** The original episode is no longer available. This episode is now a preview of the book. The audiobook is available on lifewithrileybook.com **

In this episode, I read the second chapter of "Life With Riley". I want to thank those who responded after listening to the first chapter in the previous podcast episode. I believe the messages of this book are needed now more than ever. This episode opens with an expansion on why I believe that to be the case and sharing more on what "Life With Riley" is about before getting into the chapter.

** The original episode is no longer available. This episode is now a preview of the book. The audiobook is available on lifewithrileybook.com **

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Host Julie Mahar reads the first chapter of "Life With Riley", a memoir centered around her pregnancy with her son Riley and their life together. Julie learned Riley had the genetic makeup known as Trisomy 21, or Down Syndrome, at 18 weeks of pregnancy. She put into practice her beliefs around the power of love, i.e. the absence of fear, and her belief that energy can and does influence everything in our lives, including physical form.

This is a story of love. This is a story of the power we all have to influence everything in our lives - even things we may think of as unchangeable. We are not victims of our circumstances, no matter how difficult or challenging they may be.

Holly Kluge is the singer/songwriter of the song that is featured in the Heal Cleanse Love Podcast, "Be Still". Holly's music has gained a wide audience in the last two years due to the popularity of her song "Happy Little Things". That song has been used in more than 244,000 Instagram reels at the time of this podcast release. Holly talks about the writing of both songs and the joy of having her song reach so many people. We talk a little about our shared experience of being moms to children with disabilities as well as some of the things it has taught us about ourselves and our other children.

You can find Holly's music on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1lFuS79rc0DIxohMn9uWOt?si=0S9CrJ1mSyutoRztKtv3_w

Holly is also a member of the folk-pop duo Fleeting Frame with her husband, Dave.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3QTaqD0A48p0jRGKCzNm4x?si=SEQI18iERRm3IEgpBDpfbg