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Join Mari as she answers listener questions in the final Q&A of the year. Mari discusses her family's faith journey, strategies for studying the Bible, natural family planning, budgeting tips, maintaining chastity, planning for marriage, handling marital conflicts, and choosing godparents. Tune in for insightful advice on living a Christ-centered life in today's world.
00:00 Welcome to The Ever Be Podcast
04:13 Family and Faith Journey
05:41 Biggest Regret of My Twenties
07:25 How I Study the Bible
09:27 Starting Content Creation: Motivation and Challenges
11:33 Wrestling with Church Teachings
15:21 Thoughts on Natural Family Planning
22:17 Dealing with Parental Disapproval of Young Marriage
28:27 Realities of Engagement and Marriage
31:23 Explaining Chastity to a Catholic Partner
36:06 Choosing Godparents and Confirmation Saints
40:34 Effective Budgeting Tips
46:13 Managing Conflict in Marriage
51:00 Favorite Bible Verse and Final Thoughts
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Follow Along:
Hey, I am your host, Mari Wagner,
and you're listening to The Ever Be
2
:Podcast where Faith Meets Lifestyle.
3
:I'm so excited you're here.
4
:Whether you're a new listener
or a longtime follower, I know
5
:there's something here for you.
6
:Pull up a chair and listen in for
insightful, real life conversations and
7
:actionable steps on how to claim the.
8
:Full life God created you for.
9
:If you're a woman desiring to live
a Christ-centered life in today's
10
:modern world, then this is for you.
11
:Welcome to ever be.
12
:mari-wagner_2_12-11-2025_143640: Hey guys.
13
:Welcome back to Ever Be.
14
:I am sorry, this is going up a day late.
15
:Our episodes release on Wednesdays,
as you know, and it's been a
16
:little bit crazy this week.
17
:So we're preparing for, um.
18
:Our spring magazine for
West Coast Catholic.
19
:You might have seen, we came out with
a winter magazine for Christmas, and
20
:in case you didn't put it together,
or I don't know if it's supposed
21
:to be a secret, honestly, but I'll
just tell y'all, we're coming out
22
:with a bunch of magazines, right?
23
:Like for the whole year,
all these different issues.
24
:And so we're already working on the spring
one, um, and the photo shoot is happening.
25
:This week, and we had so much prep
we had to do yesterday, and it
26
:just completely got away from me.
27
:But, um, excited to be
here with y'all today.
28
:Today we are doing a q and a, the last
q and a of the year, and I haven't
29
:fully looked at every question.
30
:I've glanced over them briefly.
31
:I saw a couple fun ones, a couple serious
ones, so I think it's gonna be fun.
32
:And these are always a good time.
33
:I always love knowing, like, what do you
literally wanna know about me, about,
34
:um, our lifestyle or things you wanna
just know my opinion on or advice on.
35
:Um, I am the eldest daughter in my family,
so I love giving people advice because
36
:that's what I was literally bred to do.
37
:Basically all my eldest
daughters listening know.
38
:And can relate to that.
39
:Um, so before we dive into the
questions, let's do a little
40
:bit of an ever be moment.
41
:My ever be moment is that a couple
weeks ago when we were in Mexico
42
:with my family, we got to have
the a first Class Relic of St.
43
:Carlo Auti.
44
:And he is a brand new saint.
45
:He was canonized.
46
:Um.
47
:Late summer or early fall, I can't
remember the exact date, but very
48
:recently, just like a few months ago.
49
:Um, and so I don't even know like how
do people have first class relics of
50
:him already, but the opportunity arose
and we got to have the relic in our
51
:apartment in Mexico and pray with it.
52
:Um, we prayed as a family for all of
our personal intentions, and it was
53
:just such a beautiful faith-filled
moment that we will never forget.
54
:So.
55
:Was such a blessing, was so beautiful.
56
:but that's my ever be moment.
57
:Um, I wish I could know what all
your guys' ever be moments were.
58
:If you have one, you wanna share
it, you should GM it into the Ever
59
:Be podcast, uh, Instagram dms.
60
:'cause I wanna know your ever
be moments too, you know?
61
:Okay, well, we'll leave it at that.
62
:Let's dive into the questions.
63
:Um, by the way, we won't have a, , ever
be answers at the end of this episode
64
:because this whole episode is gonna
be basically be an ever be answers.
65
:And then for Patreon, our after
party, you won't be a q and a because
66
:again, this whole episode is a Q
and a, but we're gonna do a little.
67
:Christmas house tour.
68
:I've gotten a lot of questions asking,
like to see the Christmas decor that
69
:we have set up and so I thought it'd be
fun to kind of vlog a little like what
70
:our Christmas decor is like right now.
71
:So I think it'll be fun.
72
:Trey and I will do a little house tour.
73
:Um, so that will be on Patreon if
you wanna join the Kingdom Club
74
:to get access to all that extra
content, you know what to do.
75
:The link is in the show notes,
but let's dive into questions.
76
:I'm gonna try and get
through as many as possible.
77
:Okay.
78
:First one up.
79
:Oh, this is funny.
80
:It literally relates to
what I was just saying.
81
:How many siblings do you have?
82
:Is your whole family Catholic?
83
:Are your parents siblings,
Catholics, et cetera?
84
:Um, I am one of three kids.
85
:I am the oldest.
86
:Um, we're all five years apart, so
in very different stages of life.
87
:I'm 28, my sister's 22, and my
brother is 17, still in high school.
88
:Um.
89
:And we are all Catholic.
90
:My family is from Columbia, south
America, where it is very culture.
91
:It's, it's the cultural
norm to be Catholic.
92
:Um, at least in like a cultural sense,
like most people are baptized and
93
:have their first communion because
that's just what you do there.
94
:Um, but a lot of people
aren't actually practicing.
95
:And so that's kind of how
my family was growing up.
96
:Up until high school.
97
:My mom had a huge reversion.
98
:Um, and then.
99
:Kind of brought her whole
family along with her.
100
:Um.
101
:And that's a story for another time.
102
:But basically, yes, being Catholic
my whole life and then since high
103
:school, like mid to late high
school, really dove into my faith
104
:in a much more intentional way.
105
:And then I had my own personal
reversion in college, um, and my.
106
:Parents over the last few years
have deepened their faith so much.
107
:And same with my siblings.
108
:Um, they're all on their own journeys, but
everybody is Catholic, so what a blessing.
109
:Right.
110
:Like such an incredible blessing to be
able to go home and have family, like
111
:my direct family practice the same faith
and we get to support each other in that.
112
:So that's amazing.
113
:Um, what was your biggest
regret of your twenties?
114
:Wow.
115
:Okay.
116
:I'm still in my twenties, girl.
117
:Okay.
118
:Just let's get that out there.
119
:Um, okay.
120
:First thing that comes to mind.
121
:Okay.
122
:First thing that comes to mind
is like, I don't really have
123
:regrets in my twenties, honestly.
