1 00:00:20,186 --> 00:00:23,246 Speaker 1: Hi, friend. I'm so glad you're here today. Let's learn 2 00:00:23,306 --> 00:00:26,916 Speaker 1: how to raise our kids to love God, respect authority, 3 00:00:27,216 --> 00:00:31,076 Speaker 1: and do what's right. Let's scroll less and live more. 4 00:00:31,456 --> 00:00:38,205 Speaker 1: I'm Arlene Pelican, and this is The Happy Home. Before 5 00:00:38,236 --> 00:00:40,726 Speaker 1: we get started with my wonderful guest, I want to 6 00:00:40,745 --> 00:00:43,286 Speaker 1: let you know I do have a new book. It 7 00:00:43,346 --> 00:00:46,965 Speaker 1: is called The Great Tech Reset and get this for 8 00:00:47,006 --> 00:00:50,476 Speaker 1: a limited time. You can get it absolutely free. All 9 00:00:50,516 --> 00:00:52,375 Speaker 1: you have to do, I know, are you kidding me? 10 00:00:52,516 --> 00:00:57,226 Speaker 1: All you have to do is go to techresetbook.com and 11 00:00:57,306 --> 00:01:01,086 Speaker 1: follow the instructions and get yourself a free book. So today, 12 00:01:01,106 --> 00:01:04,306 Speaker 1: I am so happy to tell you that and also 13 00:01:04,325 --> 00:01:07,626 Speaker 1: to invite you to listen to this conversation that I'm 14 00:01:07,666 --> 00:01:10,406 Speaker 1: having with my dear friend, Erin Lynham. 15 00:01:10,646 --> 00:01:12,575 Speaker 2: Can you believe it? I'm going to take that again. 16 00:01:13,686 --> 00:01:16,086 Speaker 1: So I'm so happy that you're here to be able 17 00:01:16,146 --> 00:01:18,446 Speaker 1: to listen to our conversation that I'm going to have 18 00:01:18,566 --> 00:01:21,186 Speaker 1: with Erin Lynham. And she is a dear friend. She 19 00:01:21,226 --> 00:01:26,086 Speaker 1: is the author of 936 Pennies, which is about the 20 00:01:26,086 --> 00:01:29,756 Speaker 1: 936 weeks you have with your child before they leave 21 00:01:29,776 --> 00:01:33,456 Speaker 1: your home, The Nature of Rest. And she has, that's 22 00:01:33,476 --> 00:01:36,336 Speaker 1: her other book, and she has two, not one, but 23 00:01:36,456 --> 00:01:40,895 Speaker 1: two books, beautiful books this fall for your family. One 24 00:01:40,935 --> 00:01:44,565 Speaker 1: is a kid's book and it is called Where Wonder Leads, 25 00:01:44,965 --> 00:01:47,506 Speaker 1: and the other is a family devotional and it's called 26 00:01:47,706 --> 00:01:50,785 Speaker 1: Made to Marvel. Erin, thank you so much for coming 27 00:01:50,846 --> 00:01:51,925 Speaker 1: on the podcast again. 28 00:01:52,726 --> 00:01:55,366 Speaker 2: Thank you. Thanks so much for having me, Arlene. So 29 00:01:55,406 --> 00:01:55,906 Speaker 2: much fun. 30 00:01:56,386 --> 00:01:58,666 Speaker 1: You live in Colorado with your husband, your four kids. 31 00:01:58,946 --> 00:02:01,626 Speaker 1: You have your podcast, Nat Theo, which a lot of 32 00:02:01,666 --> 00:02:03,146 Speaker 1: listeners may be familiar with. 33 00:02:03,226 --> 00:02:06,026 Speaker 2: If not, go check that out. I want to know, 34 00:02:06,066 --> 00:02:07,326 Speaker 2: it's a selfishly, right? 35 00:02:07,786 --> 00:02:09,906 Speaker 1: So my book is launching this month and I want 36 00:02:09,926 --> 00:02:15,876 Speaker 1: to know selfishly because you so kindly lent an endorsement. what, why, 37 00:02:15,896 --> 00:02:19,076 Speaker 1: I guess it's a silly question, right? But it's like, 38 00:02:19,176 --> 00:02:20,656 Speaker 1: please tell me how you liked my book. 39 00:02:20,676 --> 00:02:23,696 Speaker 2: All right. That's what we all want to know. Tell 40 00:02:23,716 --> 00:02:24,016 Speaker 2: me the. 41 00:02:23,996 --> 00:02:27,136 Speaker 1: Wonderful ways my book has, you know, but you, you, 42 00:02:27,175 --> 00:02:29,666 Speaker 1: you understand the question is like, why do we need 43 00:02:29,706 --> 00:02:32,726 Speaker 1: this tech reset? How did this particular message help you 44 00:02:32,766 --> 00:02:33,846 Speaker 1: and your family with your kids? 45 00:02:34,786 --> 00:02:37,085 Speaker 2: It is honestly changed my life. And I've read your 46 00:02:37,126 --> 00:02:38,886 Speaker 2: other tech books and I can say the same about 47 00:02:39,046 --> 00:02:42,326 Speaker 2: all of them, but Arlene, I was so excited when 48 00:02:42,365 --> 00:02:44,486 Speaker 2: you emailed me about this book, because I kid you not, 49 00:02:45,026 --> 00:02:48,166 Speaker 2: I had been thinking, I need another tech book from Arlene. 50 00:02:48,466 --> 00:02:50,466 Speaker 2: Oh my God. You were kidding. That's hilarious. I feel 51 00:02:50,486 --> 00:02:52,846 Speaker 2: like every couple of years you need to release one 52 00:02:52,946 --> 00:02:55,576 Speaker 2: at least because I just need that reset. I even 53 00:02:55,596 --> 00:02:57,996 Speaker 2: love that that was right in the title of this one, 54 00:02:58,716 --> 00:03:01,476 Speaker 2: but I read it. I printed it out so I 55 00:03:01,496 --> 00:03:03,835 Speaker 2: could do the endorsement and I read it during a 56 00:03:04,055 --> 00:03:06,615 Speaker 2: family road trip. We were going out to the Midwest. 57 00:03:06,675 --> 00:03:09,116 Speaker 2: We were spending three weeks traveling and So it was 58 00:03:09,156 --> 00:03:12,615 Speaker 2: a really sweet time to be considering a tech reset 59 00:03:12,756 --> 00:03:14,406 Speaker 2: because we were going to have two weeks that would 60 00:03:14,446 --> 00:03:18,046 Speaker 2: be basically without technology, like we were camping. And to 61 00:03:18,106 --> 00:03:20,925 Speaker 2: have those conversations with my husband as we're in the 62 00:03:20,966 --> 00:03:23,466 Speaker 2: front of the car, and then even to include the 63 00:03:23,486 --> 00:03:26,645 Speaker 2: kids in those conversations and just start coming up with 64 00:03:26,686 --> 00:03:29,346 Speaker 2: a plan. And that is what we needed because our 65 00:03:29,406 --> 00:03:31,536 Speaker 2: tech use... I wouldn't say it was out of hand 66 00:03:31,576 --> 00:03:35,926 Speaker 2: at all. It wasn't a whole lot, but I wanted 67 00:03:35,946 --> 00:03:38,646 Speaker 2: it to be more intentional and more purposeful. And that's 68 00:03:38,666 --> 00:03:43,086 Speaker 2: what you gave us a framework for. And just a 69 00:03:43,826 --> 00:03:46,746 Speaker 2: weird different season in our life where my mom moved 70 00:03:46,786 --> 00:03:49,826 Speaker 2: in with us this year, which has been amazing to 71 00:03:49,886 --> 00:03:52,706 Speaker 2: have her here and just to have her companionship, but 72 00:03:52,806 --> 00:03:55,706 Speaker 2: also she's helping with the kids and As I'm growing 73 00:03:55,746 --> 00:03:58,366 Speaker 2: my ministry and she's stepping into helping homeschool them. But 74 00:03:58,486 --> 00:04:00,546 Speaker 2: of course that means like we need a tech plan 75 00:04:00,566 --> 00:04:04,306 Speaker 2: that she and my husband and me all agree with 76 00:04:04,966 --> 00:04:08,926 Speaker 2: and that everyone's on the same page. And all that 77 00:04:08,956 --> 00:04:11,796 Speaker 2: to say, I loved that the book was so practical. 78 00:04:12,216 --> 00:04:14,035 Speaker 2: Some of it was scary. I mean, you don't shy 79 00:04:14,076 --> 00:04:14,876 Speaker 2: away from the hard things. 80 00:04:14,896 --> 00:04:15,035 Speaker 1: Right. 81 00:04:15,756 --> 00:04:19,056 Speaker 2: But also then you're like, here's how to make a plan. 82 00:04:19,456 --> 00:04:20,816 Speaker 2: And so we were able to come out of it 83 00:04:20,856 --> 00:04:23,506 Speaker 2: with an actual plan. Like it's on the fridge. Everyone 84 00:04:23,526 --> 00:04:24,266 Speaker 2: knows what's up. 85 00:04:24,766 --> 00:04:25,406 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness. 86 00:04:25,686 --> 00:04:27,326 Speaker 2: It has been so good. Thank you for writing. 