Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
Welcome to the second Row Conversations podcast. I am Letitia, also known as Lady P. And I'm so excited that you decided to join me on today. I know it's been a few weeks, so thank you for being patient and understanding all things new. We went made it through Christmas New Year, so happy New Year. I, um. And so we're excited to be here on the second row. Thank you for all of you have been posting and sharing and sending me messages and letting me know how this is blessing you and helping you and encouraging you. I appreciate you doing that. That encourages me. So thank you so much for reaching out and letting me know and sending me emails and sharing the podcast. I appreciate that from the bottom of my heart. I do. I appreciate that. So today I am excited to have special guest Lady Laura. I'm gonna call you Lady Laura. Is that okay?
[00:00:59] Speaker B: That is fine.
[00:01:00] Speaker A: Okay. All right. So it's been funny. She. So as I've been, you know, reaching out, trying to find someone to interview, her name came to me twice from two different people. And so I said, well, I gotta get in touch with this young lady and talk to her. And we've had some delay because. My fault, my bad. I told her it's been busy trying to figure some things out. But we. We are here and I'm so excited. I'm so excited that you've been able to join me on the second row. So welcome.
[00:01:28] Speaker B: Thank you. Thank you for having me. I'm so glad to be here.
[00:01:32] Speaker A: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. So I'm going to start it off like I always do. So what are three words that your friends would use to describe you?
[00:01:42] Speaker B: It's always so hard talking about yourself, right?
[00:01:44] Speaker A: Isn't it? I know, I know.
[00:01:46] Speaker B: Okay, let me think. Just a second.
[00:01:48] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:01:48] Speaker B: Okay. So compassionate.
[00:01:50] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:01:52] Speaker B: Patient.
[00:01:53] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:01:54] Speaker B: And probably creative.
[00:01:57] Speaker A: Oh, wow. Yeah. So I asked all my guests to send me a little bio about them, and you said you like DIY projects. So tell me about that. Like, that is not my gift. I'm not really. No, not at all. So how did you get started in that?
[00:02:11] Speaker B: Well, first of all, I love, like, hgtv.
[00:02:14] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:02:14] Speaker B: So. So I enjoy watching any type of, like, home improvement shows or anything dealing with crafting. Like, that's my niche, crafting DIY projects around the house.
It's just been like, just kind of something I picked up on. Me and my sisters, we started an event planning business several years ago. It's been dissolved now.
[00:02:37] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:02:38] Speaker B: So don't reach out.
[00:02:39] Speaker A: Right.
[00:02:40] Speaker B: Just playing.
[00:02:41] Speaker A: Look, we might Have a little, you know, pick back up. Yeah.
[00:02:45] Speaker B: So I think that's where it sparked. Like, I just like to be creative in that sense, and just. That's an outlet for me.
[00:02:51] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:02:51] Speaker B: To be able to express myself.
So, yeah, that's how it kind of got started. Okay.
[00:02:57] Speaker A: Okay. Do you just look at things and say, oh, I want to try this, or, like, going in a space and go, it needs this, this, this, and this. Or how. How do you come up with the ideas for your creative creativity?
[00:03:09] Speaker B: Okay. Yeah. So I am a Pinterest girl, so I love to get inspiration through Pinterest or just by conversations with people. Like, if they give me their vision, I can piggyback off of that, or I'll just build from that inspiration or whatever they give me. So it starts there. Just a conversation or just like, maybe a post or pin from Pinterest.
[00:03:33] Speaker A: Okay. I like Pinterest.
[00:03:35] Speaker B: I love it. I have so many boards.
[00:03:37] Speaker A: Really?
[00:03:38] Speaker B: Yes. Everybody.
[00:03:39] Speaker A: Yeah, I like Pinterest. So you said compassionate, so why would they say that you were compassionate?
[00:03:50] Speaker B: I think that they'll say I'm compassionate because I'm a good listener first and foremost, and I always lead with my heart. I always kind of put myself in their shoes with whatever they're going through. I try to make sure that I want to do unto others as I want them to do unto me. Right, right. So, you know, I know this world is sometimes a hard place to be in. So that's where, you know, I guess that's where it comes from. I just want to make sure that I'm more compassionate than a burden on others. Like, I don't want to be someone that kind of brush you off or just, you know, shoo you away, but absolutely listening to your concerns because I think at some point in life, we all go through some of the same things. So that alone just being able to be relatable and just personable makes me, you know, more compassionate to whatever they're going through.
[00:04:52] Speaker A: Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. Because like you say, we're all going through something. Either we've gone through it in it right now, or just going into something.
[00:05:00] Speaker B: Going into something.
[00:05:01] Speaker A: So we're in one of those three areas.
Yeah. So that's good.
[00:05:05] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:05:06] Speaker A: So I wanted to do things a little different for the new year.
[00:05:11] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:05:12] Speaker A: So nothing hard.
[00:05:13] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:05:16] Speaker A: Nothing hard. But I wanted to kind of have, like, focus words.
[00:05:21] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:05:21] Speaker A: For whenever. For the month or whatever. So this year being. Because it's January.
[00:05:26] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:05:26] Speaker A: And most people do resolutions.
[00:05:30] Speaker B: Right.
