A Hopeful Heart

We wanted to revisit an episode from this time last year to remember and honor our friend, Tyler, who was a light to all who knew him. We sat down in our living room together that day, and Tyler and Kelsie shared their story and a message of hope with us. We hope it will be a blessing to you today.

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We are Paul & Candy. Welcome to our podcast where we encourage you to look for opportunities in your life to see a beautiful view. Sit back and relax!

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Thank you to "The Hopeful Few" for allowing us to use your music on our podcast AND please make sure to check out their music on Spotify or Apple music.

Transcript

Welcome to our podcast, where we encourage you to look for opportunities in your life to see a beautiful view. I'm candy. 

And I'm Paul. Today we are going to share a very special episode. View that was originally recorded in October of 2023. We had the privilege of welcoming our dear friends Tyler and Kelsey to our home here in Bellevue, Iowa last fall. Tyler, Kelsey and their little daughter Mia are also known as the Hopeful Few, and they have been the beautiful voices of our podcast theme song since Episode 2. 

Unfortunately, we just received the news that Tyler was tragically killed in a car accident this past weekend. That's been it's been such a tough year for so many people, including us, and there are so many people entering the holiday season with heavy hearts this year. 

So we decided to revisit this episode to remember and honor our friend Tyler, who was a light to all who knew him. We sat down in our living room together that day, and Tyler and Kelsey shared their story and a message of hope with us. We hope it will be a blessing to you today. 

We are the hopeful for you. We're going to do an original tune for you next. It's actually being featured right now on Bellevue's very own Beautiful View podcast. Song’s called I'd go anywhere as long as I'm with you. 

Hey, thank you. 

In today's episode, we're going to do something a little. All different. We are going to chat with our friends Tyler and Kelsey, also known as. The hopeful few. 

Yeah. If you've been listening for a while, you may know that Tyler and Kelsey gifted us with one of their original songs to use on our podcast. They are just the sweetest couple, and while they were in town, we wanted them to share a little bit about themselves. And their story with us and our listeners. 

Tyler and I go way back. We used to work together in the media department at Crossroads Fellowship in Odessa, TX. And we've kept in touch over the years and earlier this year we were able to reconnect with them in person on one of our trips to Texas when we were there with them. I told them that they should come visit us. We also mentioned that possibly they could get a gig at River Ridge Brewing here in Bellevue. Our our favorite place to go. 

Yeah, and guess what? They took us up on that. So the music that you hear on the show today was actually recorded live from that gig, which is really fun. 

Yes. 

We could not have been more excited to host them here for. The whole week. 

We asked them a few questions so that you can get to know them a little better and if you haven't already, please check out the hopeful few on Spotify. Or Apple music. 

We would like to welcome and introduce you to our friends, Tyler Kelsey and Little Mia, the hopeful few thank you for being here. This is so fun. How was your trip up from Texas? 

Hi, yeah. 

Our trip up from Texas has been so fun it really has it. It could not. I I think I won't. I won't name which family member. Well, we definitely have some family members be like you're so brave to be driving that far with an 18 month. 

Good. 

Oh, baby, yes. And and she's she traveled like a dream and and and all that time on the road together we we were dreaming out loud and singing out loud and and it's been a great trip here so yeah awesome. 

Yeah. Yeah, I can imagine. That's been interesting. I love that. 

Cool. So how do you like Bellevue? 

It's beautiful. It really. 

Yeah. 

I understand the the name, it's it's so lovely. We got to take a walk yesterday and just look at the river and the trees and it's really, really, really pretty, Tyler said you can fall in love with anywhere in the fall, but it's especially especially nice. 

Of course. 

Here, right now. 

It's so magical here right now. It feels we were saying it feels like a movie. It it really just just every bit of it feels like like we stepped stepped on screen. 

Uh-huh. 

That's pretty much how we felt when we first came here too, because we we initially first got here in that first year. I think it was August or September. So it was just before the fall. It was kind of the end of the summer, but it was especially cool that year. So the trees were starting to turn earlier and we stuck around a little bit longer to kind of see that part. And it was just. 

Into a romantic movie. 

This time of year, you couldn't have come at a better time, really. I mean, it's. This is a really, really beautiful time of year here. 

No, it's perfect. Yeah. And you saw the the riverboat right yesterday. 

We did, yeah, we were. We were trying to figure out what we had to do to get on the ferry. 

Do. 

Which you know, when you when you grow up in the desert, just every time you're around water, it's just extra romantic, I think. And so walking down the river and like you guys said. 

For sure. 

The colors with with. The fall colors that are out right now it's it's just it's it's beautiful. 

Yeah. And you live around here and you'll get. Like friends or invite you to go eat somewhere and ohh we're going. Vote. So you end up, you know, putting them down here and and going downriver and and and go find a restaurant in the in the next town along. And it's it's just amazing to be at a do. 

Yeah. 

Down river usually, yeah. 

That that sounds fun. 

Doesn't that sound fun? 

Well, maybe if you guys come back in the summer. Time at some point. Then we can arrange a boat ride with somebody. So I hear you guys listen to our podcast. So I'm going to put you on the spot a little bit of the episodes that you've listened to so far. Do you have a favorite? 

Yeah. 

We. 

Do we do? 

So I'm tempted to pick something after the pilot episode because because our music found their way its way. No, I I love the quirky, the quirky people episode that's so fun. It's just a peek behind the curtain that you guys and the family and and and the relational dynamics that are that are. 

Yeah, that was a fun one. 

I play, I play in every family, but especially in a small space in the RV. I just. I love that episode. 

Sure. 

But the pilot was was really, really, really neat. Y'all y'all story is so just like off out of out of you got mail, pilot. It's such a feel good episode is I we listen to that. And and I just may just want to listen to more of them. Do you have a favorite? 

Yeah. 

Yeah. 

Yeah, I can agree. I loved the pilot, but I think I also loved the the stuff that was the yeah. 

Ohh. 

It's it's kind of like, you know, each week we have to, I have to kind of plan a couple ahead because we always say what we're going to be talking about next at the end of each podcast. So I always have to stay. 

Which makes us do another one, right? Yeah. Yeah. Built in accountability right there. 

It makes us. Do another one. Yeah, there's always like. And that was kind of intentional, too. So yeah. Yeah, that's really interesting. I'm always curious to know if there was one that kind of stood out to people or whatever. So. That's really cool, yeah. 

I I I haven't had one where I thought, OK, I don't, I've, I've, I've stayed, stayed right in all of them. 

Then. 

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. 

We've had a lot of comments from people that just say it's just so easy to listen to. It's like sitting across the table from you or sitting in your living room having a conversation with both of you. And so that that makes me feel good because that's what I'm going for. So yeah. 

Yes. 

Yeah, yeah, that's exactly. And that's exactly what it is. And and why we listen to it it's it's it's a breath of breath of fresh air. And has been for me multiple times in the middle of. Of chaos or a hard day or whatever. It's it's a breath. It feels like a breath, so. 

Yeah, that's cool. That's cool. That's awesome. A. 

Little bit of background, we've known each other for some time now and so I think the first time we met was at a church in Midland, TX. 

Yeah. 

And that was back in, like I'm gonna say, 06. Yeah, yeah. Yes. 

A long time ago. 

And he he did. 

I don't like when we start doing. Nothing. 

So he met you before I met you. Wow. Yeah. 

Yeah. So and then you went went back to college. 

MHM. 

And you took a degree in something that you were interested in. 

I did, yeah. Paul Paul was nice enough to give me a job as an intern coming out of college and and and in sound engineering at at at at large church out in West TX and and and then about two weeks later after he gave me the job as the intern him and the rest of the media department and the worship department and everybody on staff vacated. And left me on the 16 foot man. I'm trying to hang about 700 balloons. We were right in the middle of the half the movie half the movie series and we we had this up 3 theme and so we were flying this giant scream with helium moons. 

I have forgotten about that. Ohh my gosh. 

Oh, that's funny. I don't remember that. 

And I'm like. I am afraid and I'm an intern, and I'm by myself, but I'm like, well, I think if if I can manage to not break anything and we make it to Sunday, I may actually end up with a full. Time job at this place but. 

Oh my goodness, that's funny. 

There were there were. There were times when we all drove that lift into something. That's right. And so so fortunately it was a a large enough congregation that there was always like someone who put down carpet, someone who repaired sheetrock. Because that's right. That's funny. So, yeah. So. So we've known each other for some time. 

Repaired curtains. 

And then you guys met. So. So tell us a little bit about that. 

So yeah, I met Tyler at South Plains College in Loveland, Texas. He was going for an audio engineering degree in. I was going to school for a vocal performance degree and I was actually leading worship for a college service up on stage and I saw this really cute guy walking walking the back door and wearing his fedora. 

MHM. 

No. 

And his curly hair? I got really distracted and had to had to come back and and finish the service. But we we met that night and then later that week. I got a knock on my door. I was hosting a small group for like a Coed small group and got to knock on my door. As we were about to start and it was Tyler and I. I hadn't invited him. Someone else had invited him, but I was so excited. I remember, like, whispering to my roommate. Cute guys. 