87 00:04:27,426 --> 00:04:29,526 Speaker 1: Oh, I love it so much. So listen, our tech 88 00:04:29,566 --> 00:04:32,986 Speaker 1: reset book.com, get your own book, have this plan. So 89 00:04:33,066 --> 00:04:35,646 Speaker 1: tell me and the listeners the range of the ages 90 00:04:35,686 --> 00:04:39,046 Speaker 1: of your kids. And then is there a response like, yay, 91 00:04:39,276 --> 00:04:41,816 Speaker 1: we love it when you like set limits on this. 92 00:04:41,916 --> 00:04:43,836 Speaker 2: Are they like, you know, like what? Yeah. 93 00:04:43,896 --> 00:04:46,135 Speaker 1: Like what is to the kids are like, oh no, 94 00:04:46,195 --> 00:04:48,916 Speaker 1: mom is reading another one of those books. 95 00:04:49,356 --> 00:04:54,446 Speaker 2: Oh, completely. So my kids are, our boys are 15, 96 00:04:54,445 --> 00:04:56,986 Speaker 2: 13 and 11 and our daughter is eight. So right 97 00:04:57,026 --> 00:04:59,885 Speaker 2: in that range. So fast. I don't understand. 98 00:04:59,906 --> 00:04:59,986 Speaker 1: Yeah. 99 00:05:00,426 --> 00:05:04,286 Speaker 2: It just keeps happening. But our older kids, especially like 100 00:05:04,306 --> 00:05:08,085 Speaker 2: they're getting into design and wanting to do things with 101 00:05:08,106 --> 00:05:10,226 Speaker 2: different apps and things like that. We want them to 102 00:05:10,276 --> 00:05:13,656 Speaker 2: be capable in these things. And so at the end 103 00:05:13,676 --> 00:05:15,736 Speaker 2: of our trip, after my husband and I had talked 104 00:05:15,776 --> 00:05:18,496 Speaker 2: things through, we had a family meeting and we just 105 00:05:18,536 --> 00:05:20,455 Speaker 2: talked about, Hey, this is what we're doing. This is 106 00:05:20,596 --> 00:05:23,976 Speaker 2: why like we want your childhood to be full of 107 00:05:24,076 --> 00:05:27,306 Speaker 2: goodness and, and these tools and these things, They can 108 00:05:27,366 --> 00:05:31,706 Speaker 2: be good, but we want to bring more purpose into it. 109 00:05:32,326 --> 00:05:35,146 Speaker 2: And so at first, like, especially as we started laying 110 00:05:35,206 --> 00:05:37,755 Speaker 2: out what it would look like, they were okay with it. 111 00:05:37,846 --> 00:05:39,596 Speaker 2: And one thing that helped us, we also at that 112 00:05:39,656 --> 00:05:41,776 Speaker 2: same time, listened to a podcast with our two older 113 00:05:41,815 --> 00:05:46,236 Speaker 2: kids about, uh, safety online and it really shook them up. Yeah. 114 00:05:46,656 --> 00:05:49,036 Speaker 2: It opened their eyes to see what's going on online. 115 00:05:49,886 --> 00:05:51,546 Speaker 2: A lot of what you did share in the Great 116 00:05:51,565 --> 00:05:53,955 Speaker 2: Tech Reset, but they were listening to it. And so 117 00:05:54,036 --> 00:05:56,876 Speaker 2: they knew where we were coming from. And that was huge. 118 00:05:57,016 --> 00:06:00,096 Speaker 2: That's so good. Yeah. And when we started actually saying like, 119 00:06:00,116 --> 00:06:01,396 Speaker 2: this is what it's going to look like, there was 120 00:06:01,456 --> 00:06:05,736 Speaker 2: some really respectful pushback. I actually loved it because they said, well, 121 00:06:06,056 --> 00:06:09,085 Speaker 2: that feels like too little. Can we do this? And 122 00:06:09,126 --> 00:06:11,186 Speaker 2: eventually like us as a parent, you're like, Hey, this 123 00:06:11,226 --> 00:06:13,016 Speaker 2: is what we're going to do. And then we're going 124 00:06:13,036 --> 00:06:15,436 Speaker 2: to regroup in a few weeks. Let's see how this goes. 125 00:06:15,466 --> 00:06:17,106 Speaker 2: Let's play it out. And then as we get into 126 00:06:17,146 --> 00:06:19,445 Speaker 2: the school year, we might have to switch some things 127 00:06:19,526 --> 00:06:21,746 Speaker 2: up as well, but it was sweet to have that 128 00:06:21,786 --> 00:06:24,846 Speaker 2: family meeting and that dialogue. And that's what I wanted. 129 00:06:24,866 --> 00:06:26,696 Speaker 2: That's what I prayed for. It was like, Lord, I 130 00:06:26,736 --> 00:06:28,575 Speaker 2: don't want to just be like, here's what we're doing, 131 00:06:28,856 --> 00:06:31,356 Speaker 2: but rather let's talk about this as a family and 132 00:06:31,396 --> 00:06:32,376 Speaker 2: decide what's good for us. 133 00:06:33,336 --> 00:06:36,346 Speaker 1: This illustrates so many good points. You had a meeting 134 00:06:36,376 --> 00:06:39,166 Speaker 1: with your husband. You had a meeting with your mom. 135 00:06:39,326 --> 00:06:41,706 Speaker 1: So it's like all the generations, everyone who's working with 136 00:06:41,726 --> 00:06:43,455 Speaker 1: the kids, we're going to get on the same page. 137 00:06:43,476 --> 00:06:44,335 Speaker 2: We're going to work towards this. 138 00:06:44,416 --> 00:06:47,796 Speaker 1: We pray because this does not happen naturally. So we pray. 139 00:06:48,296 --> 00:06:52,176 Speaker 1: We present it to the kids. And then respectful pushback 140 00:06:52,356 --> 00:06:52,716 Speaker 1: is good. 141 00:06:52,736 --> 00:06:53,436 Speaker 2: It's fine. 142 00:06:53,716 --> 00:06:55,256 Speaker 1: You don't have to agree with me, but you have 143 00:06:55,276 --> 00:06:57,895 Speaker 1: to respect me. And then the knowledge you gave your 144 00:06:57,956 --> 00:06:59,876 Speaker 1: kids so they know you're not doing this just to 145 00:06:59,916 --> 00:07:02,586 Speaker 1: be this mean ogre. You're doing this to protect them 146 00:07:02,606 --> 00:07:04,606 Speaker 1: because you want the best for them. And as kids 147 00:07:04,646 --> 00:07:08,376 Speaker 1: realize that, they're much more responsive. Wait, this is, that's amazing. 148 00:07:08,436 --> 00:07:11,576 Speaker 1: Now for your particular family, I have met one of 149 00:07:11,616 --> 00:07:13,965 Speaker 1: your boys and I remember we were walking down the 150 00:07:13,996 --> 00:07:16,106 Speaker 1: sidewalk and he'd be like, Oh, there's a such and 151 00:07:16,146 --> 00:07:19,006 Speaker 1: such tree. And Oh, look at, there's this bug. 152 00:07:19,086 --> 00:07:19,966 Speaker 2: It's from the, this. 153 00:07:19,846 --> 00:07:23,926 Speaker 1: Family, you know, like they are rooted in nature. They 154 00:07:24,146 --> 00:07:27,566 Speaker 1: understand nature. So is it, do you feel like it's 155 00:07:27,686 --> 00:07:30,126 Speaker 1: easier to shut, like kind of pull away from tech 156 00:07:30,226 --> 00:07:34,106 Speaker 1: when your family has those experiences to draw from? 157 00:07:35,526 --> 00:07:39,906 Speaker 2: I do think that's a really good strategy because one 158 00:07:39,926 --> 00:07:42,096 Speaker 2: thing I love about your books and your new book 159 00:07:42,276 --> 00:07:45,976 Speaker 2: is you're not just anti-tech, right? And we don't want 160 00:07:46,016 --> 00:07:48,156 Speaker 2: our kids to just see us as being anti-tech. Tech 161 00:07:48,196 --> 00:07:49,756 Speaker 2: is a part of our world. We use tech all 162 00:07:49,776 --> 00:07:51,936 Speaker 2: the time. I use tech in my work all the 163 00:07:51,976 --> 00:07:54,906 Speaker 2: time or a lot of the time anyway. And so- 164 00:07:56,706 --> 00:07:58,526 Speaker 2: What we want to do is instead of just taking 165 00:07:58,566 --> 00:08:00,776 Speaker 2: things away and saying, we're not doing this, giving them 166 00:08:00,866 --> 00:08:03,636 Speaker 2: something great to replace it with. And I've just found 167 00:08:03,676 --> 00:08:07,136 Speaker 2: that nature works really well for that. And, you know, 168 00:08:07,156 --> 00:08:10,196 Speaker 2: I keep thinking about the scripture in Psalm 37 that says, 169 00:08:10,216 --> 00:08:12,276 Speaker 2: delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you 170 00:08:12,316 --> 00:08:16,236 Speaker 2: the desires of your heart. And so I believe that 171 00:08:16,316 --> 00:08:18,736 Speaker 2: as we take our kids out into creation, that's exactly 172 00:08:18,776 --> 00:08:23,116 Speaker 2: what we're doing. We are delighting in the creator. And 173 00:08:23,176 --> 00:08:24,956 Speaker 2: that's one thing I loved about your book too, is 174 00:08:24,996 --> 00:08:28,596 Speaker 2: instead of being anti-tech, it's let's be pro joy. Let's 175 00:08:28,636 --> 00:08:31,136 Speaker 2: be pro delight. You talk about like playing games as 176 00:08:31,176 --> 00:08:35,936 Speaker 2: a family and replacing tech time with sweet, sweet experiences together. 