[00:05:31] Speaker A: So we set a resolution or we make A resolution. And so what I wanted the word for the month of January to be is reset because it's a reset.
So when you hear that word, what comes to mind? What do you think about when you hear the word reset? Does it feel like starting over or just shifting gears and moving from one area to another? What does that mean to you?
[00:05:55] Speaker B: That's the word that was coming to mind to. To start over.
Just to like you said, hit the reset button, it's okay to. And I guess that's a message for all of us because sometimes we get in our own way and sometimes we feel like, okay, I'm either too old to do this or I've tried this before and it didn't work. So sometimes we just don't want to go to the next chapter or next page or we just don't feel like we're able to start over. But it's okay to reset.
[00:06:28] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:06:28] Speaker B: At any stage of your life. Life, like anything that you're going through, it's okay to start over, to start a new. To reset, regroup, rest. Right, Rest and then reset. It's okay.
[00:06:43] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:06:44] Speaker B: Yeah. So I love that word for 2025. Okay, I am going to use that.
[00:06:47] Speaker A: I saw your bio that you love all things resting, you like to relax. So with. What does that look like for you?
What's your favorite relaxation?
[00:07:00] Speaker B: Getting a massage.
[00:07:02] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:07:03] Speaker B: I just thought, yes, it is best thing ever. It's that silence and that peace, tranquility. Just being in a, you know, an atmosphere of peace. It's stillness. Right, right.
So I enjoy just getting a massage. I enjoy, you know like pedicures. Yeah, all the things, all the curly things. I love it. Like, I mean I feel like I can even going to the salon, getting your hair done. I know a lot of women are so self sufficient, like they can do things on their own, but that's one thing that I will budget for my self care. Like let me pay someone to do this because I want to be pampered.
[00:07:42] Speaker A: Absolutely. And there's nothing wrong with that, right? Nothing wrong with that. So yes, go get your massage, go get your nails, go get your hair done. Even if it's just going for a walk in nature. Just peace and tranquility. Yeah. Get pampered on, get loved on. Nothing wrong with that. Nothing wrong with that. So reset, we talked, what you said, what it meant to you. Has there ever been a time where you had to reset in your life recently or growing up? Has there ever been an experience and what did that look like for you?
[00:08:15] Speaker B: Okay, let's see.
I would say getting into, like, the healthcare field because I came from an industry of, like, sales and retail.
[00:08:31] Speaker A: Oh, wow. Okay.
[00:08:32] Speaker B: So that was my, you know, life prior to the healthcare. Healthcare industry. Okay. So I had to reset and, like, to, you know, kind of reprogram my mind and to learn a new thing.
[00:08:45] Speaker A: Exactly, Exactly.
[00:08:46] Speaker B: But I wasn't afraid. Um, I, you know, I was welcoming the challenge. I was welcoming learning new things. Um, I know that I wanted something different for my life. So in order to, you know, do something different or to get a different result, you have to do something different.
[00:09:02] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:09:03] Speaker B: So that was a reset for me, like, most recently.
So just learning a new. A new skill and getting into a new industry.
[00:09:12] Speaker A: Industry. And so you said you decided, I'm gonna go ahead and do this without being afraid. Is that what did I say? Yes. Okay.
[00:09:20] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:09:20] Speaker A: So why do you. Do you think some people are afraid to reset because they are fearful of failing? Possibly. And what's gonna happen if I try this and it doesn't work?
[00:09:30] Speaker B: Right.
[00:09:32] Speaker A: What do you think about. What are your thoughts on that?
[00:09:34] Speaker B: I do think that fear holds a lot of people back from, you know, accomplishing their goals. I mean, I know a lot of people that I know. I even, you know, do vision boards at the beginning of the. Or the end of the year, leading into the next year. And a lot of times we, you know, we jot and write things down on our vision board that we want for our life. And I don't have another reason other than fear is what a lot, you know, is what holds a lot of people back from accomplishing those goals that you envision for yourself. Fear can be overwhelming.
[00:10:09] Speaker A: Right.
[00:10:10] Speaker B: You know, I think at some point, all of us are afraid. Yeah. But conquering your goals and just pushing through fear, doing it afraid. Just do it afraid we're gonna all maybe fall. It's okay. It's okay.
[00:10:26] Speaker A: Exactly. And it's a part of your testimony.
[00:10:28] Speaker B: It's a part of your testimony. And you never know what you're doing to help someone else.
[00:10:32] Speaker A: Nope. So, no. Yeah.
[00:10:33] Speaker B: Do it afraid. Do it afraid is my little tip for the day.
[00:10:37] Speaker A: So did when you and your husband started in the ministry, was that a part of your vocabulary? Like, was that phrase, like, something you said often, like, we gonna do this afraid, we not sure. Was that something that you can attest to?
[00:10:54] Speaker B: Well, starting off, I, you know, to be honest with you, I had to grow into this, you know. First lady.
[00:11:01] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:11:02] Speaker B: Lady with tt. Yeah. Honestly, I'm still kind of Shocked. Like I'm where this is my life. Yes, yes. But. Yes. Although I didn't verbalize it, it was something that we had to do. Afraid. Because the church that we're serving at now was our first assignment. So we had no blueprint. We didn't know what was right, what was wrong. Both of us came from church. We've always been in church. But leading a flock is totally different. Completely different, right?
