Real Connections

Lexie talks about how she started having anxiety in elementary school but didn't realize it wasn't normal.  She talks about going to college and for the first time, realizing that her constant feelings of nervousness and overwhelm were actually clinical anxiety and depression.  Come listen and be inspired as Lexie shares what her days are like, as well as what helps her cope and the purpose she has found through it all.  

Jessamyn shares the rest of her experience about giving birth and the difficult time she had officially placing her baby into the arms of her baby's adopted family.  Come listen as she talks about her healing process and the part her family, faith, and vulnerability have played as she's moved forward.

Jessamyn talks about being adopted by her parents as a baby and then in her early 20's she found herself unmarried and pregnant.  She talksa bout turning to her faith for strength, guidance, and hope.  Come listen and be inspired as Jessamyn describes the many miracles she experienced in making and moving forward with her decision to place her daughter for adoption.

Robbie talks about meeting the shooter's father and his continuing journey towards forgiveness.  He talks about how an experience with his other daughter, Madeline, helped him to see the shooter the way God sees him.  Come listen and be inspired as he talks about how he's changed as a result of this experience, and how he and his family keep Emilie in their life.

Robbie opens up about losing his daughter, Emilie, in the mass shooting that happened at the Sandy Hook Elementary School.  Emilie was 1 of 27 victims whose lives were lost that day.  Twenty of the victims who died were children between the ages of 6 and 7 years old.  Robbie shares the details of the day of the shooting, and the days and months following Emilie's death.  He talks about his grief and what was and wasn't helpful during his process.  Come listen and be inspired by his perspective, and the lessons he has learned as he and his family move forward.

Christine talks about how the sexual abuse she experienced as a child and in college continues to effect her. She shares what her counselor told her that gave her the courage to prosecute her abuser, and a letter her abuser wrote to her from prison. Christine talks about her belief in God and how that belief allows her to see the good - despite her situation.

Christine shares how she was sexually abused by a family member and her neighbor as a young girl.  She then talks about how she moved away to college and ended up being sexually abused by a friend, who she discovered had just been released from jail only a few years previous on child sex abuse charges.  Come listen and be inspired as she tells her story of prosecuting her abuser in order to prevent other women from being abused too.  Christine is incredible and I was so impressed with her determination to not allow her abusive past, define her future.

Jenna talks about how she fell in love with her husband, and after a few short years of being married, her husband realized he was gay.  She describes her struggle - being excited for him for being true to who he was and at the same time, being heart broken that she was losing her husband and her marriage.

Jenna talks about how she fell in love with her husband, and after a few short years of being married, her husband realized he was gay.  She describes her struggle - being excited for him for being true to who he was and at the same time, being heart broken that she was losing her husband and her marriage.

Nettie shares examples of what was helpful for her on her journey of infertility.  She talks about her feelings of inadequacy and how she continues to battle them.

Nettie talks about her 11 year journey with infertility and multiple miscarriages she has been through.  She talks about how she miraculously found a woman who willingly offered to be her baby's surrogate mother (carry her baby) and the special relationship they have.  When the interview takes place, the surrogate mother is 32 weeks pregnant with Nettie's baby girl.

Hillary continues to talk about specific things she does in her own life to cope with the loss of her father.  She shares her own struggles with depression and suicidal ideation and what she does to combat it.  Comes listen about her thoughts regarding self worth and what forgiveness has done for her.

Hilary describes what it was like to lose her dad to suicide when she was 19 years old.  She talks about the good and the bad of their relationship and the impact her dad's death has had on her life.

Jami and Keri continue talking about their difficulties in coming out as gay in a Christian culture.  They discuss advice they would give to someone struggling with wanting to come out as gay, and the concept that words and how you treat others - whatever their life choices may be - matter a lot.  They talk about some difficult things they have personally experienced, and how their families reconcile their them being gay and being a member of a Christian faith.

Jami and Keri talk about what it was like growing up Christian and knowing they were gay.  They talk about coming out and their different experiences and difficulties in that process.  Come listen as they discuss how they make their relationships with their families work, despite them leaving their LDS faith, and their families continuing to be faithful members.