177 00:08:36,116 --> 00:08:38,056 Speaker 2: And yeah, we've just found nature to be a really 178 00:08:38,076 --> 00:08:40,236 Speaker 2: good outlet for that. You know, I, I, I love 179 00:08:40,256 --> 00:08:42,856 Speaker 2: that you mentioned this because the first two weeks after 180 00:08:42,876 --> 00:08:44,896 Speaker 2: we came back from that trip and started to implement 181 00:08:44,956 --> 00:08:47,556 Speaker 2: our plan, you know, it's kind of hard at first, 182 00:08:47,576 --> 00:08:49,916 Speaker 2: like the kids are still like, Oh, I really wanting 183 00:08:49,936 --> 00:08:51,156 Speaker 2: to go to their default, you know? 184 00:08:51,516 --> 00:08:51,736 Speaker 1: Yes. 185 00:08:52,056 --> 00:08:53,496 Speaker 2: But it was so sweet because I think it was 186 00:08:53,536 --> 00:08:58,196 Speaker 2: like the second week after I woke up and my daughter, 187 00:08:58,676 --> 00:09:02,336 Speaker 2: she immediately just runs outside to start. She had like, 188 00:09:02,376 --> 00:09:05,436 Speaker 2: she was like raising these toads in this terrarium out 189 00:09:05,496 --> 00:09:06,976 Speaker 2: on the back porch. Every time I went out there, 190 00:09:06,996 --> 00:09:09,236 Speaker 2: there were more baby toads. There were just baby toads everywhere. 191 00:09:09,256 --> 00:09:11,756 Speaker 2: And she had told me, she was like, I'm going 192 00:09:11,776 --> 00:09:13,136 Speaker 2: to go check on the toads. I was like, okay. 193 00:09:13,176 --> 00:09:14,616 Speaker 2: And I thought she would like come right back in 194 00:09:14,636 --> 00:09:17,666 Speaker 2: because usually she wants breakfast right away. No, like after 195 00:09:17,716 --> 00:09:19,956 Speaker 2: a half hour, we were like, where is Rory? And 196 00:09:20,006 --> 00:09:22,586 Speaker 2: she's still out there just staring at toads. And then 197 00:09:22,926 --> 00:09:25,656 Speaker 2: she released the toads. And then the next day, There 198 00:09:25,686 --> 00:09:28,396 Speaker 2: was an Oreo outside and it had ants. So then 199 00:09:28,416 --> 00:09:31,516 Speaker 2: my 15 year old son starts an ant colony in 200 00:09:31,556 --> 00:09:34,966 Speaker 2: the terrarium. And I'm out there one day and he 201 00:09:35,006 --> 00:09:38,306 Speaker 2: has set up a chair and he's staring at the ants. 202 00:09:38,426 --> 00:09:40,266 Speaker 2: Oh my goodness. Watching them. And I was like, son, 203 00:09:41,596 --> 00:09:45,226 Speaker 2: there is a proverb. that says, go and watch the ant, 204 00:09:45,266 --> 00:09:47,406 Speaker 2: you slugger, and see how wise they are. And he 205 00:09:47,426 --> 00:09:50,426 Speaker 2: just thought that was amazing. He's like being biblical sitting out. 206 00:09:50,386 --> 00:09:51,966 Speaker 1: There watching this ant. Totally, he's like, I'm doing, I 207 00:09:52,026 --> 00:09:54,416 Speaker 1: am in obedience to the word of God right now 208 00:09:54,706 --> 00:09:56,036 Speaker 1: as I'm considering this ant. 209 00:09:56,716 --> 00:10:00,016 Speaker 2: Yes, but I hope that's encouraging. I don't want people 210 00:10:00,056 --> 00:10:02,456 Speaker 2: to think like, oh, they're lineups, they spend time outside. 211 00:10:02,496 --> 00:10:04,296 Speaker 2: Of course, they don't have any trouble with tech. No, 212 00:10:04,336 --> 00:10:08,766 Speaker 2: like this for us was retraining, resetting habits, but God 213 00:10:08,796 --> 00:10:11,166 Speaker 2: is so faithful to bless that. I love that. 214 00:10:11,806 --> 00:10:15,256 Speaker 1: Let's talk about nature and AI because as AI comes, 215 00:10:15,766 --> 00:10:19,336 Speaker 1: I'm reading these things that for TikTok users, if you're 216 00:10:19,376 --> 00:10:22,616 Speaker 1: a new teenage user on TikTok, they're going to serve 217 00:10:22,636 --> 00:10:25,156 Speaker 1: you like 60% AI slop. 218 00:10:25,196 --> 00:10:28,136 Speaker 2: And I'm like, what? I'm so confused right now. 219 00:10:28,236 --> 00:10:30,636 Speaker 1: So you're going to feed them all this AI stuff. 220 00:10:30,676 --> 00:10:34,276 Speaker 1: And I just keep thinking five years from now, 10 221 00:10:34,276 --> 00:10:36,836 Speaker 1: years from now, if kids are trained on that, how 222 00:10:36,896 --> 00:10:39,796 Speaker 1: are they going to understand what is real, what is 223 00:10:39,916 --> 00:10:43,886 Speaker 1: not real? Talk about how nature is such a good 224 00:10:44,186 --> 00:10:46,626 Speaker 1: teacher of what reality really is. 225 00:10:47,776 --> 00:10:50,976 Speaker 2: That's a really good point. It does. Nature shows us 226 00:10:51,036 --> 00:10:56,186 Speaker 2: what actually is. It shows us facts. It shows us reality. Again, 227 00:10:56,206 --> 00:11:00,326 Speaker 2: the classic novel, 1984, George Orwell wrote, the solid world exists. 228 00:11:00,866 --> 00:11:04,616 Speaker 2: Water is wet. Rocks are hard. And so I use 229 00:11:04,636 --> 00:11:06,736 Speaker 2: this analogy a lot to show, you know, we don't 230 00:11:06,776 --> 00:11:09,316 Speaker 2: get to change the natural laws that God has put 231 00:11:09,396 --> 00:11:12,746 Speaker 2: into creation. They show us what really is. And our 232 00:11:12,786 --> 00:11:14,886 Speaker 2: family sees that a lot. When we're out hiking and 233 00:11:14,926 --> 00:11:18,066 Speaker 2: we encounter moose, that's quite common. Or like one time 234 00:11:18,106 --> 00:11:20,776 Speaker 2: with a mountain lion. Or we've had this black bear 235 00:11:20,806 --> 00:11:24,236 Speaker 2: coming into our driveway several times a week. So we're 236 00:11:24,256 --> 00:11:27,636 Speaker 2: around wildlife. Or if we're hiking and a storm rolls in, 237 00:11:28,216 --> 00:11:30,356 Speaker 2: it's opportunities to show our kids we don't get to 238 00:11:30,436 --> 00:11:32,956 Speaker 2: change nature. It's going to do like that animal is 239 00:11:32,986 --> 00:11:35,236 Speaker 2: going to act by its instincts that God put into it. 240 00:11:35,746 --> 00:11:38,336 Speaker 2: We can't control these storms. We have to cooperate with it. 241 00:11:38,866 --> 00:11:42,156 Speaker 2: And so it really shows them. what is real. And 242 00:11:42,416 --> 00:11:46,076 Speaker 2: that is such a difference. What do you think about 243 00:11:46,296 --> 00:11:52,016 Speaker 2: AI and technology? AI and technology are always progressing, always changing, 244 00:11:52,196 --> 00:11:58,126 Speaker 2: always growing. Nature invites us to dwell on things that 245 00:11:58,146 --> 00:12:02,266 Speaker 2: have always been well, you know, to think about the 246 00:12:02,306 --> 00:12:06,796 Speaker 2: timeless creator, that at one time he spoke all of 247 00:12:06,856 --> 00:12:11,516 Speaker 2: this into existence and it reflects his beauty, his wisdom, 248 00:12:11,876 --> 00:12:14,296 Speaker 2: his wonder. Like we don't have to like try and 249 00:12:14,356 --> 00:12:16,936 Speaker 2: keep up with everything or wonder, is this real? Is 250 00:12:16,976 --> 00:12:19,636 Speaker 2: this not real? Like we can just learn about nature 251 00:12:19,836 --> 00:12:23,076 Speaker 2: and know that we are glimpsing the mind of our creator. 252 00:12:23,096 --> 00:12:25,286 Speaker 2: And isn't it fascinating? 253 00:12:25,326 --> 00:12:28,626 Speaker 1: You spend an hour in nature and you would feel 254 00:12:28,846 --> 00:12:32,666 Speaker 1: completely rested and you would probably have thoughts that you've 255 00:12:33,186 --> 00:12:35,936 Speaker 1: not realized and you'd come to conclusions and you'd ask 256 00:12:35,976 --> 00:12:38,876 Speaker 1: questions and you'd wrestle with God or praise him or whatever. 257 00:12:39,196 --> 00:12:42,056 Speaker 1: You spend an hour with technology, you're going to be exhausted. 258 00:12:42,296 --> 00:12:45,246 Speaker 1: You're going to feel nasty. You're going to have a headache. 