Speaker:
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Hey, I am your host, Mari Wagner,
and you're listening to The Ever Be
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00:00:11
Podcast where Faith Meets Lifestyle.
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I'm so excited you're here.
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Whether you're a new listener
or a longtime follower, I know
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there's something here for you.
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Pull up a chair and listen in for
insightful, real life conversations and
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actionable steps on how to claim the.
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Full life God created you for.
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If you're a woman desiring to live
a Christ-centered life in today's
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modern world, then this is for you.
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Welcome to ever be.
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
Welcome back to Ever Be.
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Today, we have a dear friend of mine,
Caroline, Lenny, on the podcast.
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And it's really funny how we met.
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It was actually, I think somehow
we were introduced like in
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2018, I believe, through Trey.
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If I'm not mistaken, you
and him served together.
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Uh, summer missionaries at Hidden Lake.
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And I just remember like, you know,
we, we were doing long distance calling
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and dating and he was like, ah, I
feel like you'd be like such good
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friends with this girl Caroline here.
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She's so like, creative
like you and like artsy.
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And I was like, gosh, she sounds so fun.
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And then I think we briefly met
when I went to go visit him.
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Right.
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Did we get to meet in person that
time or was that somewhere else?
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
remember.
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Maybe it's a, it's a little blurry,
but I do remember Trey being
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like, you would like my girlfriend
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
Yeah, maybe we didn't get to meet
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in person that time, but I feel
like we met in person another time.
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Right.
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Like at a seek or something.
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
somewhere.
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
it must have been,
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624: to be.
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
it must have been.
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I feel like I've met you in person.
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I know, that'd be crazy if we hadn't.
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I like swear we have, but
maybe our pets haven't crossed.
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Maybe I need to fly out to Charleston.
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Um, anyways, she's also just like
a wonderful fellow creator that
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I look up to so much and enjoy
following her life on social media
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and her business and everything.
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So, so pumped to have
you on the podcast today.
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Do you wanna just share a little
bit about who you are, what you do?
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
Yes, I'm so excited to be here.
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Mari, you're just fabulous creative
agent for the church and more, and
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it's just so fun to watch you grow.
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but my name is Caroline Lenny.
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I live in Charleston, South Carolina.
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I moved here four years ago from Ohio.
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So originally a Midwest girl,
but I really love it down here.
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It's just such a creative city
and community and I'm just so
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inspired by this city in general.
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Um, I moved here four years ago
and I started a marketing agency.
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I started it in college, just
freelancing and just following.
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Creative doors that would open and just
like seeing where the Lord would take me.
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And it's grown since.
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And now we have a team of four full
time and we serve a lot of different
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lifestyle businesses in Charleston
and really all over the United States.
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So it's been such a wild ride.
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But I also love to share just about life
and how the Lord works and creativity
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and just enjoying your life online.
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So that's been a lot of fun too.
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
I love it.
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Yeah, you're such a fun follower.
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You bring so much like color
to my feed, which I love.
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
Yes, I love color for sure.
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Definitely colorful over here.
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
Okay, let's get into ever be moments.
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So this is a space for you to
share a small way or a big way
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that God's working in your life.
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Maybe a little God wink.
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Um, do you have an ever be moment
recently that you can share?
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624: Yes.
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This is actually a crazy story and I
kept telling everyone this last weekend.
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Last weekend I was in New York
City just for fun, and it's
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just like so invigorating.
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Creative and I just love it.
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Yeah.
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
in March I was in New York and I felt
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this little desire, and this is like
the Lord cares about your desires.
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Okay.
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So I felt
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Mm-hmm.
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
little desire of like, I
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wanna live in New York, like.
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I always had that like childhood
dream of like moving to New York
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City and doing the thing and working
for the fashion company, whatever.
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Um, but I just like, the Lord
hasn't brought me there yet.
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And I remembered in March,
I was like, wait a minute.
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I like really wanna move here.
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Still I'm single.
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Like I'm in my very free spirited
years, I guess you could say.
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So I was like, I think that was my chance.
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Yeah,
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
and so I kind of just mentioned
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it at brunch one morning.
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I was like, the Lord like
is gonna answer this prayer.
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I just boldly said like, I wanna
live here for three months.
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Like, I don't know how it's gonna happen,
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Uhhuh.
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
gonna happen.
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Like watch it happen as I
was kinda like joking around.
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And then after I posted a bunch of
Instagram stories, like I always
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do, and one of them was where we
were eating brunch, no location
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tag, just these random donuts.
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Okay.
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Just a picture of some random donuts.
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It could have been anywhere in
the world on my, on his plate.
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this girl responded and was like,
I live right above this restaurant.
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we were chatting and I was
like, well, if you ever have
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a sublease, like let me know.
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I wanna move here for three months.
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She was like, yeah, I do.
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You can have mine in the summer.
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said, I'm
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Stop.
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
York for a few months.
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But I keep telling that story 'cause
it's like, okay, I said in my like
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very naive, funny, like way like, okay,
Lord's gonna answer and like he did.
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So just, it just, I love that story.
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
That is such a testament
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to God, hears our prayers.
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God cares about all the little
details, the big dreams, the small
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dreams, and he made it happen
for you and that's so exciting.
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This is like totally giving
me like the holiday vibes.
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
I know that's kind of what I'm
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channeling, like we'll see.
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So it's just fun.
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
That is so much fun.
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I love that.
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My ever Be moment recently is with St.
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Theres, it's funny, I.
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I've like read St Theres, and I'll
say like, of course I like her,
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but I'm not like her fan club.
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You know, like so many Catholic
girlies are like number one fans of St.
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Theres and they're like besties
and like, that's incredible.
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But, um, my Bestie St.
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Faustina.
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624: Yep.
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
so, but st theres is like kind
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of like, yeah, she's been there.
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But I recently started reading,
I Believe in Love after years and
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years and years of Trey telling me
like, you need to read this book.
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You need to read this book.
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It's so amazing.
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And.
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Recently I read a line in the book that
just like has lingered with me and she
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talks and it's just a classic, um, St.
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Therese analogy that she has.
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She talks about how she just
wants to take the elevator.
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She's like, why would we do the work
to climb the stairway of perfection?
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When we could take the elevator and
have Jesus lift us up to heaven.
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And that just like related to my heart
so much because I'm like striving to do
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the Lord's will and like striving for
holiness and like striving for heaven.
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And she just like allowed
me to realize like.
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Of course our effort matters, but like we
don't get to heaven upon our own merits.
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Like we don't earn our way to
heaven because we worked so hard at
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climbing the stairway of perfection.
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The, the, the way we get to heaven
is like total abandonment to God and
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confidence and his love and mercy.
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And that will just lift us up.
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So anybody else out there who
needed to hear that, I hope
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that it, it resonates with you.
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'cause I know it's, it's been so good
for me to hear the last few days.
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624: Hmm.
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So beautiful and like, I just love that
image of just like abandonment, just
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: I,
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
the elevator.
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: mm-hmm.
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
Just get
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Totally.
