Laura Smith

Hey Adri, welcome to unsung stories. Thank you so much for joining us.

 

Adri G

Thanks for having me

 

Laura Smith

Just so that our listeners can get to know you a little bit better. Would you mind sharing about yourself and what your family life looks like?

 

Adri G

Yeah, sure. My name is Adri. I'm wife to Luke. We've been married for 10 years. And I'm mama to Alex, two years. I work two days a week as an accredited exercise physiologist. That's for a break from the toolbar, which is hilarious because a lot of my job is behavior change. And so the toddler doesn't listen to what I say, my clients don't listen either. But you know, that's fine. So I'm living in town with again at home. We my husband, I grew up here we went to school together. But before we moved back here in September 2020, but we were living on the central coast of New South Wales. I was there for 11 years, Luke was over 12. And we moved back to town with this time to be closer to family, I guess we always had in the back of our minds that we'd move back, probably for raising kids.

 

Laura Smith

It sounds like you've had a fair bit of change, moving from Tamworth in the first place, making a new home and how was that first move moving away from home?

 

Adri G

As a country kid? It's not so expected to move, but it's not uncommon to move away from home. Certainly after you finish school. And I personally was looking forward to it looking forward to getting out of town within I guess. Yeah, I was. It was amazing. Moving out. I was really ready to leave the nest. In that first year, I became a Christian. Oh, lovely. Yeah. So God was definitely with me the whole time. Yeah, it felt really effortless to make friends as a Christian being that unique kind of stage of life, because you've got so much time you don't realize it, and yet into a new church. So it was just really great. So while we were away from blood family, out of our church was our family and I would often call them church family. I feel like I had church, aunties and church grandmas to call upon for different things like, Oh, I need to address him. And where should I go to do this? Or like, do you have this book I can borrow? One time our washing machine broke down. So I knew I could call upon someone close by to just use her washing machine, which was amazing. Yeah, we definitely had a strong church family. Well, it was hard in some ways to be away from family. Yeah, we were really well supported and looked after.

 

Laura Smith

And that's really beautiful. Do you have any tips for people who are stepping into church life or any ways that we can be proactive in cultivating that church family,

 

Adri G

For us, and again, we were in the life stage where we had a lot of time on our hands and no kids. So we were able to get in and serve quite quickly, in a range of different ways. So I guess we're possible, don't hang around and wait to be asked into things. But I guess try and seek out those opportunities, or even make your own. I guess good churches are gonna have people that will love each other and will seek you out. So yeah, be ready to be sought. Be ready to be awesome to things.

 

Laura Smith

Yeah. I think saying yes. to lunch.

 

Adri G

Yes, exactly. Say yes. To those awkward conversations. So yes. I guess being ready to go through that awkward transition period with meeting new people and knowing that, yeah, it's not a means to an end. But it's the way that you'll get that connection and start having those deep relationships.

 

Laura Smith

And sounds like you really stepped into community. That's awesome. How important was having a church family to you?

 

Adri G

Um, how important, I feel like I need that, like upscale. It was really important, but you don't really know, at the time until you don't have it. Do you know what I mean? Like, when we moved back here, most recently, we really felt that, Oh, we don't have the normal church people that we know, we don't have those familiar faces, and like, the relationships will kind of come and go in some ways. And so we definitely don't have our close friends anymore. But even those people that like you're not necessarily close with the church, but you know, that you're going to see, like another lady that always dances out the front, or that couple that come every week, and they've got their kids look like they're exhausting, but they still come to church or that old guy. That seems really deeply and that's really bad. You don't I mean, like all those kind of characters of church that you're not necessarily having deep conversations with, but they're just a part of that church, fabric, that you rely on every week without realizing it. Does that make sense? Yeah, I actually feel that too, with COVID and church not looking normal. Our church when we could come back in a smaller capacity. It was just heaps of young people there. And it was like it was kind of cool for a while, but then it was like Actually, I really do miss just turning around and chatting to that older woman for two minutes when you've got that awkward chat time. But the fabric of church wasn't the same were in the same building, but it was just, eerily different.  Yeah. And I think I read an article the other day of that, let those small interactions Just as important and just as Yeah, necessary for churches, the bigger he gets more formal things.

 

Laura Smith

So you're sharing with me that you had a really hard time of life in that stage. Would you mind sharing a little bit about that? Yeah, yeah. So

 

Adri G

it'll be nearly eight years ago that my dad died unexpectedly. And your church was amazing. We were so well loved and supported, like it was in the fall really tragic. And in fact, dad died on think like, the Tuesday and then the following Monday, my grandfather passed away, really rotten. It was my mom's dad as well. So just a really terrible time. But we were so loved my husband, I obviously came up to mom straightaway, and I had phone calls from our senior pastor and his wife and messages from church friends, again, people that I was close to, but then I was just in church. He knew me. When we got back to the coast, we had meals for at least a week when I got back home. Our Bible study cleaned out house. Yeah, just messages in that short term, period. And then, like, randomly afterwards, so so helpful,

 

Laura Smith

so well, supportive. People were really seeing, stepping in. Yeah. How did you cope with losing your dad?

 

Adri G

So it was really hard, obviously. And I think I know, like I was 23/24. So relatively young. And up until that point, life had been pretty easy and quite happy before me. And I remember at church, well, before dad died, we were going through Isaiah. And I remember, like reading these passages and hearing just how difficult life was, and just the nature of the world and how, like things are just really hard and not right with the world and not okay, and I moved back reflecting after their sermons thinking, that doesn't match up with my life, like, I'm really comfortable and really happy. Hmm, I wonder, does that mean something is coming that's like, closer to the reality I'm reading about in Scripture. And that just kind of, yes, that sat with me. And like, not straightaway, but I remember then dead dying and me thinking, hmm, like death. That's more the character the world that the Bible talks about? It's kind of doesn't make sense. But it's like it did make sense. Does that make? Am I talking like a nutter? I don't know.

 

Laura Smith

That was doesn't make sense.

 

Adri G

This is kind of Yeah, just some reflections I hadn't. So I guess when dad died, I didn't have that. Where is God, thought or crisis. I was obviously devastated. But I think I just had this deep comfort, like my emotions of grief, were kind of tossing me around. So I felt like I was kind of in a storm. But I knew that Jesus was my anchor. And I think I just yeah, had that really deep comfort knowing that. And I think I even reminded myself and probably said it out loud, sometimes like, Jesus is still my king, Jesus still died for me like this is. This is really hard. But this is awful. But my salvation still secure in Christ, like Jesus is still my king, despite how hard this is, despite how awful it is.

 

Laura Smith

Sounds like it wasn't a surprise for you that you are feeling pain and grief, and then questioning God through that it sounds like... Actually, this makes more sense of what I'm reading in the Bible, this pain that Jesus stepped into fix.

 

Adri G

Totally. Yeah. And I think, certainly before I was a Christian, I probably didn't recognize why Jesus needed to die for people and like, why, like, why do you need to save your things are going well. And I think early on in Christian life, I, I felt how I wasn't longing for heaven or eternity with Jesus. Or I was looking forward to the good things, but not necessarily longing for that closest with God. And so I feel like yeah, having that not face to face, but that like, interaction with death, and really bad tragedy and sadness, kind of, yeah, I get highlights, oh, I need to say the I need rescuing from this. This is awful. This is not what God intended when he made the world. And so that helped me cling to him, or

 

Laura Smith

What did you learn about God through that suffering?

 

Adri G

I guess I learned that he carries me. He carried me through that those first few years. Oh my gosh, like, yeah, the first few years, were just so so hard. I often cry myself to sleep. Or Wake up, wake up for another day and just think, Oh, God, I just I don't think I can do this. God, I can't do this without you. And just having them yeah, really humbling moment. And so I'd prayand it just be bit by being like, okay, God, I just, I just need to get up and get dressed, or I just need to go to the table and have something to eat. And then eventually, it'd be okay God, I just need to walk down to the station and get on the train. And then I'll get off to go to work and then I got I just Need to walk up the steps and walk to the office? And then it was just literally little bit by little bit that he would carry me through the day.

 

Laura Smith

Was there any truth that you clung to? Or that you still cling to?

 

Adri G

So overall, I guess, I like that I can't do anything. I can do nothing without God. And he doesn't leave me in hard times. He's faithful. Yeah, he sees what I'm going through Jesus being fully human, has suffered as well. So he doesn't know what I go through. And even those mantras of, yes, this is hard. Yes, this is rocking my world, but Jesus is still making this awful time doesn't change that moment in history where Jesus dies, and he doesn't change that the tomb was empty. It doesn't change that he is alive. And he's coming back.

 

Laura Smith

Goodness, that's hard.

 

Adri G

It's complicated. The thing with grief, especially unexpected grief, there's a lot of things that don't get resolved. And you can't - I think we long for peace. I think God put that in our hearts. So we long for peace. And if there's conflict or problems, you longed for reconciliation, but death part sexual.

 

Laura Smith

Just from what you're saying, I just can't help but feel like in awe again, that we have a God that's stepped into this pain that knows this pain for himself, and that he came to put him into it, like, oh, what other God would do that. So you didn't have any kids at that time? Has this grief impacted you anyway, since you've become a mum and having your own family and just thinking? I mean, most people, when they have a kid really start to reflect on their upbringing, how has this grief and this loss been impacting you, as you've had it into motherhood?

 

Adri G

Just going through grief in general, that grief process has helped when I'm facing, like, smaller groups just related to motherhood and parenting in general, or life in general. But just being raised in a non Christian family, meant all through the pregnancy period. And like constantly throughout parenting, it's been reflecting on my own upbringing, my husband and I, we want to Alex and other kids, if that happens, I feel like that's a bit separate to grief...

 

Laura Smith

So has the truths that you've learnt about God during your time of suffering, being a help or comfort as you've adjusted to your new role of being a mum?

 

Adri G

100%. Just grief in general, like that newborn phase, when you know, you're so exhausted, you're not thinking clearly or, for me, I just felt overwhelmed with feelings of just being totally inadequate and incompetent as a mom. So when I was in that really struggling, trying point, wasn't moments of struggling. I could remember and I could like would say it out loud again. God helped me when it was hard before when dad died, so I know that he can help me now. It's just remembering God's faithfulness, and carry it when you need to be carried.

 

Laura Smith

So how do you feel that God has been refining you through?

 

Adri G

So pride? It's a big one. Um, I told my husband, I are maybe like six to twelve months in to motherhood. I told him that like, you know, I felt like before the baby I've been chipping away at my pride, like chipping away at it for years. That God use motherhood is like a chain sort of my product to pack it away. I'm pretty sure at the time he said like, Oh, no, I think he's used it more like a stick of dynamite.

 

Laura Smith

totally agree.

 

Adri G

But yeah, pride for sure. And then patience is the other thing. Yeah, like, I knew I was impatient. Still. Let's be real, but it's pretty obvious how that's grown with motherhood. And I think now in the toddler phase, there's a really really big spotlight on it again, but I yeah, I can see and husband has mentioned and I guess other people are maybe noticing natural you can see fruit so quickly.

 

Laura Smith

How old's Alex?

 

Adri G

he's two, like two and a bit.

 

Laura Smith

And that's great. How do you feel like you're being shaped to be more like Jesus?

 

Adri G

I feel like yeah, grow through hard times. So you know that passage in Romans chapter five, verse four, you've got suffering which produces perseverance and eventually character producing heart. So the the selfishness turning into selflessness, which I guess is tied to pride, so like, it's pretty obvious how selfish I am and continue to be a home like literally, a helpless dependent baby who can't do anything for himself like I need to For him, it's very obvious when I choose to take care of myself in some ways instead of a baby, so growing in, that's been a moment by moment, act of the Spirit. And then at the same time, just my will to choose selflessness.

 

Laura Smith

So like you've said, we've been wanting to grow in patience, and selflessness, and all of these good things. Have you found that there's been anything that actually helps you do this.

 

Adri G

So things that work for me, so like, I'm a pretty visual person, and trained as a scientist, so I can be quite rational when I need to be. So coming back to those, you know, core truths of the gospel, first principles of Jesus came to earth, it's about Jesus, it's not about me. So put your book down and stop your show, even though there's only 10 minutes left, because the baby's awake, like you can do this because Jesus died for you. I feel like that helps other like sometimes and then like, where you can, just having giving yourself permission to have time out by giving yourself permission to not vacuum the floor, or not do the 100 job that he quotation mark need to do, because you do genuinely need to risk you do genuinely need to have phone calls with friends and have those self care things. Because I, I find them much more equipped. I'll feel more equipped to be selfless. And to make those Jesus life decisions when I'm got a bit more risks, or my cups form, so to speak.

 

Laura Smith

Yeah, I think that's really helpful. Like, the world is telling us that we need to be taking care of ourselves and taking care of mum first because mums a priority. And which is true, like, we are important too. But I feel like it comes from this really forceful or self focused, like we've got to fight for this kind of mentality. So I agree, that message that we need to take care of mom, and that we're not called to die to motherhood. Do you have any thoughts on this?

 

Adri G

Totally, I'm a big advocate for self care. In my line of work, that's a lot of what I do. He can't get out of an empty cup. And I guess as Christians, we know that God can make this happen. Nothing is impossible for God. So I'm talking about us and our freewill. And yeah, like, sometimes we'll have opportunities to take time out, it could be, you know, I sleep between feeds or bubble bath, or, heaven forbid, a few hours without children. I mean, they're amazing, take those opportunities where you can, but other times, they might not be an escape. And that's so hard. And like, you know, there is light at the end of the tunnel in the long term, but it's really hard to be anything old and short sighted, when you're in some of those moments.

 

Laura Smith

I get that.

 

Adri G

So I guess acknowledging that you're in that spot, and I'm learning that things are hard and fall down God and His promises in the word, in Isaiah chapter 40, on the end of that chapter, he talks about, you know, even even youths grew weary, and you come to God, and He will, I can't quote it, but read it, he will help you raise up on eagle's wings, and then we'll run and even just, you can walk and not be faint, because that's where it's at. Like we're at a walking phase, we're not even thinking about right now. It's like, Oh, God, I just need to walk. I just teach them how to get the basics done. And he will help us with that. And even like the other passages about Jesus, and his yoke is like, come to me, or we will really all the rest.

 

Laura Smith

Yeah. So do you have any thoughts on how we can be filling our own well?

 

Adri G

yeah. So when we have those opportunities to feel like help, I guess, being mindful that we're probably not going to be topped up by scrolling iPhones. Hey. So just self control, which again, I know is tricky. That's hard. But if you're after feeling like you can't do things that will help that, rather than waste, likely wasting time funds can be useful. I also get that it's tricky.

 

Laura Smith

But I guess looking at where we're filling from.

 

Adri G

Yeah, totally. We tap in what are exactly what are tapping into what are we exposing ourselves to? So I guess, trying to think of things that we do before bubbas. So what did we do to relax beforehand to unwind to de stress, having some self awareness will help and maybe chatting that through with husband or someone that doesn't have baby brain could help. And if you've got something in mind that you want to do, but you're just not sure how to realistically make that work. Again, having someone to bounce ideas off, if you need to make some creative kind of time decisions for a hobby into my mind might be useful. And

 

Laura Smith

that's really helpful

 

Adri G

And like, maybe talking to a man or a boy in life who is loving, they'd love to fix problems, they'll probably point out what you need to do.

 

Laura Smith

And he'll probably love that because you're letting him fix something.

 

Adri G

Totally. And often he'll feel like he just can't help because he can't help in a lot of things. But yeah, so

 

Laura Smith

really, you're doing him a favor.

 

Adri G

Yeah. Serving, serving Him. So from a professional standpoint, I'll often speak to my clients about pillars of wellness. So we talk about sleep, diet, exercise, mindfulness, relaxation, and social connectedness. As a side note about relaxation and mindfulness like that's 100%, the non Christian version of spiritual prayer and Bible.

 

Laura Smith

I feel like it's a little bit different, though. So I feel like mindfulness or Yeah, mindfulness seems to me like emptying your mind and being calm. As I feel like as a Christian, that's a little bit different. Because as we meditate, we want to be meditating on God's word. I think it's good to train our minds to be quiet. But I also feel like it's good to actually think through Scripture. And yeah, like, let that marinate a little bit.

 

Adri G

Yeah, I think marinade on scripture, Yes. 100% agree with that. I think what I'm trying to say is, because the non Christian won't have that relationship with God and won't have that spiritual sight to live. They're seeking it, and so that they feeling that Jesus shaped hole in life with mindfulness. Yeah, that's probably more what I'm trying to say.

 

Laura Smith

Do you have any thoughts for the Christian mom who's hearing Oh, you should be doing mindfulness to be calm, or to fill your well? What's your thoughts on that? Do you? My thoughts are it's a tool, it might work for your mind or don't feel bad? If it doesn't. And there's people on your Instagram feed that swear by it. Give it a go. There's a number of free apps and things around, chat to other people see what they use. Try it. If you didn't get to you, you think it's helpful? Back, maybe stick with it for a couple of weeks. But yeah, I guess I just have in mind, it's not going to be the silver bullet solution to exhaustion. Yeah, but if it helps, yeah, go. Yeah, I think I mentioned before, just that idea of acknowledging the hardness and fully on God and His promises. So that's that idea of Gods 100% in control and sovereign, and we still have free will, and I guess, some kind of responsibility, acknowledging that things really hard and fully on God. And I guess in that is your reading the Word. And so in, like, in john, chapter six, and seven, Jesus says himself, like, on the living bread on the water that satisfies, so we need to come to him, because he's the one that's going to be providing that true refreshment, that our souls are really craving. So I guess Jesus is when he comes back, he's gonna have that long term fulfillment of those promises. We can't do 100% refreshment on our own. And I think, I think God uses tiredness to remind us about, I guess, we have, like, we have to be humble to come before the Lord, like what would a proud and self sufficient woman need of God? Because, you know, we can juggle five to 10 things at once?Why do we, why do I need God? But God knows that we're not truly self sufficient? And we need to know and we need to be reminded of this truth and find comfort that he is self sufficient?  Yes.

 

Adri G

I mean, at least I need to know that. Yeah, no, I'm here.  he'll use us in our weakness.

 

Laura Smith

Yes, I am there with you.

 

Adri G

And I think the beautiful thing is that we forget, as moms that he will use us in our weakness, and he will accept us as we are, he will takes us as you know, not recently showered and with grubby flaws that are probably not going to get vacuumed. Again this week. I mean, he still loves us. And so any self care that we do now? It's kind of just to keep us going. Till Christ truly restores all things.

 

Laura Smith

I'm so encouraged by what you say I was listening to a parenting seminar. I think that's what you'd call it a few weeks ago. And in it was a lot of it was focused on attachment based parenting, which I totally agree with and love to a point. And this presenter in it was saying, You parent out of a relationship. Yes, I agree. But then they're going on to say you need to be your child's best you need to and I'm going Oh, I can't be that. Like the pressure that we've put on mums today to be the perfect mum to you know, be the solid rock into.

 

Adri G

Oh, it's just so damaging.

 

Laura Smith

Yeah. And God is so different. He's going you don't need to clean yourself up. Come Come to me like this is what I came for. Mum. Just

 

Adri G

Yeah. And increasingly through through the Bible like Old Testament. He's reminding them you cannot do this without me. Come to me as you are completely broken and needy. Yes. Jesus Himself. Like, the doctor didn't come to the sick. Yeah,

 

Laura Smith

I just find him so comforting. But I wrestle all the time that I feel like oh, I sucked. I yelled at my kids all day. I chose to just sit on my phone. Instead of cooked dinner or all of these things like where I mean, they're not even hugely sinful things in comparison what actually happens in my everyday. You know what I mean? Like, I'm like, I'm just so excited. I'm not worthy of spending time with God now. But that's, that's when we've got to go to him right?

 

Adri G

And you know what, before this before this interview, I said to my husband, this is like, I'm feeling pretty rotten. Like, I don't think I should be on this podcast because I've just been yelling at Alex, we're doing not even a bad thing. He's to calm down, he just chill out. And like this, all these other things happened and like, Oh, do you know what? I don't think I can do this. But actually, I can do this, because I'm not the perfect mom. And that's not what God's expectation is.  I think everyone who has come on this show just says, I feel like such an imposter. And I'm like, that's Yeah. Right. When people asked me why I started this podcast, I go, I just want mums to see that we all suck. But we choose to go and seek God in that can just go to him like that's like enough of one piece of advice to anyone just go He sees you, and He loves you. He's with you. And he's even growing you with these hard times and feeling sucky and like a failure. And I guess, reminding you. We can't ever live up to God's perfect standard. And we're not calling you because that's what Jesus did. And when we feel like this, go to Jesus. He's the solution. Yeah, stop trying to be the solution. It's Jesus. And I guess in that, you're not alone. We all feel like this. And as mums, we're not made to do the mom thing alone. It takes like that old cliche, it takes a village to raise a child. So true. So find the village, which is probably hopefully going to involve church.

 

Laura Smith

And that's going to take work, like that village, happen in a few weeks, a few years of really getting to know

 

Adri G

potentially a few generations, isn't it?

 

Laura Smith

Yeah. And I think it takes us stepping into it. Because you're hear, again, in the world, you're hearing people say find your tribe find your village, but I'm going where are these people? But I actually have to invite those people over to lunch at my house. And I have to step in and step up. And it's not just they're gonna find me. I think we need to find them as well.

 

Adri G

Yeah, and I think that's so tricky in this stage of life. Not there at the next ones yet. But that God new church congregation is a lot of young families. And it's just genuinely difficult. Like, we all know how hard it is to have a conversation when you've got children around you how a minute half out, and they're the same. And you've only got, you know, so many minutes before you've got to go to do whatever the next thing is. Yeah, like it's it's genuinely difficult husband finds it hard to make friends because he's a full time worker. But there's an old genuinely difficult thing. So it's got to take

 

Laura Smith

yeah, yes, one thing that I have found helpful is being part of a Bible study. Because it's, you know, a few hours every week and using that space to like, just reading the Bible and learning more about God with people is beautiful. But often there's a time to just ask for prayer and pray for each other. And using that time to be vulnerable, like, you know, don't even know these people at first and like, please, genuinely pray for me and people, when you when you are vulnerable people step in and they do care and pray for you. And how are you going with your anger?

 

Adri G

Well theyre not just people there are sisters in Christ, truly family in the kingdom, which is just amazing. Yeah, I went to first Bible study at new church this week, there were three of us that had two year olds. And just to see these other boys, I thought, Oh my gosh, they're doing what Alex does. And like, I know that he's normal, but to see it and be affirmed, and to hear the mums say the same kind of things that I'm struggling with a little bit the frightening whatever. Like, ah, like, I get it. These are people this is really great

 

Laura Smith

And to say real people and real women, because if you stuck on your phone, you're gonna get that Instagram where the mom who's the attachment perfectly attached mother who doesn't yell, and here's how you be calm with your children. And then you get to church, it's not real. And you see the really godly mom, like, Oh, I yelled to get in the car, and I'm like, Oh, I am normal! Solidarity.

 

 

And I think Im not a technophobe. But when I got my smartphone aeons ago, like I made a conscious decision of not getting a Facebook app, and I didn't even bother with Instagram at all. And I have zero regrets on that. Yeah, absolutely. Zero regrets. found that so many things that people find and say that I struggle with, it's not even an issue that I have to deal with. Because just out

 

Laura Smith

of the last few months, got rid of Facebook and I find, you know, when you go on a diet, and then you once you've got the rule in place you like didn't actually feel like having ice cream after dinner, but because you're on a diet all of a sudden be like, Oh, I just want to ask. Yeah, so I didn't want to I find every time I'm like, at home, getting off social media, I would delete the app and then have these rules that I can't go on it. And all of a sudden, I realized, like how either addicted I was to it. I didn't have the rules. So I didn't have the app. But I could go through Safari on my phone.

 

Adri G

And yeah, totally.

 

Laura Smith

there was something to be said about how addictive the formatting was. So this is a little bit of a different conversation to being about God. But yeah, I don't actually like Facebook anymore. In fact, I hate it. And I get on there. And I'm like, this is boring. And I wonder how much it's actually designed to feed my addiction. I still go on it. That's fine. Don't have the crazy rules. But yeah, wonder and

 

Adri G

like, I'd say this, I'd say similar types of things to people who wanted to lose weight. And you know, we're struggling with diet, I'd say it's okay. Like cakes, not evil ice cream, not evil. But yeah, probably just don't have it all the time. And I think similarly to healthy eating. When you're in the habit of eating healthy, you don't like really unhealthy fatty foods just become really less appetizing. And eventually, for some people, they just become absolutely disgusting and repulsive. I want to say something similar in that for being the real word versus social media, but probably not because social media, and devices are just like shiny and instant gratification. So that's probably good.

 

Laura Smith

Yeah. But then say sugar. So I wonder if it's the key to the food thing is that you're actually filling yourself with good stuff. So maybe instead of like, so you just don't need the junk. Yeah. So instead of social media, like, have the good stuff so that when you have the junk food you like, Man, it's not as good as being in the garden or hearing my kids laugh or going for a walk and getting endorphins

 

Adri G

or having an actual conversation with someone.

 

Laura Smith

Yeah, I wonder, like, don't just cut out but fill it fill your life with good.

 

Adri G

Yeah. And so that's another strategy we would say with people is, you know, eat the vegetables first, or fill your plate with veggies and then small portions of the other things. Yeah.

 

Laura Smith

Um, what encouragement would you offer to a mom in this season of life?

 

Adri G

Yeah, God sees you, he's with you. So come to him, go to him, go to his work, go to Him in prayer. And then when you're, like praying for wisdom, or praying for patients and those virtues, it's not like, Oh, God, give me this pill that I'll take that I'll change instantly. God gives you some really hard things to work through to make your patient. So I'd like to be on the lookout for god answering prayer in those weird and wonderful ways. Like listening for the spirit to give you that nudge to put down the phone or, like does he do not I mean, I guess be expected for God to be answering your prayers. And yeah, be praying. be praying that the Spirit will help you choose God's way and that he would mold your heart and your wants and your needs to match his