Kringles, Orchestras, and Core Memories

30:06Jon McLaughlin:Oh my gosh. 30 minutes. But anyway, just speaking about wondering where Livvy was, I was like, I felt, you know what though, by God's grace, I was really calm. I think if it had lasted another two or three minutes, I'd have started to get, the thing I didn't want to do was walk around and yell on his name because then it was going to be like, one, I'm that dad. And then I was like, hey, that's a guy from Dadville. But two, I was like, that's just, then you're just creating the whole thing. And it really wasn't that big of an area. It was like at some point with Ben staying where he was, you can only walk around.

30:38Anyway, but it was like, man, I just felt so bad.

30:42Jon McLaughlin:My last moment, I don't know how old I was, but probably around five was at the mall. And it's, I mean, that was my moment. I can remember it. You know, like we were, I was in a store with my mom and I think my sister and I wanted to leave the store. My mom was like, my granddad was right outside the store, like sitting on a bench. And I walked out and I just didn't see him. So I was just walking. So it's kind of funny because it's like, well, I knew where my mom was. I guess I could have just turned around and went back in the store. I really didn't want to go in that store, I guess. Well, Victoria's Secret for a kid is intimidating.

31:20Jon McLaughlin:I had just, I'd been there so many times. It was their first time, but like I knew all the employees. So I was over it. But yeah. And when that happens, I mean, we had that one with Livy years ago at Opry. Oh, my gosh. That was like maybe the scariest. It had to be the scariest moment as a parent. Jeez Louise. But it's like when you're in that moment and it's happening, it's like every second that goes by, you're like, I haven't found him yet. I haven't found her yet. I haven't found her yet. I haven't found her yet. and then to your point about yelling his name you're like well at what point do we decide yeah okay we're done with sort of decorum yes yeah now it's now it's just like right let's find them that's right yeah it's scary yeah it is weird though it's like i think for the next few days when that would come up every parent everybody our age had their own childhood memory of that everybody it was i was like god it's such a it's so funny that's such a universal thing yeah I mean I think mine was Six Flags and I remember the one memory I had is it was kind of like one of those carnival areas you know for kids it was like a bunch of rides and a guy that worked there saw me and I got up on his shoulders and it was like I just remember it was like that's how my parents saw me and I saw them and it was like kind of a movie moment and of course you know um yeah but it was like it's funny how much punches in the face that's my kid you said no daddy's helping he's helping um okay so this is this is what this is what we're gonna do john let's let's let's it's november it's november we know it is right around the corner yep i've got a christmas song coming out friday you do yeah and i mean if p it's it's a fun one i don't i don't know that i do a lot of fun christmas songs i got two fun christmas songs coming out and some people would say that's too early no it's who are these people we don't hang out with these people um And a little Dave inside my head.

33:25But so I've realized that we haven't, so it's not quite that season yet. It is for Christmas music, but it's not Christmas yet. But you know what season it is? Thanksgiving. That's right. And I've realized as we were talking - And it's a regional thing.

33:37Jon McLaughlin:Because for you, it's Thanksgiving. Touche. For me, it's Thanksgiving. I love how you always point these. Where's the split? Thanksgiving. I want to look at a map of the United States. Thanksgiving. Or the United States. Are you guys coming over for Thanksgiving? Shoot, I do say it that way. You do? Do you guys come over for Thanksgiving? Yeah, don't say it that way. Well, it's July's over. Getting close to Thanksgiving. Every time I say July, I think of you. So what we're going to do is we made a list, five things each that we're thanked for. And I don't know that we've ever done this on the pod.

34:11Jon McLaughlin:Well, it's funny. We were texting this morning, and this was your idea, which I loved. and you're like, I don't know if we've done this before, but you know I have a terrible memory. And I'm like, I mean, we both have terrible memories. Especially for me, for some reason, when it comes to what we have talked about. Oh, gosh. Because we talk about things off the podcast all the time. So I'm like, did we talk about that on the air? I don't know. That's right. Also, we're constantly doing lists that we're thankful for. I was going to say, we're generally so thankful around each other. Yeah. Just gratitude.

34:46Okay, so five things we're each thankful for in this season of thankfulness. Do you want to go first or do you want me to?

