[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 month on the Morning Journey Rewind, Mark and Brittany ask you to take the Gratitude Scavenger Hunt on Facebook. Brittany goes to the movies and you map the app with us. Also, it's the unofficial kickoff to summer, so Mark and Brittany want to know your thoughts on the new baked bean flavors that are out now. Also, an island in Greece has figured out the secret to living longer. And maybe cashing in your savings on something you're passionate about will pay off after all.
[00:00:29] Speaker C: We would like to do something. We're going to play a little bit of a scavenger hunt. We'd love for you to play along on this. You can call in this morning or post a comment on the Journey Facebook page.
[00:00:38] Speaker D: Yeah, we posted this over the weekend. It's called the Gratitude Scavenger Hunt. It's five things you're grateful for, four things that are beautiful, three things that made you smile, two things that remind you of God's love, and one thing that you've prayed for that maybe you've seen come to fruition already. And so if you want to participate, you can always call us 800-424-9594. You don't have to give us five full things or four full things or you can pick and choose. But if you want to comment on Facebook, you can do that as well. My Journey FM on Facebook.
[00:01:06] Speaker C: This morning we are playing the Gratitude Scavenger Hunt. You can do this on our Facebook page or you can also call in looking for things that you're grateful for, things that you are that are beautiful, things that made you smile, things that remind you of God's love and something that you prayed for. Jennifer is the first one to say, hey, I'll do this. Jennifer says she is grateful for life, for family, for kindness. She says she knows that she's been given mercy and the ability to serve others.
[00:01:39] Speaker D: Some things that she finds beautiful are the sky, the sunset, her family and her heart.
[00:01:43] Speaker C: Yeah. And something that made her smile, seeing her children's first smile. Love that. The birth of her grandchildren and her wedding.
[00:01:52] Speaker D: Aw. And the things that remind her of God's love are herself and her family. And she said the thing that she's prayed for. She prayed for many years to find her husband and for a good God loving man. She said it took many years and some couple of wrong turns, but she has him now. So very grateful. Celebrating 14 years together. Thank you so much, Jennifer, for participating, for reminding us on this Tuesday to Just be grateful for the things that we have to remember, to celebrate the things that make us smile, and to remember to continue to pray for those things that we want and ask God to give us those things in his will and in his timing. I turn y' all on in the morning when I get in my truck. It's helpful.
[00:02:29] Speaker E: I'm taking the kids to school.
[00:02:31] Speaker D: Here we go.
[00:02:32] Speaker A: It's the morning journey with Mark and Brittany.
[00:02:35] Speaker C: Probably a lot of people said, well, you know what? Let's stay inside. We'll go see a movie. Britney, you undid that. And you got to see the preview of Toy Story 5.
[00:02:43] Speaker D: I did, yeah. It was a lot of fun to see the preview, and I'm excited for the new movie, but it got me in a way that I didn't expect. I actually cried.
[00:02:51] Speaker C: Is it sad?
[00:02:53] Speaker D: I mean, it's kind of like a nostalgia thing. So I remember going to the theater to see the first one when I was a kid, and I started thinking about how cool it's going to be to take my daughter to see the when she's a kid. And so Toy Story has really spanned the generational expanse, I feel like.
And so it shows, like in the preview, her getting a tablet and the toys being sad, and they call in Woody for help and stuff. And so the gang's all back together and they started playing. You've got a friend in me.
[00:03:19] Speaker C: You've got a friend in me.
[00:03:20] Speaker D: Right. I couldn't help it. So I start crying, and I look over my friend and she's crying, and we're like, okay, good. We're not alone. So I'm excited. I think it's gonna be really good now. I still haven't. And you've looked, too. We still haven't found the toys, though.
[00:03:33] Speaker C: No, they are still not in the cereal boxes.
[00:03:36] Speaker D: I think whoever at Kellogg's was supposed to put them in the box is on their tablet.
[00:03:39] Speaker C: Yeah, they're not being delivered to our area.