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Totally.
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Okay.
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Let's dive into our, because one thing
I love that you talk about is liking
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your life, and that's half the reason
why I brought you on the podcast.
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'cause I think it's such a unique
philosophy that we need to hear
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and adopt, especially with.
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The crave of social media
and everyone sharing about
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the highlights in their life.
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It can be so easy to look around
and be like, everybody else's life
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is so much better than mine and I'm
nowhere where I wanna be, and my
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life isn't what I want it to be.
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Right.
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And the reality is, like on social media.
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We forget, we see the highlight
reel a lot of the time.
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And I love, yeah, your just whole
philosophy and motto to like your life
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wherever you're at in this moment.
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So can you share with us, like
how did that motto come to life?
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Uh, how did that moment like shift
your perspective on everyday living?
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
Definitely.
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So this happened like four-ish years ago.
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I started sharing a lot about an
invitation to like your life, and how
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it began was I just started sharing
one thing that I liked about my life
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every single day, and it stemmed from, I
remember the moment I was on an airplane.
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Which is like the best place
to pray and write, I think.
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And I was praying and I was asking
the Lord of like, okay, I was at a
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kind of a turning point in my like
journey, I guess I was moving to
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Charleston, like stuff was changing.
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There was a lot changing in my life.
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And I was like, okay, Lord,
what do you want me to do next?
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And I was like, what should I work on?
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Like what, what should we do next?
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Like, let me like try to create
something, strive, make something happen.
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Is kind of where I was
at entering this prayer.
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And the Lord kind of snapped me out
of it and was like, why don't you
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just learn how to like your life?
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Like I gave you this gift.
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How, what?
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You just tried to like it it,
language like freed me up.
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To enjoy my life, how it was, and
the more that I explored this theme,
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we really like, you just can't,
we think often that the ultimate
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goal is to like love your life.
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Like I am working to make all these
pieces fit so that one day I wake up and
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I love my life because that's kind of
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Yeah.
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
Advertised as the mission.
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Like one day you'll love your life
if you work hard enough and you do
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this and you do all this, right?
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But that's actually impossible because
we cannot love our life until heaven.
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We just can't.
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It's not perfect here.
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It's,
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Yeah.
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
a broken world.
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This is an impossible goal.
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And so realizing that, that it was
an impossible goal, no matter my
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effort, that I could not love my
life, but I could like it because
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that both and effect of the kingdom.
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Of like, it's really hard, but
it's still really beautiful.
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We'll never leave us until heaven.
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So thinking about, okay, I can just
like my life freed me up to enjoy and
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actually notice God My life, how it was
and to stop waiting for the perfect day.
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The perfect occasion, the perfect moment.
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Um, and it really has just helped me so
much to understand like I am on earth.
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So I can't love it all the time
'cause life is really hard.
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But I can try to like something every day.
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: I love
that that is so wise and joyful and.
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What just comes to mind is that's,
that's real living in the present
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and the Lord lives in the present.
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He doesn't live in the
past or in the future.
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And that is a tactic the evil one uses
against us to distract us from the way
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God is working in our life right now.
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To either be caught up in the past or
focused on what the future could be and
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always be wishing for something else.
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And I feel like, yeah, that like.
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624: Yeah.
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
Message the Lord Put on your heart
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of like, could you just like your
life, could you like the life that I'm
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blessing you with now and just meet
me here now in the everyday is such
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a joyful and just holy way of living.
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That's so beautiful.
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
So helpful.
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It's been so helpful to me and even
like just freed my heart up to enjoy
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without this like effort for perfection.
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And I also think, like I always
get this image of like a father
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giving a daughter a gift, like.
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We're supposed to enjoy it
and we're supposed to like it.
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And that can real feel really
hard when you hear someone
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say, like, enjoy your life.
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When there's really hard stuff
happening and hard stuff is
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happening, to every single person.
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when you hear that advice of like,
the Lord wants you to love your life,
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you're like, well, actually my life
is really hard right now and I'm going
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through this and this and this and this
and this, and I'm suffering with this,
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Mm-hmm.
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
everyone feels.
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that's just like, just feels icky.
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But to be like, okay, actually, can
you find one thing that you like
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Yeah.
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
of it can coexist, which I think
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is how life is right now on earth
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Yeah,
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
get to heaven.
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: totally.
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Yeah.
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I love the idea of like allowing, liking
your life, coexisting with suffering.
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How do you feel like liking your
life has helped you get through
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difficult moments in life, whether it
be seasons of waiting or suffering,
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or hardships or unforeseen moments.
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00:12:18
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
I think it's been the only
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thing that's got me through.
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:
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I mean, it's been the thing that's opened
my eyes to the Lord's grace in suffering.
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My mom passed away this past November
from stage four cancer, and so this
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:
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whole year has been such an exercise
in grief and even losing her was
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00:12:37
such an exercise in suffering.
289
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, And a real experience of suffering
and really like some days.
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All you can do is be like, I like
my coffee right now, and thank God.
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:
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And so we're gonna keep going like the
tiniest things, like, like the way the
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light is coming through this window.
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That's it, that's the only thing, but
at least there's something I think it
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just, it, it, it is just an invitation
to my heart in that suffering and
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in that depth and in that waiting,
in that pain that we all have and
296
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00:13:09
experience find the light without.
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Ignoring the dark.
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'cause it both, both things are real.
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Like I don't have to say
like, okay, now love it.
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That's really hard to like
lift yourself to that height.
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But little by little when we notice
the little things, we just like
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our, our souls and our minds can
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mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Mm-hmm.
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caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
of God.
305
:
00:13:32
So it's really been a tool that
is in like kindergarten language.
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:
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Like, okay, Caroline, what can you like
today that gets me through hardship.
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00:13:41
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
Yeah, I love that.
308
:
00:13:42
But sometimes we need the kind of
dumbed down version to be able to really
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grasp it and learn it and apply it.
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:
00:13:49
And that's easy for us to
remember and for us to grasp.
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And as you were talking, something
that just came to mind was like
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in the darkness, it's easier.
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Almost to like, recognize light
than it is in the broad daylight.
314
:
00:14:03
Right?
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:
00:14:04
And so these moments of suffering or
darkness or waiting that Jesus brings
316
:
00:14:07
into our life, like He, it's always
really hard to grasp our minds around
317
:
00:14:12
the fact that like the Lord allows
those moments of suffering, right?
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:
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But he also uses those moments
of suffering to draw us
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close to him and to show us.
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:
00:14:20
Like our dependence on him, our need
for him and the life and the love
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that he brings into our life, right?
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:
00:14:26
And so in those moments of darkness, like
trying to find that little glow, like the
323
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Lord is present in those times and, and
sometimes those are the times that allow
324
:
00:14:35
us to find that light more than when like
everything is like sunshine and rainbows.
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:
00:14:39
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624: Yeah,
326
:
00:14:41
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: One thing
that I love that you kind of tie into
327
:
00:14:44
this theme is the discipline of delight.
328
:
00:14:47
And to me that kind of just sounds
like, yeah, that's not easy.