[00:11:37] Speaker A: Yes. Completely. From sitting and serving to now leading. Completely different.
[00:11:43] Speaker B: Completely.
[00:11:44] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
[00:11:45] Speaker B: And I don't think anyone will know until you walk a millenar.
[00:11:50] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:11:52] Speaker B: So, yeah, so we did have to do it. Afraid.
And I think what kept us is prayer and just our connection to God.
[00:12:02] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:12:03] Speaker B: It was the only thing because like I said, we had nothing. Like we didn't have a road map. So we had to just learn as we go and just relied on each other, other strength to get us through. So.
[00:12:14] Speaker A: So has the. In the ministry, have there been times where you had to reset? Like, okay, we tried this.
And when I first started in education and teaching, my first principal gave me this phrase of, you have to monitor and adjust.
[00:12:30] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:12:31] Speaker A: Right. So have there been circumstances? Situations where you've tried something and go, yeah, we need to come back to the drawing table?
[00:12:38] Speaker B: Right?
Yes, absolutely. Even with maybe trying to like do breakout, like small group ministries.
[00:12:46] Speaker A: Right, right.
[00:12:47] Speaker B: You know, everything is not like great the first time around and it may take a little trial and error to get, you know, that perfect fit. So we definitely had some trials and tribulations.
[00:13:01] Speaker A: Right, right, right. But you figured out.
[00:13:03] Speaker B: We figured it out.
[00:13:04] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:13:04] Speaker B: We have to figure it out.
[00:13:05] Speaker A: You have to go do it afraid.
[00:13:08] Speaker B: Right.
[00:13:08] Speaker A: Do it afraid. Right, right, right. So when you feel stuck, overwhelmed, what's your. And I think I know the answer to. What's your goal to.
To get. To reset and recharge.
Is that yours?
[00:13:29] Speaker B: Take me to the spa.
[00:13:30] Speaker A: Yes, thank you.
[00:13:31] Speaker B: Give me a certificate and let me go about my way. Or give me your card. Right.
[00:13:35] Speaker A: Whichever one easier.
Exactly.
[00:13:39] Speaker B: That is my thing. Or even retail therapy. I find solace and peace just shopping the aisles. I don't even have to buy anything really. Like, I just enjoy just, you know, just, you know, cruising down the aisles and looking at the new things.
[00:13:52] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:13:53] Speaker B: You know, home items like clothing, Anything. Anything, Anything.
[00:13:59] Speaker A: Wow. Yes. And do you go. Does. Do your husband. Does he come with you or just.
[00:14:03] Speaker B: Absolutely not. Absolutely not. He doesn't want to come and I don't want him.
[00:14:07] Speaker A: Want him to. Right. That's your time.
[00:14:09] Speaker B: That's My time. Because what he's going to do is rush me, and I'm here to decompress.
[00:14:15] Speaker A: Yes. Totally understand. Totally understand.
[00:14:19] Speaker B: So if I can't find a good girlfriend to go with, I'm going along.
[00:14:22] Speaker A: I'm going along. Yeah, I get it. I get it. So you said you did not see yourself in this space.
Not at all.
And this is kind of off track with the reset. But what. How did you feel? What did you think? What did you say when your husband came and said, hey, honey, we need to have a conversation, Talk to you a little bit. What. What was your initial thoughts? What were your initial thoughts? Like, what is going on?
[00:14:53] Speaker B: Can I be honest?
[00:14:54] Speaker A: Absolutely. Please be honest. And I love. I asked this question because.
Yeah. And that's usually the first answer when I ask the women, like, can I be honest? Yes, please do. Please do. Yes.
[00:15:07] Speaker B: Oh, my gosh. I think I was angry at first.
[00:15:09] Speaker A: Really?
[00:15:10] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:15:11] Speaker A: Let's talk about it.
[00:15:13] Speaker B: Just because. Okay, let's backtrack a little bit. I'm a pk.
[00:15:19] Speaker A: So did you say the same thing? I said that I would never be a. Right.
[00:15:23] Speaker B: I would never marry a preacher. Never.
[00:15:26] Speaker A: Right, right, right, right.
[00:15:28] Speaker B: So I went into it with the attitude, like. So I was very. Not dismissive, but I was angry for a little bit. I had to pray that thing out of me, honestly. Yeah. Just because, I mean, you know, the life. Like, we've churched our whole entire lives. I've been in church since I was this high, so I know the church world. And though I love church, even though, you know, even though I didn't see my life as a pastor's wife, I knew I would always be a part of church. That's just who I am. But not this close to the pulpit. Right.
Not on the second.
[00:16:05] Speaker A: I was going to be in the background and helping. Right. On the committees. And I'm good. I'm good.
[00:16:11] Speaker B: I'm in and out, but not front row and center.
So, yeah, I was a little. A little unsettled in the beginning just because I knew how.
What's the word? Demanding.
[00:16:26] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:16:27] Speaker B: This is. It's. It is. It's demanding. And you're kind of place under a microscope at times. Um, you know, growing up, I felt like I, you know, I couldn't do anything wrong. Like, I was always being watched, observed, and even kind of ridiculed. Almost seemed. It seemed like.
[00:16:47] Speaker A: It seemed like it. Right.
[00:16:48] Speaker B: Yeah.