[00:03:42] Speaker D: Exactly. We'll keep looking, though.
[00:03:44] Speaker C: You go to the movies, Brittany, you mentioned that you did that over the weekend. One of the things they do is they have the movie ride. It's what comes up on the screen. It kind of takes you through the whole experience, but on the screen, it's like a roller coaster.
[00:03:59] Speaker D: It is. It's so much fun. And I. Me and my dad started doing this when I was a kid, and I still do it to this day. Regardless of who I'm with or what movie I'm seeing, I always ride the ride. I put My hands up, and I, like, go with the motion. Do you really? Yes, Every time. And since I was a kid, that ride has been exactly the same.
[00:04:15] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:04:16] Speaker D: They don't change completely the same. The popcorn pops in your face, and you're, like, cruising along. Well, guess what? It was different. Ah, it was different this time. I was freaking out. I was like, oh, my gosh, this is a different ride. I don't even know how to, like, what ride? Am I on my arms anymore? What's happening? And then I was like, are they gonna do the popcorn? Is that still gonn?
That did still happen. But instead of, like, sitting in a cart, you're like, almost like, if you've ever been to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, you've been to Alpengeist, and your feet are, like, dangling, so you're almost, like, hanging there. And so, like, raising your arms is a little bit harder in a ride like that. But, you know, in the movie theater, you can do whatever you want, but yeah. So the ride's different. Who knew?
[00:04:51] Speaker C: I think they need to make a theater where the seats actually move along with the ride.
[00:04:54] Speaker D: They really do. I think they should do that. That would be amazing. It would change the whole experience. I'd be less likely to fall asleep.
[00:05:01] Speaker A: Uplifting and encouraging because you need it now more than ever.
[00:05:05] Speaker C: You betcha.
[00:05:06] Speaker A: The morning journey with Mark and Brittany.
[00:05:09] Speaker C: Appreciate you joining us this morning. Whether you're listening on the radio or on the My Journey FM app, if you're using the app, you can click that link there. It's called map the app, and that'll take you to a Facebook page where you can let us know where you're listening. Just leave a comment and let us know where you're listening. Samantha's doing that from Withville Daily Motivation. She says that's what the journey is for her. She listens to it on her Alexa, on the car radio, and on the app that she has downloaded. The journey has made such an impact on her life. No turning back, she said. I love you guys with the kind words and the songs you play.
[00:05:46] Speaker D: Aw. Thank you, Samantha. And we're getting to go on vacation with some people this summer. Shelina is in Topsail island for the weekend. Yay. Thank you, Shelina, for listening and taking us with you. Love Topsail and go there fairly often, actually. So glad to see that we're there. And all the way to Portugal on a riverboat cruise with Nancy. Better yet, she says, right now I have Internet for the moment, so I'm getting to listen on the cruise. Thank you, Nancy, for taking us with you on vacation. That's somewhere I'd like to go. That would be fun.
[00:06:14] Speaker C: Yeah. Portugal.
[00:06:15] Speaker D: A riverboat cruise. Very cool. So make sure you download the My Journey FM app. It's absolutely free. You can just search My Journey FM in your app store.
[00:06:25] Speaker A: Start on a positive note. You're on the Morning Journey with Mark and Brittany.
[00:06:31] Speaker C: Summertime officially has begun. And that means cookouts, and that means hamburgers, hot dogs, and baked beans.
[00:06:38] Speaker D: Yes. We had our little cookout over the weekend, and I made Bush's baked beans. The, like, barbecue ones, like the original, like, with the dog and everything. So good. But they're coming out with different flavors now and again. Why? Why do we need this? We don't. Nobody's asking for this. Nobody's saying we want this. It just happens.
[00:06:57] Speaker C: Yeah. So among the flavors, apple pie, baked beans.
[00:07:01] Speaker D: Why don't we just separate that? Why don't we have apple pie?
[00:07:04] Speaker C: I want baked beans and baked beans, and then I want apple pie.