259 00:12:45,286 --> 00:12:47,346 Speaker 2: Discontent. You're going to be, yeah, exactly. 260 00:12:47,426 --> 00:12:50,136 Speaker 1: You're going to feel all those negative emotions. 261 00:12:50,166 --> 00:12:53,536 Speaker 2: So it just, it's such... a huge difference. 262 00:12:54,156 --> 00:12:57,556 Speaker 1: If someone's listening and they're like, okay, this is nice, 263 00:12:58,096 --> 00:12:59,536 Speaker 1: but we don't go outside. 264 00:13:00,176 --> 00:13:03,716 Speaker 2: Like my family and I do not go outside. How 265 00:13:03,766 --> 00:13:04,466 Speaker 2: do they start? 266 00:13:04,966 --> 00:13:07,226 Speaker 1: How does, even if you're living in a condominium and 267 00:13:07,246 --> 00:13:10,336 Speaker 1: you're in a, you know, suburban community and you don't 268 00:13:10,356 --> 00:13:13,416 Speaker 1: have all this landscape around you. How does one start 269 00:13:13,456 --> 00:13:16,276 Speaker 1: to engage with nature and to make your kids, right? 270 00:13:16,296 --> 00:13:18,696 Speaker 1: They're just like, we just want to sit in our rooms. Mom, dad, 271 00:13:18,716 --> 00:13:19,526 Speaker 1: I don't want to do it. 272 00:13:19,676 --> 00:13:24,036 Speaker 2: How, give us an invitation to begin. Yeah, let me, okay. 273 00:13:24,076 --> 00:13:26,096 Speaker 2: I'll give one on a more broad level, like for 274 00:13:26,116 --> 00:13:28,396 Speaker 2: the family and then speak directly to the kids that 275 00:13:28,416 --> 00:13:30,756 Speaker 2: don't want to go outside. So for the whole family, 276 00:13:30,776 --> 00:13:33,436 Speaker 2: it can be overwhelming. If you're like, we want to 277 00:13:33,476 --> 00:13:36,336 Speaker 2: become more naturey. Where do we start? How do we 278 00:13:36,376 --> 00:13:41,416 Speaker 2: know what's safe? Choose one thing. Maybe it's birds. That 279 00:13:41,446 --> 00:13:43,636 Speaker 2: was a big one for my family. We all got 280 00:13:43,666 --> 00:13:46,996 Speaker 2: into birdwatching together and we started going on all these 281 00:13:47,076 --> 00:13:50,136 Speaker 2: adventures and finding birds down by the river or out 282 00:13:50,276 --> 00:13:53,576 Speaker 2: in the prairie or by the fields or in the forest, 283 00:13:53,756 --> 00:13:57,156 Speaker 2: or maybe it's reptiles. Our summer, this summer has been 284 00:13:57,196 --> 00:14:00,636 Speaker 2: full of reptiles and amphibians. So like we're, and I 285 00:14:00,656 --> 00:14:04,036 Speaker 2: know this isn't like where everyone's at yet, but like 286 00:14:04,116 --> 00:14:05,676 Speaker 2: we're at the point where the kids are like snake 287 00:14:05,716 --> 00:14:09,026 Speaker 2: and like grab it after they see a song. That's hysterical. 288 00:14:09,526 --> 00:14:11,226 Speaker 2: Or like we were in the Midwest and we went 289 00:14:11,266 --> 00:14:13,806 Speaker 2: to this little pond that didn't even look like you're 290 00:14:13,826 --> 00:14:16,146 Speaker 2: allowed to be there. It looked like it was just 291 00:14:16,166 --> 00:14:18,706 Speaker 2: like side of the road thing. And we found baby 292 00:14:18,736 --> 00:14:21,896 Speaker 2: snapping turtle and a baby painted turtle. Like just choose 293 00:14:22,016 --> 00:14:25,636 Speaker 2: one thing, start learning about it. Maybe it's insects and 294 00:14:25,676 --> 00:14:27,776 Speaker 2: maybe you can go to a local garden and just 295 00:14:27,796 --> 00:14:31,076 Speaker 2: find some beetles and then use an app like iNaturalist 296 00:14:31,436 --> 00:14:34,826 Speaker 2: to identify them. And just start there because it kind 297 00:14:34,846 --> 00:14:37,586 Speaker 2: of becomes a game and you're all learning together and 298 00:14:37,606 --> 00:14:39,866 Speaker 2: you're not thinking about, I don't know anything. You're thinking, 299 00:14:40,466 --> 00:14:42,806 Speaker 2: I know the name of this flower. I remember it 300 00:14:42,866 --> 00:14:46,436 Speaker 2: from last week. So start with one thing. And then 301 00:14:46,516 --> 00:14:49,336 Speaker 2: for the kids, this has been huge for our family 302 00:14:49,396 --> 00:14:51,596 Speaker 2: and for the families that I used to guide hikes for, 303 00:14:52,216 --> 00:14:53,136 Speaker 2: involve friends. 304 00:14:53,156 --> 00:14:53,816 Speaker 1: Yeah. 305 00:14:54,726 --> 00:14:56,466 Speaker 2: It might be really hard to be like, Hey, we're 306 00:14:56,486 --> 00:14:59,666 Speaker 2: going to go on a hike. And the kids are like, uh, no. 307 00:15:00,926 --> 00:15:02,466 Speaker 2: But if you say, Hey, we're going to go meet 308 00:15:02,486 --> 00:15:04,706 Speaker 2: our friends down at the river and play today, they'll 309 00:15:04,756 --> 00:15:07,936 Speaker 2: probably be a lot more interested in doing that. So 310 00:15:08,456 --> 00:15:10,976 Speaker 2: Get friends involved and the kids will probably be a 311 00:15:11,436 --> 00:15:13,456 Speaker 2: lot more eager to go along. I love that. 312 00:15:13,516 --> 00:15:16,356 Speaker 1: And you can go with the natural interest of your child. 313 00:15:16,476 --> 00:15:19,036 Speaker 1: You know, like my daughter has a friend who like 314 00:15:19,156 --> 00:15:21,816 Speaker 1: loves ladybugs. So that's a pretty easy one so that 315 00:15:21,836 --> 00:15:24,036 Speaker 1: you could learn about ladybugs. For the ones that like 316 00:15:24,116 --> 00:15:26,936 Speaker 1: love insects, beetles, like I would have a hard time 317 00:15:26,996 --> 00:15:30,146 Speaker 1: with that. But it's just finding out what your kid 318 00:15:30,436 --> 00:15:32,536 Speaker 1: likes or maybe what you like if your kid isn't 319 00:15:32,596 --> 00:15:33,246 Speaker 1: showing you that. 320 00:15:33,326 --> 00:15:34,846 Speaker 2: And that would be a good place to start. 321 00:15:34,906 --> 00:15:39,086 Speaker 1: I love that. Ethan, when he was little, He used 322 00:15:39,106 --> 00:15:41,106 Speaker 1: to love looking at pictures of birds. It's true. We 323 00:15:41,146 --> 00:15:43,646 Speaker 1: didn't really follow up with it, but when he was little, 324 00:15:43,706 --> 00:15:46,586 Speaker 1: like two, three, four, whenever he saw a picture of 325 00:15:46,626 --> 00:15:47,606 Speaker 1: a bird, he'd just be like. 326 00:15:49,546 --> 00:15:54,836 Speaker 2: Flip out. So maybe we need to rekindle this bird. Oh, 327 00:15:55,096 --> 00:15:55,656 Speaker 2: I love it. 328 00:15:55,716 --> 00:16:00,916 Speaker 1: So your children's book ties in so beautifully where wonder leads. 329 00:16:01,456 --> 00:16:03,756 Speaker 1: So tell us a little bit about the story and 330 00:16:04,136 --> 00:16:05,876 Speaker 1: like the age of kids that this would be a 331 00:16:05,896 --> 00:16:06,996 Speaker 1: good story to read to. 332 00:16:08,066 --> 00:16:11,346 Speaker 2: Thank you. This project has been such a delight. Oh, 333 00:16:11,466 --> 00:16:13,866 Speaker 2: such a delight. It's my first children's book, my first 334 00:16:14,026 --> 00:16:14,926 Speaker 2: fiction book. 335 00:16:15,346 --> 00:16:15,626 Speaker 1: Yes. 336 00:16:28,796 --> 00:16:31,656 Speaker 2: So it's for, we say like ages five to 12, 337 00:16:31,656 --> 00:16:35,116 Speaker 2: but honestly, I think like even teenagers would enjoy it. No, 338 00:16:35,876 --> 00:16:40,026 Speaker 2: it's true. And it's beautifully illustrated. So teens would like that. Yeah. Yeah. 339 00:16:40,046 --> 00:16:41,846 Speaker 2: And it goes deep into the science, but at a 340 00:16:41,886 --> 00:16:44,886 Speaker 2: really fun, engaging level. And so it follows the story 341 00:16:44,906 --> 00:16:48,396 Speaker 2: of this young girl, Willow, and she's following in the 342 00:16:48,436 --> 00:16:52,656 Speaker 2: footsteps of her grandmother, who was a naturalist. And her grandmother, 343 00:16:52,776 --> 00:16:56,096 Speaker 2: after she passed away, left Willow this journal that And 344 00:16:56,116 --> 00:16:58,476 Speaker 2: it was her nature journal that her grandmother had spent 345 00:16:58,516 --> 00:17:02,336 Speaker 2: years just sketching birds and eggs and feathers, I think 346 00:17:02,356 --> 00:17:06,015 Speaker 2: like real natural history style. And she knew, Willow knew 347 00:17:06,056 --> 00:17:09,656 Speaker 2: from her grandmother that her grandmother had always connected with 348 00:17:09,975 --> 00:17:13,326 Speaker 2: her creator while out in creation. And on one page 349 00:17:13,366 --> 00:17:15,806 Speaker 2: of the journal, there's a little sketch of a little 350 00:17:15,866 --> 00:17:19,546 Speaker 2: girl watching ants on the sidewalk. And Willow asks her mom, like, 351 00:17:19,586 --> 00:17:23,046 Speaker 2: who was this? Her mom says, well, that's you. Grammy 352 00:17:23,126 --> 00:17:27,455 Speaker 2: always loved watching you watching nature. And then on the page, 353 00:17:27,475 --> 00:17:31,756 Speaker 2: it says, my dear Willow, always follow where wonder leads. 