You Brew You

Gayla Brown has the biggest, sweetest heart, so when this old friend of Kari's shared that she is a bee keeper - it felt like the most natural thing in the world. Her creativity, joy, and kindness are contagious - and like the bees she keeps, this precious heart stays busy keeping her hives, face painting (as a side gig) and making bee's wax products. We had such fun drawing parallels between bees and our spiritual lives. Make a cup of tea, add some local honey, pull up a chair, and let's visit with sweet Gayla Brown. *Kari didn't get the address of either of her girl's psalms correct - so here they are: "Awesome" Keatyn's Psalm 66:5 "Awesome are your handyworks, O God." "Honey" Karsyn's Psalm 119:103 "How swee are your promises to my taste, sweeter than honey in my mouth." Email: TheHappyHoneyBeeLLC@gmail.com Drink: Lemonbalm Tea w/ or w/out honey (both are nice!) Product: The Happy Honey Bee Cream (look for her website COMING SOON!) Listening to/Reading: The Jesus Ca

If you ever find youself in a line where Jana King is serving something, take my advice and accept a heapin' helping of whatever she offers. Chances are it will come with a warm smile, a hearty hug and words of encouragement sprinkled lavishly over you. Jana's childhood love of books, spilled over into her parenting and work as a school administrator. As she prepared for retirement, her friendship with Alan & Trish Graham emboldened her to ask for books to be a part of what residents had access to at Community First! Village, and to her delight that idea blossomed in the form of a library. Thousands of book donations filled the shelves lining this tiny library - each one a seed to Jana's hope of opening the hearts and minds of the residents at the Village. Settle in sisters - because Jana is a hoot & a hollar; You are not going to want to miss Jana telling us the story of "Ruby" the Kansas House! *For the record - it was Mr. Gary who was Kari's crew chief not Mr. Larry (#ComeOnKariGetItToget

This was one visit that could have gone on for hours! But when Perri Verdino-Gates shared that she worked for Barney and Friends "for years and years" and TOTALLY surprised me with that little nugget, and the question cards went out the door, the wheels came off and we went wherever the Spirit chose to take us. Perri and Kari met during a service day with Mobile Loaves & Fishes' Community First! Village, a 51-acre master-planned community that provides affordable, permanent housing and supportive community for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness. She unwraps the gift in today's episode layer upon layer - her gift for story telling will have you hanging on to the very last moment where she shares... OH NO! I'm not going to spoil her last story. Instagram: perri_verdino Twitter: perriverdino Facebook: Perri Verdino-Gates Email: perri@mlf.org Mobile Loaves & Fishes website: mlf.org Insta: @mobileloaves FaceBook: Mobile Loaves & Fishes Drink: Topo Chico straight up! (sometimes w

Donna Layfield is the managing owner of Serenity Studios in the Heights of Houston. Kari met Donna through their mutual sister-friend of the heart Vanessa Vance and we feel it both right and fitting that we opened our time together in prayer. Donna and Kari talk about creative processes, their mutual love for the beauty in imperfect things and for quiete spaces to experience something new. Instagram: @serenety_studios_tx Twitter: @serenetystudio3 Facebook: @serenetyartstudios Drink: Earl Grey Tea (sometimes with a little lemon) Product: essential oils from doTerra (which you can get right there at Serenety Studios!) Listening to/Reading: Tools for Mindful Living by Maria Nappoli Hashtagable Quotes: #theputtputtpuppy #sirachathebetafish #thebeautyofimperfection #embracingimperfection #ramonaquimby #alooserepresentationofthatobject #integratedhealthcare #yousmelllikeamediteraniansalad

Tara Royer Steele invited Kari into her home for today's interview. Sitting at her farmstyle table in old wooden tent revival folding chairs, these two sister-friends sit and dish about Tara's early days at Royer's Pie Cafe, her passion for connecting folks with their truest calling (beloved children of GOD) and her newest venture, a 52 piece devotional/recipe collection #EatPieLove (don't you worry... we'll keep you in the know when the ding dang book comes out!) You will want your very own Topo Chico by the end of their time together - and you will want a slice of "Junk Berry Pie" to go with it. Because as our friend Tara says, "There's so much grace in pie!" Instagram: @graceupongracegirl @royerspiehaven Facebook: Tara Royer Steele (she decided!) Drink: Iced Tea (not a sweet tea girl - but likes TWO Sweet-n-Low) Product: Young Living oils, make-up and haircare products (especially Inner Defense) Listening to/Reading: Using her actual bible (rather than her phone) Remember God (by Annie

