Episode Summary

In this soul-stirring conversation, Laura Nicholson shares her remarkable journey of finding value beyond relationship status. As Director of Second2None School Support, worship leader, and soon-to-be adoptive mum, Laura opens up about navigating church hurt, embracing singleness, and discovering her unchanging worth in God. Contrary to what many church cultures imply, Laura demonstrates how a single life can be filled with purpose, community, and impact—proving that our value isn't determined by our status but by who we are in Christ.

About Our Guest

Laura Nicholson is the founder and director of Second to Non School Support, providing clerking services to over 150 schools across the northwest UK and beyond. Beyond her professional achievements, Laura is an accomplished worship leader and musician in her local church. She has experience as a foster carer and is currently in the process of becoming an adoptive parent. Laura's journey through performance Christianity to authentic faith offers wisdom for anyone struggling to find their place in church or society.

Key Takeaways

1. Your value transcends status - "Knowing your value in God is crucial because that's the thing that will never change. Your feelings will come and go, but your value, where you put your trust, is crucial."
2. Community heals - "Pray to God that he brings the right people to you at the right time. He doesn't want you on your own."
3. Church culture needs balance - Laura challenges the family-centric nature of many churches: "It's not about what you don't have. It's looking at all the amazing things that are going well."
4. Singleness has unique benefits - "My forties have been some of my best years so far. I'm the most steady and secure I've ever been."
5. Faith empowers purpose - Laura's journey into fostering and adoption demonstrates how faith can empower significant life decisions regardless of relationship status.

Join the Conversation

Have you struggled with finding your value beyond relationship status or navigating church as a single person? We'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

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• Instagram: @crowdchurch

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What's The Story? is a podcast aimed at people who are curious about faith but don't see the point in church, sharing real stories of God moving in the lives of everyday people.

So welcome everyone to today's episode

of What's The Story Podcast.

Today I'm joined by a good friend of mine, Laura Nicholson,

who is director of Second2None School Support, which is

a company that she set up and continues to run, which

provides clerking services to over 150 schools across

the northwest and beyond.

Uh, she's also a key musician, a worship leader in her

local church, and a dog mum to Max, who is her noisy.

Slightly cheeky Labrador.

Hi Laura.

It's great to have you on the show today.

Welcome.

Great.

Thank you for having me.

Um, so I guess we're talking

about your story today.

So I guess it's important that we start at the

beginning, so, mm-hmm.

I wondered if you could tell us a little bit about your early

life, you know, how you grew up.

I know you grew up in a Christian family.

Mm-hmm.

Um, but at what point did you know, tell us a

little bit about how that early life looked, and also at what

point in your journey did like your faith and your relationship

with God become real to you?

Yeah.

Um, yeah, so I did, I grew up in a Christian family, my mom

and dad and my younger brother.

Um, we lived in, uh, quite a remote village in Lancashire,

um, for a few years.

Um, and, uh.

It was a sort of place where your cats would come and

bring all the, the voles and the local wildlife in

as little presents for you.

Um, um, and we, yeah, we were, uh, are still a happy family.

Um, we, uh, went to the local school, local church school,

um, and the local church, um, had a quite a happy childhood.

Mm-hmm.

Um, I think in terms of what.

Uh, in terms of Christianity, what, what, uh, really turned

for me, um, in terms of making that real, um, was, uh, my,

my auntie, my auntie Jean, had a very impactful, um,

kind of influence on me, uh, when I was about 11, 10 or 11.

And she took me along with her to a meeting that she was

speaking at at the time, and it was about the Holy Spirit and.

I think I was 11 actually.

Um, thinking back, um, and.

There was something in me that even to this day, I

can't explain exactly why, but I was really drawn.

I really wanted to go with her to this meeting and, um, find

out what it was all about.

And so of course she was very happy to take me with her.

Um, it was mostly all adults and then me, the

11-year-old, um, and, uh.

She spoke about the Holy Spirit and who the Holy Spirit was, is.

And uh, at the end I had this overwhelming sense that, um, I

wanted to meet the Holy Spirit.

