It’s always fun to look back and remember what a year held. Not only the events or what I actually did, but how I felt inside. The older I get the more my heart resides within the feelings of the experiences. The relationships made. The connections nurtured. The way my humanity intersected with those I was with.

I was recently reminded of the surveys of those who are close to dying. The ones who’ve lived a long life. And while knowing that their time on earth was coming to an end, they reflected upon what is was they cherished? What they remembered? It’s was the people. The relationships. The investments of their hearts.

And yet so many times there were regrets. Regrets of focusing on the wrong things. Spending too many years struggling to make money, to get ahead, or buy that next most popular thing. Too much time trying to acquire and achieve, while the minutes and days slipped away and they lost time from investing in the ones they actually loved.

I think it’s important to reflect back on the past year, before we move ahead, dream, or plan the next one.

Continue reading Happy New Year 2019! at JacqueWatkins.com

Welcome to episode 105 of Mud Stories!

Mud Stories is a podcast dedicated to bringing you inspiration in your muddiest moments, hope to make it through your mud, and encouragement for you to know, you are not alone.

Today I’m continuing with part two of our conversation with Ann Voskamp, farmer’s wife, mom to seven kids, and the author of the New York Times Best Selling book One Thousand Gifts, as well as her recently released best seller, The Broken Way. Ann lives in Ontario, Canada with her family of nine and loves to find quiet and calm amidst the chaos of her life.

If you missed it, you can listen to part one of our conversation here, and in this part-two episode, Ann humbly shares about how her writing journey began, what her writing process looks like, and helpful thoughts on how to stay daily connected to God. She even answers my rapid fire questions about her favorite foods, her writing cabin, and how one does write while walking on a treadmill!

Continue reading MS 105 Ann Voskamp: The Broken Way {Part 2} at JacqueWatkins.com

Welcome to episode 104 of Mud Stories!

Mud Stories is a podcast dedicated to bringing you inspiration in your muddiest moments, hope to make it through your mud, and encouragement for you to know, you are not alone.

Today I’m talking with Ann Voskamp, farmer’s wife, mom to seven kids, and the author of the New York Times Best Selling book One Thousand Gifts, and her recently released best seller, The Broken Way. Ann lives in Ontario, Canada with her family and loves quiet and calm amidst the chaos of her life.

In this part one episode, Ann kindly introduces us to each member of her family, and shares much of the mud she’s faces in her life–watching her sister killed in their driveway, the trauma of fear that ensued, her  life-long struggle with anxiety, and perfectionism and control.

Ann shares how meeting Jesus changed everything, how counting gifts was transformative, and how we never have to be afraid of broken things because God is redeeming everything.

Ann and I first met at the Relevant Conference in the fall of 2011 and have crossed paths personally on many different occasions since then.

Continue reading MS 104 Ann Voskamp: The Broken Way {Part 1} at JacqueWatkins.com

Welcome to episode 103 of Mud Stories!

Mud Stories is a podcast dedicated to bringing you inspiration in your muddiest moments, hope to make it through your mud, and encouragement for you to know, you are not alone.

Today I’m talking with Jennifer Rothschild, a singer, songwriter, speaker, bible study teacher and author of over a dozen books, including Lessons I Learned in the Dark, God is Just Not Fair, and  66 Ways God Loves You. Jennifer lives in Missouri, and is the founder and host of the Fresh Grounded Faith Events. She loves thin-crust veggie pizza, dark chocolate, coffee, and interesting conversations.

In today’s episode, Jennifer shares her story of going blind at age 15, and helps us know how to handle life when we doubt our faith, God’s ways, or the truth of His Word. I am so thankful how she brings hope and inspiration for us to know God’s love, even as we face crushing circumstances that are beyond our control.

Also, I want to share with you something new and exciting!

Continue reading MS 103 Jennifer Rothschild: Blindness, Doubt and Finding Hope in Any Circumstance at JacqueWatkins.com

Welcome to episode 102 of Mud Stories!

Mud Stories is a podcast dedicated to bringing you inspiration in your muddiest moments, hope to make it through your mud, and encouragement for you to know, you are not alone.

Today I’m talking with Edie Wadsworth, a writer and blogger who quit her job as a family practice physician almost a decade ago! Most days you’ll find her at home running a business or two–including her obsession with Young Living’s Essential Oils and their amazing power to heal and renew–making a big pot of delicious soup, talking about all things Texas and Southern-ness, or making her family sing karaoke with her!

Edie lives near the Appalachian mountains of East Tennessee, is a mom to nine, and the author of her very first book, a spiritual memoir, entitled All the Pretty Things.

In September it was SUCH a blessing to attend the square-dance launch party for Edie’s book! We had such a great time and I LOVED spending time together!!

Click HERE to learn how to get a copy of Edie’s book
AND $20 of essential oils for FREE!

Continue reading MS 102 Edie Wadsworth: Fatherlessness, Failure, and All the Pretty Things at JacqueWatkins.com

Welcome to episode 101 of Mud Stories!

Mud Stories is a podcast dedicated to bringing you inspiration in your muddiest moments, hope to make it through your mud, and encouragement for you to know, you are not alone.