Joyce Loy, is a retired dental assistant, former stay at home at home mom, and mother of Kari (yours truly). Joyce is realizing her retirement dreams of raising four "precocious" chickens, home grown garlic and soaking up life's simple joys with her husband, Ran. Pull up a chair for this incredible visit between mother and daughter that leads them back down a hard road - but one where both of them learned so much each other, the rollercoaster of healing and God's great love for all of us. Instagram: @loy9691 Facebook: Joyce Youmans Loy Drink: A glass of red wine - 6 oz is good for her heart! But a fresh brewed cup of Twinings English Breakfast tea. Product: A new rose gold and diamond wedding band. Listening to/Reading: Pandora's Simon & Garfunkel AND she can get SO MUCH DONE if she puts on this awesome podcast that she loves called You Brew You (wink) Hashtagable Quotes: #iamwillingtobeusedofGod #healingisalotlikebrainbending #arollercoasterofjoy #youcangetsomuchdonelisteningtoYOUBREWYOU #YOUBR

Genie Thompson Mack is one of those people you LOVE to tell folks that you know. Her beautiful heart shines out through her eyes, leaks out in her laughter and sparkles in everythign she puts her hand to. The fact that Kari's daughters both grew in their love of art, color and self expression under her teaching - that's just icing on the cake. Genie's creativity bubbles up in this chat between two friends - she shares about her inspiration as a pet portrait artist (her art has graced the walls of animal clinics, Texas Children's hospital AND a line of PIER ONE dishes!), her incredible candle company Genieology (she and her namesake aunt team up to create), and then there is her line of earrings - simply stunning! She's got her eyes on the skies - constantly looking for inspiration from God's creation. You are going to need a cold brew over crunchy ice for this one (too bad we can't all get one of Genie's momma's iced coffees!) Genie's website: www.geniemack.com Instagram: @paintingsbygenie AND @genie_mack Fac

Alyssa DeLosSantos is the single most hashtagable guest we have had on You Brew You. Her #SowKind movement, birthed in the spring of 2018, is a tale of how her family launched an epic adventure with one letter, slipped under the windshield wipers in a supermarket parking lot. "We all have words and they are free..." Alyssa says, and with "five minutes and the cost of a stamp," she challenges you to move from apathy to encourager. As one of Alyssa's friends reminded her, "#Sowkind isn't new it's NOW!" We are super excited to see how the You Brew You community lives into #Sowkind Alyssa's website: www.sowkindmovement.com Instagram: @alyssadls Facebook: Alysssa De Los Santos Drink: Awake English Breakfast *with room for milk Product: Hello Fresh (no we don't get a cut for mentioning it - but we are open to it @hellofresh - #justsayin') Listening to/Reading: Accidental Creative with Todd Henry Hashtagable Quotes: #weallhavewordsandtheyarefree (*this one comes from Alyssa's daughter)

We are enjoying a third cup this week. This week our episode includes thoughts, quotes, a poem, and meditations to reflect on for a few minutes using the questions found on our website: youbrewyoupodcast.com Example: - What is one area of my life that God would like to be more a part of this Advent/Christmas season? Do I have room in my life for wonder? Do I have a sense of the presence of God throughout my entire day? Why? Why not? Grab a cup and let’s start filling up on the good stuff! Joyce Loy reading Mother Teresa’s Words to Love By Kari reading from Reed of God by Caryll Houselander Charlie Neimeyer reading from Rev. Scott Stoner’s writing for Living Compass on A Generous Soul Kim reading from Applause of Heaven by Max Lucado Elizabeth Yale reading her Advent Poem Kari reading from The Drama of Christmas: Letting Christ into Our Lives by Morton T. Kelsey Ruth Trout reading from To Bless The Space Between Us by John O'Donohue Laurel Copeland Brown reading from both Julian of Norwich The Revelations of D