124
:I feel like I've lived it to the
fullest that God has called me to.
125
:And I've been able to experience so
much adventure and beauty and so many
126
:gifts that God has brought to our lives.
127
:Um, and so I don't feel like
I look back and I'm like.
128
:I regret this.
129
:Maybe the only thing I regret is
I wish I had saved more money.
130
:And it's, it sounds lame and honestly,
I, I wouldn't say that it like really
131
:set us back a ton financially, but that
would've been a smarter thing to do.
132
:Like I was just always the girl
that like spent my money in
133
:college, like I worked and I got my
paycheck and then I went shopping
134
:or something like that and I didn't.
135
:Even have a savings account.
136
:And so that was kind of
dumb on my part, I think.
137
:So I think that would be like
something that I would say I
138
:kind of regret not saving more.
139
:I started to save when I actually
got a job, which was I was a focus
140
:missionary and by the time that I
started my job as a focus missionary,
141
:I had eight months until I got married.
142
:And so I actually started
saving once I got a job.
143
:And once you get a bigger old
job, you get bigger old paychecks.
144
:Then you can put real money away,
but I could have done so much
145
:more the years leading up to that.
146
:So I would say that, but honestly,
no big regrets, which is awesome.
147
:So awesome.
148
:Um, how do you study the Bible?
149
:So, me personally, when I first started
reading the Bible, not necessarily like
150
:studying it to like learn, but like just.
151
:Praying with and getting familiar
with scripture is I would do lexio
152
:Davina paired with a method of
scripture that a mentor taught me.
153
:It's called wrap, um, write,
reflect, apply and pray, and
154
:you apply that framework to.
155
:Different gospel passages and I was
challenged to do 30 days of reading
156
:scripture and 30 different gospels,
and that's how I started getting into
157
:reading the Bible and familiarizing myself
with at least the books of the gospels.
158
:So that would be my advice.
159
:I have a resource on my website called
the Gospel Habit, which is literally
160
:a 30 day scripture challenge that
breaks down this method for you more,
161
:gives you the framework and gives
you the 30 passages, that I think are
162
:amazing to start with for the 30 days.
163
:Um, and it has a couple more
resources in there as well.
164
:So that's a great idea.
165
:If you wanna get started on
reading the Bible, tips on how
166
:to study the Bible would be to.
167
:Do a Bible study that is more like
educational, more than like prayerful.
168
:Um.
169
:And focuses, Bible studies
have taught me a ton.
170
:So the crux or salvation history
specifically are like forming
171
:Bible studies that teach you what
is the Bible really trying to say
172
:and , , like what conclusions can we
draw from what we're learning in the
173
:Bible or what teachings does this
coincide with, with the tradition
174
:of our church and how does scripture
and tradition kind of go together?
175
:So those two are really good.
176
:Um, and then.
177
:The other one I'm thinking of,
I think it's called the St.
178
:Paul's Center.
179
:They have incredible bibles
as well, bible studies as well
180
:that are very informational.
181
:So, um, look through those and
see if those are helpful at all.
182
:Okay.
183
:Let's see another question.
184
:Next question.
185
:I wanna start content creation,
but I don't know if I might just be
186
:seeking validation or importance.
187
:This is a really good, just like
self-aware reflection to have.
188
:Why do you want to start a platform?
189
:What is your purpose?
190
:Um.
191
:I'll tell you right now, it's not easy
and it, you don't just blow up overnight.
192
:Right.
193
:And I think a lot of people like
the idea of the end result and it
194
:takes a lot of intentionality to
get there, especially because the
195
:creator space is so saturated now.
196
:Everybody wants to be a creator.
197
:And if you're really feeling
called to it, go for it.
198
:And I think that if specifically,
you know, I can speak to Catholic
199
:content creation, um, it's.
200
:It's a balance, right, of
evangelization and sharing your life.
201
:Like the end goal is not
to glorify your life.
202
:The end goal is to glorify God.
203
:And so what are you doing to show
people, right, how they can live the
204
:faith in their everyday life and how
you can encourage and evangelize them
205
:in their lives by sharing your life.
206
:so if you're wanting to
do it in a more like.
207
:Faith centered context, that would
be some advice to really take that
208
:to prayer and ask the Lord like,
what is it that you want me to share?
209
:What is the message that you
want me to share on my socials?
210
:And am I doing it for you
or am I doing it for myself?
211
:Because if you're doing it for
yourself, then God's not calling
212
:you to do it, and it's gonna be
really hard and not super worth it.
213
:I'll tell you that.
214
:Um.
215
:I never started what I am doing now
because I wanted to be an influencer.
216
:Honestly, like I never thought that
that, that was like never my intention.
217
:It was literally like I loved my faith so
much and was so inspired by other young
218
:women in real life that taught me how
to be a Christ-centered woman and how
219
:to be a good Catholic that I was like.
220
:Other people need to be walked
with in this way that don't have
221
:people like this in real life.
222
:Right?
223
:So that was like the deeper motivation
that the Lord put on my heart.
224
:And then it just kind of
like turned into what it was.
225
:Um, so hopefully all that is is helpful.
226
:Let's see.
227
:Have you ever found yourself wrestling
with some of the church teachings?
228
:Honestly, no.
229
:I don't think there's been
a church teaching that I've
230
:really sat with and wrestled.
231
:Um, I'll be honest though, too, like.
232
:A lot of people engage with
the faith, either from the
233
:heart or from the head more.
234
:I totally did that backwards.
235
:If you're watching the video, um, from
your heart or from your head more, and
236
:I'm so much more of a heart person.
237
:I'm so much more of a charismatic person.
238
:Um, an approach to my
faith than intellectual.
239
:Not that I don't care about it
or think it matters, but it's
240
:just not where I don't have.
241
:Dove in, in, is that how you say it?
242
:Where I've dived in.
243
:Um, and so maybe if I like
really dove into teachings, I'd
244
:maybe wrestle with them more.
245
:But like, as I have learned more
about my faith, there really hasn't
246
:been moments where I've been like,
Hmm, I really struggle with that.
247
:Like, let me wrestle with it and do more
research because like, I don't agree.
248
:You know what I mean?
249
:If I had to pick one right.
250
:The two things that bother me sometimes.
251
:One is how I think the church doesn't
have a technical stance on it.
252
:You guys okay?
253
:But, or maybe it does, but I've heard
conflicting things from different priests.
254
:Um, you know how like the church
says, like, dogs don't go to heaven.
255
:Yeah, I have a hard time with that one.
256
:Like, God gave you your cute little
dog to be your companion on earth.
257
:Why wouldn't he want that cute little
guy to be in heaven with y'all?
258
:And it's his creation.
259
:You know what I mean?
260
:So I don't know.
261
:I'm kind of iffy on
that, I'll tell you that.
262
:And then the other thing that kind of
bothers me sometimes is how like you're
263
:not married to your spouse in heaven.
264
:I do believe that there is,
and I think this is all like
265
:literally church teaching.
266
:Like there's like a special connection
you have with that person in heaven,
267
:um, but you're not like married to them
in the same way that you are on Earth.
268
:And I love my whole husband so much
that I'm like, what do you mean?
269
:I'm not gonna be married to him in heaven.
270
:I wanna be married to him in heaven.
271
:But I also know you're married
to Jesus and God in heaven.
272
:And so then it's like.
273
:Okay.
274
:Your soul doesn't really long
for anything else because it
275
:reaches complete fulfillment when
it's in full communion with God.
276
:So you know that those are just like
my human little worries that are
277
:so minuscule and they don't really
bother me in, in my faith journey.
278
:So, all right.
279
:Let's see.
280
:What are some other questions
we have going on here?
281
:You mentioned you listened
to the rosary on your phone.
282
:Can you post the site app
link that you use the.
283
:Most common way I listen to the Rosary
audio version instead of just praying
284
:it myself is through the Hallow app.
285
:And I'll link it in the show
notes, but with my link, you can
286
:get three months of the Hallow app
for free so you can check it out.
287
:I love listening to the Daily Rosary
and I put Jonathan Rumi's voice on
288
:'cause it's so calming and soothing.
289
:But they have a bunch of different
types of rosaries on there too,
290
:spoken by different people.
291
:Um, so.
292
:Yeah, go check it out.
293
:I mean, it's awesome, and if you're
having a hard time praying the
294
:rosary in your life, this is a great
way to just kickstart the habit.
295
:There's no shame in it.
296
:I know a lot of people that don't feel
like they're actually praying it if
297
:they're playing it on their phone.
298
:And that's not true.
299
:Okay?
300
:What is better?
301
:No prayer at all.
302
:Or playing it on your phone
and praying along with it.
303
:So I do that often as I'm
getting ready to go to bed.
304
:If I didn't pray a rosary at other
time in the day and I really wanna
305
:get it in that day, um, I'll start
playing it while I brush my teeth
306
:and do my skincare and get in bed.
307
:And it's such a peaceful way to
wind down from the day and just
308
:give the Lord um, my prayer.
309
:To close out the day.
310
:So that would be my
recommendation question here.
311
:Thoughts on NFP?
312
:My thoughts on natural family
planning is that I agree with it.
313
:All right.
314
:That is the teaching of our church.
315
:Um, and that is what we have always done.
316
:For anybody wondering Natural
family planning is the teaching
317
:of the church on how to.
318
:Work with God's creation of your
fertility to plan for children
319
:and space them accordingly.
320
:So it is your responsibility as a
husband, wife, and potential parents
321
:to discern when your family is ready
to grow and welcome children into it.
322
:And when you have your first child
to discern when to open that again
323
:for a second child and a third.
324
:Et cetera.
325
:Um, natural family planning states
that, um, avoiding children should
326
:happen based off of really grave
reasons, and the church doesn't
327
:specify what those grave reasons are.
328
:In its wisdom because the church
doesn't personally know the situation
329
:of every family, so I'm not going to
sit here and tell every newly married
330
:couple that they should be having kids
right away because I don't know the
331
:situation of every newly married couple.
332
:I will say.
333
:If you are preparing for marriage, if
you're wanting to be engaged or are
334
:engaged and you are fearful of having
children and you are completely closed
335
:off to the idea of having children
in your first year of marriage 'cause
336
:you think it's too soon, then you
might not be ready for marriage.
337
:Because marriage comes with an openness
to children, um, and an openness to life.
338
:And so.
339
:You have to discern that in your heart
if you're like, okay, maybe I wouldn't
340
:feel quote unquote ready because
who's ready ever to be a parent?
341
:But if God brought us children, we
would happily, um, you know, accept them
342
:and welcome 'em and, and raise them.
343
:Right?
344
:Like that is a totally like, to be
fearful of like becoming a parent.
345
:Like that's totally normal, right?
346
:But to be closed off, that is
where I would say like, you need
347
:more guidance and discernment.
348
:You need to talk to spiritual director
and other Catholic couples to kind of walk
349
:with you in that, to kind of figure out
like why is it that you feel that way?
350
:And if that's the case, am I really
ready to take the next step in marriage?
351
:Because under the guidance of natural
family and planning, it states that
352
:contraception in marriage is not allowed.
353
:So every act of intercourse
has to finish with.
354
:The man literally inside the
woman finishing in the woman.
355
:Sorry to get graphic here, but that's
just the reality and that is the truth
356
:of what natural family planning states,
and there cannot be anything that blocks
357
:the conception of life or fertility.
358
:So, um, no condoms, no IUDs, no birth
control pill, all of these are forms
359
:that, that are blocks to the miracle
of life that God creates in you.
360
:Um, and you coming together.
361
:Marriage.
362
:If you are blocking that somehow
you are not actually receiving
363
:your spouse fully for who they are.
364
:You're saying, I want part of
you, but I don't want all of you
365
:because I don't want your fertility.
366
:Um, and that.
367
:Is not the fullness of love you guys
like, that's like not what true love
368
:in marriage was actually created to be.
369
:You're not experiencing the
fullness of love in marriage,
370
:um, if that's what you're living.
371
:So I encourage you to look into it
more if this is new news to you.
372
:Um, I was chatting with
a girlfriend group.
373
:We're all Catholic married wives and
um, it came up recently in a friend
374
:group that they have that like.
375
:Like the pullout method really works
and everybody was like, hold up.
376
:That's actually not okay, and not
in line with Catholic teaching.
377
:So just if y'all needed to know
that, that also doesn't fly because
378
:your end result there is not.
379
:Right.
380
:Like what we talked about.
381
:So.
382
:So those are, that's a
little crash course on NFP.
383
:I'll tell you, NFP is incredible.
384
:We did the Creighton method for
a long time, um, when we were
385
:first avoiding in marriage.
386
:And Trey charted everything.
387
:I told him what I was seeing
that day and he charted it all.
388
:So he knew exactly what part of
my cycle I was at, and it brought
389
:us together in a whole new way.
390
:And I think it's really important
for men and husbands to get really
391
:comfortable with your body as a woman
and your fertility and understanding.
392
:What all happens and what to expect.
393
:Um, and then that way too, the woman
isn't the only one who's like, it, it,
394
:it doesn't, it makes you feel like you're
not the one like gatekeeping, right?
395
:Because if you're not trying to
have kids, you're supposed to
396
:avoid intercourse when you're.
397
:Ovulating.
398
:When you're in your most fertile,
that's when you can get pregnant.
399
:People think that you can get pregnant
a hundred percent of the time.
400
:You literally can only get pregnant during
like a week window basically of the month.
401
:And there are like days before and after
that that could be like likely, but
402
:you know, they'll teach you all that
in your NFP course if you're taking it.
