Ever found yourself in a predicament because your body is going through changes you don't quite understand? Or perhaps you're struggling to find your identity amidst the pressures of social media, comparison, and the expectation to constantly achieve? Well, ladies, you're not alone. I'm accompanied by four incredibly inspiring women - Sue Donaldson, Ruthie Gray, Susan Macias, and Carol Feil - who have each navigated their unique journeys and have come to share their wisdom on these common, yet often overlooked subjects.
Our conversation doesn't shy away from the personal, the profound, or the downright hilarious. We candidly tackle the often-ignored topic of menopause and each share our own experiences with hormone replacement and our strategies for coping with life's inevitable transitions. I think you'll find comfort and camaraderie in our tales of overcoming fears, breaking free from societal timelines, and taking action, no matter what stage of life you're in.
But that's not all. We dive deep into the challenges of finding your true identity in a world that demands comparison. We discuss the power of authentic communication, and the importance of being true to yourself. Wherever you are in your faith journey, whether you feel you're just starting out or you've been walking the path for decades, this episode is for you. So, get comfortable, grab a cuppa, and join us for a conversation that will have you nodding in agreement, laughing out loud, and maybe even shedding a tear or two. You won't want to miss it.
Connect with Sue Donaldson: https://welcomeheart.com/
Connect with Susan Macias: https://www.susankmacias.com/
Connect with Ruthie Gray: https://authenticonlinemarketing.com/
Connect with Carol Feil: https://carolfeil.com/
Thanks for listening in!
Follow the host, Mary
Social Media: @maryjohess
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hi everyone, thank you for joining me for another
episode of the Back 40 podcast.
I'm your host, mary Hess.
Today is my season two finaleand for the finale I thought it
would be fun to bring back fourguests and all of us just sit
around and chat for a while, andthat's what we did.
So today's guests are SueDonaldson, susan Macias, carol
(00:26):
Field and Ruthie Gray, and wejust spent some time talking
about all of the well.
Honestly, we just spent sometime talking about all the
things.
We spent time talking aboutfaithfulness, about comparison,
about where we are at this stagein life and what it looks like
(00:48):
versus what we thought it lookedlike, and just spend time
encouraging one another andlaughing, lots and lots and lots
of laughing.
I hope you enjoy this podcast.
Stay tuned, my friends, thegolden girls are up next.
(01:13):
All right, I am so excited abouttoday.
I have with me four amazingwomen.
Just like I told you in myintroduction, when I call your
name, please raise your hand sopeople can see who you are.
I have Sue Donaldson, I haveRuthie Gray, I have Susan Macias
and I have Carol Field.
Thank you, ladies, so much forbeing here, from all parts of
(01:36):
the United States.
Right now, I believe we areWest Coast, east Coast and in
between, I think, somewhere inthere.
So so glad to have you and Ithought it would be fun to
kickstart with one question.
Surprise that actually it wasSue's idea, so you can blame her
(01:59):
if you don't like the question.
Tell me in 90 seconds what Godis doing in your life right now
as far as ministry or whatever,but just give it to us.
Let's hear, and we'll startwith Sue, since she was the one
who gave me the question.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Actually, that wasn't the question, but I like that
question.
Go for it if.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
I got it wrong.
I thought I had it right.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Damn it.
My question was what is ourmessage?
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Oh, okay, that'll be another good question.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Well, answer my question and then we'll go.
What is God doing?
Well, he's keeping me married,just kidding, I guess.
I mean God's grace, really.
God is good.
I have a great husband, butsometimes things are rocky.
Right before I go out to speakor something, I find that
there's tension and I had totell the women at the retreat
that I was really snappish withmy husband this week and it was
(02:48):
their fault for inviting me tocome and speak.
So there's always a blamesomewhere else.
But what God is doing is myword of the year is receive, and
often when I pick the word inJanuary, I completely forget
about it until December.
But he has been reminding me toreceive God's, his blessings to
me, just tiny little ones andthen big ones, like knowing such
(03:09):
great women, like yourselves, Imean I just think.
The other day, on a Zoom callwith the writers conference
coming up, Sherry Gregoryreached out to me and we're
going to have coffee this weekJust because I interviewed her.
I thought what a nice littlefavor from God.
And I think 90 seconds may beover.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
That's awesome.
That is so good.
Okay, Carol, your turn.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
What is God doing?
I just realized that I have hadthe opportunity to serve my
adult children in very specificways, each at different times
this year, which I think is areally unique thing.
He's carved out time for me tobe able to do that, and my word
of the year was listen and Iknow that might not have been
part of this question but justlistening and kind of taking
(03:52):
cues from him on what my nextthing is.
I thought I would be doing someother things this fall and I
had the opportunity to just loveon my kids.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
That's so good.
Yeah, I love that.
I love that word.
Listen, that's a good word.
Susan the CS, your turn.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
I don't remember what my word of the year was, so
we'll just skip over that.
It has been a crazy year, and sopart of what God has been
teaching me is to follow, andthat following means you don't
always know what the next stepis.
I'm trying to finish a bookthat I've been working on for
about eight years but havedreamed of writing for about 30.
(04:31):
And so it has been a long,painful process, and God is
continually reminding me thatI'm not late and I feel late a
lot, and so he's just reallykeeps telling me that my timing
is in his hands and what's in myhands is the obedience.
So I just keep plugging awayand I'm not good, and same day,
(04:55):
at the same time, it drops.
I never.
You know, that's just not lifethis year.
And being okay with that andserving him and the women that
he gives me to love on and tellabout him, and, yes, with Carol
serving my family, that doesn'tgo away had a couple of new
grandbabies, so you know, and awedding just got done with the
wedding.
So, yeah, all that.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
That's some good stuff.
That's a lot of stuff.
That's so good, though.
Okay, ruthie, your turn.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
Okay, well, somebody said something about Word of the
Year.
My Word of the Year was eyesand it was because I had this
goal of getting lens replacementand I did it.
But in the process I circledevery reference, every verse in
the Bible and I go through theyear, through the Bible in a
(05:48):
year.
Every year that has somethingto do that says eyes or sight.
So that kept me on track and Iam just loving that whole thing
there.
God has really spoken to me.
But my message is that you canstart life anew and find your
(06:13):
passions in Empty Nest and mybook launch is tomorrow Empty
Nest Awakening Weaving theThreads of your Passions Into
Purpose.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
So good and we just finished an interview that's
going to be out in a couple ofweeks about her book and I got
to be on the launch team andit's really, really, really a
timely book and I think it'sgoing to be great for all of us
going through that season andentering that season like we
chatted about.
Okay, my turn.
So my year has not gone like Ithought it was going to go as
(06:50):
far as like ministry and justlife in general.
I hit menopause so hard inFebruary and, because I'd had a
partial hysterectomy, I didn'tknow I was going to hit
menopause.
I didn't have the regular signsand so I woke up just one day
in a crazy spot and it has takenme months to even start to feel
(07:13):
just that much normal and Idon't even know if I'm going to
really feel that normal againbecause I'm in a different phase
of life.
So I feel really discombobulatedin this season, which makes me
feel not very inspired to dothings you know, or creative, or
tolerating people.
(07:35):
My people level is like whoa.
It's like way lower than whathe used to be, and I hate that
because it doesn't feel like me.
So I've just been trying towrestle with being okay with not
being okay right now andfinding grace for that and being
thankful for people in my lifewho are okay with me not being
(07:56):
okay right now.
If that makes any sense, that'skind of what makes perfect
sense.
Yeah, I'm looking forward tothat kind of leveling out,
because I miss creativity andmiss feeling like I'm
accomplishing things and stufflike that.
So it's been a really reallyweird, really weird season for
me, but thankful, thankful thatit's nothing super crazy.
(08:17):
It's just the new season oflife and I've got to adjust and
monitor and move on.
In Thoughts anyone on that?
Speaker 4 (08:26):
I just like how we were all nodding as you're
saying that Been there.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Is there a trophy or a medal or something?
Speaker 2 (08:34):
There should be, there should be Right, there's
hope, because I can't rememberit so.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
Oh yes.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Yes, yeah, that would be exciting.
I find that I would be curiousabout this, though I've offered
that.
I thought I want to talk aboutsomething, too, that Susan
Macias said earlier, but I havefound that it feels like women
are not celebrated going intothis phase of life, like men are
(09:03):
as they age, like it's almostlooked at like oh, you hit
menopause.
Oh, that's how it's beenapproached to me.
I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm goingto be in this the next 30 years
of my life.
Really, like, is it that bad?
Like why is this so, you know?
So I'm trying to change some ofthat.
(09:24):
When I've talked to people andeven in my own mindset, like, oh
, wow, here we go.
Everything's changing, you know.
So did you guys experience that?
Was it like that for you?
Or did you just hit it runningand go?
Yes, ma'am, here I am, take it.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
Who wants to go first ?
Speaker 3 (09:44):
I will say that I kind of went a non-traditional
route.
I mean, I still have all myparts, I haven't had to have a
surgery, but I got some helpwith some hormone replacement
and that's been life changingfor me, and I've suffered with
chronic low thyroid stuff foryears, Some of those hidden
things that you know when you'reup you're up and when you're
down.
You can't explain why.
(10:05):
So, but the lows can be reallylow, and when I first was
checking into what could behelpful some of the tests,
things that are supposed to beat a certain number, and you
find out you're basically belowzero you wonder why some things
(10:25):
in your life aren't functioningwell.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Yeah, yeah, that was more of the vitamin and herb
kind of thing.
My mom had had breast cancerand I couldn't do HRD and so but
the other part was learning toembrace.
It was just learning to embracethe new part, the new normal,
and I don't know.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
I think she froze up on us.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
I'm back Susan Kiel for the most part, and so I just
, you know, I had to make achoice, to say good, this is my
new season, and I'm going toassume that God didn't make me
faulty and that this is where weare now, and so I've learned to
(11:11):
just enjoy it for what it canbe.
It's not bad.
There are.
Hot flashes are never fun.
Speaker 5 (11:20):
New 100 on that.
Hot flashes are the worst.
So I'll give my story.
I was 42 when I had a completehysterectomy.
I'm 59 now.
I still have hot flashes, but Iam on hormones and have to be
(11:43):
because I cannot live with thosehot flashes.
Girls, I have cooling pillows,I have cooling mattresses, I
have, you know, just anythingyou can think of, and usually my
leg is hanging out of the bedevery night and my husband's
like covered up to his neck andI'm just like how can you be so
(12:06):
hot?
So it's not fun.
But I will say this for me Idid not experience.
I did have like some angerissues.
Yes, I had some snappy moments,and my husband would definitely
say that, and so my kids.
As far as depression, I spentthe first 40 years of my life in
(12:33):
and out of depression, butafter I haven't been depressed
since.
It's kind of weird.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
That's good.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
I remember two hot flashes Sorry, ruthie, I've had
two, but I'm so glad I had them,because now I can relate and
I'm sorry, I have a coolingpillow too, but it was my
husband had just lost his joband I thought well, I don't have
insurance, and so do I doanything?
(13:03):
My husband said go get yourhormone replacement.
He's a doctor, so he told mewhat to get, but it was $5.
So it was so worth it.
But I remember just whippingoff my sweatshirt you don't have
to visualize it but I'mthinking, oh, this is why there
are all these cartoons about it,because it is like immediate.
(13:25):
And now I have all my friendsare younger because my friends
die because I'm so old.
But that's what my mother usedto say, that I have friends who,
like I, sit by the fire whenthey visit, and they're 10 feet
away from me because they're inthat, but I'm always cold.
I mean, look at me and it's 79degrees outside.
But I didn't have much going onand I don't have problem with
(13:50):
depression.
Probably, though, I just wantto be so in sync with what the
Lord is doing in my life, sothat, if I snap at someone, that
I can do short accounts, likewith God and my children and my
husband.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Yeah, that's good.
I didn't have depression.
It was so weird.
I felt like mine was.
I felt very flatlined, like Iwasn't sad, I wasn't angry, I
wasn't ecstatic, I just didn'tcare, like it just felt like I
had no humor.
No, it was the weirdest thingflat affect, which was what
(14:25):
scared me because I wentsomething's not right, that's
not me.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
Especially if that's not your normal Right.
