I told my husband, I was like, Oh my God, if I had been this sick with my first, my son. I don't know if I would like want to get pregnant again. Because it's just been so tough. um But yeah, I've been.
Speaker: Very, very sick for like. I was basically bedridden for like a month. Like all I did could do was eat and sleep. Fur. four weeks, but I'm finally getting out of the trenches of that.
Speaker: And then, but I'm so, you know, I feel so bad like complaining because, you know, I think I've told y 'all like, oh my gosh, people are like trying so hard to get pregnant. And here I am pregnant complaining that I'm pregnant. So I am very thankful. But at the same time.
Speaker: It's hard. Yeah. Like two things can be true at once. It's okay. Yeah. Yes. And then I just found out last week that I have shingles. So that's another fun thing. Apparently that can happen like when you're pregnant, your immune system lowers and.
Speaker: Yeah. So now I have shingles, but thankfully we caught it in time to where I could start medication to help it not be as bad, I guess. But yeah, I didn't realize how painful shingles is. yeah that's right I haven't even checked on you since last week. How are you you doing with that? Is it?
Speaker: Good. I mean, luckily it didn't like spread anywhere else. It's that same spot on my left arm, but. It creates like really bad nerve pain. And so like my whole whole left arm and my left armpit.
Speaker: are just like really hurting. ah So I can't imagine what it'd be like if I hadn't gotten on treatment. like Yeah, how much worse. It would have could have been so I'm very, very thankful that I was able because apparently you only have three days.
Speaker: Like you have to catch it within three days and. that's the only time you can like do treatment I guess or that treatment is actually helpful Well, thank God you went to the gyno.
Speaker: I know. but God was watching out for me with that one. yeah Because I just thought it was, I have really severe eczema, you know? So I was like, oh, well, maybe. It's some kind of weird eczema thing is what I was.
Speaker: Thinking it was um oh it shingles. it's wild that's crazy wait can you hold it up in the video i want to see it Oh, it's covered. I have to keep it covered.
Speaker: So. Oh wow. That's so crazy. But I can send you a pick picture if you want to see it. yeah You know I do. Yeah. You know, I don't be grateful for.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, Megan doesn't. Also, I have a weird question for y 'all. This is like so out of the blue, but I. I love, do y 'all eat turkey sandwiches? Yeah.
Speaker: Yes. And dad actually. I was in Austin this past weekend, you know, and I went and saw dad. Yeah. Randomly made, he wanted to go to this restaurant. We showed up and it was closed. It was eight 30, but.
Speaker: And so we were eating kind of late. Well, late for me, early for him, I guess. yeah Anyways, he ended up making turkey sandwiches for us. It was the best turkey sandwich ever. he I've had it. You're right. He actually does make really good turkey sandwiches. Yeah, was like this is amazing.
Speaker: That's not fair. Who needs to make me one? Yeah. you Tell him to make, he'll make it for you if you tell him. What are you going to say about him? Well, I never did this. Michael always puts chips in his turkey sandwiches. And I had never seen someone do that. Really?
Speaker: No, I had never done that. And then he he does it all the time. And I was like, wait, I really want a bite of that, even though you're not supposed to have turkey when you're pregnant. But I was like, I have to have a bite of that. And I was like, oh my God, that's so good. Because most people do that.
Speaker: Yeah, that was like my childhood. i wrote chips Every sandwich that I ate. Mom never put chips in my sandwiches. Well, she would have put it in mine. I would add it to it. Oh, well, you never taught me that. Sorry.
Speaker: Yeah. Thanks for sharing the wealth of knowledge. I did it when I was older because I had friends that did it and I was like, oh, that's a good idea. Yeah. it's so good the crunch i know i was like wait why have i not always done this Yeah.
Speaker: We still do it. We have a... Jersey Mike's like walking distance from our house. Yeah. And so actually I ate that today. I got a bowl today, but. If I ever do get a sandwich there.
Speaker: Chris and I do that every time. Yeah, so if you haven't had chips on your turkey or any sandwich. Try it. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Well, it reminds me of like fries and. Heroes. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah. So good. Also very good. Yeah. fries on anything. Okay, Lauren, now your turn. Update. think Well... I just want to stop and acknowledge that Kristen, you just have so much. To be grateful for.