Uh, which again, you might be thinking, gosh, for 11,

you know, that's, um, not what probably a lot of 11

year olds are thinking about.

But anyway, um, I just remember feeling such

a sense of peace and.

Love and like I really wanted to get to know Holy Spirit,

so somebody prayed with me and I was, um, filled with Holy

Spirit, um, which I know is kind of a Christian term that we use.

Mm-hmm.

Um, but essentially, um, you know, I, I met the Holy Spirit,

um, and uh, things changed for me a lot after that.

It was like, I. Saw things differently.

Um, something happened happened in my heart where I

just wanted to live for God.

So although when I, I think again, I think I was about

five when I like prayed the prayer with my dad, um, about

becoming a Christian and giving my heart to Jesus in terms

of it actually becoming real.

It was when I was 11 that.

Um, that really, it really meant something to me.

Mm-hmm.

Um, and uh, things to do with music really opened up.

So, um, I started to be able to play by ear.

After that I would hear music and be able to, I. Played a

piece of music almost instantly.

Wow.

Afterwards.

And um, so I got very involved with the worship

team at church as a kid.

Um, and loved it.

It was what I lived for.

It was like I could not get enough of Jesus and

that whole, um, thing of playing in a band and mm-hmm

Um, it was just great.

It was really good.

And then we moved down south, uh, and dad changed jobs and.

We went to a church, which, um, I will, I will be forever

grateful to the, to that church.

Mm-hmm.

Because they really championed kids and young people getting

involved in, in worship and just the general life of the church.

It was a, a safe place.

It was a healthy place.

And, um, I was given many opportunities to, uh, play

the keyboard with various people and ministers who were

traveling around the country in various, quite well known

large, uh, conferences.

Um.

Really, it was very gracious of them to involve me because

my skillset wasn't particularly brilliant, but they just saw,

they just saw the, the potential and probably the hunger as well.

And, um, just wanted God to use me.

Um, and, uh, so, um, so yeah, so in terms of those formative

years, um, and, and getting to know God, um, I think it

just, like, I look back now and I'm just so grateful

for the church that that.

You know, invested so much in me and other, other young

people, um, because it just, it stays with you, doesn't it?

You look back when you were in your forties

and, um, it's precious.

Um, it's, it, they're good, good memories.

Oh, that's amazing.

And like, just incredible that you had that experience so

young and I was so positive.

I think you're right.

Those kind of experiences you have.

As a kid and a teenager growing up in church mm-hmm.

Will often make, of course, you know, make or break

your faith as an adult.

Won't they really shape your future?

And Yeah.

Um, and I just think it's amazing that that gifting

was there from so young and that you were doing that.

Even as a kid.

Mm-hmm.

Um, just, just amazing really.

Um, so obviously those were your earlier years and then,

um, kind of skipping on a bit into like early adulthood, um,

kind of, obviously life has ups and downs, doesn't it like.

That's true for everyone.

It's, you know, life is no different for us as

Christians, as ups and downs.

Absolutely.

I wonder, 'cause we always talk on what's the story

about kind of what some of the big challenges that

people have had to face and overcome more in their lives.

So I wonder if there's anything that particularly jumps out

to you in terms of like a big challenge or a difficult

time of life that you've had to kind of get through.

You know, what was that and kind of.

Yeah.

What helped?

Yeah.

Um, so a great sort of initial experience with, with

church life as a, as a kid.

Um.

It was not like that in my twenties, um, and maybe

some of my early thirties, which is a long time.

Um, I'm 43 and, uh, you again, looking back, um, I'm

very, I'm grateful for the.

The bad things because it's God has just has done so much

to restore and redeem and, um, heal, um, things that

have gone wrong, um, in life.

Um, but I think I'd gone into my, my early twenties

without realizing, um, really who I was in, in Jesus.

And I think.

Without, again, without realizing, uh, became a

performance Christian.

Um, I knew what to say.

I knew the right things to say.

Um, I knew how to look the part and, uh, I think what

got neglected was my soul.