34:59Jon McLaughlin:I don't know. I feel like whoever goes first, that's a big deal. Yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah, you should go first. You think so? Yeah. All right. Are we going to go one to five or are we going to go five to one? No, no, no. I'm saying there's no order. Yeah, there's no order. There's no order. Yeah. Okay. Hmm. All right, I'm going to start with this one. Okay. When I wrote this down, I thought, I'll think of a better title for this, but then I didn't. Knowing how fast time is moving. I'm grateful for that. Wow. Because I feel like, now I know I've said this on here before. time moves so fast i remember being a kid talking to my dad and my dad saying to me he was he was talking about some memory or he was trying to place some date whenever i had done something or like you know whenever this event happened and i was like what was you know whatever it's 2001 and one and my dad was like those days are done for me where i know when things happen oh yeah yeah he was like if it didn't if it's past 1976 i don't know when it was yeah and i'm now as a 43 year old dad and husband i'm like i'm there i think i get it yeah like time is moving so fast and I'm really grateful that, you know, whatever future regrets await me, one is not going to be that I just blinked and it was all over and I didn't think about it, you know what I mean?

36:45Jon McLaughlin:And it really does help me on a daily, hourly basis sort of handle and kind of metabolize tabloid whatever the challenge of the day is. Yeah, that's great. Because I'm like, hey, you know, Luca is out of here in like five and a half years. Yeah. And I think of five years ago, that feels like 18 months ago. I mean, it's going by so fast. Yeah. And that really, I'm grateful that I, right now, I have a grip on that right now. You know, it's funny. I think about our days with Annie and I and the kids, and I feel like there are these little things in the day that sort of hit the brakes, that slow time for a minute.

37:35Like one for us is, I'm really grateful that we eat probably 95 % of our dinners we eat together. Oh, really? Like we sit and eat together. And that for me is like, it is something that pushes back against time. Yeah. Because you're sitting and it's, I mean, it's not, we're not doing Bible study. I mean, it's you know we'll do highs and lows okay truthfully i didn't want to shame other people but you know we'll do highs and lows most of the time yeah like what was but it's just like these little moments that kind of slow everything down just for a second that you go like okay we we're all here together we're just physically sitting down eating we're not doing anything and at least for the next 20 to 30 minutes this is what this looks like yeah and i think like Those little things, like we try to do a Friday night pizza movie thing, which is quickly eroding.

38:25But just these little tiny moments in the week where you kind of, for me, I feel like it just makes everything stop for a second. Because I think so much of it just feels kind of like you're in a river and you're just kind of going and you're trying to, oh God, have we already passed that thing? okay you know yeah and i think for those things i think the other thing too to to i think this podcast is really helpful for me with that having guests on the talk about that so much yeah it's really caused me to enjoy time a little more and try to take it in and i think too i don't know if you heard me talk about that book living life backwards that it's just rocked me to the core about that it's about ecclesiastes but so much of it is about that and it feels like the cocktail of those things i agree with you 100 i'm like not to give away another future episode that's coming

39:12Jon McLaughlin:but we had a guest who's coming out yeah who is an empty nester now and when he said the other day when he's like because i was saying like man doesn't it feel good that like you are at the spot that i think about i'm like i just want them to be able to function in the world and have good lives and fulfilling lives and all that. And I'm looking at him and I'm like, you're there. You did it. You know? And he's like, I would trade it all to be back in the valley of where you are. Yep. Yep. Which is, I don't know that there's anything that immediately kind of like encourages me and helps me in the now than hearing that from somebody who's an empty nester.

39:59Jon McLaughlin:And it's just like, I would take, I'd trade all this to be at the worst day. where you are. You know, that's where, because I believe it. I believe that's how I'm going to feel one day. You know? Yeah. I think that's where this podcast is a cheat code for you. And I mean, we talk about it a lot, but it is such a gift in how much hearing people talk about things helps me go like, man, I need to, I need to log those things into my brain. Yeah. Um, okay. Uh, I would say this is again, no order at all. In fact, I have it as number seven. Um, is this new publishing deal. I'm just really thankful. Oh yeah.

