The Vine with Joe & Katie Devine
As branches of the same divine Vine, we embrace the power of community and the guidance of faith, aiming to inspire and uplift our listeners as we collectively journey toward greater understanding and connection. Welcome to a space where vulnerability meets wisdom and where, together, we discover the beauty of being intertwined in the vine of life.
The Vine with Joe & Katie Devine
2024 Word of the Year: Behold
What if the holiday season is less about the hustle and more about finding magic in the mundane? Join us as we navigate the whirlwind of December, sharing our personal tales of holiday traditions, from the unlit Advent candles to the joy and chaos of family gatherings. As we laugh through our own experiences, we also ponder the effect of changing seasons on our moods and the stress of workplace transitions, all while keeping an eye on the delightful possibility of recording future episodes with a live audience.
Reflecting on the past year, we open up about 2024's unforgettable moments, like career pivots and thrilling sports events, which have both challenged and enriched our lives. Our journey through 14 podcast episodes has not only captured our growth as hosts but also strengthened our marriage, shedding light on the support and shared joy we continually discover in each other. Amidst the festive cheer, we acknowledge the shades of seasonal depression that accompany early sunsets, yet find solace in the warmth of holiday gatherings.
In a world bustling with expectations, we explore the transformative power of "beholding" and embracing divine presence. Discussing the delicate balance between action and contemplation, we delve into the depth of spiritual connection through visual meditation and prayer. These soulful practices have redefined our focus on the present, uncovering beauty in everyday moments and nurturing an intimate relationship with God. Join us on this reflective journey as we seek to behold the stillness and majesty of divine love in our hectic lives.
An exclusive from Dery Media Podcasts. Explore diverse perspectives and enrich your knowledge at derymedia.com. Telling stories that matter, sparking meaningful discussions.
Hello, I'm saying it this time.
Speaker 2:Why did you take that from me?
Speaker 1:I wanted to surprise you. This is a raw reaction from Katie.
Speaker 2:That was the only thing that makes me happy, and you took that from me.
Speaker 1:Well, you gotta be quicker than that, wow, okay. Well, hello friends. Sad face, welcome to the Vine. Everyone, welcome back. She hit me with the sad face.
Speaker 2:I get to say wait, you said it, never mind, I'm Katie.
Speaker 1:And I'm Joe.
Speaker 2:And this is the Vine.
Speaker 1:How do you feel, how does it feel, saying that part?
Speaker 2:It's just better when you say it.
Speaker 1:I know how do you feel, how does it feel saying that.
Speaker 2:It's just better when you say it. I know How's everyone doing.
Speaker 1:Crickets.
Speaker 2:I know I got to stop doing that.
Speaker 1:Katie's like we're talking to a live audience. This is amazing.
Speaker 2:I wish.
Speaker 1:No, I think. All right, we're going to try. I'm going to shoot for a live audience podcast at some point.
Speaker 2:Wow, you're like really manifesting 2025. What's that commercial?
Speaker 1:I'm manifesting abundance, I'm practicing gratitude. Yeah, yeah, it's going to. It's going to happen.
Speaker 2:Well, we'll see where that goes. Right now, our audience consists of Lucy and Oliver on the couch, so if you hear them turn, off the podcast, just ignore it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely, katie. What was your pit and peak, pit and peak for this week?
Speaker 2:Pit and peak Peak. Well, no, I'll start with pit, because it's always nice to end on a happy note. Pit, I would just say that work has been a little bit stressful in a way.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know, I feel like everybody can experience this in some shape or another, but when your workplace goes through transition, it's going to be hard. So I just feel like we're in a place of transition, but I feel like I've been working long enough to know that this just happens in cycles and you're going to have periods of transition and then periods of steadiness. So I'm just kind of like you know, we're just going to have to work through it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we'll just have to figure it out.
Speaker 2:But not the end of the world. Yeah, peak, we just I mean, it's, what is it? It's December 8th.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Second day, second Sunday of Advent, today.
Speaker 1:Correct.
Speaker 2:So we've had a lot of celebrations.
Speaker 1:We have not lit a single candle yet.
Speaker 2:We're so bad at remembering to do that.
Speaker 1:We don't really eat dinner at a dinner table. I like to stand when I eat dinner and you have your little spot that you sit in and that's where we eat dinner as a couple.
