Welcome to the Beautiful View Podcast, where we encourage you to look for opportunities in your life to see a beautiful view. I'm candy. 

And I'm Paul. This episode kicks off our third season of the podcast and is our 50th episode. Can you believe that? 

Wow, I can't believe that. When we first started this podcast back in the summer of 2023, we had no idea if anyone. One aside from maybe my mom was ever gonna even listen. To it. We originally planned to do, I think, 3 pilot episodes, something like that, just to kind of put our toes in the water and. 

Yeah, just to see how. It went. Yeah. 

We got a lot of really great feedback, so thank you to those of you who encouraged us along the. 

We did, yeah. 

OK, we just kept going and I think we just kind of kept getting a little bit better about what we did. And here we are. 

Here we are again. So today we're going to reintroduce ourselves and because we've picked up a lot of new listeners and viewers since that very first primitive episode. That we recorded. 

It was primitive. I pulled it up to listen to it the other day and I was just like a little bit. Oh my goodness. 

That's a. Cringe worthy. 

We haven't quite found our voices yet. I don't think in that episode. 

No, it it it was different music, different everything. 

If you want something like to entertain you kind of little comical and you know, go take a go, take a listen. But. 

Yeah. So we decided that this episode what we needed to do was kind of go back before we start another season, begin by going back and kind of thinking about like what this podcast is about. So what is the purpose behind the podcast? 

MMM. 

Mm-hmm. 

Yeah. Why did we start doing this? Why are we here talking to you guys again? Like, what is this all about? Yeah. So that's what we're gonna do this time around. Sit back, relax and enjoy the beautiful view. 

Hello again from our brand new podcast studio. 

Yep, studio. 

Yeah. Yeah. When Emily moved out in the early summer, we ended up with a spare bedroom in our house, so. 

Yes. We did so that means we do not have to set this all up in our living room. Yes, and kind of like, trip over everything all weekend long. While we get the podcast recorded and then have to pack it all up and start again the following weekend, so we we we have a space and we can leave all this stuff set up. So it's kind of nice. Yeah, yeah. 

Correct, yes. Yeah. So nice. So in this episode, we thought as Paul mentioned before, we have a lot of new followers. So we wanted to kind of do kind of a reintroduction to us and kind of, you know. Yeah, yeah. I mean, episode 50, that seems seems a little bit kind of monumental. So. 

Yes. Yeah, seems right, right. A marker along the road at least. 

Yeah. Yeah, so. So we have the whole reason that we kind of started this podcast is because we have a crazy story. Yes. And people always ask us about our story, so. 

They do. We get to share with people all the time and what usually starts the conversation is something along the lines of you're not from around here are. 

Yes. Yeah. 

You. 

For both of us, we're both kind of like. 

Now we're in Iowa. It's for both of us. So I have the British accent going on. Candy has the Texas draw going on. And so that's always a conversation starter. 

Yes, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. 

And and and really, that's the beginning of our story together is that we we met from across the Atlantic Ocean. Yeah. Via MSN chat. Yeah. Now. 

It is. It. Yeah, way back in the early days of. 

The Internet. Yeah. So 2002, 1001 is when we first met on. 

Even like. Kind of stuff. 

Line. Mm-hmm. And we we got to know each other just purely through that, through through the MSN chat. Mm-hmm. Through conversations. Yeah. So that was. That was a really neat thing is cause we we actually got to know each other before we met in person. 

We did, yeah. We talked for probably about a year online before we actually met in person and then. 

We did. I felt like we knew each other pretty well by the time. 

Yeah. Yeah, I think so. So we were kind of pioneers in the online dating world. 

We met. And so that was. We we always say it worked for us. We wouldn't necessarily recommend it, but it worked for us. So that's kind of that's kind of where we came from. 

Sure. Yeah. 

Yeah. 

And then we both started serving in church together. Eventually, both going on to a full time staff at a church. You will work in children's ministry. And I was working doing set design and media content so. 

MHM. Mm-hmm. MHM. 

Everything that we now do in our own business, right, so we did that for 12 years. Yeah. And we're hop skipping and jumping here, so. 

Yep, we're giving you the Cliff notes. 

We did that for 12 years. And and and then after that. That's experience we decided we needed to spend a lot more time together. 

