[00:00:00] Speaker A: This is the Morning Journey Rewind with Mark and Brittany. Never miss a moment.
[00:00:04] Speaker B: This week on the Morning Journey Rewind, Mark and Brittany talk New Year's resolutions. Signing up for Tuesday tasty treats.
[00:00:10] Speaker C: The Hope blog is updated.
[00:00:12] Speaker B: And Karen is out. Jessica is in. Also, Brittany doesn't understand how adjustable weights work and why do we always have room for dessert.
[00:00:20] Speaker D: And Brittany, you kind of have this theory that you don't start your New year's resolutions on January 1st. You kind of wait if you're, if it's coming up on a weekend, get through the weekend first.
[00:00:30] Speaker C: Yeah, now me and you don't do resolutions, but I have a lot of friends who do. And they're like, oh, yeah, it starts on Thursday. And I was like, why don't you just give yourself through the weekend? Like nobody's gonna eat better or work out. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
[00:00:43] Speaker D: No one's doing that on January 1st.
[00:00:45] Speaker C: No, we're not doing it.
[00:00:45] Speaker D: Some people will, but not some people will.
[00:00:47] Speaker C: But I'm giving you a pass this year if you have a New Year's resolution. It's the first Monday of January. Today is a good day to start it.
I don't think anybody worked out or anything, but yeah, today, if that's your resolution. The gyms are gonna be really crowded.
[00:01:00] Speaker D: Yeah, they are. And then wait till, if you just wanna wait until the end of, till February, then they'll be wide open.
[00:01:06] Speaker C: That's true.
[00:01:07] Speaker D: I saw a fitness person over the weekend, a fitness expert, and she made a good point. She said, look, if you're gonna make a resolution to work out, find a workout that you enjoy. I mean, working out is hard and there's some routine to that, obviously. But find something that you enjoy because it will make it much easier for you.
[00:01:28] Speaker C: Yeah, I've heard that joy is actually the best motivator. More so than like determination or just being like really strict on yourself. If you find joy and whatever your resolution is, you're more likely to stick with it.
[00:01:38] Speaker D: I have to give props to my brother in law.
[00:01:40] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:01:40] Speaker D: Okay. So last year he said, I'm going to walk a certain amount of miles every day. I'm going to do it every single day.
He did it.
[00:01:50] Speaker C: Wow.
[00:01:51] Speaker D: He did not miss a single day.
[00:01:52] Speaker C: Rain, snow, everything.
[00:01:54] Speaker D: Rain, snow, sickness. He walked every single day.
[00:01:57] Speaker C: Wow. Good for him.
[00:01:58] Speaker D: Did not miss a Day in 2025.
[00:01:59] Speaker C: Does he have a resolution for this year?
[00:02:01] Speaker D: No, I asked him. I said, you're going to continue that? He said, I'll keep walking, but I'm not going to do it. I'm not going to make a resolution to do it every day.
[00:02:07] Speaker C: Pressure myself to do it every day. Well, we're five days in, and I say start today. If you haven't started yet. There you go.
[00:02:13] Speaker D: A friend of mine posted on her Facebook page that in 2025, she read 50 books.
[00:02:19] Speaker C: Whoa.
[00:02:20] Speaker D: 16,821 pages. I've known her since high school, and she was a reader back then. Still is.
[00:02:27] Speaker C: That's a lot of books.
[00:02:28] Speaker D: I wish I could make that my goal. I like to read, but it's so sporadic, so I don't know that I could ever. Not ever could reach 50 books. But I think the reason why she's able to do it is because it's a goal. It's something that she enjoys doing. I think that's a big key.
[00:02:44] Speaker C: That's huge. Yeah. I feel like my goal is always, like, a book a month, and I normally hit that pretty well, and I enjoy reading, and so it makes it a lot easier. And it turns out that that is really the actual predictor and motivator of if you stick with your goals, is if you enjoy the process. So if your goal is to maybe lose weight, find a way to do that that you enjoy. Like, if you enjoy walking outside, then do that. Don't make it something like, oh, I have to go to the gym and lift weights. If you don't like doing that, it's not gonna work and you're not gonna stick with it. Same with, like, financial goals. If your financial goal is to save money, maybe find ways to save money that you enjoy or, like, a visualization that you like. Ooh, I enjoy this because I can put this money in this jar and see it growing.