40:34Yeah, it was everywhere. The press release came out last week, and it was... Everyone's devoured the articles. Gosh, just people are texting me. You know what is funny and really endearing is I had a lot of friends that are not music friends because I posted about it, and Music Row Magazine did too, which was really sweet. But people were just like, dude, congrats on the pub deal. I was like, how do you even know what that is? And they're like, well, I just saw it. But I am really grateful for it. I think is, um, it's a capital CMG, which is fun, which is traditionally a Christian publishing and record company, but, uh, Katie homework with their, um, it's kind of spearheading their sort of push into country and other genres, which is why, they wanted me to be there.

41:17One of the reasons. And so it's a, it's just really fun. It's like, well, and this will round it out. Well, the older I get, I'm just, I'm just so much more thankful for opportunities like that. This, where I think in my twenties, I was like, well, yeah, I mean, I'm, I'm, working hard and this is what happens with people that are talented that work hard. And now I'm like, man, it's just, you just, this stuff should not be taken for granted, you know? And I think, um, as much as I've probably ever been with something like that, I'm just really grateful. I'm really thankful and excited and, you know, feeling, um, like another opportunity to continue doing what I love to do is such a gift, you know?

41:53Jon McLaughlin:How, how long is this? You signed a, is it like a two year thing? It's a two-year, and then they have options, which is great. But you know what's crazy about that? I mean, I hate talking this much about age stuff, but it is what I'm thinking about. Like, if we do the deal for that long, I'll be 50 by the end of the deal, you know, 50, 51. And so it's just I'm really thankful. Yeah. Really, really, really thankful. It's an amazing accomplishment. You deserve it. Well, that's kind. All right, number nine. Let's get to nine, yeah, I was going to say. Okay, I said knowing how fast time has been. I'm really thankful for my family, like my parents and my brother and my sister.

42:37Jon McLaughlin:And it's not that I wasn't thankful for them. I just feel like maybe this is an age thing. I don't know. But I find myself aware more and more lately of how grateful I am for them. I mean, my parents, you know, like, obviously being a parent, you, you, you know, you're in it, we're in it now. And so, of course, the natural one natural thought is, well, this is what my parents did, you know. and I was always aware of that I was always thankful for it you know at least in my adult years at least but it just feels a little more like tangible now you know the sacrifices that they made and not only that but like I'm grateful for I can see Tammy McLaughlin in me I can see Mike McLaughlin in me and I like you know I like what I got from them I like I can see it influencing me day to day now, and I'm grateful for that.

43:46Jon McLaughlin:And my brother and my sister, we're probably more connected now than maybe we ever have been. That's amazing. And you guys are still doing the videos. What's the app? I totally blanked. Marco Polo. Marco Polo. Y 'all still do that? Yeah. I think that's so great. Yeah. I love that so much. It's great. I love it. But so, yeah, I'm really, I'm really grateful for all of them. They're all amazing people. I came from an amazing family. Yeah. Well, you're an amazing person too. So you ran it out well. And then I said, it's not the face of the bulldog that reminds you of me that way. Right. This was your kid's musical or?

44:28Yes. And everybody left out. I can see why it was awkward. John, when we started this podcast, remember how intimidating it was trying to figure out All the details, the scripts, the setup, our clothing, our branding, what tattoo to get. It was so overwhelming.

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45:21I don't say this much, but you're right, John. Shopify. It's the commerce platform behind 10 % of all e-commerce in the U.S. From household names like Mattel and Gymshark to brands just getting started.

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48:08I would say number 16. And again, I just I didn't I should have thought about the numbering more. I've just been in a season where I'm really I feel like I'm learning a lot about who I am identity wise. And let me define that. I think I've too long struggled with feeling like I'm a, like a singer songwriter or like a dad or these things that can kind of fail a little bit, you know, if it doesn't go well, then like me, Dave have failed. And I think I've been listening a lot to this guy, Jamie Winship, who's just incredible. And he and his wife kind of have this, um, now it's a job. It's like a, they go into corporations, but also churches, whatever.