From surveys he showed. 

Up. And so we were able to become friends. 

Ah. 

Oh then searching for you. 

So your new EP is called searching, so talk to talk to us about the process of putting together the songs, writing the songs, and the recording. I mean like, obviously that's a long story, but the highlights of it like. Now, how do you and this isn't the first set of recordings you guys have done, right? Right. But what is the process when you approach a project like? This like how do you find the inspiration to come up with song lyrics and and and like? Yeah. 

Who does that part? Is that more Kelsey? 

So so it's a pretty even blend as far as lyric writing for both of. 

It is OK, yeah. 

Us. And and this project has been a lot of fun because it's been a lot, a lot more time in the making and we've been working on this collection of songs for for six years, not even realizing that that we were right, like, just just more riding out. 

M. 

Just as a way to process our world really. And and overtime the collection just started to develop and and so. But yeah, we. Probably half the lyrics on the album are Kelsey and half. Are. 

That's super cool. 

On me and and the same thing for a while. 

You're the better lyricist. 

But I'm not the vocal performance and and that translates, but now I mean the whole this this process has been super fun on the on the recording side, we did, we did a live album that was worship music that just was just Kelsey on and we did that several years ago. Five or six years ago and and this one like is that we've got to take our time more and really ask each other as as as the song makes its way to paper and then to the acoustic guitar. And just to on our voices in that setting, we get to start asking each other like, OK, what kind of song is it like, what does this song sound like? What does this song feel like and start thinking up. 

MHM. 

Thinking through production in that way. And so so it's it's ended up with a really fun collection that's got big band Blues on it and and 90s country on it. 

Yeah. Yeah, that's such a mix on on this one. So how did you, I mean, is it just coincidence or did you do that on purpose just to kind of have a variety of things or? 

And I love. 

It. Yeah and it's. 

It really has just been kind of a process of of, of asking each other. What does this song want? 

Yeah. OK. 

Like we're we didn't set out to be country artists or American artists or Blues artists, although I do think probably our true north falls somewhere in in. 

Hmm. 

In the Blues Lane, so I would think just just Kelsey's voice is just so suited for, for R&B and Blues and and and and soul music and funk music and just. 

OK. Yeah, yeah. 

It's very soothing. This is a very soothing voice because that's. 

That's her running lane, I think for sure and. So. So that's probably where we feel most comfortable. But but it's just really been a process of like did we just write a country song or did we just write an acoustic wedding song? Like, what did we just write? 

Just. 

And just trying to steward the song because the songwriting process for us is very. 

Yeah. 

UM. It's there's always a moment where there's a deposit that we feel like a deposit gets made in us like there's a piece of gold in every song that we don't feel like we manufactured out of nothing. It just it just somehow appears in our hearts and we just know, OK, this is an idea that has to be stewarded out to the end. And so that's where the framework. 

Yeah, OK. Yeah. Yeah. 

Has to be built around things, and so yeah, it's it's really just been a process of stewardship, but. A lot of fun. 

My best friend baby. You're the best friend that I've ever. 

Had got to take Mia into studio with. 

We. 

Us multiple times and that was. 

Alright. Did she? Does she love the music? Is that? 

Yeah, she she did. She loved it. She. 

Yeah. 

Was a lot younger than she was, just a small baby and she. She loved it and it was just it felt really significant to us. 

Sure. Yeah. 

A lot of. Where? Where everyone you know, I'm sure feels like they're passing something down to their kids, and we really felt like this is something that we're doing, not just for us and other people, but really for her. And so it was neat. To have her in studio and get her giggle on one of the songs. Yeah, yeah. 

Ah. 

Yeah, yeah, yeah, she's she's laughing on the song that we released on her first birthday. She's she's. We mixed her up and and, and I'm sure our sound engineer was. 

Yeah. 

Was scratching his head wondering what was what. What I thought process was there but it was sweet moment. 

Say your stay on me. Please stay right here. My love. Please stay right here. Please stay right here. Oh. 

It's more to come right? 

Wanna come, Lord willing? Yeah, we've got we feel like we've got a full a full length album collection and and and so we'll be back in the we're on tour now, but we'll be back in Texas right around Thanksgiving and we'll. 

It's more to come. 

Hmm. 

Right back into studio and the plan is, is the sister EP should be out in the spring. We're willing. So this is this is the searching EP and and hopefully the sound EP will be out. 

