What happens when life's unexpected turns lead to your most fulfilling path? Abbie Weldon never planned to leave her 11-year teaching career or enter real estate, but when her surprise third child arrived, everything changed.

In this heartfelt conversation, Abbie reveals how she transformed a desire to be home with her baby into a thriving real estate career built on authentic relationships. "I want real estate built by relationships," she shares. "You're not just a number on my ranking report." This philosophy drives her unique approach—selling the stories and possibilities of homes rather than just listing features.

Abbie's journey is made even more remarkable by her personal health story. Having undergone two open-heart surgeries before age 21, she brings a profound appreciation for life's precious moments to both motherhood and business. This perspective shapes how she balances work demands with being present for her three children's milestones.

From practical insights on setting boundaries to navigating today's challenging real estate market, Abbie offers wisdom that transcends industry. She discusses the delicate balance of parenting in the digital age, managing youth sports commitments, and finding time for self-care amid a busy schedule.

Whether you're contemplating a career pivot, seeking better work-life balance, or simply looking for inspiration on living purposefully, Abbie's story reminds us that our deepest challenges often reveal our greatest strengths. Her message of patience, perseverance, and putting relationships first provides a refreshing counterpoint to our achievement-obsessed culture.

Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

From being told she might never walk or talk to becoming a genetic counselor who helps families navigate similar journeys, Ashlyn Stackhouse Bolen's story exemplifies finding purpose through personal struggle. As a pediatric genetic counselor at UNC Chapel Hill, Ashlyn works with families seeking answers about their children's complex medical conditions—a role shaped by her own childhood health challenges.

Sixteen hours after birth, Ashlyn suddenly lost the ability to suck, swallow, and maintain muscle tone. Doctors warned her parents she might never develop normally, suggesting they consider institutional care where "she could pass peacefully." Instead, they fought tirelessly for her, through countless appointments, therapies, and five years of feeding tube dependency. Those early genetic evaluations, though they revealed no diagnosis, planted seeds for her future career.

"I've been through a lot of the testing and imaging that our families go through," Ashlyn explains, noting how this firsthand experience shapes her approach. "Even if I haven't walked their exact path, I've walked a similar one." This lived experience adds profound depth to her work of counseling families through genetic testing decisions, diagnosis processing, and the emotional complexities that follow.

The conversation explores the beautiful intersection of science and faith in Ashlyn's life. Before pursuing genetic counseling, she completed a Theology, Medicine and Culture Fellowship at Duke Divinity, wrestling with challenging questions about genetics through a Christian worldview. Rather than seeing conflict between scientific understanding and spiritual belief, she describes how they complement each other in providing a holistic perspective on human suffering and purpose.

Beyond her professional identity, Ashlyn shares insights on marriage, family dynamics (including the joys and challenges of living next door to parents), and cultivating independence through studying abroad. She articulates a life philosophy centered on seeing people beyond their diagnoses or limitations: "They're image bearers of God...treasure their life."

For anyone wrestling with finding meaning in difficult circumstances or seeking to transform personal challenges into purposeful work, Ashlyn's journey offers powerful encouragement. Her story reminds us that sometimes our greatest struggles become the foundation for our most meaningful contributions to others.

Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

What happens when a physicist with a master's degree in chemistry falls in love with an IT professional from an olive-producing family? Marianna Devetzoglou extraordinary journey from city life to becoming "the crazy girl in the olive groves" illustrates how following unexpected passions can transform your entire existence.

The turning point came during a family dinner when Marianna tasted her future mother-in-law's homemade olive oil. That singular moment sparked curiosity that evolved into Oleosophia—a family business connecting people worldwide to authentic, high-quality Greek olive oil through immersive tastings and direct relationships. Rather than selling bulk oil to anonymous traders, Marianna and her husband George created something deeply personal, where every bottle carries their story and values.

Balancing entrepreneurship with raising two young children requires creativity and sacrifice. Marianna works during her toddler's activities, after bedtime, or before dawn—scattered moments that accumulate into progress. The olive harvest season demands even more: picking olives by morning, pressing by night, sleeping briefly, then beginning again for an entire month. Yet within this exhaustion lies magic—deep connection to the land, celebration of productivity, and continuation of traditions spanning generations.

The most powerful aspect of Marianna's approach isn't just producing exceptional olive oil but creating what she calls "community" rather than customer loyalty. Visitors become extended family, returning multiple times, sending friends, even featuring her olive oil at their weddings. Her tastings aren't rushed sampling sessions but two-hour explorations where guests discover their own palates while learning to distinguish quality from mediocrity.

Discover how ancient olive groves remind us that wisdom accrues with age, that simplicity often constitutes true luxury, and that resilience comes from roots deep in both soil and tradition. Visit oleosophia.com to experience Marianna's olive oil or book a tasting when you travel to Greece—and become part of this growing community connecting people across continents through liquid gold.

Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff