THINK THEO

Listen to this Audible Snippet as Theo reads a short excerpt from her book, My Grief is Not Like Yours.

Listen as Theo discusses the ins and outs of writing, "My Grief is Not Like Yours" with The REAL MOMS of Wimberley, Texas. You will laugh and cry as you hear their reviews and the "feels" they experienced from reading this book.

Daddy was our hero.  He loved and loved and loved hard.  He held us up when we couldn't hold ourselves.  When Joe Bob got there, everyone would sigh in relief because we all knew it was going to be okay.  Whew! Joe Bob is here.  Momma always said "Everyone loves your daddy. Boy, they just can't wait for your daddy to get there."  He was our hero, and I hope that he will always know this.  

Theo's speech for her daddy's funeral on Saturday, June 25, 2022.  

"Daddy always said - Get 'em laughing in the beginning and leave 'em crying."

Rand Mintzer is a practicing criminal defense attorney in Houston, Texas.  For 39 years, he has worked tirelessly to defend people's rights, freedom and future. This speaks to the character of who Rand really is - a family man, a friend, and a person wanting to help others. 

Be sure to listen to Rand's podcast:  THNX: A Feelgood Podcast.  He is working to grow his podcast audience to reach more individuals that want to THANK the one person in their life that made a difference.  In addition to his law practice and podcast, Rand wrote a book titled "33 Years of Running in Circles" focusing on the struggle during his youth to lose weight and become healthier.  

Whether it's running 25 marathons, writing a book, or working as an attorney - Rand is successful, caring, and always wanting to give back some of the wisdom he has gained. 

Let's Run with Rand!

Chelsea Ohlemiller is a wife, mother and educator who is spreading happiness and hope in the midst of her harsh reality.  Chelsea lost her mom suddenly in 2017, and since that time she has been writing to help others. Her Facebook page has a following of over 75,000 and her website is a place where readers find comfort in her words.  Her mother noticed early on that she was a very talented writer and is wasn't until after her mother passed that Chelsea decided to do exactly that - write and make her mom proud.  By writing her thoughts and feelings about her grief experience, she is spreading hope to those that seek answers after loss. 

Listen as Chelsea and Theo share their stories and their desire to give grief a voice.

www.happinesshopeandharshrealities.com

Pamela Gail Johnson founded the Society of Happy People in 1998, created the first three globally celebrated happiness holidays, and is the author of Practical Happiness: Four Principles to Improve Your Life. She was an award-winning salesperson for American Express and Staples, and now helps leaders and teams create happier workplace cultures.

Listen as Theo talks with Pamela to learn that there is happiness in everything. You've never thought about your happiness in this way.  SMILE!  Be HAPPY!

Listen as childhood friends come back together two years later for a Mother's Day episode. Allison Ferrier shares her thoughts of Mother's Day by reminiscing and talking about what she feels is most important - love. "The Sound of Music" is heard as Theo and Allison share intimate moments with laughter, tears, and a never-ending friendship that gets stronger with each year that passes.  Life goes on and friendship grows.

Michelle Trieste has a story of survival and strength that will leave you speechless.  She pushes forward to help women by sharing her story.  When she isn't riding her motorcycle, she is thinking of ways to help others. 

"The shadows may have taken different shape through the years, but they are all mine. A heart may break, but the shadow never shows the cracks or breaks inside. No matter what changes happen in our life, we are still whole. The shadow remains solid and full, holding us when we can’t hold ourselves.

I know that every part of who I am is because of where I came from. I may have 50 shadows, but there is only one me.  Maybe it’s time I let my shadows lead the way."

Happy Birthday to me!

Season 3 wraps up on the lighter side with this special episode of Think Theo. Listen as Theo sits down with Dale and Chris Hansen for their first-ever interview together.  Dale Hansen, a broadcasting legend, and "The Lovely Mrs. Hansen" are up close and personal in this episode of Think Theo. Hear the stories they love to share, from how they met to their anticipation of Dale's upcoming retirement from WFAA Channel 8.  

Listen as Theo shares a little about herself and why she wants to bring awareness to complicated grief. Learn a little about her in this special podcast and videocast edition, Friday, June 17th. #Thinktheo #Complicatedgrief #grief #farmlife #farmgirl #classclown

John Paul and Heather Dineen talk farm life and the sacrifices that farming families make to provide for others.  They also discuss ways they continue to give back to the farming community through The Texas Agriculture Memorial Foundation, founded by the Dineens in 2016.  Listen to this compelling episode and learn more about the people behind the food we eat and the grief we share. 