Speaker 2:Well, because it's just the two of us. If we have people over, we will always eat dinner at the table, but we have the Advent wreath and the candles and that's really all that matters to me, but anyway. So it's December 8th, second Sunday of Advent, so that means we've had a lot. I mean, we've celebrated Thanksgiving with both of our families, we've had several Christmas parties and just I don't know only one. Oh, we have one coming up.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:But just a lot of like fun festivities. I feel like this year can be judged as like a really busy, difficult time of year for a lot of people, but I don't know. I feel like we really look forward to this time of year I was uh listening to.
Speaker 1:Well, actually I was watching a youtuber slash streamer, okay, uh, and one of the things he said he has like a four-year-old or something and he was talking about. He was like this is an awesome time of year to be a kid because, like stuff just kind of magically happens like it gets colder outside and then all of a sudden, like everybody just stays inside and gets like super cozy and, like you know, there's a fire going on and like, oh, all of a sudden, like delicious food is put in front of me and then like, oh, I just get like little treats and presents now randomly throughout the month Like what a wonderful place to be.
Speaker 2:But then, like the parents, are working day and night trying to make the magic happen.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and so that's what he said. He was like and now that I'm the parent, I'm like, dude, this is a lot of hard work. And he was like specifically complaining that his wife was sick. So specifically complaining that his wife was sick, so he was doing like all of the stuff for their daughter and also taking care of his wife and he's like this is hard man.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I could see, I totally see how this is like really really hard for big families this time of year. But, it's just the two of us, so we can make as much magic as we want happen or not, or as an unlit candle would say, no magic. But I am excited for the season to be busy in that way, like I feel like we'll be able to appreciate it when we get to that season of life. Absolutely, um, but I have to stop saying we were talking.
Speaker 1:Yeah, kate and I were talking about the things that we say repeatedly, and mine is, for sure, absolutely so no, yours is right right, right and absolutely. Um, I don't know what it all. It'll be a different word every time, maybe.
Speaker 2:All right, your turn.
Speaker 1:Pit and peak. My pit, I would say, is I just don't like how it's getting dark so early. It really does like seasonal depression makes sense.
Speaker 2:We talked about this last time, but that was my pit last podcast, was it really? It was you're stealing my pit.
Speaker 1:well, we're just becoming the same person now it's my pit, uh, and yeah, I just, I feel like when it gets so dark, like at 4, 30 or whatever, and the sun's like really like about to set, you're like man that stinks, um, so I definitely don't love that. But my peak, I would say. We went to an awesome christmas party last night and that was a lot of fun and it's always fun to, I don't know, just celebrate, celebrate the season. We talked about traditions last time and I think it's it's fun to be a part of them. You know, whereas you know you can kind of complain, like we were just talking about, about how much it is, you know how busy it is and to have to go places and to get gifts and stuff, but when you you're a part of like, when you're actually participating in it, it's fun and I don't think anybody would give that up for for any reason.
Speaker 2:I feel like yeah, so we are wrapping up. Like I said, it's December 8th, so we're wrapping up the year.
Speaker 1:Yes, we are.
Speaker 2:Something that we do every year.
Speaker 1:Something Katie does the year.
Speaker 2:And it's just like something like a instead of like a big, lofty new year's resolution. It's just a word and we try to be really intentional about like seeing this word unfold like in our everyday lives and seeing like why, why exactly god put this word on our heart? Um, so, before we get into that word, is there any like? I'm putting you on the spot, joe. Okay, just thinking back at 2024, what would you say is like a highlight of 2024 for you?
Speaker 1:oh wow, um, yeah, you're absolutely putting me on the spot for this one um, I would say highlight is the right word, but I don't also maybe not the right word, but like changing, like not changing careers but changing jobs was pretty pretty big, it was my first, like I'd done a lot of different roles with my previous company, but I'd always been with that company, and so transitioning to a new company after you know, five years is not the longest time, but it's also not no time, so that what I would say is probably the I don't know the biggest thing that happened.
Speaker 2:I'm trying to think what else I feel like that's a good highlight. That was a and that was a pretty like unexpected change too. I feel like, and it was, it was definitely a good thing for us I was not planning on selling glue at this time last year yeah but I don't know.
Speaker 1:I'm trying to think. I mean, as far as like experiences, I would say I really had a great time going to the ravens game with you in baltimore. They won. It was a very fun game. But that that's also probably a little bit of recency bias, so I'm maybe I'll be I'll have a better answer next episode. I think those were good.
Speaker 2:I put you on the spot, so I really didn't expect anything extravagant yeah, now you're on the spot, but have you been thinking about it? Not really um. I've been thinking about it since you've been talking um, I think this podcast has been a highlight. So we like thought about this podcast this time last we only launch it this year.