[00:03:24] Speaker D: Yeah. Make the process creative. Yes. Yeah. Make it almost. Turn it into almost.
[00:03:29] Speaker C: Yeah. Have fun with it. And I think that is more important than, like, discipline or motivation or stressing yourself out over it, because those things you're not going to stick with. But if you enjoy the process, you're more likely to stick with.
[00:03:40] Speaker D: So earlier we were talking about setting and achieving goals in the new year. Maybe you're still working on that, trying to determine what your goals will be. A good way to start, I think, is asking questions, praying to God, what do you want my year to look like? Not my will, but yours. And when you do that, I mean, think about that. That could lead you into something that you never even thought of, never even planned for the new year.
[00:04:06] Speaker C: I think a lot of times we get caught up in, like, what we want to do for the new year and what we want our goals to be. And there's nothing wrong with having goals and setting those. But when we don't ask God what those goals should be, I feel like we're kind of taking that part out of it. And really we want to look and do more things like Christ. And so, you know, asking God, what do you want from me this year? Do you obedience, trust, or surrender? What do you want me to leave behind this year? Some old habits, maybe some old mindsets, Even relationships maybe, are things that we should leave behind.
[00:04:36] Speaker D: Yeah, exactly. God, what do you want me to start practicing this year? Faith, discipline, consistency. And then I love this one. God, what can I do to grow closer to you this year? Not just knowing about you, but actually walking with you.
[00:04:53] Speaker C: I really like that one and I like this one, too. What can I do or how can I pursue my calling more this year as well, like using my gifts or stepping out in faith and, you know, just following you into the unknown and trusting that God has us wherever we go. That was our big verse at our church last year, is the Lord is with you wherever you go. And so I think as we set these goals and set up our mindset for the new year, remembering to include God in those decisions and ask him, what do you want from me this year? And then following that path and aligning our goals to what he wants for us.
[00:05:23] Speaker A: Your day starts with encouragement. The Morning journey with Mark and Brittany.
[00:05:27] Speaker D: Well, if you have not signed up for the Journey's Tuesday Tasty treats, you need to do that. We will be picking another winner soon.
[00:05:35] Speaker C: Yeah. Next Tuesday we'll have the first Tuesday Tasty treats of the year. We'll be delivering treats from Sweet Indulgence Bakery to your office. All you have to do is sign up one time and we just might pick you. So if you haven't signed up, head to myjourneyfm.com and get signed up for Tuesday Tasty treats.
[00:05:51] Speaker A: From the alarm to the workplace, helping you start your day.
[00:05:54] Speaker D: I'm on my way to work.
[00:05:55] Speaker A: It's the Morning Journey with Mark and Brittany.
[00:05:58] Speaker D: Hey, if you haven't done so, be sure and check out the Journey Hope blog that is available on our website. Brittany, you wrote this one as we look forward to the new year.
[00:06:07] Speaker C: Yep, New Year, New Hope blog. And I took a
[email protected] Now, I'm not one of the journey artists and so it's not as profound as some of the things that they write, but just a Way to kick off the new year and get our focus on where it needs to be. And so you can go to myjourney fm.com click on the hope Blog, click on Encouraging words from us and you can read it right there.
[00:06:28] Speaker A: Start on a positive note. You're on the Morning journey with Mark and Brittany.
[00:06:33] Speaker D: Well, if you are named Karen, you are probably glad to see 2026 arrive because the name Karen is no longer being associated with that person who complains and demands to speak with the manager. There's a new name for that person.
[00:06:49] Speaker C: Yeah. And 2026, Gen Z has named the new name instead of Karen and is now Jessica.
[00:06:55] Speaker D: How do they come up with that?
[00:06:56] Speaker C: I don't know. And if your name is Jessica or Karen, for that matter, I'm sorry. Like, I don't know how a whole, like, group of people got lumped into.
[00:07:04] Speaker D: This, but, yeah, I feel bad for them.
[00:07:07] Speaker C: I do, too. So Gen Z is now saying that Jessica is the new Karen. I mean, it is what it is. I just feel bad for all those parents who named their daughter Alexa and then the Amazon Alexa came out.
That one can get confusing. But, yeah, Jessica, the new Karen. So sorry.
