WHOA That's Good Podcast - How I Got Rid of My Crazy Debt | Sadie Robertson Huff & Lindsay Neely

Episode Date: May 6, 2024

Sadie sits down with her long-time friend Lindsay Neely to talk about Lindsay and her husband’s recent achievement of becoming totally debt-free. Sadie is SO impressed by the discipline and commitment Lindsay and her family showed to get to this amazing season in their lives and emphasizes that money can be a way to grow your trust in the Lord. Lindsay encourages everyone to look at their finances with the guidance of Jesus in mind, and Sadie has an incredible gift for Lindsay at the end of the show!  This Episode of WHOA That's Good is Sponsored by: https://www.auraframes.com/whoa — Get $30 off Aura’s best-selling frames when you use code WHOA at checkout! https://www.trymiracle.com/whoa — Get 40% off + 3 FREE towels with code WHOA at checkout! https://drinkag1.com/whoa — Get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3+K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase! - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

That's the sound of unaged whiskey, transforming into Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Around 1860, nearest green taught Jack Daniel how to filter whiskey through charcoal for a smoother taste, one drop at a time. This is one of many sounds in Tennessee with a story to tell. To hear them in person, plan your trip at tnvacation.com. Tennessee sounds perfect. ["Sisters and Friends"]

What's up, Sisters and Friends? Happy Monday, everybody. This is the first Sisters and Friends episode in the new studio, which I'm so excited about. And I just want to say thank you so much for everyone who supports this podcast, listens to this podcast, has been a part of the Woe That's Good fam for so long. It's really because of you guys that we get to step into this new studio. And I've been like pinching myself all day, kind of low key feeling like Kelly Clarkson or Oprah.

But for real, I'm so excited to just get to further podcasting and continue to do what I love doing and interview people and hear great stories. And today, I have a truly special guest on the podcast today. I actually have one of my good friends. She's also my mom's assistant. She was at once my sibling's babysitter.

She's played a lot of roles. She was that once my siblings babysitter. She's played a lot of roles. She helped have a hand in my wedding and bachelorette trip and planning pretty much everything we've been a part of. She also helped string even the DIY projects that you see even in this studio. I mean, she truly is an amazing person who's been a friend to our family. We have Lindsey Neely on the podcast. I'm so excited. You said yes to doing this.

Yes, thank you so much for asking me. And I'm just like so, so happy to be here and just like share what's been on my heart and in my life lately. And I hope that it's encouraging to others and sisters and friends and just get to share what's going on. And thank you so much for having me.

It's gonna be so good. Is this your first podcast? Yes. Okay, I love it because this is not like your typical thing, but so much is going on in your life. And you know, we've been friends for a long time. You've been, I think you came into the family during the Duck Dynasty days, which by the way,

how did that happen? Yeah, so I actually worked on the crew for Duck Dynasty and then y'all's life just got super busy and your parents needed somebody to help run Bella, Will, and Rowdy around and I was working like on the LA side of the Duck Dynasty and then I was a local so I didn't really know what they would do like whenever it stopped and so Willie and Cory were like will you just like help us with the kids and I was like absolutely Like I want to be on the local side of things So I'm so like glad they did because this is like nine years later and I'm still here. So it's crazy It's pretty crazy and you really have a played a part in like so many big moments in all of our lives

Like you really were a huge help in planning our wedding. And then even my Bachelorette trip, I was saying I got to know you a little bit more because you came with us and just like so many sweet special moments that we've gotten to share together. So people have probably seen you in our pictures and seeing you be a part of our life,

but not really know your full story. So we're gonna dive in. But first we have to say this because today, literally on this day, you guys are what? We are debt free and I'm so excited. I hope to just encourage everybody out there, this is just a story that I'm so excited to tell and just the blessings that have come from it.

And I'm 32 years old and I never thought that you could be debt free this young and like this and just like the things that have come from it is just like a norm. I think we thought we were just like living this normal life of card notes and payments and house notes and credit cards and there is peace and no anxiety and no stress in our life now that we have no payments. And like, we just get to prepare and plan for our future. And so it's just like so exciting

because it's just like something we never thought possible, but we learned that it is possible and it's doable. And so I'm just excited to share that part of the story too. Yeah, I'm so excited for you to share that part of the story. So this is kind of cool. So Lindsay's been in my life for a long time. I love Lindsay. I learn a lot from you just as being your friend

and you're such an awesome mom, you're such an awesome person and you work so hard for my mom. But then you started talking all of a sudden about you hearing Dave Ramsey doing the class, doing the thing. And I'm like, wait, this is actually really cool. So some of you might be listening to me like,

well, this is different. I am no Dave Ramsey. We typically don't have people on the podcast talking about stuff like this. But I was like, wow, a lot of people are walking through the stress that you guys were walking through before and are walking through just the reality of life being hard and everything just stacking up on itself.

And now y'all been through a lot of hard work and this class that y'all have done and you even brought your Dave Ramsey book, but you're here today, you're literally debt free, and that's something to be so proud of that you actually just said you did not think you were gonna be able to do at this stage in your life. And so tell me a little bit about that.

Like people might say, well, you know, you have a good job, all this stuff, but just a little bit more into like, how much of that were y'all like worried about? Was it really a huge stress in y'all's life? And when did y'all go, wait, this actually doesn't have to be a thing. Like we can work towards getting rid of this.

So actually we just thought like growing up, my parents worked paycheck, paycheck, paycheck. Like we even had to help provide for our family. Like I've worked since I was 12 years old. I feel like I've given, you know, provided for our family as a whole. I'd go to I was 12 years old. I feel like I've given, you know, provided for our family as a whole. I'd go to the store and buy milk and groceries and all these things. And I thought, oh my gosh, I don't want this for my family. I know it was stressful growing up in it,

so I don't want that for my family, but I didn't know how to make that happen. And so I went to college, got a good job. I feel like both Jonathan and I have worked really, really hard to provide for our families, but we were in the paycheck to paycheck. We got in credit card debt, we got in car loan debt, we got a new house, all these things. And it was just piling up and we were like, oh, I was just like, oh my gosh, I cannot live like this. This is so stressful. And at our church one Sunday,

the pastor was preaching on margins and how to create margin in your financial situation. And I was like, okay, we've really got to listen. We've really got to hone in on what this is. And he mentioned Financial Peace University is taught at our church. And so I was like, Jonathan, let's sign up for this. Let's see what it's about.