Um, and, um.

I ended up in a, in a church, um, which had some pretty

unhealthy doctrine really.

Um, and I have to say, you know, all of this is now, it's

all, it's in the past, it's resolved, but at the time,

um, it's, I, I became very, I would say, quite vulnerable.

Um, and it.

That period of time, along with other bits and bobs that were

quite hard, like at university and, uh, and things, um, it

resulted in con some confusion and eventually I wandered away.

So I'd gone from this like really active, uh, in church

life, Christian to someone that felt very isolated.

Mm-hmm.

Um, was really struggling in life and, um, I,

I think, you know.

We all have to take responsibility for the

decisions we make as adults.

Sure.

Um, but I do feel like.

It was a perfect storm and had, you know, church life

maybe been a little bit more steady, um, then maybe things

wouldn't have gone the, the way that they did in the end.

I don't know.

Um, but it definitely resulted in, in a wilderness phase, um,

which was very, it was hard, I'm not gonna lie, you know,

it was, um, quite a, a soul destroying period of time.

Um, and yet, and yet, and yet.

Although my life did was not particularly holy, um, I still

knew deep down that God loved me and I never felt, um, rejected.

I didn't feel like this is the end of my life now.

I've completely botched things up, and that is it.

I always had this sense that God was with me in it

all, which sounds a bit.

Like a contradiction.

'cause a lot of people think, well God, you know, you do,

you behave in a certain way.

God doesn't want you, and you have to earn your

way back to his favor and his love and his grace.

And it's like, could not be the mo the, the opposite of mm-hmm.

Of the experience that I've had.

Um, and, um, sort of running in parallel with.

My not very well lived life in my twenties.

Um, I did start my business, which God has most

definitely had his hand on.

Mm-hmm.

Um, and brought the right people at the right time, um, in ways

I could not have, I couldn't have made happen myself.

It is totally his grace.

Um, and.

I think as well, like having good friends and family,

or even though I wanted to pull away from anything

really connected to church.

'cause I, I'd lost all faith in church and mm-hmm.

Trust in church and the whole thing.

Um, I, I definitely, you know what, what's that phrase people

say like, show me your friends.

I'll show you your future.

And I was very blessed with some good friends that were.

You know, we, we all have a very strong friendship and

um, you know, it wasn't based on behavior, um, thankfully,

um, and no judgment.

And that has definitely helped in terms of the,

the sort of coming back

Yeah.

Um, to Jesus with a full heart and coming

back into church and, um.

Yeah, I dunno if that's, um, it's a bit of a long-winded

way of saying we saying things, but definitely, you know,

there has been issues with church and I think it's good

to be able to talk about it and not, you know, not, not

to kind of criticize things.

Because at the end of the day, people are, people,

we're all human and nobody's got it perfect.

No one's got everything.

Right.

But I do think it's healthy to talk about when

it goes wrong as well.

Definitely.

Um, because that's where healing can come.

Yeah.

And um, yeah,

I totally agree.

Laura and I, I, you know, I think, thank you.

You know, thank you for sharing that because I think often

it's very easy to just sweep those, you know, in churches,

you know, the tendency is sometimes to want sweep those

difficult experiences, you know?

Under the carpet a little bit where there's like,

you know, and we all know there's examples of bad

church leadership and good church leadership out there.

Mm-hmm.

That

there's healthy cultures in any

organization, the church included, and there's like

negative cultures, you know, there's, there's good and bad.

And I think you're right, like, um, it's so important

to talk about because that's how, mm-hmm.

The church gets better, but actually what I love, um, about

what you said about all of that was that although church

organizations at points were quite damaging and harmful to

you, certain organizations, not the whole church, um, at,

at the same time community and staying in community

with Christians mm-hmm.

You know, including your family and some faithful friends Yeah.

Was what brought you back to God.

Yeah.

And I, I love that because I think,

mm-hmm.

Actually, that's what church is

about, first and foremost.

Not big platforms, not big Sunday services.

You know, none of that stuff is wrong, but like actually

the church first is a community of believers, and I guess my

experience as well is that even when church is difficult,

staying connected with.

A handful of believers, you know, good Christian people

is so grounding and so needed and, and so healing.

So I love that that was part of your story.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

And I think I've definitely had periods of time where I.

Again, I dunno, maybe if this really resonates with anyone,

um, listening, but when, uh, the period of time where I did go

to big churches, um, you know, you'd, you'd come away feeling

really, you know, motivated and like, yeah, this is brilliant

and, you know, um, and then zero community, um, you know,

some days were great midweek, you wouldn't hear from anyone.

I would encourage anyone, you know, feeling lost, um,

maybe in a big church, um, that, you know, it doesn't

matter that, you know, you're not maybe involved in, in

the church service itself or, um, have a leadership

or a significant role.

Um.

But find those people that you can really connect with.

Um, I found that hard for a while 'cause I thought

big church loads of people.

Um, that's, that's not gonna be too difficult.

But I actually did find it hard.

It's very easy to go to big churches and be lost.

You can go.

No one notices you if you're there or if you're not.

So that's why it's so important if you know, to, to

really get connected in and.

And you know as well, like what I found practically is pray.

Pray to God that he brings the right people to you at

the right time because God's.

Will, for us, a desire is to be in connection with other

believers and, uh, people that are going to cheer you on.

He doesn't want you on your own, you know?

And, and I think, again, for me, after a while I was

kind of getting so used to thinking, you know, this

is too much hard work.

What is the point?

You know?

But at the point things started to change was

when I started to ask God.

Please just bring the right people into my world.

I'm done with counterfeits.

I'm done with people that are just gonna come and go, um, and

say all the right things and then you don't hear from them.

Um, and, and he has, he has been faithful in that.

Um, so just, yeah, stay, stay connected, get connected,

pray, um, that God brings the right people into your

life at the right time.

That's, that's really good advice, Laura.

Thank you.

Um, I also wanted to um, you know, talk a little bit

about that whole area of, um, navigating singleness

as you get older because we touched there, didn't we?

On how church can be a lonely space, particularly large

churches and how important community is and mm-hmm.

And I wondered, um, if we could also talk a little bit about

that kind of, 'cause churches can be very, some churches can

be very family centered, very marriage focused, can't they?

In.

And I'm not saying these things are wrong, they're

obviously not, but like mm-hmm.

I, I mean, I didn't get married till I was in my

thirties, so I knew what it's like to be kind of single

when a lot of your friends in church at least are married.

Um mm-hmm.

Like, I wondered how, how you've navigated that, how

you continue to navigate that.

'cause I'm sure there's other listeners who might

be in that space, and I just think it's another really

important area to talk about.

Yeah.

Um, absolutely never dreamed in a million years I would be

sat here, age 43 and single.

Um, just being totally honest.

Um, and yet my forties have been some of my best years so far.

Um, I think I'm the most steady and secure I've that I've

ever been, which I know isn't.

Exactly an answer to your question, but again,

it's that, you know, look at what is going well.

Be grateful for what.

You know, it's going on in your life and it's not all

about what you don't have.

It's looking at all the amazing things you, that

are going well and, and who you are, and knowing

who you are, whose you are.

Fundamentally, I know that I'm a child of God and that first

and foremost is, is my, uh, my foundation before status.

Um, and, um, I. Again, it's, this has whole been

a journey as well, that lovely Christian phrase.

I think for me now it is about that, it is knowing

that way your security lies and that your value is.

Not your, in, what your status is.

And if we're being completely honest, I think we both know

people that, you know, um, a really hard time in marriage,

so it's not always Absolutely, you know, perfect just because

you're married, no you don't.

And it's, it's about being married to the right person,

um, rather than just being married for married's sake.

And I've definitely been on that journey as well over

the years, you know, and not always been out with,

uh, dated the right guys.

And, you know, almost in an attempt to.

Be like, well, yeah, I'm with somebody and oh,

I've got that box ticked.

Thank goodness.