OK, that's going to say. 

Ohh wow, that's gonna be. 

OK, very cool. Yeah. So you are you mentioned you're on tour right now, so you're obviously you're going to be playing here in Bellevue on. Saturday, which by the time this gets released that will have already happened. But for when you leave Bellevue, you're heading to. 

Rhode Island, yeah, we're we're going to all night, all the way up to New England. And and we'll be we'll be doing shows across multiple states there in the New England. 

Is that right? That's right. 

Just. 

Area upstate New York and Massachusetts, and Merritt Island and. 

Very cool. 

So you're doing kind of New England and then are you going down the East Coast and then back around? 

To Texas, yeah. 

That's right, we are. So we have a. An additional stop in South Carolina and we'll be playing there and enjoying some time there and then we'll head back to Texas after that. 

OK. 

Super. Wow. You're gonna get to see a lot of country. How fun. Wow. 

Yeah. Yeah, kind of a little bit jealous. Want to get back on the road? 

Yeah, and they'll. Be home for winter in Texas, where we'll be in the. Snow. 

Yeah. Yeah. Deep. Yeah. 

Snow. 

So thank you so much for allowing us. Like we could say this in person then. Thank you so much for allowing us to use the song on the podcast. Absolutely. So you sent me an advance copy of that song just to get my opinion on mix and stuff and and. 

Yeah. 

Yeah. 

When we. 

If you ask me, I've always got an opinion. I just. I called candy in there and we and we played it and I played it for her and I'm like. This this could be our theme song and not meaning the podcast mean like a life theme song. So I know I know what that means to us. When we first heard the song, but what does it mean to you guys when you were writing the lyrics to the song? What did it? What did it mean to you? 

Yeah, that's perfect. 

I may have to let you. Answer This when I'm getting teary eyed just thinking about what. 

No sorry. Ohh. 

It means to us. So you go for it. 

Yeah, we started, started writing a song at 5:00 in the morning, and the Sun was coming up. In our rearview mirror and we could see the mean out in front of us and we were goose being silly and like riding nursery rhymes to try to keep each other awake. We're nodding off to one another and and so it didn't start out as a song. It started out as a as a safety exercise. I was dropping Kelsey off for a coffee meeting she had that morning at 6:00 AM. 

Getting on the road. 

I sat out in the parking lot in this little downtown area and small town in Texas, and at 6:00 in the morning started just flashing through some of what had come out of our rhyming session. And it. And. And just thinking about Kelsey. M. That sitting out there. Out in the pickup writing, writing the song. Really it's it's just the great joy of my life to get to do all of the adventure with her and and so. Just overtime we wanted we wanted, we knew that that that story is one that that you guys share and that that that there are there are lots of people on the planet that are lucky enough to find the person that they. 

Yeah. Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

Want to go do it? All with and that starts with dreaming, and so that's that song really that that first verse is about dreaming together when you're in love. 

Mm-hmm. 

And then it kind of. Which which you see a. Lot in in young love and I. Really love and but, but if you're if you're really fortunate, that's that's the cycle you get to come back to. And being together all along. 

Yeah, of course. 

The. Way but but then we talk about going so. So we say, what do you what do you say we go up to the moon is so that that's what do you say we got just just crazy kid dreaming together. 

I love that. 

Yes. 

Yeah, skies the limit, yeah. 

And then and then. 

We don't ever do that. That's that's. 

How you end? 

Up on the road for six years is. The conversation it. Is, but then the second verse is about really just kind of coming back down from some of that, but starting to put. Put flesh on some of those bones and those ideas and the idea that the whole world still has laid out in front of you and you get to go kind of create. The abundant life. Together. 

Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

And so so that it says what he said, we go down to the sea because because there is no end to the sea, I guess. Thank you so much. 

Yeah. 

Yeah, right. I love it. I love it. It's. 

A great song. 

But then the the last verse is is is is where we landed. Paul and Candy walked in to us this morning and I had bad head like I I looked like a. That my hair was sticking straight. The last race is what? Do you say we just stay home instead and it's about learning to rest together when your love cause that's that's really important too. So it's yeah, it's. 

Yeah, it is important. 

And I'm so thankful to know. I was so thankful to know that it connected with. You guys, when you heard it the. Way that it. Did and that's that's part of still being I think is is God gives us a story and and it's and it's our job to share the story and then it's however it connects is is not necessarily up to. 

Yeah, yeah. I'm so glad. 

That's. 

Absolutely. 

Us we just can't bury it. 

Absolutely. 