Speaker 1:I feel like we've been doing a podcast for like three years.
Speaker 2:We have started like we started pre-recording a lot of it in january of last year no january, january or february but it was a slow process, like we had no deadline. We were just like let's just record until we have enough. So I think we like launched it in june but this was this really became like an idea this time last year yeah so this, it's just cool, like reflecting on the year and seeing like we actually followed through with it how many episodes have we done?
Speaker 2:this is, oh, 13, 14, I think it's 14 that's's kind of crazy. Yeah, I know. I actually had no faith in us.
Speaker 1:You could train an AI voice model on us, because there's enough content of us out there now.
Speaker 2:We're not going to do that.
Speaker 1:No, this is actually an AI podcast.
Speaker 2:I like actually having human conversations Overrated. Oh my gosh, that's where we're going. Anyways, the podcast has definitely been a big highlight, and then I know this is kind of gushy, but I feel like our marriage has like really I don't know been tested in a good way and like strengthened in the past year. Yeah, um, I just feel like, with everything that we've gone through and we just truly thought this past year like we would have a child by now- yeah.
Speaker 2:And so just to see, like how much like we've supported each other through like the ups and downs and how much we've changed our lifestyles to hopefully make that dream come true. And it's just really cool because you think you get married and you think you know everything about a person and then you get married and there's just so much to uncover, like you literally have the rest of your lives and I knew that going into marriage. But I think this year really made me realize like wow, like there's so much to learn, like about myself and about you and us together.
Speaker 1:Wow, now my answer sounds lame.
Speaker 2:Raven's game.
Speaker 1:My wife's like I love you so much and I'm like we went to a football game.
Speaker 2:No, I agree, you can redeem yourself later if you want, if you think of anything. But I thought that was a good one.
Speaker 1:Well, I think to your point, like this year, it's been fun to really actually experience like getting to love you more than ever, even more, and like I know that seems like well yeah, no duh, but like it it doesn't.
Speaker 1:It sometimes feel like. It feels like when you get married or when you're in a serious relationship with someone, that the love you it kind of like peaks, you know, or there's diminishing returns. But I I feel like it's actually the opposite, like the more you're willing to love your partner or your spouse, you know, the further into the relationship it pays exponential gains instead of diminishing.
Speaker 2:Those are big words they are more important but um and like, not even just like the love, obviously like I love you, but like being sad together, like that's a whole new level of like not to be sappy, but like crying together, like suffering together is a whole new level of love. I don't like I know we have so much more like good things as well as, you know, potentially bad things and suffering to endure, so it just like gives me a lot of confidence in our ability to like confide in each other.
Speaker 1:I'm glad you have some confidence going into 2025 for our marriage.
Speaker 2:I'm having some doubts. I'm just kidding. So anyways, I just wanted to throw you for a loop there.
Speaker 1:You said it correct.
Speaker 2:I thought you were going to bumble it there for a second. So back to our word for the year. So our word for this year was behold, behold, it's not a scary thing actually.
Speaker 1:No, not at all.
Speaker 2:But so the Google definition of behold to behold is to see, to observe, to gaze upon something especially remarkable. So when it comes to, like, discerning the word for the year, obviously I'm just looking through the Bible Like there's no process. Really I don't know why I said that Like I had a process.
Speaker 1:I don't have a process. You started that and you're like all right, so step one.
Speaker 2:There's no process.
Speaker 1:There's no process, and I just think of a word that seems neat.
Speaker 2:Okay. My favorite thing, though, is if you just like.
Speaker 2:What I simplify is like opening a Bible and then just kind of putting your finger on the first thing you see and like that's your word, but obviously sometimes the word might be and, and you don't love that word. But really, truly, my, who are you to say the will of God? My process is truly just like I don't know, diving into scripture, reading a devotional, and then usually I feel like every now and then if you know what I mean, you know the feeling like you just fixate on this word and you're like, wow, like there's something, there's something here, there's something more to this.
Speaker 1:Like our word, last year was manna.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's just like a word that just kind of jumps at you. Like what does this mean? And I would say, just like go with your gut If this is something you want to start with your family. Like it doesn't. It's not like a profound revelation. Gabriel is not going to like descend from the heavens and be like this is the word.
Speaker 1:Katie just watched the Mary movie on Netflix. I did.