You know, um, I'll, I'll be accepted now.

Um, and I think, I mean, you, you are amazing, Anna.

You just, you treat me the way.

You, you treat anyone, you know, it's, it's not about

you treat someone according to your status, but some people

do and that is a bit sad.

I think it's almost that sense of you've failed or there's

something wrong with you if you are single at my age.

Um, and it's definitely, you know, something I've

had to work through.

I've had to work through frustration, had to work

through, um, probably, if I'm being honest, a little

bit of bitterness as well.

, yes, of course.

Mr. Wright.

I hope he appears one day.

Of course I do.

It's getting, having got to this stage now, I can see,

you know, it is, it being, being single actually has an

awful lot of benefits too.

Mm-hmm.

So it's sort of one is better than the other.

They're just different.

Um, definitely.

And, uh, life goes on and you can have an amazing life

being single person, um, and, uh, a very full life.

Um, so yeah.

Um.

No, it's not always easy.

There are certain times of year that you think, oh, it would

be nice just to, you know.

Taken out or you know, or whatever.

Valentine's Day this week, and we're recording this.

I was gonna say we're recording this, right?

That it's like, what Valentine's stay tomorrow.

So yes.

Just, just set as it happens.

That wasn't planned.

I know, but again, it's like

we've got a good group of girlfriends, haven't we?

And we we're, you know, we're going out over the

weekend and we'll get dressed up and, um, you know, and

have a good time anyway.

And, you know, it's, it's one day of the year.

Yeah.

You know, it's not,

it's not the end of the world.

Yeah.

And I think what you said is so right about like, one is

not better than the other.

Mm-hmm.

Like

often it is taught, like marriage is some pinnacle

in churches, and I've heard teaching like this before.

Mm-hmm.

And yet

Paul says, you know, it's better to stay

single if you can, that that's what his letter said.

Um, and I just think you don't, you know, that's not

right for everyone either.

But he's like, if you.

If you can manage to stay single and not just

burn with lust and really struggle, then stay single.

You can serve God more.

And, and I, I certainly found that experience when

I was single, that I had way more capacity than I do now.

Running around after a husband and child as well.

It's just different.

One is definitely not better and I than the other, and.

Pros and cons, you know, strengths and

weaknesses and everything.

I think, yeah, I've certainly found that to be true as well.

Yeah.

But I wondered if you had any sort of advice or just kind

of thoughts for what other people in church who perhaps

are in families or are couples could do to be more mindful of

single people and include them.

Well, because I know you.

You've had a fairly good experience and you have

some good friends that do that well for you in our

community, in our church.

But like I know that's not always been the case and I've

certainly had seasons where it's like, oh, well I don't wanna

invite you because you know, it's couples to this dinner,

you know,

and I don't wanna mess up the seating

plan or something, you know?

I mean, like the most ridiculous things, isn't it

looking now, but I just, if.

If there's like what other things practically that people

can do to love single people well and include them and, yeah.

Just treat them as a normal human

being.

Yeah.

Well, not some like alien species

that can't relate to, you know, oh well, okay.

If you've got a child, I couldn't possibly

understand that, you know?

Um, you've got all the commitments.

Oh, really?

Yeah.

You know, I think just, just treat them as a

normal human being.

Like you treat anyone else.

And you know, I think one of the worst things someone said to me

once, it was a good few years ago now, uh, was, oh, you need

to get together with someone so you can join our couples club.

And I said, does that mean I'm not included?

Then if I, if I'm not like with somebody?

I was just absolutely horrified.

I was

like,

wow.

And also does somebody, if somebody,

you know, if somebody gets divorced, they send un

Exactly.

And what about all the other status around, you know, it's,

it's, oh my goodness, and I, I can laugh about it now, but I,

I have definitely been three times where I'm like, ugh.

No thank you.

You can stay well over there.

Mm-hmm.

Um, you know, and, and even to day, sometimes people say

things 'cause they, they're not really thinking through and,

you know, can be a little bit, a little bit, um, insensitive.

Um.