Yeah. Anytime when? We start something new. There's always challenges involved. That's part of the, you know, what we try and communicate in the podcast is there's going to be challenges like you. You can't pretend like everything is going to be rosy and but it's about how you handle those challenges. So when you first began the project with. With the hopeful for you and thinking about the new EP, what were some of the challenges that you guys faced and how did you get past that? Yes. 

Whenever we decided to go ahead and record, we had an infant. So big challenge, just scheduling and finding the time and the resources while you have this new little life that you're responsible for and also. 

Yeah. Ohh yeah. 

Yeah. 

Just balancing our current jobs at that time with this. 

Right, because you were both working right as well as doing this and full time jobs and yeah. 

Yes. So just trying to balance our. Our work life with what we this additional thing that we felt like the Lord was, was really sparing us on to to do in addition to knowing in our hearts like we really just want to spend every minute of our day with our new. Baby. 

Yeah. First, yeah. 

And so I think. Just managing all of that was a challenge. 

Yeah. And I think like group decision making is always is always a challenge. Like if if the family trying to decide where. They're going to go. Eat, everybody goes. I don't care where we go. Eat until you actually start the discussion. Yeah. And yeah, like group decision making is is is tough to do. And so that that that plays out in in studio for sure. 

Yep. 

Where, where, where, both of us feel. Just just deep conviction about about. The way that we want to share these, these these songs and these stories and and so. And she's Kelsey. 

Sure. 

'S. Has an unbelievable and just just brilliant mind when it comes to production and creativity and and. And I also have a lot of opinions about about production and creativity. And so yeah. 

And also a brilliant creative mind. So. 

Well, thank you, but. 

There's that's that's an ongoing tension. 

It's aligning those brilliant creative minds, right? 

That's exactly right, because because there's times where. I'm like, no, we've got to do it. This way, and she's. 

So that's that's. 

Always a challenge of landing on like, OK. This. But the fun thing about this is this is not a solo project, this is. This is our project. And so we're we're going to get in line. 

Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure. 

Together we'll we're we're going to work at it until until we find the best version of it that we can so that. I think I think team dynamics always play into the challenge, but but it also it's probably the finding I think I. 

Think it makes it. 

Better so. So what is the biggest thing you would say that you've learned from this experience, either individually or as a couple, what do you, what do you, what do you, what's your take away your growth take away? 

Yeah. 

One thing that that's been very real in in this season. So when we started the recording process, we were also both working full time jobs. In addition to this. But while when we're talking to you now like this is the full time gig now. 

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. 

Playing our music at at River Ridge Brewing and and and and venues all over the country and and and making music and and it's it's amazing to get to do. But. That's the new challenge with all of that for us is, is, is, is familiar in a lot of ways. But but just we have this desire for control to know what's coming next and know when it's coming and and and and life on the road, which I'm sure you can attest to, is just not. You can't control. There's just all. There are always new variables and always things changing and and and. 

Yes, you can't control it. Ohh I know. 

Hello. 

So just just learning to kind of loosen the grip a little bit and and walk more palms up into what's what's in front of us, I think has been a big. 

Yeah. Ohh yeah. 

Part of it for me. 

I love your answer, Tyler, I think. A more maybe, like lighthearted side to the answer is I've just I've learned that I love the way that you produce music just as much or more than the way that I would have done it. Like ideas that maybe I felt unsure about in the beginning. I've ended up completely loving. And that's been fun to go in studio and hear you say no, you know, we've got to get this horn part right. And I'm thinking I don't like I I think we should try this. I think we should try something different and hearing our final result and just loving it and knowing that was Tyler's idea. It's it's been, yeah. 

So do you feel like as a couple that's kind of like strengthened your? Reliance on each other's at the right word. Kind of like your trust in each other, I guess. Just kind of with that stuff. Or do you? Do you feel like that's kind of a benefit? There. 

I think I feel like we're better at celebrating each other maybe than we were early in the process of just. Yeah, just knowing like, whatever, whatever you produce, I'm going to love. I love you and you're awesome. 

Yeah. Yeah. 

Yeah, it's really cool. 

Like like. However it works out. That's. That's been a really freeing and fun thing. There's been a lot of celebrating each other through the whole process. Yeah, that's really cool. 

Yeah. 

So during the during the recording process, while you've been on tour, have there been any embarrassing and or awkward situations that you've had to? Has happened to. You or you've had to deal with. 

We were. We were talking about this a moment ago, but my uncle noticed that Tyler and I were having this silent exchange in the middle of our mid song. Yeah, and the The thing is, is that I struggle with remembering lyrics. 