[00:07:07] Speaker D: Right. Why are we combining those?
[00:07:08] Speaker C: I don't like that combo, so that's not something that I would want.
[00:07:11] Speaker D: No.
[00:07:13] Speaker C: Dill pickle baked beans. This one I could maybe get behind a little bit.
[00:07:18] Speaker D: Again, still would prefer it separate, but this one, overall, the taste probably wouldn't be so bad on that one because it's probably just a little pickly with baked beans. Yeah, that one's probably not so bad.
[00:07:27] Speaker C: This one, I am definitely not in a rocket. Pop baked beans.
[00:07:34] Speaker D: Ew. It says, bursting with notes of cherry, lime, and blue raspberry. Offers a sweet, playful take inspired by the iconic, you know, frozen bomb pop treat.
[00:07:47] Speaker C: How does that taste? Good.
[00:07:49] Speaker D: I don't think it would, like. Why would you want fruit in your baked beans? Yeah, same with the apple pie. Why would you want fruit in your baked. Why are we doing this?
Just stop doing it. All these food combinations, nobody asks for them, nobody wants them. Just keep the food separate, please.
[00:08:03] Speaker C: So if you have tried these, if you have found them in your store and have tried them, let us know. I have not even searched for these yet.
[00:08:11] Speaker D: I haven't either, and I don't think I'm going to. These can just stay on the shelf, wherever they are. They belong on the shelf and not in your stomach.
You're on the Morning Journey with Mark and Brittany. Hi. What's your name?
[00:08:23] Speaker E: Taya.
[00:08:24] Speaker D: Hi, Taya. How are you today?
[00:08:27] Speaker E: Good. How are you guys?
[00:08:28] Speaker D: Good.
[00:08:30] Speaker C: So you have tried. Have you tried the apple pie baked beans?
[00:08:35] Speaker E: So I've seen the can in the store. But I've actually done it my way, not their way.
[00:08:42] Speaker C: Okay, so how do you do it?
[00:08:46] Speaker E: So I've done just a regular baked beans with apple pie filling, extra cinnamon, brown sugar sausage, and I grilled it.
[00:09:00] Speaker D: Ah, okay.
[00:09:01] Speaker C: So you put the apple pie filling, mix it right in with the baked beans.
[00:09:06] Speaker E: Yes.
[00:09:06] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:09:07] Speaker D: Did your family eat it?
[00:09:08] Speaker E: Yes, they love it.
[00:09:10] Speaker D: Okay, all right, so maybe don't knock it till you try it.
[00:09:13] Speaker E: Yeah, exactly.
[00:09:17] Speaker C: What do you think about the other. Some of these other brands or the other flavors they have the dill pickle
[00:09:22] Speaker D: and the bomb pop?
[00:09:23] Speaker E: Yeah, no, I don't know about those two.
[00:09:27] Speaker C: We're with you on that.
[00:09:28] Speaker D: I don't think I'll be melting popsicles in my baked beans anytime soon.
[00:09:32] Speaker E: Yeah, I don't think so either.
[00:09:34] Speaker D: Awesome. Well, thank you for calling. Have a great day.
[00:09:38] Speaker E: You guys, too.
[00:09:39] Speaker A: Good company makes for a great day. The morning journey with Mark and Brittany.
[00:09:45] Speaker C: There's a lot in the news today about longevity. Different supplements, different diets, trying to extend life. But it looks like a small Greek island may have found the secret to that. And really, when you hear about it, it's very simple, not complicated. That's kind of the overall approach.
[00:10:05] Speaker D: Right. It really does make sense. Residents there live well into their 90s, but they do it by staying active. They prioritize social activity. They stay mentally sharp. Chronic illnesses like dementia are less common there as well. And really they don't really do much. They just spend meal times outdoors, they eat simple food, and they prioritize those close relationships with their families and their neighbors. They're a lot calmer. Yeah, like they're not rushed. They're not trying to get things done. They're just chilling.