Speaker: Yeah. You know, like. you know you got your house in nashville rented you closed on a brand new badass house and Prosper. What is it, eight minutes for Megan? Yeah. yeah So cool. She's going to be sick of me. I'm just kidding. no I can't wait. I'm just going to come to your house from now on. Yeah.
Speaker: I know I was like well maybe on Fridays or something I can pick up your girls
Speaker: Yeah. And kind of recreate what mom would do. You know? Yeah. Having funeral girls on Fridays. Dad was so funny. He was like, I mean, Megan and her family, that house is so big. I mean, Megan and her family just need to move upstairs. Oh, yeah. He told me that too. He was like – Megan should just move in there with y 'all. I was like, okay, dad. Actually, I would be fine with it. I just don't think they would be. I mean, I'm kind of getting to the point where I'm like, maybe we should just save money. if i Just sell our house and save money for...
Speaker: A year or something. Let's do it. I don't know how Bobby would feel about it. Bobby would be miserable. He'd be scared Michael would be coming in on him in the bathroom every day. We'd have to have some strict rules that we like wrote down. Yeah.
Speaker: Oh my goodness. I would follow them. I'm more worried about Michael and Kendra. Yeah. So funny. Yeah. So cute. I love that. Oh. Well, let's see. Gosh.
Speaker: This year, I've... I've tagged as uninvited stillness for. For my season. And it started in February with. Just. um medical changes in our family that were Just not expected, sudden, traumatic.
Speaker: Dark. I'm just trying to be descriptive here. And then... Days later, I got out of the house to just go try to move my body because I was in a state of fight or flight.
Speaker: And within two minutes of tennis drills, I had my first ever injury and my tendon popped out of my bone socket on my wrist. Just a total fluke.
Speaker: where then the ball made contact. On my racket. And so. That happened February 22nd and I had surgery. So we tried to let it heal without surgery.
Speaker: That didn't work. And so I had surgery on August 12th. And so I was in a hard cast for six weeks and I just started PT last week. And so...
Speaker: Needless to say, it feels like. Basically since February 22nd, I haven't had a dominant arm. i did have I did have a little bit of time in between there where I was out of physical therapy the first go -round.
Speaker: And then pre -surgery. So I had a little bit of time in there where I did have function of my wrist. However, it felt like. the tendon was going to pop out at any moment. with some movements. So I have not touched a tennis racket since February. And I realized that It just brought me a lot of things out other than just, you know, physical.
Speaker: physical stuff. So yeah, um it's a community and I miss, I miss. Oh, yeah. there They say like, well, they say. I'm sure they say it about tennis, but like pickleball, they're like, it's literally therapy. it's Yes. Truly.
Speaker: So. Yeah, it's just been. A lot of stillness, like I said, uninvited and. But the one thing that... has remained constant is I really have felt God's presence.
Speaker: Near. The entire time. And even though there were some dark, scary days. Not with, not with my injury, just with others, other family medical stuff, but we are, it feels like we're on the other side of it. and One thing that, well, you know, I kept asking myself.
Speaker: Throughout this process, i was I would talk to God and just... cry to him and just ask him okay god what you know Open my eyes. What, what do you, what, a what's the lesson in this?
Speaker: What are you trying to get me to learn or see? and It wasn't until a few months ago where I felt, or maybe just a couple months ago, and I felt God just saying, Lauren, it doesn't always have to be a lesson. I just want you.
Speaker: Just come near and just get to know me. And so. Ironically or not ironically, my you know I do a Bible study every fall and spring semester. And they sent shortly after that, they sent out what study we were doing.
Speaker: And. ah It is called knowing his, wait, what is it Megan? You're doing it too right now. The names of God. Thank you. The names of God. yeah And it's literally just.
Speaker: knowing God's character, but not just knowing it intellectually, but sinking that into our soul. And. just how deeply personal he is which with each and every one of us And.
Speaker: Yeah, it's been so fun. It's been an amazing Bible study for anybody that's looking for one. I highly recommend it to put it on your list. And so it's just. Yeah, it's it's been fun too.
Speaker: Take it a deep. ah you know, just a deeper level of study. Yeah. That's great and you inspired us all to get colonoscopies. Oh. I did? That's cool. Oh, yeah. In the midst of the chaos, I had or i had a...