329
:
00:14:50
Like you just mentioned.
330
:
00:14:51
Like it's not always easy to
find things that, that we like
331
:
00:14:54
or that we love about our life.
332
:
00:14:55
So can you just share more about
what does that mean, the discipline
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:
00:14:57
of delight, and how practicing
delight has changed your experience
334
:
00:15:02
of joy and hardship in your life.
335
:
00:15:04
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
Yeah, I think with delight we think
336
:
00:15:07
that it will hit us also, like with
Joy, that it will just like come out one
337
:
00:15:11
day that if we, again, like I mentioned
earlier, like arrange everything neatly
338
:
00:15:16
and work really hard and perfect it
and become holier or achieve this or
339
:
00:15:19
do this right, that it will then crop
up or it will appear as a result.
340
:
00:15:26
Of something else, but it's actually.
341
:
00:15:29
Delight is never an accident.
342
:
00:15:31
It's actually like a choice that you can
make right now without having to wait.
343
:
00:15:36
So just like you can like, I don't
know, drink enough water every day, like
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:
00:15:40
the, the discipline of a healthy habit.
345
:
00:15:42
You choose to do that you don't
like, do other stuff and wait until
346
:
00:15:46
water would appear or something.
347
:
00:15:47
Like,
348
:
00:15:48
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Yeah.
349
:
00:15:48
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
gonna be a fruit of another action.
350
:
00:15:50
It has to be the action itself.
351
:
00:15:51
Um, and realizing that like, we
can be serious about our joy.
352
:
00:15:57
Like we're actually invited
to be serious about our joy.
353
:
00:15:59
'cause it is a fruit of the spirit.
354
:
00:16:00
Like this is the fruit
of the Lord working.
355
:
00:16:04
Just me delight.
356
:
00:16:06
It really, it makes me happy to think
about, think about it like that, and also
357
:
00:16:10
realizing like, I don't have to wait.
358
:
00:16:12
I can just choose delight today.
359
:
00:16:14
And this is like a practice and a
discipline that I have agency in that
360
:
00:16:19
I can like choose is really helpful.
361
:
00:16:22
Like even like little things
like I'm gonna use the fun plates
362
:
00:16:25
when I make dinner or like I'm
gonna send my friend a note or
363
:
00:16:29
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Hmm.
364
:
00:16:29
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
I'm gonna.
365
:
00:16:30
Make something a little more beautiful
or I'm gonna choose to say like, wow,
366
:
00:16:34
look how beautiful the sunset is.
367
:
00:16:36
Like these things are choices
and things that we can grow in.
368
:
00:16:41
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Yeah,
this makes me think of two things.
369
:
00:16:43
One, it's just really the concept
of like allowing your life to be
370
:
00:16:46
romanticized without it having to
like be a movie, like you can choose.
371
:
00:16:50
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624: Yeah.
372
:
00:16:51
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: To
have dinner at Sunset if you want to,
373
:
00:16:53
you know, like you can choose to put
up the beautiful artwork in your home
374
:
00:16:58
that maybe you thought you'd wait to
do until you were married or something
375
:
00:17:01
like that, you know what I mean?
376
:
00:17:03
Um, and then it also
reminds me of just like
377
:
00:17:06
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624: Yes.
378
:
00:17:07
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
Conversations that Trey and I have
379
:
00:17:09
had in marriage and how, just like
as the years of the relationship.
380
:
00:17:14
Continues to grow and your years in
marriage increase, it can be easy to talk
381
:
00:17:17
about how like, oh, those like honeymoon
days were just like when you were dating.
382
:
00:17:21
Like those are over and done with
and then you have to learn how
383
:
00:17:23
to like really love each other.
384
:
00:17:25
And obviously there's some truth to that,
but at the same time, I always say like,
385
:
00:17:28
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624: Yes.
386
:
00:17:29
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
you can choose to feel giddy.
387
:
00:17:32
You can choose to be excited when
your husband tells you you look
388
:
00:17:36
beautiful, even though he says it
to you like multiple times a week.
389
:
00:17:40
Now, you know, it's not like a unique
thing or like you can choose to make the
390
:
00:17:44
date special by making it a surprise.
391
:
00:17:45
Or you can choose to like buy them a
coffee or something while you're out.
392
:
00:17:49
Like you can choose these little things.
393
:
00:17:51
That you would do when you were dating
that kind of romanticized that dating
394
:
00:17:54
period and continue to live that
in your marriage, even though it is
395
:
00:17:57
just like your everyday mundane life.
396
:
00:18:00
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
Yes, definitely.
397
:
00:18:01
I mean, that's such a beautiful example
and I think like, it's so beautiful too
398
:
00:18:06
because you're receiving the gift of your
marriage by participating in it, like, and
399
:
00:18:11
that like choosing to make it special or.
400
:
00:18:15
Delight and receive the gift.
401
:
00:18:17
There's, there's some vulnerability
in that and choosing and acting
402
:
00:18:21
and, and really delighting in
your marriage and like, I think
403
:
00:18:23
the same thing goes for our life.
404
:
00:18:26
Like you're allowed and
encouraged to do these things.
405
:
00:18:31
And I also think sometimes we
look at other people and are
406
:
00:18:33
like, oh, that's so extra.
407
:
00:18:35
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Mm-hmm.
408
:
00:18:36
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624: you
really romanticizing your life a lot.
409
:
00:18:39
But really, like, what if
I'm like receiving the gift?
410
:
00:18:42
Of my life that the father gave me.
411
:
00:18:44
And like, what if you're receiving
the gift of your marriage
412
:
00:18:46
that the father gave you?
413
:
00:18:47
Like, how beautiful.
414
:
00:18:49
Um, so I also wanna give permission
to anyone listening to just,
415
:
00:18:53
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Yes.
416
:
00:18:55
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
it's, it's beautiful.
417
:
00:18:56
It's an act of receiving love and
it, and it's really beautiful,
418
:
00:18:59
vulnerable, creative, thing.
419
:
00:19:02
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Totally.
420
:
00:19:03
I love that you brought up the word extra.
421
:
00:19:05
'cause I feel like it has such
a negative connotation nowadays.
422
:
00:19:08
Like, oh, that's so extra.
423
:
00:19:09
Like that's, that's too much.
424
:
00:19:11
But I'm like, I have learned to
just embrace extra, like yes, I
425
:
00:19:14
like doing things to the next level.
426
:
00:19:17
Yes, I like doing the extra
work to make it more fun or more
427
:
00:19:20
special or more beautiful or more
delicious or more creative and.
428
:
00:19:24
A friend of mine.
429
:
00:19:25
So I've been posting about
these like monthly themed dinner
430
:
00:19:27
parties that I've been doing.
431
:
00:19:28
And the whole purpose of these is to like
build better friendships community and
432
:
00:19:33
host an exciting dinner party to love on
our friends who don't have that right.
433
:
00:19:39
And my friend, um.
434
:
00:19:40
Megan, she commented on it and she was
like, whenever I try and do things at
435
:
00:19:44
my house, I think I'm being too extra.
436
:
00:19:46
And then I remember, I'm friends with
you, and then I'm like, okay, I can
437
:
00:19:48
be extra and this is a good thing.
438
:
00:19:50
And I was like, yes.
439
:
00:19:52
I love that People can take
that encouragement away from
440
:
00:19:56
Yeah, maybe what we're sharing
online and that encouragement of
441
:
00:19:59
like, you can do the big thing.
442
:
00:20:00
You can do the more creative thing.
443
:
00:20:02
I love the analogy you use of like,
don't save your stickers until
444
:
00:20:06
like that really special project
or journal, you know what I mean?
445
:
00:20:09
Today's the day and like
you can be extra and own it.
446
:
00:20:13
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
It's a beautiful practice, like you're
447
:
00:20:14
receiving the gift of your life.
448
:
00:20:16
Like, thank God, like
delight is a discipline.
449
:
00:20:19
That's actually a practice
450
:
00:20:21
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Totally.
451
:
00:20:21
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
worthy one.
452
:
00:20:22
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Yeah.
453
:
00:20:23
And one other thing I've seen you write
about that kind of ties into this, right,
454
:
00:20:27
is that the mundane can be miraculous.
455
:
00:20:30
And I think a lot of people.
456
:
00:20:31
Can hear this conversation and
be like, but you don't get it.
457
:
00:20:34
Like, my life is like so boring.
458
:
00:20:35
You know?
459
:
00:20:35
Or like, my life isn't
extravagant, maybe like your guys'.
460
:
00:20:39
Um, and I think a lot of people like on
different spectrums can relate to that.
461
:
00:20:44
Whether they're a nine to fiver or a
stay at home mom in, in any capacity.
462
:
00:20:49
We often fall into the lie that like our
life is just mundane or it's just boring.
463
:
00:20:53
So what would you say to
someone who feels that?
464
:
00:20:55
How do you help someone learn
to see their daily life?
465
:
00:20:59
Like the errands, the routines, the
quiet moments, just as more meaningful
466
:
00:21:03
and an opportunity for miracle instead
of something to just get through.
467
:
00:21:07
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
Yeah, I 100% understand.
468
:
00:21:10
I mean, been there too.
469
:
00:21:12
I am there.
470
:
00:21:13
That's why I've been practicing this.
471
:
00:21:15
But I think starting with two questions
would be helpful and it helps me
472
:
00:21:22
of just like when I'm approaching
like God, where can I see you?
473
:
00:21:29
Like, show me, or like,
where can I invite you?
474
:
00:21:33
Like how can I make the spirit involved?
475
:
00:21:37
I guess would be two questions.
476
:
00:21:39
But I think the precursor to delight
or making the mundane miraculous is.
477
:
00:21:49
An thing, it's a noticing thing.
478
:
00:21:52
So what I always think about of like,
Lord, like show me, like help me notice
479
:
00:21:57
you, because it's not that the miraculous
is somewhere else, or we're waiting for it
480
:
00:22:03
to come, or it's gonna come down, or it's.
481
:
00:22:05
Some bold of lightning.
482
:
00:22:06
Now it could, you never know.
483
:
00:22:07
Don't put lemon on a God.
484
:
00:22:08
However, more than more likely is it.
485
:
00:22:10
It's with us right now.
486
:
00:22:12
So I'm always just asking like,
help me notice it, and like
487
:
00:22:15
very strategically, because I'm
like, okay, what does that mean?
488
:
00:22:18
How does that look?
489
:
00:22:19
What I started doing like many, many years
ago, probably 10 years ago, was I have a
490
:
00:22:23
list in my notes app that's called like
Many Miracles and I will legitimately
491
:
00:22:30
write down like everything that I see
and that act of recording it and like
492
:
00:22:36
putting it in a spot just changes my mind.
493
:
00:22:39
It like renews my mind.
494
:
00:22:40
It renews my spirit.
495
:
00:22:41
It renews the mundane and
that's like what it takes.
496
:
00:22:44
Usually it's just like.
497
:
00:22:46
Writing it down in my notes
app, and then I feel better.
498
:
00:22:48
So of like, like to give you
a strategic tip, like that's
499
:
00:22:53
what I would really recommend.
500
:
00:22:55
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
I love that we are all about
501
:
00:22:56
the practical tips here.
502
:
00:22:57
We wanna know how to apply these concepts
in our life, so thank you for that.
503
:
00:23:01
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
Yeah, like, just open your notes.
504
:
00:23:04
I'll write down stuff like
the grass is looking green.
505
:
00:23:08
My tea was good.
506
:
00:23:10
My friends called me.
507
:
00:23:12
Um, I liked my shirt.
508
:
00:23:15
Like, stuff like that, like that.
509
:
00:23:17
These are miracles, like these are
beautiful things and it really just
510
:
00:23:19
trains your brain to notice God.
511
:
00:23:22
And that really helps because
life can feel very mundane.
512
:
00:23:26
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
I love that.
513
:
00:23:26
Yeah, it's like, it's kind of just
a new spin on like a gratitude list,
514
:
00:23:30
which there's like, I know been
like studies on and everything about
515
:
00:23:33
when we shift our mindset to view
things through the lens of gratitude.
516
:
00:23:37
We start feeling more joyful
and loving our life more.
517
:
00:23:40
And so, um, maybe if you feel like the
gratitude list is like over talked about
518
:
00:23:45
or overdone, you can talk about it like
your like, like list, like life list
519
:
00:23:50
and then just start making that list on
your phone or like before you go to bed.
520
:
00:23:55
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
definitely.
521
:
00:23:56
And thinking of it like a conversation
a little bit more like with the
522
:
00:23:59
Lord has been helpful to me of
like asking the question of like,
523
:
00:24:02
I'm looking for a miracle here.
524
:
00:24:04
Help me see it.
525
:
00:24:06
And it's more of a like answer and
response instead of a, a review
526
:
00:24:10
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Yeah.
527
:
00:24:11
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
can be a little bit more active,
528
:
00:24:13
I guess, with the Holy Spirit.
529
:
00:24:15
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
I love that.
530
:
00:24:16
Yeah.
531
:
00:24:16
Let's chat about what work
life looks like for you.
532
:
00:24:20
I am so impressed by your business and
the way that you've grown it and, you
533
:
00:24:25
know, I'm like marketing just like, um.
534
:
00:24:30
What was I gonna, I was gonna say
guru, but I meant to say just like
535
:
00:24:32
I'm obsessed with marketing and
branding and you do it so well.
536
:
00:24:36
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
are so good at it.
537
:
00:24:37
You're so good at it.
538
:
00:24:38
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
And so are you.
539
:
00:24:39
And so are you.
540
:
00:24:40
And I've just like seen
your business blow up.
541
:
00:24:41
And as a fellow entrepreneur, I know what
that's like behind the scenes and I know,
542
:
00:24:46
um, it can be a lot and it requires a lot.