354 00:17:32,316 --> 00:17:35,055 Speaker 2: And it sets this little girl off on this adventure. 355 00:17:35,515 --> 00:17:39,495 Speaker 2: And she meets scientists and naturalists and hobbyists and an 356 00:17:39,616 --> 00:17:43,936 Speaker 2: entomologist named Boris, who teaches her whether butterflies can remember 357 00:17:43,995 --> 00:17:49,676 Speaker 2: being caterpillars. And she goes to a herpetarium, a reptile house, 358 00:17:49,755 --> 00:17:53,055 Speaker 2: an amphibian house and meets poison dart frogs and learns 359 00:17:53,096 --> 00:17:56,116 Speaker 2: that they're not poison when they're in captivity and why 360 00:17:56,296 --> 00:17:59,426 Speaker 2: axolotls always smile and a chameleon whose eyes can move 361 00:17:59,465 --> 00:18:02,886 Speaker 2: two directions at once. So it introduces all of these 362 00:18:02,946 --> 00:18:06,866 Speaker 2: different people who are guiding her in connecting the dots 363 00:18:06,946 --> 00:18:10,566 Speaker 2: between creation and creator. Okay, right there. 364 00:18:10,606 --> 00:18:12,245 Speaker 1: It's like, okay, we need to get that because we 365 00:18:12,285 --> 00:18:14,745 Speaker 1: need to know the answer to this question about the 366 00:18:14,765 --> 00:18:16,666 Speaker 1: butterflies and the caterpillars. 367 00:18:17,705 --> 00:18:19,366 Speaker 2: You talk in the book about wonder. 368 00:18:20,166 --> 00:18:25,635 Speaker 1: Let's stop and help us understand the meaning of the 369 00:18:25,676 --> 00:18:28,876 Speaker 1: word wonder and how do we evoke more of that? 370 00:18:29,995 --> 00:18:33,755 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's such a good question. The book opens with 371 00:18:33,856 --> 00:18:37,376 Speaker 2: Willow and her cousin Casper walking through a redwood forest. 372 00:18:37,796 --> 00:18:40,696 Speaker 2: They're finding banana slugs, which are one of my favorite animals. 373 00:18:40,715 --> 00:18:44,376 Speaker 2: These crazy, like bright yellow slugs on the Western coast. 374 00:18:45,475 --> 00:18:47,656 Speaker 2: And as they're talking, you know, they're just talking as 375 00:18:47,696 --> 00:18:51,526 Speaker 2: kids do. And they start talking about, you know, their 376 00:18:51,535 --> 00:18:55,065 Speaker 2: Grammy had passed and left Willow this journal and that 377 00:18:55,126 --> 00:18:57,785 Speaker 2: it said in it, always follow where wonder leads. And 378 00:18:57,806 --> 00:19:02,465 Speaker 2: so Casper asks her, what is wonder? And Willow answers 379 00:19:02,505 --> 00:19:04,985 Speaker 2: him and says, you know how we're always eager to 380 00:19:05,025 --> 00:19:07,205 Speaker 2: grow up? We want to be able to drive a 381 00:19:07,225 --> 00:19:09,966 Speaker 2: car and go get ice cream when we want. We're 382 00:19:09,985 --> 00:19:13,646 Speaker 2: excited to be big, but wonder helps us feel small. 383 00:19:14,636 --> 00:19:18,796 Speaker 2: And she talks about in her child language, really this 384 00:19:18,876 --> 00:19:21,496 Speaker 2: concept of, you know, when we're out in creation, of course, 385 00:19:21,535 --> 00:19:23,975 Speaker 2: I'm going to bring this up a level to bigger 386 00:19:23,995 --> 00:19:29,036 Speaker 2: language now, but when we're out in creation, we feel small. Hmm. 387 00:19:29,946 --> 00:19:31,886 Speaker 2: And I was just recording an episode for the podcast 388 00:19:31,926 --> 00:19:34,166 Speaker 2: right before this on redwood trees. And I share how 389 00:19:34,205 --> 00:19:35,985 Speaker 2: when my family and I were out there exploring them, 390 00:19:36,025 --> 00:19:38,646 Speaker 2: that's what we felt. We felt tiny with these trees 391 00:19:38,696 --> 00:19:42,065 Speaker 2: that can grow to be 370 feet tall, towering above us. 392 00:19:43,176 --> 00:19:46,015 Speaker 2: And it's good to feel small, you know, like in 393 00:19:46,056 --> 00:19:49,515 Speaker 2: this world, even us adults, maybe we're not like little kids. Oh, 394 00:19:49,535 --> 00:19:51,115 Speaker 2: I want to grow up and be big, but we 395 00:19:51,136 --> 00:19:52,856 Speaker 2: want to feel big on social media. 396 00:19:53,255 --> 00:19:53,416 Speaker 1: Yeah. 397 00:19:53,455 --> 00:19:56,215 Speaker 2: We want to feel big in our careers. And the 398 00:19:56,275 --> 00:19:59,746 Speaker 2: Lord is inviting us into the delight of feeling small, 399 00:20:00,025 --> 00:20:03,926 Speaker 2: but known. Like we are not the center of the universe. 400 00:20:04,465 --> 00:20:07,386 Speaker 2: And yet the one who made the universe is looking 401 00:20:07,426 --> 00:20:10,805 Speaker 2: down on us. and cares about the details of our lives. 402 00:20:11,326 --> 00:20:14,256 Speaker 2: I think that's what wonder does. And stepping out into 403 00:20:14,296 --> 00:20:19,116 Speaker 2: creation is a way to constantly and continuously surround ourselves 404 00:20:19,596 --> 00:20:21,015 Speaker 2: with that sense and that knowing. 405 00:20:21,676 --> 00:20:24,535 Speaker 1: I love that because when we hear to be small, 406 00:20:24,556 --> 00:20:28,245 Speaker 1: we think that's bad. Culture has taught us Don't let 407 00:20:28,306 --> 00:20:30,906 Speaker 1: anyone make you feel small. You know, you get yourself 408 00:20:30,965 --> 00:20:32,806 Speaker 1: and you puff your chest out and you go get 409 00:20:32,866 --> 00:20:35,586 Speaker 1: that thing. And then to realize, wait a minute, no, 410 00:20:35,626 --> 00:20:38,055 Speaker 1: this is the wonder of life that I am small 411 00:20:38,196 --> 00:20:40,355 Speaker 1: and God is so big and the starry night or 412 00:20:40,396 --> 00:20:43,656 Speaker 1: the redwood tree or the ocean that never stops, that 413 00:20:43,995 --> 00:20:48,186 Speaker 1: we are small, tiny, and yet God lives. loves us 414 00:20:48,245 --> 00:20:52,225 Speaker 1: so intimately. So that is a beautiful, beautiful message. Stop 415 00:20:52,306 --> 00:20:54,995 Speaker 1: and consider the wondrous works of God. 416 00:20:55,676 --> 00:20:56,055 Speaker 2: Job 37, 14. 417 00:20:56,056 --> 00:21:02,725 Speaker 1: I do think I just recently read, Randy Alcorn is 418 00:21:02,765 --> 00:21:06,926 Speaker 1: writing a book about this and about animals. And in Job, 419 00:21:07,656 --> 00:21:11,355 Speaker 1: when God, it's like the longest recorded discourse of God, 420 00:21:11,505 --> 00:21:14,186 Speaker 1: like God speaking and he's talking to Job, right? 421 00:21:14,265 --> 00:21:15,725 Speaker 2: And he's talking about animals. 422 00:21:15,965 --> 00:21:20,105 Speaker 1: Like he's like, consider, you know, the lion and the 423 00:21:20,166 --> 00:21:22,505 Speaker 1: raven and the mountain goat and the fawn and the 424 00:21:22,525 --> 00:21:23,426 Speaker 1: donkey and the. 425 00:21:23,495 --> 00:21:24,215 Speaker 2: Ostrich and the horse. 426 00:21:24,676 --> 00:21:27,815 Speaker 1: So it's like, oh my goodness, God really cares. And 427 00:21:27,916 --> 00:21:32,576 Speaker 1: this nature shows us his character. So that is amazing. 