In this solo episode of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor, Laura sits down for an honest conversation about hidden exhaustion, survival mode, grief, emotional overwhelm, and the invisible weight many people quietly carry every day.

Together, we explore:
☕ what happens when strength becomes a survival pattern
☕ the fear of slowing down because “everything might hit you”
☕ pretending you’re fine when you’re not
☕ feeling unseen or unsupported
☕ comparison rooted in exhaustion instead of envy
☕ grief that resurfaces through memories, holidays, and unanswered questions
☕ and what gentleness might look like for weary hearts

This episode was shaped by real listener reflections and questions from people carrying very real pain, grief, anxiety, and emotional fatigue.

If you’ve been functioning on the outside while quietly unraveling on the inside, this conversation is for you.

Soul Pause Questions:
• If you could say one honest thing to God right now, what would it be?
• What would gentle look like for you this week?

If you’re walking through a weary or emotionally heavy season and need a gentle place to process, pray, or breathe a little deeper, I also offer soul care conversations and coaching sessions. 

You don’t have to carry everything alone. Check out https://bakingpastor.com/ and select Soul Care Coaching.

☕ Connect with Laura / The Baking Pastor:
https://bakingpastor.com/ 

🎧 Subscribe, share, and pull up a chair at the counter anytime

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor? 
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor  

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience. 

You’re emotionally stretched thin.
Running on fumes.
Trying to keep going while carrying pressure, responsibility, fear, trauma, and expectations all at once.

And sometimes… faith feels tired too.

In this deeply honest conversation, Laura sits down with Atlanta-based alternative hip-hop artist Ashton Stevens to talk about emotional exhaustion, spiritual pressure, fatherhood, healing, identity, and the tension of trying to hold yourself together while standing at the edge emotionally.

Centered around Ashton’s powerful song Edge, this conversation explores:

• emotional regulation and overwhelm
• spiritual exhaustion
• pressure, anger, and emotional control
• trauma and survival patterns
• faith in the middle of mental fatigue
• fatherhood and responsibility
• healing without pretending everything is okay
• what it means to stay grounded when life feels heavy

Ashton shares openly about the emotional tension behind his music and the importance of honesty, reflection, and trusting God while navigating difficult seasons.

This episode is not about pretending life is easy.

It’s about learning that even at the edge… you are not alone there.

There’s a difference between being at the edge…

and being alone there.

Counter Pause 

Let’s pause for a moment.

Take a slow breath in…
and let it out gently.

If you can, rest your hand over your heart.

And just notice:

Where do you feel stretched too thin right now?

Not where you should be stronger.
Not where you need to fix something.

Just… where you’re tired.

(breathe)

God is not absent in that place.

Even if it feels quiet.

There’s a difference between being at the edge…
and being alone there.

Blessing

May you be honest about where you’re tired.
May you release the pressure to hold everything together alone.
And may you discover that even at the edge…
you are still held.

About Ashton

Ashton Stevens is an Atlanta-based alternative hip-hop artist originally from the Florida Panhandle. Known for his introspective style, Ashton creates music rooted in faith and real-life experiences. His work centers on emotional regulation, purpose, and personal growth, using music as a tool for healing, reflection, and truth.

Connect with Ashton:
https://www.ashtonstevens.com/

His single Edge - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb-IrWD_RYo

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor? 
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor  

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience. 

A Mother’s Promise, Faith, and Fighting to Be Heard

What happens when someone you love is suffering… and no one seems to have answers?

In this deeply moving conversation, Laura sits down with author, speaker, and nonprofit founder Jody Hudson to talk about motherhood, faith, caregiving, grief, and the exhausting fight to help a child who was repeatedly dismissed and misunderstood by the medical system.

What began as unexplained pain in Jody’s vibrant, athletic eleven-year-old daughter, Alex, became a years-long search for answers that would eventually lead to a Lyme disease diagnosis—after countless doctor visits, financial strain, emotional exhaustion, and unimaginable uncertainty.

At the same time, Jody was navigating divorce, financial hardship, and the overwhelming weight of trying to hold everything together while fighting for her daughter’s life.

Together, Laura and Jody explore:

• what it means to love someone through suffering 
• the heartbreak of not being believed 
• caregiver exhaustion and resilience 
• faith in the middle of unanswered questions 
• grief, advocacy, and keeping promises after loss 
• the quiet strength of simply continuing to show up 

This conversation is not about easy answers.

It’s about love that stayed.

If you’ve ever fought for someone you love…
 if you’ve ever felt exhausted from carrying what others could not see…
 or if you’ve ever wondered where God is in the middle of suffering…

this episode is for you.

Pull up a chair. 

Counter Pause

Take a slow breath in…
 and let it out gently.

And ask yourself:

Where am I carrying something heavy while still trying to hold everyone else together?

You don’t have to pretend it isn’t hard.

About Jody

Jody Hudson is an author, speaker, philanthropist, and founder of the Alex Hudson Lyme Foundation. Her memoir, My Promise to Alex, chronicles her daughter’s battle with Lyme disease and the unwavering love and advocacy that shaped their journey.

Today, Jody continues honoring Alex’s legacy through education, awareness, and support for others navigating Lyme disease and chronic illness.

Connect with Jody

Foundation: https://www.alexhudsonlymefoundation.org/
Book: My Promise to Alex on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4u8BqyS 

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor? 
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor  

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience. 

It’s the kind that comes from holding everything together…
being the one others rely on…
and carrying more than anyone realizes.

In this episode of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor, I’m sitting down with Heidi Blackie for a conversation about what it feels like when strength starts to feel heavy.

Not dramatic.
Not loud.
Just quietly exhausting.

Heidi shares from her own experience—what it looked like to reach a place where pushing through no longer worked, and how that became the beginning of something different.

This isn’t a conversation about giving up.

It’s about:

• recognizing when you’ve been carrying too much 
• gently letting go without feeling like you’re failing 
• and discovering a different kind of strength—one that doesn’t require you to hold everything together 

If you’ve been the strong one for a long time…
If you’re feeling worn down, stretched thin, or unsure how to keep going…

This conversation will meet you right where you are. 

In This Episode

• What it really feels like to be “the strong one” 
• The quiet weight of always holding everything together 
• Recognizing when strength becomes too much 
• Letting go without guilt or failure 
• Redefining strength in a slower, more sustainable way 

A Gentle Pause

As you listen…

You don’t have to fix anything today.

Just notice:

• where you feel tired
• what you’ve been carrying
• what might need a little more care

You’re allowed to take this slowly.

Continue the Conversation

If something in today’s conversation resonated with you, Heidi has created a space where you can continue exploring that gently and at your own pace. Here website is https://www.unshakableme.com or on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnshakableMe

You’ll find resources for women navigating burnout, chronic illness, and seasons of change—spaces to reconnect with yourself and begin again without pressure.

 Gentle Reminder

You don’t have to keep proving your strength.

You don’t have to carry everything alone.

You are allowed to rest…
even in the middle of it all.

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor? 
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor  

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience. 

In this episode, Laura sits down with Karen Davidson, a deaconess and co-creator of Suds n Buds, a ministry that offers laundry support and care for those experiencing homelessness in her community.

What begins as a conversation about practical service becomes something deeper—an honest reflection on what it means to show up when life doesn’t look the way we expected. Together, they explore how small, ordinary acts of care can restore dignity, create connection, and remind us that presence often matters more than solutions.

This is a conversation about compassion, about meeting people where they are, and about the quiet ways God is at work in places we might otherwise overlook.

If you’ve ever found yourself navigating change you didn’t choose…
or wondering what it looks like to care for others in a real and meaningful way…
this conversation is a place to sit for a while.

Pull up a chair.

About Karen

Karen Davidson is a deaconess and co-creator of Suds n Buds, a ministry that offers laundry support and care for those experiencing homelessness in her community.

Her work is rooted in simple, meaningful acts of compassion—meeting people in everyday needs while offering presence, dignity, and care.

As a deaconess, Karen walks alongside congregations and communities, helping them find practical ways to care for others in real, tangible ways.

She lives in Huntsville, Alabama with her husband and enjoys time outdoors, especially biking and walking with her dog—preferably when it’s a little warmer than freezing.

Sometimes care looks like doing something.
Sometimes it looks like simply being present.

As you move through your week,
notice where you’re being invited to show up—
not perfectly,
just faithfully.

Resources & Ways to Learn More

If this conversation stirred something in you and you’d like to learn more or support this kind of work, you can connect with ShowerUp:

• Learn more about the Huntsville ministry: https://showerup.org/huntsville/ 
• View locations and upcoming opportunities: https://showerup.org/huntsville-calendar/ 

Breath Prayer 

Let’s take a slow breath together.

Inhale: You are seen

Exhale: You are not alone

Closing Blessing

Hear this blessing, my friend

As we come to the end of this conversation,

may you remember that care doesn’t always have to be loud to be meaningful.
That small acts—offered with love—can carry more weight than we realize.

May you notice the spaces in your own life
where you are already showing up,
already offering something steady and good.

And if you find yourself in a place of needing care,
may you be met with gentleness, dignity,
and someone willing to simply sit beside you.

You don’t have to do everything.
But what you do… matters.

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor? 
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor  

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience. 

This episode is a little bit of a bonus—one that found its way here in a way only God can arrange. I’m grateful it did. 

Episode Summary

When a relationship feels fragile, it can be hard to know what to do… or even what to say.

In this episode, Laura sits down with Tammy Noble to talk about what it looks like to hold on through difficult seasons in marriage. Through honest conversation, Tammy shares from her own experience of struggle, healing, and restoration.

This isn’t a conversation about perfect relationships.

It’s about real ones—the kind that feel unsteady, tender, and in need of care.

If This Episode Feels Close to Home

If you’ve ever felt:

• Like your relationship is carrying more than it can hold 
• Unsure if things can feel steady again 
• Tired of trying to hold everything together 

You’re not alone. 

In This Episode

• What “holding on” looks like in hard seasons 
• The emotional weight inside struggling relationships 
• How healing can begin (even slowly) 

The role of faith in restoration 

About Tammy

Tammy Noble is a marriage mentor and ministry leader who is passionate about helping couples move from survival mode into a deeper, covenant-centered connection.

With honesty and compassion, Tammy speaks into the real struggles many marriages face—inviting people to step away from pressure, performance, and disconnection, and return to a more grounded relationship with God and one another.

Her message is shaped by her own journey through seasons of striving, fear, and misplaced identity—experiences that impacted both her sense of purpose and her relationships. 

Through surrender and realignment, she encountered the kind of restoration she now gently helps others discover.

Blending biblical truth with practical wisdom, Tammy supports couples in rebuilding trust, strengthening communication, and rediscovering who they are—both individually and together.

Her heart is to see marriages strengthened, families restored, and individuals rooted in an identity that no longer strives, but rests in something steady and true.

Connect with Tammy

If you’d like a simple space to pause and begin your week grounded in faith, Tammy hosts a free Monday morning prayer gathering for marriages in a private Facebook Group. It’s a quiet, welcoming time to come as you are, seek God together, and start the week centered and supported. https://www.facebook.com/groups/3590901304538789 

Take it at your own pace… only if it feels right for you.

Counter Pause 

Before you move on with your day…
just take a moment.

Is there a place in your life right now
that feels a little fragile?

You don’t have to solve it.
You don’t have to fix it.

Just notice…
and take one slow breath there.

Breath Prayer

Breathe in: Love is still here…

Breathe out: Even now.

Closing Blessing

My friend, hear this blessing…

If things feel tender right now,
may you know that you are not alone in it.

May you find small moments of grace
in the middle of what feels uncertain.

And may you trust—
gently, slowly—

that even fragile things
can be held with care.

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor? 
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor  

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience. 

