Inside the Orchard

In this episode we give an update on a new tree we have coming in and fall possibilities. Charles got to spend some time with Daniel Yang. Daniel is a friend and someone with which Charles has had the privilege of leading some workshops with Daniel. This is an episode to listen to at normal speed. Let what Daniel says marinate. He drops some pieces of gold. 

Here are a few ideas to think about as you listen to this episode: 

-Learn your story and how it has shaped you. 

-How do you get comfortable with who God has created you to be? 

-Who are you in community with to process the challenges and opportunities that will come your way? 

-How can you have more "face-to-face" conversations vs "shoulder-to-shoulder" conversations? 

-What guardrails do you have in place to avoid being addicted to your own voice? 

The orchard is quiet as we head into fall and winter. The apples are picked the trees have dropped their leaves. Candi and I got to sit down with our friend Carmen Halsey earlier in the year. Carmen is a phenomenal leader and has been a mentor to one of our daughters. We think you will enjoy listening to our conversation about contentment. 

This is part 2 of our interview with Brian and Jonelle McKenzie. We talk about sustainable rhythms and authentic relationships. Candi and I do an orchard update and talk about our favorite apple from this year's harvest. 

What do sustainable rhythms look like for you? How do create a way of life that will last through the hard times and busy seasons of life?

How will you be intentional with everyday moments in your life to invest in other people? 

Dino said it creeped him out but knew he had to look at it. When you think about end-of-life issues, what emotions come to the surface?

Who have you known that has left the “gift of end-of-life details” for their family?

What does the conversation need to look Iike with your family?

Reality therapy was something Dino mentioned. It brought into focus a picture that we are only here for a short time. How does that idea hit you? Read Psalm 90, what are some key verses that we need to remember?

If God gives you 5, 10, 20, 30 more years past the days of your current career, what are you doing today to prepare for those years?

Action Steps:

Based on your current stage of life, what end-of-life details or conversations do you need to have?

Dino’s wisdom to himself, slow down. Spend more time with your family, take better care of your soul.

What lessons do you need to lean into based on your stage of life?

Contact info: endingwellclass@gmail.com to find out more about the groups

This month on Inside the Orchard, we have a special guest host dropping in. It's summertime, and the Asian beetles are in full force, so we have been battling them, but we think we have them under wraps. We are going to have a few apples to enjoy this fall which is a nice surprise.

Our guest, this month on the Podcast is Matthew Reneker. He is the Head Track and Cross Country for Mississippi College. We got to know Coach Reneker because our middle daughter runs for him at MC. Grab a friend, listen to the Podcast, and work through the exercises below.

Intentionality Self-Assessment: Use the following scale (1=I’m crushing it to 5=I am not thinking about it) to assess how intentional you are in your preparation for the next stage of life. If you are a parent, ask, “how intentional am I being in preparing my student for the next stage of life?”

1. I regularly spend time thinking about what life could look like 5 years from now.

2. I make time weekly to reflect on my progress and adjust.

3. I have developed a plan to move from my current reality to where I want to be.

4. I have a community of people who I can meet with that hold me accountable.

5. I understand the fears (internal) and obstacles (external) that could hinder my progress.

Read Philippians 3:12-14

What phrase or word jumps out at you?

What about it caught your attention?

Describe how these verses challenge how you think about transitioning to the next stage.

Practice: Coach Reneker talked about creating environments where students could practice handling different scenarios. Sometimes practice would be very controlled, and at other times practice could feel a little chaotic. He created these different scenarios to help his students learn to adapt, problem-solve, and find solutions. Pick a category and create some ways to practice those same skills to help you prepare for the next stage.

Choose one area to focus on over the next two weeks:

Faith/Family/Focus (thinking)/Feelings (emotions)/Friends/Field (work)/Finances/Fitness/Fun

Orchard Insights:

WE HAVE APPLES. It is so much fun to see some of the "Original 12" producing a few apples this fall. We won't have any to sell but a few to taste. We've had a busy couple of months so this podcast with cover April/May and really June. We will be back in July in with more news and apple stories. Until then check out the show notes and questions that go along with the interview we did. 

This month we talked with our nephew, Corbett Campbell. Corbett has grown up with entrepreneurs as parents. As a result, he has had the opportunity to explore and try several different avenues of interest. A couple of those have caught his interest. What once were hobbies are slowing turning themselves into potential long term pursuits. 

If you are a parent of a teenager or pre-teen I would encourage you to sit down and listen to the interview together. As you do, ask some of the following questions: 

What new insights did you gain about setting your teenager up for success? 

What are some some steps you could take today, this month, or in the months ahead to create a culture of curiosity in your home? 

Who do you know that models "asking great questions?" What do they do well and what could you learn from them? 

What would a dream road trip look like for you and your family? How could you shape that trip for lasting impact on your family? 

For students: 

What's one take away from this podcast for you? 

Corbett's parents challenged him to discover insights about himself, how could you learn more about the way God has wired you? 

How could knowing yourself better help you relate better to your family? Your friends? 

What are some hobbies and skills you have? How could go you grow and develop those interest? 

What does it look like to develop a healthy relationship with your parents? What are the benefits? What are the challenges? 

To follow Corbett and his drone video journeys go to @corbettcampbell on Instagram. 

In this episode, we give an update on the orchard and talk about our favorite apples. We get to listen to our good friends Mac and Cindy Lake. They introduce our theme for the next several months: Transitioning Well.  

We spend 12-20 years getting ready for the early years of our lives but often forget how to prepare for the next season. In the interview, Mac and Cindy share the importance of having role models, being life-long learners, and leaving a legacy. 

Show Notes: 

Mac and Cindy shared that they brought into their marriage strong convictions about marriage. It was based on the healthy role models that they had in their lives. 

Take a minute, reflect, and then answer the following set of questions: 

-Who have been healthy role models in my life?

-What did I learn from them? 

-How am I employing what I learned from into my life? 

In this section, we are asking you to do a couple's assessment. Please don't skip it. Too many couples lose their identities as people and couples when kids come along. Someday these little ones grow up and leave. What happens to the marriage when they are gone? It starts now, be intentional about prioritizing your marriage relationship. Your future self will be thankful.  

How do you prioritize your relationship with your spouse? 

On a scale of 1-10 (1 = we are being crushed, 10 = we could teach the course), answer the following: 

       1. We have daily couples only check-in time.

      2. We carve out weekly time for a date. 

      3. Our couple's calendar takes priority over the kid's calendar. 

      4. We have a private space within our home just for us. 

      5. We work to be on the same page about family decisions. 

Which of these is a strength? Which needs some work? 

What is one action step you can take in the next two weeks to strengthen this area? Who will hold you accountable? 

The Lake's gave several good examples about how they had created a development culture when they had kids in the home. It has continued now that they are grandparents. This culture of development shows up in how they are consistently learning something new. Sometimes it is just for fun; sometimes it's for their vocations. 

What does it look like to create a similar culture of development in your marriage? 

How can you become a lifelong learner? 

Mac and Cindy talked a lot about health, specifically physical health. Mac said, "We want to die young at an old age." What does that look like for you and your spouse? What changes can you make now that will have an impact on your future self?

We hope you have found these questions helpful as you processed the content from the podcast. Check back in next month as we explore the topic of family fun. How do you get out and explore the world when your kids are little, teenagers, and young adults. Be sure and check out Apple Stories blog post at www.campbellorchard.com/