48:54and they kind of talk about how to think about your identity. And it's really poignant because what he sort of helps you understand is like, God has given you an identity that's who you are. So like John and me and not, that's a little more specific than I think we even think about. And I think I've been really sort of praying through what mine is. And I think as I'm starting to understand it more, and what's really beautiful is he says, you know his sort of ideology is like god gives you that but your really close community does too so you kind of go to those people and go like hey when you think about me what do you think that i've been made to do that's not vocational yeah it's just like who i am like what do i carry with me when i carry that in the world and it's just been really impactful because i think i've i've too for too long tied myself to like if shows go well or a song gets recorded or an album is really resonating, I attach myself to that.

49:54And then if it doesn't, I also attach myself to it. And I think what's beautiful about the way I've learned to think about this is like, whatever I've been made to do, I take that into my job. I take that into the writing rooms. I take that into my shows. I take them into my albums. I take it into my friendships. I take it whatever. And then that never fails because that's just who I am. How it iterates is on the Lord to figure out, not on me, you know? And so it's just been really, I've just felt like so much lighter because I think, um, knowing more of who I'm supposed to be and God made me to be just makes the other things vessels for that identity and not the end game is not the actual vocation or the, or even being a dad or a, you know, a husband or whatever, because those things can wax and wane in seasons.

50:43And it's been really incredible. Like I've just felt, I'm really thankful for that. I feel like a real burden has lifted, you know, sort of like carrying that weight of expectations and how those things go and then how it affects me, you know? Yeah.

51:00Jon McLaughlin:That's great. Yeah.

51:04Jon McLaughlin:I'm grateful that you are grateful for that. Is that your number of nine? No, you did nine. Six things.

51:13Jon McLaughlin:my next thing I mean you know this one I sort of you know I wrote it down but I'm like should I think of something better than that but I'm like no I'm really no I won't whatever you're about to say this is I want this list to be that too yeah because I've got one of these too I'm grateful for my health yes you know yeah I and you're healthy as a freaking horse by the way I mean well what i what i feel i hesitate i think maybe part of why i hesitate about it is because i am spending an irresponsible amount of time yeah yeah it's a lot yeah yeah it's but you're training though stupid that i mean we've talked about this but you're training this isn't just like john's selfish time this is how the rest of my life is gonna go right this is a seasonal well it is an addiction that I need to keep my eye on for sure and and I'm I am I'm done with like I have I have done the longest yeah yeah uh day that I'm gonna do Saturday was was the last long day now I'm in the I'm in the taper thing because the the race is in less than two weeks oh my god when this comes out I think it'll be like five days away oh my gosh john that is so exciting i mean i'm in the phase where i'm like terrified and i'm like what am i doing why did i tell anyone i was going to do this um so so i i hesitate because i'm like i don't want to be one of those guys that's like dude do you remember your kids names what are you doing get off the treadmill you know um you mean of life or like the actual well Just any, yeah, metaphorical or real.

52:58Jon McLaughlin:But I am really, really grateful for it. I'm grateful for just being healthy, of course. Like, you know, we are at the age where it's not exactly, we're not at that age yet where our bodies are breaking down. But we're at the age where like we have our parents are, we have a lot of friends. I have a lot of friends whose parents are in that phase where it's, you know. Or aren't even with us anymore. Yeah. Yeah. And it really makes you think, like, I want those last years to be quality. And, you know, there's two, you only have control over so much in their genetics and the stuff that might come up that you couldn't have exercised your way around.

53:47Jon McLaughlin:But I want to do as much as I can. Yeah. can but also if i'm honest and i nobody cares nobody cares that no one cares that you're running that marathon no one cares that i'm doing this triathlon nobody cares it's and it's great i'm glad that you know i'm glad that i'm not under some illusion that anyone cares just like nobody cares that i'm learning some new classical piece or whatever it's like it's pure i'm just doing it from me but these little signs of progress that you see yeah like you know when you're in the pool and you're like i'm doing this flip turn i'm not dying for oxygen like i used to you know like those little things it just feels good and i'm like i'm i'm grateful for that which has got to be that's like the nicotine and that yeah is that i mean it's an addiction you can really go like oh man it feels good to get better at this yeah yeah i you know my instagram algorithm is is slowly just becoming iron man yeah and this i saw this one the other day this woman did her hundredth iron man yeah that's and look that's an unbelievable i mean there's a documentary about a guy who did a hundred in a hundred days that i don't know how that's but i'm like i don't I don't want it to go off the rails.