There are seasons where life doesn’t completely fall apart…
but it doesn’t feel steady either.

You’re still showing up.
Still doing what needs to be done.
But underneath it all, something feels off—uncertain, heavy, hard to name.

In this episode, Laura sits down with Kurt Bush, a trauma-informed coach and former pastor, to explore what it really looks like to “hold it together” when things feel unsteady on the inside.

Together, they talk about the internal weight we carry, the parts of ourselves we don’t always understand, and the quiet tension between faith and real life.

This isn’t a conversation about fixing everything.

It’s about noticing what’s there…
and remembering you’re not the only one carrying it. 

If This Episode Feels Close to Home

If you’ve ever felt like:

• You’re holding more than anyone realizes 
• You don’t quite feel like yourself anymore 
• You’re doing your best… but it still feels heavy 

This conversation is for you. 

In This Episode, We Explore

• What “holding it together” really looks like in everyday life 
• The internal experiences we often don’t talk about 
• Why feeling unsteady doesn’t mean you’re failing 
• How faith can feel complicated in hard seasons 

A gentler way to begin noticing what you’re carrying 

About Kurt

Kurt Bush is a trauma-informed coach, certified Internal Family Systems practitioner, and co-founder of Brimstone Coaching Group.

With a background in both pastoral ministry and leadership, Kurt understands what it feels like to carry responsibility on the outside while navigating something very different on the inside.

Through his work, he helps people gently explore what’s happening beneath the surface—so they can move toward greater clarity, wholeness, and a more honest way of living and leading.

Connect with Kurt

If something in today’s conversation resonated with you and you’re curious about exploring this kind of work a little more, you can learn more here:

🔗 https://www.brimstonecoachinggroup.com/1-1coaching

Take it at your own pace… only if and when it feels right for you.

Counter Pause

Before you move on with your day…

What feels unsteady for you right now?

You don’t have to fix it.
 You don’t have to figure it out.

Just notice…
 and take one slow breath there.

Breath Prayer

Breathe in: I am held…

Breathe out: Even here.

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor? 
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor  

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience. 

In this episode of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor, Laura reflects on the quiet disconnection that can come after seasons of stress, loss, or transition—and offers a gentle invitation to reconnect with who you are becoming. 

Show Notes

Episode Summary

There are seasons where life narrows—where the focus becomes simply getting through the day. And when things begin to open again, we may realize we don’t quite feel like ourselves anymore.

In this episode, we sit with that experience and explore what it means to gently find your way back. 

Soul Care Questions

• Where do you feel a little disconnected from yourself right now?
• What part of you might be asking to be noticed again?
• What small moment of noticing could help you reconnect today?

Scripture / Reflection

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

Next Steps

Listen gently. Reflect slowly. Carry what stayed with you into the day ahead.

If this conversation feels like something you’d like to keep sitting with, Laura’s book At the Counter and the companion Soul Pause Journal offer space for deeper reflection at your own pace.

And if you ever find yourself wanting company in that process, you’re welcome to explore Laura’s coaching work at https://daretoliveagain.com whenever it feels right.

From the Counter

If this episode resonated with you, you may find a similar kind of space in Laura’s book:

At the Counter: Spiritual Recipes for Faith in Everyday Life 👉https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor? 
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor  

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience. 

There’s a kind of tiredness that sleep doesn’t fix.

The kind that’s already there before your feet hit the floor.
The kind that lingers quietly beneath everything you carry.

In this opening episode of Season 2, we begin at the counter…
with an honest look at what it means to feel tired in ways that are hard to explain.

Not to fix it.
Not to push past it.
But to notice it.

This season will hold space for the quieter places people carry—
through both solo reflections and conversations with guests in a new series called
 

A Seat at the Counter.

Each episode invites you to slow down, reflect, and sit with what’s real…
without rushing toward answers.

You are welcome here.

In This Episode

• The difference between physical tiredness and deeper weariness 
• What it feels like to carry something unseen 
• Why not everything needs to be fixed 
• A gentle invitation to notice what’s present 

A Quiet Invitation

Where are you feeling tired right now…
in ways you can’t fully explain?

