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My good friend and favorite redhead, Shannon Walker, gave me a gift this past weekend I didn't know I needed. She gave me the opportunity to share a few stories in the wake of the tragic loss of her daughter, Megan Walker Briscoe, who was essentially Aurora's daughter. She gave me the gift of editing someone I used to write and work with a couple of decades ago. And the magic of those moments were powerful and personal.

My niece, Michele McCully, and I were able to tag-team and work together (just like old times) to close out the services for Megan at the United Methodist Church.

The church was packed. Tears were shed. Laughter was shared. But--there was something special about the day. Even though we came together to grieve; we also came together to show one of our favorite family's a whole lot of love.

In the process, we always get stronger at the broken parts. We will continue to keep Megan's memory alive in the stories we tell and the memories we make.

I happen to be at the lake this week with one of my best pals. We have laughed, cried and sat in the silence already. We have talked about our own legacies and shared how we want to be remembered. We took a road trip together and our cabin overlooks the lake.

Megan was surrounded by love. I urge you all to look around you right now. You are probably surrounded by love, too. Don't miss out on life by worrying about the things that don't really matter.

Be resilient. Be kind. Forgive others. Give grace. Find mercy. Let yourselves off the hook, too. Each day commit to doing the best you can with what you have.

God already knows how our stories will end. In the meantime, stand up for what's right. Advocate for others. Do the right things.

Let's move forward in love.

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I tried to record this seven times.

I had a hard time getting through it.

I hope you listen to the message and not my mistakes.

This, for now, is the best I can do.

Saying goodbye to the daughter of some good friends is not what I wanted to write about this week for the podcast. But it's necessary. And, it's not really goodbye. It's---I'll see you later.

Yet--there is so much more that I'd like to say.

Be the things you loved most about those who are gone.

Try kindness.

Laugh at someone's jokes.

Give away a few hugs.

Take the high road.

Reach out to someone who is struggling.

Do it for Megan Walker Briscoe--who is celebrating in Heaven this week.

I am grateful for the 29 years that we had her on this earth.

She was a bright spot. She was truly loved.

Her memory will continue to guide us as we take a reset to focus on the things that truly matter: faith, family, friends and integrity.

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Jack Muench was named our Community Service Award recipient for Aurora this past Saturday night by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce.

I bit back a few tears while Shannon Walker read the script.

Jack is a hometown guy with a heart of gold. I have been looking up to him for decades. They just don't make 'em any better.

As president of First Independent Bank in Aurora, he wears numerous hats to help support his church, his community and his people.

Join us in celebrating Jack today and every day as we all strive to be more like him.

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Five years ago I participated in The Great Escape.

I was escaping from my home away from home at Cox South in Springfield--where I had been given a second chance at life, love, happiness and success.

I don't want to keep whining about Covid and my Long Covid journey. I'm not a whiner. I'm not a quitter. And, I usually try hard to find a loaves and fishes way to get whatever it is that needs doing. There are tons of people dealing with tons of bigger things. I have had great support. But this has been one of the toughest challenges for me on my journey to get back to ME.

God knew this week was going to be a tough one. So, he planted a few bread crumbs and Godwinks in my path to reset my course and drop anchor with the things that matter most. I will share a few of my thoughts with you.

Enjoy the message. Suffer through my singing. Contemplate your own journey.

And, as always, let me know how I can help!

I'm here and willing.

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This week marks a milestone.

It's been five years since I came off a ventilator.

I remember the feeling like it was yesterday.

A wild range of emotions from panic to joy to sadness to peace.

I was having a hard time sleeping later that day and a nurse had whispered in my ear: "I see you playing possum. You're not very good at it. You need to rest."

"I'm afraid," I replied, opening one eye.

"Of what?" he asked, leaning down.

"Not waking up," I whimpered with my scratchy voice.

"Oh, honey, we're past that part. Please, just let yourself sleep," he laughed and patted my hand. "You've made it through the hard stuff. You're our warrior."

This week's podcast is somewhat disjointed and awkward. You'll just have to forgive me. I need to pay homage to it. I need to pinch myself and realize how blessed I am to still be here. I need to thank all of you who stood in the gap. I know who you are.

And, at the end of the day, I need to get busy making good on all those promises I made to the Big Guy Upstairs.

I am pretty sure I told him I'd be good!

Shhhhh....I need you to back me up. He knows enough of my secrets already.

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My nieces and nephews have always been part mine.

So this week's podcast is about one of them.

They probably don't always like it, but I love them soooooo much, I just can't help myself as I cross the line of ownership time and time again. I always figured an extra mother can't hurt, right?

Chad Estes is a local character all his own. He is, indeed, a chip off the old block. He celebrated another birthday this week. I remember the day he was born just like it was yesterday.

Through the years, in typical Estes fashion, he has made lots of friends--both on and off the playing field.

What can I say?

People either love us or not. There's never any middle ground.

But, I can't count the times I've told people he is my nephew and a big smile creeps across their face. There's usually a story or two there somewhere.

He has a "knobs to the right" show on KKBL Radio on Wednesday mornings and can often be seen calling games for the Houn' Dawgs from the press box at Kelley Field.

Here's a couple more stories about Outlaw Junior.

I hope I'm around to celebrate 51 more birthdays with him.

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I like the idea of making New Year's resolutions.

Over 30 percent of America's population of 340 plus million people make them. It takes. Over 60 percent of those folks will not be following through on their commitments in six months.

My resolutions are focusing on healthier habits, more self-care, additional time planned for adventures with family and friends and cultivating a closer relationship to God. I want to carve out more time for laughter, mud puddles, backroads and singing at the top of my lungs.

In recent years, I have had a word of the year to focus on, including words like: redemption, grace, joy and intentional. This year, I keep landing on the word discernment.

I think the proper use of the word is spiritual as it implies the use of intellect, experience, divine understanding and gut instincts to help us with better choices, improved decisions and leaning into the proverbial circle with the right folks.

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I love Christmas.

I enjoy traditions.

I like making new friends and celebrating old ones.

Our family has encountered great grief at Christmas a couple of times.

But yet, grief is the evidence of great love. So, we will continue to celebrate lives lost and those no longer at the table.

One Christmas in the 1980s, I lost my job on Christmas Eve Eve...and then my car burned up on the highway on the way home. I still remember running towards my car with a crowbar--so that I could at least rescue my Christmas ham.

Ironically, while I watched the firemen put out the fire on Highway 39 in the freezing cold weather, a lady rolled down her window and offered me a job on the following Monday morning.

I have learned through the years that God always takes care of me--not only at Christmas--but all year long.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

And, join me in keeping your fingers crossed the you are on the NICE list this season.