403
:Um, so anyways, that way as a woman,
you're not like gatekeeping sex
404
:and you're making these decisions
together as a couple depending on what
405
:your goal is right now in marriage.
406
:It's really, really beautiful.
407
:It strengthens your marriage, it
brings you together as a couple.
408
:Um, and yeah, those
are my thoughts on NFP.
409
:I probably should record an
episode on this because Wow.
410
:I just got like really deep
into the weeds of that.
411
:I hadn't talked about that in a
really long time, really long time.
412
:Um, so thank you for asking.
413
:I hope that was helpful.
414
:Okay.
415
:Let's see.
416
:Oh my gosh.
417
:So cute.
418
:Someone says, not a question,
just wanna share how many people
419
:compliment the nativity sweater.
420
:That makes me really happy.
421
:I'm obsessed with it, so I'm
glad you're obsessed with it too.
422
:Um.
423
:If you weren't doing West
Coast Catholic right now, what
424
:do you think you'd be doing?
425
:What a great question I, I've probably
said this before, I didn't plan
426
:to be doing West Coast Catholic.
427
:I didn't plan to be a content creator.
428
:That's not what I thought,
what my life would look like.
429
:So if all those things hadn't
happened in college and set me
430
:on this path, I probably would be
431
:working at a marketing agency.
432
:I'm also, I've also been super
entrepreneurial my whole life, so
433
:I could also see myself owning a
marketing agency or a branding agency.
434
:I could have seen myself going back to
school to get a graphic design degree.
435
:So I had more of like the
hard skills with softwares and
436
:stuff, um, to do graphic design.
437
:I love marketing, but I'm
obsessed with branding.
438
:So I, I could see myself, yeah, either
probably right after college, working
439
:in some sort of marketing firm for a
while, or a branding firm, um, and then
440
:maybe going off and starting my own,
but we'll never know, I guess, right?
441
:Because, 'cause we do have WCC,
so, but that's a fun question.
442
:Ooh, this one is so good.
443
:How to deal with parents that disapprove
of young marriage in your early twenties.
444
:That's really tough.
445
:Um, and I experienced that to an
extent when we got engaged because
446
:I was senior in college, my.
447
:I was about to say my boyfriend, LOL
Trey, Trey was a junior in college
448
:and both of our parents actually got
married young, which is hilarious.
449
:Trey's parents, right outta
college, my parents got married.
450
:Let's see when they were, yeah, I
literally think 23 and 25 and my
451
:mom was still finishing up college.
452
:Um, but my parents had a very
different situation, um, which
453
:is why I think it made them.
454
:So fearful.
455
:So our situation was, we felt
very strongly that we were
456
:being called to marriage.
457
:We were very prayerful in our decision.
458
:It was not a rash decision.
459
:We discerned it and spoke with several
spiritual directors and friends, um,
460
:who maybe had just gotten engaged or
who went through a young engagement
461
:and were getting married and talked
about like, what should we be preparing
462
:for and all this stuff, right?
463
:So we knew that we were called to marriage
and, and we were ready to pursue that.
464
:And when I brought it up to my parents,
'cause my parents were the ones
465
:that were a little bit more kind of.
466
:Apprehensive about it being so young.
467
:They were not apprehensive about
Trey, but it was like, why are, why
468
:are you in a rush to get married?
469
:Like, just wait.
470
:You know?
471
:But that to them, or like their fear
came from their own life experience.
472
:They got pregnant, um, with
me unexpectedly in college.
473
:They were boyfriend girlfriend,
they weren't married.
474
:It was.
475
:Auto plan, pregnancy.
476
:My mom was, I think 19 when she was
pregnant, and I think she was 20 by
477
:the time she gave birth, and my dad
was 22 or 21 or something like that.
478
:So.
479
:Super young parents and their whole
life started kind of backwards, right?
480
:Like they started with the kid and then
had to get their life together, then got
481
:married and then moved to the states and
like really started living their life.
482
:Whereas we were coming from
a very different place and we
483
:wanted to do things the right way.
484
:We wanted to get married
before we lived together.
485
:Um, we were waiting until
marriage to have sex.
486
:Wanted to start our life right after
college because we wanted to start
487
:building that future for our family
and that foundation early on because
488
:we knew we were called to marriage.
489
:And so we were really confident
and really set on what our plan
490
:was and what this call was.
491
:And my parents were kind of fearful.
492
:They were just like, you have no money,
you're not prepared, you're too young.
493
:Um, you guys need to mature more.
494
:You need to at least be out
of school, blah, blah, blah.
495
:And it's gonna be hard.
496
:And like, why don't you guys
just spend some time like.
497
:You know, getting established
as an adult in the real world
498
:before you get married and, and I
mean, bless their hearts, right?
499
:I respect them and, and I.
500
:We had a lot of conversations.
501
:We had a lot of conversations.
502
:Y'all and I have Hispanic
family and, and parents.
503
:Okay.
504
:So they're not super
easygoing, very opinionated.
505
:And so they were emotional
conversations and they weren't easy.
506
:Lots of tears.
507
:Um, and it was hard because I felt
like I kind of had to fight for that
508
:a little bit at the beginning to
be like, no, look, this is really.
509
:Something God's calling us to do
and we are ready and we don't want
510
:to start our adult lives separately
only to then start over again.
511
:When we're together.
512
:We wanna build that foundation of
adulthood together and the things that you
513
:have to tackle as an adult are literally
going to be easier if you do it together.
514
:They're very worried about finances
because they had literally had
515
:nothing when they started and when
they moved to the US they had like
516
:$400 cash in their pocket, right?
517
:So that's also a big concern of theirs.
518
:And I was like, look like
we have real jobs lined up.
519
:We're gonna be making money for
a year, almost a year, like eight
520
:months before we actually get married.
521
:Um, you know, we're starting
to save here are our plans.
522
:Like, it was mostly about just
like laying out the plans to
523
:kind of calm all the fears.
524
:'cause their fears wasn't like.
525
:Oh my gosh, it's gonna end in divorce
because you got married young.
526
:That was not their fear.
527
:It was mostly like out of a place of like
woundedness themselves and the background
528
:they came from where they just wanted
right us to have the best life possible
529
:and the most successful life possible
and the least amount of resistance.
530
:And because they experienced a lot
of resistance with young marriage,
531
:they wanted to save us from that.
532
:But I had to constantly remind them
like, my situation is not your situation.
533
:I don't have a child before marriage.
534
:We.
535
:We're starting from the
beginning, you know what I mean?
536
:Um, we're not moving to a
new country either, and like
537
:completely starting a new life.
538
:Like it's, it was very different.
539
:And so I had to really just kind
of break down what our plans were.
540
:I think parents really wanna know that,
like, you've actually thought about
541
:it, that you're not just like, ah,
yeah, we wanna get married 'cause we're
542
:in love and we wanna live together.
543
:You know what I mean?