Her day job is CEO of Girl Scouts of Western New York, but in her spare time Alison Wilcox is working to help women by sharing her story of intentional and purposeful living.  Losing her father, her mother, 2 brothers, her grandparents, and a friend, all before she turned 35, Alison began to look at life a little differently.  After the birth of her son, Alison learned that "life is short" and that she "must keep relationships as complete as possible" while modeling this behavior for her son.

Listen as Alison discusses her experience with Complicated Grief and what she is doing to help others find their purpose in living.

Part 3 of 3:  In this final episode with Brandon Bevers, we wrap up our discussion of life's trials and tragedies as we share coping skills for those that may be experiencing complicated grief.  

Grief is an adaptive process, but complicated grief is a disruption in that process.  Often, humans tend to focus on the event that caused the death and not the individuals left behind to pick up the pieces. 

Part 2 of 3:  In this episode with Brandon Bevers, we continue our conversation discussing the past 5 years and how he has coped with the loss of his wife, Missy. 

Grief is an adaptive process, but complicated grief is a disruption in that process.  Often, humans tend to focus on the event that caused the death and not the individuals left behind to pick up the pieces. 

Part 1 of my interview with Brandon Bevers, five years after the unsolved murder of his wife, Missy Bevers. 

Grief is an adaptive process, but complicated grief is a disruption in that process. Often, humans tend to focus on the event that caused the death and not the individuals left behind to pick up the pieces.  

Laura Medrano is a bright light that shines for all to see. Just a few minutes with Laura, and you leave feeling happy, joyful, and inspired. A Certified Intuitive Life Coach, Reiki Master, Author, and Speaker - she is a busy lady who always makes time for others and herself. Listen to a pro and hear the importance of learning self-care, acceptance, and healing. 

MOVIE PICK: "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"

You may know her as "The Lovely Mrs. Hansen" - wife of Dale Hansen, WFAA's sportscaster, but she is so much more.   Chris Hansen's love of life shines through her personality and in the love of her animals. Listen as we hear about her passion of working with horses and the volunteering that she does with a local riding camp. "The kids just giggle and laugh..."

Chris Hansen is a bright light shining through the love of her animals, friends, life, Dale, and Patrick Swayze.

"My animals are my life."  ~ Chris Hansen

MOVIE PICK:  "Dirty Dancing"

SMILEcast, Season 3  -  COMING SOON!

This girl is so much more than just a pretty face.  Lexi Workman may be only 22 years old, but she has more wisdom than most 92-year-old women.   Graduating Waxahachie High School in 2017, she quickly went off to college like many of her classmates.  Unfortunately, that trip, along with her dreams, quickly came to a halt.   Lexi was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma; this started her new journey, not one with plans for college and all those things that young girls do, but with prayers to get through each day. 

Listen and be inspired by her story of bravery, survival, and love. 

Her movie pick matches her spunky personality - "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

Many words come to mind when thinking of a Godly woman - faithful, resilient, determined, compassionate, but the word that keeps coming to my mind is amazing.  It's every parent's nightmare that their child gets hurt.  In December of 2013, just 3 days before Christmas, this nightmare came true for Shawna Mathis and her family.  

Listen as Shawna shares the story of her beautiful daughter, the night that changed their lives forever, and what God had planned for them.  Listen to the story of amazing Avery Grace.

When you think about the 1970s in America - you think change!  "Daughters of the Sexual Revolution," better known as the DALLAS COWBOY CHEERLEADERS, paved the way for women in ways that most of us do not even realize. Listen to this heartfelt podcast as I talk to one of my most influential teachers, drill team director, and friend - Mrs. Freeman (I call her Suzette now).    

"Daughters of the Sexual Revolution" is her movie pick, and if you haven't watched this - it  IS a MUST!  Watch the untold true story of these trailblazing women!

It's fall in Texas, and football is upon us!  

Whether you are a player, parent, colleague, or friend, you quickly learn that Jon Kitna is more than just a football coach.  His testimony of faith and his understanding that we all fall short is the very thing that draws young people to respect and admire him.  Coach Kitna is not only training young men to play the game but preparing them for a life of serving others. 

Though it wasn't always this way, listen as he tells us the story of his salvation and how he continues to work to be the example God always planned for him to be. 

"When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty."     ~Jeremiah 15:16

August 3, 2019, was the second hardest day of my life. Given that there are time limits on earth, it was challenging to write down her innumerable accomplishments and speak them in a 5-minute window. This SMILEcast bonus episode is the audio from that day, as I attempted to tell others about my beautiful momma.  I am not sad listening to it - I am proud. 