So when a few flat days is onething, but to feel like you just
have gone, flat, like reallyflat.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
We're talking like flat, flat.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
I have a friend.
She was director of women'sministries Okay, so, godly,
wonderful friend.
And she didn't know she wasdepressed.
So when she got medication forit which is maybe a different
topic she said Sue, it was, I'vebeen living my whole life with
sunglasses and now it's off.
I thought, wow.
In fact, when I was dating myhusband, I said would you, would
(15:08):
you prescribe antidepressants?
I was just testing him tosomeone, you know, to someone,
because, like some people can be, spiritualize it and say, oh,
we don't need it, jesus.
And and he said, if they needit, I prescribe it.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
And so I said yes, I don't know why I put makeup on
today.
I don't have an idea.
I'm going to cry it all off,laughing so.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
I think this is a great topic to bring grace into
the picture, right, Becausethere's so many different ways
we all approach things, based onhow we were raised or what
we've been exposed to and I'mdoing more of a homeopathic,
minor bio identical in terms ofthe hormones because I have some
other issue breast cancerhistory and the family and that,
(15:57):
and just trying to be cautiousof some things.
But when your family realizesthat you're not snappy angry,
like when they see the changeand they start to plot, you're
like, okay, there's something tobe said for the things that are
(16:17):
currently helping and these aregood things.
Not everybody will.
I mean, everyone choosesdifferently, right, as you walk
through that.
I think one of the great thingsthat could come out of this
conversation is that there's alot of ways to approach it and
if we can be kind with oneanother and not be too quick to
push our own agenda on somebodyelse, but to know that there are
(16:38):
a lot of options to kind of getover the hurdle and not be snap
turtles always oh, exactly, yes.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Yes, I have a lady at our church.
She was like, oh yeah, I'mgoing to pause.
I hit it, I was fine.
I've never had a hot flash.
It was great.
Nothing, no big deal.
And I'm like, should you prayfor me?
I have that.
Oh goodness, yeah, it's beeninteresting, yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
I have a question based on what you said.
When you feel flat, you don'tfeel creative, and we all four,
five of us are creative.
I'm sorry, I was an Englishmajor.
I had to count.
Yeah, we're all creatives and Iknow when I'm not feeling
creative.
And so what?
My question would be for all ofus?
What is the best sparking?
Let's say, you have to be onfor something, either speaking,
(17:29):
writing, a deadline of some sortand you're feeling that
flatness and I don't meannecessarily hormonally, I just
said you're just feeling thatway.
What would be the best impetusfor you to get going?
Speaker 4 (17:43):
Good question.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
That is a really good One is to get outside.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
If I can get outside and take a walk, even in Texas,
100 degrees, that just kind ofblows some of my mind out.
Sometimes it's just good oldfashioned sit down and start and
ask the Holy Spirit to bringthe fuel that's not there inside
already.
But getting outside for me ismy first step.
(18:08):
I can't wait to hear y'alls,because I need a longer list
than that of what to do.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
I do agree, susan.
You guys know my love ofgardening and my yard and that
is always life giving for me.
But I would love to hear someother things as well, because I
think I can't just walk in agarden if I'm getting ready.
Sue's got some speaking thingscoming up, so what does she do?
Walking into that auditorium ofwomen, really not feeling the
(18:40):
way we kind of expect ourselvesto, that's good, mine is also
walking.
Speaker 5 (18:51):
But I did hear that if you want to appear very
energetic and excited, then youlaugh really hard for five
minutes before you go live, andso I've tried.
It actually works.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Interesting.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
So how do you make yourself laugh hard?
Speaker 5 (19:13):
Well, you just start doing it.
It's kind of painful to beginwith because you don't really
have anything to laugh at, butyou eventually start laughing at
yourself laughing, and it helpsif your family is on the other
side of the door and they don'tknow what you're doing and you
just start laughing hystericallyat the top of your lungs and
(19:34):
then you start laughing at them.
So this is crying.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
I love this.
I love so much.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
Michelle Kishat was, I'm sorry, real quick, this was.
She grows again Essential oilsand it's.
You do the peppermint pelletand you put it in your mouth and
it's sort of like explodes yourmouth and peppermint and you
just, and so I have those forspeaking and it really does help
(20:03):
.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
Interesting.
So peppermint, hmm, hmm, well,I don't.
I haven't.
I guess I probably have done alittle bit of all of those
things and haven't found onething that I go.
Oh yes, every time I do thisone thing, it it works.
But I do find if Shannon and Ihave been laughing and joking
(20:25):
and just having a good time, Ifeel more apt to be able to prep
a sermon for Sunday or getready for a podcast interview or
whatever that thing is.
But I still haven't quite feltthe creativity that.
I know I normally feel like tosit down and write or work on
(20:45):
our book, or it's just beenweird for me.
So I do the whole.
Jesus, please help me.
God, I've got to prep this forSunday and I need you.
I really need you this time.
Like you know, I'm doing thewhole thing, or just going for a
walk or going outside or tryingto do something fun that does
that takes the pressure off ofI'm going to have to do this
(21:07):
thing that I know I'm going tohave, you know, to be in front
of people.
So I haven't.
I have not.
I'm writing down all of thesethings because that's stuff that
would help me definitely.
Speaker 5 (21:20):
Yeah, I say one thing there is something to be said
for rest and doing somethingcompletely to erase your mind
from that thing that you have todo.
If you can unplug for 24 hoursor 12 hours or just go somewhere
(21:40):
that you're completely off thegrid, or and maybe you can't do
that but just enter intocommunity, get out with your
girlfriends or or anythingthat's going to just force you
to be in the moment, I honestlythink yoga is good for that,
because you have to be thinkingabout what you're balancing.
(22:04):
You know, like I can't do thetree pose without thinking about
it.
So if you can do something likethat, I have this app.
I don't know why it's free forme.
My daughters are always jealousof me because I have this app
and it's free and it chargesthem all the time and and it's
got all these great workouts,yeah, yeah, but yeah, so I just
(22:28):
do.
I pop that in if I need tocleanse my mind, to refresh it
before going on to the nextproject.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
I have a couple of different things.
I it seems like if someonewould call and say would you
speak on this particular topic?
I'm always stuck at thebeginning, but then, because of
help me, lord, prayers, likeMary just said, I always start
with scripture and my mentor hasreminded me Sue, you start with
scripture and somehow thatalways works, and I for me, and
(23:03):
I think God wants to remind meevery single time that it starts
and ends with him and with histruth, and so somehow he's, he
gives me the creativity,starting with the scripture.
It doesn't mean when I speak Ispeak with that, I start with
that verse.
It just means that all thestories then come, illustrated
(23:23):
from my life or other people'slives, based on that scripture.
And then also baking helps me asfar as something that that's
not having to do.
It's creative, it's restful.
I know it's not for everyoneand it's it's dangerous, because
then I like, I like what I bake, and then to give it away,
(23:45):
that's, you know, outsideyourself.
So that would be the onlyreason I would go outside and
walk would be to give away mybaked goods.
I am in a cardio class insomewhere three times a week and
that's such a huge blessing.
I would not go, except I knowthat I know it's good for my
flexibility at 71.
So I mean I just got back outof a little sweaty.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
I will say to add to the list.
I did it this morning likeworship music and it doesn't
have to be the super mellow, youcan like pick your tempo.
But sometimes I just need asong to play on repeat, even
because I just need to sit inthe message of the song.
I've been enjoying Shane andShane and their renditions of
(24:29):
the Psalms.
There is another, anotherfolksy group.
I'll have to think of theirname, Maybe I can add it later.
But just finding some music isso restorative and I love
Ruthie's idea of unplugging.
Because we are such a saturatedculture with information and
(24:51):
it's easy to sit in too muchinformation, the negativity of
the information, the expectationof the information, the
assumptions of the I mean thelist goes on of all the things
that we take away, and becausewe can now walk around with, you
know, computers in our backpockets, I think we have to
really really guard our heartsand minds to what we allow to
(25:17):
settle in and take up that space.
Yeah, the music just kind ofhelps wash some of that out, and
particularly worship music.
I mean, let me tell you I lovesome good 80s rock and roll too,
but that's probably not quitethe same bent.
If I'm walking, that would helpme walk, Sue.
So there you go, but in termsof just prepping my heart and my
(25:39):
soul to work on a message, tobe with people to fight off the
enemy, like Sue was saying, withso many speaking opportunities,
it seems like the enemy wantsto jump in right before we have
something that we think issignificant, and the music is a
big part of that for me.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Yeah, that's so good, that's so good, Great ideas.
Good, good, good ideas, whichis a good segue.
Susan said earlier which wastalking about in her 90 seconds
about writing this book that hastaken her years to get to
certain points and having tolearn that it's that God is not
(26:21):
late or that she's not late.
I love this because I thinksometimes it's easy for me even
to get into the mindset of oh mygosh, I'm in my 50s now and
what do I have to show for it?
What do I have to show thatI've been doing ministry or I'm
(26:44):
successful in some arena or someway?
I've been saying for years I'mgoing to write this book or I'm
going to speak at these bigconferences or whatever the
things might be.
But let's talk for a minuteabout that concept of not being
late or not being done.
(27:04):
I think that, especially for mypodcast I'm talking about the
back 40, I have found so manypeople who say that they've
either started new things orreally came into their stride,
that sort of thing.
I just never really thought ofthat prior to hitting this phase
(27:27):
of life.
I thought, well, by that time Iwill have arrived, but by that
time I'll just coast on throughbecause that's what you do,
that's just so.
Anyways, feel free to add tothat and anyway, I would love to
hear your all thoughts on thatGo.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Ruthie's written a whole book on it.
So I've got a book.
But the point that she and Ihave talked about is
fearlessness.
I mean it's scary to trysomething new at a certain age
or to realize what you thoughtyou would have at this age you
didn't have.
So then that could be verynegative emotional thing, and I
(28:11):
think it's good to surroundourselves with other women, like
you all, to remind us thatwe're not late, because God's
not late.
And my mentor would say we arethe ones with fast watches, not
God, and so to continue tosurrender to him and then be
surprised and delighted whensomething happens that maybe you
(28:32):
didn't count on, but on theother hand, we still work
towards it, because Ruthie justdoesn't say, ok, it's going to
be great.
No, you actually have to dosomething and get off your duff
or try something scary, likestart a podcast or submit a book
proposal or speak in front of abunch of women, and I think to
(28:54):
have that expectation that Godis going to surprise us, but
we're still obedient.
So whose word was listened?
I don't think I'll ever choosethat one, but that was a good
word and to listen to Godbecause he'll, yes, that was my
word, so I know it was a goodone.
I'll check it.
I'll check back in five years.
I'll get that word, but anywayI'll just be quiet.
(29:17):
But I just thought that wasjust to be.
My mother's chiropractor had totell her stop cleaning the pews
.
I mean she was working so latein life.
And so to be surrounded bypeople who inspire you is is
self-serving sanctification.
To go into community on aregular basis and say have
someone, say you're not late,susan, you're blessed, you're
(29:40):
doing what God wants you to dotoday.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
So good.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
He said the word Community.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (29:51):
Community grows opportunity.
Somebody said that once andyou'll actually read that in my
book.
But I really believe that youknow, when we start feeling
lonely or down about what we'redoing or anything to do with our
second half of life, the worstthing we can do is stay to
(30:15):
ourselves.
The best thing we can do is toget in some kind of community.
Maybe it's a knitting club,maybe it's a walking club, maybe
it's a writer club.
But we need other people aroundus to bounce ideas off of, to
come alongside us, to build usup and to tell us the truth when
(30:40):
we need to be told the truth.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
So good.
I think that it's true.
You know, we talk about thatfrom the spiritual aspect all
the time, and how the enemywants to isolate us, because
when he can isolate us, then wewithdraw into ourselves and it's
oh, we're never going to bethis or that's never going to
happen, or it's always this way,and we don't have people around
(31:07):
us to pull us up and say nope,nope, nope, nope, nope, nope.
You don't get to stay there.
That's not who you are andthat's not where you are in life
.
It's good.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
And it can be very in the creative life.
It can be very isolating, youknow it's.
It can be kind of lonely to bewriting or to be even podcasting
when you interview people, Imean it's just, it's me in the
room by myself and so it canfeel that way.
And for me the big thing hasbeen really studying scripture
(31:38):
and seeing how God is so not ina hurry ever.
He's never in a hurry that hegives.
He gives Abraham the promisethat he's going to have a son,
but that doesn't happen for 16years and then that son is Isaac
, isn't get married till he's 40.
And then she's also can't havekids.
(31:58):
So they don't have kids tillhe's 60.
So that's like 76 years fromthe promise of generations.
Like the stars you can tell.
I've studied this.
I mean this is so important forme to have figured out that God
was like it's all good and whenAbraham wanted to complain, he
goes go out, look at the stars.
That's your promise.
(32:19):
So you work towards the promiseof what God has said and you
obey him and you follow.
But in our industrial communitywhat you do and produce and the
sales numbers of that or thelisten rate or how many
downloads you get is yourmeasure.
Speaker 5 (32:44):
I'm on the edge of my seat.
The line is so freeing.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
You froze on us just a little bit, susan and we.
Speaker 4 (32:54):
Did I have a really great face yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
That's the important thing.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
You were at the really good part, where you said
I was at the good part.
Speaker 4 (33:03):
I was saying it's God's economy and God's timeline
are never ours and they are noteconomical.
And he's not worried about hisreputation.
He's worried about myfaithfulness and his goodness
and that's the deal.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
Not even about it.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Well, and I like to say we live in a microwave
society, right.
We want instant everything.
I'm frustrated.
If I can't drive through to geta coffee, have them forbid.
I should park my car and goinside if I'm in a hurry.
I think for the generationcoming behind us.
If I feel that way, what do ourkids and their friends?
(33:44):
Had a conversation with a younggal who just felt like she's
staring her a next decade in theface and just feeling like
perhaps she hasn't done enough,or that she's missed things, or
that she didn't do the lastdecade well enough and that
she's running out of time.
And, ruthie, do you rememberwhat the conference we were at
(34:07):
together?
Somebody talked about thewomen's most productive years in
ministry.
I think it was the 70s, and Sueis a living example of that,
because she is my spirit animaland my superhero, and I love to
be reminded that God's not latewith his promises and that what
(34:27):
our culture says the timingshould be is not necessarily
God's timing and that we cankeep working towards our goals.
And I'm encouraged by all of youguys for all the things you're
doing.
And it makes me realize thatthe dream, susan, that I've had
for so long on words that I wantto get out.
(34:48):
People are like are you writinga book and it's like I got a
whole lot more writing to dobefore it becomes a book.
But even being able to say thatto people and not feel like I'm
somehow apologizing for beingless than because I don't have a
book in the works, you knowwhat I mean.
As soon as you tell people thatyou're writing, speaking, doing
(35:09):
whatever Good to be reminded ofAbraham Sarah, their whole
journey is so foreign to us inthis culture.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
Oh so is the journey of Joseph.
I mean, I think about him a lot.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
Go ahead.
I like what Susan said.
That was 76 years.
76 years, you said it was aspan, so that means I might
actually have grandchildrensomeday.
You guys all talk about that.
I said, well, that's what I'dlike to be doing, but instead
I'm doing these other things.
I hope my kids won't listen tothis.
They never listen to me, sothat's okay.
No pressure girls.
(35:45):
But you know I'm married late.
It's a miracle I'm married.
So I keep thanking the Lord forthat.
And I think a problem I stillhave, even at 71, is comparison
issues on social media.
And I know it's talked a lotabout a lot and I think, okay,
(36:05):
that doesn't bother me.
It does bother me at times andthat, well, if it's bothering me
, that means I'm basically justa proud old woman and I hate
myself.
So then I'm off of it for 15minutes and then I go back on
and then you know, but it can gothe opposite way.
I mean I teach on this.
I've been teaching on it foryears.
You know that you can be theopposite.
You're still proud of youroverly humble you know, because
you're still comparing yourselfand thinking, well, I'm better
(36:27):
than that person.
So I mean I don't know whathelps you, for?
How can you help me?
I mean, this is free therapy.
Please help me.
Speaker 1 (36:37):
Lay down on the bed there and we'll give you some
advice.
You know what was the question?
The comparison thing.
Helping with the comparisonthing, I was just thinking about
the fact and this ties intothat when Carol was talking, I
talked to a girl on one of mypodcasts who was dealing with
(36:57):
some younger girls in hercongregation that she was
counseling, that they were goingthrough a quarter life crisis.
It is an actual thing, like at25, feeling like they have
already missed it becausethey're not married or they
don't, they're not making sixfigures or they don't have the
house in the suburbs with thetwo kids and the dog or whatever
(37:18):
their dream is, and I thinkthat ties into what Sue is
talking about.
I don't know that comparisonever really goes away and I kind
of thought it would.
Honestly, I thought, like youwere saying, you know, I thought
, well, I'll get to a place thatI just won't give a rat time in
what anybody thinks about meand you know, I'll get to say
(37:44):
what I want and do what I wantand I won't care.
But it's not true.
It's not true.
I do care and I do see whenpeople have successes and when
they, you know, get the thingsand do the things and look the
way that they do that.
It is hard.
I actually tried to take a hugebreak from social media.
(38:06):
True confessions of a failedtake a break from social media.
Back in after my birthday,because I wanted to wait to get
all the birthday wishes onFacebook, let's be honest.
So the day after my birthday Iwas going to take a break from
social media and I thought I'mgoing to do this till October.
I can do this.
I don't have to be on socialmedia, even for the podcast If
(38:28):
nobody listens because they'renot subscribed, so what, who
cares?
And so I lasted about 20 daysand I couldn't do it.
And when I say withdrawal, likewhen I say weird detoxing kind
of habit stuff, it was theweirdest thing.
But I had true FOMO.
(38:50):
I thought I was going to misseverything.
Nobody was going to text me tosee how I was doing.
What if nobody knew I was evengone?
I mean crazy stuff goingthrough my mind.
I'm like you're 52 years old,mary, that's what is wrong with
you that you cannot turn offyour social media.
I don't know that it goes away.
I guess it comes down to, Iwould say, identity, but I feel
(39:15):
like I know who I am, but at thesame time, this pressure is so
real out here that I don't knowthat I know what to do with it
at times, either Go ahead, yeah,go ahead.
Speaker 5 (39:26):
Well, it's not going to go away as long as the enemy
is in the world.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
Sure.
Speaker 5 (39:33):
That's the crux of the matter.
He is going to do everything hecan to lie and deceive us and
make us into people who arebelieving things about ourselves
that we shouldn't or notwalking in truth, and so it
(39:55):
doesn't matter.
I don't think how old you are,for instance, with me writing
this book.
In the book I talk a lot aboutgetting some guts and just
stepping on in, and let me tellyou every single day that I
wrote that book, I was scaredout of my mind.
(40:18):
I'm still scared out of my mindfor people to read my words
because A they're not as good assomebody else's.
B I know that I could be better.
Aka, they're not as good assomebody else's.
And C what if somebodycriticizes me?
(40:41):
Of course they're going to.
Once you're out in the public,people are going to criticize
you, and this is the reason alot of times that we back off
from building a platform, and weknow we need a platform to get
our message out.
Just think, if Paul had thisback in the day, my goodness,
(41:04):
the gospel could have spread farand wide a lot faster, beyond
TikTok, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (41:09):
He would have been trending.
Speaker 5 (41:12):
He would have been trending for sure.
But I just think that we letourselves get in the way of
doing God's message, of givingGod's message, and that's one of
the ways.
As comparison, well, I'm notgoing to do this real because
I'm not that articulate or I'mnot like what's her face that
(41:35):
does the dances or whatever, itdoesn't matter.
That's not you.
You be you, because somebodyneeds your voice.
They will relate to it and I'mgoing to stop preaching now.
Speaker 1 (41:49):
We need to take an offering up, because she just
proved we just went to church,you know.
Speaker 3 (41:55):
I just want to remind everybody of Susan's book.
Tell me if I get the titlewrong.
I taught it in a Bible studyputting Jesus on the identity
issue.
We all struggle with theidentity issue, even at this age
, and so it was such a gift totake women through a summer
(42:16):
Bible study in Susan's book tobe able to remind them how often
scripture tells us what it iswe're supposed to be clothed in,
who we're supposed to beclothed in, and that's a
continuous reminder.
It's not a do it in the morningand it lasts you all day.
It might be a moment by momentthing, depending on the
circumstances, but I think thatcan be part of that whole thing
(42:39):
of how do you find the mojo thatwe want the feeling, and I
think the reality is that we'vegot to cling to the truth and we
have to talk truth over ourfeelings, because I won't always
feel like God is near, but Ican trust and believe that he is
because I've walked with himlong enough and scripture gives
(43:01):
us tons of examples.
But what are those things thatChrist allows us to put on that
we cover ourselves with?
And Susan probably has more tosay.
Speaker 4 (43:13):
Well, you know, writing that book was like I
don't think I can write thisbook because I need this too
much.
You know, it's like I am so notwalking, going to even share
this when I believe it, but Iknow how much I'm walking in my
flesh and so I think part of apart of thankfully writing or
doing studying what God puts onus is what he's, what he's
(43:36):
discipling us in, and so then,when he's discipled us in it,
then we have a message to sharewith somebody else and it's it's
really not any different thanbaking banana bread and sharing
it with your neighbor.
It's just sharing the words oflife that God is, you know,
taking you through.
That you go.
Ok, yeah, you're right, I amlooking at my flesh and my
(44:00):
struggle.
I found, in all of thiscomparison thing, like I didn't
even know this thinking you knowthe stinking thinking is in my
head was about and it's like Idon't really say this out loud
very often because I feel sowhat a bad Christian.
But I'm just going to be honesthere is God didn't love me as
(44:21):
much as he did these other womenwho were much more successful,
because if he loved me more, hewould use me more and and God's
like what that is so pervertedfrom how I think and how I use
and what I do, and and likehaving to really realize that I
(44:43):
needed to trust God's love forme and that he desired good for
me.
And he desired In your Biblestudy, carol, I froze again
tonight because all of you allhave funny faces.
Maybe my words were only for,I'm sorry, I bet internet today.
Why?
Because the enemy, I don't know.
(45:04):
But, carol, you know, maybe thewords were just for those, for
those ladies in your Bible study.
And would that be enough tohave gone through the pain to
have written it?
Yes, it would have.
So, once again, it's theindustrial society that says we
have to see an amount, a numberto mean you know, how many books
(45:25):
have you sold?
What does it matter?
The one mom who came up to mebecause she read my book on
prayer and it transformed herspirit in her life as she's
walked through really deep, darkvalleys.
What if it was just for her?
Would it be enough?
In God's economy, it's enough.
Speaker 1 (45:43):
Yeah, that is the thing.
I think you said it a littlebit earlier too, but it's am I
okay with.
Am I okay with that being thething, the enough?
Or I use the phrase a lot Am Iokay with being known as being
faithful?
I mean, abraham was known asbeing faithful.
He did know, like he never gotto see the promise completely
(46:08):
fulfilled, right, he never gotto see all of the stars, the,
you know, the children.
As far as that's concerned, hegot to see.
It started, but he was faithfuland being faithful is a huge
deal.
It's in God's economy.
It's one of the most importantthings is we are faithful to
(46:31):
what he's called us to, to allof the things that he's made us
to be and created us to be.
And sometimes I think my braingoes to is that enough?
That doesn't feel like enough.
You know, like who's going toknow I was faithful?
What do I have to show for it?
So I think that's very whatyou're saying.
(46:52):
Susan is so good because hiseconomy it's an upside down
kingdom.
He doesn't operate the way thatthis world operates and we we
have gotten, unfortunately Ifeel like we've gotten caught up
in the way the world operatesand we expect to fit God's
kingdom into that, when inreality his kingdom is very much
(47:13):
upside down and he doesn't lookat the things you know.
He looks at the widow given herlast little bit and counts that
even more than the rich manthrowing a few dollars into the
offering bucket.
Speaker 2 (47:27):
You know guess who, when you were talking, susan, it
reminds me how we first met.
We were part of a mastermindand we chatted privately and and
I remember asking you does thismake you feel better or worse?
What we're hearing about allthese things we're supposed to
be doing, and she wrote rightback it makes me feel worse.
I thought, oh goodie, we can befriends and that's how we
(47:47):
started, because we talkedduring class like we pass notes,
and so that's great.
But what you were sayingearlier too about this is what I
believe.
But this is how I feel.
I I keep thinking that the morecohesive that becomes, the more
we're maturing, christ.
So you know, I will be on mydeathbed going.
(48:08):
This is not how I think, butit's how I feel, and I'm
thinking that this is a goal forus to.
I think we're supposed to havegoals to aspire to, but goals
are things that we have controlover, whereas desires, you know,
that's something we leave inthe Lord's hands and that's why
we get angry when we're tryingto force our goal on someone
(48:29):
else.
But we can have a desire.
I learned that from somepsychologist, but I can't
remember his name because I'm 71.
But anyway, and so I think, themore cohesive I am and saying,
lord, this is how I feel andeven cried this morning.
I cried in my quiet time and Ithought, okay, now I feel better
and letting that go and thenbelieving and exalting in who
(48:51):
God is and what he's doing in myfamily's lives and just
trusting it, saying I trust himwhen I don't feel like I trust
him.
That's moving the line over, tobe more cohesive but not to be
depressed If tomorrow you wakeup in us back this way again.
You know, I think Ruthiealluded that to that as well Go
ahead, susan.
Speaker 4 (49:11):
No, I just I love what you just shared and I think
it's so important that we keepsharing this because it's like
you were saying before Mary, wethought when we got here we'd
have it together and we need totell the women it's a journey
and we keep coming back to theLord and that's not a sign that
you're not traveling well.
(49:32):
It means you're still travelingthe journey and it's still up
and down and you're not doing itwrong because you got here and
you don't have everythingfigured out at 50 or 60 or 70 or
80.
You know, you just, are youstill living faithfully with
Jesus?
Speaker 2 (49:50):
And to Ruthie's point she said community is it?
I mean God, you know, the worldhas the world.
Through COVID, the world hasdiscovered community because
they realized how desperate theywere.
And it's like wait, they'retaking over what we've known for
centuries and they're doing apretty good job.
They just add wine.
You know, whatever we, we needto be with it all the time,
(50:11):
because we can't live this.
We're too proud to show someoneelse we need them and that it's
all.
Bottom line is pride.
Speaker 1 (50:19):
Yes, amen to that.
Speaker 3 (50:22):
I will.
I will tack on to thatauthenticity, right, ruthie?
Authenticity like being ourauthentic selves and we all live
in an arena because of themessage that we desire to share.
We've chosen to be platformpeople, whatever you think of
(50:42):
that word.
But there's the generationcoming behind us that see what
we're doing and there's stillthat idea that they see women
who have it all together andtrying so hard to not care if my
makeup's on, trying so hard tojust talk from my garden and my
(51:07):
funky yellow boots and to justpull back the curtain and let
the people who are listening tothe message know that this
facade, if I wear earrings, it'snot because I'm trying to do
anything particular.
It is just me, because I'llwear earrings even in the garden
(51:29):
.
Guys, let's be real.
But finding that way tocommunicate authentically and if
that's in a video from ourhouse, if that's in a
conversation from a stage, ifthat's one-on-one, just pulling
back the veil and saying here'swhat it looks like to do this
(51:49):
life and we're good at puttingwords together that's part of
what brought us into thiscommunity where we all know each
other.
But finding the authenticity inthat, to say, sometimes it
takes me a while to figure thosewords out, like we can come
(52:11):
across so polished not often formyself, but like that's the
goal, and even in a book.
Ruthie, right, you're launchinga book.
We want it to be received welland being able to step back and
say authentic selves.
The Lord uses real people tomeet real people, and so how do
(52:35):
we hold that tension with thisdesire to do things well,
finding that authentic versionthat lets somebody connect and
get a glimpse of this hope thathas a name, and his name is
Jesus.
Speaker 1 (52:54):
That's so good.
Speaker 2 (52:56):
I had a friend come in my house once and say, oh, I
feel better about my house,meaning my house was so awful.
And uh, oh, yeah, I use that myhospitality workshop, because
houses keep us from beinghospitable.
Right, had been in her houseand I was like, whoa, her house
was awful.
So she felt about hers, thinkabout mine.
So there's a thing and this waswhat 40 years ago, I've given
(53:19):
up.
I just, you know, I use mysocial security, I get a
housekeeper, but I still don'tcare.
I mean, carol gave me a 40minute warning when you were
going to come to my house.
Oh, just got ice cream andchocolate sauce and strawberries
.
She didn't get anything baked,but something else I was going
to say, but of course I'veforgotten.
So I guess I'm done.
Oh, you're done.
(53:39):
No, I had something else, butit'll come up tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (53:43):
But you guys, isn't that so great.
Sue responded to me sopositively with a 40 minute
warning.
I was near her with anothergroup of women and I had an
opportunity with time and shesaid yes to the window of time
because she had a window.
Maybe wasn't as prepared as shewould like and I find myself
getting hung up on.
Oh, I want to be prepared toreceive people a certain way and
(54:08):
I learned so much from her thatthis legacy life that she's
living, that she's justwelcoming people in, and smart
woman, she takes her baked goodsto her neighbors so she doesn't
eat at all.
Speaker 2 (54:21):
So I was going to say when you were saying about we
want to be excellent.
Like Ruthie, you wanted thatbook to be the best you could do
.
Right?
We don't want to be slobberingbecause it's God's work, and I
think what's helped me is theparable of the talents God is
giving us.
Carol's right, we all have wordtalent, but we're different in
(54:42):
our word talent and we're alsodifferent in our speaking talent
and our cooking or whatever itis.
They're unique, but what makesthem the same is that they're
all from God, and so if I sayGod has given me this talent, I
better get better at thisbecause it's investing.
I'm sure you must say that Ihaven't gotten past chapter four
yet, ruthie, but I plan to bytomorrow.
(55:02):
The whole idea is that it'ssuch a gift and that's why we
don't have to be proud, becauseit's all gift, right?
Speaker 1 (55:09):
Yes, it is all a gift .
I think that it.
I teach whenever I'm trainingmusicians and worship leaders
and we're practicing and I'mtrying to train up new people.
I say all the time we can beexcellent, we don't have to be
perfect.
And I think there's a bigdifference, because God I know
(55:33):
God is perfect but even he had aplan and he did things with
excellence.
And when he created the world,you know, it wasn't just
haphazard.
And I feel like that, what thegifts that God has given me,
that it's my responsibility tosteward those gifts well.
And I can do that by practicingthe piano, by, you know,
(55:57):
writing more or listening to myinterviews and trying to stop
doing the annoying things that Ishouldn't be doing because
they're bad habits or thosekinds of things.
And so I feel like beingexcellent is I think people put
those two words together andthey're very different because I
don't want to strive forperfection, but I do want to be
(56:19):
excellent in what I do.
So that's good, but I willleave dust on my end tables and
sometimes I don't sweep my floorwhen I invite people over just
because I want them to see that,hey, I'm okay with you showing
up here and I don't have to.
It doesn't have to look great.
I mean, you know, I would likefor it to look perfect every
time, but I just don't hardlycare anymore.
So please come to my houseanyways.
(56:40):
Seriously, I will make you goodcoffee or tea.
That's important.
I pick my battles.
That's what I do.
Speaker 3 (56:50):
Oh, I just realized I'm surrounded by four people
who all do podcasts.
You guys, is this mean?
I'm supposed to be doing apodcast?
Speaker 5 (56:57):
Look at you.
You look so legit there.
Speaker 3 (56:59):
You've got the whole thing on.
You already do it.
Speaker 4 (57:04):
Oh, only if God tells you Thank you.
You have to do a podcast.
Unless Jesus leads you to do it, you are free, so sweet, so
sweet.
Speaker 1 (57:14):
Or you could just get in a helicopter and do the news
like where the yeah you do.
That's what I look like rightnow.
I'll give you today from WKCL,where we know Christ lives.
Go, mary go.
I wanted to be a radio DJ whenI was growing up.
What can I say?
Okay, I can't.
I know I know y'all are shocked, but it's been an hour.
(57:35):
I know I know you're shocked,but I guess we probably should
wrap it up because everybody hasimportant things to do.
But you took an hour to spendtime with me and I'm so excited.
Thank you so much.
I feel like this has been areally rich conversation.
I'm probably going to getemotional, sorry.
I love being able to pull fromother women who are strong and
(58:01):
who have lived life full and arenot afraid to take it by the
horns.
So much wisdom in this group ofladies and I'm just thankful
that we I've gotten to know youand get to know you more and I
just really appreciate youtaking time to share your
insight and ups and downs andjust being really real.
(58:25):
I love really real.
I will take that any day over.
Perfectly perfect.
I just love really real and Ijust really do appreciate all of
you guys hanging out with mefor this podcast.
Speaker 5 (58:40):
Thank you for having us, Mary.
Speaker 3 (58:42):
Yeah, thank you Mary, we appreciate it yeah
absolutely.
Speaker 4 (58:45):
It's fun to talk as a group.
We'll have to do this again.
Speaker 1 (58:48):
I know it's fun to kind of pull off of each other.
It's good, I think, because webring different perspectives
right and it's just it'srefreshing.
It's absolutely refreshing.
Okay, sue, had a question.
We're going to end on this,this is how we're going to end,
and I pulled the question up,sue, so I got it right this time
.
Okay, what's the message God'sgiven you to share right now?
(59:12):
What is the message God hasgiven you to share?
60 seconds or less, girls,because we're already at an hour
.
Okay, go.
So you want to go first, sinceyou had the question first, I
thought about it.
Speaker 2 (59:24):
My premise to my message is that God invited us
to himself, and so when weinvite someone to our table is
just one more step of what hedid for us.
That's the premise.
My message is that you canchange the world one cup of
coffee at a time and tea workstoo and my mission is to empower
(59:48):
men and women to open theirhomes, for heaven's sake.
Speaker 1 (59:53):
That's so good, so let's go next.
Speaker 3 (01:00:00):
I will go next.
My message is encouraging womento dig their roots deep into
the soil of God's unchangingcharacter and my garden comes
into that with illustrations andawful lot, but just looking for
ways to help them build andstrengthen their faith walk.
Speaker 4 (01:00:23):
Okay, my mission statement is to point people
home to the father, and I wantto do that through opening the
word of God, so that they canget to know him better and that
they can know that they cancrawl up in the lap of their
father and find hope and loveand forgiveness, and that this
(01:00:46):
is the beginning of the journeyand the journey goes on into
eternity, so they don't have tolive in fear.
Speaker 1 (01:00:53):
That's so good, ruthie.
Speaker 5 (01:00:56):
Okay, well, I'm a little bit.
Let's see, one of these thingsis not like the other, and I'm
the one because I'm a marketingcoach, but I do it with the love
of Jesus.
So my mantra is I try to get.
I work with Christian creativesso that they can get their
message, market their message inan authentic way.
(01:01:18):
So at the end of my podcast Ialways say be sure to share your
message your way, in your ownauthentic voice.
Speaker 1 (01:01:29):
That is so good.
That is so good.
Well, I feel like my passionand my message right now is that
I want to see people be theirhealthiest selves spiritually,
physically and emotionally.
I feel like a lot of times weconcentrate heavily one or on
(01:01:52):
the other, but that we're, youknow, a body, soul and spirit,
and so it brings me life to seepeople connect all three of
those areas and avenues in theirlives and live from a very
healthy place that breaksgenerational curses and things
that they have dealt with,cyclical things that they've
(01:02:14):
dealt with their whole lives.
And I specifically love doingthat inside of the body of
Christ, because for so long wejust concentrated on being saved
and making sure we had ourticket to heaven, that we
weren't living life to the fulland fulfilling the purposes.
(01:02:36):
So that's what I am passionateabout and feel like that's where
my ministry niche is right nowand that's where God has me.
So, yay, well, I love this.
Guys, I don't really want tohang up, I want to sit and talk
(01:02:56):
some more, but I reallyappreciate you being with me on
this podcast and thank you forjoining me, and I look forward
to getting to see all the goodthings and all the great things
that you guys accomplish and Ijust hope that I can just just
(01:03:18):
grab ahold of all the nuggets ofwisdom that you guys have
shared and apply them to my lifeso that I can just live life
even fuller than what I'm livingin now, because you have so
much to offer and I just honoryou all so much for what you
bring to the table and to thekingdom and to the world in
general.
You're amazing women of God andI'm glad I get to know you.
Speaker 2 (01:03:41):
Thanks Mary, thanks Mary.
Speaker 1 (01:03:44):
Yeah, absolutely.
Thank you for joining me andthanks everyone for joining me
on another episode of the Back40 podcast.
All of these wonderful ladies'information will be in the show
notes where you can connect withthem and find out more about
them and get to know them.
And we will see you next seasonfor season three of the Back 40
podcast.
Thanks for joining me.
(01:04:04):
Talk to you soon.
Bye.
Hi everyone, thank you for joining me for another
episode of the Back 40 podcast.
I'm your host, mary Hess.
Today is my season two finaleand for the finale I thought it
would be fun to bring back fourguests and all of us just sit
around and chat for a while, andthat's what we did.
So today's guests are SueDonaldson, susan Macias, carol
(00:26):
Field and Ruthie Gray, and wejust spent some time talking
about all of the well.
Honestly, we just spent sometime talking about all the
things.
We spent time talking aboutfaithfulness, about comparison,
about where we are at this stagein life and what it looks like
(00:48):
versus what we thought it lookedlike, and just spend time
encouraging one another andlaughing, lots and lots and lots
of laughing.
I hope you enjoy this podcast.
Stay tuned, my friends, thegolden girls are up next.
(01:13):
All right, I am so excited abouttoday.
I have with me four amazingwomen.
Just like I told you in myintroduction, when I call your
name, please raise your hand sopeople can see who you are.
I have Sue Donaldson, I haveRuthie Gray, I have Susan Macias
and I have Carol Field.
Thank you, ladies, so much forbeing here, from all parts of
(01:36):
the United States.
Right now, I believe we areWest Coast, east Coast and in
between, I think, somewhere inthere.
So so glad to have you and Ithought it would be fun to
kickstart with one question.
Surprise that actually it wasSue's idea, so you can blame her
(01:59):
if you don't like the question.
Tell me in 90 seconds what Godis doing in your life right now
as far as ministry or whatever,but just give it to us.
Let's hear, and we'll startwith Sue, since she was the one
who gave me the question.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Actually, that wasn't the question, but I like that
question.
Go for it if.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
I got it wrong.
I thought I had it right.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Damn it.
My question was what is ourmessage?
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Oh, okay, that'll be another good question.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Well, answer my question and then we'll go.
What is God doing?
Well, he's keeping me married,just kidding, I guess.
I mean God's grace, really.
God is good.
I have a great husband, butsometimes things are rocky.
Right before I go out to speakor something, I find that
there's tension and I had totell the women at the retreat
that I was really snappish withmy husband this week and it was
(02:48):
their fault for inviting me tocome and speak.
So there's always a blamesomewhere else.
But what God is doing is myword of the year is receive, and
often when I pick the word inJanuary, I completely forget
about it until December.
But he has been reminding me toreceive God's, his blessings to
me, just tiny little ones andthen big ones, like knowing such
(03:09):
great women, like yourselves, Imean I just think.
The other day, on a Zoom callwith the writers conference
coming up, Sherry Gregoryreached out to me and we're
going to have coffee this weekJust because I interviewed her.
I thought what a nice littlefavor from God.
And I think 90 seconds may beover.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
That's awesome.
That is so good.
Okay, Carol, your turn.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
What is God doing?
I just realized that I have hadthe opportunity to serve my
adult children in very specificways, each at different times
this year, which I think is areally unique thing.
He's carved out time for me tobe able to do that, and my word
of the year was listen and Iknow that might not have been
part of this question but justlistening and kind of taking
(03:52):
cues from him on what my nextthing is.
I thought I would be doing someother things this fall and I
had the opportunity to just loveon my kids.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
That's so good.
Yeah, I love that.
I love that word.
Listen, that's a good word.
Susan the CS, your turn.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
I don't remember what my word of the year was, so
we'll just skip over that.
It has been a crazy year, and sopart of what God has been
teaching me is to follow, andthat following means you don't
always know what the next stepis.
I'm trying to finish a bookthat I've been working on for
about eight years but havedreamed of writing for about 30.
(04:31):
And so it has been a long,painful process, and God is
continually reminding me thatI'm not late and I feel late a
lot, and so he's just reallykeeps telling me that my timing
is in his hands and what's in myhands is the obedience.
So I just keep plugging awayand I'm not good, and same day,
(04:55):
at the same time, it drops.
I never.
You know, that's just not lifethis year.
And being okay with that andserving him and the women that
he gives me to love on and tellabout him, and, yes, with Carol
serving my family, that doesn'tgo away had a couple of new
grandbabies, so you know, and awedding just got done with the
wedding.
So, yeah, all that.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
That's some good stuff.
That's a lot of stuff.
That's so good, though.
Okay, ruthie, your turn.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
Okay, well, somebody said something about Word of the
Year.
My Word of the Year was eyesand it was because I had this
goal of getting lens replacementand I did it.
But in the process I circledevery reference, every verse in
the Bible and I go through theyear, through the Bible in a
(05:48):
year.
Every year that has somethingto do that says eyes or sight.
So that kept me on track and Iam just loving that whole thing
there.
God has really spoken to me.
But my message is that you canstart life anew and find your
(06:13):
passions in Empty Nest and mybook launch is tomorrow Empty
Nest Awakening Weaving theThreads of your Passions Into
Purpose.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
So good and we just finished an interview that's
going to be out in a couple ofweeks about her book and I got
to be on the launch team andit's really, really, really a
timely book and I think it'sgoing to be great for all of us
going through that season andentering that season like we
chatted about.
Okay, my turn.
So my year has not gone like Ithought it was going to go as
(06:50):
far as like ministry and justlife in general.
I hit menopause so hard inFebruary and, because I'd had a
partial hysterectomy, I didn'tknow I was going to hit
menopause.
I didn't have the regular signsand so I woke up just one day
in a crazy spot and it has takenme months to even start to feel
(07:13):
just that much normal and Idon't even know if I'm going to
really feel that normal againbecause I'm in a different phase
of life.
So I feel really discombobulatedin this season, which makes me
feel not very inspired to dothings you know, or creative, or
tolerating people.
(07:35):
My people level is like whoa.
It's like way lower than whathe used to be, and I hate that
because it doesn't feel like me.
So I've just been trying towrestle with being okay with not
being okay right now andfinding grace for that and being
thankful for people in my lifewho are okay with me not being
(07:56):
okay right now.
If that makes any sense, that'skind of what makes perfect
sense.
Yeah, I'm looking forward tothat kind of leveling out,
because I miss creativity andmiss feeling like I'm
accomplishing things and stufflike that.
So it's been a really reallyweird, really weird season for
me, but thankful, thankful thatit's nothing super crazy.
(08:17):
It's just the new season oflife and I've got to adjust and
monitor and move on.
In Thoughts anyone on that?
Speaker 4 (08:26):
I just like how we were all nodding as you're
saying that Been there.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Is there a trophy or a medal or something?
Speaker 2 (08:34):
There should be, there should be Right, there's
hope, because I can't rememberit so.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
Oh yes.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Yes, yeah, that would be exciting.
I find that I would be curiousabout this, though I've offered
that.
I thought I want to talk aboutsomething, too, that Susan
Macias said earlier, but I havefound that it feels like women
are not celebrated going intothis phase of life, like men are
(09:03):
as they age, like it's almostlooked at like oh, you hit
menopause.
Oh, that's how it's beenapproached to me.
I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm goingto be in this the next 30 years
of my life.
Really, like, is it that bad?
Like why is this so, you know?
So I'm trying to change some ofthat.
(09:24):
When I've talked to people andeven in my own mindset, like, oh
, wow, here we go.
Everything's changing, you know.
So did you guys experience that?
Was it like that for you?
Or did you just hit it runningand go?
Yes, ma'am, here I am, take it.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
Who wants to go first ?
Speaker 3 (09:44):
I will say that I kind of went a non-traditional
route.
I mean, I still have all myparts, I haven't had to have a
surgery, but I got some helpwith some hormone replacement
and that's been life changingfor me, and I've suffered with
chronic low thyroid stuff foryears, Some of those hidden
things that you know when you'reup you're up and when you're
down.
You can't explain why.
(10:05):
So, but the lows can be reallylow, and when I first was
checking into what could behelpful some of the tests,
things that are supposed to beat a certain number, and you
find out you're basically belowzero you wonder why some things
(10:25):
in your life aren't functioningwell.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Yeah, yeah, that was more of the vitamin and herb
kind of thing.
My mom had had breast cancerand I couldn't do HRD and so but
the other part was learning toembrace.
It was just learning to embracethe new part, the new normal,
and I don't know.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
I think she froze up on us.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
I'm back Susan Kiel for the most part, and so I just
, you know, I had to make achoice, to say good, this is my
new season, and I'm going toassume that God didn't make me
faulty and that this is where weare now, and so I've learned to
(11:11):
just enjoy it for what it canbe.
It's not bad.
There are.
Hot flashes are never fun.
Speaker 5 (11:20):
New 100 on that.
Hot flashes are the worst.
So I'll give my story.
I was 42 when I had a completehysterectomy.
I'm 59 now.
I still have hot flashes, but Iam on hormones and have to be
(11:43):
because I cannot live with thosehot flashes.
Girls, I have cooling pillows,I have cooling mattresses, I
have, you know, just anythingyou can think of, and usually my
leg is hanging out of the bedevery night and my husband's
like covered up to his neck andI'm just like how can you be so
(12:06):
hot?
So it's not fun.
But I will say this for me Idid not experience.
I did have like some angerissues.
Yes, I had some snappy moments,and my husband would definitely
say that, and so my kids.
As far as depression, I spentthe first 40 years of my life in
(12:33):
and out of depression, butafter I haven't been depressed
since.
It's kind of weird.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
That's good.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
I remember two hot flashes Sorry, ruthie, I've had
two, but I'm so glad I had them,because now I can relate and
I'm sorry, I have a coolingpillow too, but it was my
husband had just lost his joband I thought well, I don't have
insurance, and so do I doanything?
(13:03):
My husband said go get yourhormone replacement.
He's a doctor, so he told mewhat to get, but it was $5.
So it was so worth it.
But I remember just whippingoff my sweatshirt you don't have
to visualize it but I'mthinking, oh, this is why there
are all these cartoons about it,because it is like immediate.
(13:25):
And now I have all my friendsare younger because my friends
die because I'm so old.
But that's what my mother usedto say, that I have friends who,
like I, sit by the fire whenthey visit, and they're 10 feet
away from me because they're inthat, but I'm always cold.
I mean, look at me and it's 79degrees outside.
But I didn't have much going onand I don't have problem with
(13:50):
depression.
Probably, though, I just wantto be so in sync with what the
Lord is doing in my life, sothat, if I snap at someone, that
I can do short accounts, likewith God and my children and my
husband.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Yeah, that's good.
I didn't have depression.
It was so weird.
I felt like mine was.
I felt very flatlined, like Iwasn't sad, I wasn't angry, I
wasn't ecstatic, I just didn'tcare, like it just felt like I
had no humor.
No, it was the weirdest thingflat affect, which was what
(14:25):
scared me because I wentsomething's not right, that's
not me.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
Especially if that's not your normal Right.
So when a few flat days is onething, but to feel like you just
have gone, flat, like reallyflat.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
We're talking like flat, flat.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
I have a friend.
She was director of women'sministries Okay, so, godly,
wonderful friend.
And she didn't know she wasdepressed.
So when she got medication forit which is maybe a different
topic she said Sue, it was, I'vebeen living my whole life with
sunglasses and now it's off.
I thought, wow.
In fact, when I was dating myhusband, I said would you, would
(15:08):
you prescribe antidepressants?
I was just testing him tosomeone, you know, to someone,
because, like some people can be, spiritualize it and say, oh,
we don't need it, jesus.
And and he said, if they needit, I prescribe it.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
And so I said yes, I don't know why I put makeup on
today.
I don't have an idea.
I'm going to cry it all off,laughing so.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
I think this is a great topic to bring grace into
the picture, right, Becausethere's so many different ways
we all approach things, based onhow we were raised or what
we've been exposed to and I'mdoing more of a homeopathic,
minor bio identical in terms ofthe hormones because I have some
other issue breast cancerhistory and the family and that,
(15:57):
and just trying to be cautiousof some things.
But when your family realizesthat you're not snappy angry,
like when they see the changeand they start to plot, you're
like, okay, there's something tobe said for the things that are
(16:17):
currently helping and these aregood things.
Not everybody will.
I mean, everyone choosesdifferently, right, as you walk
through that.
I think one of the great thingsthat could come out of this
conversation is that there's alot of ways to approach it and
if we can be kind with oneanother and not be too quick to
push our own agenda on somebodyelse, but to know that there are
(16:38):
a lot of options to kind of getover the hurdle and not be snap
turtles always oh, exactly, yes.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Yes, I have a lady at our church.
She was like, oh yeah, I'mgoing to pause.
I hit it, I was fine.
I've never had a hot flash.
It was great.
Nothing, no big deal.
And I'm like, should you prayfor me?
I have that.
Oh goodness, yeah, it's beeninteresting, yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
I have a question based on what you said.
When you feel flat, you don'tfeel creative, and we all four,
five of us are creative.
I'm sorry, I was an Englishmajor.
I had to count.
Yeah, we're all creatives and Iknow when I'm not feeling
creative.
And so what?
My question would be for all ofus?
What is the best sparking?
Let's say, you have to be onfor something, either speaking,
(17:29):
writing, a deadline of some sortand you're feeling that
flatness and I don't meannecessarily hormonally, I just
said you're just feeling thatway.
What would be the best impetusfor you to get going?
Speaker 4 (17:43):
Good question.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
That is a really good One is to get outside.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
If I can get outside and take a walk, even in Texas,
100 degrees, that just kind ofblows some of my mind out.
Sometimes it's just good oldfashioned sit down and start and
ask the Holy Spirit to bringthe fuel that's not there inside
already.
But getting outside for me ismy first step.
(18:08):
I can't wait to hear y'alls,because I need a longer list
than that of what to do.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
I do agree, susan.
You guys know my love ofgardening and my yard and that
is always life giving for me.
But I would love to hear someother things as well, because I
think I can't just walk in agarden if I'm getting ready.
Sue's got some speaking thingscoming up, so what does she do?
Walking into that auditorium ofwomen, really not feeling the
(18:40):
way we kind of expect ourselvesto, that's good, mine is also
walking.
Speaker 5 (18:51):
But I did hear that if you want to appear very
energetic and excited, then youlaugh really hard for five
minutes before you go live, andso I've tried.
It actually works.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Interesting.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
So how do you make yourself laugh hard?
Speaker 5 (19:13):
Well, you just start doing it.
It's kind of painful to beginwith because you don't really
have anything to laugh at, butyou eventually start laughing at
yourself laughing, and it helpsif your family is on the other
side of the door and they don'tknow what you're doing and you
just start laughing hystericallyat the top of your lungs and
(19:34):
then you start laughing at them.
So this is crying.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
I love this.
I love so much.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
Michelle Kishat was, I'm sorry, real quick, this was.
She grows again Essential oilsand it's.
You do the peppermint pelletand you put it in your mouth and
it's sort of like explodes yourmouth and peppermint and you
just, and so I have those forspeaking and it really does help
(20:03):
.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
Interesting.
So peppermint, hmm, hmm, well,I don't.
I haven't.
I guess I probably have done alittle bit of all of those
things and haven't found onething that I go.
Oh yes, every time I do thisone thing, it it works.
But I do find if Shannon and Ihave been laughing and joking
(20:25):
and just having a good time, Ifeel more apt to be able to prep
a sermon for Sunday or getready for a podcast interview or
whatever that thing is.
But I still haven't quite feltthe creativity that.
I know I normally feel like tosit down and write or work on
(20:45):
our book, or it's just beenweird for me.
So I do the whole.
Jesus, please help me.
God, I've got to prep this forSunday and I need you.
I really need you this time.
Like you know, I'm doing thewhole thing, or just going for a
walk or going outside or tryingto do something fun that does
that takes the pressure off ofI'm going to have to do this
(21:07):
thing that I know I'm going tohave, you know, to be in front
of people.
So I haven't.
I have not.
I'm writing down all of thesethings because that's stuff that
would help me definitely.
Speaker 5 (21:20):
Yeah, I say one thing there is something to be said
for rest and doing somethingcompletely to erase your mind
from that thing that you have todo.
If you can unplug for 24 hoursor 12 hours or just go somewhere
(21:40):
that you're completely off thegrid, or and maybe you can't do
that but just enter intocommunity, get out with your
girlfriends or or anythingthat's going to just force you
to be in the moment, I honestlythink yoga is good for that,
because you have to be thinkingabout what you're balancing.
(22:04):
You know, like I can't do thetree pose without thinking about
it.
So if you can do something likethat, I have this app.
I don't know why it's free forme.
My daughters are always jealousof me because I have this app
and it's free and it chargesthem all the time and and it's
got all these great workouts,yeah, yeah, but yeah, so I just
(22:28):
do.
I pop that in if I need tocleanse my mind, to refresh it
before going on to the nextproject.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
I have a couple of different things.
I it seems like if someonewould call and say would you
speak on this particular topic?
I'm always stuck at thebeginning, but then, because of
help me, lord, prayers, likeMary just said, I always start
with scripture and my mentor hasreminded me Sue, you start with
scripture and somehow thatalways works, and I for me, and
(23:03):
I think God wants to remind meevery single time that it starts
and ends with him and with histruth, and so somehow he's, he
gives me the creativity,starting with the scripture.
It doesn't mean when I speak Ispeak with that, I start with
that verse.
It just means that all thestories then come, illustrated
(23:23):
from my life or other people'slives, based on that scripture.
And then also baking helps me asfar as something that that's
not having to do.
It's creative, it's restful.
I know it's not for everyoneand it's it's dangerous, because
then I like, I like what I bake, and then to give it away,
(23:45):
that's, you know, outsideyourself.
So that would be the onlyreason I would go outside and
walk would be to give away mybaked goods.
I am in a cardio class insomewhere three times a week and
that's such a huge blessing.
I would not go, except I knowthat I know it's good for my
flexibility at 71.
So I mean I just got back outof a little sweaty.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
I will say to add to the list.
I did it this morning likeworship music and it doesn't
have to be the super mellow, youcan like pick your tempo.
But sometimes I just need asong to play on repeat, even
because I just need to sit inthe message of the song.
I've been enjoying Shane andShane and their renditions of
(24:29):
the Psalms.
There is another, anotherfolksy group.
I'll have to think of theirname, Maybe I can add it later.
But just finding some music isso restorative and I love
Ruthie's idea of unplugging.
Because we are such a saturatedculture with information and
(24:51):
it's easy to sit in too muchinformation, the negativity of
the information, the expectationof the information, the
assumptions of the I mean thelist goes on of all the things
that we take away, and becausewe can now walk around with, you
know, computers in our backpockets, I think we have to
really really guard our heartsand minds to what we allow to
(25:17):
settle in and take up that space.
Yeah, the music just kind ofhelps wash some of that out, and
particularly worship music.
I mean, let me tell you I lovesome good 80s rock and roll too,
but that's probably not quitethe same bent.
If I'm walking, that would helpme walk, Sue.
So there you go, but in termsof just prepping my heart and my
(25:39):
soul to work on a message, tobe with people to fight off the
enemy, like Sue was saying, withso many speaking opportunities,
it seems like the enemy wantsto jump in right before we have
something that we think issignificant, and the music is a
big part of that for me.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Yeah, that's so good, that's so good, Great ideas.
Good, good, good ideas, whichis a good segue.
Susan said earlier which wastalking about in her 90 seconds
about writing this book that hastaken her years to get to
certain points and having tolearn that it's that God is not
(26:21):
late or that she's not late.
I love this because I thinksometimes it's easy for me even
to get into the mindset of oh mygosh, I'm in my 50s now and
what do I have to show for it?
What do I have to show thatI've been doing ministry or I'm
(26:44):
successful in some arena or someway?
I've been saying for years I'mgoing to write this book or I'm
going to speak at these bigconferences or whatever the
things might be.
But let's talk for a minuteabout that concept of not being
late or not being done.
(27:04):
I think that, especially for mypodcast I'm talking about the
back 40, I have found so manypeople who say that they've
either started new things orreally came into their stride,
that sort of thing.
I just never really thought ofthat prior to hitting this phase
(27:27):
of life.
I thought, well, by that time Iwill have arrived, but by that
time I'll just coast on throughbecause that's what you do,
that's just so.
Anyways, feel free to add tothat and anyway, I would love to
hear your all thoughts on thatGo.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Ruthie's written a whole book on it.
So I've got a book.
But the point that she and Ihave talked about is
fearlessness.
I mean it's scary to trysomething new at a certain age
or to realize what you thoughtyou would have at this age you
didn't have.
So then that could be verynegative emotional thing, and I
(28:11):
think it's good to surroundourselves with other women, like
you all, to remind us thatwe're not late, because God's
not late.
And my mentor would say we arethe ones with fast watches, not
God, and so to continue tosurrender to him and then be
surprised and delighted whensomething happens that maybe you
(28:32):
didn't count on, but on theother hand, we still work
towards it, because Ruthie justdoesn't say, ok, it's going to
be great.
No, you actually have to dosomething and get off your duff
or try something scary, likestart a podcast or submit a book
proposal or speak in front of abunch of women, and I think to
(28:54):
have that expectation that Godis going to surprise us, but
we're still obedient.
So whose word was listened?
I don't think I'll ever choosethat one, but that was a good
word and to listen to Godbecause he'll, yes, that was my
word, so I know it was a goodone.
I'll check it.
I'll check back in five years.
I'll get that word, but anywayI'll just be quiet.
(29:17):
But I just thought that wasjust to be.
My mother's chiropractor had totell her stop cleaning the pews
.
I mean she was working so latein life.
And so to be surrounded bypeople who inspire you is is
self-serving sanctification.
To go into community on aregular basis and say have
someone, say you're not late,susan, you're blessed, you're
(29:40):
doing what God wants you to dotoday.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
So good.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
He said the word Community.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (29:51):
Community grows opportunity.
Somebody said that once andyou'll actually read that in my
book.
But I really believe that youknow, when we start feeling
lonely or down about what we'redoing or anything to do with our
second half of life, the worstthing we can do is stay to
(30:15):
ourselves.
The best thing we can do is toget in some kind of community.
Maybe it's a knitting club,maybe it's a walking club, maybe
it's a writer club.
But we need other people aroundus to bounce ideas off of, to
come alongside us, to build usup and to tell us the truth when
(30:40):
we need to be told the truth.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
So good.
I think that it's true.
You know, we talk about thatfrom the spiritual aspect all
the time, and how the enemywants to isolate us, because
when he can isolate us, then wewithdraw into ourselves and it's
oh, we're never going to bethis or that's never going to
happen, or it's always this way,and we don't have people around
(31:07):
us to pull us up and say nope,nope, nope, nope, nope, nope.
You don't get to stay there.
That's not who you are andthat's not where you are in life
.
It's good.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
And it can be very in the creative life.
It can be very isolating, youknow it's.
It can be kind of lonely to bewriting or to be even podcasting
when you interview people, Imean it's just, it's me in the
room by myself and so it canfeel that way.
And for me the big thing hasbeen really studying scripture
(31:38):
and seeing how God is so not ina hurry ever.
He's never in a hurry that hegives.
He gives Abraham the promisethat he's going to have a son,
but that doesn't happen for 16years and then that son is Isaac
, isn't get married till he's 40.
And then she's also can't havekids.
(31:58):
So they don't have kids tillhe's 60.
So that's like 76 years fromthe promise of generations.
Like the stars you can tell.
I've studied this.
I mean this is so important forme to have figured out that God
was like it's all good and whenAbraham wanted to complain, he
goes go out, look at the stars.
That's your promise.
(32:19):
So you work towards the promiseof what God has said and you
obey him and you follow.