As a family, right? Yeah. So then we decided both of us kind of separately and then together decided that we were going to purchase a truck and a fifth wheel. And we were going to full-time RV. So that is. 

Yes, hit the road. 

Hit the road so that is what we did as a family back in 2015 and we traveled the country N SE West all over for 6 1/2 years and on our travels we worked remotely. We homeschooled the kids. The kids got a very kind of unique, really interesting education, so yeah. 

Yeah, just a very big perspective of life and this country and yeah, so that, that there a lot of their classes were taught in the places where it happened. So their history classes were right where it happened. So. 

Right. 

It it was a more of an experiential learning program for. Them. 

Right. Yeah. No, it was, it was super cool. We loved our time on the road, but then we on our travels, we discovered Bellevue, IA, 1018. Yeah, so and we loved it so much that we started coming back. We came back every summer after that. First, we did. Yeah. 

Yeah, in two. And missed it when we were. Gone. 

We we really did and we made so many friends here and we just. Couldn't couldn't wait to get back every time we left. So in 2021 we had a seasonal site at a local campground and this House came on the market right at the end of our season and we stayed a few extra days and we put, we came and looked at the House. It was perfect. Put an offer in on it. 

Yeah. 

Yes it is. Yeah. 

And then yeah, the rest is history. Here we are. So we moved here officially in December of 2021. So here we are, so. 

That's the history. Yeah, we've been ever since. We haven't, we haven't looked back. It's that was one of the best decisions we've ever made was to was was to be a part of this community. So it's been great. 

Yeah, we love it here. Yeah. So let's talk about why we decided to start this podcast in the first place. 

Yeah, I think it it, it made sense. So we wanted to tell our story and we have in the past we kept A blog which you can still go check out online. 

Mm-hmm. MHM. 

Movinghouse.com and. 

Yeah, we did that while we traveled though. So then once we got the house, it didn't really make sense to our house doesn't move anymore. So, yeah, what do you change that to? 

It. Any. Yeah. Our our static house. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So. As as we've already mentioned in in ministry, working at a church I was in, well, we were both involved in broadcasting services and so on. So we were, we were involved in videography. All of the audio work content. And so we have. Experience in that area, we have all the equipment with us. We already do this for our clients and our business. Yeah. And so we just felt like, you know what, rather than write a book or do something like that. This just makes more sense. 

Yeah. And I mean, that's always what we get when as soon as people hear our story, they're like, oh, you should write a you should write a. You're such an interesting story. You write a book. Well, a podcast is maybe a little easier than a book because it's like little bite sized pieces. So. 

Book. 

Yeah. Yeah, it's easier to digest and and it's it. It's kind of the thing that is very popular right now anyway, so we decided. This is this is something that we can easily do and include in our schedule. 

Yeah, and it reaches a little different audience I think than our blog did. So and the blog is still, it's still interesting, it's still relevant and I think I know that we still get lots of hits on it because I get the monthly report and I'm like wow, people really still read their blog. It's really interesting. But you know, I mean above all I think. 

Yeah, it does, absolutely. They still, they're still reading it. Yeah. 

We love to share our story. We love to share our journey through life. We love to give hope to people and ultimately we love to encourage and inspire other people so. 

Yeah. And that's at the core of this podcast. That's the core of everything we do as a family. We've we've made a lot of changes in our lives. We have done some things that didn't necessarily work out the way that we thought they would. Yeah. And so we really wanna and and many people go through this. Sure. You go through phases of life where you know, just as simple as a career. 

Hmm. 

Range. I mean, there's very few people that stay in the same career their entire lives. Now, sure. Yeah. And so this is very relatable. It's like what what happens when you find that the position you're in or the things that you're doing? Is not what you're supposed to be doing, but then you're not sure what's next like. How do you cope with that sort of in between where you're trying to discover where you're supposed to be? We all want our lives to make sense and have impact to be meaningful for other people. So that's kind of. 

Yeah. Mm-hmm. 

Sir, Sir. 

How we've led our lives and if we can do, if we can do or say something. That encourages someone else to really live their lives on purpose and and and and to do something that makes an impact on their community and their friends and family, then that, then then we've done our job. 