544
:, And, and it shouldn't be like emotion led.
545
:Right?
546
:And they shouldn't.
547
:They're worried that that's probably it.
548
:And so you need to show them your maturity
and your plan for what this life is
549
:gonna look like once you get married
and address all of their concerns.
550
:Have conversations where you
sit down and you really listen.
551
:Like what are your concerns?
552
:I just wanna know so I can
open my eyes to see maybe.
553
:Things that I'm not seeing, um,
that you all, that you are seeing
554
:because you are older and wiser.
555
:Right?
556
:And you're my parent.
557
:So listen to them.
558
:Take those and find the
answers to all them.
559
:Create the plans for all them, and then
bring 'em back and be like, look, thank
560
:you so much for the perspective on that.
561
:Like we didn't.
562
:We didn't know that.
563
:We didn't think about that.
564
:Here's our plan.
565
:Or maybe you have thought about these
things and you're like, oh yeah,
566
:no need to be concerned about that.
567
:Here's our plan for this.
568
:Here's our plan for finances.
569
:Here's where we're gonna live.
570
:This is what our jobs are like lined
up, and this is our plan for, um,
571
:you know, family and, and what the
future's gonna look like and where
572
:we're gonna live and all that stuff.
573
:So hopefully that was helpful.
574
:I'll just say navigating it like.
575
:It can be really, really hard.
576
:And I remember in that season
always telling myself like,
577
:it shouldn't be this way.
578
:Your engagement period should
be so joyful and celebratory,
579
:because that's what I grew up with
seeing in all the rom-com movies.
580
:I'm such a romantic and I just have
watched every rom-com movie out there.
581
:And.
582
:What I came to realize is two things.
583
:One, yes, it should be right.
584
:Like you deserve that.
585
:You deserve to be celebrated and supported
by the people around you, um, in this time
586
:as you prepare for engagement or marriage.
587
:Um, but the reality is
that like life is life.
588
:Life is messy, and engagement
is just another part of life.
589
:And.
590
:It's never gonna be picture perfect.
591
:Your engagement's not
gonna be picture perfect.
592
:Um, your marriage is not
gonna be picture perfect.
593
:Your wedding is not gonna
go exactly as it seems.
594
:Your wedding planning is not
gonna be picture perfect.
595
:So.
596
:The sooner I realized that and was
like, this is just a part of life.
597
:There's not really a picture of
like how things should be because
598
:everybody's life is different and
everybody's situation is different.
599
:Um, but I had a few friends that
were really supportive and other.
600
:Adults that were really supportive
because they had gone through it and
601
:they were confident in our decision.
602
:And that really helped me to kind of
keep going and trust in our decision.
603
:And eventually my parents did come around.
604
:They did come around and they were
supportive and they were excited for us.
605
:Um, and I mean, as the
wedding came closer, I, they
606
:were just, they were all in.
607
:We were all, all in.
608
:So, um.
609
:Oh, another thing in that whole process
was our parents, both on both sides,
610
:really wanted us to push the date back
more because we were getting married in
611
:the middle of COVID, and um, logistics
were just super difficult to actually
612
:plan for what was gonna happen by the day.
613
:The wedding came around 'cause stuff was
changing all the time, but we felt really
614
:confident in the date that we picked.
615
:So you need to discern that too, right?
616
:You need to discern like between you
and your, your future spouse and God.
617
:Like what is it that you are being called
to and when do you want to get married?
618
:What does that timeline look like?
619
:Um, and try and really stay,
stay grounded in that because.
620
:Marriage is just you guys, you know,
it's not your parents anymore and
621
:it's not their opinion anymore.
622
:You can always respect your parents
and receive their opinion, but you
623
:don't have to do what they say anymore.
624
:So, um.
625
:We felt really, really strong about the
date that we had picked and we didn't
626
:want a longer engagement than we already
had, and so we never moved to the date.
627
:And we said if there's one person
at the wedding or a hundred people
628
:at the wedding, we're getting
th,:
629
:And that's what happened.
630
:And it was beautiful and we
were able to have everybody that
631
:we wanted to at the wedding.
632
:Okay.
633
:There are also.
634
:There's also an episode
from a long time ago.
635
:That's like everything I recommend
to you in a season of engagement.
636
:So if you are engaged and you're
listening, go listen to that.
637
:.
Okay.
638
:Wow.
639
:We're really on like a
relationships train here.
640
:So this question says how to
explain chastity to a Catholic you
641
:are dating who doesn't understand
or necessarily agree with it.
642
:The biggest thing that was important
for me, I heard, I believe it was Jason
643
:Everett who said it in a talk once, maybe
644
:I heard him say that sex is the
physical vows that you make on.
645
:The altar on your wedding day verbally.
646
:Does that make sense?
647
:So the verbal vows you say on your
wedding day are renewed and are
648
:professed to each other every time
you come together in marriage.
649
:Therefore, when you are having
sex outside of marriage, you are.
650
:Physically and spiritually.
651
:'cause there is like a sacramental
component to sex within marriage.
652
:Right.
653
:And the purpose of sex, because it's
made for the confines of marriage.
654
:there is a emotional.
655
:And physical and spiritual component
of making those vows to the person
656
:that you are being intimate with.
657
:And if that's not your spouse, you are
making those promises to that person.
658
:And it is extremely difficult
to be detached from that
659
:person once you're doing that.
660
:And I wanted to look at my spouse on the
day of my wedding night and say like.
661
:I have only promised these to you, like on
my wedding day, I'm going to verbally say
662
:these vows to you for the rest of my life.
663
:And every time we come together
in marriage, I'm renewing
664
:these vows to you and only you.
665
:Now, this doesn't mean that if you've
already had sex outside of marriage,
666
:that you can't renew this commitment
and renew those vows, and it doesn't
667
:mean that that is not like as beautiful.
668
:It absolutely is.
669
:So I really encourage you
if that's, if that's you.
670
:To, to do that and to not feel
like this doesn't apply to you
671
:because it absolutely does.
672
:Now the other thing is like, there's,
there's many levels of, you know,
673
:physical intimacy that you get
through before you end up having sex.
674
:And so chastity applies to
from the very beginning, right?
675
:It doesn't just mean don't have sex.
676
:I think that's a misconception
I had for a long time.
677
:Misconception a lot of Catholics have
for a long time that chastity just
678
:means don't have sex until you're
marriage and everything else is fine.
679
:And that's not true.
680
:So, anything beyond kissing
is saved for marriage.
681
:That is true fact.
682
:And all of that is technically
for preparation of sex, right?
683
:Foreplay, like that's all
part of the sexual act.
684
:And to think that doing
that is not leading you to.
685
:Sin is to be naive because it's
really hard to do that and then
686
:have the willpower to stop.
687
:And so therefore, it's considered a near
occasion of sin where you are putting
688
:yourself in a situation where you are
very likely to fall into mortal sin.