Not that I, I hope people don't feel like they're

walking on eggshells around me.

But, um, you know, because I think, I think there

has to be understanding both ways, you know?

Um, but I think when you are older, it's definitely that

bit, you know, you do have to dig deep and, you know, just

have to think, you know what old people, there's a lot of people

in families with children, with responsibilities, and.

Brilliant.

I am cheering you on and I can, I will do what I can to support

your family, how, however that is, however that looks.

Um, but equally.

Don't treat single people like outsiders, like they're,

they're not worth as much.

Mm-hmm.

Um, or they've got like, you know, something wrong with

them because of their status.

I think it's that whole thing of, you know, and I,

and I, it is mostly a church thing in my experience.

I don't know.

Yeah.

You know, people may, experiences who, who are not

in church as well, but, um.

Yeah, I think it, it, it, it's, um, something that has come

out of, you could probably talk about this for ages, but years

and years of teaching and, you know, two are better than one.

And when one falls down, the other will, you

know, which I believe

was actually that verse was actually about

friendship, not marriage, although it's often quoted at

weddings, interestingly enough.

Laura Nicholson: You're totally right.

You're totally right.

And I've seen that work out in, you know, in, in, in practice.

And you know, as, as you know, I, I've, I'm so, so

grateful for the community that, that we're in.

'cause it is just gorgeous and I know I am biased, but

it is, um, you know, it's, it's a great, it's a real God.

Group and, um, very, very grateful for that.

But, you know, people aren't always in that

phase, and I wasn't in that phase for a while.

And it's lonely and I think it's just, yeah, for people.

Just, just don't be afraid just to just befriend people.

Just, just because of who they are, not because of

their status, you know?

Um, so yeah.

Love others if you'd want to be loved.

Um, yeah.

So, yeah.

And I also think Laura, all of that is really true.

And I also think though you are a really great example of

someone who, in my eyes, um, and I'm not saying it's never

hard for you, but like you are someone who's like, really

does embody that attitude of like, just live your life now.

Just live your best life, regardless of your

relationship status.

Mm-hmm.

And I just think you're a great example of this.

You know, you do all the things, you're super sociable, you have

lots of hobbies and activities, and get fully involved in church

and fully involved in work and, you know, all of the things.

And I, I think that is something that Bay Single, um, married

people can learn a lot from.

Um, and people in the middle as well who are in

relationships, but not married.

Yeah.

Um, I, I just kind of think it's, you know, you've got lots

of energy and I guess I'm a bit like this as well, but, you

know, you just throw yourself full hearted into everything you

do, and you're like, and I, and I love that kind of attitude.

Like, you know, very much like grateful for what you've got.

Seizes the moment.

And, and I think you're doing that in lots of

areas and um, yeah.

And that, that's really encouraging to see, and

actually one of those areas is like fostering and

family as well, isn't it?

Like, could you tell us a little bit more about that journey

that you've been on as well

with pleasure?

So, um, when I was approaching my late thirties, I'm thinking

to myself, you know, I've always had a heart for.

Kids that are on the edge of society.

I mean, that goes way, way, way back to gap year in,

you know, my late teens.

And, um, but also thinking, Hmm, not married, probably not

gonna have any birth children.

Um, and.

I would, I just really wanted to foster.

I just like, now is the time I have, you know, my, my

business is in a place where it was pretty stable and I could

free myself up to, um, invest time in some little people.

So, went through the process, became a foster carer.

I. Um, and had, uh, two wonderful little people live

with me for a few months.

Um, and it was, uh, it was hard.

It was amazing.

It was all, all the feels as I think any parent,

however, your parenting, um.

Go through.

Um, and, uh, yeah, they most definitely expanded my heart

and, and also showed me where I was up to as well.

I think, uh, kids have that way of like reflecting back

to you, like, yeah, they're definitely little mirrors.

Yeah.

Um, so yeah.

And then, um, sort of long story short, um.

I decided after that, uh, that placement came to an end

that, uh, I wanted to adopt.

And, uh, I am halfway through the process

of that at the moment.