543
:
00:24:49
And I think I saw you post once
just the recognition of accepting
544
:
00:24:54
like, woo, like we can't do it all.
545
:
00:24:56
And newsflash hustle
culture basically sucks.
546
:
00:25:00
Um, and I just can't tell you
how much I related to that.
547
:
00:25:03
And so I wanted to just ask you
like, how do you feel like your
548
:
00:25:06
unlearning hustle culture in your life?
549
:
00:25:09
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
It's a great question, huh?
550
:
00:25:11
I, it's been such a journey, like
years long and I'm still learning.
551
:
00:25:16
I'm still, I'm still really learning.
552
:
00:25:19
think tapping into.
553
:
00:25:21
What actually gives me life in my work.
554
:
00:25:24
So I talk a lot about creativity.
555
:
00:25:27
I love creativity.
556
:
00:25:28
We are creative because God is creative.
557
:
00:25:30
I think it's like one of the ways that
we can, like truly be like our father.
558
:
00:25:34
And like it's just so like we're
so, it's so beautiful that we
559
:
00:25:37
get to create like God created.
560
:
00:25:39
and so over the past few years
I've really been like working
561
:
00:25:43
to build this business and.
562
:
00:25:46
online.
563
:
00:25:47
And we've been hustling.
564
:
00:25:48
I've been hustling.
565
:
00:25:49
It's,
566
:
00:25:50
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Yeah.
567
:
00:25:50
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
And so it's always a question of
568
:
00:25:52
like, okay, what's the balance?
569
:
00:25:54
Where it's, it gets really blurry.
570
:
00:25:57
What?
571
:
00:25:57
What is, it just gets really blurry.
572
:
00:25:59
So I think how I've been
unlearning hustle culture.
573
:
00:26:03
Back to the strategic tips.
574
:
00:26:05
know that in a good day
for me, I need to pray.
575
:
00:26:11
I need to journal, need to exercise, and
I need to talk to someone that I love.
576
:
00:26:17
And so protecting those things
of like, am I doing these things?
577
:
00:26:21
And then bonus, like creating content.
578
:
00:26:23
'cause I just love creating content.
579
:
00:26:24
So like adding those in, protecting
those things strategically.
580
:
00:26:27
I'm like, okay, a little
bit more well ordered.
581
:
00:26:30
So thinking about it in that lens
has been really helpful of like, I, I
582
:
00:26:33
have to show up and do these things.
583
:
00:26:35
The other thing is we don't
really work on the weekends.
584
:
00:26:38
We try to protect our weekends.
585
:
00:26:39
That's another, like Sabbath is
important, another strategic , but I
586
:
00:26:43
also think it can get really confusing
when we talk about hustle culture of
587
:
00:26:47
like, am I hustling and is this bad?
588
:
00:26:49
And how do I tell.
589
:
00:26:51
And is it bad that I'm working and where's
the line that you just have to experiment?
590
:
00:26:56
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Mm-hmm.
591
:
00:26:57
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624: it's
a different for every single person too.
592
:
00:26:59
You actually have to just
like grow through it.
593
:
00:27:03
There's no like subscription, I don't
think where I could, where either of us
594
:
00:27:07
could say, at least in my experience,
to be like, if you're doing this and
595
:
00:27:10
this and this, then you're hustling.
596
:
00:27:11
And if you're not doing
this, you're not hustling.
597
:
00:27:13
It's different for every single person.
598
:
00:27:15
And I think there's, it just comes
back to like the beauty of the
599
:
00:27:18
church and the wisdom of the church
and the rightly ordered life.
600
:
00:27:22
If there's a time and place for
really hard work and it's really
601
:
00:27:26
beautiful to work really hard and
we have to just surrender it to the
602
:
00:27:30
Lord, like we just can't be perfect.
603
:
00:27:32
So.
604
:
00:27:34
That's a long-winded answer of
saying like, I think it's the both
605
:
00:27:36
and, and I think that you just have
to work through it, unfortunately.
606
:
00:27:40
Like the Lord will guide you and you'll
learn, you'll make mistakes and you'll
607
:
00:27:44
learn and you'll get better at it.
608
:
00:27:45
And I think I'm in the
process of doing that.
609
:
00:27:47
But how have you handled it, Mari?
610
:
00:27:49
I'm curious.
611
:
00:27:51
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
Yeah, I mean, I relate to a lot of
612
:
00:27:52
what you're saying and anybody who
is an entrepreneur, I mean, I don't
613
:
00:27:56
know how many entrepreneurs we have
listening, but you know, those first
614
:
00:28:00
few years it's kind of inevitable.
615
:
00:28:01
Like you have to grind, you have
to, you have to hustle 'cause
616
:
00:28:04
you're not getting paid a nine
to five like yearly salary job.
617
:
00:28:07
And so you.
618
:
00:28:08
You grind to make it work.
619
:
00:28:10
Right?
620
:
00:28:10
So that is part of entrepreneurship.
621
:
00:28:12
Um, I relate a lot to what you were
saying about like the different pillars
622
:
00:28:16
in your life that you need to protect.
623
:
00:28:18
Um, and I notice I am hustling too much
or allowing work to be a, in a priority
624
:
00:28:26
that it's not actually meant to be when
those other things aren't happening.
625
:
00:28:31
And so, like when I realized that
I like have gone through my day.
626
:
00:28:34
Like maybe sitting at my
kitchen counter since breakfast.
627
:
00:28:37
'cause I never remembered to get up from
there because I just started working as
628
:
00:28:40
soon as breakfast was served on the table.
629
:
00:28:43
Then I'm like, oh yeah, see, I like
didn't order my, my day well today.
630
:
00:28:47
And I didn't take care of like all these
other needs like spiritual and physical
631
:
00:28:50
and eating food at a normal time.
632
:
00:28:53
and allowing like God to shed
light on what's necessary and
633
:
00:28:59
what's not in every season.
634
:
00:29:01
And that has been.
635
:
00:29:03
That has been a learning process
for me because I'm a yes girl.
636
:
00:29:06
And so like I say yes to a lot of things
and I hear an exciting new project
637
:
00:29:10
and I'm like, yeah, we can get it
done and, and we can do it this year.
638
:
00:29:13
And then all of a sudden we're
like, oh, we have a lot of projects
639
:
00:29:16
that we're doing this year.
640
:
00:29:17
And so it's been an ebb and flow like
year to year, like learning, like
641
:
00:29:21
what can my plate handle this year and
from learning from past years, like.
642
:
00:29:26
Is that a good amount on my plate?
643
:
00:29:28
Is that healthy?
644
:
00:29:28
Is that not?
645
:
00:29:29
Does that allow me to still like live
my vocation well and have a relationship
646
:
00:29:33
with God and take care of my wellbeing?
647
:
00:29:34
Or is taking on all these things actually
saying yes to work above all things?
648
:
00:29:39
And if that's the case, then
we need to reorder things.
649
:
00:29:41
Um.
650
:
00:29:42
And I feel like this year has been a year
that I've like leaned into it the most and
651
:
00:29:47
like really taken it the most seriously.