428 00:21:33,336 --> 00:21:37,515 Speaker 1: How can a lot of us have like anxiety or 429 00:21:37,576 --> 00:21:42,956 Speaker 1: we feel hurried and rushed? How have you personally found 430 00:21:43,056 --> 00:21:47,015 Speaker 1: nature to be restorative to you? And then at the 431 00:21:47,056 --> 00:21:49,455 Speaker 1: end of that, you can tell about how you particularly 432 00:21:49,556 --> 00:21:52,796 Speaker 1: need to be restored because of your medical background. 433 00:21:52,816 --> 00:21:56,816 Speaker 2: Oh, that's so good. Thank you. You know, nature has 434 00:21:56,856 --> 00:22:01,526 Speaker 2: this pace to it. I don't feel like nature is rushed. 435 00:22:01,906 --> 00:22:04,815 Speaker 2: Like you have these you know, extreme examples of a 436 00:22:05,035 --> 00:22:08,676 Speaker 2: cheetah chasing after an antelope, but things like that. But 437 00:22:08,715 --> 00:22:11,656 Speaker 2: for the most part, nature has these rhythms. Like you 438 00:22:11,676 --> 00:22:14,936 Speaker 2: think about our circadian rhythm that God designed into us 439 00:22:14,975 --> 00:22:17,596 Speaker 2: to keep us in step with natural rhythms of when 440 00:22:17,656 --> 00:22:19,926 Speaker 2: to rest and when to play and when to work. 441 00:22:20,725 --> 00:22:26,486 Speaker 2: When we are consumed with technology, when we are just 442 00:22:26,525 --> 00:22:28,965 Speaker 2: laser focused on even like good things like our work, 443 00:22:30,376 --> 00:22:33,015 Speaker 2: We can so easily give ourselves to the pace of 444 00:22:33,056 --> 00:22:38,295 Speaker 2: society and step into a natural, unhealthy pace. So I 445 00:22:38,336 --> 00:22:42,256 Speaker 2: believe that when we step outside and maybe it's 10 446 00:22:42,255 --> 00:22:48,045 Speaker 2: minutes a day, maybe it's between meetings or before you 447 00:22:48,066 --> 00:22:51,566 Speaker 2: take them off to school, going on a walk, like 448 00:22:51,606 --> 00:22:55,205 Speaker 2: just making this commitment, this little habit of 10 minutes 449 00:22:55,265 --> 00:22:57,806 Speaker 2: a day. I can walk around the block. I can 450 00:22:57,826 --> 00:23:01,145 Speaker 2: walk slowly. I can notice what's around me, listen to 451 00:23:01,166 --> 00:23:03,866 Speaker 2: the birds, see the insects, maybe stop and see a 452 00:23:03,906 --> 00:23:06,196 Speaker 2: plant and notice the shape of its leaves and the 453 00:23:06,255 --> 00:23:10,676 Speaker 2: color of the flowers. This little act, it seems so simple, 454 00:23:11,196 --> 00:23:16,855 Speaker 2: but it helps to invite us back into the natural 455 00:23:16,876 --> 00:23:22,235 Speaker 2: pace that God originally designed. It's this daily thing of, wait, wait, wait, wait, 456 00:23:22,955 --> 00:23:25,116 Speaker 2: let's not give in to the rush and the hustle 457 00:23:25,136 --> 00:23:27,636 Speaker 2: of society. Let's step back into God's pace. 458 00:23:28,396 --> 00:23:32,205 Speaker 1: You think of the first garden, Adam and Eve, you know, 459 00:23:32,225 --> 00:23:33,766 Speaker 1: they walk in the cool of. 460 00:23:33,725 --> 00:23:35,166 Speaker 2: The day together, right? 461 00:23:35,186 --> 00:23:35,906 Speaker 1: So they walk. 462 00:23:35,985 --> 00:23:37,086 Speaker 2: It's like, what? 463 00:23:37,166 --> 00:23:39,086 Speaker 1: Like God walks with us in the cool of the day. 464 00:23:39,126 --> 00:23:41,875 Speaker 1: They're not like rushing from meeting to meeting. They're not like, 465 00:23:41,896 --> 00:23:43,835 Speaker 1: you know, it's like they're walking. 466 00:23:43,596 --> 00:23:44,855 Speaker 2: In the cool of the day together. 467 00:23:45,656 --> 00:23:48,176 Speaker 1: And when you were young, when you were 14, a 468 00:23:48,215 --> 00:23:51,156 Speaker 1: lot of our listeners will have a child around 14. 469 00:23:51,156 --> 00:23:56,026 Speaker 1: You were diagnosed with Addison's disease. Tell us what that 470 00:23:56,146 --> 00:23:58,245 Speaker 1: is and why it makes it so important to rest. 471 00:23:58,926 --> 00:24:03,886 Speaker 2: Yeah. Addison's disease, it's also called adrenal insufficiency. And it 472 00:24:03,926 --> 00:24:08,025 Speaker 2: means that your adrenal glands no longer function. In most cases, 473 00:24:08,086 --> 00:24:10,466 Speaker 2: and probably in my case, it was an autoimmune disorder. 474 00:24:11,386 --> 00:24:13,626 Speaker 2: So I was diagnosed at 14. I probably had it 475 00:24:13,646 --> 00:24:16,706 Speaker 2: for about a year before that. My body turned on itself, 476 00:24:16,826 --> 00:24:19,996 Speaker 2: got confused, and attacked my adrenal glands so that they 477 00:24:20,035 --> 00:24:23,916 Speaker 2: no longer work. And they haven't for all these years now. 478 00:24:24,535 --> 00:24:27,575 Speaker 2: And so your adrenal glands, yes, they produce adrenaline, but 479 00:24:27,656 --> 00:24:32,205 Speaker 2: also key hormones, including cortisol. And cortisol is a very 480 00:24:32,265 --> 00:24:35,436 Speaker 2: important hormone when it comes to stress. Because God knew 481 00:24:35,475 --> 00:24:37,535 Speaker 2: that we were going to live in this world and 482 00:24:37,676 --> 00:24:39,715 Speaker 2: operate in this world that has a lot of stressors 483 00:24:40,255 --> 00:24:43,805 Speaker 2: because of the brokenness of sin and the curse. And 484 00:24:43,846 --> 00:24:46,166 Speaker 2: so he gave us a system that when our stress 485 00:24:46,186 --> 00:24:50,586 Speaker 2: goes up, whether that's physical, mental, emotional, cortisol kicks in 486 00:24:50,765 --> 00:24:52,866 Speaker 2: to help take care of that. But mine does not. 487 00:24:53,626 --> 00:24:57,025 Speaker 2: And so I take daily hormone therapy so that I 488 00:24:57,066 --> 00:25:00,886 Speaker 2: can live, but also my body doesn't mimic like normally 489 00:25:01,086 --> 00:25:03,266 Speaker 2: if your stress level goes up, so does your cortisol, 490 00:25:03,306 --> 00:25:06,745 Speaker 2: but mine doesn't do that. And so what I've done 491 00:25:07,866 --> 00:25:12,065 Speaker 2: is really to just step into this biblical practice of 492 00:25:12,215 --> 00:25:17,176 Speaker 2: rest through Sabbath and other practices and spending time in creation. 493 00:25:17,255 --> 00:25:19,196 Speaker 2: Cause like I said, it just resets your mind. It 494 00:25:19,255 --> 00:25:22,545 Speaker 2: helps you step back into that healthy pace. It's, A 495 00:25:22,666 --> 00:25:27,596 Speaker 2: very effective strategy, like if listeners are feeling an immense 496 00:25:27,636 --> 00:25:29,515 Speaker 2: amount of stress in their life, if they're seeing it 497 00:25:29,556 --> 00:25:33,176 Speaker 2: in their children's lives, just take that challenge 10 minutes 498 00:25:33,235 --> 00:25:35,116 Speaker 2: a day and grow it. Don't let it stay at 499 00:25:35,116 --> 00:25:38,725 Speaker 2: 10 minutes. Grow it to where you're spending time outdoors 500 00:25:38,866 --> 00:25:43,686 Speaker 2: in creation every day and just see how that effect 501 00:25:43,725 --> 00:25:46,666 Speaker 2: that it has on your body, your mind, and your 502 00:25:46,705 --> 00:25:47,286 Speaker 2: pace of life. 503 00:25:47,626 --> 00:25:51,705 Speaker 1: Yeah. I think about your four kids and even your husband. 504 00:25:51,765 --> 00:25:53,666 Speaker 1: And I'm wondering, you know how I remember there was 505 00:25:53,705 --> 00:25:56,086 Speaker 1: a little story of, it was a Mickey Mouse kind 506 00:25:56,126 --> 00:25:58,286 Speaker 1: of story, but it was city mouse and country mouse. 