THANKS for doing that
A podcast CELEBRATING people and ideas that make this world a better place by exploring the things we do, the reasons we do them, and why IT MATTERS.
THANKS for doing that
Cultivating Creativity and Community with Courtney Kendall
“Every creative act—no matter how small—is a seed we plant. Some take root in ways we never expect.”
"Learn to rest - not to quit."
🎙 Episode Summary:
In this episode of Thanks for Doing That, host Heather Winchell sits down with Courtney Kendall, the creative mind behind Every Little Seat, a faith-based magazine that celebrates creativity, community, and connection. Courtney shares her journey in building a platform that nurtures artistic expression while staying rooted in faith and friendship. They also discuss the power of creative accountability and how small acts of creativity can have a big impact.
🌱 Topics Covered:
✔️ The inspiration behind Every Little Seat
✔️ The role of faith in creative work
✔️ How accountability helps bring ideas to life
✔️ Finding joy and meaning in small creative acts
✔️ Advice for aspiring creators and entrepreneurs
🔗 Resources Mentioned:
- Every Little Seed Magazine – Filled with uplifting stories of faith, creative prompts and workshops, poetry, recipes, art prints...and more—these magazines are designed to be evergreen—timeless resources you can enjoy at any time, without needing to purchase them in order.
- Creative Accountability Course – Don't wait for the conditions to be just right- it’s time to start today! Next course launches on March 26, 2025 from 12-1PM MST on Zoom.
- Rocket Fuel book
- The Artists Way book
📌 Follow & Connect:
- Follow Thanks for Doing That on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you stream!
- Connect with Courtney Kendall on Instagram @every.little.seed
Catch more of the story @thanks.for.doing.that.podcast!
Hey there you are listening to. Thanks for doing that. A ah, podcast celebrating people and ideas that make this world a better place. I am Heather Winch, your host and chief enthusiast, and I'm on a mission to bring you conversations that encourage, inspire and delight. So stay tuned for another episode where we explore the things we do, the reasons we do them, and why it matters. Today I am joined by Courtney Kendall. She is the brilliant mind and creative entrepreneur behind Every Little Seat, a magazine that points to faith, friendship and making art. And you may recognize her name because she has come up in several previous episodes and it was her creative accountability course that helped bring thingsks for doing that to life. And it is such a privilege to sit down with her today. Courtney M. Thank you for being here.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah, thank you for having me.
>> Heather Winchell:And I would love to kick off our conversation with some insight into what life looks like for you right now and a bit of the backstory on the name. Every little seed.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah, life for me right now looks like putting out issue after issue. It has been a ton of fun. Feels like a delight and a joy to get to do it. But backstory on the name? This was years and years ago. I was searching for the right language to explain what we were trying to put out in the magazine and just convicted that you can see God moving and absolutely every little thing. And so for a long time I was taking women to the woods, actually, and we would go and just have some quiet time with the Lord. And then we called it Unplugged. So for a long time I thought that that might be the name of it. And then I went to Barnes and Noble and there was already a magazine called Unplugged. I was like, oh, okay, that's not gonna work. So I was chewing on it, chewing on it. And then one day my daughter came up to me and she's like, mom, what about Every little seed? And I'm like, that is perfect. Like he'working in every little thing, whether it'the seeds hes planted years ago or something that is thriving and blooming right now or something that's just still underground, you know, cracking open and thinks he's redeeming and working on. So, yeah, felt like a perfect fit for the magazine.
>> Heather Winchell:Very cool.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:How long did it take you after that to conceptualize your design or your logo?
>> Courtney Kendall:Mmm, not long, actually. I think I got right to it. That's something that once an idea gets in there, it's hard not to just doodle it all the live long day. So, yeah, it was Quick. Pretty quick turnaround on that.
>> Heather Winchell:Yeah, that's cool.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah, very cool.
>> Heather Winchell:Okay, so now that you've shared a bit about the meaning behind the name, I'd just love to hear more about how the magazine started and evolved over.
>> Courtney Kendall:Timee Kind of a crazy God story. Actually, years and years ago I was going up to the woods. I just felt drawn to go get outside of town. I struggled to really be still. And at that time the Lord was challenging me to just, abide and be with him. And so I would leave town with my 2 year old and we would just get just outside of town, up near Horsooth is close to where we live. And she would fall asleep on the way up there. And then I would just go and sit right by the car, but outside of the car, you know, and just look over the lake and pray. And it was at that point that I felt like the Lord was just wooing me there. It was just a, sweet time with him. And then out of that time started feeling compelled. Like the fresh air and just the pause and the freedom that I was experiencing. I really wanted other women to get to experience it too. so then that's when I started bringing other people with and we would go away on summer nights and someone would do worship and then we'd have a little 10 minute talk. And then the rest of the time the women would just go be alone with the Lord. Like they would just leave and go find a rock. And out of that I started seeing that people have a hard time settling into those spaces because we're not accustomed to doing it. And they're like, this is kind of awkward for me. I'm like, yeah, it is awkward when you like sit still. At first it is hard. It's not something that we, we CR it but we don't know how to do it. M and so when you shut off your phone and you're not distracted, there's this, like now what moment? And I think people are wondering like, am I going to hear from God? Am inn what do I do? Where do I sit? Where do to? I put my hands, you know. And so I started providing them these illustrated pages that just had a couple little things on them like scripture they could meditate on or maybe one question just to start journaling or a place to write a prayer. And I didn't know it, but at the time, that was the beginning of the magazine. So those pages ended up turning into more and more and more. And then it was a small collection of pages And. And then there she went. So that's how it started.
>> Heather Winchell:Very cool.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:And I can imagine that, you know, with where you are now running a print magazine, that that is no small task. And you've put out. I think you're about to put out your sixth issue.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yes, it is in the studio. It is called Relentless Pursuit and releases soon and. Oh, it. Yeah, I'm really excited about that one.
>> Heather Winchell:Oh, I am too. For many reasons.
>> Courtney Kendall:I. Me too.
>> Heather Winchell:The COVID is beautiful.
>> Courtney Kendall:O, isn't it? That's Teddy Parker. She is an artist, here in Port Collins, actually. And her work is just stunning and the pages are filled with it. So, yeah, a great interview with her. And that cover is lovely.
>> Heather Winchell:Oh's so lovely. I cannot wait to get my hands on it. okay, so like we said, you. It's now full print magazine 6sho. So that's a lot of work. From curating submissions to designing layouts, to overseeing fulfillment. How would you say that the experiences you've had in life and the workplace prior to this season have prepared you and shaped your vision for that?
>> Courtney Kendall:I like this question because it's fun to see how God has been preparing a way for like my entire life to get to do this. But not knowing it. I mean, I even think so. I was kicked out of art school, which was probably fair. They were like, we don't know that you're really good at this. And I didn't give it probably my all. But then because of that, I ended up doing interior design and learned all these computer skills that I never would have thought I wanted or needed. And then out of that, ended up teaching myself graphic design. And it was because I was a young mom and I had all these little art projects that I then wanted to turn into projects. And then that little bit of learning how to run a business helped with the next step. And then I got to work at a church and realized how much I loved using all of these gifts to gather people and to glorify God in what I was doing. And so it just. It just feels like it has built and built and built and built on itself. Even the little tasks that I thought, when am I ever going to use this? Like learning how to run a teleprompter or, you know, now I think, oh, that was perfect. I used it for creative catapult for this course. That truly I would have never thought that I needed that skill. so it just feels like it's all added up to this.
>> Heather Winchell:For this last issue, you actually kind of like Built a little team. Right, the art department.
>> Courtney Kendall:Tell me about that. Yes. so I'm not built to work alone and have known that for many years now, but just didn't have the resources to be able to ask others to come into that space. And the Lord kept telling me, just ask other people. Just ask other people. And I'm like, well, I want to be able to pay them. I want to be able to honor them in that way. And it just wouldn't go away to just ask for the help. And I think we forget that there's so many different ways that we're paid too. You know, I think it's easy to think, oh, it has to be monetary. But the ways that we can use our creative gifting is such a. That is a payment, you know, to have a reason do something. Yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:Community.