652
:
00:29:49
So like, um, I literally like hadn't
taken a day off social media in like years
653
:
00:29:54
and I took like eight days off earlier
this year and it was so life changing.
654
:
00:30:00
And I did a silent retreat and
then I took three months off of my
655
:
00:30:03
podcast and started painting again.
656
:
00:30:07
And I was just like, and praying
and I was like, I need to feed.
657
:
00:30:12
My soul and my creative, like reserves
with life giving things instead of
658
:
00:30:17
always like, like releasing them,
you know, like, like filling, like,
659
:
00:30:23
like overflowing out, you know?
660
:
00:30:24
Like it's not overflowing if
I'm not being filled first.
661
:
00:30:26
So, um, yeah, been learning
that a lot this year.
662
:
00:30:29
But yeah.
663
:
00:30:31
Thanks for sharing.
664
:
00:30:32
Yeah.
665
:
00:30:32
How it's been for you.
666
:
00:30:34
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
I'll add one more thing if I,
667
:
00:30:36
if you don't, you don't mind.
668
:
00:30:37
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Yeah.
669
:
00:30:37
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
think what also something I've
670
:
00:30:39
learned a lot this year is that.
671
:
00:30:42
Hustle feels like a very vague term.
672
:
00:30:44
Like, I don't know how to define it.
673
:
00:30:45
I can feel it, you can
feel it in your soul.
674
:
00:30:47
But like, like I said, I
can't really prescribe it.
675
:
00:30:49
It's kind of experiment.
676
:
00:30:50
You, you're gonna figure it out.
677
:
00:30:51
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Mm-hmm.
678
:
00:30:52
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
But we, I think the result of
679
:
00:30:54
hustling too much is burnout
and that's a very popular term.
680
:
00:30:58
Like, okay, I'm feeling
really, really burnout.
681
:
00:31:00
So earlier this year I was kind of
praying with and exploring like.
682
:
00:31:04
What d what does burnout
actually mean and look like?
683
:
00:31:08
For me, and I, it was a very productive
and helpful prayer because I realized,
684
:
00:31:13
I got this image of like, when a race
car driver burns out a car, they're,
685
:
00:31:19
they're spinning their wheels, but
they're also hitting the brakes.
686
:
00:31:22
So
687
:
00:31:22
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Hmm.
688
:
00:31:23
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624: their
wheels and they're trying to go somewhere,
689
:
00:31:25
but they're actually going nowhere.
690
:
00:31:27
And the Lord illuminated for me.
691
:
00:31:30
lot of my burnout or my, that feeling
of like, oh, this is just so hard,
692
:
00:31:35
that like terrible feeling you get
when you were hustling was because I
693
:
00:31:40
was imagining doing a lot of stuff,
but I wasn't actually taking action.
694
:
00:31:44
I was thinking about it in my head.
695
:
00:31:46
I was making a lot of plans.
696
:
00:31:48
I was like hustling up here in my head,
697
:
00:31:51
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Mm-hmm.
698
:
00:31:52
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
I wasn't taking action.
699
:
00:31:53
So something that I've really worked
on is taking, something hits my head
700
:
00:31:59
an idea, I need to email that person.
701
:
00:32:01
I need to download the dishwasher.
702
:
00:32:03
I need to post this on Instagram.
703
:
00:32:04
I need to call someone,
704
:
00:32:06
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Yeah.
705
:
00:32:07
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
an idea comes to my head, I
706
:
00:32:08
have to take action on it.
707
:
00:32:09
And that has helped me.
708
:
00:32:11
So much because it just,
it, it moves it along.
709
:
00:32:15
It moves it along and I can be free
in my soul to like experience the
710
:
00:32:20
present and create because of that.
711
:
00:32:24
So I don't know if that's helpful, but
sometimes thinking about the inverse of
712
:
00:32:27
like, okay, hustling leads to burnout,
I wanna avoid that, has helped me.
713
:
00:32:31
And that image of like the race car driver
burning out a car of like, my wheels
714
:
00:32:35
are spinning, but I'm going nowhere.
715
:
00:32:37
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Mm-hmm.
716
:
00:32:37
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
turning like, okay, Lord, like
717
:
00:32:39
I trust this is the Holy Spirit.
718
:
00:32:40
So I'm gonna move.
719
:
00:32:41
I'm gonna move on it.
720
:
00:32:42
I'm gonna move on it.
721
:
00:32:42
I'm gonna move on it.
722
:
00:32:43
I'm gonna send the email.
723
:
00:32:44
I'm gonna,
724
:
00:32:44
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Mm-hmm.
725
:
00:32:45
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
it right now.
726
:
00:32:46
Has really helped.
727
:
00:32:47
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
I love that.
728
:
00:32:48
Yeah, and I think too, it also just
depends on your season of life.
729
:
00:32:53
Like what hustle will look like, what
the Lord's calling you to do, what you're
730
:
00:32:55
able to take on, what causes burnout.
731
:
00:32:58
It's gonna change throughout your life and
what our capacity was as college students,
732
:
00:33:02
starting businesses versus missionaries,
running businesses versus like full-time
733
:
00:33:07
running our business, you know?
734
:
00:33:08
And then one day married and
children, like, it's just
735
:
00:33:11
always gonna evolve and change.
736
:
00:33:13
And always inviting the Lord into,
yeah, every season and being like,
737
:
00:33:16
is this what you're asking of me now?
738
:
00:33:19
Or is this an idea that like needs
to marinate for a couple years?
739
:
00:33:22
Before we go, because I just wanna
share like the other side of the
740
:
00:33:25
coin, what you shared is so good.
741
:
00:33:26
The other side of the coin is like
my brain, I'm being bombarded with
742
:
00:33:29
ideas all the time and I'm starting
to take action all the on all them.
743
:
00:33:32
And then realizing, oh, maybe like.
744
:
00:33:34
Maybe writing the book
isn't for this year.
745
:
00:33:37
You know, like maybe we're just
gonna do a magazine this year, but
746
:
00:33:41
we're not gonna do a magazine and
a book and relaunch your podcast.
747
:
00:33:44
You know?
748
:
00:33:46
And so sometimes the Lord will have to
like, remind me of that and be like.
749
:
00:33:49
You have such great ideas and I
love them, and maybe they're for
750
:
00:33:52
different seasons of your life.
751
:
00:33:53
Not everything has to
happen before you're 30.
752
:
00:33:56
Um, so it's, yeah, really like
applying it to every season of your
753
:
00:34:00
life, what your capacity looks like,
and it'll evolve and it'll change.
754
:
00:34:03
And then when you figure it out,
life will change and, and you'll
755
:
00:34:06
have to figure it out all over again.
756
:
00:34:07
So that's the beauty of life.
757
:
00:34:09
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
Beautiful and an the will guide.
758
:
00:34:14
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Totally.
759
:
00:34:15
Okay.
760
:
00:34:15
Shifting gears a little bit, I would
love to talk about your home because
761
:
00:34:18
it's iconic and beautiful and I keep
seeing that you're getting photographed
762
:
00:34:24
and it's getting featured as it should.