Speaker: different procedure done with my colonoscopy. Otherwise I would have just rescheduled my, if it was just a colonoscopy, I would have just rescheduled it because it was literally. And chaos. Megan actually flew here.
Speaker: to help because it was just nuts, but yeah. Yes. So I got my colonoscopy results back and I did have. No, I forgot. Was it three polyps? A precancerous polyp. Yes, I had a precancerous polyp. And so.
Speaker: which meant that my siblings had a chance, I guess, a 50 % chance of also having that. And so it was funny. I think within a matter of three months, all three of y 'all went and had it. Yeah. All four of us. Look at us. Look at us just getting it done. Just a reminder, go get your screenings done, people. for golden piece To be honest, I quite enjoyed the process. know that' really strange to say I hated it
Speaker: I loved it. I was like, I should, I want to do this once a year. Like, this feels great. The cleaning out process? Well, you know, that kind of was like, whatever. It honestly didn't last as long as I thought it was gonna last. So I didn't think it was that bad.
Speaker: But afterwards, I'm like, you feel so great. You know, you're like, wow, I feel so clean. I don't even want to eat anything because I feel like it will just disturb the cleanness in this body going on right now.
Speaker: Anyway I just thought it was great. Okay, so I'm not... like obviously we are not medical people don't take anything that I'm about to say to heart. But Kristen, if you like that, I seriously think you should look into getting colonics like once a year. Oh, no, I'm ah definitely considering it. I've already got friends saying they will do one with me. Like. So yeah I'm excited about it.
Speaker: Yeah, I think once a year. Would be good, right? I mean, minimum. they The people who administer them. recommend much more than that, but yeah. Yeah. It depends what you have going on, you know.
Speaker: Yeah. I mean, I don't have poop problems, but. yeah It doesn't always have to be poop problems, like got gut issues, like bite. Anyways, it's. A bunch of things. but Well, if anybody else wants to do a colonic.
Speaker: you should do it Is that TMI? No, I think everybody should get a colonoscopy. Yes. Get your screenings done. I will say, i and I personally did not enjoy any part of it. Except maybe like getting the nap.
Speaker: But beside because I was just so tired. from the night before but I'm glad I got it over with you know Yes. Megan, I want to hear your update, but before I just thought I'd add, so I'm. 45, the amount of times that I'm hearing late, I feel like it literally just started this year of people that start a sentence with, well, for your age.
Speaker: Prama. And it's like, it's been so obvious because it's a new thing. You know, I suppose we'll be, I'll be hearing this for the rest of my life. But this is the first year that I've noticed where it sticks out. And I was talking to my childhood girlfriends.
Speaker: about this and they all are experiencing the same thing they're my same age and so That's just something new that's happened this year where I'm like, okay, we are officially there, people. Like, what do you mean? Like her? For your age, you're looking good. Or what?
Speaker: Well that. Yes, I've been told that. But just for example, we got facials. on uh we just did a little girl's trip and got facials and the facialist said For your age, it would be really smart to start implementing XYZ or, you know, for your age. so It's just been a handful of times where. People have said it.
Speaker: For your age, you should really start taking this. for to prevent you know bone Whatever. yeah Yeah. just mostly around health and beauty and longevity and whatever. But yeah, I don't like it. I don't like it. So Yeah, I turned 40 this year.
Speaker: and had The best. Mexico trip. but then I got a colonoscopy when I got home. Happy birthday. Yeah. Did that and then also went to um a functional nurse practitioner, got all my blood work done, started like.
Speaker: full regimen of like eight vitamins a day. It's like, wow, here we go. 40. Yeah. That's good. But in some ways, isn't 40 just the best? Yeah, I know. I feel great. yeah I love 40. I feel like it's gonna be...
Speaker: The best decade. yeah Yeah, it's. For sure been the best for me. Well, and like. I know I'm like done having kids and. I, my entire thirties were either pregnant nursing or like still trying to I feel like myself again after having. Three kids, so.
Speaker: Yes, the like... as he's four years old and that every year, you know, just like, you're like, you feel more like yourself again, you know? Yeah. Yes. It takes like... I would say two years two full years.
Speaker: Oh yeah. Like yourself. again well then you're usually pregnant again and so you're like well yeah which i mean i am but i'm almost three years postpartum now so yeah But this will be my, I told Michael, I'm, you know, I'm getting old. So this will be my last baby.