Yeah, absolutely. We've done our job exactly and we get asked all the time all the time, you know, how did you come up with your podcast name? Beautiful view. Like, why? Why did you call it that? And honestly, like when we first started talking about doing a podcast, it was kind of like we threw around some ideas. 

Yeah, pretty easy. 

And stuff. But then as soon as we said beautiful view, it was like that was obvious. So we live in Bellevue, which means beautiful view. And we do have a. 

View. 

Yes, yes. That's what it means. 

Beautiful view here. 

Ohh, there's so many beautiful views around this town. Unbelievable right in the Mississippi Valley. So you got the Bluffs around here. Yeah. Where you can get some aerial views of the whole town and the Mississippi River coming through. It is just absolutely gorgeous here. And if you get an opportunity, if you're not here and. 

So it is amazing. Mm-hmm. 

Yeah, and you get an opportunity to visit, please do that. 

Absolutely. We've also had many beautiful views along our travels. So that's we've seen a lot of really cool things. So in some of our episodes, we've talked previously about some of those places we visited and some of our favorites and stuff. But you know what, we also recognize that there is beauty and sharing your story. 

Yeah. Yes, seen a lot of cool things. Yeah, it's a favorite place. Is hmm? Yep. There is. 

Your testimony anytime that you Share your story, you have the potential to touch someones heart. So that's kind of a big part of it and. 

Yeah. 

Also, if you look hard enough, it doesn't matter what you're going through. If you look hard enough, you can always find beauty. Yeah, it's just sometimes you have to look a little harder than other times, you know, and we've been through all of those times and we've been able to share some of those through our podcast too. 

Yeah. Yes. Yeah. 

Where we've walked through the valleys but still seeing the beauty in the situation. So that's really important to us to share as well because you know sometimes life is. 

It is. 

Ideal you know? 

It isn't beautiful. 

Sometimes it doesn't feel beautiful. Yeah, sometimes it doesn't feel beautiful. But yeah, you can find beautiful moments in any situation. So that is our main thing that we want to get across. So. 

Seems like it's not. I I am. I'm just recalling. There was one time when we were on the road. We were living in in the RV. Hmm. And we were camped out at Saint Angelo State. 

Mm-hmm. 

Mark and I had just, I was on my way back from kind of a difficult weekend or a couple of days in the Permian Basin where I was doing some work. And as I was driving back down the road and like wondering what the heck was gonna be next, I suddenly became aware of the power poles. Beside the street beside the highway, going past and every one of them, as as it went by, was a was across every single one, and I took a picture and I sent it to you. And and you said something along the lines of that, you know why you saw that? 

Hmm. Yeah, yeah. MHM. 

That's because you're looking at it with a different perspective. So that's really what this podcast is about. It's about trying really hard and sometimes some circumstances that just suck to find something in there that is beautiful, whether it's someone else's. 

Right. Yeah, yeah. 

M. 

Kind words or or something about the situation that makes you look at it with a different. 

Perspective. Exactly. 

So let's talk a little bit about where this podcast journey has taken us so far. It's been a little over 2 years now, 50 episodes. Two years. 

That that. Seems so crazy to me because I remember when we very first we're even talking about this. We were on a walk. 

It does. 

Do you remember when we took our morning walks and we were talking about, you know, what would we talk about? What would we, you know, how how would we come up with material? Would we talk about our travels? Would we talk about life? What would we talk about? How would we do all those things? 

Yeah. 

Yeah. 

And the way it's kind of shaped up is yes, we have talked about some of that stuff, but I feel like we've kind of been sharing our lives as it's happened. So last summer, if you're new to the podcast, my, my mom got sick and she. 

Yeah. 

Passed away last summer and we still podcasted through all of that and we through that very, very difficult time for us, we still were looking for the beautiful views in in all of our circumstances and we carried on podcasting so. 

Yeah, we did. 

So I think that that was actually kind of therapeutic a little bit and it helped us process a little bit. 

Well. It did. And also if we hadn't have continued to podcast through difficult times. And looked for the beauty in those circumstances as nasty and as they were. Yeah. Then that's kind of being a little hypocritical, you know, we. 

Yeah. Yeah, cause that was. That's our whole thing that we kind of you know. 

Yeah, yeah. And then there was, uh, you know, we lost Tyler. Tyler Hendricks, who was Tyler and Kelsey, composed the music that you hear every time on our podcast. 