Explore More

At the Counter: Spiritual Recipes for Faith in Everyday Life:
https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

At the Counter Soul Pause Journal: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

Stay Connected

Follow along for future episodes and reflections: Facebook or Instagram

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor? 
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor  

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience. 

This bonus episode arrives between seasons.

Our past shapes us, but it does not get to name us forever. In this reflection, Laura gently explores identity beyond survival, loss, or past seasons—making space for who you are becoming now.

Episode Summary

Past experiences can quietly become labels we carry long after a season has passed. In this episode, listeners are invited to honor their story without letting it define them—creating space for growth, becoming, and renewed hope.

Soul Care Questions

• What part of your past has been speaking louder than your present?
• What label or role might be ready to loosen its grip?
• Who are you becoming now, even quietly?

Scripture / Blessing

“See, I am doing a new thing; now it springs up, do you not perceive it?”
 — Isaiah 43:19

May you honor where you’ve been without letting it limit where you’re going.
May you be released from labels that no longer fit.
May you trust that your story is still unfolding.

Closing

Listen gently. Reflect slowly. Carry what stayed with you into the days ahead.

If you’d like a quiet place to continue, At the Counter and the companion Soul Pause Journal were created for moments like this. Check out the books here: https://amzn.to/4m1WRhM

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor? 
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor  

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience. 

This bonus episode arrives between seasons as a gentle invitation to slow down.

Our inner lives collect layers just as naturally as our kitchen counters do. In this reflective conversation, Laura explores what it means to declutter your soul with compassion rather than judgment—making room with care instead of pressure.

Through storytelling and quiet reflection, she names the weight many of us carry and the courage it takes to release what no longer belongs.

Episode Summary

Decluttering your soul is not about fixing yourself.
It is about making room with gentleness.

In this conversation, Laura reflects on emotional and spiritual clutter—especially the weight of guilt—and invites listeners to notice what they’ve been carrying and what may be ready to rest.

In This Episode

• emotional clutter
• letting go of guilt
• soul care
• faith in everyday life

Soul Pause Questions

Take a few quiet moments to sit with one of these:

• What feels heavy that no longer needs to be carried?
• What guilt might be ready to rest, even just for a moment?
• What would you make room for if your soul felt lighter?

Continue the Conversation

If this episode stirred something in you, At the Counter: Spiritual Recipes for Faith in Everyday Life offers a gentle place to continue.

Find the book here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

Scripture / Blessing

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

May you clear space without self-criticism.
May you be gentle with your story.
May you trust that releasing what no longer belongs is an act of love.

Closing

Pull up a chair.
Breathe.
Stay as long as you need.

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor? 
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor  

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience. 

This bonus episode arrives between seasons as a quiet moment to pause.

Grief is often more subtle and complex than we expect. In this reflection, Laura explores the many forms of loss people carry without always naming them as grief—creating space to recognize, honor, and tend what has been held silently.

Soul Care Questions

• What loss might you still be carrying, even if you never called it grief?
• What ending, change, or disappointment still sits quietly with you?
• Where might you offer yourself gentleness instead of explanation?

Scripture / Blessing

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18

May you be kind to what you’re carrying.
May you move slowly through this season, held in compassion and grace.

From the Counter

If this conversation felt familiar, At the Counter: Spiritual Recipes for Faith in Everyday Life offers a gentle place to continue.

Find the book here:  https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv 

Closing

Listen gently.
Reflect slowly.
Carry what stayed with you into the days ahead.

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor? 
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor  

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience. 

This closing episode offers a soft sending into ordinary life.

Releasing during Valentine’s week, it gently acknowledges the mix of joy, grief, and complexity many carry—reminding listeners they don’t have to make this week mean anything about their worth.

Soul Care Questions

• What kind of gentleness would feel most loving toward you right now?
• Where might you release comparison and receive compassion instead?
• What does it look like to carry only what is truly yours this week?