2018 Advent 2 Brew up a cup of something warm (one of K&K’s favorites is Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice) and then join us for Cup of Wonder this advent season. This week our episode will include thoughts, quotes and meditations to reflect on for a few minutes using the questions found on our website: youbrewyoupodcast.com Example: How is this cup like my life? Does the cup’s transparency or cloudiness have something to say to me? What does this cup have to say about my prayer life? Kari reading from Dangerous Wonder by Mike Yaconelli Sarah Condon reading Unmapped: The (Mostly) True Story of How Two Women Lost At Sea Found Their Way Home by Stephanie Phillips and Charlotte Getz Kim reading Julie Polter’s essay from Sojourners Magazine Danielle Word Antley reading Melody Beattie’s Language of Letting Go Michelle Riske reading Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling Jamie Martin-Currie reading from Monday Matters Advent offering from Jay Sidebotham Molly Carr reading the Magnificat (the canticle of Mary) Kate Wh

We invite you to participate in Cup of Wonder with us at You Brew You this advent season. Each week on Tuesday, our episode will include thoughts, quotes and meditations to reflect on for a few minutes using the questions below. Every day in between, we will post quotes on Facebook and Instagram. We hope you’ll journey through advent with us. Sarah Condon reading “Are You Anybody?: A Memoir” by Jeffrey Tambor Christy Orman reading an excerpt from Bishop Michael Curry’s royal wedding sermon Kim Thompson reading Jim Burns with HomeWard Kari Lessner’s writing from “O Wisdom” by Forward Movement Veta reading from C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” Kari’s reading a meditation from “A Conversation with Cary Grant” Preview of January 22nd’s You Brew You guest Alyssa De Los Santos and her #SowKind movement! Find us on Facebook (You Brew You) to see the Questions for Reflection. So excited to share this journey with you! We wish you a holy Advent, friends. ❤️ Kari & Kim

When today’s guest comes to mind, a thousand memories flood Kari’s senses - the sounds of worship and laughter, the smells of Dolce & Gabbana and sunscreen, the taste of salty tears from a good cry with a sister-friend and amazing food at the Los Lessner table (thank you Ron!), the sights of her daughters snuggled up close to her side and the feel of hands held together during prayer. Tori McClure is a real live Rock Star in our opinion, and not just because she writes, plays AND sings music that you can actually listen to on iTunes. But because she is authentic and genuine and sold out for Jesus. We love her on You Brew You - and chance are you already do too! I mean - she DID write our music. Y’all, scoot over and make room at the table for our favorite musician, Tori. (Incidentally, she is tiny but she likes to sit criss-cross applesauce which makes us love her even more!) Tori McClure http://torimcclure.com @deartorimcclure Apple cider drink http://a.co/d/jcmOxge Shampoo- Marc Anthony http://a.co/d/eM

When Kari first met this week's guest they were both trying to find ways to link up with a whole slew of new "sister-friends" - and sweet Julie Shreve had a camera in her hands. That camera was her connector. Julie is an AMAZING aunt, a worship leader, a realtor, a two time half marathon runner and a connector of friends. Julie's blog is one of the things God is workin' on in her - but there is PLENTY on the horizion. Kari calls her the girl from the mid-west with a heart as big as Texas. Y'all scooch over and make room at the table for Julie Shreve. Julie's blog: http://www.runwiththebiggirls.com

In honor of Veteran's Day we are pleased to share a new opening (a blog post that Kari wrote after the death of her cousin James Bradsher, III - who served several tours with the Army in Afghanistan) and a the re-airing of the You Brew You Episode 14 of her cousins Katie Draheim-Youmans Eichler and Kenzie (that first aired in July) about the life and service of Sgt Joshua Youmans (Kari's cousin.) We at You Brew You want to thank the men and women who serve in our armed forces both here and abroad. Thank you for your service.