[00:10:34] Speaker C: Now it would be hard to incorporate some of these into our lifestyle here in the US Or Western culture lifestyle.
They are on a small Greek island. This has been their history for probably forever.
And so it's a different pace of life there. But movement, they say, is key. It doesn't need to be an intense workout, not a 45 hour long workout or an intense run. Make it part of your daily activity. So just being active throughout the day. You mentioned the simple meals, local ingredients, home cooked food is a big part of why they live longer.
[00:11:15] Speaker D: And this one, I think is the one we'd struggle with the most, probably. Rest is never a waste of time. Afternoon naps are common in daily routines. And they just move to a chill and relaxed place.
Pace of life and then community and connection come first. I think that's so hard for us in Western culture, when we're on our phones all the time, we kind of are more connected, but yet not like we don't know our neighbors anymore. We don't really talk to people at the grocery store. So I think valuing that human connection is really, really huge. And then moderation and enjoyment over perfection in Western society, we. So we like, strive so hard to be perfect. And they said, no, it's really about enjoying life and, and just, you know, focusing on all things in moderation is really better than striving for perfection.
[00:12:01] Speaker C: And if you've ever been to Greece and had the opportunity to go to one of the Greek islands, that plays a big part in it because it is absolutely beautiful.
[00:12:09] Speaker D: Yes. They said it's a blue zone because it's just surrounded by water. And I think that would improve my mood. I would probably live who knows how long if I was surrounded by water.
[00:12:19] Speaker C: We're just going to worship, we're going to be encouraged, and we're just going to be together.
[00:12:25] Speaker A: That's the idea. You're on the morning journey with Mark
[00:12:28] Speaker C: and Brittany back a few years ago, and I don't really even remember how we ended up getting them, but some of us on staff had Rubik's cubes and we all tried to. To complete them.
[00:12:42] Speaker D: I able to.
[00:12:43] Speaker C: No, I still have not completed mine. I will. I've tried the different. Some different formulas and that kind of thing. The one where you can make the cross on one side. Yeah, that's the closest I was able to. I got the top, the side, one of the bottoms, but I couldn't complete it. I looked on YouTube and saw the ones where if you twist each side like 20 times or something like that, that didn't work at all. So no, I haven't completed mine yet. Did you ever complete yours?
[00:13:06] Speaker D: I did my dad. So When I turned 30 about six years ago, my dad actually, that was like one of my bucket list Items. Like, I'm 30, I want to do this. So my dad knows how to do it. So he actually taught me how to do it. Now I couldn't do it again and I couldn't tell you how to do it, but I've done it. Once it's complete, it's in my office and it's like a relic now. A memorabilia to what?
[00:13:24] Speaker C: I didn't mess with it.
[00:13:25] Speaker D: I didn't want to mess with it. But I think this is pretty co.
Dylan, he was an engineering student. The pandemic thing happened. He got bored.
So to his poor mom's demise. He emptied his savings account by buying 600 Rubik's Cubes. Now, he's been solving them since he was 10. And he didn't buy 600 to solve all 600. He was an engineering student. He got bored. He said, I want to make art, and I think I can do it with Rubik's cubes because the squares are colored squares just like pixels in the picture.
So what he does now is he takes the picture, he converts it to pixels so he knows exactly what colors he needs. And because he has the skill of solving a Rubik's cube, he knows how to get the cube to match those pixels. Okay, so he's been doing this now for a while. I mean, he bought 600 individually wrapped Rubik's cubes for his first project, which I looked them up at $10 a piece. That's about $60,000.
But it paid off. His first thing that he ever did was a Dallas Mavericks basketball player. And because of that, it got their attention. And now he' invited to all these sporting events, all these kids events, to do these live picture makings with a Rubik's cube. So he makes like a mosaic with the Rubik's cubes into a picture.
[00:14:37] Speaker C: Yeah. I think it's really cool, the fact that he combines kind of his background in engineering and then his skills with the Rubik's cues and obviously an art ability that I don't know that he knew he had at the time, but he does now. And he's more than made back what he spent in his life saving.