689
:Um, so if that's something that you're
experiencing at all, go to confession.
690
:If you didn't know now, you know,
um, and I will say my advice to this
691
:person that's asking this question.
692
:The person that you date needs to
be on the same page and needs to
693
:be on board with chastity just as
much as you are for it to work.
694
:They can't be doing it for you
and they can't be doing it.
695
:Because of you.
696
:Right?
697
:They can't just be like, okay, I'm
gonna respect and agree to this
698
:because it's important to you.
699
:They actually have to
believe it themselves.
700
:And I know this 'cause I experienced
this time and time again with different
701
:relationships I had where I was the one
who cared about chastity and they didn't.
702
:And anytime that you slip up or you get
weak is like their opportunity to be like,
703
:okay, I'm gonna like, this is my chance.
704
:Right?
705
:That's not true Love.
706
:And our job is to get
our spouse to heaven.
707
:Not like we're saving them, right?
708
:Because that's Jesus.
709
:But like we are tasked with
helping our spouse get to heaven.
710
:And so.
711
:I wanted to protect Trey even in
our relationship because I don't
712
:know if he was gonna be my husband.
713
:I mean, I was pretty sure he was
gonna be my husband, but you never
714
:know until you're on the altar.
715
:And I don't want to lead him to
sin or lead him to anything that's
716
:going to be a block between him and
the Lord and him and his sanctity.
717
:And.
718
:If the other person you're, if the person
you're dating is not on board with that,
719
:they are, they don't have that mentality
and it's going to be really hard.
720
:So for me it was kind of a
non-negotiable to date, someone
721
:that was on the same page as me.
722
:And it made all the difference.
723
:It made all the difference.
724
:And it is literally the only
reason Trey and I were able to
725
:wait until we were married because
we were both on the same page.
726
:Okay.
727
:This question says, I'm an OCIA.
728
:How do I choose godparents for my
children if we don't know other Catholics?
729
:And should I choose a saint
name for confirmation?
730
:How to begin my search?
731
:Wow, how beautiful.
732
:Were Well, congratulations that you're
in this journey of becoming Catholic.
733
:That is so exciting and so beautiful, and.
734
:Wow, it's gonna be amazing.
735
:Um, how to choose godparents when
you don't know other Catholics.
736
:That is a tough one.
737
:I mean, I, I will say I can't
speak from experience, but I have
738
:been a godparent to several of my
friends' children and I believe.
739
:I know this because I had to
fill out a form recently, I
740
:believe, and I might be wrong.
741
:So fact, check me, please ask your priest.
742
:Um, I think you actually can also
pick, if you don't have any Catholic
743
:people in your life, I think you
might be able to pick really faithful
744
:Christians, um, to be godparents.
745
:So I would ask in case that's.
746
:Not true.
747
:Um, but then my other piece of
advice would be to get really plugged
748
:into your community at church.
749
:And if you have kids, plug them
into the kids programs, any sort
750
:of catechism that they have.
751
:Um.
752
:Get to know the parents in
the same like sacramental prep
753
:classes if they have those.
754
:And maybe ask people that work at the
parish or that are very well connected
755
:at the parish, like is there another
family you can connect us with?
756
:Like, we wanna learn, we wanna
get to know other families in the
757
:parish and maybe make it a point
to get to know other families in
758
:the parish for the next few months.
759
:And then from there.
760
:Hopefully somebody would, you know, be
fit to be a godparent for your children.
761
:Um, that's kind of all I
can think of right now.
762
:And then for confirmation Saint,
I would say start researching, um,
763
:start looking up, you know, top
most popular saints or most beloved
764
:saints, or if you have a particular.
765
:Interest or particular part of your story
that you want a connection to a saint?
766
:Look that up.
767
:So for example.
768
:If you've been listening to this
episode, you now know I was kind of
769
:an accident and I will have to do a
whole nother podcast episode one day.
770
:But my mom, um, my mom was not
sure if she was gonna keep me.
771
:She was being advised to consider
abortion by people in her life, and
772
:it was truly through a miracle that
she chose life and that I'm here and
773
:that my parents are still together
and that they're my family and.
774
:That the Lord literally saved my life.
775
:So I looked up when I was 16
and went through confirmation.
776
:I looked up on Google Saints for.
777
:Um, aborted Babies Saints, four
unborn children, saints four, um,
778
:children conceived out of wedlock.
779
:Like, I just wanted to find something
that like related to me in some way.
780
:And I found Saint Gianna and I had
never heard of Saint Gianna before.
781
:And she is the patron
saint of unborn children.
782
:And to me that was.
783
:Really, really beautiful.
784
:She was a very pro-life saint.
785
:Um, she literally gave her life
for her children in the end.
786
:She connected with me a lot and so I
chose her to be my confirmation saint.
787
:So sometimes it's like a part of your
story that you can kind of look up and
788
:ask Google or chat GPT at this point.
789
:Um, you can always use chat GPT and kind
of ask it a little bit about your story
790
:and say, do any saints relate to this?
791
:Is there a patron saint for X, Y, Z?
792
:Right?
793
:Um, and maybe that'll.
794
:Something will pop up that relates to your
story and just kind of fits perfectly.
795
:And people always say that like
the saint ends up choosing you.
796
:So just kind of have an open
heart and when you feel it
797
:right in your heart, go for it.
798
:Oh, this same person also
asked, what do you consider when
799
:choosing godparents or sponsors?
800
:You want to choose someone who
is truly practicing their faith.
801
:I'm gonna say it.
802
:There's a lot of Catholics out there who
consider themselves Catholic and aren't
803
:actually really practicing their faith
or don't know their faith really well.
804
:And the responsibility of a
godparent is to, to help the parent
805
:in forming that child spiritually.
806
:And to be that example for that
child of what it looks like
807
:to live a truly Catholic life.
808
:So.
809
:Choosing godparents or sponsors
choose people that genuinely have a
810
:relationship with God genuinely, are
in line with the teachings of the
811
:church and understand the teachings
of the church and are living their
812
:faith out, um, in their everyday life.
813
:Okay.
814
:There's a question here
about budgeting tips.
815
:I'll just kind of share with you our
approach to budgeting and finances.
816
:'cause it's really worked
for us the past few years.
817
:We, um.
818
:You can check up on it constantly,
but usually in November and December
819
:we have a big spreadsheet that's
called Wagner Family Finances, and
820
:we look at what is our income going
to look like in the coming year, and.
821
:What if that is fixed?
822
:What of that is variable?
823
:Right.
824
:So as business owners, we have a fixed
income from our business, but as a content
825
:creator, your income from that is, is
very variable because you have different
826
:affiliate programs, nothing is set.
827
:It's just really up in the air.
828
:So you can't really count on that always.
829
:So we decide.
830
:We kind of determine what is our
fixed income, what is variable income?
831
:And we don't usually include variable
income in our plan because you
832
:can't really plan on that, right?