55:09Jon McLaughlin:And this is just me. Look, no judgment. No judgment. It's amazing. That's an amazing accomplishment. For me personally, I don't want... I do see this as an addiction that I need to keep an eye on. Yeah. But I'm grateful that I'm able to do it. Yeah, that's something not to take lightly. Okay. 23 for me is... Listen. this is a safe place but Arsenal is just having a really good year here we go and one I want to be thankful for Lee Dixon coming on the pod yes long may it continue having other Arsenal people on and for those who just want to unsubscribe that's fine because that is a goal of mine goal dude I loved the Lee Dixon interview it was so fun it's a top 5 for me I love that guy but it's just fun it's fun to have a team that you really are invested in and care about like really and i mean you know who knows how long that will be but right um it's fun when something you you know a team you care about it's like on a really good run and just feeling like okay now of course i don't i don't i know they're doing well yeah um but what where are they what's happening in the top of the league they're at the top we're at the top is that a recent thing we've been up there for a few weeks now we haven't lost a game in six or seven games we haven't conceded a goal in six or seven really we've had numerous games in a row we haven't conceded a shot on goal wow yes i mean yeah so it's it's you know it's just fun it's fun you know because we've been second for three years in a row and i mean we may be this year i'm not i'm not an idiot and i know this stuff can shift so quickly, but I think Liverpool last year and then Man City, I think the two years before.

57:02But, you know, Eric Staples, a good buddy of mine, who I text the most with about Arsenal, we were laughing because we're just good enough right now that I don't get stressed about games. And I think as a fan of a team like this, it's hard not to sort of like sit. I mean, the joke Eric and I would do is we would send, you know, screenshots of our bpms during games and you know it would be you know it pushing to 90 some games because you're just like and it's like you know it's been like two or three weeks in a row where i just sit down and watch a game and i'm like oh no we'll win i mean i don't know how but like we're just really good so you know you just i just have learned to take these moments and go like it's really nice having a weekend where i look forward to the game and not feel like oh god okay Yeah.

57:46Jon McLaughlin:I think we should do an episode. I don't know who we talked to about this, but I want to do an episode on... Fandom. Yeah. Yeah. And the emotional weight that a lot of people carry around. I have a whole... We probably talked about this, and this would be fun for this episode, but the quick flyovers, I do think there is something about a lot of men... Well, you're doing this with running. Sorry, with your triathlon. I think there's something about when we all... It's hysterical that mine is watching other people. exercise and years of exercise. But, you know, tomato, tomato. But I think there is something in men that is, I think, you know, we all get to a certain age, especially with kids and stuff, where life gets wonderfully sedentary.

58:29And so I think we tend to try to find these things that get us out of the sedentary. And I think for some people, it's like new goals for exercise or, and I'm not talking vocational, I'm talking purely sort of out of vocation, out of familial things just like a lot of you know guys getting a crossfit yeah a ton of guys getting a golf um gambling truthfully is something like but like i also have seen a huge swath of men get really into sport teams yeah like you know they really double down on their college team or their you know english premier league team whatever but it's like a real thing and it's like men really because growing up like i liked sports i played sports at a recreational level and i was decent but really until 16 years ago when I started following Arsenal I mean Annie laughs at me still she's like you are such a weird bird because you really like I liked having the SEC teams games on on the weekends like football games and stuff kind of loosely keep up but I mean I don't miss Arsenal games it's a huge part of my life and I think a lot of guys we just find something in our adult life that we can kind of go like, what's something I can, that gets me out of my life for a minute.

59:48And I think, I used to think, God, is that bad? I don't think it's bad. I think now what we can do with it is very idyllic if we're not careful, like you said about the addiction of what you're doing now, training. But it is funny. I mean, I think especially with sports teams and fandom, it's hysterical how many of my guy friends have some version of that where they sort of keep up with something now at like f1 racing yeah like i have so many friends into that you know but i think there's something in us i mean you know christianine would say it's like we need an idol like we're all idol makers you know and i think there's a little bit but in a good way when it's done healthy it's just something fun to look forward to right you're just kind of like hey this weekend you know i get to watch a game and that'll be great well you know when i watched