Yeah. 

That was that was about a time where we were like, OK, we have got to take some time just to process this. 

Hmm. 

Yeah. And especially going back to edit the podcast and listening to him and Kelsey singing again during the edit, it was a very tough time now. 

That was tough at first, yeah. 

In this, in his celebration of life, there was plenty to there was plenty to celebrate, and a lot of beauty and the people that were there. So that was that was good. But I mean, through a lot of difficult situations, we we stayed true to our word that we were going to keep this podcast. Killing and so here we are. We're back again season 3. 

Yeah, we do. Here we are. Here we are. Yeah. And last year, we. We're part of the 2024 Iowa Podcast Awards and we actually we won an award which was crazy. So it was super cool. 

Yeah, yeah. Which is really cool. Yeah. Yeah. And that that gave us like a real boost. Like, OK, So what we're doing isn't just like something it's not made-up in our things that it's actually something that people like and enjoy. So that was good. 

It's not just made-up in our heads. Yeah, I think and I think that brings us to like, I mean it's built confidence in both of us you know. So there was a day where. 

It has. 

Yeah. 

You know, if you had said, let's do a podcast, there was a day where you said we should do a podcast and that's back. When we were on the road and neither one of us were very mentally healthy at that point. So there's no way we could have done this. No. But I think over time of doing it like both of us have gained confidence. 

Yeah. 

No. 

Through this? 

There were so many people that travelled alongside us and others that we never met, who full-time arvit and they they had YouTube channels or podcasts or blogs or whatever, and we were like, well, that's kind of the thing to do, right is to is to. But we we tried a couple of times. I tried filming myself doing some like, you know how to videos for RV and it just we wouldn't want to. 

Yeah. 

Subject You to any of that stuff. But yeah, no, it it just didn't feel like a fit. But now, now we've done this for a couple of years and we this this. Kind of. It not only fits us, but it's a it's it's a more honest approach to the whole thing and. 

Yeah, I think something surprising to me that has come out of this experience is that we have learned more about each other and it has ultimately strengthened our marriage, which I find that really interesting. And I think how that's happened is. 

Yeah. 

By choosing topics, we're kind of forced to talk about things that we probably wouldn't under normal circumstances ever talk about. 

No, we no, we wouldn't and I know that there's a couple of topics that. You've picked and I've looked at it and I'm like, OK, should I be concerned? Is A and and. But then as we've gotten to discuss those things in order to prepare the material for you guys and and to make it make sense so that we can actually talk to you, then came to make sense to me. 

MHM. 

And I'm like, huh, OK, I and now I'm getting it. And honestly, like, it's been, what, like, 2 months since we last did a podcast? Mm-hmm. And. And thank you, by the way. Thank you for being patient with us and allowing us some time to. 

Yeah. Yes. 

To kind of reflect and regroup, regroup, and be ready for a new season. But there been times where I've missed. It. 

Yeah, yeah. 

You know, like where I'm like, OK, because because sitting down here with you and talking through things is kind of an anchor point for our marriage as well as being, you know, so. 

Yeah. Yeah, it really is because it's like a planned date where we have to talk and we're doing it in front of you. 

We we have to talk. We have to make sense. So yeah. So that's that's been a great thing for us. And also along the way we have made some new friends. 

Yeah. Yes. Yes, we have. 

Something that's really stretched us is doing some interviews. 

Oh, yes, yes. 

And yeah, there's some funny stories in there that we we might talk about at some point, but we've we've we've made new friends along the way. People that have come up to us even here in town and they've said hi, I just wanted to say hi, we've been listening to your podcast and it's like OK alright so. 

Mm-hmm. I had a lady last night come up to me at at the brewery and just say, oh, you're the podcast people. Yeah, I'm the podcast people. 

The podcast people. So it's been a it's been a good opportunity to talk to others and also it means that we're living our faith out loud. Yeah, people know that we're we're our our, our lives are devoted to what we have faith in which is God and and everything that he has guided us to do. 

So let's talk about where we're going from here. 

Yeah. So we have a new season of episodes. Not quite sure how many episodes we're gonna do in a season, maybe 10. Who knows? But we are going to talk about some different topics. Yeah, and. 