So I didn't want that for me. And I also knew that going into marriage, I wanted a child, so I didn't want that for my child because I know how that is. So that's why I was a little resistant and hesitant about it. But what can you do?
[00:17:05] Speaker A: You can't fight God. Like, you can't say God. No, you can't. You can't do it. And if this, your. If this is your life partner, right, you have to say. You have to reset your mind.
[00:17:17] Speaker B: You have to reset and just say.
[00:17:19] Speaker A: Okay, God has brought me to this.
I remember saying, God, you have a sense of humor. He does. Because what in the world. I mean, I said that all. All my life going up, that I was not gonna marry a pastor. And he wasn't. He wasn't a pastor when I married him.
[00:17:35] Speaker B: Right?
[00:17:36] Speaker A: But then, yeah, life happened, and here we are. And so I. The same thing. I'm, like, angry, disappointed maybe.
[00:17:48] Speaker B: Okay?
[00:17:49] Speaker A: Because like you say, we know the life, right? And there were things as children that we saw that wasn't fair and it wasn't right. And you just. You just didn't want that.
[00:18:00] Speaker B: You didn't want that for your life. Exactly.
Yeah. So. And like you said, my husband did, like, I didn't marry a preacher, right. We were married, what, two years before he, you know, you hear that statement? I was called. You know, I was called, and I was like, call for. Call for what?
[00:18:17] Speaker A: Call for what?
What we doing?
[00:18:20] Speaker B: Right. You were doing great in your deaconship. It was great. I could be a deaconess.
[00:18:24] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:18:25] Speaker B: I'm good with that.
You know, I can do communion.
[00:18:30] Speaker A: Right, right, right.
[00:18:31] Speaker B: I can do all of those things.
[00:18:32] Speaker A: But God said no, he saw it. He saw it.
[00:18:36] Speaker B: I saw something different.
And, you know, I want you all to leave. And I want. This is what I want for you. So who am I? Who am I to question?
[00:18:48] Speaker A: So how did you get from angry to acceptance?
[00:18:53] Speaker B: A lot of prayer.
[00:18:54] Speaker A: Okay?
[00:18:55] Speaker B: A lot of prayer, a lot of conversation on what I thought that this was going to look like in comparison to what can our reality be? Like, what can we shift my perception of being a first family to what. What it is for us?
[00:19:13] Speaker A: Let.
[00:19:13] Speaker B: Let it make sense for our life. Like, let's not do the traditional way, you know, in some sense, you know, but let's create our own path, right? And we can still do that in a godly way that's pleasing to God, you know, a way that's pleasing to God. So that is when I, my, you know, my. My heart start. Started to soften.
[00:19:34] Speaker A: Okay, Right.
[00:19:36] Speaker B: We had conversation, okay?
[00:19:38] Speaker A: And that's important, right? That's important. So that.
Because he has to walk in his calling.
[00:19:45] Speaker B: Right, right.
[00:19:46] Speaker A: And so. But yet he sees how it's affecting you. So it's the conversation of I got your back.
[00:19:50] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:19:51] Speaker A: We going to figure this out. And you have to find out what. It's just like a marriage. Like, you know, marriage is two people coming together with all of their life experiences.
[00:19:59] Speaker B: Right.
[00:20:00] Speaker A: And then you come together and try to figure out what's good for our family.
[00:20:04] Speaker B: Right, Right.
[00:20:05] Speaker A: So what's going to work for us? Not. Maybe not the traditional way.
I talk about on the set, often on the podcast, often about the hats. Like that. My mama was a hat. My mama is a hat lady. She go, she's going to wear her hat.
[00:20:20] Speaker B: She's going to wear her hats.
[00:20:21] Speaker A: She's going to wear her hats. And so I remember thinking that I don't wear hats. Like, I love them. I think they're beautiful. That just wasn't my thing. I also went through this. My mom wore suits. She wears suits.
She's coming around on that now because of me. But she wore suits. So I felt like I had to wear suits. A suit here. And then I remember just one Sunday, the Lord just kind of released me from that. Like, find your style and it's okay.
[00:20:52] Speaker B: I love that.
[00:20:53] Speaker A: And I remember just saying, yep, this is me. I'm not wearing suits anymore.
[00:20:57] Speaker B: Right.
[00:20:57] Speaker A: And so now my mama is out of the suits. Like, she's like, find me a dress. Find me dresses and find me. It's hard to find suits. Can you find? And so she has come around to that. So I think it's just finding what works for you. You're young.
[00:21:10] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:21:11] Speaker A: And so you just have to figure out what works best for you and what's going to make you comfortable and godly. Make sure God is pleased with that.
[00:21:21] Speaker B: Exactly. And that was my mission. That was what, you know, I desire to make sure that I can show up for myself first and foremost, show up for God, but also show up for myself and not be uncomfortable in my position. Because I feel like if I was uncomfortable, what good would I be to others? I wouldn't be able to allow God to use me in that state that I was in. So I had to get comfortable with where I was.
So at best, you might. I might put on a fascinator, but I'm not putting on a full on.
[00:22:02] Speaker A: No, no, no, no. I do a fascinator.
[00:22:03] Speaker B: Let me keep it.