Very excited, terrified, all again, all the feels.

Um, and, uh, you know, hopefully sometime in the

year, uh, that will, that will.

Uh, that little person will appear.

Um, and so I'm just praying for them now.

I'm, I'm, I'm, you know, just kind of preparing myself

for that permanent thing, that permanent placement.

Um, and uh, yeah, I'm sure there, there certain people,

it's certainly in our church who, uh, will be like, Woohoo,

someone else that's adopting.

We have, we we're in a church where lots of, uh, families

have adopted, which is.

Awesome.

And uh, yeah, so very much.

Looking forward to that.

And again, doing it as a solo person, a solo parent, um, will

have different challenges to it.

Um, but again, I think, you know, embracing the fact

that it's, it's something that God loves is that God

places a lonely family and you know, he is very much,

you know, you look after the widows and the orphans, and

this is like, as a Christian something I feel quite strongly.

About, um, and yes, you know, as a couple, I think you

can, you can share the load.

Of course you can, uh, but you can do it as a single person.

I know other single adopters as well.

And, um, I think if your heart is, is in it, you,

you know, you can do it.

So.

Yeah.

Yeah, absolutely.

Your mentor, all of that.

Mm-hmm.

And I think, yeah, you know, there's so many single parents

out there anyway, aren't there?

Like why?

Why not adopt if you are in your situation and

you've got a heart for

mm-hmm.

For children.

Mm-hmm.

And you want to do it and you've got the passion for it.

I just, I love that.

Again, you're just, you know, kind of.

Taking the opportunity and not kind of waiting and saying,

oh, I can't do it because I'm not married and I'm waiting.

I'm waiting for that first.

Like you're just kind of stepping out into God.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Absolutely.

Make the most of it all.

Yeah.

One life, you know?

And I know I appreciate, it's not for everyone.

I totally get that.

But it is such a gift, I think.

And I think, uh, you know, the, again, sort of spiritualizing,

the whole thing, you know.

We adopted, aren't we?

We're sons and daughters of God and it's a totally

spiritual thing to do.

And, you know, uh, uh, yeah, as I say, fully recognize

that it isn't for everyone.

I think if, if you have a passion for something and you

know you are in the right phase of life for it, go for it.

You know, you have, you have your health, you've got your

faculties, you've got, you know, the right, the right position.

You've, you've got to go for it.

Whatever it is, whatever it is, adoption, whether it's

something totally different, you know, um, yeah, yeah,

yeah.

That's, that's, um, that's such good advice, I think.

So sermon, I'm excited for you.

Um, I wondered then, just as we're kind of finishing

up, like if you've got kind of any last thoughts like.

If you were gonna leave us kind of with one piece of

wisdom or maybe one thing that you've learned in your

journey with God up to this point, like what would that be?

I know it's really hard to put you on the spot and say,

yeah, one

thing.

'cause I'm sure there's lots, but if there's one thing that

kind of jumps out right now out of this conversation,

what, what would that be?

Laura Nicholson: Oh, so many things.

I'm like, oh, what I choose.

I think knowing, knowing your value in God, because

that's the thing that will, will never change.

So your feelings will come and go, but your value, where

you put your trust, um, is I, I would say, crucial.

And for anyone that isn't a Christian, you know,

I would encourage you to explore faith, explore

relationship with God because.

It is the foundation for life when everything else

is, you know, your highs and your lows and your ups

and downs and all that.

You know, he's faithful.

God is faithful and, and out of that comes your

value because you know.

That you are loved by a God who is constant and is

faithful and is gracious and, um, yeah, I wouldn't, I

wouldn't have it any other way.

Um, so yeah, know your value.

That is awesome.

Um, yeah, know your value, I think, you

know, that will preach.

Let's, we could just leave it right there.

Can we.

Laura, thank you so much for joining us today and sharing

some of your story with us.

It's been so valuable.

I think we've covered so many important topics and

yeah, cheering you on.

Thanks so much for your time today.

Laura Nicholson: You are welcome.