We just really need to change our ways. And when we were first married, we did not talk about money together. It was such a stressful conversation, such a stressful thing to talk about because we just didn't handle money very well. And so we started going to Financial Peace University and he just teaches you these things of how to spend your money, how to save your money, how to treat your money.

And we were like, okay, we were taking it all in, taking it all in, taking it all in. And one of the first things that Dave teaches is to tithe and give. And I will say, we were going to church for so long and we would only give money here and there. And we came home from that first meeting and it says the first thing to do is give. And we literally had to sit down and be like, I don't know where we're gonna give.

We don't have the money to tithe. It's so tight, so, so tight. I don't know how we're gonna do this. And John was like, I don't think we can. Let's just skip that part. And I was like, no, if we're going to do this, we have to do it the right way. And so we did. We just like, we're like, okay, we're going to tithe every week. And that's the first thing that comes out of our budget. And we did. And like, I can't even tell you the amount of blessings that we've gotten,

just like God showing up after like one time after the other, one time after the other, and just like, wow. If you really do give God his part first, he will show up so many more than you could ever imagine. There are some cool things that have happened behind that, but we were just living paycheck to paycheck and not knowing that you could live like this. And now that we're death free, we're just like, oh my gosh, like how many things are we going to get to do? Like we're going to get to send our kids to college and we're going to get to buy new furniture.

Like, I don't know, like just all these things that like we just didn't think were possible. So, okay. So tell me, cause that, I remember that sermon series that we did and that wasn't that long but it kind of was. So when, when did y'all hear that? It was in October. Okay, yeah. Or like early September. And so we started financial piece in October. Wow. And so this is seven months to the day we have paid off. Hey. $62,000. Oh my god. Consumer debt. That is crazy. Oh my gosh. Of consumer debt. That is crazy.

Crazy. Oh my gosh. Crazy, crazy, crazy. That's honestly amazing. Seven months, also number completion, kind of cool. And $62,000, I didn't even know the number, but that's amazing. Yeah, it's pretty cool. Okay, so I want to hear more about that later, but for those listening, I know so many of

you are in financial stressful situations and times, and especially a lot of our listeners are right out of college and you're feeling the weight of that. Maybe you're just sitting in the middle of a hard time, but you're still in the middle for those listening, I know so many of you are in financial stressful situations and times, and especially a lot of our listeners are right out of college and you're feeling the weight of that. Maybe you're just early married, maybe you just had a kid, you're feeling the weight of it. And that's one reason I wanted to have you on, because I'm like, you're someone who is feeling the weight of it, and you guys have just found such freedom in that. And so I want to talk about that. But also, y'all's story is really inspiring in and of itself too. So how did you and Jonathan meet?

Tell us a little bit about y'all's love story. So I love our story, of course, because I met Jonathan through my best friend. She was my best friend for two years. She didn't really even mention that she had a brother. And so we were just inseparable, great friends. We lived here in Monroe. We're both from the same hometown,

Alexandria. And she was like one weekend, she was like, Hey, do you want to come home with me? And I was like, Yeah, like, let's hang out. And I met her brother and he was like, asking her for my number. And she was like, Absolutely not. I'm not like that's my best friend, like not gonna happen. And he was like, she was like, if you want it, you're gonna have to get it yourself. And so he did, he just asked me to play in a softball tournament and we just started dating after that and I remember after like one of our first

like really serious dates, I told Kayla and I was like, I think he's the one, like I really think like this could really work and- How did she feel about that? She was like, are you sure? Yeah. And I was like, yes. And then of course we got to become sisters. And so anyways, we started dating and then six months in we got pregnant. And I was like, of course, just like, oh my gosh, what are we going to do?

You know, just like this is not the plan. Like, this is not the plan, like this is crazy. And I was a senior in college and I was like, oh my gosh, like this is just not how I thought life was supposed to go, you know? Like I just was not there, not ready. And, but we were committed to each other. We wanted to be together, We wanted to stay together.

And so he moved here to Monroe and I finished college and he was like, okay, Sid, do you want to get married? And I was like, yeah. And so I was like, well, I think he kind of thought I wanted this huge wedding and I was just ready to get married. I was like, we've got to get married, you know? And Finlay and Kate was 11 months old, and I was like, how do you feel about getting married

in Vegas? And he was like, you would do that? I was like, yeah, let's go to Vegas. And he was like, okay, let's go. So. Was there any inspo to that? Did you see a wedding in Vegas that you thought that's it?

No, I just, I think I feel like I was like, kinda conning him into it. I was like, I knew he would be on board for that, and I just really wanted to get married, so I knew if I said like Vegas, he would do it immediately. That is hilarious. And so I was kinda like, just ready. So I was like, let's do it.

And, um, which was kind of a crazy time because I was a senior in college. I was like, let's, can we get married in Vegas? Like on spring break. And he was like, yes. And so I went to spring break, not realizing that I had finals as soon as I got back. So we went, I had finals and I was just like,

this is the wildest time, but somehow I got through all of that. So I got married one weekend, the next weekend I graduated college. And then we've just been going ever since. And I was like, and since this is about money, I think he thought, I don't know when we're gonna get married

because I can't afford this huge wedding or whatever. And I'm like, oh, we spent $2,000 on our wedding. Like that's it. And it's just like, today. And I'm like, oh, we spent $2,000 on our wedding. That's it. And it's just like, today's age is just like, feel like you feel like you see all these things and you have to pay all this money for something that really is just like a marriage between two people

and just showing your love for one another. And I think that's just so special for us because we also just hit 10 years last week. So we're 10 years in and like just when we thought like at the beginning of our marriage, like, oh my gosh, or like, you know, finding out we're pregnant, like we were just like so scared and so young that we were just like, how are we going to do this? But just trusting that God has a plan and working through it has been really awesome.

that God has a plan and working through it. It's been really awesome. Yeah. Y'all Mother's Day is around the corner. If you didn't know that, you are welcome. And I'm about to tell you the best gift to get your mom that is going to be a win-win for everyone. It is the Aura Frames. If you haven't heard of it, let me tell you about it.