>> Courtney Kendall:Totally in the community piece. So I finally obeyed and, ask some women to just apply to volunteer their time from September to May to help me put out two issues. And so this is the first issue that has had a group of people working on it, and it is 10 times better. It is so good. And just having the camaraderie, the community, the ideas, the pushback on some of the ideas of, like, hey, actually, what if we did it this way? And what would make it better? And how are we using this person's story to glorify God in this way? And what does it look like to then incorporate? I don't know. It's just. Is all. They just make it better. The art department makes it better. So, yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:Very cool.
>> Courtney Kendall:Such a gift.
>> Heather Winchell:I haven't told you this yet, but I'm actually creating a magazine. Are you with my husband? It'well, I mean, it's for our family. Yeah, it's kind of like a little family yearbook. Oh, I love, like, major milestones.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:And the reason I'm calling it a magazine is because basically, the way we would print it in Canva, they call that a magazine.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah, totally.
>> Heather Winchell:Yeah. So my husband and I had, like, a weekend together for our anniversary this past weekend. We worked on our family magazine. Just kind of making like, a page for each person in our family. so that's been a lot of fun. And my team, as you will, is my husband, myself, and our four boys. yeah, I'll let you know. It's not going to be available in print to everyone.
>> Courtney Kendall:Sorry about that. Where can we get our copy? Well, you holler if you need help because, yeah, I've figured out the small, annoying pieces of why isn't this working?
>> Heather Winchell:that's great.
>> Courtney Kendall:There's something cool about having it printed too. The tangible piece of it where it's not just in your phone, it's not just a photo anymore there. It's actually something that you can hold and touch and it means something.
>> Heather Winchell:Yeah. And we make photo books every year.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:But this is just a little more expansensive. Like it can have pictures, stories.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:Ah, stories. Like poems, things they've written at school.
>> Courtney Kendall:Or at home, you know, I like that.
>> Heather Winchell:Yeah.
>> Courtney Kendall:Okay.
>> Heather Winchell:So it's just a fun little side project.
>> Courtney Kendall:I might side project that. That's cool. That's really cool.
>> Heather Winchell:okay, so what resources have you found to be most helpful along the way as you've navigated the business element of your work? Like all the hard and soft skills of that.
>> Courtney Kendall:Oh yeah. Being willing to learn has been the key element to doing this and being willing to fail, I think too. So I've leaned heavily on a book, it's called Rocket Fuel, just to understand a little bit more about having a visionary and having someone that can help integrate that. And have prayed for an integrator really to show up for every little seed, to help keep everything just right where it needs to be. Because it's easy to have a million ideas, but having someone that helps focus the projects and weed out the extra noise that we don't need to run after is really important. So that's been a good one. And then this is not necessarily the business aspect, but because what we do is so creative. The Artist S Way is a book that I have really also found to be helpful in keeping the creative, well, full. So that's been a good resource for me. Very cool. Yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:Do you feel like you found your integrator? Did. Was anybody in your art department?
>> Courtney Kendall:Yes.
>> Heather Winchell:Kind of have that mindset.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeses. I actually gonna make me cry because I just like, I just really like, I'm like, lord, I don't want to keep doing this alone. And I don't want to do it without, these other magnificent women. And yes, there are four gals that have jumped in and one of them who has just text me and like, hey, have you thought about this? And hey, what if we tried doing this and I just, I couldn't be more thankful.
>> Heather Winchell:Yeah.
>> Courtney Kendall:Like truly, that is so. Feels like a gift. So. Yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:Okay. So kind of pivoting to another element of every little seed. What made you start facilitating creative accountability groups?
>> Courtney Kendall:Yes. Yes. Well, you were in, you were in the pilot. No, you weren't in the pilot. You were just in.
>> Heather Winchell:Just in the last.
>> Courtney Kendall:A year ago.
>> Heather Winchell:Yeah.
>> Courtney Kendall:Okay. Creative catapults came from this spot of seeing how many other people have awesome ideas that just need a little bit of accountability of like, hey, did you show up for yourself in that way? Did you show up for that thing that God's leaning on you to do? And some of them are callings. Like, actually this podcast, I feel like could fall in that of it's a calling. But then there's also these other pieces where it's like, oh, just good soul care. Where people just want to learn how to become a photographer because it's something that they have always wanted to do. Like, it doesn't necessarily have to be something that they're turning into a job.
>> Heather Winchell:Right.