Song. There's also. 

And I forgot some of the words and or at least a word. And Tyler looks over at me and and this happens every show, like at some point I'm gonna forget a word and he's gonna look at me like, I can't believe you forgot that word. And I'm going. To look at. Him going to look back at him like you. Better stop looking at me like that. 

Or it's. Yeah, I'm it's going. 

It's going to go down, right? We're in front of everybody. 

To let you finish the show. I'm gonna walk away. And so we really that happens all the time and we had thought that it was more subtle than nobody knew that was happening. We thought ohh that's just us. We're just communicating between our eyes. 

Ah. 

Yes. 

With our eyes. And then my uncle ended up speaking up and saying, hey, I I kind of noticed, was this going on and it was embarrassing. It was, it was funny. We were like, Oh my goodness, we. 

Like we were so obvious, right? Yeah. 

They called out called out for our silent side. 

Yes, that's pretty funny. 

So, so just one word you just. Forgot one word. 

Ohh I'm sure. 

It couldn't have just been one word. 

That's what she said. She said it was. 

I heard what she said. No, it may. It might have been. It might have been this one. I might have been. 

Just one word. 

Extra particular that night. For no reason. 

At all. 

That is so funny. Well, I am so glad that we get to be just a small part of your journey. We love your story and your testimony of hope and how that obviously influenced many aspects of your life, but including the name of your band. Would you mind sharing a little bit of your story? Pope with our listeners. 

We would be glad to. It's. It's the reason we. We got in gear and put this music into motion in the 1st place is because we knew that that that we started to see this central theme of hope. Emerging in in all of it. And and if that was going to be our story that that we needed to share, that people needed to hear. Mm-hmm. So Kelsey and I have been made almost 10 years now, and we spent years and years trying to have a baby years and years and. 

Yeah. 

N. When you when you pray the same prayer every day for a couple of 1000 days in a row and don't get the answer that you're hoping for, I'm you. You start to build calluses on your heart. Every when every 30 days goes by and that's another set of notes to 30 days worth of prayer. It's it you. You just start to build calluses and and and try to deflect and. And because you're trying really, you're trying to preserve the ember of faith that you still have in, inside and. And so you're trying to protect that. And so when years go by. And just as as as hope is all but lost, then, then the miracle moment happens and and we get. We get our first yes, and we find out we're going to have a baby and and all of a sudden it it it's not five years worth of nose. It's five years worth of yeses. All it. All in one moment. 

It was a timing thing. 

That's right. That's right. And and so that was that was where we. Where we ended up going from being just Kelsey and Tyler Music until the hopeful few it was when we found out we were pregnant and we so we've. Been. Performing all of our music and and putting our music under that name since since we found out we were pregnant and and and and that's that's the beginning of the story. But but that the next part of the story is that. After. After six months of healthy, happy worry free pregnancy, Kelsey went into early labor six months in and Mia was born 13 weeks premature. She she weighed 1 LB and 13 oz. When she was born and was. 

That's hard to imagine. 

It was, it was wild. It was. It was the hardest and sweetest thing that we've that we've ever had to take on and we spent half of last year in the NICU at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, TX just watching, watching me a fight and grow and fight and grow and. And. We I I think I had more faith that she would get through it than I did that I would get through it but but. 

Yeah. 

The where we stand today, it looks like a happy ending because because me is here with us on tour and she's 18 months. 

And you would never know that there's anything wrong with her. Now she's she is a bubbling little toddler. She's cute as can be. 

Old. That's that's exactly yeah. She's a. 

Toddler she's. 

In the toddler, in every every way. Right now, and she's. I'm sure she's. Even Emily Pauline Candy's daughter Emily, are taking care of. She's taking care of me here right now. I'm sure she's giving her all the. 

Uh-huh. 

Fun she can handle. 

Yeah, I was loving every minute of it. I've no doubt. 

Yeah. So for most people, pregnancy is a season where hope really feels magnified. And like it's under a microscope and you just become so hopeful with yours, yours. So that's just really the best word I can think of to describe the way that you feel whenever you're expecting something, you know, maybe beyond the word expectant. You're just hopeful. And so like Tyler said, we that word and that theme continued to show up for us, but it really. 

Yeah. 

Yes. 

Yeah. 

The kind of the light bulb came on for us that that was that was our message that we've been given whenever we whenever we were pregnant with Mia and and then since since then through her story and all of that we. It's just been something that has that we've clung to and that has brought us through the the difficult season and then also just. This sweet time that we've got to be with her at home now is that hope doesn't disappoint. 