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frame is the best digital photo frame and it was selected as one of Oprah's favorite things. So your mom is going to love it. It really is so fun if you've tried these out if you haven't it really is so fun because it's kind of like your own personal social media that you're getting to upload just for your mom. So the pictures you might not post on socials that you know she loves to see on Instagram give you a little light, she's actually going to get to see at her house. You can upload any picture you want and just make her day and everyone in your family can do that. So if you have a lot of siblings maybe y'all go in together, get your mom an AuraFrame gift together. I'm telling

you you'll knock out all the part this Mother's Day. So right now Aura actually has a great deal for Mother's Day. Listeners can save on the perfect gift by visiting AuraFrames.com to get $30 off plus free shipping on their best-selling frames. So if you're going to get one, now is the time. That's AuraFrames.com, A-U-R-A, frames.com. Use the code WOAH, W-H-O-A at checkout to save. Terms and conditions apply. That's so beautiful. And I've heard you talk about before,

just like how the bride culture is these days and how, you know, it is so flashy and it's like, you have to go so big and so grand and it puts so much pressure on the bride then it puts so much stress on the bridesmaids because then they have to go to all these things and it's like so expensive. And I love when you tell your story,

it's like, I love how we got married because it was about the wedding and it wasn't as much about the wedding as it was about our marriage. It was about us getting married and then starting our life together. And here we are 10 years and like, that's what we're celebrating

and that's what that was for, was to launch us into this life together. And now you'll have two kids who are like absolutely amazing and Finley kicks out actually here in our live studio audience. And she's just like the best. I mean, I watched Finley Kate worship and you talked about it. You got emotional about it.

Tell me about it. It's just like, I mean, of course, 10 years, like 10 years ago, we would have never guessed like we'd be here and just, I guess, just putting all of our trust in God and like, really, Jonathan didn't really know the Lord whenever we were together. And just, I think I have always had a relationship with Jesus, like growing up, being in the church, and like, of course, it's gotten more personal as I've gotten older, but I just always knew,

like, if I continued to stay and trusting in God, God would bring him around. It would just be like if I just kept showing up and kept showing him. If I showed Jonathan the love of Jesus, eventually he wouldn't come to know the love of Jesus. And so it was just so awesome to be able to bring that and find a church that he enjoyed and that we both enjoyed and we both love. And then him getting involved in the church and finding his own way to Jesus was just so special

for our relationship. And then now he gets to raise our kids and that. So it's really, really cool. Okay, so I know listeners are gonna wanna know how did you actually do that? I know you did the day of Ramsey class, but what did your life kinda look like for the last seven months to get to this point?

Yeah, so we really just had to say no to a lot of things, which it seemed like it was gonna be hard in the beginning to say no, but really once you got into it, we really didn't miss a whole, whole lot. So the Dave Ramsey actually has a budgeting app that you can use and it's free to download, but you just use that app, it connects to your bank account

and we're able to like budget line item every single thing and then every time you spend something, you just place it in that budget and it tells you how much you have left for the rest of the month. So we started doing that like immediately, like I said, we would put our tithe in first and then I would do our house note, water, utilities, all the things, like all

that would come out then, that would come out next, and then I would say like, okay, well we have like $50 that we can go out to eat this month, or we have like $120 a week to be able to do groceries, and this much for gas and that much for that. So basically just really honing in and not going over budget on anything. So if it was like, we can only go out to eat one time after church on Sunday, you know, like we couldn't go out to eat every single Sunday. It was just one time. It was that one time. And that was enough. Or for groceries, like really planned every single meal and we did leftovers.

And it was like, okay, I can use this for that and this for that. And so just really planning our meals and sticking to it and not going over budget. And I know it might be hard, but once you get into the routine of having this or having that and getting creative with your meals, it really is doable. And then another thing that we did was just like, kind of look at everything that we were paying for. Like, Dave teaches you, or like the Ramsey Method teaches you to like, get life insurance and different things that like, are really important for you to have in place. And we did have life insurance in place, but we've been paying this for like, so long. Yeah.

And we just called to find out, because it was a really high note that we were paying every month. And then we called and we figured out that we had two life insurances on Jonathan. And I was like, why do we need two? We only really need one. And so like that cut it down. And then we even called the cell phone company and we were like, hey,

how can we get this monthly note down, you know? And they were like, oh, we all have been customers for so long, like, we'll go you down to this and we'll cut this. And so it really was just like calling and figuring out like who you could talk to to get things down and really just like, being intentional about where our money was going.

And like, really we found out like so many things that we were paying for that we didn't even use, like subscriptions and different things, and really just cutting out all of those things. And it was like really important for us to do that because then we spent more time as a family, we did. So it was like, even though we were cutting things that we thought were so important,

it really was easy to get rid of them and then spend more time with our family and do the things that we wanted to do. And like we're such goers and we're so busy all the time that I was like, okay, I'm really glad we're staying home this weekend. You know, like I'm really glad that we're actually like spending time at home and not going to do anything.

And we really started off the Dave Ramsey plan like in a really bad spot because Dave Ramsey doesn't want you to buy a house until you're like debt free and like safe for a down payment and all those things. Well, when we started the class, we had closed on our house like the week before. And I was like, oh, we are doing this all wrong. Not only do we close on a house,

we went to Disney two weeks later. And we were like, okay, you definitely cannot go to Disney and be on vacation. So that was just like another expense that we added on, like really starting out this thing. And so I was like, the kids knew after Disney, like that was it, like no more fun. I'm actually glad that you said that

because sometimes I think you, like people might see that and be like, oh, you can't buy a house. Well, I just said that, okay that was it, like no more fun. I'm actually glad that you said that because sometimes I think you, like people might see that and be like, oh, you can't buy a house. Well, I just said that, okay, nevermind, this isn't gonna work for me. Or like, oh, I just went to Disney World, so, you know, if I can't do that, then I'm not gonna do this. But that's the same thing people do with like Bible reading.

It's like, oh, I got off, so I'm not gonna read the rest. It's like, no, stay with it. Or, oh, I missed a practice. I'm not, no, like go back to the gym or whatever it is, you know, and so I love that you're like, we actually started off on a really bad foot year, but still like you were like, okay, from this move forward, let's get serious about it and stay committed.

And just seven months, like honestly, that's not that much time. Like I know it probably felt like a long time because that's a lot of hard things to say no to. And a little bit of a life change and a lot more intentionality. But in the grand scheme of life, seven months to the rest of your life.

What a gift, you know? And so much of it was just noticing. And I will say too, now that we are debt free, now we figured out how quickly can we pay off the house. We're like, oh, can we get it done before Finley graduates high school? Yes, let's do it. So it's just like, once you get started and you see how awesome it can be to like knock

out all these things, like you're just like that much more enthusiastic to get it all done. And you're like, we're just like so excited. And I'm like, if you think about it, I'm like, we just paid off 64,000 in seven months. So like, what if we save another 64,000 in the next seven months? Like, what can we do? You know? So it's just cool to think like whenever you think about those things, it's like, oh yeah, you really can.

And like your job and what you make is like what actually build your wealth. So you really need to be intentional about that because you can set yourself up like for a great future if you're really intentional about your money now. Yeah, that's so good. Well, we're some of like the funniest, not funniest, cause it probably didn't feel funny at the time,

but like what were some of the things in the beginning that was the hardest to rip the bandaid off? I will say like Jonathan is like really bad about going to eat lunch. And he like always wants to go out to eat for lunch, but he just had to pack his lunch and he was like not super happy about it. And then today he like texted me and he like always wants to go out to eat for lunch, but he just had to pack his lunch and he was like not super happy about it. And then today he like texted me and he was like,

so we were out of mayonnaise and I could not eat my sandwich and so I went by Sonic and I'm like, oh my gosh. I'm like, are you kidding me? I'm like, we're dead free and now you're like, oh, I'm going back to Alt E and I'm like, no, we're not doing that. That's so funny. So it's just really funny just being it like, I guess the hardest part was just like, oh, I'm going back to Alty. And I'm like, no, we're not doing that. So it's just really funny just being it like,

I guess the hardest part was just like, we love to go eat out after Sunday church. And like, that was just really hard, but also to like just emergencies or things that like happened that was like, oh man, this is really gonna hurt. Like this is really gonna hurt. But I feel like in this plan, it teaches you to save.

And prepare for that. And prepare. So like I would have like emergency fund, or like, you know, if I knew like I needed new tires on my car, like that was the greatest thing. Like I really did need new tires on my car, but I had just planned it in a budget. And when I went to go get them,

there was no stress in buying them. And it was just like the most amazing feeling. You just prepare. It's just if you prepare you can do it. And I was nervous that we were going to have to say no to the kids like in their sports or doing different things and like Finley came to us with a new idea that she wanted to do theater and I was like oh my gosh like I don't know you know and like seeing the bill for theater but it was like I budgeted for that and I planned for that. So like writing them to check or giving them money, like it didn't even hurt.

And it wasn't stressful because it was like already the plan and I'm such a planner. So that like really helps me to know that like that money's there and that it's okay. And one thing like, I will say like early in our marriage and when we had the credit cards and everything, like we have no credit cards and everything, we have no credit cards now, which is huge.

But when we had them, John and I would not even talk and we'd just get money fights and be so scared. But I would tell them, don't use a debit card. There's no money in that account. Please don't use a debit card. You have to use a credit card because you're gonna overdraft our account. That was so much of our conversations

when we were early married that I was like, now we have so much money in our account that I'm like, wow, this is amazing. Like when you're not having to pay the credit card companies, you just like have so much freedom and so much relief. And it's just so easy to talk to each other about money. It's like one of the coolest things that we get to. Just spread freedom into so much of it,

and so much light into it. And I think it's just so cool because it comes down to things that are important in every situation in your life, like being intentional, preparing for things, bringing freedom, bringing light, bringing commitment to certain situations, having contentment, all of these things that you had to do in seven months

are like actually lessons that will bless you for a lifetime, you know? So these applied to being deaf free. But man, if you get these things in your life, it'll bless you for a lifetime. So, so cool. Y'all, I don't know about you, if you're a mom out there,

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and use the code woe to claim your free three-piece towel set and save over 40% off. Again, that's trymiracle.com slash woe to treat yourself today. Okay, I want to talk a little bit to you about y'all's wedding because I know, I remember you told me this whenever we were having a picnic and it was my bachelorette party and we were all talking about our weddings and just experiencing y'all were all giving me advice and all your wedding was amazing, but you also had some things kind of go wrong.

Yeah. So tell a little bit about that. Yeah, so we actually, of course, I was like really struggling of whether to bring Finley Kate with us to the wedding and like really go because it's Vegas, it's wild, it's crazy. And so she had ended up, she was 11 months old,

she had ended up getting sick like right before we went. And I was like, gosh, I just really don't think this is like the right time to bring her. Like, it's just going to be so much. Vegas isn't really kid friendly. So I was just like, I think maybe, yeah, maybe I should just like see if she can stay home with my mom.

And so she did. And anyways, it was like the wedding day and my mom called me at like 10 a.m. ish and she was like, I just want you to know, like I'm on the way to the hospital with Finley Kate and I'm like, what is happening? Like just of course, just like losing it. And she was like, well, she ended up having a seizure. And so I just wanted to make sure that you knew she she said everything's okay, we're on our way, she's going, you know, it's gonna be fine.

And I'm just like, oh my goodness, like this is the first time this has really ever happened. I'm not there, of course I'm like worried to death. And I'm like, but it's like our wedding day, like what am I supposed to do? Like, oh my gosh, I'm like a couple hours from getting married and then my daughter's in the hospital so I'm just like, of course it's so stressed

and just not really sure what to do. But I was like, everything's okay, like it'll be fine. And so I guess continue to get ready for the wedding and go to the wedding, get married. And I told John then I'm like, I'm sorry, I'm leaving. Like I just have to get back home to our daughter. I was like, I just couldn't stay any longer without knowing that I was on my way to her, you know?

But he stayed and like hung out with the rest of our friends because we went to Vegas to get married and we invited 30 of our friends and family. And we were like, if you can make it, we would love for you to, if you can't, it's okay, you know? And so we actually had about 20 to 25 people there with us. So he stayed and entertained everybody. And I was like, I've gotta go, gotta get back.

So got home and everything was fine. And looking back, I probably would have been okay to just stay, but just knowing that I was headed back towards her, the mom heart, The mom heart to get back to her to help in any way that could, you know. Yeah, well I wanted to bring that up because we had an experience where Honey went to the hospital and I was gone

and that was like the worst moment. That was like the worst night ever. And we drove all the way home and got there. But it's just like in moments like that where you just feel like, oh my gosh, that was not the plan. And I feel like everyone has those moments in life where like, this was not how I planned it, this is not how I saw it to be.

But through those experiences, you learn so much and you grow so much and your love and your relationships with people as a mom, as a wife. And I think about you and Jonathan, where y'all started. Like y'all got married in Vegas, spring break, beautiful story, but also a lot of things went wrong that you didn't really plan for. You get back and now here y'all are 10 years later

celebrating a 10 year anniversary with two amazing kids who y'all love the Lord, they love the Lord, debt free. Like this is so huge. When you look back and like view all that, there's probably people who are listening right here who are at that start and maybe it's been a little bit rocky. What do you think are some of the things that you would say help get y'all through

those unplanned times to get to such a steady time now? Yeah, I think I would say like there are many times where like it's been really hard or you know, just like unfortunate things have happened and I really do just like kind of break down and just go and cry and talk to the Lord, like talk to Jesus and just be like, I need you here, I need you now.

And just how getting us through that, like walking through that and just being able to say, like, I can trust in you, I know what's gonna happen. And like times have been hard, but times have also been really, really good. And just knowing that it's gonna be okay. And like, it's hard to explain, but times have also been really, really good. And just knowing that it's going to be okay. And it's hard to explain, but whenever you're talking, whenever you have tough times with your husband, it can be so, so hard.

But at the same time, just working through that hard time and getting to the other end of it, now I've looked back and I'm like, that was so small. Some of those things that we thought were so big then, they're so small now. And now we can talk about anything and it not affect each other. You know, just like, that was one of the biggest things that we had to get over was like, I would hold stuff in

and not wanna talk about it and just hold it in and it should explode at like the last minute, the last straw. And he was just like, can you not do that anymore? Like just tell me exactly when it happens, just be right on it, like right when it happens. And like, I've gotten so much better at that. And that has just grown our relationship

and our being able to just get through it right then instead of just holding onto it for so long. So I feel like that's just something that like, if you can just, you know, talk about it and face it head on, like you'll be able to get through it so so long. So I feel like that's just something that like, if you can just, you know, talk about it and face it head on, like you'll be able to get through it so much quicker. That's so true. And then you look back and it was so small.

Yeah, it was so small at the beginning. Yeah, it was so small. And normally by the time you say something, whenever you're so worded up, they're so confused because they're like, what? Because they haven't been in your head this whole time and they're like, huh? And you can't even really explain it

because you built this whole thing up. That's so real. I think one thing that I learned from y'all story and even in seven months of being debt-free is like y'all are so committed to things. Like y'all were committed to each other. Y'all were committed. You were committed to loving him

and praying for him to come to the Lord and like his relationship and steady with that. And then like committed to being debt-free and doing the work that it takes to get that. And I think that commitment is something that's kind of lost on a lot of us at times. You know, it's like we want it fast. We want it instantly, but it honestly takes a lot of commitment to see the fruit of things. And so I want to hear your thoughts on committing to things. And then two, this kind of goes together, but just contentment.

Like you're committed and you're content. Like you say content in times that are really hard where you might wish you had more, wanted to do more, but just like that contentment is so important. So do you see those two words apply heavily to your life? You know, Christian's always been so good about taking supplements and I, not so much, but it is important to me if I'm going to take a supplement that it's the highest quality and that is why I have been drinking AG1 for years.

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Again that's drinkag1.com slash wo to check it out today. Yes, of course. Like I will say like, yeah, when we started this journey, we were like, okay, we even sat the kids down like in October and we were like, look, this is going to be a really hard year. I was like, you're going to hear mom and dad say no, you're going to say, you're going to hear us say, we can't do this, we can't do that. But I want you to know that we're saying no right now

so that in a year, in two years, we can say yes to everything. It's gonna be a hard year, but that's just a season. We're gonna stay committed to this, we're gonna work really hard. And we thought our debt-free was gonna be December of 2024, and here we are in May of 2024 and we're debt free. Like it wasn't even a full year that they had to sacrifice

or we had to sacrifice, you know, it's because we put our head down. We worked really hard and we stay committed to that. And so I think if you get a plan and you really are committed to sticking to it, it's a lifestyle change. It's saying no, it's like telling your friends out lunch, like, hey, I can't go to lunch, you know?

And like, or saying you can't go on that vacation, you can't go do this or whatever it is because like you really are committed in working hard towards a goal. And once you reach that goal, then it's like complete freedom and then you're able to go do it, you know? So being content, like I was, I will say will say I had content for my word for like 2022,

and it didn't really happen because there was just a lot of things that needed to happen in our life. And I was like, okay, I'm just going to stay content. I'm just going to stay content. I'm not going to get that. I'm not going to get that. And then we ended up making a really big move. We had moved from West Monroe to Alexandria to our hometown and then that didn't really work out. And I was trying to stay content because that was my word, but really, we really needed to move back to West Monroe. Like I was still working there. Well, that's important.

Actually, I love what you're saying because there are some things you're supposed to be committed to and then there are other things that it's okay to shift. And I think it's like having the discernment in life to know like this is something that's important to stick to. And then some things out of our own stubbornness and pride, we try to stick to whenever that's not the Lord saying,

stick to it. That's maybe your own like will like forcing its way in. And so I'm gonna say like we were so committed or like I wanted to be committed to that one thing. And it was like, it's really not working. And so now I feel like that word contentment has come full circle back around to this year because I'm like, we are content in where we are.

We are content in our jobs, we're content in our home, we're content in our car. And like, we don't have anything super fancy and that's not what it's about. It's just being about like what our life is, having our family and loving the Lord and just being able to serve and show love to others. So it's just like that contentment is just every day.

That's really cool. Okay, so you had some verses written down and I want you to be able to read them because you said that some of these verses have really helped you through it. And I do wanna talk about that because sometimes when it comes to like the church and talking about money, people can get like,

oh weird about it. But I do think like it is our relationship with the Lord that some like these things, it helps in these areas so much because like even what you're saying about sacrifice and contentment, I think about that in my own life. Like I remember hearing a sermon from Alex Sealy, who's a pastor and she's a woman.

And she was, I relate to her a lot because a lot of what I do is preaching and teaching. So I learned a lot from Alex. And she was saying when I like, whatever God puts on your life, like the call he puts on your life, you have to be obedient to it, right? And she was talking about for her,

she's like, I'm a speaker. Like I have to speak on Sunday mornings, I'm preaching the word. So that means sometimes like when my friends are all going out, I have to say, I'm sorry,, I have to speak on Sunday mornings, I'm preaching the word. So that means sometimes when my friends are all going out, I have to say, I'm sorry, I can't tonight because I'm working on this message. And so I have to sacrifice here and there knowing that this is what I'm called to,

I'm committed to, and then you get to see the reward and the freedom you have Sunday morning when you're prepared to preach the word. So in every stage of your life, whatever you're doing, like those same principles apply, like being committed, being able to say no when you need to say no, being able to say yes when you need to say yes, being able to sacrifice

when you need to sacrifice and experiencing the freedom of that. But you talk about how even these scriptures with the Lord have really helped you even in this journey of becoming debt-free. Do you wanna read a couple of those? So, which I thought this was really cool because it's Philippians 411, which I know most of

us all know Philippians 413, but this is Philippians 411 and it is, I am not saying this because I'm in need for, I have learned to be content in whatever the circumstances. And then it goes on to say, I can do all things through Christ that strengthen me. And so like you, this is just talking about how like you could have Jesus whenever you're like wealthy and fully fed and all these things, but you can also need Jesus whenever you don't. You're nothing, you're nothing, you know? And so it's just being content.

And like we've seen that with just this being, doing this debt-free journey is like, Jesus has shown up like so many times where we were just like, oh my goodness, like, okay, we want to do more of this because this means Jesus's blessing, you know, like he just keeps providing for us whenever I'm like, I feel like that sounds so cliche, but it's just like, it really has happened.

And it is so true. And I just wish I could scream that from the rooftops everywhere we go. You know, I will just say this because I feel like I have this funny like God wink of like when we were tithing, we actually sold something. And I told John, I was like, I really feel like we need to tithe off the top of like what we just sold. And he was like, yeah, true.

Like, for sure, like, do it. And it was a large amount. And I was like, OK, like, this for sure, like do it. And it was a large amount. And I was like, okay, like this is awesome. Like we get to do this. And it was like, I feel like God just has like a sense of humor sometimes because I had had something sitting on like Facebook marketplace to like sell for like the longest time. And I was like, this thing is never going to sell like whatever, you know, it's just, it's been sitting there. And I went to tithe on what we sold. And I'm telling you, as soon as I clicked the button to pay the tithe, the thing on Facebook sold.

And it was just like, I mean, it's seriously the same exact time. I was like, God just has a funny way of showing up in your life, like whenever you're truly looking for him. You know, and it's like such a funny thing. I have the same stories. Like actually, Shelly Giglio told me one time, she's like such a funny thing. I have the same stories. Actually, Shelly Giglio told me one time, she's like, try to out give God, I dare you.

And it's so crazy. There was a moment this past year where it is so real. No matter what financial situation you're in, sometimes it can be hard to talk about with your husband because y'all are two people trying to make a decision with one bank account and one financial decision. And so I've really felt like the Lord was telling me in this moment to give this certain amount of money away.

And it was a lot of money. And I was thinking like, my first thought was like, how am I gonna tell Christian? Because I really feel like I'm supposed to do this, but like, I need him to also feel like we're supposed to do this. So I was like, okay, God, like, before I even told Christian,

we just put it on his heart or whatever. I was just like trying to think of how I was gonna say it. And so literally, I'm typing out what I'm gonna say to him and I get an email and it's something completely random and it was this offer that was for the exact, literally the exact same amount of money that I just was telling him I wanted to give away. And it was stuff like that where you're just just like confirmation that that's what God said.

I just want to like clarify for people listening, we are not preaching a prosperity gospel. I'm not saying, you know, this if you follow God, you're going to be financially blessed. That is not what we're saying. Actually, if you read the gospel, Jesus is like, if you follow me, pick up your cross because things are about to get hard. There's hard times ahead. It is not promised that you will be financially blessed. It is not promised that you have prosperity. But at the same time, if you also go read, Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and he ends

and he's talking about how much the Father cares for you and how the Lord will provide your every need. And I love that people make sure to identify that. It says need, like not want. He won't provide your every want. You're not always gonna have what you want, but he will provide what you need. And then there are those moments

where you have those God wings. And it's not always, so there have been other times where we've given a lot of money and you don't necessarily see that in return with money, but you see that in return with joy that you get from giving or just like the, just the love that you have with each other, knowing that you get to partner

with God and doing something really cool. And so yeah, it doesn't always look like financial comeback, but, and that's not what you do it for, you know, you do out of the goodness of your heart. So I just want to establish that, because I think that's what people get weird about money in the church is because people get weird about money in the church.

That's not what we're talking about. We're talking about the very truth of things that are in scripture, like tithing, things that are in scripture, like the Lord providing, things that are in scripture, like contentment in every circumstance in your life, whether you're at the top or at the bottom. And the truth is also opposite.

You can not have Jesus and be super wealthy and not feel like you have nothing and be empty, you know, and then have nothing and feel like you're super rich because you have the important things in life. Like I saw that very clearly one time when I went straight from the Dominican Republic to Hollywood. I was in Dominican Republic on a mission trip with people that I know and love who are like family to me, who are some of the most joyful content people in the world who I could sit there and just hang out and not worry about anything because they don't worry about

things like that that we do sometimes. And I just love my time there. And then I went straight to Hollywood and I just was faced with people who had everything and honestly were lacking in a lot of things that really matter in life and not content and not having that same joy. So I remember going on that trip when I was younger thinking this is a good thing for me to see and take note of.

And so to hear Paul say, you know, I've actually learned to find contentment in everything. That whether I'm on the highest of the highs, you're the lowest of the lows, I have a steadiness in Christ, you know? And so that's what you're saying and what you've got to experience. Yeah, and I feel like that has like just become like

a more relationship with God because it's literally like, we are giving him his part first. And like, we've just been able to really turn our wants that we thought we wanted. It's just like, they're not even there anymore. It's literally just like, we want to do what we're supposed to do and be good stewards of God and help provide and love others. And we just can't wait for the time that we can just like write a check to something to give to Camp Tioka, to the theater, you know, just different things that we just like cannot wait to give

because we are like, that's our next goal is to be where we can like live and give like nobody else and be able to provide and just like really change the people in our community. So I'm just really excited. I love that. Okay, so like I said, this is your first podcast and this is not typically something you would jump at

and say yes to, but I know you wanted to because you do have a lot of important things to talk about. One of course, and what we're mainly talking about is that you are debt free. Why do you wanna talk about it with other people and what do you hope people listening are inspired by in their own life?

Like what's the importance of sharing that story? I think because everybody thinks that this is normal. Everybody thinks that having a car loan, having credit cards, everybody thinks that this is a normal life and it does not have to be. That is a stressful life, that is full of stress and anxiety and you can't like pay your bills or like the inflation and interest rates.

Like everything is so high right now that I feel like everybody is feeling it. Everybody's feeling that pressure. But you don't have to live like that. You don't have to live that way. Like if you can really figure out how to be good stewards of your money and build wealth that you can change your life, you can change your family tree.

Like that was just something that we have learned in this journey. And I'm like, I want everybody to know that it doesn't have to be that way. It doesn't have to be stressful. It doesn't have to be paycheck to paycheck. And like, I know that it's just like most of America. And I think with social media and different things,

we think that everybody drives all these fancy cars. But I've seen it so many times that you can, somebody can drive a really fancy car and only have $100 to their name and people think that they're rich. But really, people who have $100,000 in their bank and drive a crappy car, like they're the ones who are really have, you know, are really stable and really not stressed.

Yeah. And I think that's like where I was before doing this. It was like, oh, I wanted a new car. I wanted this. I wanted that. And I was just like, oh, my gosh, you really don't need those things to be happy. You really don't need those things to find joy. You really don't need those things to find joy. Like really, you just need your family and you need Jesus. And I don't know, like I just feel like God didn't intend for us to live that way. Live this way.

You know, like it's just, if you're always in debt, you're always owing somebody else. You're always gonna be a slave to somebody else if you owe them money, you know? So it's just better to just figure it out and just work hard and not owe anybody any money. It's very inspiring and you know I will say it's so interesting just like how our culture is. It's so true about the way that we um I guess kind of like look on other people and deem success and actually even like when we talk about the wedding culture

and it's really just social media culture. It's like you throw all this out there and everything looks so fancy and aesthetic and pleasing and then you want your life to look like that but that's so not realistic. And I found it so like, I feel like I really realized how our culture can be whenever we got a minivan. And I know this is so funny, I didn't even really think

that that was a big deal because like my mom has a minivan, my grandma has a minivan, my grandma has a minivan. I was like, I'm gonna get a minivan. Like, you know, that just makes sense. That's so practical for our family. I mean, we have a nice minivan. I love our minivan, but it was just so crazy the reactions people have to me driving a minivan.

Like when I pull up to people, I'm like, this is your car? You really drive a minivan? And I'm like, yeah, I have two kids and two car seats. And this is great because I have a whole third row so I can pick y'all up still. Like, this is great. And when your hands are full, you don't have to open the door. It's amazing. And also, not to mention like when you open the door, it doesn't take up much room for

the car beside you so to get out the car seat or to get out the kids, it's so much easier. But I just realized that like, wow, like there's so much of us is really wrapped up in what we drive or how we look or how we carry ourselves, what we wear, what our house looks like, all the things. And so I really do think it's so important to check all of our hearts and say like, okay, what are the things that really matter in my life? And then I treat those things like

that really is what matters. Is that, and I treat it like that really is the priority of my life and really what I value and you know it's actually really cool. I actually love now showing up in my minivan because it gives me a good conversation with people who have a big reaction of like why why does it matter so much like why does it surprise you you know and I've actually gotten into some really cool conversations about that and so anyways it's just it to say it's so interesting how we do things nowadays especially you know, and I've actually gotten into some really cool conversations about that. And so, anyways, just to say it's so interesting how we do things nowadays, especially with social media.

And I think that's probably always been the case just in different things. It's maybe a little bit heightened now with social media. But really just asking yourself, why do I do things to do? Why do I buy things to buy? Why? And making sure your heart's in the right place. Because it really is all about your heart posture. Like where, what does it say in the word, where your treasure is that your heart will be also. So it's like, it really does matter to establish like where is your heart. And I always think about that with like big purchases or like if I'm buying some clothing that's like more expensive, I'm like, okay, just making sure I'm not buying this because I want people to see that I have this or I buy this because I want people to see that I have this? Or am I buying this because I really just like it

and I'm able to right now? And then that's okay, because I just think it's such a heart posture thing and it's like, if you're able to and your heart's pure in it, good, get it, enjoy it. But if your heart is not pure and you're like, I wanna look fancy, I want people to know that I have this money,

it's more flashy, I'm gonna show up and let everybody know, like, look what I have, the entree thing, then that's a little bit different. And so like making sure your heart's in the right place is so important. We've talked about this just behind the scenes in our own life, but I know that you've talked about

you're kinda coming to this point in your faith now where you're sharing scripture with people, you're sharing more about your faith with other people, and that hasn't always been the case for you. Where do you think this newfound confidence has come? You're telling people you're debt-free, you're going on the podcast, you're sharing your faith a little bit more.

Has that always been your personality type, or is that something that you're coming more confident into nowadays, and maybe why? Yeah, I'm definitely just more confident in it, because I feel like I've just been learning more about the Word and Jesus and who He wants us to be and how He wants us to have a relationship with Him. And so I've just gotten more apt to talking to Him more often and more daily, you know,

all the time. It's just like in random times. And I'm just like, Lord, I need you. Just having basic conversation with Him just for guidance and understanding. And so I feel like the more I've just talked with him and built that relationship, the more confident I've been in sharing that with others and sharing what he's been doing in my life.

Because he's shown up for me, so I just wanna show it for him. So I just feel like that's been so fun. But, thanks. I see that in you. It's so cool, because yeah, you've been so much more confident just having conversations about the Bible,

and you didn't always do that. Like, knowing you for what, nine years now? And it's really cool to see you find confidence in that and freedom in that, and I love what you said, when you know him more, you share him more. That's just how it goes, you know? And I think so many people are worried about saying, because what if I mess up, what if I don't know it as much?

But if you're worried about that, then study more, learn more, talk to people more, and also have the humility to say, I might mess it up. I do all the time. I am talking on a podcast all the time. I mess it up all the time, and everyone gets to hear me mess it up. Literally, in my last podcast, I just did right before you,

I totally said the wrong word, and it was a smart word, too, and I was like, I just did right before you, I like totally said the wrong word and it was like a smart word too. And I was like, I botched that. And then later I was like telling the editor, I was like, you can take that. I was like, actually just leave it in. So people know that it's relatable. You know, like I mess up the words, like we all mess up.