1:00:34Jon McLaughlin:that Welcome to Wrexham documentary, that was, I mean, obviously, I've been at like Colts games where I've seen, we lose and I see some guys just like so mad and their girlfriends crying and ruins the whole day. But when I watched that documentary, that was like, I mean, I had never heard of Wrexham. This football club has been around forever. And it's like the town is built around it. There were scenes where you're seeing like 80-year-old men, 80-year-old women. They're being interviewed after a game, after a win or a loss. They're in tears. It means so much to them. so i think it's like you know it can be it's so interesting because in that scenario it's like okay well that this is obviously the town yeah you know this would be like this is like the country music of nashville this is wrexham is it's the town it's been around for generations and generations and generations their parents were probably huge wrexham fans like they so it's like deep deep deep yeah yeah but then you have you know a different uh shade of it where you get into it later in life for whatever reason it's just really fascinating to me yeah and we talked about this with leave and this last thing i'll say but i think what's so particular to english soccer um is that and it's true with with a lot of european soccer i'm not relegating it to to you know um english that's what i know but you know like we talked about with lee like you're talking you said it so well you know the stadium is in your neighborhood yeah and so it's not just the team it's this and this is not my life i'm from america i mean i love i love arsenal but not like one one hundredth as much as like fans who live there and would but But, you know, it's your culture.

1:02:49It's like your dirt, you know, where you're from. It's like you grew up going on this thing and your granddad did. And you kind of knew a guy that played for a minute because he was from your neighborhood 30 years ago. And so it really is this deeply, deeply rooted thing in so many people's lives. Because it's even more than college football. I mean, it's like, because, you know, it's like right there. it's yeah you know the the the thing is and you know it's associated with where you're from and who you know and so and and plus too there's a ton of games i think that is something that's really different than american sports or even college football is it's you know college football is the fall this is something that runs from august to may and there's a million games so the touch points with it are so much more uh um numerable you know there's so many ways you're interacting with it all the time it's not like for these you know 13 14 weekends or whatever it is you know and then it's gone for really a long time yeah nine months it's like this is you have basically two months off and then it's back and so you're just experiencing it a lot

1:03:53Jon McLaughlin:yeah too so well we got to do that episode um let's see we got two more okay i am thankful for this one is an easy one it'll be on my list forever we could do a top one and this would be my list. Kringles. I don't know how they do it. They're so good. They got different flavors and they're all good. Listen, people that listen to the pod know your love of Kringles. Send us some Kringles, guys. Ugh. Yeah. Maybe it is Kringles. I was going to say Amy, but I'll say Kringles.

1:04:32Jon McLaughlin:I'm just grateful for my wife, Amy. I hope that's not boring. but she's just the best. She's just, we're coming up on 19 years in a couple months. And it's like, and I don't, you know, every marriage is different. I don't say this to be, I hope this doesn't come off insensitive. It's just, for me, it has never been hard being married to Amy. She's just, I mean, you know, we've had our fights when she's messed up and I have to correct her, but we, that's not hard on you though yeah that's not hard for me i mean it takes energy and i gotta walk her through what she did wrong but but we'll put it together the slideshow you've always said yeah because i want that takes time yeah exactly audio visual components yeah um yeah it's just like you know we're in the thick of it with parenting and and we're in the thick of it like logistically like our life has never been busier i mean you know there's a lot of moving parts happening and um and i'm like almost on a daily basis i'm like man thank the lord and savior jesus christ that amy is my wife because she she is always a like a respite you know and at the end of like a great day it enhances it to just chat about the day with her at the end of a really tough day it's like we can we're like united on like and we say a lot we're like i mean i'm so glad that i like you because it would be you know on those rough days it's like this would be unbearable yeah yeah if then i yeah you know had to not a safe place to go yeah yeah so that's great thanks aim that's weird because my number two is amy is amy yeah and just she i think she's on a lot of people's lists.

1:06:30Yeah, she is. No, I'll piggyback that. I had, I was going to save this for the last, but just cause you did, I'll, I'll do Annie and I are coming up on our 20th. Yeah. And this month, right? Yeah. This month. And, you know, I think the thing about her is it's everything that every husband would say, you know, that loves their wife. But, But I think the thing I'm in so much admiration of is how she runs the family so well. She takes care of what she takes care of and her purview of it. I have so much trust of that. It's like just feeling what you said, those things. I think also this sense of I just really trust her with those things.