>> Courtney Kendall:But it's amazing to me, myself included in this, how quickly where we are to fill our day with nonsense stuff and not the things that we really, really want to do, the important stuff. And so as I, as I felt compelled to do every little seed, I started just making m myself do these different daily show ups and then kept pushing that down the field slowly but surely. And then it's amazing when you do show up, if it's 20 minutes a day or an hour a day, eventually this project comes to life. And so I just had this big desire to see other people start doing that because there are so many talented people out there who also need to hear, you're good at this. You should do it. You know, and it's, it's easy to get trapped in our own head and say, like, well, I can't become a painter because I, I don't know how to do it and she's better or it's, just easy to compare. And that is from the pit of hell, in my opinion. Like, we are meant to live out of our giftings of what God's given us to use. And it's. I don't know, I just want to see other people thrive in that. And it's m. Really life giving to get to see that happen for others.
>> Heather Winchell:Yeah. And you know what's really cool, Courtney? As I've mentioned, I went through the creative catapult. That's how this podcast was born. And then as a process of, you know, interviewing people.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:Holding conversations. I met a man, Jim Dodgin, who does career coaching.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yes.
>> Heather Winchell:And, and after meeting him, we started working together. And he has been coaching me. And it's just been so cool. You know, part of the process was identifying kind of my top strengths.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:And as I look at those top strengths, which include belief, Wu, which is winning others over, and positivity and communication.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yep.
>> Heather Winchell:It's just kind of staggering how well that aligns with what, this thing that I'm doing.
>> Courtney Kendall:Right. Like ye.
>> Heather Winchell:Because, you know, sure, maybe the woo positivity and communication go well for a podcast, but having belief is my top string. The whole premise of my podcast, believing. Hey, it really matters what we put our attention on. Especially in this time that feel feels so divided, so difficult. I mean on an individual scale we are all dealing with really difficult broken things. And on a cultural scale, we are dealing with some difficult broken things and worldwide difficult broken things. And I really do think learning to hold the tension of gratitude and delighting in what there is to delight in while holding the reality and grief of the heart.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:I mean, yeah, I think it's important. I think it matters.
>> Courtney Kendall:It matters big time. What you're doing matters big time. It's incredible. And you're. And you're made for it. M. You know.
>> Heather Winchell:Well, that's been the cool thing.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:Yeah. I like said yes and kind of, you know, took this little sidest step into something that I'm not being paid for and isn't my full time job or whatever. And yeah, so it'it's. Just been, it's just been really fun to see that blossom along the way.
>> Courtney Kendall:That's cool. That's neat that, you met Jim and get to work with him. I've worked with him before too, and he is a sage in a lot of ways with. It's funny though, how I met him, the Lord was like, hey, you need to buy the guy behind you a cup of coffee. And I was like, why do you make me such a weirdo? Like, I don't want to buy the guy behind me in line a cup of coffee. Like, please, no. And it was Jim that. And I ended up. So at first I was like, no, thanks anyway, Lord. And then, and then I was like, fine. I was like, sir, can I buy your coffee? And he's like, you know. And then we chatted and, and then it turned into coaching. So it, so it's so cool how God. How God works.
>> Heather Winchell:Oh my goodness.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah. but he's a neat man. Really. Ah, neat man.
>> Heather Winchell:Yeah, he is a really neat man. But kind of bringing it back to the creative catapult. What have you found to be the biggest challenge in facilitating that kind of space? And then conversely, what has been most rewarding?
>> Courtney Kendall:Oh, most rewarding is Easy. Like, I feel so honored to have a front row seat to what people are making and doing and how they're wired and they're. Yes. Because it's always a scared yes. You know, it's like, could I do this? I think I'mnna try, you know, and that feels. That just is a privilege to get to see. And then having this group of people who are all cheering for everyone in the group, you know, we all want to see everyone in the group succeed. And I think it's easy to be like, oh, I'm by myself and nobody cares. But now all of a sudden, you have this group of people who all care deeply that this works for you. So that feels really, really, rewarding. I think the hardest thing is, is selling it. I mean, just like, getting it in front of the right audience. And I think that's probably my overall most difficult part of every little seed in general is just getting the different things in front of the right people.
>> Heather Winchell:Right.