763
:
00:34:26
'cause I've seen you just
pour so much work into it.
764
:
00:34:28
Um, tell us about like
your home renovation.
765
:
00:34:31
What has this project been like
and this idea of that like, home
766
:
00:34:36
is where we wait for heaven.
767
:
00:34:38
I love that.
768
:
00:34:39
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624: Yeah.
769
:
00:34:39
Well, if you guys don't know me, I
have a house in Charleston, South
770
:
00:34:42
Carolina that I bought three years
ago, and it was a complete mess and
771
:
00:34:47
I turned it into this like colorful
haven that I just love so much.
772
:
00:34:52
And I used to live down the
street from my house Now.
773
:
00:34:55
And I live in South Carolina.
774
:
00:34:56
Not a lot of Catholics from
compared to the Midwest.
775
:
00:34:59
Midwest and Mary statues
everywhere you look, you know.
776
:
00:35:02
and when I moved to this neighborhood,
I would always turn the corner and
777
:
00:35:05
pass this house and there was a Mary
statue and I would always wave to
778
:
00:35:08
Mary on the way home and I would
be like, I'm in the right place.
779
:
00:35:10
'cause like Mary's right there.
780
:
00:35:12
Fast forward a few years,
it was on the market.
781
:
00:35:14
I got really, really lucky and
I took it on and I was 23 at the
782
:
00:35:18
time and I didn't even know how to.
783
:
00:35:21
Like navigate lows, like,
784
:
00:35:23
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Oh yeah.
785
:
00:35:24
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
I don't know.
786
:
00:35:26
crazy, but it taught me so much.
787
:
00:35:29
'cause this house has
like grown up with me.
788
:
00:35:31
It's taught me so much about risk, about
how the Lord provides, like one night I
789
:
00:35:36
was having a complete like meltdown, like.
790
:
00:35:39
I don't know how to do this.
791
:
00:35:40
What am I thinking?
792
:
00:35:41
I went for a run.
793
:
00:35:42
I was like, Lord, like you have to
help me like do something right now.
794
:
00:35:45
Like this is really bad.
795
:
00:35:47
And I felt in my soul, like the Lord tell
me to go back to my house in the dark.
796
:
00:35:52
The house I didn't live
in, I hadn't moved in yet.
797
:
00:35:54
Go back to the house and
look in the front door.
798
:
00:35:56
So I did, and there was a card
for my handyman who we've been
799
:
00:35:59
working together for like three
years and he'd saved my life.
800
:
00:36:02
Um, so like the Lord has just taught
me so much about how he meets you.
801
:
00:36:07
out in the deep, like
he just will help you.
802
:
00:36:11
and it's also been such a creative
expression for me, uh, to like,
803
:
00:36:16
just be extra, I guess you could
say, to talk about that word again.
804
:
00:36:20
Um, like my ceilings are blue and
fireplace is pink and there's florals
805
:
00:36:25
everywhere and it's just a lot of fun,
lot, a huge exercise in being myself.
806
:
00:36:30
I was talking to the Lord about this
like a few years ago sometime, and I
807
:
00:36:34
was like, like is kind of vulnerably,
like is it okay that I'm doing this?
808
:
00:36:39
Like is it okay that I'm like this
house and lavishly in my eyes,
809
:
00:36:44
like making it this creation?
810
:
00:36:48
And the Lord kind of responded like,
home is where you wait for heaven.
811
:
00:36:50
Like it matters.
812
:
00:36:51
Like let's make this
place beautiful together.
813
:
00:36:54
And that freed up my heart.
814
:
00:36:55
So.
815
:
00:36:57
Much.
816
:
00:36:57
And I wanna tell like every woman that of
like, home is where we wait for heaven.
817
:
00:37:01
Like however you want it to look or
however you wanna express yourself.
818
:
00:37:06
Even if you're not like an interiors
girly, that's totally fine, but
819
:
00:37:09
the Lord like cares about it.
820
:
00:37:11
Um, helps me a lot.
821
:
00:37:13
But
822
:
00:37:14
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
Yeah, I love that so much.
823
:
00:37:17
And I too am someone that finds our
home space so meaningful because
824
:
00:37:23
that's where like life happens in these
four walls is where so much happens.
825
:
00:37:29
Um, growth and joys and hardships
and evangelization and community
826
:
00:37:34
and vocation and, you know, family
life, like so much happens at home.
827
:
00:37:39
And so that for us.
828
:
00:37:41
We're similar, like it's a priority
for us to make our space a beautiful,
829
:
00:37:46
warm, welcoming place that nourishes
our, like souls, our minds, our hearts,
830
:
00:37:52
our wellbeing inside the home as well
as like is a haven for those who come
831
:
00:37:57
in and for everybody that comes in
feels like welcomed and comfortable
832
:
00:38:01
and, and yeah, just like loved on.
833
:
00:38:03
Um, so I just, yeah, I love that like,
home is where you wait for heaven.
834
:
00:38:07
That's so beautiful.
835
:
00:38:08
I know that social media often
glorifies the polished, like after, um.
836
:
00:38:13
And while you invite people to like
their life right now in the middle of
837
:
00:38:18
the mess and the becoming right, that
kind of contradicts, like everything
838
:
00:38:22
we see on Instagram is everything
that happened after and like, not
839
:
00:38:25
like the beauty and the process
and the hardship of the process.
840
:
00:38:28
So how do you personally stay
grounded and authentic online?
841
:
00:38:32
How do you navigate
comparison culture, et cetera?
842
:
00:38:36
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
Great question.
843
:
00:38:39
The process is where all the
magic happens, but, and you're
844
:
00:38:42
totally right that with the
internet we see the end product.
845
:
00:38:47
when I start to feel that feeling that
we all feel of like, okay, I need to get
846
:
00:38:52
this done, or I need to perfect this,
or like, what can I purchase really?
847
:
00:38:56
Like that's where my mind
848
:
00:38:58
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Yep.
849
:
00:38:58
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
What can I buy right now to get
850
:
00:39:00
this finished, to get this polished
up, to get this across the finish
851
:
00:39:03
line that I have in my head?
852
:
00:39:05
Um, Try to remind myself of like,
number one, what I always say is like,
853
:
00:39:12
creativity thrives in constraints.
854
:
00:39:14
Like the, the boundary lines have
fallen for me in pleasant places.
855
:
00:39:18
Like this is where I have
been called to create.
856
:
00:39:21
when I'm feeling that like kind of
ping or realizing like, okay, my life
857
:
00:39:26
is in process and we're not seeing the
process of other people, so it's this.
858
:
00:39:30
Really difficult scenario
gap scenario that we're in.
859
:
00:39:33
Um, and when I'm confronted with my
middle of process and I'm also feeling
860
:
00:39:38
that of comparison and ickiness just
saying like, okay, thrives in constraints.
861
:
00:39:45
What can I make that is how I've
like lifted myself out of really
862
:
00:39:51
everything is with this creativity
that the Lord has given us and
863
:
00:39:54
that's in his image and likeness.