Thank God this is a podcast and not a videocast - Kari was touching up her roots while she recorded this. We want to encourage all our listeners to head out today and vote! This episode comes with an ask, a challenge and a song. THE ASK: Please exercise your VOTE today. *THE CHALLENGE: between now and Christmas, let’s start a wave of encouragement. Send three encouraging texts, per day, to those who are in your contact list. We are talking six minutes - and like Kari says, “If you don’t have six minutes to send out some positivity in your world, you are too busy sister!” *THE SONG: Finally, Kari wanted us to encourage you to listen to Nicole Nordiman’s Sound of Surviving which has been such an anthem for her during a difficult year The story behind the Sound of Surviving Every Moment Holy by Douglas McKelvey (the liturgy shared in this episode) P.S. How many times does Kari say “encouragement” in this episode? #SOmanytimes

This week, Kari sits down in the home of her new friend Danielle Fanfair, who teaches those who are interested in having a deeper compassion for themselves. Danielle and her husband are raising a beautiful daughter and one gill-baby, Icthus. Her ultimate goal is to show others how valuable they really are and the Enneagram is one of her favorite tools. Through her work with this ancient tool she helps folks find new ways to understand themselves and those they live and work with. Get ready to join her for #40DaysOfSuperpower beginning November 1st - because this is a gift that you can give both yourself and those you love. Website: www.daniellefanfair.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielle_fanfair/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielle.fanfair Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellefanfair / Store: https://daniellefanfair.selz.com/ #40DaysofSuperpowerPlanner: https://selz.co/EkcUi5v9S Go From Confusion to Clarity: The Inner Work Book: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1726188647 Blog: https://w

Hitting the reset button, is how today’s guest describes her summer (how is it possibly almost November!?!) Kari interviews her friend Leslie Martone, wife to Mike, mother to Nate the Great, Jacob (the incredibly awesome), and President of the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce, in Houston, Texas. In their time together Kari and Leslie talk about the importance of family first, knowing when to tap out and staying curious. Though wander off topic and suffer from what they both call “camp flashbacks”, their friendship and sisterhood shine through. Leslie unpacks the gifts of faith, autism, blindness, and Multiple Sclerosis. The Little Free Library https://littlefreelibrary.org My Quotable Kid: A Parents’ Journal of Unforgettable Quotes http://a.co/d/fqab4gt Mom, Share Your Life With Me Heirloom Edition http://a.co/d/fPG2rla

Jami Amerine is the author of the popular blog Sacred Ground, Sticky Floors, where she posts about Jesus, parenting, marriage, and the general chaos of life. She holds a master’s degree in Education, Counseling, and Human Development. Jami and her husband, Justin, have six kids and are active in foster care. Kari and Jami visit in the car (because coffee shops are loud, yo!) about how she unintentionally became a Christian writer/blogger. Her writing went viral with An Open Letter To My Children, You’re Not That Great and then shot forward with the release of her book Stolen Jesus. Anna LeBaron The Polygamist Daughter

Rachel Jones is Kari and Kim’s nutty-sweet friend Rachel is the Associate Editor for Forward Movement, a publishing ministry in the Episcopal Church, the parent company of Forward Day By Day. She works in Cincinnati and lives in rural northern Kentucky on a 90 acre farm (Makeshift Farms) that she and her husband, D.W., found on Craigslist. They have a dog, some cats, chickens, rabbits and a prolific jalapeno garden. Some of the harsh realities of farming lend themselves to food for thought as well as food for the belly. The way Rachel shares the duality of farming and editing has had Kari journaling since their chat. Some things referenced in this episode: Holderness “Our Biggest Fight: The Battle of the Bra” https://youtu.be/Ru0dj3ImLwM Irish Acres http://www.irishacresgallery.com and The Glitz Follow Rachel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Housewifingismyfavorite/ Facebook: Rachel Jones Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachiemgjones Amazon Prime is her fav! Kari is featured in one of Rachel’s projects this

It’s an amazing thing to find something you really want to put on your bucket list. It’s even MORE amazing to find yourself planning, preparing and walking that dream into fruition. Our precious friend Kate Whaley shares her experience on one of Kari’s bucket list items - walking the Santiago de Compostela - in English the Way of St. James; an ancient pilgrimage that ends at the alleged burial site of the Biblical apostle St. James in the Spanish provence of Coruna. With the sounds of Ron and the girls in the background, Kate and Kari spent some time poolside this summer, reliving Kate adventures on the “Camino”. “Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies, and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16 You are going to want to brew a cuppa, and settle in for this beautiful episode chalked full of faith, determination and beauty. Kari hasn’t booked her flight yet. Until then, “Buen Camino” to you, friend. I-would-walk-500-miles.blogspot.com http://i