Speaker 2:It was really good. It's just a really simple process. Just you know, whatever word like jumps at you. And for me this was an easy word because in our, at our church, our lady, the rosary, I'm like kneeling and the um, what do you call the?
Speaker 1:I actually don't know. So on the altar they have like a, and I'm sure we're gonna get lambasted for not knowing the lambast it's another big word for you. Sat word there for not knowing what it's. It's a giant archway that's over top of the altar.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's the best, like there's four columns and then just like a little roof, but beneath the church, like it's inside of the church, on the altar.
Speaker 1:And it's like almost a little small. I don't even like an open air house. We are butchering this.
Speaker 2:We really are. But just anyways, big words, big letters, sorry, it says behold. I don't know if it says behold the Lamb of God all the way around, but I'm like I think it says different things on each, but on the front it says behold, and I'm like praying about this word and I like look up and I'm like, behold, interesting. So that is how this word came to fruition. If I'm being totally honest, I was like there's a big word in the church that one will do.
Speaker 2:I wonder where this goes. So I prayed about this word and then even, just like, looking up the Google definition. As I said earlier, it said to behold is to see, to observe, to gaze upon something especially remarkable. I just had a lot of high hopes for 2024. I, like last year, this time was the first, I think, year that I the first advent that we had experienced, where we really dove into the waiting with the Holy family, like we were really hopeful and waiting for a baby. It was just like I could feel that tension of like waiting for something and I felt like I really could dive into that. And so obviously that didn't happen. That word became very close to my heart because I was like, okay, it's going to happen this year, truly Like. That's why I was excited about this word. I had a lot of high hopes for starting a family in the new year, but God has shown us a lot of other things through this word.
Speaker 2:Obviously, this word's been used a lot in the Bible In Malachi 3, 1,. Behold I am sending my messenger before you. Luke 1, 38,. Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord. John 1, 29,. Behold the Lamb of God. So a pattern that I saw that I thought was just really cool was that this word typically was like a prompting. It was a way to get your attention towards something greater and more beautiful, and I felt like, in a way, it was like God encouraging us to give up control to him, like he is something greater than us, something way more beautiful and has a way more beautiful plan than what we could ever imagine. Would you say yeah, yeah, um, anyways, I just I thought that was cool, like it's a prompting, it's something like in anticipation of something incredible. So I had like a lot of high hopes for this year.
Speaker 1:Go ahead, sorry no, go on I just say it's also.
Speaker 1:I think it is a command as well, I think that at least that's like one of the you know, reflecting on it a little bit on my own, that is one of the things I realized, like it's attention getting right, whereas I think sometimes the language of God, and especially in the Bible, is relatively subtle, especially like, sometimes, you know, the way Jesus speaks to people or the way the prophets speak, like sometimes, especially initially, they are a little more subtle or a little more quiet in their, in their reaching out. You know Gabriel, going back to the, the Mary movie. You know he came to Mary in in night at, you know, by herself, right, but when they really needed the attention, when they really want to. You know, by herself, right, but when they really needed the attention, when they really want to. You know what's the proper phrasing of it?
Speaker 1:Basically, put a lot of oomph behind something. It's the command behold is there, and I think that really that should wake us up to the idea that we are being commanded to do something, you know, or we are being commanded to pay attention to what God is saying, and I think to your point with you know, this year and the word of behold. I think really God was trying to get our attention and I think that that's something that we felt like maybe, behold, was the waiting for our starting of a family, but really, behold, was God really trying to step in front of us and say, hey, I am here.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like look at me, Pay attention to what I am saying to you. Times, even really good and strong desires, like you know, our desire to start a family, the desire can honestly become more important to us than our relationship with God. And I think that's where the word behold comes in, because again it just gets that attention away from you know, away from that desire back towards God, saying like, listen, I'm the and this is, like you know, God's the show here, you know he's the one that our eyes should be focused on. The desires and the good things that we want will come through that, but they should not be taking us away, and I'm not saying that that happened to us a lot this year, but I think that, at least for me personally, like something I can get really bogged down in is if I really want something that takes my attention away.
Speaker 2:You know well I think you like in a sense although we have good and holy desires, we can still idolize those desires, like you were saying we can worship the desire yeah, and not the god that provides them for us yeah, yeah, exactly, and I think that's kind of how I've been thinking about.
Speaker 1:Behold, at least after you told me earlier today, this is what we were going to do. But I think it's a really cool word and I think that it's not something that we it's not in the daily lexicon, for us.
Speaker 1:Another SAT word for you. I'm really flexing. You really are a daily lexicon for us. You know, another sat word for you. I'm really flexing. Uh, it's like if, if you're at like at the grocery store and somebody was like behold, you'd be like, uh-oh, homeless man walked in like you know like what, what is going on like, and I think that's where you know, um, it would get your attention right if somebody yelled behold.
Speaker 1:So I don't know I think it's a it's. It was a really cool word to reflect on this year yeah, I think I've like grappled with it a lot.
Speaker 2:Like I said, I had very high expectations and I had very specific expectations and I just really felt like this world word it was going to capture like a season, um, where we do get to start this family and, in a way, I do really feel like I idolized. I idolized the desire over my relationship with God, and so I felt, I felt very true to what you said, like God was just trying to capture my attention again and be like hey, like this is, this is more important, like I, I am more important, like trust that I will give you your heart's desires, but you need to refocus on me and my heart um yeah anyways, I I feel like I grappled with the word because midway through the year, when, like, that still wasn't happening, I was like what am I even beholding?
Speaker 2:like everything feels normal and every day feels mundane, and it's one thing after another, and like even you asked me the other day, you were like what would you do if you wouldn't like, if you weren't working where you work, or if you weren't a nurse? And I was like I don't even think about that, I just want to be a mom, you know, and that's how.
Speaker 2:I felt this entire year.
Speaker 2:So to say that I wasn't like angry with God for not fulfilling what I thought that this word was entailing for us would be a lie, because I was angry and I was. I've experienced a lot of frustration with him, but I think, looking back on it, like God has taught me specifically a very specific lesson in like hey, like there is something to behold in every day, even if each day looks the same. You're doing the same routine, you get up at the same time every day, you see the same people. Sure, you probably glaze over all the little new things, but those are the things, those little moments, those new conversations, the sunrise, the sunset, like whatever it may be those are the things that are worth paying attention to, and each day in itself is a miracle. So that's something that I feel like I have just been really trying to lean into and see the way that God works miracles in our mundane everyday life and recognize the beauty in that. I guess, in a way, to kind of not be so frustrated with him all the time. Yeah.
Speaker 1:The only thing I would almost and I don't know if I fully disagree with it. I think so the saying the miracle and the mundane. I I like what it stands for, because I do think that every day is a blessing, but I think the word miracle is maybe the wrong, the wrong word, because really, when you're saying and finding the miracle in the mundane, I feel like what you're actually saying not you personally, but everybody that it's a common phrase. I feel like, or the the idea of it. I feel like what you're actually saying not you personally, but everybody that it's a common phrase. I feel like, or the the idea of it.
Speaker 1:I feel like what you're actually saying is find reasons to keep going in the mundanity or the mundanity, that's not.
Speaker 1:that's not an sat minus 10 points, or whatever on the sat that, like you, it's more so ways to be happy, ways to be fulfilled in the mundane. I feel like that's where the word miracle is kind of playing and not in the idea. Like I don't think we should expect daily miracles from God. You know, like I think that is a potentially dangerous way to be thinking. I feel like you should be thinking potentially dangerous way to be thinking. I feel like you should be thinking God has given me enough in today to get me through today and that is beautiful, that is wonderful, that is something to behold. But a miracle I feel like should be reserved for a true miracle. You know, I feel like the we get, so we want to make things feel more important sometimes than they really are, because that makes us feel better. But sometimes that, I think, goes against the truth, you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I could see that. Does that make sense, or do you disagree? On the flip side, I do feel like you become accustomed to having three meals a day because you have to eat, you know. But what you don't realize, like is that that is a miracle in itself. Like you're able to provide food for often between the two of us, we could probably serve dinner for five, and it's just two, you know yeah and like that is a miracle to have like leftovers as much as we do.
Speaker 2:Like that I feel like that can be considered like a miracle, for, okay, like if you're talking to somebody in a third world country that, like has to hunt for their own food still, like they would see that as a miracle, right. Yeah, yeah, I mean, but I see what you're saying. Like when you think miracle, you think something like kind of out of this world, extraordinary.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I guess it's kind of going back to our last podcast. It's like Miracle should have a small M and an uppercase M because, like again, it's amazing that we have leftovers. But it's not some beautiful act of it's like it's not some incredible amazing act of grace and you know the lord's love flowing down upon us. That results in us having accidentally made too much pasta I know what you're saying and I think when we words, if we're.
Speaker 1:You know, this whole episode is kind of themed around words, like if words have so much power when we're focusing on them. I think that we oftentimes today, this is like an old comedian bit, but like we reach for the top shelf for our words all the time, you know like even what's my word? I say too much amazing or awesome or whatever.
Speaker 2:You can't even remember the word Absolutely.
Speaker 1:Absolutely Okay, so that's not quite as bad. Basically, the comedian's bit was like you know, you're out at lunch with a friend and you know you eat a basket of chicken wings and you're like these were amazing, like they were so good. And then he, his next bit, is basically like what, if, you know, literally Jesus himself were to come down and speak to you and try to take you up into heaven? You already used amazing on a basket of chicken wings. You know what word are you going to use now and I know it's a dumb joke and a dumb bit, but I relate to that because I do think that words do shape a lot of the world around us and I feel like we too oftentimes want things to be way better than they actually are with our words, or way worse. You know, like you can't say on the news like it was a, it was an okay day. You know, not much happened today.
Speaker 2:there has to be some something amazing that happened or there has to be something terrible that happened, you know well, I think maybe miracle in the mundane maybe means more like don't take for granted what you have yeah, I, I completely agree with that but I think you can also look for the miracle in the mundane, while hoping for a miracle in itself, like I don't think that we should stop hoping for a miracle you know 100?
Speaker 1:A hundred percent, and I would never you know me. I love hope I would never. I would never shut down.
Speaker 2:Well, and cause I think you're right, like in a way, that that saying like is a way to just like make myself feel better about our current state. Like okay, well, maybe this is what God's.
Speaker 1:Didn't mean to put you on blast.
Speaker 2:No, no, I mean, I think people could relate to that, like we try to like level our expectations because we don't want to be disappointed, and that's me doing that. But I think there's a way that you can you know, level, set your expectations, recognize the beauty and the gift that each day is, while also trusting that God is so good and can provide miracles beyond our understanding at any point that he desired to.
Speaker 1:And maybe the miracle in the mundane, if you will, is the miracle that's actually being performed? Is the trust in the Lord that something? Can still happen or something good will come Like. The trust in itself is the miracle.
Speaker 2:Or like the change in the posture of your heart. You know, like how I was beautiful, so poetic of me.
Speaker 1:Like this season.
Speaker 2:I do feel like it has shaped our hearts in a different way, like we're entering this Advent season so different than we were last year. Last year we were so expectant of something that we kind of felt like we deserved, and now it's like no when this happens, like it's going to be beautiful, it's going to be a miracle, and like I feel like just that change in the posture of our hearts is miraculous in itself and we wouldn't have been able to get there on our own.
Speaker 1:I also this is not anything really to do with Behold, but more so kind of just reflecting on our journey. I think that One of the things that's easy, at least, for me, to forget is, like I'm thinking oftentimes in when I think about like our journey. Uh, I'm thinking about our, the from the perspective of our future child and how our story is affecting their story. But really, like again, this is about our relationship with God me personally to god and you personally to god and then our relationship together with god. Like it feels like there's another person here, because like that's what we're wanting, that's what we're desiring, but ultimately it's, it's not, it's between, it's like my story and your story and and how it relates to god, and I think that's something that I'm just I know, it's just a thought I had and I wanted to say that into this microphone because it's in front of me. I didn't. I don't know how you feel about that I don't quite understand your thought.
Speaker 1:I know it's very so. Basically it's like I I guess I've been disassociating from the Like our future family. Yes, and I've been thinking from the perspective of our future family, not thinking from the perspective of now, and I think that that, no, that's changed. You're shifting your perspective, I'm shifting Gotcha.
Speaker 2:Well, I feel like we both are, in a sense, I think there's a new layer of excitement and I don't know if you agree, but I feel like we both are in a sense, like I think we there's like a new layer of excitement and I don't know if you agree, but I feel like we finally kind of just accepted where we're at and it's like okay, yes, we're not putting our dreams on hold, but we are trying to embrace the season that we're in, because it's the season we're in and I feel like there's this layer of excitement, like we can travel and like have these new experiences, and like I have this like new excitement and hope for the things that I know we can do.
Speaker 1:It's now, it's more about us. We are here's our word beholding now.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:You know, we are, instead of waiting for the future and behold being a waiting word, behold is an action word we are looking at the now and I think that's the biggest shift for me personally, is now I follow and, and that's sorry, I I bumbled it I it honestly sounded like you were just stating the facts.
Speaker 2:I was like okay yes, you are you and I am me katie, you don't understand.