864
:
00:39:56
so.
865
:
00:39:58
Just allowing myself to play in that
way has really helped, like that's like
866
:
00:40:01
a physical thing that I can do and move
and make something has really helped.
867
:
00:40:05
And then also thinking about like.
868
:
00:40:07
The Lord is patient, and what
I want is like a collected
869
:
00:40:12
life that he has given me.
870
:
00:40:15
And so I need patience too.
871
:
00:40:16
And so just like praying
for that patience.
872
:
00:40:19
Um, and also back to our first
conversation thinking about like,
873
:
00:40:23
okay, we are, we are in progress.
874
:
00:40:25
Like we're on earth, we're in progress.
875
:
00:40:28
We're not in heaven yet.
876
:
00:40:29
So like on earth, I'm in progress.
877
:
00:40:33
So is everyone else.
878
:
00:40:34
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
I love that.
879
:
00:40:35
Yeah.
880
:
00:40:36
Like, I'm never going to reach
the finish line here on Earth.
881
:
00:40:41
The quicker we find just that like
peace and stillness in our heart.
882
:
00:40:45
Because I think the evil one does
use that lie of like, when you
883
:
00:40:50
get to X, then you'll be happy.
884
:
00:40:52
And so it's that anxiety and that
rush to get to the X finished product.
885
:
00:40:56
Um, and as we've chatted throughout our
conversation, like even when you arrive.
886
:
00:41:01
Life changes and you enter a new
chapter and all of a sudden, like
887
:
00:41:06
the finish line has moved, right?
888
:
00:41:07
And it will continue to
move until we get to heaven.
889
:
00:41:10
And so yeah, I just love hearing your
perspective on, on the process and I hope
890
:
00:41:15
that that gives people encouragement,
um, as they're in the process too.
891
:
00:41:20
Now, to wrap up for women listening who.
892
:
00:41:24
Maybe feel stuck, you know, and
they're listening to this conversation.
893
:
00:41:27
They're like, I, I
wanna have this mindset.
894
:
00:41:29
But they are discontent with their
lives, or they're overwhelmed.
895
:
00:41:33
Or maybe they're waiting, like for
their vocation to start or for their
896
:
00:41:35
life to start when they reach X.
897
:
00:41:37
Right.
898
:
00:41:37
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624: Yeah.
899
:
00:41:38
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: What
are just some practical things, that
900
:
00:41:40
this woman could be doing today to put
this into practice and really start
901
:
00:41:44
liking her life a little bit more?
902
:
00:41:45
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624: Yeah.
903
:
00:41:46
If you're sitting down, I would
get up and like walk around your
904
:
00:41:49
house if you're driving your car.
905
:
00:41:50
I would just.
906
:
00:41:50
Speak out loud
907
:
00:41:52
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Hmm.
908
:
00:41:53
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624: say
like, Lord, can you remind me what I like?
909
:
00:41:56
Like, tell me what I like.
910
:
00:41:57
He made you to like, like things
and with preferences and with.
911
:
00:42:04
I for him.
912
:
00:42:06
And I would either walk around my
house, like get up and walk around
913
:
00:42:08
my house and ask that and say it
out loud, like recount it out loud.
914
:
00:42:13
And it could be, start with stuff
in front of you and like you'll
915
:
00:42:15
be amazed at how the list grows.
916
:
00:42:18
I would just talk it out loud and make a
list of like, this is, this is what the
917
:
00:42:23
Lord told me and reminded me that I like.
918
:
00:42:27
And just keep, keep counting
things that you like.
919
:
00:42:29
Then I would also take action.
920
:
00:42:32
So after you've made your list, I would
take action and then go do something that
921
:
00:42:36
you like, like get your body and your
creative mind into agreement with, with
922
:
00:42:42
the Lord and how he likes your life too,
because he gave it to you, he made it.
923
:
00:42:46
Um, so go like, make a coffee,
call a friend, write a letter.
924
:
00:42:51
Go look outside at the blue
sky for like 10 seconds.
925
:
00:42:55
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Hmm.
926
:
00:42:56
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
just do something that, that you like.
927
:
00:42:59
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
I love that advice.
928
:
00:43:00
I think one thing that comes to mind
for me as well is just like going back
929
:
00:43:04
to the things that you like to do,
that you just, for some reason as an
930
:
00:43:07
adult, feel like you can't do anymore.
931
:
00:43:09
You know?
932
:
00:43:11
Like for me, that was painting.
933
:
00:43:12
Like I was always in some sort of
art class from ages like eight to
934
:
00:43:17
literally 22 when I graduated college.
935
:
00:43:21
And then all of a sudden when
it wasn't like a class it like,
936
:
00:43:23
I was like quote unquote, like,
I just don't have time anymore.
937
:
00:43:25
Like I just don't have time anymore.
938
:
00:43:27
But the reality is like we were
just not making time for it.
939
:
00:43:30
And it's so important to actually
make time, even a little bit
940
:
00:43:33
of time for the things that.
941
:
00:43:35
We love and that we like and that
fill us with life, and that itself
942
:
00:43:38
is gonna bring back more of that
joy and and life into your life.
943
:
00:43:42
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624: Yes.
944
:
00:43:43
just like glorifies God and we
can just start really small.
945
:
00:43:46
Like when I started this whole
invitation to like my life again,
946
:
00:43:49
I had to like literally sit down
and figure out what I liked.
947
:
00:43:52
'cause I didn't know.
948
:
00:43:53
I like, forgot.
949
:
00:43:54
I don't, had to pray about it and the
Lord has like really blessed that.
950
:
00:43:59
So I, that's a great example.
951
:
00:44:01
I would encourage everyone to think
about their little selves, their
952
:
00:44:04
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Yeah.
953
:
00:44:04
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
selves too, and think about, um,
954
:
00:44:07
what you liked as a little girl.
955
:
00:44:08
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624:
I love that.
956
:
00:44:09
I love that.
957
:
00:44:10
Thank you for coming on and just
encouraging us and encouraging us
958
:
00:44:14
to like our life and to be creative
and to romanticize our life.
959
:
00:44:17
Where can we find more of you?
960
:
00:44:19
caroline-lunne_1_11-03-2025_170624:
Oh my gosh, it was so fun.
961
:
00:44:20
Thank you for having me.
962
:
00:44:21
Let you find me on
Instagram at Caroline Lenny.
963
:
00:44:24
L-U-N-N-E is my last name.
964
:
00:44:26
Rhymes with honey.
965
:
00:44:27
Kind of a complicated one.
966
:
00:44:28
That's where I share my daily life.
967
:
00:44:30
All the things my agency is
called Migrate Marketing.
968
:
00:44:33
And you can find us at Meet Migrate
on Instagram love to meet you and chat
969
:
00:44:38
and see what you like about your life.
970
:
00:44:40
mari-wagner_1_11-03-2025_150624: Amazing.
971
:
00:44:41
Thanks so much, Caroline.