1:07:22Yeah. I think our kids are really fortunate to have her as a mom, which is such a huge thing. But her horsepower, her sort of ability to lead in certain ways so well, her love for her friends, which is just so intense and sacrificial. I think the thing I love about being married to her, and I think marriage hopefully is like this, is that 20 years is a long time. I mean, 19 years is a long time. and I think like how much she's changing is so fun to see it's really challenging in really cool ways you know and just having somebody that you're linked up with it's just such a cool thing you know like to know that you've done this much together God willing we do another that much together and then we'll reassess and that's when we we have that written in our contract and I mean that health wise I don't mean I mean I love her I don't plan on going anywhere and I know she feels the same but um it's just a long it's like a long time and I think to look up and realize like man I just still so enjoy her I have so much respect and admiration for her I think the ways that and being married this long you sort of put like this team thing together is really fun with the family and knowing what she does well what I do well how we bring those together what we offer the kids is so fun because it's so different.

1:08:49Yeah. I'm just really, really thankful for, I'm really thankful for our marriage. And I think, you know, just to still feel so excited about it. You know, like you said, it's such a gift. I mean, it's just, women are a phenomenal thing. I mean, I think if somebody asked me, what's the most amazing thing God made, I would say a woman. I really do. I think mother is in a, I would say especially their ability to, for pursuit and sort of endless capacity of, of love for their kids and what they will do for them is, is nothing short of supernatural. It's really, really phenomenal to watch. I agree.

1:09:30It's such a gift. It's such a challenge.

1:09:32Jon McLaughlin:I think, I think they should run the world. God, I think we should stop and like, let's switch. Let's let, let's let women run the world for a while and see how that goes. I think a lot of problems would be, uh, solved okay number 500 no i am thankful for this podcast oh we said i hope that's not like uh i was just thinking what could i what could i be thankful for that would also advertise the podcast that's easy that's the podcast it's the podcast yeah um we've been you know five plus years now 200 and whatever episodes I still love it I still love like you know this morning knowing that we were going to do just the Dave and John episode or a John and Dave episode wherever camp whatever camp you're in I do always say John and Dave which is funny you do?

1:10:25Jon McLaughlin:I always say Dave and John Jason always says Dave and John too so I guess that's two against one but I was like you know we got to think about what to talk about and there's a little prep, but when we have those, I'm like, this is just gonna be a great chat. I mean, it's always so easy. You know, I'm just really grateful for it and I've learned so much. I loved, I mean, one of the guys I was alluding to earlier is Stephen James, who was like our fifth episode or something like that. He was really early on. I think we said seven years ago. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, seven years ago. and I learned so much from that.

1:11:09Jon McLaughlin:Just that one episode, for example, I learned a ton from that. Like I learned things that I think about on a daily basis. So this podcast that was your brainchild to start and you asked me to do it, which I'm really grateful for, it's just really taught me a lot. I think my life would be really different without it. Yeah. I really do. I think just stuff that I've learned or just funny, fun moments. Yeah. I think too, even if it's just an osmotic level, the sense of community with other dads and moms, it's really profound, even if I don't know that it is. Meaning like to consistently talk with people about sort of the similar things at some level is really, it's like really strengthening to my feeling of being a dad and a parent.

1:12:02You know, it's like, it's just sort of nice to have always have that kind of an ether of my brain is there's thoughts around being a parent and talking to other parents about that too. Yeah, it's true. And I'm like you, I'm so thankful people enjoy it and listen. I know that sounds really probably trite maybe, but I'm just always so, I'm like, man, it's so great people enjoy this. Because obviously you and I love it. Love it.

1:12:27Jon McLaughlin:it's and at shows like i love when people come up and mention the podcast obviously i want people to you know be into the music and like when people are into like a mood song or something like that that feels a little deeper and you know but the podcast i don't know it has a different vibe it's like i i'm like oh you've invested more yeah time than just like you listen to this one song or whatever which again i'm always grateful for but that shows like for example i've got a show here at the cma theater in nashville december 14th tickets are on sale right now the ip is available um you know when people come up and they mention the podcast it just feels i feel more connected to them yeah and i'm like i know that they know you and i on a on a deeper level because they've listened to us talk for better for worse yeah i was gonna say um i will end with this.