Yeah, I love that. 

I love it. 

Yeah, we, we we try to hold on to some promises in our life and some reminders when when? When life does get hard. And so a big one for. 

MHM. 

For us, especially in the last few years, has just been the reminder that that. Perseverance. Will produce character. 

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. 

It will. And and then out of out of that character comes hope. Yeah. And. And and it's hope that doesn't disappoint. 

Yes. So. 

And when broken hearted people living here on the world agree. There will be an answer. Let it be. 

Once the day we brought me home from the hospital, me was born. She's a celebration baby. She was born. She's a party baby. She was. She was born on on Saint Patrick's Day and came home on July 4th to to fireworks and all just for her. And and every every time. 

She's a she's a party. 

OK. 

Thing goes off we we remember and but but I think we we got home and and just. 

That's really cool. 

Got to see the journey we had been through. We now have this tangible things that are this tangible story at our fingertips of of perseverance producing character and character producing hope and and and I. 

Yeah. 

Yeah. 

Once we got home with me, we, like we. We talked about it and and if if Mia hadn't come home with us, we we wouldn't have shared this music. We just wouldn't have no and no. And and and. 

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get that. 

She did. And we are, yes. 

You're good than we are. Yeah. Yeah, I I know, I know this is a. 

That's amazing. 

You may want to edit this part out, but I know that this week is is is a reminder for you guys and that that that I I heard you say there's leftover birthday cake and I I just kind of assumed that might have been yeah that might have been the birthday and so. 

Yes, absolutely, yeah. 

Yeah. 

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. 

We love you guys. I I wanted to put it in writing and just couldn't. Couldn't say it, but, but I just can't we just love you guys and I know that this week is a hard. Week every year. 

It's it's certainly something that has developed as the years go by. And it's so funny, like you said. In your post that how things that had changed this year into like you just wondering what it would have been, hmm and. 

Yeah, yeah. 

I was like wondering about that and I was talking to our Tyler, our son Tyler on. On the way back from his early bird session at school this morning about that and asking him if he ever thought about that and and so yeah, it's been a different it's been different every year and a gradual process of. That has, I mean, obviously the whole experience has built character in us. 

Oh, of course, yeah. 

And Spurs us on in hope to do what we are. We are trying to, you know, do now which is just to. Be obedient. 

Yeah, but it also allows us to empathize with people who are going through. To, you know, similar circumstances, you know or like you guys, even you know when you were in the NICU like, we felt that like every bit of that. So. 

Yeah. Oh, yeah. And you're in there for a lot longer than we were. And then you see all of the other babies in there and the other families trying to deal with it as well. That's that's. 

Oh yeah. 

And and he realized, just like people are in this story, they're in, they're up up to their elbows in this story, all all around us. And you just we just don't even know, like, this. This is like, this is a part of your story that that when we met and when we worked together in West TX like that. 

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 

Mm-hmm. Just. 

Was either too young or too dumb to ask the right kind of questions to even know this part of your story. At that point in our. Life and our relationship together, we really. 

I don't know that we were sharing it a lot at that point. We were we were. 

Pretty. 

Screwed up at that point, you know, so. 

I had. I had personally like, just dived into work to cover. It up. 

Yeah. 

And so I I didn't deal with it. Yeah, at all. And so that came out in various ways, dysfunction. UM and so it's it's different for, you know, both of us. We both went through it in different ways. Yeah. But at the other side of it all, we found each other. 

Yeah, and hope you know and that's that's our that's our testimony as well. So I I just I think that's really interesting how we kind of connect like that so yeah. 

Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

Yeah. 

So I just wonder if you have anything that you've thought of since we've been talking or anything that you would like to share with our listeners that? We haven't already covered. 

The thing that comes to mind for me is just for your listeners. If they don't know you, if they don't have the pleasure of knowing you, and in day-to-day life just coming from someone else just to tell them that you guys are wonderful even. Really lovely hosts and genuine I think I saw. There's a sign in your office. What does it say? Like disruptive? 

Playful or? Well, and authentic. I think it's great, yeah. 

Authentic. OK. And that really spoke to me and I before I saw the sign, I felt that way about your lives and the way that you're living now. And I saw that sign. And I thought, yeah, yeah, that's that's it. And so. 

Yeah. 

I just hope that your listeners can can hear that through your voice and and. Just hear from an outsider that that's that's true. 

