Hey friend,

I’m so excited to share this beautiful and deeply honest conversation with Jillian Benfield. She’s a writer, speaker, disability advocate, and mom who knows what it’s like to walk through unexpected seasons — and still find joy on the other side.

Jillian and I talked about the idea of living with awe not in the big, flashy moments, but in the ordinary rhythms of life. She shared how her morning routine overlooking the river grounds her, how she's learned to hold grief and gratitude together, and why it’s okay if your life looks different than you imagined.

We also talked about the danger of toxic positivity and how important it is to let our scars remind us not only of what we’ve endured, but also of how we’ve healed.

Here are two takeaways I hope land gently in your heart:

You can hold both joy and sorrow. Life isn’t either-or it’s, both-and. And God meets us in that sacred in-between.

Pay attention to awe. When we slow down enough to notice beauty, even in the chaos, we remember that God is still near.

Jillian's vulnerability, wisdom, and truth-telling will stay with you long after the episode ends. I pray this one helps you breathe a little deeper and return to Jesus, no matter what kind of season you're walking through.

Truly Yours,

Jen

Grab your copy of Return to Jesus here - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747877/return-to-jesus-by-jen-thompson/

Jen Thompson contact information:

Blog - www.trulyyoursjen.com

Website - www.jenthompsonauthor.com

email - jen@trulyyoursjen.com

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@trulyyoursjen

Jillian Benfield contact information:

FREE Ebooks: www.JillianBenfield.com

Facebook: @jillianbenfield

Instagram: @jillianbenfieldblog

Hey friend,

This conversation is tender, beautiful, and one I think you’ll carry with you for a while.

I sat down with Chelsea Ohlemiller, a grief advocate, speaker, and author whose journey through the loss of her mother reshaped how she lives and loves today. Chelsea shares so honestly about the ways grief shows up, sometimes quietly, sometimes like a storm, and how it can actually live alongside joy. Yes, both. At the same time.

We talked about giving ourselves permission to feel happy again, the guilt that sometimes comes with that, and how writing became a healing outlet for her in the middle of the mess.

Here are two takeaways I hope stay with you:

Grief and joy are not opposites, they can walk hand-in-hand. Feeling joy after loss doesn’t mean you’ve forgotten. It means you’re still living.

There is no perfect timeline. Your grief journey is yours alone, and there is no “right” way to walk through it.

Chelsea’s words will make you feel seen and less alone, especially if you're holding heartache of your own. This episode is for anyone who’s loved deeply and lost someone who shaped their world.

Let’s keep learning to return, even to joy, one gentle step at a time.

Truly Yours,

Jen

Grab your copy of Return to Jesus here - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747877/return-to-jesus-by-jen-thompson/

Check out her Website, Happiness, Hope & Harsh Realities: www.hopeandharshrealities.com

Follow Chelsea on Facebook: @hopeandharshrealities

Follow Chelsea on Instagram: @hopeandharshrealities

Follow Chelsea on TikTok: @chelseaohlemiller

Hey friend,

You know those conversations that feel like a deep breath and a warm hug at the same time? That’s exactly what this episode with Laura L. Smith felt like.

Laura is a gifted author and speaker who’s passionate about helping women uncover the truth of who they are in Christ. In today’s episode, she and I talk about how we can find joy in our everyday moments, even the ones that feel slow or frustrating. We dive into what it means to wait well on God, how to be brave even when we're afraid, and why building community and friendships is more than just a “nice idea” it’s essential.

Here are two takeaways I hope you carry with you:

✨ Prayer doesn’t need to be fancy or formal. It’s a real conversation with a real God who cares deeply about your real life.

✨ There is joy to be found right where you are. Even in the ordinary, even in the waiting, even in the hard, joy is there, if we slow down enough to see it.

Laura’s heart for women and her love for God’s Word shine through every story she shares. If you’ve been longing for a reminder that God sees you, hears you, and is walking with you — this is the episode to press play on.

Truly Yours,

Jen

Grab your copy of Return to Jesus today! https://amzn.to/48GFONu

Laura L. Smith contact information:

Instagram @laurasmithauthor

https://www.instagram.com/laurasmithauthor/

https://www.laurasmithauthor.com/

And the first chapter of Brave Woman, Mighty God for FREE https://forms.gle/iGe1KnjucM89a1nB7