Speaker: Yeah. No, you got a boy and girl. Yeah. So y 'all listeners, we have Kristen's little girl will be the 10th grandbaby on our side of the family, which Yeah. it Feels, feels right. Yes.
Speaker: The seven girls. Seven girls and three boys. Crazy. So crazy. Can't wait to meet her. It's going to be. yeah Well, Megan, what about you? and I was trying to think.
Speaker: We've had a, like... this year's just going really fast, you know? Joe started middle school, which has been like a big. transition for me, honestly, as a mom.
Speaker: And for her. I've been just really focused on. The girls and. We.
Speaker: came up with these like 10 family commandments and just like trying to be the best parents we can be with having so much responsibility. two at the same time. So it's just a lot like we're in like the coolest season. Like I'm so grateful for everything that we have, but also feel like some days are just really hard to get through. I still am working full time and growing my mindset with Megan.
Speaker: So it's just. busy, you know, and I try to find so many pockets to slow down. and focus. And I'm doing the names of God study too. And it's been amazing. I never really knew all the names of God. Like I'm learning so much from it.
Speaker: Same. really draw on his strength through like all the busy. If that makes sense. like yeah moment by moment connection so that I can.
Speaker: Be. the mom i want to be you know like i could not do it without God. And so I just don't know how people function without him, you know? But yeah, we've had like a lot of fun things happen throughout the year. And a lot of hard too, but.
Speaker: Overall, I'm excited for fall. It's my favorite season. And I've been doing, so I have like two main corporate clients right now with mindset to lead. And so that's really been the direction God's been guiding me. Like when I first launched mindset with Megan, it was all about like faith. Peace. coaching, which I still.
Speaker: That is the root of it, right? It's all related to like what God's taught me of like how to lead myself well. But being in the corporate world since I was basically 22, I have this unique experience too, where I've managed people.
Speaker: And I've also done things completely wrong and I've learned from that. And so. I have this program called Mindset to Lead where I basically take. 10. leaders or managers at a time. And we have a four month program and we really walk through in groups of like learning, understanding your mind.
Speaker: And then also understanding how to lead yourself well, like setting yourself up with an actual leadership plan. I don't want to get too much into it. So I don't know that it's something our listeners would want to hear about, but it's just been really cool to see how God's put it all together. So that's been honestly the bulk of this year for me.
Speaker: is leading so many people. through this program. First round of it went so amazing that the company signed up for a second round of it with a whole new set of leaders. And I've gotten great feedback on it. so far And so, and I've done a bunch more speaking engagements.
Speaker: and all sorts of things. So like really big movements with that, but still working full time at favor. which I'm so grateful for. So yeah, it's just like one day at a time. trying to balance it all. I saw this metaphor that reminded me of mindset with Megan. It was the only thing that can destroy iron is its own rust, just as the only thing that can destroy us is our own mindset. Yeah.
Speaker: So I was like, oh, that's so true. Wow. i Yeah. Cause yeah. Like at the root of it, when I'm talking to people, they're in their own way. And that was me, you know, like I'm not sitting there trying to be high and mighty and say, Oh, you need to fix this. It's because I've done this to myself. And. That's like what I want to help people the most, especially if you're in a management position at a company, it's like feels very much like a pressure cooker. Like you have.
Speaker: pressure from the top. And then you have all these personalities underneath you that you get a lot of pressure from too. And I never really got a lot of help personally. I just was a high performer. So I was promoted and I just saw like this gap in.
Speaker: honestly, the training corporate. industry. is just like who's helping those people that are like kind of holding it all together And so, yeah, I just wanna help other people out. They're like me that.
Speaker: kind of are drowning and figure out, like set them up with systems. It's so much easier to blame the outside, blame the company, blame.
Speaker: you know everything else going on. And so it is hard work because you have to like look at yourself and think, okay, but how am I actually leading myself well? And you have to set yourself up with like really strong structure and rhythm so that you can take care of yourself. And some people aren't willing to do that, but. Everybody that I've met so far is like very willing. So that's been really cool. Yeah. I feel like if you're signing up for something like that, you.
Speaker: are at a place where maybe you're ready to be committed. To make things better and to change and to be self -reflective. But yeah I think you do have to be at a place.
Speaker: to be willing to put in the work for real change. But I mean, you might as well, I mean, I'll plug it for you because who knows with our listeners, if you work for a company or own a company where.