>> Courtney Kendall:That's not something I like to do either. So I'm kind of like, oh, if you're interested, it's over here. But I should try to be a little better at that.
>> Heather Winchell:Yeah.
>> Courtney Kendall:So, yeah. Yeah, that piece is hard.
>> Heather Winchell:Yeah, I get that. Yeah, I understand.
>> Courtney Kendall:Y.
>> Heather Winchell:Okay, Courtney. So something I remember from the Creative Catapult is this saying, yes, go eat pie. Oh, yes, unpack that for me.
>> Courtney Kendall:Oh, that's one of my favorite saying. That's from my mom, and I would get really overwhelmed in high school, mostly with all the work that I had to do. And she would say, just go eat a piece of pie. Go eat pie. Take a minute. And what she was really saying, like, sometimes there was actual pie, but it was more just this. Like, just take a pause. Just go play, go outside, go for a walk, go ride a bike, go have a cup of coffee. Just get. Pause for a second, regroup. It's just become a rhythm where, like, at lunchtime, I try to eat pie, if you will, for 15 minutes. Like, go read a poem, go paint for 15 minutes. Like, nothing major, right? But this, like, pause. I think it helps us understand our, like, living in our limits, knowing, like, okay, I'm actually needing to take a second and regroup or not try to do one more task or cram one more thing in. I think it speaks to that. I also notice that when I'm able to go eat pie, like, take this break, my mind can come to rest, and then whatever I'm really, like, struggling with or chewing on or something, a problem that I can't seem to figure out. Inevitably figures itself out. It's like you subconsciously, your brain's working on it. Anyway, so daily I try to eat pie like 15 minutes and then on a weekly basis it looks like Sabbath. And that's a full day, 24 hours of just doing nothing that has a deadline associated with it. only doing things that you delight in. And that can be anything, cooking, whatever that is. But it just, it's again it's that okay, Lord, this is your project. I'm not going to try to strive and do more than I need to and I'm gonna just rest and, and enjoy and eat some pie. So yeah, I love it. it's been a helpful tool in my life. Yeah, mandatory actually.
>> Heather Winchell:Mine too. And actually just having, giving you the opportunity to unpack the what's behind it and the vision and how it plays out in your own life really just empowers me with even more conviction for the importance.
>> Courtney Kendall:Thank you. Yeah, you bet. And if you can quarterly try to throw something on your calendar too where its like a full day away, something maybe a little more extravagant. And that feels not, it doesnt t have to be expensive but just maybe leaving town and going to a different town to do it. So yeah, yeah, yeah, you back.
>> Heather Winchell:For others out there that might have their own business while juggling other responsibilities, you know, that could be a family, a different full time or part time job, you know, whatever it might be. What would your practical tips and encouragement be for them?
>> Courtney Kendall:U well u I think I kind of just spoke to this but learning to live inside of those limits. I have three girls that are still at home and I want them to see me doing the hard work that God's put in my hands to do. And I also simultaneously don't want to run steamroll over my family. And so I work really hard to shut it off
by 3:30 when, when they start getting home and prioritizing the people that are most important in my life. And so I think that's really helpful. Asking for help like the art department feels just really helpful in those areas. Yeah. And I think if I'm honest, there's days where I'm like oh I can't keep doing this, I I give up. You know, all dramatic. And I have noticed that those are always my flags for learn to rest, not to quit. I heard that from from my pastor and have held on to that. I have a giant sign posted that says that learn to rest, not to quit. Because I think really what it boils down to is you're worn out and you just need a weekend. Ye. Yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:Yeah. Very good. Well, court, any other plans on the horizon for every little seed or anything we should be watching for?
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah, we just launched subscriptions and.
>> Heather Winchell:And theniting.
>> Courtney Kendall:It is exciting, actually. I am thrilled to have that piece in place now. And then we have subscription plus, which I hope takes off because it is the magazine and then a creative surprise and then the magazine and then a creative surprise. So it's quarterly, but I hope that works because I want to make creative surprises for people. Ok, I have a problem.
>> Heather Winchell:Yeah. Because I already signed up for the basic subscription.
>> Courtney Kendall:Did you?
>> Heather Winchell:I get the creat.