833
:So we choose our fixed income and then
we look at our fixed expenses, right?
834
:What is it that we pay on
our mortgage every month?
835
:Do you have a car payment?
836
:Do you have subscriptions that like are
necessary or a gym membership or what do
837
:you normally spend on food every month?
838
:Gas, like all those things.
839
:Insurance.
840
:Like stuff that is always going to
need to be paid every single month.
841
:So then we put that next and then
we see what's, um, what's left over.
842
:And then from there, we choose
what amount we want to go into
843
:savings every single month.
844
:So we might have a goal by the end of the
year that we wanna get to for our savings
845
:account, and then we see what is left
after those necessary expenses are paid.
846
:Do we have room every month to
put X amount away every month
847
:so that we can reach that goal?
848
:Um, how much would we need to put
away every single month for the
849
:next 12 months to reach that goal?
850
:Can we afford to do that?
851
:If yes, then great.
852
:Then we take that amount of
savings out and or that amount.
853
:And put it into savings, and then
you have whatever is left over.
854
:And for us, savings is like
savings slash investing.
855
:'cause some of it goes into our
savings account, some of it goes
856
:into different investing accounts.
857
:So we kind of split it up that way.
858
:You can choose to then do the
investing portion after the savings
859
:or altogether like we do or whatever.
860
:And then basically what's left over
afterwards is just kind of like.
861
:Free, your free choice to do whatever you
feel is important next with that money.
862
:So we have something called buckets, or
we just call them buckets, um, where we
863
:have multiple bank accounts, all these
different buckets, and basically it helps
864
:us work towards different things that
we feel are important in our life and
865
:that our goals we wanna work towards.
866
:So if we have a specific, um, like.
867
:Home project or big expense that's coming
up that we wanna save for, or big project
868
:we wanna do, um, we put that into one
bucket and a certain amount of money goes
869
:in there every single month, as well as
all of the like, extra income we didn't
870
:expect goes in there every single month.
871
:Um, and that starts building up
month to month to get towards
872
:that goal of that big project.
873
:Or maybe it's a home reno or maybe
you're wanna buy a car or buy a house.
874
:Write big expenses like
that, big projects.
875
:, And then we have little buckets
that every month accumulate.
876
:We put a certain amount in them every
single month they accumulate to.
877
:Get to bigger numbers, right?
878
:So we have like a travel bucket that
we put a couple, um, a hundred dollars
879
:a month into every single month.
880
:And so then like if we wanna take a
trip, we look at our travel bucket and
881
:we're like, sweet, we can buy flights.
882
:This is how much money we have for travel.
883
:Um, we have one for.
884
:Uh, necessary, like
miscellaneous shopping.
885
:If like winter's coming around and
Trey doesn't have a parka, like, oh
886
:gosh, we gotta get him a nice jacket.
887
:Like we go into there because we
budgeted for like, oh, if you need
888
:extra clothes or something like that.
889
:Um, and so it, it's kind of meticulous.
890
:It kind of like is really broken down.
891
:We have a bucket for our dog and
so we put a certain amount of money
892
:into that bucket every single month.
893
:So if he needs to go to the
vet, there's money in there.
894
:And it doesn't, like, it doesn't
hurt our family finances 'cause we.
895
:Prepared for that in advance.
896
:Um, so I hope that's helpful.
897
:And then we also have fun money,
um, buckets, so we get a certain
898
:amount of fun money into each
of our buckets every month.
899
:And that's money that you
get to do whatever you want
900
:with, um, which is great.
901
:So.
902
:Hopefully that was helpful.
903
:That is how we do budgeting.
904
:Um, question here, where to shop
for warm modest masks, clothes.
905
:For those of us in bitter cold of
winter, I get a lot of questions of
906
:like, where to shop for modest clothing.
907
:And I'll just say I don't have like
a modest brand that I shop from.
908
:I just.
909
:Look for modest clothes in the brands
that I like and I just avoid the
910
:clothes that I feel is a modest.
911
:So I shop at all your mainstream stuff,
you know, Abercrombie, Madewell, Zara.
912
:Where else do I shop?
913
:Oh my gosh.
914
:Little boutiques.
915
:Local or online?
916
:Um, new Flora is one that I like recently.
917
:I'll link that in the show notes
'cause I have a code there.
918
:Um.
919
:Auria is pretty cute, but it's tad
expensive, so I haven't really doven
920
:into that, but it looks real cute.
921
:Um, what else?
922
:Why am I blinking?
923
:I don't know where I shop anymore.
924
:I mean, literally like 80% of my
closet is Abercrombie because their
925
:petite sizes are so perfect for me.
926
:So it just works.
927
:But all in all, I don't have
like a specific place I go to
928
:because they sell modest clothes.
929
:Um, I.
930
:Think honestly, a lot of people
are like, wow, you can't shop
931
:for anything modest these days.
932
:I don't think that's true.
933
:Um, I think you just gotta like
actually look for the stuff that's
934
:modest and then, and then buy that.
935
:And I, I don't really ever have a
problem shopping for stuff that's
936
:modest, so that's my recommendation.
937
:How do you manage conflict in marriage?
938
:This is a great question.
939
:I'll give a synopsis, but if you
wanna dive deep into this, I'll
940
:link it in the show notes too.
941
:I have a workshop that I did with
a licensed marriage and family
942
:therapist, literally walking
people through how to improve their
943
:communication and work through conflict.
944
:It was a phenomenal workshop.
945
:Um, I'm trying to remember how many people
signed up for like a hundred or so, and.
946
:Now we sell the recording of
the live version that we did,
947
:so it's not live anymore.
948
:It's the recording that happened,
but it's still so, so, so helpful.
949
:Take all the notes, I'll link
it in the show notes so you
950
:can access it if you want.
951
:Biggest thing is communication
is what's going to help you work
952
:through conflict in marriage.
953
:Having the right communication tools.
954
:There are just gonna be times when
you're, when you're not gonna agree
955
:on stuff or when someone's gonna hurt.
956
:The other person, and you need to work
through that, and the way you communicate
957
:is going to dictate by far is going to be
the biggest dictator of how the conflict
958
:gets resolved and how you approach
conflict when you have poor communication
959
:with each other when you're either not
a good listener or you're cutting each
960
:other off, or you're raising your voice or
you're mocking each other or making fun of
961
:each other or dismissing the other person.
962
:Or belittling the other person, that's
when the conflicts are going to grow
963
:and the other person is not going to
be open to hearing what you have to
964
:say because you are not approaching
them with understanding and respect.
965
:Right?
966
:So you're not gonna get anywhere.
967
:So the biggest tool that's helped us,
two big tools that have helped us.
968
:One is a.
969
:I don't remember what it's called.
970
:They taught us this in a marriage retreat.
971
:I know there's a name for this tool
and we literally, we talk about it in
972
:the workshop is where you basically.