Andy Reynolds is not only the Waxahachie High School Theater Director; he is the true definition of a passionate friend, instructor, husband, and father.  His entire life has revolved around his love for the theater, his family, and now he is living that dream.   Listen as Andy tells us how he engages students to pursue their passion for the arts. From a very early age, Andy knew he belonged on stage, entertaining those he loved and his "captive audience," as he comically refers to them.  

His movie pick for this SMILEcast couldn't be a better fit - "The Shawshank Redemption."  

Enjoy hearing from an extraordinaire in his field. 

TAKE ONE!  

Lea Sullivan, Waxahachie High School ASL (American Sign Language) Teacher, is an inspiration for not only her students but also anyone who is blessed to know her.  Being profoundly deaf hasn't stopped her from conquering her fears and living life to the fullest for herself and her family.  As we compare stories of both her life with deafness and my mother's, we recognize that everyone is unique, but some share an extraordinary bond.  I will love listening to her precious voice over and over in the days and years to come. 

Her movie favorite for this SMILEcast is Pixar's "Inside Out."    Join us as we talk, laugh, cry, and smile!

I had the opportunity to sit down with my daddy and listen to a few of his many stories about how it was when he was a boy growing up on a farm.  Pigs, cows, dogs, horses, hay, watermelons, cantaloupes, black-eyed peas, and peanuts - he has done it all.  

How thankful I am for technology that allows me to record his voice, and I hope you enjoy listening as Joe Bob Boyd talks about the "Good Old Days."  Our elders want to be heard and the best stories lie inside of them.  (to be continued)

Dustana "Dusti" Stewart is a high school English teacher living a full life.  We will listen to her 19-year journey as she learned firsthand that she was about to embark on a life-changing adventure.  She first noticed a difference in her son's behavior at a very early age, and over the past 19 years, she has continued to educate herself every step of the way for herself, her son, and her family.   A favorite movie of Dusti's family, "Elf," will give us an interesting perspective as we begin to understand that "he is who he is and he doesn't quite fit in either world."   Listen to this encouraging story of not only an exceptional child but an even more exceptional mother. 

"I would not allow Autism to define who he was or what he could do." 

Waxahachie, Texas -

Dance Teacher and Drill Team Director, Erica Wilcox, embodies strength, grace, and resilience by molding young women into leaders within their community while preparing them for their place in the world.  A 2003 alumna of the high school, she has a passion for the youth of this small, yet rapidly growing town. 

One might say that Erica is all heart, and that statement couldn't be more fitting.  Just three years ago, she underwent heart transplant surgery.  Did she let that stop her? NEVER!  Remembering what her parents instilled in her, she continues to "take care of business," and her outlook on life remains resolute. 

Appropriately, Erica's movie pick is Robert Townsend's 1991, "The Five Heartbeats."   This SMILEcast is sure to make you laugh, cry, and leave your heart feeling full. 

The best show of the 1980's and 90's "Designing Women" best describes these 3 ladies.  Charlene, Charlotte, and Michele are their names, but decorating is their game.  Hear about the shenanigans of decorating and a few things that not many people know.  Their shop is not only a place to get the perfect outfit, but to also talk with friends.  To me, these ladies are "everything", but to the community they are known as - The Mix!  Enjoy hearing about the "Designing Women" of 2020!

This Mother’s Day SMILEcast is a unique tribute to an extraordinary woman, Sue Wynell Worlow Boyd, who overcame some of life’s most overwhelming obstacles.

The first ten years of her life seemed hopeless as she suffered complete hearing loss at 18 months of age. During this period of Sue’s life, she learned a fundamental and often forgotten virtue – stay true to yourself and never lose hope.

As you will hear from her two daughters, this incredible woman left a legacy that will live on in so many. This SMILEcast will explore the effects of grief, but more importantly the everlasting results of an exceptional life – the life that Sue lived.

Tune in for a heartwarming Mother’s Day SMILEcast as this high school teacher shares her story of motherhood.  After many heartbreaks and lost hope, she and her husband made a decision that would change their lives forever – to adopt, but they didn’t adopt just 1 child – they chose a sibling family of 5. With another blessing that soon followed, these 2 soon became a family of 8!  Movie pick - "13 Going on 30"

Listen to this group of 6 high school girlfriends reminisce about life 30 years later, after their graduation from Whitney High School in 1990.  Quoting from their favorite movie "Hope Floats", you will hear about everything from a first kiss to their current grocery lists.  Even though life sometimes has a way of changing our high school plans, we can still keep those bonds of friendship strong and lean on them when we need them the most.