>> Courtney Kendall:I don't know. That's all the back end stuff that we need the integrator for. But yes. So. Okay, well, we can figure that out. But yeah, be able to troubleshoot that. Yeah, troubleshoot that piece. So that, I don't know. That is really life giving to me to make these things that people could open in their mail. I mean, the magazine itself is already this e. All these stories of faith and things that you can make like it's already inspiration, I feel like. But then you now have this. Then you know, three months later get something else like a paint palette or. I've just been having a lot of fun thinking of what it's go goingna be. So o.
>> Heather Winchell:That's, Fun.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah. So subscription, subscription plus and then the art department, we will open that up again for people who might want to come and work for every little seed and just do that. That feels exciting. And then submissions are always opening twice a year. Yeah. So if you're a writer or artist, we'd love to see your work and celebrate your work and point people towards your stories. And so yeah, I think that's about it.
>> Heather Winchell:That's great.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:Really great.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:And where can people go to purchase the magazine or to stay in the know?
>> Courtney Kendall:Yes, the newsletter is helpful. It keeps you aware of when deadlines are, if you want to submit and when new stuff's coming out. But overall you can just go to everyittlesed.com.
>> Heather Winchell:Okay, cool.
>> Courtney Kendall:yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:And then you're also on some socials at Every Little Seed.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah, there's some. It's every dot. Little dot seed. So. But you can probably find us.
>> Heather Winchell:Ye.
>> Courtney Kendall:But yeah, that's just on Instagram.
>> Heather Winchell:Well, I like to end my show with a few fun questions.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yes.
>> Heather Winchell:So my first fun question for you is what is a book you could reread every year?
>> Courtney Kendall:O. let's see. A book I could reread every year. Well, the first one that came in my head is a wacky book. And I don't want that to be my book, but I can't get it out of my head now. It's called Big Magic and it's Big Magic. Yeah. And it's this idea that creative ideas are alive. And I don't believe in like half of things in this book, but I do tend to reread it every other year. It's just kind of quirky. I think it speaks to how odd creativity is. How it can kind of inspire you at one moment and then leaves you flat on your back another minute. And there's something about it that makes me feel like, oh, okay, I'm not crazy, you know. So I do like, I do reread that book.
>> Heather Winchell:So you would give that book with a disclaimer that you're not bought into all the ideas.
>> Courtney Kendall:I'm not fully bought into all the ideas because when she talks about the universe, I insert the Holy spirit or you know, so there's some of that too where. But it does feel like there's these ideas that you can't get rid of that won't go away. Every little seed'one of them. And a lot of people bring those ideas to creative catapult that they won't go away. They nag you until you do something with them.
>> Heather Winchell:Right.
>> Courtney Kendall:And so it is kind of speaking to that, another book that I really love. I love Bob Goffh. He just brings this love does. I think it's that picture of like just loving the person right in front of you wholeheartedly, with reckless abandon, generosity and not having an agenda. Just be normal. So I really enjoy reading that one.
>> Heather Winchell:If you could choose only one of these options for your birthday for the rest of your lifees, would it be pie or cake or cookies?
>> Courtney Kendall:Oh no, no, not a cookie. Heaven forbid. Pie for sure. Pie. Okay. Yes.
>> Heather Winchell:Any particular flavor or kind?
>> Courtney Kendall:I recently at ah, Ginger and Baker is. This is awkward. But every single time I go up to the abbey I'll spend a day in silence. And then I treat myself when I come out of silence to go to Ginger and Baker and have a piece of lemon meringue pie. And so now I'm like one of those rats that knows it's coming. I will start salivating at the end of the day at the abbey because I know I'm going to get my piece of pie. So lemon meringue all the way awesome. For now. I don't know what'll happen when I. It feels like as you age, things change, but for now, my ticket.
>> Heather Winchell:I love it. I love it. Okay, so let's say you've been given a book deal to write a biography.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yes.
>> Heather Winchell:Who would you want to research and write about?
>> Courtney Kendall:Oh, I think, Corey Tinboom. do you know her story?
>> Heather Winchell:Yeah.
