Hey there, friend!

I couldn’t end this week without dropping into your inbox and saying hello.

The past two weeks, our family was caught off guard by the unexpected loss of my mother-in-law. While we continue to navigate unchartered waters, I found myself really missing this community. I can’t thank you enough for choosing to subscribe or drop in on the website. It is good to be back in the middle with you.

Today I was a guest on the podcast, The Best Part of Waking Up…Is Waking Up with Dawn Kendrick. Our conversation was centered around comparison and how hard it is to be in an unfamiliar place in life that you never thought you’d be in and the difficulties with not looking around at those around you and comparing ourselves or wanting to have what they have. This conversation was all because of an email that arrived in Dawn’s inbox yesterday from author, Bianca Olthoff, and we decided more people needed to hear they aren’t alone in the world of comparison.

From my conversation with Dawn, one of my favorite take-aways is from Bianca’s most recent book, Grit Don’t Quit, is when she wrote, “We may not know the why, but we must trust the who.” You see, God sometimes has to reposition us in our life so that we can be where He needs us to do His work. But until we relinquish the strong hold of comparison, we won’t know of the work He is trying to do through us, and we will never find contentment.

And my friends, It’s not easy work. Do you ever find it is easier to give support and encouragement to those around you? The window or lens that we sometimes view other’s lives from seems to be completely transparent. But when it comes to looking within yourself the view is opaque. It is hard work digging deep within us. It is even harder to ask ourselves “Why?”

Why do I feel this way?

Why do I react this way?

Why do I think that?

So much of our happiness lies within us. Yes, we have experiences that have shaped us, wrecked us, turned our world upside down, and left us in the valley. But it doesn’t have to define who you are. Those experiences are merely the middle of your story. The story that is being written every day. You get to determine how long and drawn out those chapters are in the valley. You just have to trust that it is all being used for good and for His plan.

I hope you will tune in below and send me your take-aways! I’d love to hear them.

Learn more about The Good Stuff Family here.

COME HANG OUT IN THE MIDDLE WITH ME ON IG

LISTEN TO GROUNDED IN THE MIDDLE BELOW OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM PODCASTS

Grounded in the Middle podcast is available wherever you listen to podcasts, or you can easily listen by clicking below. I’d be so grateful if you would rate, subscribe, and share.

Words matter. So, let's elevate them with Deidre Braley – Grounded in the Middle.

Welcome to Grounded in the Middle! In this episode, we're joined by the remarkable Deidre Braley, a multi-talented individual who wears many hats in the world of words. Deidre is not just a poet and essayist; she's also a captivating speaker, insightful podcaster, and a versatile freelance writer and editor. Her passion for words is evident in everything she does. At the heart of Deidre's work lies a deep desire to connect with people through authentic storytelling. Whether it's through her poetry, essays, speaking engagements, or her podcast "The Second Cup," Deidre strives to capture the essence of real life – messy, beautiful, and everything in between. In our conversation, Deidre shares her insights on the power of true words that resonate with everyday experiences. From the small joys of sneaking french fries from your kids to grappling with the existential question of whether our lives truly matter, Deidre's perspective is both relatable and profound. Join us as we delve into the world of gracious storytelling with Deidre Braley. Because as she eloquently puts it, "Words matter. So let's elevate them." Connect with Deidre on IG and FB The Shape I Take Have a question? Email Danielle at danielle@farmhousestoryteller.com — Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/danielle-foulk/message

1. Words matter. So, let's elevate them with Deidre Braley 45:23
2. When life is wrinkled. 28:15

Farmhouse Storyteller Playlist

If you’d like to tune in to what I’m listening to out here in the middle, you can join me on Spotify where I have a playlist titled, Farmhouse Storyteller. You can easily find the station by directly clicking play to the right or searching for Farmhouse Storyteller on the Spotify app.

For email subscribers. If you are having difficulties viewing this, visit www.farmhousestoryteller.com