Speaker 1:You as a person are Katie? It's like so meta, but no I mean I think that's that shift, I think is helpful and I think that's going to be helpful for us moving forward. So Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for sure. I just used your word Absolutely For sure.
Speaker 1:Absolutely brother.
Speaker 2:Well, and I don't know if this is considered a play on words, but so behold is the word, but I've also really felt a lot of attachment to the word be held, and I feel like god also was teaching me how to simply not only behold the amazing nature of god himself, but to be held by his power and his grace. And that's really a word that came up in this like meditation that my spiritual director had encouraged me to like pray with. And something that this year has also brought to me is the idea of praying with images you know like, really like allowing yourself to center in on like a holy image and or an image in scripture, and just like make yourself feel like you were present in that moment. One of those images is actually the 90. Why did I want to say the feeding of the 99? It's.
Speaker 2:Jesus leading the nine, leaving the 99 that was a really beautiful image that I like loved last year around this time and they got it for me for my birthday. So now I have this really pretty painting in our kitchen of the 99 it's so pretty. Anyways, um, I digress, but I've just like really loved this idea of um praying with images. So my spiritual director and I'm going to kind of explain to you what she prompted me to do so. If you feel called to to do this at home, um, feel free to like break out a journal and just like write down what you're feeling, what you see.
Speaker 2:Anyways, she had basically was like Katie, I want you to picture yourself in the manger with the Holy Family, but it's not the day before Jesus is born and it's not even the day that he is born, it's the days afterwards. And I want you to picture what that scene feels like. I want you to picture where you would be. I want you to recognize the smell, the sight, what's around you, what's the weather like, what are you hearing? Like just really entering into that scene, and I just want you to like write about that. And that was a just to share this. What came to mind was I'm sitting here and I'm praying with her promptings and I'm like, okay, I'm honestly probably on the outside of the manger because I don't want to intrude and I'm just watching.
Speaker 2:You're a creeper being an absolute creep. And I'm just watching the season unfold and all I see in my head is just Mary holding baby Jesus and he's like inconsolably crying. And I'm just watching and I'm like, oh no, like poor poor woman, like she can't, she can't get her baby to stop crying. And she's struggling to get her baby to stop crying. And eventually she makes eye contact with me and in this image she's asking me to come forward. She's like hey, like do you want to come over? Do you want to come help?
Speaker 1:Do you want? Do you want to come over? Do you want to hang out?
Speaker 2:It's a very serious moment, Joe.
Speaker 2:I know, I know know and I like come over and she's like, do you want to hold him?
Speaker 2:And I'm holding baby jesus. And I just remember, like you know, we have a lot of nieces and nephews in the family, so I'm familiar with the feeling of like holding like a newborn baby and it's just that like gaze that you exchange with a child when they like look into your eyes and it just like melts your heart like I. I remember feeling that way holding Jesus and like that word came to mind it was beheld, like Jesus wasn't holding me. I was literally holding baby Jesus and he stopped crying and it was like he wanted me, he wanted me to hold him. And then I felt that desire in my heart, in the same way that he wants me every day and the way that he wants you and the way that he wants all of us, like he wanted me to hold him into his arms and he wants to do the same for us. So I don't know, that was just a really sweet moment and a sweet thing to pray with and, um, really kind of solidified that word for me what would you.
Speaker 2:What would you picture if you were in that scenario? Um also again putting you on this, yeah you're I.
Speaker 1:I don't have anything like in particular in this exact moment. I I feel like I would be over anxious on trying to. I think it's the difference between me and you. I would be over anxious on trying to help too much, yeah, and like I would probably be inserting myself too much and and not giving up control easily enough yeah, you know, like I'd be, I'd be like guys. Harrod is after us like what are we doing?
Speaker 1:we have to leave now and honestly I feel like that's. I'm sure joseph was probably like that we were, I was actually teasing katie. We were watching the, the movie, and like they had to flee, um, I can't remember. I mean they fleed a bunch of times, but it was one of the times they had to like quickly leave and I was like I wonder if mary's like, but I have to get a snack first.
Speaker 2:I was like more accurate, but I think that's that's my image.
Speaker 1:I think is one where it's like I would. I would probably be too, too worried and not beholding what's going on. I think that's the other. When you relayed your vision to us, one of the things that I thought about is the idea that God wants to be held. Jesus wanted us to come to him and to love him. The other thing that I think we can you know, we can forget is like God wants to be worshiped you know like, and he wants to be known as the king and the Lord and the ruler of the universe.