MHM. Yeah, yeah. We kind of brainstormed a little bit on our trip and our really long trip down to the Gulf of Texas, 20 hours one way. So we had 40 hours of drive time, so. 

Our 20 hour drive, yeah. Yeah, we got some, we got some stuff that we wanna talk about. 

Yeah. 

We're hoping to do some more interviews with people that have beautiful stories, and we've got some people in mind that yeah, man, it's gonna be. It's gonna be cool. Yeah. So think so. 

Yes. Yeah, I think so. And obviously, we still are going to do relationship advice, yes. So we benefit from that. And so we hope that you also benefit from that. So we've got some more of that kind. 

That's the hope. Of stuff coming. Yeah. And we want to encourage you if you're parenting. And just encourage you along the way as you as you raise your kids. It's a difficult time and a difficult world to bring up kids in. And so any encouragement that we can give you, we want. To do that. 

Yeah. And obviously like real time real talk about life. As we experience it, we always like to throw. Our life experiences in and yeah, we're just, we're pretty much an open book. So we love to share our lives with you. 

Be honest and share. Yes, yes. And we always have a faith aspect. So as we wrap up each episode, we like to go back to Scripture and just encourage you with some of those timeless truths that there are in the. 

MHM. 

MMM. 

Bible, yeah. 

Today, we want to leave you with a thought. 

Yes, we do. Speaking of Scripture, this is our family's verse and has been for a long time. Proverbs 3 verses 5 through 6 says trust in the Lord with all your heart do not depend. On your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take. Yeah, I love that. 

I do too, and at the end of the day, none of us know what tomorrow holds. When we began this podcast, we didn't know where it was going. Yeah, we didn't know what life was gonna throw at us, how we would grow in our marriage, or how many new friends we would make along the way. We had no clue what we were doing. 

No. No, we didn't. 

But God knew. Yeah. And we trusted him. 

Yes. 

We didn't lean on our own understanding and self doubt. We sought his will and he led us down this. 

Yeah. 

Path. Yeah. And I just wanted to add in like the path is is most of the time not what we expect. 

That's. 

True, I was working with a guy the other day and he said. You know, he said. God can give us one of three answers to everything that we ask of him. And I said, oh, yeah, he said. I said it's either yes or no or he said the third, more interesting answer is I have other plans for you. And that's really that's really where we found ourselves. You know, it's about just trusting in him and being obedient and what he gives to us, which oftentimes doesn't seem like a whole answer is like, just do this thing here. And this thing here and this thing here. 

Yeah. 

Right. 

And then it develops into something that you would never expect. And we have seen that over and over again. So that is today's beautiful view. We are so excited to kick off season 3 at the Beautiful View Podcast. Welcome. 

Absolutely. Absolutely. Yep. Back, welcome back. Thank you for joining us today. Our hope is to always inspire and encourage our listeners. We enjoyed our break over the summer. Again, thank you for understanding. It has given us a chance to come up with some new ideas to share with you and we look forward so much to this new season of life. 

Yes. 

Thank. 

You. 

And the beautiful view. 

Podcast. Yes, and if you like what we do here at the Beautiful View Podcast, you can show your appreciation by becoming a supporting member for only $5. 

OK. 

Month we'll send you a members only Beautiful View podcast sticker and a weekly encouraging newsletter to your inbox. Your support helps cover our production costs. The link to sign up is in our. 

Show notes? Yeah. And also be sure to check out our merch store. We've added a few new items for fall. 

Yes. 

Winter upcoming season. 

Uh-huh. Yep. And as we conclude each podcast, we always like to give you the topic for the next 1. So what are we going to be talking about next time? 

Yeah. 

Well, we are calling the next episode lessons from the beach. 

OK. 

We're going to share a little bit about our annual summer family vacation to the beach and share some of the things that we can all learn from the beach. 

Yeah. OK, our beach trips are always a great time and it was good to just be able to disconnect from our usual routine and reconnect with our family. So I'm wondering what you might have in mind for. 

That one? Well, you'll just have to tune in next time to find out. 

I'll be right here sitting right here. 

OK, well, it'll be an interesting conversation. Yes, thank you once again for joining us today. We hope you have a great day. And remember to always keep an eye open for opportunities in life to see a beautiful view. Yes.