[00:14:55] Speaker D: Pretty cool combination of activities that he got going on there. And he perfected it. Now it used to take him about like six plus hours to do one. He's got it done in like two and a half hours. Pretty impressive.
[00:15:07] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:15:07] Speaker D: So, you know, you never know what you spend your money on. Could come back and be a good thing after all.
[00:15:14] Speaker A: Start on a positive note. You're on the morning journey with Mark and Brittany.
[00:15:19] Speaker C: Well, Brittany's daughter Stella wrapped up school, but she was also, toward the end there, they were doing a weekly race. A foot race.
[00:15:27] Speaker D: Yes. She was running, like the 50 yard dash with her friends, and we found out she likes to cheer the crowd more than she likes actually beating people. So she'll run slower so she can hear people cheer for her for longer. But she has so much fun with it. And so we were excited because her last race, the medal ceremony there was a parent mile. I made Phil sign up for it. I was like, phil, you're Signing up for this mile. There was all that gonna happen this weekend. And then with the weather, they actually closed the fields even though it wasn't raining on Sunday. Like, we had a beautiful Sunday afternoon, but because the fields are so messed up, they closed the field. So we didn't get to have the race. It's been postponed two weeks till, like, the second week in June.
[00:16:02] Speaker C: But so she get home, she'll get her medal.
[00:16:04] Speaker D: She'll get her medal in a couple weeks.
[00:16:06] Speaker C: She'll like that.
[00:16:06] Speaker D: She'll be excited. And so, yeah, we've found that, like, she likes running. She'll do it. We're gonna try soccer again. Really? At this age, it's whatever sticks. And so I'm sad that we didn't get to see Phil run, though. That's what I'm more bummed about is making him run the mile and compete with all the other parents and see how competitive and angry they get with each other.
[00:16:26] Speaker A: A great way to start your day. The Morning Journey with Mark and Brittany.
[00:16:30] Speaker C: Well, one of the ways to connect with the Journey is to get signed up for the Journey Insider. It's a great way to learn about concerts that are coming up, some special events that the Journey is involved with.
[00:16:42] Speaker D: Yeah, it's super easy to do. Just go to myjourneyfm.com get signed up. We also sometimes give away exclusive, exclusive prizes through the Insider as well. And so you definitely want to make sure you're an Insider before the beginning of each month. You just get one email. Even if you sign up for all the things Kids club, Insider music crew, it's one email a month. We don't spam. You don't get a ton of emails. So if you want to be part of the Insider, get some inside looks into events coming up, or win some exclusive prizes, get signed
[email protected] I just kind of channel surfing through the radio.
[00:17:14] Speaker A: Families are catching on and I'm like,
[00:17:15] Speaker D: wow, this is pretty cool.
[00:17:16] Speaker A: To the best way.
[00:17:17] Speaker D: So now this is the only thing I listen to now to wake up. My style of everything has started to change.
[00:17:22] Speaker A: It's the Morning Journey with Mark and Brittany.
[00:17:25] Speaker D: Yeah, we are so grateful for you. We've been offering some encouragement as last week and this week continue. And so one of our encouragements for today is the best way to fight off the blues. And that is to give thanks for everything that God has given us and making our hearts be grateful, which goes along with our gratitude little scavenger hunt that we were doing this morning.
[00:17:44] Speaker C: Yeah, I think when you start the day and you're thankful for specific things or you're grateful for specific things, it is amazing how that really does set the mood for the rest of your day.
[00:17:56] Speaker D: The hard part is a lot of times we focus on all the things that have already gone wrong. Like, we wake up and we're like, well, this went wrong and my alarm was late and this happened, instead of focusing on the few things that maybe have gone right. So if you're thinking about the things that have gone right today instead of the things that maybe have gone wrong.
[00:18:12] Speaker A: Thanks for catching up on the morning Journey Rewind podcast with Mark and Brittany.