Speaker 1:And we should oblige him in that. You know and I think that oftentimes that's what he wants from us is that love, you know, is that worship, and when you behold him, that's part of that word. You know he, he's literally saying like I am here. You know, literally, the creator of the universe, I am here, pay attention to me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, we were created. We weren't created because he needed us and he needed us to worship him. We were solely created out of love, to love and to be loved.
Speaker 1:So we will come back next year with a new word.
Speaker 2:We will come back with a new word. So, anyways, I encourage you again, if you want to like break out a journal, really like enter into that scene. And I love also how, like she had specified these are the days following the birth of Jesus, because I feel like those are the days that families are often forgotten, like there's so much anticipation. Obviously there's a whole season of it. Advent is the season of anticipation for his birth. There's so much anticipation leading up to a child's birth and then the baby comes and, like, this poor family doesn't like this is so new to them.
Speaker 2:And where's like that's where the support matters most. So I love that she specified it's like the days after Jesus is born, um, so really like entering into the manger and the scene, like what do you see, what do you smell, what do you hear? Who's all there? Um, and really just praying about like where, where you are in that situation and how God speaks to you, cause I, I feel like that was really powerful when, when I had to do that. Yeah, anyways, you're right, next year we will have a new word. This is our last podcast of the year 2024. You better have a really good marriage meeting, because okay, we all need to be edumacated it.
Speaker 2:It's not a good marriage meeting, but you were so excited about it, though You've been putting me on the spot constantly to this podcast. This is life.
Speaker 1:I know this is life, so this is. I did think it's kind of funny, so I'm going to give you two choices and I want you to think of the third. So basically the question is, katie, there's, it's's not, it's probably like not going to happen, it's probably just a lot of, like, you know, people click baiting, news stories and stuff like that. But so if you had to guess what the 50, what the potential places that could become the 51st state would be?
Speaker 2:puerto rico, so that's one of them I was gonna give one, I know I was going to give you that one. Okay.
Speaker 1:So wait, wait, wait, so you have Puerto Rico, dc. So there's been talks for you know, I think the past couple of years people are saying just make basically the small area of DC, make that its own state. But it's so small it wouldn't really make sense. But anyway, so you have puerto rico, you have dc. Recently, like a couple days ago, there was another place that was thrown into the mix to become the 51st state and when I read it I was like what, what would you guess it would be?
Speaker 2:it was mentioned by trump I thought you were going to give me multiple choice well that I'm giving you those like I want you to fill in the blank.
Speaker 1:What's the third one? Like the third potential option, it's big.
Speaker 2:Is it nearby?
Speaker 1:Yes, very.
Speaker 2:Is it an island?
Speaker 1:No.
Speaker 2:I have no idea.
Speaker 1:Canada.
Speaker 2:Canada yeah.
Speaker 1:I know that was my response.
Speaker 2:Canada, canada, the whole thing, the whole kid in caboodle, the. I know that was my response Canada, canada.
Speaker 1:The whole thing, the whole kid caboodle, the whole shebang Just one state, all of Canada would be a state, one big old state. So I guess the prime minister of Canada met with Trump and they were talking about tariffs and a bunch of other stuff, and one of the things Trump said was well, you could just become the 51st state. And everybody was like ha ha. Like okay, and then he's like no, we could work something out.
Speaker 1:And I just thought that'd be very funny, because I can't imagine Canada like being a state. You know it's Canada man.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's a different place.
Speaker 1:Then we wouldn't need our passport to go over there I know we could just go straight to uh vancouver, it'd be amazing that would be awesome.
Speaker 2:So there's your marriage meeting.
Speaker 1:Maybe not for the canadians, but we'd love I know well, maybe they'd be like we can't wait to be americans. But I feel like most canadians are probably like nah, we're good, they have like free health care and everything. They're like we got. We like that that's crazy.
Speaker 2:Okay, well, I'd love to end end the year on that note.
Speaker 1:There you go.
Speaker 2:All righty Well. Thank you all for listening. I hope you guys have a warm, eventful, happy Advent season and a very Merry Christmas. Any last words, joe?
Speaker 1:Let's keep growing together.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, you took my line again. Let's keep growing together.
Speaker 1:That's my line, isn't it?
Speaker 2:No, it took my line again.
Speaker 1:Let's keep growing together.
Speaker 2:That's my line, isn't it? No, it's my line. Oh, oops, sorry everybody. Let's keep growing together. See you next year. Bye y'all, bye-bye, thank you.