But in our industrial communitywhat you do and produce and the
sales numbers of that or thelisten rate or how many
downloads you get is yourmeasure.
Speaker 5 (32:44):
I'm on the edge of my seat.
The line is so freeing.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
You froze on us just a little bit, susan and we.
Speaker 4 (32:54):
Did I have a really great face yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
That's the important thing.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
You were at the really good part, where you said
I was at the good part.
Speaker 4 (33:03):
I was saying it's God's economy and God's timeline
are never ours and they are noteconomical.
And he's not worried about hisreputation.
He's worried about myfaithfulness and his goodness
and that's the deal.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
Not even about it.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Well, and I like to say we live in a microwave
society, right.
We want instant everything.
I'm frustrated.
If I can't drive through to geta coffee, have them forbid.
I should park my car and goinside if I'm in a hurry.
I think for the generationcoming behind us.
If I feel that way, what do ourkids and their friends?
(33:44):
Had a conversation with a younggal who just felt like she's
staring her a next decade in theface and just feeling like
perhaps she hasn't done enough,or that she's missed things, or
that she didn't do the lastdecade well enough and that
she's running out of time.
And, ruthie, do you rememberwhat the conference we were at
(34:07):
together?
Somebody talked about thewomen's most productive years in
ministry.
I think it was the 70s, and Sueis a living example of that,
because she is my spirit animaland my superhero, and I love to
be reminded that God's not latewith his promises and that what
(34:27):
our culture says the timingshould be is not necessarily
God's timing and that we cankeep working towards our goals.
And I'm encouraged by all of youguys for all the things you're
doing.
And it makes me realize thatthe dream, susan, that I've had
for so long on words that I wantto get out.
(34:48):
People are like are you writinga book and it's like I got a
whole lot more writing to dobefore it becomes a book.
But even being able to say thatto people and not feel like I'm
somehow apologizing for beingless than because I don't have a
book in the works, you knowwhat I mean.
As soon as you tell people thatyou're writing, speaking, doing
(35:09):
whatever Good to be reminded ofAbraham Sarah, their whole
journey is so foreign to us inthis culture.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
Oh so is the journey of Joseph.
I mean, I think about him a lot.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
Go ahead.
I like what Susan said.
That was 76 years.
76 years, you said it was aspan, so that means I might
actually have grandchildrensomeday.
You guys all talk about that.
I said, well, that's what I'dlike to be doing, but instead
I'm doing these other things.
I hope my kids won't listen tothis.
They never listen to me, sothat's okay.
No pressure girls.
(35:45):
But you know I'm married late.
It's a miracle I'm married.
So I keep thanking the Lord forthat.
And I think a problem I stillhave, even at 71, is comparison
issues on social media.
And I know it's talked a lotabout a lot and I think, okay,
(36:05):
that doesn't bother me.
It does bother me at times andthat, well, if it's bothering me
, that means I'm basically justa proud old woman and I hate
myself.
So then I'm off of it for 15minutes and then I go back on
and then you know, but it can gothe opposite way.
I mean I teach on this.
I've been teaching on it foryears.
You know that you can be theopposite.
You're still proud of youroverly humble you know, because
you're still comparing yourselfand thinking, well, I'm better
(36:27):
than that person.
So I mean I don't know whathelps you, for?
How can you help me?
I mean, this is free therapy.
Please help me.
Speaker 1 (36:37):
Lay down on the bed there and we'll give you some
advice.
You know what was the question?
The comparison thing.
Helping with the comparisonthing, I was just thinking about
the fact and this ties intothat when Carol was talking, I
talked to a girl on one of mypodcasts who was dealing with
(36:57):
some younger girls in hercongregation that she was
counseling, that they were goingthrough a quarter life crisis.
It is an actual thing, like at25, feeling like they have
already missed it becausethey're not married or they
don't, they're not making sixfigures or they don't have the
house in the suburbs with thetwo kids and the dog or whatever
(37:18):
their dream is, and I thinkthat ties into what Sue is
talking about.
I don't know that comparisonever really goes away and I kind
of thought it would.
Honestly, I thought, like youwere saying, you know, I thought
, well, I'll get to a place thatI just won't give a rat time in
what anybody thinks about meand you know, I'll get to say
(37:44):
what I want and do what I wantand I won't care.
But it's not true.
It's not true.
I do care and I do see whenpeople have successes and when
they, you know, get the thingsand do the things and look the
way that they do that.
It is hard.
I actually tried to take a hugebreak from social media.
(38:06):
True confessions of a failedtake a break from social media.
Back in after my birthday,because I wanted to wait to get
all the birthday wishes onFacebook, let's be honest.
So the day after my birthday Iwas going to take a break from
social media and I thought I'mgoing to do this till October.
I can do this.
I don't have to be on socialmedia, even for the podcast If
(38:28):
nobody listens because they'renot subscribed, so what, who
cares?
And so I lasted about 20 daysand I couldn't do it.
And when I say withdrawal, likewhen I say weird detoxing kind
of habit stuff, it was theweirdest thing.
But I had true FOMO.
(38:50):
I thought I was going to misseverything.
Nobody was going to text me tosee how I was doing.
What if nobody knew I was evengone?
I mean crazy stuff goingthrough my mind.
I'm like you're 52 years old,mary, that's what is wrong with
you that you cannot turn offyour social media.
I don't know that it goes away.
I guess it comes down to, Iwould say, identity, but I feel
(39:15):
like I know who I am, but at thesame time, this pressure is so
real out here that I don't knowthat I know what to do with it
at times, either Go ahead, yeah,go ahead.
Speaker 5 (39:26):
Well, it's not going to go away as long as the enemy
is in the world.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
Sure.
Speaker 5 (39:33):
That's the crux of the matter.
He is going to do everything hecan to lie and deceive us and
make us into people who arebelieving things about ourselves
that we shouldn't or notwalking in truth, and so it
(39:55):
doesn't matter.
I don't think how old you are,for instance, with me writing
this book.
In the book I talk a lot aboutgetting some guts and just
stepping on in, and let me tellyou every single day that I
wrote that book, I was scaredout of my mind.
(40:18):
I'm still scared out of my mindfor people to read my words
because A they're not as good assomebody else's.
B I know that I could be better.
Aka, they're not as good assomebody else's.
And C what if somebodycriticizes me?
(40:41):
Of course they're going to.
Once you're out in the public,people are going to criticize
you, and this is the reason alot of times that we back off
from building a platform, and weknow we need a platform to get
our message out.
Just think, if Paul had thisback in the day, my goodness,
(41:04):
the gospel could have spread farand wide a lot faster, beyond
TikTok, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (41:09):
He would have been trending.
Speaker 5 (41:12):
He would have been trending for sure.
But I just think that we letourselves get in the way of
doing God's message, of givingGod's message, and that's one of
the ways.
As comparison, well, I'm notgoing to do this real because
I'm not that articulate or I'mnot like what's her face that
(41:35):
does the dances or whatever, itdoesn't matter.
That's not you.
You be you, because somebodyneeds your voice.
They will relate to it and I'mgoing to stop preaching now.
Speaker 1 (41:49):
We need to take an offering up, because she just
proved we just went to church,you know.
Speaker 3 (41:55):
I just want to remind everybody of Susan's book.
Tell me if I get the titlewrong.
I taught it in a Bible studyputting Jesus on the identity
issue.
We all struggle with theidentity issue, even at this age
, and so it was such a gift totake women through a summer
(42:16):
Bible study in Susan's book tobe able to remind them how often
scripture tells us what it iswe're supposed to be clothed in,
who we're supposed to beclothed in, and that's a
continuous reminder.
It's not a do it in the morningand it lasts you all day.
It might be a moment by momentthing, depending on the
circumstances, but I think thatcan be part of that whole thing
(42:39):
of how do you find the mojo thatwe want the feeling, and I
think the reality is that we'vegot to cling to the truth and we
have to talk truth over ourfeelings, because I won't always
feel like God is near, but Ican trust and believe that he is
because I've walked with himlong enough and scripture gives
(43:01):
us tons of examples.
But what are those things thatChrist allows us to put on that
we cover ourselves with?
And Susan probably has more tosay.
Speaker 4 (43:13):
Well, you know, writing that book was like I
don't think I can write thisbook because I need this too
much.
You know, it's like I am so notwalking, going to even share
this when I believe it, but Iknow how much I'm walking in my
flesh and so I think part of apart of thankfully writing or
doing studying what God puts onus is what he's, what he's
(43:36):
discipling us in, and so then,when he's discipled us in it,
then we have a message to sharewith somebody else and it's it's
really not any different thanbaking banana bread and sharing
it with your neighbor.
It's just sharing the words oflife that God is, you know,
taking you through.
That you go.
Ok, yeah, you're right, I amlooking at my flesh and my
(44:00):
struggle.
I found, in all of thiscomparison thing, like I didn't
even know this thinking you knowthe stinking thinking is in my
head was about and it's like Idon't really say this out loud
very often because I feel sowhat a bad Christian.
But I'm just going to be honesthere is God didn't love me as
(44:21):
much as he did these other womenwho were much more successful,
because if he loved me more, hewould use me more and and God's
like what that is so pervertedfrom how I think and how I use
and what I do, and and likehaving to really realize that I
(44:43):
needed to trust God's love forme and that he desired good for
me.
And he desired In your Biblestudy, carol, I froze again
tonight because all of you allhave funny faces.
Maybe my words were only for,I'm sorry, I bet internet today.
Why?
Because the enemy, I don't know.
(45:04):
But, carol, you know, maybe thewords were just for those, for
those ladies in your Bible study.
And would that be enough tohave gone through the pain to
have written it?
Yes, it would have.
So, once again, it's theindustrial society that says we
have to see an amount, a numberto mean you know, how many books
(45:25):
have you sold?
What does it matter?
The one mom who came up to mebecause she read my book on
prayer and it transformed herspirit in her life as she's
walked through really deep, darkvalleys.
What if it was just for her?
Would it be enough?
In God's economy, it's enough.
Speaker 1 (45:43):
Yeah, that is the thing.
I think you said it a littlebit earlier too, but it's am I
okay with.
Am I okay with that being thething, the enough?
Or I use the phrase a lot Am Iokay with being known as being
faithful?
I mean, abraham was known asbeing faithful.
He did know, like he never gotto see the promise completely
(46:08):
fulfilled, right, he never gotto see all of the stars, the,
you know, the children.
As far as that's concerned, hegot to see.
It started, but he was faithfuland being faithful is a huge
deal.
It's in God's economy.
It's one of the most importantthings is we are faithful to
(46:31):
what he's called us to, to allof the things that he's made us
to be and created us to be.
And sometimes I think my braingoes to is that enough?
That doesn't feel like enough.
You know, like who's going toknow I was faithful?
What do I have to show for it?
So I think that's very whatyou're saying.
(46:52):
Susan is so good because hiseconomy it's an upside down
kingdom.
He doesn't operate the way thatthis world operates and we we
have gotten, unfortunately Ifeel like we've gotten caught up
in the way the world operatesand we expect to fit God's
kingdom into that, when inreality his kingdom is very much
(47:13):
upside down and he doesn't lookat the things you know.
He looks at the widow given herlast little bit and counts that
even more than the rich manthrowing a few dollars into the
offering bucket.
Speaker 2 (47:27):
You know guess who, when you were talking, susan, it
reminds me how we first met.
We were part of a mastermindand we chatted privately and and
I remember asking you does thismake you feel better or worse?
What we're hearing about allthese things we're supposed to
be doing, and she wrote rightback it makes me feel worse.
I thought, oh goodie, we can befriends and that's how we
(47:47):
started, because we talkedduring class like we pass notes,
and so that's great.
But what you were sayingearlier too about this is what I
believe.
But this is how I feel.
I I keep thinking that the morecohesive that becomes, the more
we're maturing, christ.
So you know, I will be on mydeathbed going.
(48:08):
This is not how I think, butit's how I feel, and I'm
thinking that this is a goal forus to.
I think we're supposed to havegoals to aspire to, but goals
are things that we have controlover, whereas desires, you know,
that's something we leave inthe Lord's hands and that's why
we get angry when we're tryingto force our goal on someone
(48:29):
else.
But we can have a desire.
I learned that from somepsychologist, but I can't
remember his name because I'm 71.