Speaker: You see. Megan's work would be.
Speaker: needed. She's awesome and has raving reviews. So hit her up for mindset with Megan. Yes. Yeah. know and For sure. If you know of any companies, cause it is one of those things that once I get in there, I don't think people fully understand all that I do. Like when I get in, especially the one -on -ones it's really cool to see like the transformation and each person's different on like what we work on, depending on where they're at and what's. I think interesting too, is a lot of people think, well, I don't really need that. Like I'm doing great. But what I've noticed is like, yes, you could be doing great, but why not level up?
Speaker: you know. I feel like we hold ourselves back And really just like kind of stay comfortable. And so that's what I. really love to do is be like, yes, you are great, but like where are some areas you could level up? you know. And that's like the same conversation I had with myself because I was very comfortable in and what I was doing. And so this, I mean, honestly, is so out of my comfort zone. Get into these other companies and like.
Speaker: do this. And so it's part of me leveling up and helping other people do that too. So yeah. Yeah. and That's been a lot of my year beyond all the family stuff.
Speaker: which comes first. Oh, and my church, we launched, um I'm helping launch 1132. the Salina location, which has been just so cool to see it come to fruition. And so many you know people local to Salina that I had invited to church before, but didn't really want to drive to Frisco um are now coming, which is so sweet. And it's just really fun to like have.
Speaker: those connections that I've known for 10 years also. come to church with me. So it's just been a cool. community. Yeah. That's awesome. Well, one thing as...
Speaker: I don't know why I just, this is totally off topic, but. One thing that I learned through this year is And I might have said this the last time we recorded, but just kind of reflecting back is.
Speaker: the importance of community that's what made made me think of this Megan was your church But. I just. I was forced to not only get comfortable with accepting.
Speaker: Help. from community but even getting more comfortable with even going as far as asking for help which I feel like in our culture and society it just doesn't always come easy and I have a personality where I've I am a caretaker, so I'd love to do those things for others, but don't necessarily, I'm not great at accepting it myself.
Speaker: so Sometimes it takes, you know. getting to super low too. to kind of learn that lesson. But I do feel like Yeah, I learned so. let Yeah, let people help. they They want to. And then I also just wanted to.
Speaker: Talk a little bit more about our Bible study, knowing his names. Yeah. Just the the kind of gist, I feel like we... Glazed over it. But in the very beginning, it talks about, there's a section that's called God is verbing. And so.
Speaker: To understand who God is and what his character is, a lot of times you can pull out the verbs in the sentence. So starting with Genesis is where it has. is where it starts us.
Speaker: and I want to say. a matter of two verses. There's like seven verbs. And so. Then it kind of challenged you to think about your own name.
Speaker: And I know Megan did this with her family names, but it made me think because I knew my name. I thought meant. laurel crown but I didn't really even know what that meant and so I kept I just went to AI and we just kept asking more and more questions.
Speaker: And so. I said, if I were, if my name were to be a verb, what would it be? And it said triumph. ah to persevere through hardship, trust God with the outcome and triumph by continuing in faith and love.
Speaker: And so then. I obviously looked it up for Chris and Kai too and put together like a family prayer. But. I kind of, I challenge you to go do the same because It is so crazy how we are.
Speaker: our names. And it retold the story of Jacob in the Bible. and how God introduced himself. As the God of somebody, somebody and Jacob and Jacob was no, his name means destruction. I think.
Speaker: And he was a person of destruction. But God renamed Jacob Israel. And he went on. To. have 12 sons that were the 12 tribes of.
Speaker: It's just so cool to See you. that God meets us where we're at and we're never too far gone. and He sees us 24 seven. He's his eyes are never not on us. And anyways, it was just a really fun practice that I just thought I would share. Cause I think it would be fun for anybody yeah to go dive deeper into your own name meaning. And if it's a weird one, like mine, like Laurel crown to. Ask it to assign a verb. Ask it why. Is this where you, all does Yahweh?
Speaker: The Lord. That's one of God's names. Yeah. No, I know. But um I don't think we've ever told this story on the podcast, Lauren. was really into Yahweh, talking about Yahweh a few years ago. Yes. She had texted Megan and I and was like, I think I'm going to get a tattoo.