973
:Spend time listening to your spouse
without saying anything and providing any
974
:feedback without interrupting nothing.
975
:You're actively listening and
you're taking note in your head
976
:of what they're saying and trying
to understand their point of view.
977
:And then once they're done talking,
you get an opportunity to repeat
978
:back to them what you heard.
979
:And you get to say, if I understood
correctly, this is how you
980
:feel and why, and this is the
problem that you're perceiving.
981
:And.
982
:Then you ask, is that correct?
983
:Is there anything else?
984
:Is there something I got wrong?
985
:Is there anything you wanna correct?
986
:Then your spouse has an opportunity
to refine anything that was said
987
:that wasn't true or to say, or
to give any correction, right?
988
:Because I think a lot of times in
arguments, your spouse is saying something
989
:and you just choose to take it a different
way, and so then you repeat it back and
990
:your spouse is like, I didn't say that.
991
:And so now you're not actually
arguing about the actual problem and
992
:you're just going around in circles.
993
:Trying to correct what
the other person said.
994
:So this is really helpful to
clearly know what is it that we're
995
:actually trying to work through.
996
:Um, they have an opportunity to correct
you and if it's right and they say
997
:that, yeah, that's exactly how I feel.
998
:mari-wagner_2_12-12-2025_113224: And
then after they're done, you get a
999
:chance to talk and do the exact same
thing and share your point of view.
:
00:49:17,342 --> 00:49:19,352
Now it's their turn to actively listen.
:
00:49:19,592 --> 00:49:21,357
And after you've said your piece.
:
00:49:21,887 --> 00:49:26,057
They repeat back to you what they heard,
and you get a chance to affirm that that's
:
00:49:26,057 --> 00:49:29,417
how you feel or make any corrections
if you feel they didn't understand
:
00:49:29,597 --> 00:49:31,067
what you're really trying to say.
:
00:49:31,067 --> 00:49:35,207
And then basically you go back and
forth with that, strategy until both
:
00:49:35,207 --> 00:49:37,787
parties feel like they're understood and.
:
00:49:38,477 --> 00:49:41,927
The other part of conflict
that is really important.
:
00:49:41,927 --> 00:49:45,797
The second piece of advice I have
is to always remind each other that
:
00:49:45,797 --> 00:49:47,657
you are on the same team, right?
:
00:49:47,867 --> 00:49:51,797
Because most of the time it's you
two against each other, and what you
:
00:49:51,797 --> 00:49:53,127
wanna remind each other is that it.
:
00:49:53,762 --> 00:49:55,712
Both of you against the argument.
:
00:49:56,072 --> 00:49:58,352
And you don't want to be arguing.
:
00:49:58,352 --> 00:50:00,272
You don't want to be
fighting with each other.
:
00:50:00,272 --> 00:50:01,902
You don't want to be hurting each other.
:
00:50:01,902 --> 00:50:05,352
And so in fact, you wanna be working
together to overcome the obstacle
:
00:50:05,352 --> 00:50:08,262
in front of you guys and remind each
other always that you're a team.
:
00:50:08,262 --> 00:50:12,162
And so this strategy helps you feel like
a team because you're working through
:
00:50:12,162 --> 00:50:17,202
things together in a strategy that you're
both, um, implementing and agree to.
:
00:50:17,622 --> 00:50:20,922
And then something Trey and I do
that I've talked about before.
:
00:50:21,897 --> 00:50:26,457
Is, we'll literally pause and say
like, okay, I just wanna remind
:
00:50:26,457 --> 00:50:27,837
you like we're on the same team.
:
00:50:27,867 --> 00:50:28,857
Like, I'm on your team.
:
00:50:28,917 --> 00:50:33,417
I don't wanna be arguing, I wanna come
up with a solution, or I, you know,
:
00:50:33,417 --> 00:50:36,417
wanna amend and I'm on your team.
:
00:50:36,867 --> 00:50:38,637
And that is very disarming.
:
00:50:38,937 --> 00:50:43,587
And allows you guys to both remember
that it's you two together against the
:
00:50:43,587 --> 00:50:45,297
argument, not you two against each other.
:
00:50:45,897 --> 00:50:46,587
Um, yeah.
:
00:50:46,587 --> 00:50:48,387
So I hope that that was,
that was really helpful.
:
00:50:48,387 --> 00:50:51,777
And if you wanna learn more about
different communication methods,
:
00:50:51,777 --> 00:50:55,257
different ways to deal with conflict
and connect with your spouse, make sure
:
00:50:55,257 --> 00:50:58,797
you go check out the marriage workshop
and we'll link that in the show notes.
:
00:50:59,127 --> 00:51:00,207
Um, okay.
:
00:51:00,207 --> 00:51:01,737
One last question.
:
00:51:01,737 --> 00:51:04,407
'cause we are pretty much at an hour here.
:
00:51:04,687 --> 00:51:07,837
Last question will be, what
is your favorite Bible verse?
:
00:51:07,957 --> 00:51:10,747
And for me, it's Matthew 6 33.
:
00:51:10,957 --> 00:51:13,387
Seek first the kingdom and
his righteousness, and all
:
00:51:13,387 --> 00:51:14,287
things will be given to you.
:
00:51:14,287 --> 00:51:18,157
Besides, this has been my favorite
Bible verse, I think since high school.
:
00:51:18,157 --> 00:51:22,537
I don't really know how I came
across it or where I first heard it.
:
00:51:24,352 --> 00:51:25,042
I heard it.
:
00:51:25,192 --> 00:51:29,842
Yeah, I think many years ago, and it has
always, always stuck with me essentially,
:
00:51:29,842 --> 00:51:33,712
because the message of it is to keep
your eyes on heaven and your purpose
:
00:51:34,012 --> 00:51:37,342
set on heaven and to live for heaven,
and everything else will work out.
:
00:51:37,522 --> 00:51:41,962
Like if we order our whole lives
around that goal of getting to heaven.
:
00:51:42,397 --> 00:51:44,947
The Lord will make sure everything
else is taken care of in our
:
00:51:44,947 --> 00:51:46,357
lives and we don't have to worry.
:
00:51:46,717 --> 00:51:50,197
Um, so it's always been very
encouraging and consoling for my heart.
:
00:51:50,767 --> 00:51:52,357
Um, I hope this was fun.
:
00:51:52,357 --> 00:51:56,047
I had a lot of fun answering your
questions and we won't be doing
:
00:51:56,047 --> 00:51:57,667
ever be answers, like I said.
:
00:51:57,667 --> 00:52:02,197
But for the after party, we'll be a really
fun little Christmas tour of our house.
:
00:52:02,197 --> 00:52:05,257
So if you wanna check that out, make
sure you sign up for the Kingdom
:
00:52:05,257 --> 00:52:08,707
Club, we'll drop that link below, and
that's all I've got for you today.
:
00:52:08,737 --> 00:52:09,757
Happy admit you guys.