1:13:27I think, and mine will, this is really general, but you know, I think, I don't, I didn't know how to say this. I think I'm just like generally thankful. And here's what I mean by that. Like, you know, again, this, I can't recommend this book guys, if y 'all like reading or just like having your teeth kicked in, uh, it's called living life backwards by David Gibson. He's a Scottish guy, I believe. Um, but it's about Ecclesiastes, but one of the tenets of this book is basically kind of what Ecclesiastes does, is to sort of keep death in your view at all times. And that's really heavy. And it feels like that's not fun.

1:14:05It's not.

1:14:06Jon McLaughlin:Yeah. I see that. But what it does is it just really back, it makes everything in retrospect from death back to now, it just, it just, I think it makes you be present. It makes you go like, I don't know when that will be, but I need to keep an eye on the fact that I will be dead at some point. And that could be this afternoon. That could be two years from now. It could be, you know, 30 years from now. If the stuff that I'm working on in my basement, it could be a hundred years from now. Um, you are alarmingly close to the finish line. Oh man. It's yeah. Frankenstein. I can't wait. I can't wait.

1:14:45Um, but, but I think it's just made so many moments in my life. I mean, and, and, you know, at the risk of sounding heavy, I think of the covenant shooting was the beginning of this for me because that was the first real tragedy in my life and I think that began this thing in me it was like whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa like things can change so quickly and then you couple it with you know just life since then but this book I would say especially it's just really made me realize like man this is this is all a gift it really is like I can really struggle with expectations for things and you know my Enneagram 7 is like everything could be better milk it and it's almost neutralized that in the most wonderful way because i think instead of me going like how can this be better what's the next thing look forward to it's like man i can have a heart attack in two minutes from now yeah and if i wasn't able to enjoy those things and like so we went to you know our dear friend kelly's wedding sort of party last night and i just found myself like so many people i love were there yeah and i found myself really going like gosh i'm sitting here talking to john this is so fun like brad my

1:15:53Jon McLaughlin:brother's there words i'm like it really felt like i was talking to barrett our friend and i was like i think i was about to say barrett because i know he'll if he hears this he'll text me yeah i really was gonna say um i was like i i think 90 of the people that i know in nashville are here right now yeah it was a great it was a really great night i was so happy for them too Oh, so great. But I found myself, which is really hard for me, just really glad, so thankful. Just like that. And then to be able to walk through life with just this general, like my kid's health and Annie's health and our home and this part, you name it.

1:16:31And I just think it's been a season of me really being able to go, gosh, this is just all such a gift, as opposed to, well, what's fun coming up? Or how can this be better? Like last night, what would be even better if we were doing this right now? But going, no, no, no, man. or even like what do I have to do to not lose it yes yeah exactly that's really well said and then getting in the car and just thinking God that was so great like thank you Lord like that was such a gift I love all those people I love seeing them it was just and we didn't even talk about anything of note and that's what's so great it didn't have to well it was too loud it was really loud shout out to Eskridge he was DJing Jason was crushing by the way can I just give it this is random can I give a shout out to Jason he's got a But he's got a sandwich shop over in Eastside that's really good that serves steamed sandwiches.

1:17:22Music City Sandwich Shop. Music City Sandwich Shop. We said it at the same time. If you're in East, head on over to Music City Sandwich Shop. And it's good. So anyway, thankful for you. So thankful for you. Thankful for everybody that listens. Y 'all mean a lot.

1:17:37Jon McLaughlin:And Dave has a Christmas song that is out now. Is it out now? It'll be out. No, I think this weekend. I think this comes out. This week. What is it called? Santa's Gotta Go. Santa's Gotta Go. It's fun. It's a little romp. I remember you playing it for me, but this was like early summer, I feel like. And I remember loving the groove of it. Yeah, yeah. I'm excited to listen to it. And everybody have a great Thanksgiving. CMA Theater, December 14th. Tickets are available right now. VIP is limited, but available.

1:18:13Yeah.

1:18:45Good energy in. Good energy out.

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