[00:22:05] Speaker A: Yeah, but I'm not putting on a hat. And it was like, so you got your hat, Your hat. I'm like, no, I Have a couple of hats that I bought in a cute little. And I wear them. I've worn them a few times, and that was it. But I just had to get over that. Reset my mind.
[00:22:20] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:22:21] Speaker A: Reset my mind to say, I'm not going to do this.
[00:22:24] Speaker B: Right.
[00:22:24] Speaker A: This is not me. I didn't feel authentic. I didn't feel real in this space. And so, yeah, it was okay.
[00:22:31] Speaker B: Yeah, it was okay. And now I'm just fine. Like, we're fine.
[00:22:36] Speaker A: Yeah, we're fine. We're fine. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So if you could hit. And I just found some questions on this. So if you could hit a reset button in any area of your life, what would that be and what would that look like? I'm not saying anything's wrong now.
[00:22:54] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:22:54] Speaker A: But just, you know, you always thinking of moving forward or anything, is there anything in your life that you would reset and you could say nothing, like.
[00:23:03] Speaker B: Everything'S good right now. Everything is okay.
[00:23:07] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:23:07] Speaker B: Yeah, everything is okay right now. But maybe a little bit down the line, it might be different.
[00:23:13] Speaker A: Right.
[00:23:13] Speaker B: And I'll have to let you know. Okay.
[00:23:16] Speaker A: Right, right, right, right. So at the ministry at the church that you pastoring, do you lead anything, or do you just sit in the room and just kind of.
[00:23:27] Speaker B: No, I do lead our women's ministry.
[00:23:29] Speaker A: Okay. Okay.
[00:23:30] Speaker B: Yes. Which is growing and thriving. And, yes, I'm excited about women. Like, I'm a girl's girl, so I love to just engage with the women as much as we can. You know, with everybody's life, there's not a whole lot of time, but I do like to make time at least.
You know, our Women's Day we have in August, and we do, like, a women's outing whenever we can. So that's refreshing to me because I just like to engage with women. So there's that. As well as the youth. I do take a part in that. I lead Sunday school for the youth as well as I advise on, like, other things that the youth has going on.
[00:24:13] Speaker A: Okay. Okay. So with the women's ministry, do you find that.
I'm not gonna say I struggle, but just getting the women together because, you know, women can be women, real women.
[00:24:30] Speaker B: Right, right. We wear so many hats.
[00:24:32] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:24:33] Speaker B: So many things.
[00:24:33] Speaker A: Exactly. So do you see that it is a struggle to kind of get everybody together in one accord and. Yes.
And what does that look like for y'all? Like, yeah.
[00:24:43] Speaker B: So I would love us to come together more than we are currently. Like, that's my goal, hopefully, for 2025, to get us together more.
Yeah. So we are. We're trying to navigate through that. You know, like I said, with everyone's schedule involved and just other things going on in the ministry, you know, it's kind of hard to find time to do those things. But I think it's important to do those things.
[00:25:07] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:25:08] Speaker B: Yeah. Because I do believe like that small group ministry is key. You know, just not meeting on Sunday mornings, but also, you know, just connecting outside of the church and just kind of being able to relate to one another. Like, what do we like to do? Let's go. You know, we can go catch a godly movie, a Christian movie. We did go see the Forge together, so that was really nice.
[00:25:30] Speaker A: We weren't able to do that. So we. We've gone bowling. We've done the painting.
[00:25:35] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:25:36] Speaker A: We painted it, but it wasn't said. We sip soda.
[00:25:39] Speaker B: Right, Right.
[00:25:41] Speaker A: We did that a couple years ago. Gone to dinner. And then last year we did something. We did a brunch at the church. It was amazing. And we wore our fascinators and everybody. It was beautiful. So I think, do you. Do you think that sisterhood and that just bonding is important to.
Just to love on each other and build on each other and support each other?
[00:26:04] Speaker B: Absolutely, I think that it is. And nowadays outside of your nine to, you know, a lot of women have like their own little businesses, so it's great for networking.
[00:26:15] Speaker A: Absolutely. Yes.
[00:26:16] Speaker B: But I think we do need that time away from our children, away from our spouses, just to love on each other and just have some girl talk.
[00:26:23] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:26:23] Speaker B: Yeah. I think it's very important.
Like I can just giggle and kick.
[00:26:28] Speaker A: You all day and you just. Like we talked about earlier, you just don't know what people are going through. And sometimes just having that listening ear, just the kiki kaka and just have a good time not to think about everything else that we're doing. All that hats that we are wearing and everything, all the responsibilities that's on us. It's important to have that. That girl time.
[00:26:48] Speaker B: I think so too.
[00:26:49] Speaker A: Yeah.
So vision board.
[00:26:52] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:26:53] Speaker A: You. Have you done one for 20, 25?
[00:26:55] Speaker B: I have not. I know I have not. Is it too late?
[00:26:58] Speaker A: No, I don't think so.
[00:26:59] Speaker B: You think we can just do it? I mean, I feel like.
[00:27:01] Speaker A: And then. So I. So I'm a tick tock girl.
[00:27:04] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:27:04] Speaker A: Bangles cross for the TikTok. But you can also do a bingo card, which I was like different.
So I don't know if, you know, people be like, oh, that went on my bingo Card for the year, whatever. But instead of doing a vision board, you do a bingo card. Do the little areas, the three little, I guess what, three, six, nine. And then just like a vision board, write what you want to do for the year. And as you do it, just mark it off and cover your spot. So something different.
Because with your vision board, you really don't check off anything.
[00:27:34] Speaker B: Right.
[00:27:34] Speaker A: You just have it on there.
But why do you think having a vision board is important?
[00:27:43] Speaker B: I need a roadmap. Like, give me something to look forward to. Like.
Yes. Just knowing where you want to go and like you said, checking off those things as they come along. I think it's important to keep you focused with a plan. You have to have a plan. If you don't, you just. Out here, you're just out here. Just.
[00:28:05] Speaker A: Just here.
[00:28:06] Speaker B: Just here existing exactly right. And you want to make sure that you're making the most of your time, your life, being intentional about what you're doing.
[00:28:16] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:28:17] Speaker B: Intentionality is important.
[00:28:18] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:28:19] Speaker B: So a vision board or a bingo board.
[00:28:22] Speaker A: Okay. Right. And I was like, oh, that's so cute. So, yeah, just getting the same concept. It's just making, like a bingo card. And as you just reach each goal, just shake it off. So I was like, I gotta do it. But it's already the middle of January already.
[00:28:38] Speaker B: I can't even believe it. We're almost in February.
[00:28:41] Speaker A: I know.
[00:28:41] Speaker B: And, you know, February is short.
[00:28:43] Speaker A: It's short. But I don't think it's ever too late to start your vision board or just write it out. Like you said, if you don't know where you're going, you're just out here just winging it, floating. Winging it.
So having a vision board kind of keeps you accountable.
[00:28:59] Speaker B: Accountable is a good word.
[00:29:00] Speaker A: Yeah, accountable. So that you know where you're going and then. And even share it with someone and say, okay, this is my vision. This is the vision I have for my life, for my family.
And these are things that we want to do. So have you and your husband ever done one together?
[00:29:17] Speaker B: We have not.
[00:29:17] Speaker A: I know. I've been trying to.
[00:29:19] Speaker B: That would be nice.
[00:29:19] Speaker A: It would be.
[00:29:20] Speaker B: Okay. You're giving me some good ideas. Okay, I got some.
[00:29:23] Speaker A: I'm just like. And I've never done what with my husband either, but I just think it's just good. So again, you know where you're going. Right.
[00:29:30] Speaker B: Do you think he'll be interested in.
[00:29:31] Speaker A: Probably not.
[00:29:32] Speaker B: I know. Like, how do I get him interested, though?
[00:29:36] Speaker A: Like a what? Well, I can't say that let me go back. Let me. Let me rewind. Okay, so last year we did it at the church. Okay, we did it at the church. One Bible study night. Okay, we did it. It wasn't last year. It might have been year before. I mean, you. Before 20 is. Time is just flying. I don't know. But we did it one night at the church. Now he did his own, and I didn't mind.
[00:29:59] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:30:00] Speaker A: But I don't know, maybe it could start like, you do yours and I do mine, then we can put it.
[00:30:04] Speaker B: Together, let's have some conversation about it.
[00:30:07] Speaker A: Right.
[00:30:08] Speaker B: That might be a little date night activity. I like that.
[00:30:11] Speaker A: Little date night activity. Yeah. Get some magazines or some, you know, books and just kind of talk about it and.
Because again, you just. You never know. You're setting goals, but it's just good to have a goal for the family, for the couple, for the church, for. Yeah. So I don't know I'm talking out loud, but that's.
[00:30:31] Speaker B: Those are good ideas, good thoughts. Like, I love it.
[00:30:34] Speaker A: And you're artsy. Crafty.
[00:30:36] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:30:36] Speaker A: So that.
[00:30:38] Speaker B: Yeah, I can set that up.
[00:30:39] Speaker A: Yeah. Let me know how it goes.
[00:30:41] Speaker B: I will.
Like, really Listen, we making plans.
[00:30:45] Speaker A: Our husbands.
[00:30:47] Speaker B: He's gonna see the summer. I'm not doing that.
[00:30:50] Speaker A: Not doing. I'm not doing that. Right. But even, like, as a church. Church family.
[00:30:54] Speaker B: Right.
[00:30:55] Speaker A: They can do it. You know, the small groups just having time, eating, snacking, and just kind of coming up with business because you have to know. And. And in prayer, too.
[00:31:05] Speaker B: Yes, Right.
[00:31:06] Speaker A: Praying, actually. God, lead me, guide me, and direct me on. This is what I see me doing, but is this what you would want me need to do?
[00:31:13] Speaker B: Right.
[00:31:13] Speaker A: And then kind of going from there. So I think it's. It's important to know where you're going. Without a vision, the people perish.
[00:31:20] Speaker B: They put the words.
[00:31:21] Speaker A: It does. Yeah. So not too late. Let's.
[00:31:26] Speaker B: Let's get in there.
[00:31:27] Speaker A: Let's get in. Watch. It'll be June. And I'm still like.
Even if it's electronic, like technology, there's so much out there that you can use and, and, and do it. So I think it's. No, it's important. Right. No excuses.
[00:31:44] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:31:44] Speaker A: And not a resolution.
[00:31:45] Speaker B: Right.