[00:07:24] Speaker A: Uplifting and encouraging because you've needed now more than ever.
[00:07:28] Speaker D: You betcha.
[00:07:29] Speaker A: The morning journey with Mark and Brittany.
[00:07:32] Speaker D: Brittany, I know that some of the gifts that you were giving and that you got, you already knew that they were coming.
[00:07:39] Speaker C: Yes. Both of my husband and I had our gifts spoiled for us this year. So he got me a new phone, and I was getting text messages from Verizon about the new phone coming, so I already knew what I was getting. And then I was really exc. Because I found something that I know he's wanted for a long time. And I was like, oh, I'm gonna get those for him. Adjustable weights.
[00:07:56] Speaker D: Yeah, I've seen those.
[00:07:57] Speaker C: So Amazon delivers them on our doorstep, and there's printed on the box a picture of weights.
[00:08:04] Speaker D: Oh, so kind of ruins the situation.
[00:08:07] Speaker C: Kind of ruined it. Not only that, but I couldn't get them in the house myself because they were so heavy.
[00:08:11] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:08:11] Speaker C: So I made my husband go get them and bring them inside. And then I said to him, I was like, why didn't they just set them to zero?
Because they're, like, adjustable, right?
[00:08:21] Speaker D: What?
[00:08:22] Speaker C: That was his reaction.
[00:08:24] Speaker D: You did not say that.
[00:08:25] Speaker C: I did. He was like, I don't think you understand how adjustable weights work.
[00:08:30] Speaker D: The concept of adjustable weights.
[00:08:36] Speaker C: I didn't exactly understand how that works. Apparently. He's like, they didn't, like, learn how to defy gravity. They still weigh a certain amount.
Like each weight goes up to £55.
[00:08:50] Speaker D: I can see your husband looking at you and just like a pause and then wait a minute.
[00:08:57] Speaker C: I think he laughed about as hard as you're laughing now, actually. And he has told everyone this story.
[00:09:03] Speaker D: Yes. That will live on for years.
[00:09:05] Speaker C: So, you know, now I know adjustable weights still weigh the amount that they are. They haven't defied gravity and that's why they're so heavy.
[00:09:15] Speaker B: We're just gonna worship, we're gonna be encouraged and we're just gonna be together.
[00:09:21] Speaker A: That's the idea. You're on the morning journey with Mark and Brittany.
[00:09:25] Speaker D: I mentioned this before, that my sister is a really good cook and a really good baker. So she was in town for Christmas and it's always hard to try to not have any dessert. And really it's Christmas time, so why should I?
[00:09:39] Speaker C: It's always funny too because, like, no matter how much we eat, it seems like we always have room for dessert.
[00:09:44] Speaker D: Always room for dessert.
[00:09:45] Speaker C: Like I could eat a full meal and be like, oh, I'm so. I can't eat anything else. And then if somebody brings out like pies or cookies, I'm like, absolutely, I'll eat something.
[00:09:53] Speaker D: So it's actually like a scientific fact that your stomach relaxes and expands. So softer desserts, it's easier to fit those into your stomach than regular like dinner food.
[00:10:04] Speaker C: That makes sense. I mean, like puddings, ice cream. Like ice cream just melts in your mouth. So really it's not taking up any room in your stomach. Now will it add some size to your waist? Possibly.
But is it worth it? Absolutely. So have that pie, have that don, eat that dessert. For some reason, we just always have room.
[00:10:22] Speaker E: I just kind of channel surfing through.
[00:10:24] Speaker A: The radio, families are catching on and.
[00:10:26] Speaker E: I'm like, wow, this is pretty cool.
[00:10:28] Speaker A: To the best way.
[00:10:29] Speaker E: But now this is the only thing I listen to now to wake up. My style of everything has started and changed.
[00:10:33] Speaker A: It's the morning journey with Mark and Brittany.
[00:10:36] Speaker D: Congratulations to journey artist Michael Cochran and his wife Leah on a brand new baby in 2026.
[00:10:43] Speaker C: Yes, New Year. And their baby was the first baby actually in New Bern, Indiana to be born. And so they are all recover but pretty cool. You see all those stories all the time, like, oh, first baby of the new year. And so sure enough, they were the first baby of the new year in New Bern, Indiana. So big congratulations to Michael Cochran from Cochran & Co. And his.
[00:11:04] Speaker A: Wife. Some great music. The morning journey with Mark and.
[00:11:08] Speaker D: Brittany. Brittany and I are eagerly awaiting our plaque and banner for best radio.
[00:11:14] Speaker C: DJs. Yeah. When it comes, we will do a changing of the banner ceremony live on Facebook. Thank you again for voting. It feels like forever ago that you voted for us for Lynchburg Living Best of in the radio DJs category, but you voted and we won again. And so we are so, so grateful. And I've heard that it's going to print, and so it should be here in the next few weeks. All right. We're really excited and we will let you know when it comes. If you know somebody that plays the trumpet, we would love for them to come by and do a little whole ceremony, whole ceremony for us. But we will do a Facebook live when that comes, and we will tell you more when we.
[00:11:47] Speaker A: Know. Good company makes for a great day. The morning journey with Mark and.
[00:11:52] Speaker D: Brittany. Brittany, you had an opportunity over the Christmas break to do something.
[00:11:58] Speaker C: Fun. Yeah. We went to Norfolk and we went to the USS Wisconsin and Nauticus, and we saw all of the lights that they had put on the ship. Now, this is cool because you actually got to go on the ship and see all the lights. And they actually won the Great American Light fight as well. So I got to see the trophy, their little light bulb trophy, and that was cool. And then right when we were about to get off the ship, there's this area that says, like, do you want to go down into the ship? So we actually got to go down into the ship and see the inside of the ship. And those quarters are.
[00:12:27] Speaker D: Tight. Are.
[00:12:28] Speaker C: They? I can't imagine being a navy, like, sailor. I have so much more respect for them after seeing that because, I mean, they are sleeping, like, six people to a room in bunk beds, and it is tight. We saw a dentist chair on the.
[00:12:42] Speaker D: Ship.
[00:12:42] Speaker C: Wow. I mean, they really do have everything that you would need on that ship. But it was crazy to.
[00:12:48] Speaker D: See. I'm looking at some of the pictures with the ships all lit up. Those look.
[00:12:52] Speaker C: Amazing. Yeah, it was beautiful. Like, pretty much every inch of the ship was covered. And it was funny because when you got up to the bow, they would come over the loudspeaker. Pretty much every time I tried to take a picture, I don't know if it was directed at me, but they'd be like, the bow is very narrow. Please don't stop and take pictures. I'd be like, okay, okay, okay. Time to move.
[00:13:08] Speaker A: On.
Start on a positive note. You're on the morning journey with Mark and.
[00:13:13] Speaker D: Brittany.
I like grapes. I don't mind grape juice, but I am not a fan of, like, grape flavored foods. Like.
[00:13:21] Speaker C: Candy. Yeah, I'm not really either. It reminds me of Diamond Tap. But we mentioned a while ago that we had the Pop Up Sunday at church. Pop Tarts and pajamas. And so I told all my friends I'd bring the pop Tarts. Well, my friend's mom looks at me and she goes, good luck finding the grape ones. And I was like, who likes grape Pop.
[00:13:40] Speaker D: Tarts? Why would I want to find.
[00:13:41] Speaker C: Them? To your point, like, we don't like. Like most people don't like grapes flavored things.
And then I got to looking at the grocery store, and I was like, they don't make them. And she was like, not anymore, but they used to. And I was like, I don't think I've ever seen grape Pop Tarts.
[00:13:54] Speaker D: Before. No, I don't recall seeing them. Apparently they were around frosted grape from 1967 to 2017. I don't ever remember seeing.
[00:14:04] Speaker C: Those. I mean, I guess it makes sense because they have, like, the frosted strawberry, the frosted raspberry. They even have blueberry.
I think people kind of came to the decision the grape was not a good flavor, so they just discontinued the.
[00:14:16] Speaker D: Grape. We don't want.
[00:14:16] Speaker C: Those. We don't want those. And so I texted my friend. She's a local baker, and I was like, hey, my friend's mom's birthday is coming up. She told me she wants grape Pop Tarts. Can you make those? Because I know she makes Pop Tarts. And she goes, I mean, I've never done that before. And I said, why would you? Nobody likes grape. But it turns out they were actually pretty.
[00:14:35] Speaker A: Good.
Thanks for catching up on the morning Journey Rewind podcast with Mark and.