And so it's just really cool to see you bring confidence into that area of your life. And you're just, you really are, you're such a good mom, such a good wife, such a good friend to learn from. Well, and I was gonna share like one thing that I've recently just heard, and I thought it was so, so good, but it was a quote this girl said,

you know, like not caring what other people think is a true superpower. Truth. And I'm like, whoa, that is just like so good to know, because it's like, I was like getting ready to come to this Truth. And I'm like, well, that is just so good to know. Because I was getting ready to come to this podcast, and I was like, well, do I need this? I don't know. And I was like, you know what?

I don't really care what other people think. And it's just so, I've been putting my mind and my heart in that. It doesn't matter what others think around you, as long as they're seeing the love of Jesus from me. That's all I really want. And so it's just been so fun to think that way and it's so less stress. So free.

It's so freeing to not be like, I don't really care what I post on my Instagram because I mean, if they don't like it, they don't like it. It doesn't matter. And it's just so fun to live life that way. And just so much more free and exciting. And so I just think that's so good. And just true. That's why this message of live original, like we put the sign back up in the studio cause I'm like, that is the message.

And that's such a freeing way to live when you really are just like your original self, fully living in who God created you to be and not worry what other people think of you. And man, it is so much more fun. You dance in public. You are okay to botch the words. You show up to things that, you know,

just the way that you are. And you know, it's just great. Like even last night, my honey hat on, princess heels on the wrong shoes, and some kind of funny outfit, and then Haven didn't have shoes on, but we were gonna go to dinner.

And I was like, you know what, let's just go because we're gonna either miss out on dinner just because y'all look funny or we're just gonna go as you are, which I would show off like that too. And it's just like the freedom. And actually what's funny is the conversation I mentioned about the minivan,

I wasn't gonna share this, but I will share this because the person said, one of the people that had a big reaction said to me like, wow, you really have nothing to prove, do you? And I just thought that was like a weird thing to say. And I was like, uh, no, I mean, I don't feel like I have anything to prove. And he goes, well, you've never, you've never had to experience that, like having that feeling of feeling like you need to prove something because of who your family is.

And I said, I was like, actually, that's not true. I was like, because like my life hasn't always looked like the way my life looks like right now. I was like, plus, you know, there are people who struggle with things no matter what their life looks like. So that's also not true because that's just not true. I mean, you hear some of the biggest actors and actresses in Hollywood say that they struggle with the things

that you would think, surely she doesn't, but of course she does because she's a human. But I told him, I said, you know, I actually remember in middle school, before my parents like, you know, had Duck Dynasty and that was successful, my friends all having like Nike shorts to wear. And my parents were like, those are so expensive.

Y'all are not getting Nike shorts. Like you're not getting Nike shorts. And I would beg them, please let me get Nike shorts. I wanna have Nike shorts and wanna, you know, fit in. And she's like, you're not getting Nike shorts because and I would beg them, please let me get Nike shorts. I want to have Nike shorts, I want to fit in. And she's like, you're not getting Nike shorts because your dad has a deal with Under Armour, and so you're gonna wear the Under Armour shorts because there's no way we're spending money

on the Nike shorts. And then even before my dad had deals, I remember it was the jeans or the jacket or the whatever. And I remember navigating those feelings of wanting to prove myself by what I was wearing or the name brand that I had. So I was like, I did experience that. And I overcame that when I was younger

through my parents helping me navigate these things. You don't need that to know your worth. And those were the times that my dad, my dad didn't name me when I was young, the original, to teach me that message of like, you're original, don't look to the left and the right. It's not about what other people are doing. It's about who God made you to be. And so it was just interesting. And so I was telling this guy this that told me that he was like,

oh, well, I was wrong. Like you have experienced that. But again, that's just another like point of people thinking that other people don't understand the shoes that they walk into, that they walk in. And that's why, you know, whenever you're coming to the podcast and I was like, hey, you said to me, you're like, hey, we didn't always do things the right way, so do you really want me to share my story? I was like, yes, because it's your story. And because 50%, if not more, people of our listeners

will be able to say, that's my story, actually. Actually, 100% will say I didn't always do it the right way, but 50% might be exactly where you're in. And so it's so important you don't just look at everybody else and go like, well, I just want to try to look like I'm like them or sound like I'm like them because this is what's socially acceptable. That's why socially no one feels like they're enough

because people aren't being honest. I feel like, and it's really hard because I feel like a lot of times like you don't know what they're really actually going through or what's really behind, because I feel like a lot of times, you don't know what they're really actually going through or what's really behind their Instagram or whatever it is. And I want to now, I'm glad that I'm learning this now and that I'm in this now, because my daughter's about to go to middle school,

my son's only a couple of years away from middle school. And so I'm like, if I can just show them that really nobody else's opinion matters about you, you are who you are, I want you to be confident in that. And it really doesn't matter what other people have or what they do, it's like it matters what you do. And you just go out every single day and show people love. You know, like then you're really gonna find

the true friends that you need and be able to like survive the middle school and high school years, you know? So I'm like, so glad that I'm finding this now so they can just like keep passing it on. It's great. Yeah, it's so good. Lindsay, you're so inspiring. Okay, I have two things for you.

Okay, what's that? One's a funny gift. The second one is a gift I wanna give you. First funny gift for your day of MC class since you're saving money. I had my 50% off voucher for my chiropractor visit for your next visit. I need that, I need that.

They said give it to friends and family and I said I know just the person. Perfect. So the second thing I have is a gift that Christian and I and mom and dad and team want to give you. And I know that whenever you had your wedding, didn't quite go as planned because you had to get back home to Finley Cate.

But after 10 years, we want to give y'all the honeymoon of your dreams that you deserve. So, yes. So I know, I know me too. We want to give y'all the honeymoon of your dreams that you deserve. Oh my gosh. You are going to be so happy. Yes. I know me too. I know you planned a lot of trips for us, but we want you to get to plan your trip for you guys that y'all deserve after 10 years of being married.

I know y'all are working hard to save money, but we don't want y'all to have to worry about that. We're going to send y'all wherever y'all want to have the honeymoon that you guys deserve. Oh my goodness. That is so awesome. We love you guys. Thank you so much. We love you guys. Thanks for doing this podcast. Yeah.