But anyway, and so I think, themore cohesive I am and saying,
lord, this is how I feel andeven cried this morning.
I cried in my quiet time and Ithought, okay, now I feel better
and letting that go and thenbelieving and exalting in who
(48:51):
God is and what he's doing in myfamily's lives and just
trusting it, saying I trust himwhen I don't feel like I trust
him.
That's moving the line over, tobe more cohesive but not to be
depressed If tomorrow you wakeup in us back this way again.
You know, I think Ruthiealluded that to that as well Go
ahead, susan.
Speaker 4 (49:11):
No, I just I love what you just shared and I think
it's so important that we keepsharing this because it's like
you were saying before Mary, wethought when we got here we'd
have it together and we need totell the women it's a journey
and we keep coming back to theLord and that's not a sign that
you're not traveling well.
(49:32):
It means you're still travelingthe journey and it's still up
and down and you're not doing itwrong because you got here and
you don't have everythingfigured out at 50 or 60 or 70 or
80.
You know, you just, are youstill living faithfully with
Jesus?
Speaker 2 (49:50):
And to Ruthie's point she said community is it?
I mean God, you know, the worldhas the world.
Through COVID, the world hasdiscovered community because
they realized how desperate theywere.
And it's like wait, they'retaking over what we've known for
centuries and they're doing apretty good job.
They just add wine.
You know, whatever we, we needto be with it all the time,
(50:11):
because we can't live this.
We're too proud to show someoneelse we need them and that it's
all.
Bottom line is pride.
Speaker 1 (50:19):
Yes, amen to that.
Speaker 3 (50:22):
I will.
I will tack on to thatauthenticity, right, ruthie?
Authenticity like being ourauthentic selves and we all live
in an arena because of themessage that we desire to share.
We've chosen to be platformpeople, whatever you think of
(50:42):
that word.
But there's the generationcoming behind us that see what
we're doing and there's stillthat idea that they see women
who have it all together andtrying so hard to not care if my
makeup's on, trying so hard tojust talk from my garden and my
(51:07):
funky yellow boots and to justpull back the curtain and let
the people who are listening tothe message know that this
facade, if I wear earrings, it'snot because I'm trying to do
anything particular.
It is just me, because I'llwear earrings even in the garden
(51:29):
.
Guys, let's be real.
But finding that way tocommunicate authentically and if
that's in a video from ourhouse, if that's in a
conversation from a stage, ifthat's one-on-one, just pulling
back the veil and saying here'swhat it looks like to do this
(51:49):
life and we're good at puttingwords together that's part of
what brought us into thiscommunity where we all know each
other.
But finding the authenticity inthat, to say, sometimes it
takes me a while to figure thosewords out, like we can come
(52:11):
across so polished not often formyself, but like that's the
goal, and even in a book.
Ruthie, right, you're launchinga book.
We want it to be received welland being able to step back and
say authentic selves.
The Lord uses real people tomeet real people, and so how do
(52:35):
we hold that tension with thisdesire to do things well,
finding that authentic versionthat lets somebody connect and
get a glimpse of this hope thathas a name, and his name is
Jesus.
Speaker 1 (52:54):
That's so good.
Speaker 2 (52:56):
I had a friend come in my house once and say, oh, I
feel better about my house,meaning my house was so awful.
And uh, oh, yeah, I use that myhospitality workshop, because
houses keep us from beinghospitable.
Right, had been in her houseand I was like, whoa, her house
was awful.
So she felt about hers, thinkabout mine.
So there's a thing and this waswhat 40 years ago, I've given
(53:19):
up.
I just, you know, I use mysocial security, I get a
housekeeper, but I still don'tcare.
I mean, carol gave me a 40minute warning when you were
going to come to my house.
Oh, just got ice cream andchocolate sauce and strawberries
.
She didn't get anything baked,but something else I was going
to say, but of course I'veforgotten.
So I guess I'm done.
Oh, you're done.
(53:39):
No, I had something else, butit'll come up tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (53:43):
But you guys, isn't that so great.
Sue responded to me sopositively with a 40 minute
warning.
I was near her with anothergroup of women and I had an
opportunity with time and shesaid yes to the window of time
because she had a window.
Maybe wasn't as prepared as shewould like and I find myself
getting hung up on.
Oh, I want to be prepared toreceive people a certain way and
(54:08):
I learned so much from her thatthis legacy life that she's
living, that she's justwelcoming people in, and smart
woman, she takes her baked goodsto her neighbors so she doesn't
eat at all.
Speaker 2 (54:21):
So I was going to say when you were saying about we
want to be excellent.
Like Ruthie, you wanted thatbook to be the best you could do
.
Right?
We don't want to be slobberingbecause it's God's work, and I
think what's helped me is theparable of the talents God is
giving us.
Carol's right, we all have wordtalent, but we're different in
(54:42):
our word talent and we're alsodifferent in our speaking talent
and our cooking or whatever itis.
They're unique, but what makesthem the same is that they're
all from God, and so if I sayGod has given me this talent, I
better get better at thisbecause it's investing.
I'm sure you must say that Ihaven't gotten past chapter four
yet, ruthie, but I plan to bytomorrow.
(55:02):
The whole idea is that it'ssuch a gift and that's why we
don't have to be proud, becauseit's all gift, right?
Speaker 1 (55:09):
Yes, it is all a gift .
I think that it.
I teach whenever I'm trainingmusicians and worship leaders
and we're practicing and I'mtrying to train up new people.
I say all the time we can beexcellent, we don't have to be
perfect.
And I think there's a bigdifference, because God I know
(55:33):
God is perfect but even he had aplan and he did things with
excellence.
And when he created the world,you know, it wasn't just
haphazard.
And I feel like that, what thegifts that God has given me,
that it's my responsibility tosteward those gifts well.
And I can do that by practicingthe piano, by, you know,
(55:57):
writing more or listening to myinterviews and trying to stop
doing the annoying things that Ishouldn't be doing because
they're bad habits or thosekinds of things.
And so I feel like beingexcellent is I think people put
those two words together andthey're very different because I
don't want to strive forperfection, but I do want to be
(56:19):
excellent in what I do.
So that's good, but I willleave dust on my end tables and
sometimes I don't sweep my floorwhen I invite people over just
because I want them to see that,hey, I'm okay with you showing
up here and I don't have to.
It doesn't have to look great.
I mean, you know, I would likefor it to look perfect every
time, but I just don't hardlycare anymore.
So please come to my houseanyways.
(56:40):
Seriously, I will make you goodcoffee or tea.
That's important.
I pick my battles.
That's what I do.
Speaker 3 (56:50):
Oh, I just realized I'm surrounded by four people
who all do podcasts.
You guys, is this mean?
I'm supposed to be doing apodcast?
Speaker 5 (56:57):
Look at you.
You look so legit there.
Speaker 3 (56:59):
You've got the whole thing on.
You already do it.
Speaker 4 (57:04):
Oh, only if God tells you Thank you.
You have to do a podcast.
Unless Jesus leads you to do it, you are free, so sweet, so
sweet.
Speaker 1 (57:14):
Or you could just get in a helicopter and do the news
like where the yeah you do.
That's what I look like rightnow.
I'll give you today from WKCL,where we know Christ lives.
Go, mary go.
I wanted to be a radio DJ whenI was growing up.
What can I say?
Okay, I can't.
I know I know y'all are shocked, but it's been an hour.
(57:35):
I know I know you're shocked,but I guess we probably should
wrap it up because everybody hasimportant things to do.
But you took an hour to spendtime with me and I'm so excited.
Thank you so much.
I feel like this has been areally rich conversation.
I'm probably going to getemotional, sorry.
I love being able to pull fromother women who are strong and
(58:01):
who have lived life full and arenot afraid to take it by the
horns.
So much wisdom in this group ofladies and I'm just thankful
that we I've gotten to know youand get to know you more and I
just really appreciate youtaking time to share your
insight and ups and downs andjust being really real.
(58:25):
I love really real.
I will take that any day over.
Perfectly perfect.
I just love really real and Ijust really do appreciate all of
you guys hanging out with mefor this podcast.
Speaker 5 (58:40):
Thank you for having us, Mary.
Speaker 3 (58:42):
Yeah, thank you Mary, we appreciate it yeah
absolutely.
Speaker 4 (58:45):
It's fun to talk as a group.
We'll have to do this again.
Speaker 1 (58:48):
I know it's fun to kind of pull off of each other.
It's good, I think, because webring different perspectives
right and it's just it'srefreshing.
It's absolutely refreshing.
Okay, sue, had a question.
We're going to end on this,this is how we're going to end,
and I pulled the question up,sue, so I got it right this time
.
Okay, what's the message God'sgiven you to share right now?
(59:12):
What is the message God hasgiven you to share?
60 seconds or less, girls,because we're already at an hour
.
Okay, go.
So you want to go first, sinceyou had the question first, I
thought about it.
Speaker 2 (59:24):
My premise to my message is that God invited us
to himself, and so when weinvite someone to our table is
just one more step of what hedid for us.
That's the premise.
My message is that you canchange the world one cup of
coffee at a time and tea workstoo and my mission is to empower
(59:48):
men and women to open theirhomes, for heaven's sake.
Speaker 1 (59:53):
That's so good, so let's go next.
Speaker 3 (01:00:00):
I will go next.
My message is encouraging womento dig their roots deep into
the soil of God's unchangingcharacter and my garden comes
into that with illustrations andawful lot, but just looking for
ways to help them build andstrengthen their faith walk.
Speaker 4 (01:00:23):
Okay, my mission statement is to point people
home to the father, and I wantto do that through opening the
word of God, so that they canget to know him better and that
they can know that they cancrawl up in the lap of their
father and find hope and loveand forgiveness, and that this
(01:00:46):
is the beginning of the journeyand the journey goes on into
eternity, so they don't have tolive in fear.
Speaker 1 (01:00:53):
That's so good, ruthie.
Speaker 5 (01:00:56):
Okay, well, I'm a little bit.
Let's see, one of these thingsis not like the other, and I'm
the one because I'm a marketingcoach, but I do it with the love
of Jesus.
So my mantra is I try to get.
I work with Christian creativesso that they can get their
message, market their message inan authentic way.
(01:01:18):
So at the end of my podcast Ialways say be sure to share your
message your way, in your ownauthentic voice.
Speaker 1 (01:01:29):
That is so good.
That is so good.
Well, I feel like my passionand my message right now is that
I want to see people be theirhealthiest selves spiritually,
physically and emotionally.
I feel like a lot of times weconcentrate heavily one or on
(01:01:52):
the other, but that we're, youknow, a body, soul and spirit,
and so it brings me life to seepeople connect all three of
those areas and avenues in theirlives and live from a very
healthy place that breaksgenerational curses and things
that they have dealt with,cyclical things that they've
(01:02:14):
dealt with their whole lives.
And I specifically love doingthat inside of the body of
Christ, because for so long wejust concentrated on being saved
and making sure we had ourticket to heaven, that we
weren't living life to the fulland fulfilling the purposes.
(01:02:36):
So that's what I am passionateabout and feel like that's where
my ministry niche is right nowand that's where God has me.
So, yay, well, I love this.
Guys, I don't really want tohang up, I want to sit and talk
(01:02:56):
some more, but I reallyappreciate you being with me on
this podcast and thank you forjoining me, and I look forward
to getting to see all the goodthings and all the great things
that you guys accomplish and Ijust hope that I can just just
(01:03:18):
grab ahold of all the nuggets ofwisdom that you guys have
shared and apply them to my lifeso that I can just live life
even fuller than what I'm livingin now, because you have so
much to offer and I just honoryou all so much for what you
bring to the table and to thekingdom and to the world in
general.
You're amazing women of God andI'm glad I get to know you.
Speaker 2 (01:03:41):
Thanks Mary, thanks Mary.
Speaker 1 (01:03:44):
Yeah, absolutely.
Thank you for joining me andthanks everyone for joining me
on another episode of the Back40 podcast.
All of these wonderful ladies'information will be in the show
notes where you can connect withthem and find out more about
them and get to know them.
And we will see you next seasonfor season three of the Back 40
podcast.
Thanks for joining me.
(01:04:04):
Talk to you soon.
Bye.
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