• Join Jacque’s video e-course:  ConnectingWithYourTeen.com
• Sign up for coaching with Jacque –> HERE
• “Like” The Mud Stories Facebook Page –> HERE 

Today I’m talking with Jim and Lynne Jackson, whose heart is to help us in the midst of our parenting mud. Since 1993, Jim and Lynne have worked in the trenches with parents of all kinds – single parents, adoptive parents, parents of teens, parents of kids with behavior challenges, and blended families! They are coaches, teachers, speakers and the authors of the book Discipline that Connects.

Jim and Lynne share with us insight and strategy to help us make our actions match our messages, and help us connect with our child’s heart as we train them along the way.

“Poor parenting is not usually for lack of good intentions, it is a lack of understanding on how those intentions land on kids.”

~Jim & Lynne Jackson

In this episode we talk about:

• Their backgrounds with parenting
• When we look forward to having children and then struggle when we are raising them
• Julie Barnhill’s truth-filled words: “God didn’t give you your child so you could fix him or whip in into shape.

Continue reading MS 101 Jim & Lynne Jackson: Discipline that Connects at JacqueWatkins.com

Welcome to episode 100 of Mud Stories!

Mud Stories is a podcast dedicated to bringing you inspiration in your muddiest moments, hope to make it through your mud, and encouragement for you to know, you are not alone.

• To learn more about Jacque’s new e-course:

Text the words: ‘CONNECTWITHYOURTEEN’

To the number: ‘33444’

• To Join the course –> ConnectingWithYourTeen.com 
• For coaching with Jacque –> Sign up HERE
• “Like” The Mud Stories Facebook Page –> HERE 

Today I’m celebrating my 100th episode of Mud Stories! There’s so much to celebrate and I’ve invited my cousin Heather to join me for this special episode.

Heather has such wisdom and insight, is a huge encouragement behind-the-scenes, and is the perfect guest to help me celebrate!  She is the wife to Brad and mom to five children, and like me, has journeyed through some hard mud in life, including the muddy challenges of parenting!

Continue reading MS 100: Celebrating, Parenting our Kids and a NEW e-Course! at JacqueWatkins.com

Welcome to episode 099 of Mud Stories!

Mud Stories is a podcast dedicated to bringing you inspiration in your muddiest moments, hope to make it through your mud, and encouragement for you to know, you are not alone.

• To be the FIRST to be notified of the release of my (soon coming) NEW E-course:

Text the words: ‘CONNECTWITHYOURTEEN’

To the number: ‘33444’

•  For coaching with Jacque –> Sign up HERE
• “Like” The Mud Stories Facebook Page –> HERE 

This week I’m sharing all about the challenge of spending time each day, connecting with God through Bible study, Bible reading and prayer. This can be a muddy experience, as we sometimes know what to do, but lack knowing HOW to do it. Not to mention feeling less-than or guilty for not trying, or failing to do it again and again. It can be such a struggle.

In this episode I share with you tips and tools which have helped me over the years, and also some resources I’ve been gathering–books written by some friends which are such wonderful resources to help us along the way.

Continue reading MS 099 Resources to Help Make Bible Study a Daily Habit at JacqueWatkins.com

Welcome to episode 098 of Mud Stories!

Mud Stories is a podcast dedicated to bringing you inspiration in your muddiest moments, hope to make it through your mud, and encouragement for you to know, you are not alone.

• To be THE FIRST to receive sign-up information about Jacque’s new (soon coming) e-course:

Text the words: ‘CONNECTWITHYOURTEEN’

To the number: ‘33444’

•  For coaching with Jacque –> Sign up HERE
• “Like” The Mud Stories Facebook Page –> HERE 

Today I’m talking with Jen Bricker, an author, aerialist, and motivational speaker, who lives in Los Angeles, CA. Jen has traveled internationally with Brittney Spear’s Circus tour and has been featured as a headline aerialist in places like Las Vegas, New York, Tokyo, and Dubai. Jen loves organization, healthy eating, superhero movies, cute dogs, and has been known to feel deeply and laugh often!

Born without legs, one would think Jen Bricker would have been destined for a life of hardship. 

Continue reading MS 098 Jen Bricker: Born without Legs and Believing Everything is Possible at JacqueWatkins.com

Welcome to episode 097 of Mud Stories!

Mud Stories is a podcast dedicated to bringing you inspiration in your muddiest moments, hope to make it through your mud, and encouragement for you to know, you are not alone.

• For the latest info on my (soon coming) NEW E-course:

Text the words: ‘CONNECTWITHYOURTEEN’

To the number: ‘33444’

•  For coaching with Jacque –> Sign up HERE
• “Like” The Mud Stories Facebook Page –> HERE 

This week I’m sharing about the challenge I’ve been facing to overcome resistance, fear, and procrastination, in order to get the things done that matter the most. There are so many things that distract us from our passions and callings– so much that gets in the way of us checking off our lists and getting around to doing those things we’ve longed to do for so long!

The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield, is a classic book I’ve been loving lately, because it is igniting the motivation I’ve needed to get moving and follow through with what I’m uniquely called to offer the world.

Continue reading MS 097 Overcoming Resistance, Fear and Procrastination to Get Things Done at JacqueWatkins.com