Speaker: That says, yee -haw. And we were like. What? Oh, my God. She's really lost it this time. Well, by the way, because I don't have any tattoos. So that was kind of the first shocker. And then Yeah, the way that it came through was yeehaw. I thought you were just joking. I was like, oh, haha.
Speaker: But no, Kristen texted and was like, uh... Laura, because this was... Probably a couple of years after mom died. So grief was still. super strong and i mean it still is but y 'all know what i mean you're like And go she like so this time yeah, she's like, Oh no, she's off her rocker.
Speaker: So you really meant Yahweh. Yeah, it was just a spell check. Spell error. No, but I can concur on the Bible study. Highly recommend the name that I keep connecting with the most. send an email out about it. Is Elroy just...
Speaker: God who sees me, he sees each of us and everything that we're going through and walking through. And I think when you really meditate on that, it's pretty unbelievable. So, yeah. And then the other thing we wanted to make sure to touch on today is October 9th is our mom's heavenly anniversary with the day she went to heaven. and We are already back here again. Time keeps going so fast, but this will be six years this year. So.
Speaker: I can't believe it. It'll be a Friday and she passed away on a Friday. so yeah Mm -hmm. And Megan, they are coming to Nashville. Yeah. So we'll get to celebrate mom here in Nashville.
Speaker: Yes. Very excited for that. And just to be kind of, I know it might rain. I'm praying that that goes away, but I feel like Nashville is a little more like folly than Texas. So.
Speaker: Yeah. Very colorful here. Yes. Oh, I'm jealous. The trees and the green. Yeah. Very keen. In the hills. It was so nice to be.
Speaker: Just in Austin with the hills and the windy roads and. The trees living in flat West Texas where the streets are all straight. and and It was just a nice little break. Yeah so true. Kristen, did you want to read what you wrote?
Speaker: yeah i i wrote A little something when we found out we were having a girl. It was a huge answer prayer for us and me. So I wrote a little something for our daughter and my mom.
Speaker: So I guess I can read it to y 'all. Oh, how I prayed for you. Every child is a blessing, but I would be lying if I said I hadn't always dreamed of having a little girl to add to our family. When we lost my mom, the thought of having children without her here was terrifying to me.
Speaker: The grief and sadness it brought up felt overwhelming at times. but the light, joy, and purpose that my son and now my daughter brought will bring into my life have made the pain worth carrying. I know in my heart that my mom got to hold these babies before I did, and I can picture her smiling from ear to ear.
Speaker: After losing her, I found myself longing for that special mother daughter relationship. I prayed that God would give me the opportunity to experience it one day. The moment I found out I was pregnant with you, I walked outside and immediately saw a white butterfly. To me, white butterflies are a symbol of the presence of loved ones watching over us.
Speaker: In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. I knew my prayers had been heard and I knew you were coming into our lives for a reason. Thank you, Jesus, for this pressure. Precious blessing. Little girl, you are already so loved, so prayed for, and so deeply cherished. I cannot wait to meet you. And to my mom.
Speaker: It's a testament to how deeply I cherished you in our relationship that I have always wanted a daughter of my own. My hope is that I can give her even a fraction of the love, support, and unwavering presence that you gave me.
Speaker: You showed me what it means to be a mother. And because of you, I know how precious that bond can be. The thought of sharing that kind of relationship with my own daughter has been one of the greatest gifts of this journey. I love you, mom. I miss you every day.
Speaker: Aww, that's so sweet. I love it. So happy and sad at the same time. Yes, that is grief. That is life. So hard. I just, I still can't believe she's not here, you know? Mm -hmm.
Speaker: Yeah, it's it's, I don't know. i don't think that'll ever go away where you're just like wait what she's actually gone yeah Like, seriously, mom? What? but Like, why? What?
Speaker: Yeah, I had this moment where I was in. prayer and Just thinking about the last. I guess six years and. I had this like vision basically how grief over these last years is it's kind of felt like climbing out of a dark hole and it's like in the beginning like ah We were like deep in that hole, you know, like in the mud. and I don't really remember, honestly, the first year very well.
Speaker: It was cool because in the vision I saw, there was light with me. It was just like pretty dim. And so it was like, it was a hole, but. Jesus was never absent in the whole, like he was with.
Speaker: It wasn't just representing me. Honestly, it's like all of us experiencing grief.