>> Courtney Kendall:Okay, so Holocaust survivor, Jesus lover and persevered through, said thank you for head lice because it kept the guards out so that she could share Christ with the people in her bunk. And I just think, can I be a woman that says thank you for head lice because it points back to you, Lord? It's so challenging and so beautiful. And I want to be a woman at the end of my days that has this story like that where you just say, yes. I can say yes to whatever God's doing when it's not pretty. And her, the way she was just forgiving and kind, and I just. That is only God, you know, in shining out in her.
>> Heather Winchell:So, yeah, that piece that you just referenced, the gratitude for a head lice certainly is very sobering and challengingeah. To my own American discomforts.
>> Courtney Kendall:I knoweaheah. And recently something for every little seed didn't go the way that I wanted it to. And I thought, like, I thought, I have the best plan for this, Lord. You know, I've got this all mapped out, and he's just been challenging me with, you know, Moses, mom had to put her baby in a basket and float him down the Nile. Like, could I say yes to that? Can I be a pregnant teen mom who is filled with joy and wonder? Like, Mary was in a culture that didn't accept, you know, now she's pregnant with Jesus, but her culture didn't accept that. Can I say yes to that? Can I be like Noah and say, sure, I'll build a boat in the middle of the desert here? Like, these yeses are never easy yeses when we're walking with the Lord. And, they're uncomfortable often. And I. Yeah, I'd like to be a woman that can say, all right, I don't know what you're doing. And my plan sounded better, but okay, we'll do your way.
>> Heather Winchell:So, yeah, like, gratitude, perspective, perseverance.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yes.
>> Heather Winchell:I actually, this word, this word moxie.
>> Courtney Kendall:Ye.
>> Heather Winchell:Has been tripping me up because I love it and I haven't read.
>> Courtney Kendall:I like that.
>> Heather Winchell:Moxie is courageous. Spirit, determination, and perseverance.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yes. I mean, don't you just want Be.
>> Heather Winchell:A woman of moxie.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yes. Thank you for giving language to how I'm feeling inside because that is exactly it. Like yeah, persevering and I love that.
>> Heather Winchell:Yeah.
>> Courtney Kendall:Stubborn, stubborn gladness. Stubborn joy. I don't know. But sticking with it even when it's different. We've got moxieah. I like that.
>> Heather Winchell:Well Courtney, this has been a lot of fun. Now I'd like to invite you to give your own shout out. Who would you want to tell? Thanks for doing that and why?
>> Courtney Kendall:I had like eight. So I want to give a shout out to Haileey Hendricksen. She is an amazing photographer but is the woman who I actually spoke to who has been really helpful in being an integrator for every little Seed. But she is able to tell stories with her photographs that you don't need words for it. Just the way she captures things feels it is her gifting too. she has many, many gifts, but that is one of them. So Bailey Hendricksen for photography and a shout out to Andrew at Small Chair Consulting. He has helped me with the business side of every Little Seed. And in those moments where I thought oh no, like I don't know that I can do the all of the business pieces to this, he has shown up and said hey, this, your numbers look good and this is what, this is where we should try to go for the next quarter. And has helped me feel stable in the back end stuff with the numbers.
>> Heather Winchell:So.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:And Haley and Andrew are married, right?
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah. They're like this amazing team. yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:The power couple. That is the Hendricksen.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yes. Yeah, I like that. Yeah. Let's give them power coupled. Yeah, I love that. So yeah.
>> Heather Winchell:All right.
>> Courtney Kendall:It's my people.
>> Heather Winchell:I love it. I love it. Courtney. Well, the way I end the show is with a haiku that I've written for you. It's just a kind of a way to capture why I brought you in and as a gift for you. So thanks for doing that for believing big things of every Little seed.
>> Courtney Kendall:Thank you friend.
>> Heather Winchell:You're welcome.
>> Courtney Kendall:Appreciate that.
>> Heather Winchell:Thanks for joining me.
>> Courtney Kendall:Yeah, thanks for having me.
>> Heather Winchell:Thanks for doing that. Is presented to you by the Eiary a place for beholding and becoming. And thank you for joining us for today's episode. Before you go, I have a couple of invitations. If you found it meaningful, could I invite you to take 2 minutes to rate and review the show? I also invite you to help me create an upcoming episode of thanks for doing that by nominating someone or suggesting a topic. Let's link arms to call out the good and the beautiful that we see around us. Because I really believe that finding delight in our divided and difficult world could make all the difference.