Scripture / Blessing

“May the Lord bless you and keep you.” — Numbers 6:24

May you move gently through this week,
held in kindness and steadied by grace.

Closing

Listen quietly.
Reflect tenderly.
Carry only what is yours.

If you’d like a quiet place to continue, At the Counter and the companion Soul Pause Journal are available here: https://amzn.to/4m1WRhM

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor? 
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor  

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience. 

In this episode, Laura reflects on relationships, boundaries, and what we begin to notice when life slows down.

A gentle conversation about belonging, discernment, and finding the spaces where you feel most like yourself.

Soul Care Questions

• When you stop trying so hard, who naturally remains near you?
• Where do you feel most like yourself lately?
• What tables no longer ask you to shrink or strain?

Scripture / Blessing

“Let mutual love continue.” — Hebrews 13:1

May you be surrounded by relationships that allow you to be honest, whole, and at rest.

Closing

Listen with care.
Reflect honestly.
Carry what feels true.

If you’d like a quiet place to continue, At the Counter and the companion Soul Pause Journal are available here: https://amzn.to/4m1WRhM

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor? 
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor  

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience. 

What feels small or unfinished still matters.

In this episode, Laura reflects on partial progress and quiet faithfulness—a gentle reminder that you don’t have to be “done” for your life to count.

Soul Care Questions

• What small thing have you been too quick to dismiss?
• Where have you already done more than you’re giving yourself credit for?
• What has already been given, even if it feels incomplete?

Scripture / Blessing

“Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.” — Luke 16:10

May you notice the goodness of what you’ve already offered,
and trust that it is enough.

Closing

Pause.
Reflect.
Let this rest with you.

If you’d like a quiet place to continue, At the Counter and the companion Soul Pause Journal are available here: https://amzn.to/4m1WRhM

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor? 
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor  

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience. 

In this episode, Laura reflects on waiting, unseen growth, and the quiet work that happens beneath the surface.

A gentle reminder that not all progress is visible—and sometimes the slow rise is exactly what we need.

Soul Care Questions

• Where in your life are you longing for clarity or movement right now?
• What might be forming quietly beneath the surface, even if you can’t see it yet?
• How could you offer yourself patience instead of pressure this week?

Scripture / Blessing

“Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him.” — Psalm 37:7

May you trust the timing of what is unfolding,
even when the waiting feels hard.

Closing

Listen slowly.
Let this settle.
Stay with what is forming.

If you’d like a quiet place to continue, At the Counter and the companion Soul Pause Journal are available here: https://amzn.to/4m1WRhM 

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor? 
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor  

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience. 

In this episode, Laura reflects on waiting, unseen growth, and the quiet work that happens beneath the surface.

A gentle reminder that not all progress is visible—and sometimes the slow rise is exactly what we need.

Soul Care Questions

• Where in your life are you longing for clarity or movement right now?
• What might be forming quietly beneath the surface, even if you can’t see it yet?
• How could you offer yourself patience instead of pressure this week?

Scripture / Blessing

“Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him.” — Psalm 37:7

May you trust the timing of what is unfolding,
even when the waiting feels hard.

Closing

Listen slowly.
Let this settle.
Stay with what is forming.

If you’d like a quiet place to continue, At the Counter and the companion Soul Pause Journal are available here: https://amzn.to/4m1WRhM 

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor? 
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor  

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience. 

This opening episode of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor is an invitation to slow down, breathe, and arrive just as you are.

Laura shares the heart behind this space—a gentle reminder that you don’t have to be finished, fixed, or certain to be welcome.

Soul Care Questions

• Where in your life do you feel most rushed right now?
• What might it look like to arrive without performing?
• What does rest look like for you in this season?

Scripture / Blessing

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

May you know that rest is not something you earn,
but something you are invited into.

Closing

Listen slowly.
Reflect gently.
Arrive as you are.

If you’d like a quiet place to continue, At the Counter and the companion Soul Pause Journal are available here: https://amzn.to/4m1WRhM 

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor? 
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor  

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience.