Hey friend,

Have you ever felt like you're juggling a hundred things at once and wondering if peace is even possible in the middle of it all?

This week, I sat down with Sarah Knepper, a teacher, photographer, candle maker, entrepreneur, wife, and mom of three. Sarah has spent more than two decades teaching while also pursuing creative passions and building a small business. What I loved most about our conversation was her reminder that peace isn't found when life finally slows down. It's something we can cultivate right in the middle of our busy seasons.

Sarah shares how quiet mornings, time in nature, and simple spiritual rhythms help her stay grounded. We talk about the importance of recognizing small pockets of peace, setting healthy boundaries, and giving ourselves grace when life feels overwhelming. She also offers practical encouragement for anyone who has a dream on their heart but isn't sure where to begin.

Here are two takeaways I hope you'll carry with you:

Peace is not the absence of chaos. It's the ability to find calm, gratitude, and God's presence in the middle of it.

Big dreams often begin with small steps. You don't have to have everything figured out before you start. Follow what brings you joy, lean on your community, and trust God with the next step.

Sarah's story is a beautiful reminder that every season won't look the same. Some seasons are for building, some are for surviving, and all of them can hold moments of peace when we intentionally look for them.

I hope this conversation encourages you to take a deep breath, give yourself some grace, and keep moving forward in the things God has placed on your heart.

Truly Yours,

Jen

About Sarah Knepper:

Sarah Knepper is an educator with more than 23 years of teaching experience, a photographer, entrepreneur, and mother of three. She is the founder of a hometown-inspired candle company and is passionate about helping others pursue their dreams through small, intentional steps. Sarah loves encouraging women to embrace joy, cultivate peace, and build a life that reflects their values and calling.

Connect with Sarah:

Photography Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/connecting.lens/

B-Town Candle Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/btowncandle/

B-Town Candle Company Website - https://www.btowncandle.com/

Hey friend,

This conversation with Kristy Lavin felt like sitting down with someone who gently reminds you that healing doesn’t have to be rushed and that Jesus truly meets us in the middle of our struggles.

Kristy is a licensed clinical social worker, author, and someone deeply passionate about the intersection of faith and psychology. In this episode, we talk about what it looks like to pursue peace in a world that often feels loud and overwhelming. Kristy shares parts of her own story, including walking through an autoimmune disorder and overcoming struggles with alcohol, and how those experiences brought her back to deeper dependence on Jesus.

One of my favorite parts of this conversation was hearing Kristy describe Jesus as a psychologically safe healer. Someone who never shamed people for their emotions, questions, or pain, but instead met them with compassion, truth, and love.

Here are two takeaways I hope encourage you today:

Vulnerability is often where healing begins. When we stop hiding our struggles and allow trusted people into our story, we create room for connection, growth, and grace.

Peace is built in the small, daily moments. Grounding practices like prayer, slowing down, stepping outside, or simply being still with God can help anchor us when life feels uncertain.

This episode is a beautiful reminder that Jesus cares deeply about our emotional and spiritual well-being. He is gentle with us in our healing, and we don’t have to have it all figured out before coming to Him.

I hope this conversation helps you breathe a little deeper and remember that you are not alone in your journey.

Truly Yours,

Jen

About Kristy Lavin:

Kristy Lavin is a licensed clinical social worker, author, and speaker who is passionate about helping people experience healing through both faith and psychological tools. Through her work, Kristy encourages others to embrace vulnerability, pursue emotional wellness, and rediscover the compassionate heart of Jesus in every season of life.

Follow Kristy on Facebook HERE

Grab your copy of Return to Jesus HERE

Hey friend,

This conversation with Jenny Albers felt like exhaling after holding your breath for a long time.

If life has felt loud, heavy, or overwhelming lately, I think this episode is going to meet you right where you are. Jenny and I sat down to talk about peace, not as something perfect or unattainable, but as something we can gently cultivate in the middle of real life, grief, motherhood, and all the unexpected twists in between.

Jenny shares so honestly about her experiences with pregnancy loss, navigating hard seasons, and learning how small rhythms like prayer journaling, stepping outside, and creating space from technology can help us reconnect with God and ourselves. We also talk about the importance of laughter, community, and having honest conversations as women walking through midlife and motherhood.

One thing I loved so much about this conversation is how Jenny reminds us that peace is often found in the simple things. A quiet morning. A walk outside. A prayer whispered in the middle of chaos. God is present in all of it.

Here are two takeaways I hope encourage you today:

Peace often grows in the spaces we intentionally protect. Slowing down, setting boundaries with noise and technology, and creating room for stillness allows us to hear God more clearly.

Grief and healing can exist together. There is no “right way” to walk through loss, and giving yourself permission to grieve is part of allowing your heart to heal.

This conversation felt like sitting with a wise friend over coffee, reminding each other that we don’t have to carry everything alone. I hope it encourages you to slow down, breathe deep, and return to Jesus in the middle of whatever season you’re in.

Truly Yours,

Jen

About Jenny Albers:

Jenny Albers is a writer, speaker, and encourager passionate about helping women cultivate peace and connection with God in everyday life. Through honest storytelling and practical spiritual rhythms, Jenny creates space for conversations around grief, motherhood, faith, and emotional healing. She loves encouraging women to embrace authenticity, community, and the quiet presence of God in every season.

Links to connect:

Courageously Expecting: https://amzn.to/4vLj7kx

Follow along on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/jennyalbersauthor/

And the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-mid-life/id1860371069

Grab a copy of Return to Jesus HERE!