507 00:25:58,346 --> 00:25:59,146 Speaker 2: And I would read it to. 508 00:25:59,066 --> 00:26:00,906 Speaker 1: The kids when they were little and it was super cute. 509 00:26:01,346 --> 00:26:02,926 Speaker 1: But you know, some of us are city mice and 510 00:26:02,965 --> 00:26:06,485 Speaker 1: some of us are country mice. Do your, in your family, 511 00:26:06,686 --> 00:26:08,466 Speaker 1: do you have any city mice among you? 512 00:26:08,485 --> 00:26:12,565 Speaker 2: Oh, that's such a fun question. I, okay. A few 513 00:26:12,606 --> 00:26:15,265 Speaker 2: months ago, I would have said yes, because my son, Alice, 514 00:26:15,285 --> 00:26:18,816 Speaker 2: who's 13, he's our, her second son. He has always 515 00:26:18,896 --> 00:26:21,875 Speaker 2: loved visiting cities. Like when we go to Seattle and 516 00:26:21,896 --> 00:26:23,916 Speaker 2: we usually like get to Seattle and then hop on 517 00:26:23,955 --> 00:26:25,646 Speaker 2: a ferry and get out to the woods as close 518 00:26:25,886 --> 00:26:27,605 Speaker 2: as we can. But like he wants to hang out 519 00:26:27,626 --> 00:26:30,166 Speaker 2: in the city. Like he loves the big buildings and 520 00:26:30,186 --> 00:26:32,965 Speaker 2: the action. And so for their 13th birthday, we take 521 00:26:33,005 --> 00:26:35,585 Speaker 2: them each on a trip. And our first son went 522 00:26:35,626 --> 00:26:37,936 Speaker 2: to Alaska. That's very on brand, right? 523 00:26:38,416 --> 00:26:38,696 Speaker 1: Right. 524 00:26:38,856 --> 00:26:41,336 Speaker 2: And Ellison says, I want to go to New York City. 525 00:26:41,616 --> 00:26:42,335 Speaker 2: That's awesome. 526 00:26:42,856 --> 00:26:43,416 Speaker 1: Okay. 527 00:26:43,936 --> 00:26:46,075 Speaker 2: So thankfully we were able to make it happen. And 528 00:26:46,116 --> 00:26:48,725 Speaker 2: my husband took Ellis to New York City for five days. 529 00:26:48,745 --> 00:26:51,805 Speaker 2: I will tell you, this kid was exhausted. He was 530 00:26:51,846 --> 00:26:54,505 Speaker 2: so tired. That's hilarious. And he loved it. And they 531 00:26:54,546 --> 00:26:56,775 Speaker 2: had a blast. But when they got home, he goes... 532 00:26:57,096 --> 00:26:59,396 Speaker 2: it's a great city to visit, but I would never 533 00:26:59,495 --> 00:27:05,036 Speaker 2: live there. We can want that action, that excitement. But 534 00:27:05,056 --> 00:27:08,886 Speaker 2: then I think all of us very quickly were like, okay, 535 00:27:09,245 --> 00:27:10,146 Speaker 2: let's go to the river now. 536 00:27:10,186 --> 00:27:12,105 Speaker 1: Let's go to the river now. 537 00:27:12,146 --> 00:27:14,386 Speaker 2: And I was curious. I thought that was fun. 538 00:27:14,485 --> 00:27:17,936 Speaker 1: And also it's like you have a family culture and 539 00:27:18,015 --> 00:27:20,536 Speaker 1: we as parents can be so key. 540 00:27:20,596 --> 00:27:22,595 Speaker 2: Sometimes we just think like, oh, they won't do it. 541 00:27:23,336 --> 00:27:25,845 Speaker 1: Oh, they didn't want to, so I just gave up. 542 00:27:25,906 --> 00:27:28,366 Speaker 1: But if you just keep doing the thing, whether you're 543 00:27:28,386 --> 00:27:31,085 Speaker 1: choosing the birds or you're taking the 10-minute walk or 544 00:27:31,465 --> 00:27:32,946 Speaker 1: you're going to go on a bike ride or you're 545 00:27:32,965 --> 00:27:35,186 Speaker 1: going to take this walk after dinner, and you will 546 00:27:35,245 --> 00:27:37,875 Speaker 1: choose it, you'll make it simple and easy enough that 547 00:27:37,896 --> 00:27:40,156 Speaker 1: you know you can execute it. And you do it 548 00:27:40,316 --> 00:27:43,656 Speaker 1: again and again and again. And then your kids will 549 00:27:43,696 --> 00:27:46,705 Speaker 1: grow up and they'll remember that thing. Oh, you know, 550 00:27:46,816 --> 00:27:49,086 Speaker 1: I always remember those walks with my dad after dinner. 551 00:27:49,765 --> 00:27:52,406 Speaker 1: And then we talked, you know, and so it's really lovely. 552 00:27:52,465 --> 00:27:54,646 Speaker 1: Don't be overwhelmed by like, oh, I can't do all 553 00:27:54,666 --> 00:27:57,305 Speaker 1: these things. Just pick a thing, make it part of 554 00:27:57,346 --> 00:28:00,476 Speaker 1: your family culture so that you do it so regularly 555 00:28:00,586 --> 00:28:04,016 Speaker 1: and consistently that your kids just fall into it. And 556 00:28:04,076 --> 00:28:06,376 Speaker 1: it becomes part of their rhythm, too, because it's so 557 00:28:06,455 --> 00:28:09,096 Speaker 1: obvious with your kids. It's like they've fallen into that 558 00:28:09,176 --> 00:28:12,836 Speaker 1: rhythm of, hey, we love nature and we are curious 559 00:28:12,896 --> 00:28:15,946 Speaker 1: about nature and we love being in nature. And that's 560 00:28:16,306 --> 00:28:18,125 Speaker 1: really something very special about your family. 561 00:28:18,906 --> 00:28:19,686 Speaker 2: Oh, thank you. 562 00:28:20,205 --> 00:28:22,686 Speaker 1: As we close out, tell us about your new devotional, 563 00:28:22,745 --> 00:28:26,206 Speaker 1: because that's something that could kind of get families more 564 00:28:26,245 --> 00:28:30,855 Speaker 1: interested in nature together. Made to Marvel, 52 Family Devotions, 565 00:28:30,995 --> 00:28:33,196 Speaker 1: Exploring the Wild Wonders of God's Creation. 566 00:28:34,475 --> 00:28:37,455 Speaker 2: I said the children's book has been delightful and it has. 567 00:28:37,616 --> 00:28:39,156 Speaker 2: I'd like to get to do both of these, work 568 00:28:39,196 --> 00:28:41,075 Speaker 2: on both of these at the same time. And I 569 00:28:41,116 --> 00:28:43,296 Speaker 2: finished writing the children's book before I started on Made 570 00:28:43,316 --> 00:28:46,196 Speaker 2: to Marvel. I didn't plan to launch two books at once. 571 00:28:46,236 --> 00:28:49,616 Speaker 2: That's a whole other story. But the sweetest thing was, 572 00:28:50,456 --> 00:28:52,816 Speaker 2: you know, I just finished up writing the children's book 573 00:28:52,856 --> 00:28:56,075 Speaker 2: and this delightful story of adventure. And then I get 574 00:28:56,116 --> 00:29:01,466 Speaker 2: to do this really in-depth devotional that like helps families 575 00:29:01,546 --> 00:29:04,585 Speaker 2: go deeper into scripture and into science. But what I 576 00:29:04,686 --> 00:29:07,506 Speaker 2: love about Made to Marvel, and I would say age ranges, 577 00:29:07,526 --> 00:29:11,326 Speaker 2: I mean, kind of the same as a children's book. 578 00:29:11,346 --> 00:29:14,426 Speaker 2: You could start like even at age five, but I 579 00:29:14,466 --> 00:29:18,546 Speaker 2: think it would go older that even adults will really 580 00:29:18,586 --> 00:29:20,666 Speaker 2: get a lot out of this book. What I love 581 00:29:20,706 --> 00:29:24,065 Speaker 2: about it is it's looking at common plants and creatures. 582 00:29:24,766 --> 00:29:27,406 Speaker 2: And so every week is a new devotion, is a 583 00:29:27,436 --> 00:29:31,016 Speaker 2: new topic. And we're learning... why the early bird gets 584 00:29:31,076 --> 00:29:34,396 Speaker 2: the worm and we learn about American Robins. And speaking 585 00:29:34,436 --> 00:29:37,456 Speaker 2: of worms, we talk about how worms burrow underground and 586 00:29:37,476 --> 00:29:39,556 Speaker 2: that they actually have little hairs that help them cling 587 00:29:39,616 --> 00:29:41,365 Speaker 2: to the dirt when the Robin wants to pluck them 588 00:29:41,466 --> 00:29:44,085 Speaker 2: out of it. And we look at ferns and how 589 00:29:44,426 --> 00:29:46,825 Speaker 2: they don't actually have seeds or flowers. They have spores 590 00:29:47,306 --> 00:29:49,365 Speaker 2: like a, like a mushroom, but they're a plant. And 591 00:29:49,406 --> 00:29:52,686 Speaker 2: we're looking at, you know, all of these common things 592 00:29:52,706 --> 00:29:56,246 Speaker 2: that you've probably see around you a lot, like cottontail rabbits. 593 00:29:56,606 --> 00:29:59,436 Speaker 2: So it's not the big and the exotic. It things 594 00:29:59,496 --> 00:30:03,056 Speaker 2: that you're going to see God's design. And so this 595 00:30:03,096 --> 00:30:05,776 Speaker 2: book really builds a solid foundation for faith because the 596 00:30:05,796 --> 00:30:09,356 Speaker 2: kids are like, whoa, like that is design. That's engineering. 