[00:31:46] Speaker A: Because people make resolutions and we don't follow through.
[00:31:49] Speaker B: So true. So true. I don't know when the last. The last time I did a resolution because I said, you know what? I'm gonna stop playing with myself and everybody else. Let's just stop. Let's just cut it out.
[00:31:58] Speaker A: Exactly so it could be not resolutions, but just resetting and goal setting and just kind of see where we go.
[00:32:06] Speaker B: I like it.
[00:32:07] Speaker A: Yeah. So your friends. Okay, how do they feel? How did they feel when you said, hey, y'all, guess what?
So new things happened in our lives, but did they laugh or were they like, we got you, girl. Did you lose friends? Did you?
[00:32:28] Speaker B: No, I didn't lose any friends.
The ones that I, you know.
Yes, right. I think they understood it because I guess, you know, they know me. Like, I'm. I'm a church girl, so. And you're talking about being in the ministry, right?
[00:32:43] Speaker A: Yes. Okay. Yeah.
[00:32:44] Speaker B: So I'm a church girl, so I don't think to them it was far fetched, but, yeah, I guess they didn't know my deep inner thoughts about the whole ministry because I didn't share it with a lot of people, but. So it didn't seem far fetched to them. So they're very supportive. Yeah.
[00:33:02] Speaker A: That's important.
[00:33:02] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:33:03] Speaker A: They have support.
[00:33:04] Speaker B: Right.
[00:33:05] Speaker A: Of friends that totally understand and totally get it. Right, right, right.
[00:33:10] Speaker B: I think it's important too.
[00:33:11] Speaker A: Okay, so I'm going to do rapid fire.
[00:33:15] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:33:15] Speaker A: Just asking you some questions.
[00:33:17] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:33:17] Speaker A: And the first thing that kind of comes to you, just come to you. Okay. Give me the answer. Okay, so favorite food?
[00:33:26] Speaker B: Pasta, to be specific. Chicken Alfredo.
[00:33:30] Speaker A: Really? Okay. That's my baby. She eat pasta every day. Okay.
Favorite vacation spot?
[00:33:37] Speaker B: Anywhere on. On the beach. I don't have a particular location, but it's beach.
[00:33:42] Speaker A: It's beach. You like the water? Because that's relaxation.
[00:33:45] Speaker B: It's relaxation. I'm a Pisces. Okay, thank you. So, yeah, take me to the water. Okay.
[00:33:52] Speaker A: Least favorite food?
[00:33:56] Speaker B: So many. I'm so picky.
[00:33:57] Speaker A: Are you a picky eater?
[00:33:58] Speaker B: Oh, yes, I am a very picky eater. So my least favorite.
This is just popping into my head. Squash.
[00:34:07] Speaker A: Really?
[00:34:07] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:34:08] Speaker A: Okay. So I didn't like squash growing up, but now I'm kind of. My taste buds have evolved a little bit.
[00:34:13] Speaker B: Like, you prepare, it's like you'll cook it or something. Okay. All right. You gotta give me some recipes. Maybe I need to try it again. Okay.
[00:34:20] Speaker A: Yeah. Okay. Because I mean, like I said I did growing up, I was like, oh, no, I'm not. But squash and zucchini. Yeah. Kind of different.
[00:34:28] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:34:28] Speaker A: Yeah.
So we've done favorite foods, favorite movie.
[00:34:36] Speaker B: Coming to America.
[00:34:38] Speaker A: Really? The new one, too?
[00:34:39] Speaker B: No, I don't really like.
[00:34:40] Speaker A: You didn't like that one too much.
[00:34:41] Speaker B: But I do like number one.
[00:34:42] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:34:43] Speaker B: It's been on My fave list.
[00:34:45] Speaker A: Really? Okay. Favorite place to shop.
[00:34:51] Speaker B: So out outside of, like, online. Cato. Like, in. In store would be Cato.
[00:34:56] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:34:57] Speaker B: Online.
I love my Sheen.
[00:35:00] Speaker A: I'm a Sheen girl, too. Yes, I'm a Sheen girl.
[00:35:06] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:35:08] Speaker A: Okay. And favorite date spot a place or things I like to do.
[00:35:17] Speaker B: So I love. I would love. We hadn't done it yet, but I would love, like, a root. A rooftop romantic dinner. Like, I am working towards it in 2025.
[00:35:28] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:35:29] Speaker B: But anywhere romantic, you know, just. You know, just a nice ambiance or vibe. I just love, you know, nice space.
[00:35:40] Speaker A: Right, right, right. Not too loud and all the things.
[00:35:43] Speaker B: Right, right. So. Okay. Okay.
[00:35:46] Speaker A: So I know you said when you first find out about your husband going into the ministry and all your fields. Right. So what would you. What advice would you give to a young lady who's in that space right now who may be angry and just can. Doesn't feel comfortable enough saying it. Don't really want to share that with anyone because you don't really want, you know, you don't want everyone to feel like you're not supporting your husband.
[00:36:12] Speaker B: Right.
[00:36:13] Speaker A: And that you don't want to go to church or whatever. So what would. What advice would you give a young lady who may be feeling like that right now? Not even just a woman? Yeah. What would.
[00:36:24] Speaker B: What would you say first? I would tell her to go into prayer.