Yeah. And and I, I think for me like. 11 reason it was really easy to say yes when, when. When you guys said hey, can we can we use your music as as a theme show for the OR the theme song for the podcast for the intro music and and and and why we love the podcast is is you guys. Our stewarding so well, the perspective that God's giving you to see the world like like this. This is a podcast. It's it's so light hearted and so fun and so uplifting. And it it's such a breath for us when we when we listen to it but but. 

Yeah. 

It's it's a reminder to open your eyes and be grateful. Yeah. And. And you guys and you guys deliver that message. I'm so well and. And you're stealing that message so well and. And it's one that that we want to slow down and echo because. 

MHM. 

Because it changes, it gives you the opportunity to find abundance in your world when you have the eyes to see that it's. All around you. 

Already, and I think that's that's the challenge that's put in front of us as. 

Yeah. 

People of faith is to is to share because that's not the easiest thing to do. I mean, you can go through life and perform perfectly well in the community and in your job and your career and and in church even. And you can do really well. But if you don't share. What you have personally experienced? Then you're. You're denying that aspect of your life that took so much to develop for other people and. You know, I heard it. I heard it. And I think I mentioned it before, but the gospel is something that we get on its way to someone else, you know, so the the gospel personalizes itself, that gospel of hope, a message of hope, personalizes itself in our lives. And it forms itself around our experiences, and if we don't share that. Then it stops with us, right? And so that is a responsibility that in the end, we felt like, you know, no matter what it takes and no matter what the results are, we have to sit behind a microphone. And for you guys sing behind the, you know, sing behind a microphone. And we have to just put ourselves out there. Because otherwise it stops with us. 

And there's so much power in a story, yeah. 

Oh. Yeah, there. 

Yes. 

Yeah. Well, thank you guys so much for being here and sharing with us. And this has just been so great and we really appreciate it. And we want to wish you the very best on your journey and we'll be praying for you as you continue to share your music and testimony. 

Thank you. Yeah, for sure. 

Thank you. 

Of hope along the way. Thank you so much. 

Thank you. 

Thank you guys. 

Thank you for joining us today. Life is just so unfair. Sometimes we don't pretend to have all the answers, but we remain hopeful that this life is not all there is our hope and their hope is in our savior Jesus Christ. We join Tyler. And Kelsey, Mia and Amy, as the hopeful few. Some beautiful views are harder to see than others, and we won't pretend that this is easy. 

I think the beautiful view in this story is the many testimonies from people who have come out of the woodwork whom Tyler's life has impacted. Tyler was a man of faith and lived a life of devotion to both God. And his family. 

Yes. 1st Thessalonians 4 verses 13 through 14 says this and now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died. So you will not grieve like people who have no hope for, since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. 

There's a huge network of people from both. Their past and present, who have come together to embrace the sweet family at this time as they face the unthinkable. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Tyler's family as they grieve and continue to figure things out. If you feel led to be a part of this network of support for Kelsey and their precious girls, we've included a link in our show notes to the GO Fund me account that was set up for. Them. 

Mm-hmm. 

This has been a rough year. For our family, we lost Candie's mom. Why now in the summer and now our dear friend. But we have pressed on to bring light, love and hope to you, our listeners. We are so thankful for the encouraging words and support we have received along the way. We had no idea when we started this podcast, the Journey that it would take us. 

On through everything we continue to have a hopeful heart and we are so grateful for our many blessings. We are going to take the rest of the year off to allow ourselves time to properly. 

Yes. 

Leave to experience the holidays with family and to regroup. We'll be back in the new Year with new content. We even have a live event coming up in January. Watch our socials For more information about that. 

In the meantime, we would like to invite you to check out or revisit the beautiful view of Christmas episode from December of last year. Our kids helped us with this one, and so it was a beautiful memory and celebration of Jesus. Our daughter Emily helped us with the songs on her guitar. And our son Tyler joined in the telling of the Christmas story. 

Christmas fills our hearts with joy as we think of gifts, lights and holiday spirit. But remember, Christmas means something more. It's the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. Let's travel back to Bethlehem and share the story of his birth. 

Joyful and Cheryl. 

If you know of someone who would enjoy this podcast, please point them in our direction. You can visit us at Beautiful View Podcast on Facebook or Instagram, share our post or share the link to our podcast. Also, you can watch a video recording of our most recent podcasts on YouTube. The link to that is also in our. 

Show notes? Yes, and just a reminder. Please consider making a donation to the Hendrix family by clicking the link to their GO Fund me page in the show description or on our social media channels. 

We really appreciate your support of the podcast. We are so looking forward to returning in the new. 

Year we hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving and remember to always keep an eye open for opportunities in life to see a beautiful view.