597 00:30:09,416 --> 00:30:13,716 Speaker 2: That's mechanics. And they're going to connect that to a 598 00:30:13,786 --> 00:30:16,825 Speaker 2: deep faith principle. And then when they walk outside and 599 00:30:16,866 --> 00:30:20,306 Speaker 2: they see the cottontail rabbit, They have that. They have 600 00:30:20,346 --> 00:30:23,286 Speaker 2: that deeper understanding of how God made it and how 601 00:30:23,346 --> 00:30:26,506 Speaker 2: it connects to scripture. And so it's really helping families 602 00:30:26,706 --> 00:30:30,546 Speaker 2: to relate to the world right outside their door in 603 00:30:30,586 --> 00:30:32,496 Speaker 2: a whole new way. It's so good. 604 00:30:32,916 --> 00:30:36,996 Speaker 1: It's like we've been talking about technology and then technology 605 00:30:37,136 --> 00:30:42,186 Speaker 1: through persuasive design, through like hacking into your brain, knowing 606 00:30:42,226 --> 00:30:45,786 Speaker 1: your vulnerabilities and keeping you online. They're making you marvel 607 00:30:45,846 --> 00:30:48,686 Speaker 1: at things that are very not marvelous. Right. So we're 608 00:30:48,706 --> 00:30:51,085 Speaker 1: just stuck on it. I was just talking to like 609 00:30:51,126 --> 00:30:54,645 Speaker 1: a 20 something and she was like, I am on 610 00:30:54,686 --> 00:30:56,226 Speaker 1: TikTok all day long. 611 00:30:56,426 --> 00:30:58,486 Speaker 2: Like I never stopped being on. 612 00:30:58,606 --> 00:31:01,186 Speaker 1: And I was like, oh no, that's like, you know, 613 00:31:01,206 --> 00:31:04,345 Speaker 1: you're in your twenties and there's so much life. To 614 00:31:04,386 --> 00:31:09,036 Speaker 1: be seen, it just takes you and it wrecks you 615 00:31:09,106 --> 00:31:11,256 Speaker 1: if you let it. But here, when you look at 616 00:31:11,276 --> 00:31:14,596 Speaker 1: God's creation, that's really, you know, to turn our eyes 617 00:31:14,676 --> 00:31:18,416 Speaker 1: there and marvel at, wow, there is a design. There 618 00:31:18,576 --> 00:31:21,196 Speaker 1: is intelligence. There is this God who loves us and 619 00:31:21,236 --> 00:31:24,896 Speaker 1: who makes beautiful and interesting and silly things, you know. 620 00:31:24,996 --> 00:31:29,696 Speaker 1: So it is a beautiful way to spend your time 621 00:31:29,856 --> 00:31:32,296 Speaker 1: that instead of saying like, oh, let's go to our default. 622 00:31:32,866 --> 00:31:36,126 Speaker 2: And everyone pick up their device. Instead of that, it's like, okay. 623 00:31:36,146 --> 00:31:38,026 Speaker 1: Let's gather on the couch and we're just going to 624 00:31:38,046 --> 00:31:40,146 Speaker 1: go through this devotional. And it doesn't have to be 625 00:31:40,166 --> 00:31:42,746 Speaker 1: this huge, long, drawn out thing. And you can do 626 00:31:42,766 --> 00:31:45,596 Speaker 1: this for 52 weeks in a row. And you'd be like, well, look, 627 00:31:45,616 --> 00:31:48,396 Speaker 1: we spent the year just spending a few minutes on 628 00:31:48,436 --> 00:31:51,756 Speaker 1: the couch together reading about this. and then going out 629 00:31:51,896 --> 00:31:54,376 Speaker 1: in nature and actually seeing it. So Made to Marvel, 630 00:31:54,416 --> 00:31:57,436 Speaker 1: I think that's so beautiful. Erin, what a fall. You 631 00:31:57,456 --> 00:32:01,376 Speaker 1: have these two beautiful books out, and we as listeners 632 00:32:01,456 --> 00:32:03,636 Speaker 1: want to support and get these books because we know 633 00:32:03,656 --> 00:32:06,016 Speaker 1: they're going to be so good for our home. So 634 00:32:06,456 --> 00:32:08,436 Speaker 1: tell us, how can we find out more about you, 635 00:32:08,936 --> 00:32:12,016 Speaker 1: the Nat Theo podcast, and these two new books, Made 636 00:32:12,056 --> 00:32:15,426 Speaker 1: to Marvel, and then your children's book, Where Wonder Leads? 637 00:32:16,526 --> 00:32:23,016 Speaker 2: Thank you. So it's all on my website and that's nattheo.com. 638 00:32:23,456 --> 00:32:25,796 Speaker 2: So the new books are on there. You can order 639 00:32:25,856 --> 00:32:28,056 Speaker 2: signed copies and bundle them and get them both together 640 00:32:28,116 --> 00:32:29,936 Speaker 2: and some stickers as well. If you buy them on 641 00:32:29,996 --> 00:32:32,926 Speaker 2: my website or you can buy Where Wonder Leads straight 642 00:32:32,966 --> 00:32:35,946 Speaker 2: through New Growth Press, their website. and Made to Marvel 643 00:32:36,006 --> 00:32:39,386 Speaker 2: straight through Revelle and their website. And the NatTheo podcast 644 00:32:39,466 --> 00:32:42,106 Speaker 2: is nature lessons rooted in the Bible. It's a podcast 645 00:32:42,126 --> 00:32:45,085 Speaker 2: for families where every week on Tuesday, we release a 646 00:32:45,126 --> 00:32:49,266 Speaker 2: new episode and there's already, we're like at 140 this week, 647 00:32:49,306 --> 00:32:52,036 Speaker 2: I think. So there's a lot to go through. Every 648 00:32:52,046 --> 00:32:54,416 Speaker 2: week it's a new plant or creature, or this month 649 00:32:54,436 --> 00:32:58,396 Speaker 2: we're doing outer space, diving into the design, again, building 650 00:32:58,836 --> 00:33:01,836 Speaker 2: faith and evidence for our faith. and connecting it all 651 00:33:01,876 --> 00:33:04,616 Speaker 2: back to scripture so families can tune in and grow 652 00:33:04,736 --> 00:33:07,076 Speaker 2: in faith and wonder at the same time. And that's 653 00:33:07,186 --> 00:33:09,886 Speaker 2: wherever you listen to podcasts, also on YouTube or right 654 00:33:09,926 --> 00:33:10,606 Speaker 2: on our website. 655 00:33:11,306 --> 00:33:13,846 Speaker 1: And you will find whatever you do with Erin, whether 656 00:33:13,906 --> 00:33:17,026 Speaker 1: it's a book or the podcast, it's beautiful. Like her 657 00:33:17,126 --> 00:33:20,336 Speaker 1: books are so beautiful and then theologically sound. And then 658 00:33:20,696 --> 00:33:23,916 Speaker 1: the podcast is very interesting and super well produced. 659 00:33:23,956 --> 00:33:24,536 Speaker 2: You will love it. 660 00:33:25,116 --> 00:33:27,556 Speaker 1: Erin, thank you so much for being on. We so 661 00:33:27,616 --> 00:33:30,516 Speaker 1: appreciate you and thank you and all the best with 662 00:33:30,536 --> 00:33:33,036 Speaker 1: the Tech Reset. Yes. 663 00:33:33,116 --> 00:33:35,026 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for your new book, Arlene, and 664 00:33:35,086 --> 00:33:36,506 Speaker 2: for such a fun conversation. 665 00:33:36,986 --> 00:33:39,825 Speaker 1: It was super fun. And listeners, remember, you can get 666 00:33:39,866 --> 00:33:42,906 Speaker 1: my book completely free, The Great Tech Reset, for a 667 00:33:42,926 --> 00:33:43,546 Speaker 1: limited time. 668 00:33:43,586 --> 00:33:46,086 Speaker 2: Just go to techresetbook.com. 669 00:33:47,586 --> 00:33:50,826 Speaker 1: I hope you've enjoyed today's conversation. I'd love to keep 670 00:33:50,886 --> 00:33:54,506 Speaker 1: in touch beyond this podcast. Click subscribe in the show 671 00:33:54,546 --> 00:33:57,106 Speaker 1: notes and I will give you my latest email to 672 00:33:57,196 --> 00:34:00,476 Speaker 1: keep up on what's happening with technology and kids. 673 00:34:01,036 --> 00:34:02,076 Speaker 2: And maybe you like. 674 00:34:01,976 --> 00:34:03,636 Speaker 1: Reading or listening to books. 675 00:34:03,796 --> 00:34:05,956 Speaker 2: I have a lot of books. You could start with 676 00:34:05,976 --> 00:34:06,496 Speaker 2: the big. 677 00:34:06,336 --> 00:34:12,176 Speaker 1: Three, Making Marriage Easier, Parents Rising, or Screen Kids. A 678 00:34:12,216 --> 00:34:14,375 Speaker 1: big thank you to the team at Life Audio for 679 00:34:14,416 --> 00:34:18,806 Speaker 1: their partnership with the Happy Home Podcast. Check out lifeaudio.com 680 00:34:18,846 --> 00:34:23,266 Speaker 1: for dozens of other faith-related podcasts about prayer, Bible study, 681 00:34:23,386 --> 00:34:23,886 Speaker 1: and more. 682 00:34:24,466 --> 00:34:26,666 Speaker 2: Remember, you don't have to come from a. 683 00:34:26,716 --> 00:34:28,216 Speaker 1: Happy home to create one. 684 00:34:28,696 --> 00:34:30,776 Speaker 2: You too can have a happy home.