Always pray first. And, you know, ask God to first of all direct your. Or first harden out your heart, but just kind of soften your heart to what the future looks like for you and your family and lead you. Lead your conversations with your husband, lead your conversations with whomever you choose to talk to. Find someone that you can trust and you can kind of pour yourself out to and you feel comfortable talking to that person just so that you can get out what's inside. Right. So you won't just be kind of harboring all of this anger or even fear or doubt, but just find someone that would be a good listening ear or a sounding board if you need that.
And also just be yourself.
I mean, understand that there's not a blueprint for anything. Honestly, I think with anything in life, you can create your own path.
[00:37:29] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:37:29] Speaker B: And I think that it's important to show up as yourself and not try to imitate anyone, not even mom group, grandma. Like, they can pave the way and they can, you know, give you inspiration, but create your own path.
[00:37:44] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:37:45] Speaker B: Be the best that you can be. Show up for you, and I promise that everyone will love you. For it.
[00:37:50] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:37:50] Speaker B: When I'm myself, I'm as silly as I can be or whatever. It is so relatable.
[00:37:56] Speaker A: And I'm just exactly. I don't know how to be anybody. But people would appreciate that. And they know real.
[00:38:03] Speaker B: They know real and they can spot.
[00:38:05] Speaker A: Faith and they can spot fake. Yeah. So just be who. Be you. I think that's been a consistent theme every time I've spoken to a woman. First lady is just finding out who you are and being okay. Because we do try to. You look at people and you say, okay, that's. That's how they are. And I need to be like that. But then it doesn't work like that. And that's not how God. He created us unique.
[00:38:29] Speaker B: Right.
[00:38:30] Speaker A: To be our own person. And so I'm just a firm believer that if this is what he has ordained for our lives.
[00:38:37] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:38:37] Speaker A: That he's there with us.
[00:38:38] Speaker B: Right.
[00:38:39] Speaker A: And he's going to help us do it.
[00:38:40] Speaker B: He's going to give you everything that you need. Absolutely everything. He doesn't. I mean, you know, I know it may sound cliche, but he don't. He doesn't put more on us than we can bear. And, you know, if it's heavy, he'll find a way to help us carry that load. So, yeah, that's my advice. Show up as you. And it's fine if you fall. If you feel like you're messing up, it's okay.
[00:39:03] Speaker A: It's okay. Reset.
Reset. And I think that's also. God does allow us to do that.
[00:39:10] Speaker B: He does.
[00:39:11] Speaker A: He allows us to go through and stumble and fall and. But his words say he won't leave us. Our. Forsake us.
[00:39:18] Speaker B: So saying that word tonight. Yes.
[00:39:20] Speaker A: So, you know, as we try things and go through life and try to do this, and we think this is what God is saying. And we try. It's okay if we fall because he's right there. He won't leave us.
[00:39:33] Speaker B: He's forgiving, he's gracious and he's just all merciful. So just lean and depend on Him.
[00:39:41] Speaker A: Right.
[00:39:41] Speaker B: Not on your own.
[00:39:42] Speaker A: Not on your own.
[00:39:43] Speaker B: Right. But just trust me.
[00:39:44] Speaker A: Right.
[00:39:45] Speaker B: In all things.
[00:39:46] Speaker A: In all things.
[00:39:46] Speaker B: Right.
[00:39:46] Speaker A: And I forgot to ask you one more question. What's your favorite scripture?
[00:39:49] Speaker B: That's my favorite scripture. Proverbs 3.
[00:39:52] Speaker A: 3, 5. Yes. My 2. Yeah.
[00:39:54] Speaker B: That is my favorite. Yes. Absolutely.
[00:39:57] Speaker A: Because in everything that we going through, you have to remember to trust him.
[00:40:00] Speaker B: Absolutely. In all things.
[00:40:02] Speaker A: In all things.
[00:40:03] Speaker B: I mean, the small things, the big things, like nothing is too small or big for him. So whatever it is that you think you're struggling on, I even, you know, tell my daughter this. Like, you know, you feel like you're not going to do well on the test, God hears you. He sees you. Just say, God help me.
[00:40:19] Speaker A: Like, you don't have to have a long drawn out these. And now's the shout. Just, lord, I need you. And that's what he wants us to just be honest and open and real and just talk to him.
[00:40:31] Speaker B: Right.
[00:40:32] Speaker A: Let's talk to him. So, absolutely. Well, thank you. I appreciate it. It's been fun.
[00:40:37] Speaker B: It has been fun. I enjoy my conversation.
[00:40:40] Speaker A: Same here. Same here. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. And thank you for joining us on the second row. I appreciate it. Remember that you can catch me every week. Fingers crossed.
Just about every week.
And we are on all podcast platforms, I.e. apple, Spotify, wherever you get your podcast. And we're also on YouTube, so make sure you are. You have subscribed and shared and loved it. And we thank you again for joining us. And remember, it's the year this month we're going to reset. We're not going to talk about resolutions and all the things make you a vision board or a bingo card or whatever it takes for you to make sure you've set, written out your goals, set your goals and move forward and reset if you have to. Again, thank you for joining us. And remember, no matter where you are, no matter what God, where God has placed you, you need to accept it, embrace it and flourish in it. Thank you. We'll see you next time.