Speaker: But his light was with me in there. And sometimes like it was the only thing I could see. So it was really dark, but I kept. holding on to Jesus, like trusting God. And then I had this vision of like climbing, like, okay, now we're kind of climbing up the hole. I began really handing the light to other people. Like as I was climbing up, like I would make a climb and then hand the light to somebody and then climb. And it was just like this really beautiful picture because.
Speaker: Before I was... vision envisioning this I was talking to God about do you think I did too much over the last six years like maybe should I have just like sat in the grief more instead of doing the grief coaching and the grief class and
Speaker: building mindset with Megan and all of these things. And I felt like what he was showing me is it's not really that I was doing too much. Like I think. It wasn't really about the doing. It was about when I was handing out that light, he was also refreshing me, my soul pouring into others. It's just kind of who I am. And so that's also a piece of like how he was carrying me through to like keep climbing. So it wasn't just that I was handing light to people, like they were handing light back to me too. And I just thought that was like such a cool picture. So I just want to share it. Like if anybody else is in grief, like to not let.
Speaker: the darkness consume you keep handing out that light and i think like as i've been climbing out It's like the light gets brighter and brighter. And then kind of at the end of my prayer, I kind of saw this like millions of butterflies just like flying out of the hole, so to say. And it felt very.
Speaker: symbolic of you know obviously butterflies are very symbolic of like caterpillars they stay kind of hidden and just how beauty can come from the ashes. And yeah, it was just like really pretty. So I thought I would share that here. And it's not that like I'm perfect now. and I'm not grieving or something now. I still am. I'm still healing, but I can. kind of see more of.
Speaker: how my faith has deepened so much through this time because I really pressed into like what God was doing. And he's been transforming me like the entire way. And it has not felt good.
Speaker: It's been really hard. yeah A lot of the time. I mean, some of it's been really great and so fun, but. Most of it's felt like refining fire, but it feels like something new is coming. Does that make sense? Like I feel. the goodness coming. It feels brighter. So. Yeah. Yay.
Speaker: I'm so glad. I know. Hopefully that encourages other people in grief because I know how dark grief can be. Yes. For sure. And Lauren, I know you're so good. I feel like about actually telling people how you feel and that you love them. You were sharing like a text that you had sent to mom. It was just so sweet. And I felt like you should share it just to encourage others to like, actually say how they feel, you know, say the awkward things, yeah say the awkward things.
Speaker: Chris, my husband, sometimes is he he loves it, but also. He says, Lauren. It's just, you make people feel awkward sometimes. And I'm like, well, oh, well, that's their problem. yeah If memory serves, this was a little less than two months before she died. and I think I had read a devotional or something that sparked this text where...
Speaker: The term sacred treasure was being discussed. It might've been in Jesus calling. I have no idea, but. I just sent her a text. One morning, I guess it was August 11th, 2020, 7 .04 AM. This is to my mom. I said, I see you as a sacred treasure, delicate in the best way, yet glowing with brilliant light. Thank you for being a wonderful mom.
Speaker: And she responded, wow, exclamation point. Yeah, I guess it's just a reminder to tell and I certainly can do a much better job at it I feel like For all of us, probably.
Speaker: that or i'll speak for myself i know like my the ones closest to me y 'all included But my husband and son and family, sometimes we I just go through my days and it. I think it's expected that they know how much I love them and how much I care about them. But ah Just to stop and actually verbalize the things I have to remind myself to. So all the time. Love it.
Speaker: Yeah. Thanks for that reminder. I'm not good at that either. I need to get better. Yeah. I'm so grateful for y 'all. Okay. Well we can close. We had kind of been doing this thing where Lauren was reading the revived devotional and I thought we could end with that unless, was there anything else y 'all wanted to talk through? No.
Speaker: I think we're good. I did just want to remind listeners though that it does help. To write reviews because that's how other people, the way the algorithms work, that's how other people find out about our podcast. So yeah if you. Don't mind since we're kind of doing a fresh little start. We took a long, longer break than usual, but if you'd write some reviews, we would truly appreciate it. Or if you think of anyone.
Speaker: that might Enjoy listening to this episode. Please pass it along too. And we just thank you. Like there's, I mean, a gajillion podcasts out there. So if you are listening to this right now, if you're still here, we just thank you so much. And we're grateful for you because we know that you literally have a million other options to choose from. so
Speaker: We are so grateful that you chose us. Love that. Okay. Let me read this. So the one that I had my bookmark on was called calm and the chaos in the verse is for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of sound mind.
Speaker: One of my favorite verses, 2 Timothy 1, 7. I speak this over myself regularly when I don't feel like I have a sound mind. declaring that i do she writes i knew that my husband was being pushed and stretched And I could see him leaning into the father, just despite having so much going on at work.
Speaker: navigating his own personal transition and feeling the weight of leading our family in the midst of sledges hospitalization i saw will negate fear with faith specifically i watched as he channeled his energy into what he could control worship replaced his hobbies The hospital was his safe space for lunch and reading with Sledge brought. Him deep joy day after day.
Speaker: Will was operating with a sound mind. The phrase sound mind is often associated with the visual of serenity and calm. This is a nice picture, but can seem impossible in a world that is often chaotic and in a culture that has a million voices vying to take the lead.
Speaker: As we learn about Jesus and dial into what he's saying about a sound mind, we will see that it is often the swirling storm around us that provides the opportunity to know divine peace. It is the presence of chaos that presents the position to stand firm on God's promises. A sound mind is not the absence of noise. It is the activation of God's voice above it all. Consider this. If you knew that God had already equipped you with what you need to thrive and you knew that the best is yet to come, would you walk calmly?
Speaker: Know that this is all truth for you, exactly where you are right now. You get to choose calm amid crazy because God has empowered you to do so. This week, you get to embrace the truth that you have the mind of Jesus Christ. This means your countenance, anticipation, and rest are based on who you trust.
Speaker: not on what you see. Just as Jesus operated on the boat with the disciples when the storm was raging, he was sleeping. Imagine your fuel tank being replenished every morning by the one who knows exactly where you will travel today.
Speaker: Thank him. that your courage is not based on your own skill, but on the knowledge that when you take a leap of faith or walk into the unknown, God is your safety net. It's one thing to make plans and organize your schedule within have to do this attitude. It's another to look at the week.
Speaker: ahead and get excited about being part of God's crew, a true fisher of people, a hopeful spirit. is a powerful and often underestimated weapon against every tactic of the enemy. Let the presence of God permeate your perspective. Reframe negative thoughts through the lens of the gospel and protect your spirit against anything that makes you second guess your God -given authority.
Speaker: Rejoice. A sound mind is his gift to you. Know that his nearness is always your calm in the crazy. And then she always does five declarations of your week. Number one. Choosing a sound mind, I will rejoice that God is trustworthy and he is near.
Speaker: Number two. I will embrace the change that this week brings. Number three, I will make plans with a positive spirit, getting excited about what is ahead and choosing to be grateful for where I am. Number four.
Speaker: I will trust God's grace to cover me. Number five, I will reframe negative thoughts with the light of truth and through the filter of eternal hope. I am in control of my mindset.
Speaker: So good. Okay. Lots of words, but it's so good. Yeah. Yes. Do you want me to pray us out? Yeah. Okay. Heavenly Father. Elroy, the God who sees us, thank you so much for seeing every single one of us.
Speaker: You are so personal to us and that feels so overwhelming beyond our. understanding I pray that. in our lives and every listening ears lives that whether It's through chaos or calm or change or distress and anxiety and the easy and the hard. I just feel like in all circumstances that.
Speaker: You remind us to come to you first. Let us have the eyes to see you. Let us have the eyes to come to you in all things. And we just thank you so much for going before us. You already have.
Speaker: Set up our lives. ahead of us and relinquish our desire to control our lives, but instead to surrender them to you. And in our moments of wanting that control, wanting that anxiety.
Speaker: Help us to quickly switch our mindset back. to be centered in you. Let the Holy spirit work through us. And we just thank you for going before us and help that instill trust and all things.
Speaker: We love you so much. And I just pray so many blessings over. my sisters and over every single listener and that we just have a wonderful week until next time. And thank you for all your love. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Speaker: Amen. Love y 'all. Love you. Bye. bye Bye. Thank you for listening to another week of Girl I Slept in My Makeup.
Speaker: If you like us, rate, review and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. And if you want to learn more about us or get in touch with us, go to our website, girlisleptinmymakeup .com.
Speaker: where you'll also find links to our Instagram and Facebook. Thank you so much for listening. We really appreciate it. And yeah, make it a great week. God bless.
