BUILDing Through Play - Why is Play Important?

Play is more than just fun — it’s a vital part of how children grow, learn, and connect. In this episode, Kendra sits down with Mary Beth Smith and Lauren Bryan to talk about the incredible impact of play on child development.

They dive into why play matters, how it builds key developmental skills, and how Play & BUILDgroups, one of Building All Children’s empowerment programs, gives families practical tools to help their children thrive through play.

Tune in for an inspiring and encouraging conversation about the joy and purpose behind play!

For more Aha Moments visit https://buildingallchildren.org/podcast

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Welcome! My name is Kendra Morgan, and I am the host of the Rise and Build Podcast, where we hope to empower you to rise up and build a strong family, knowing you have to strengthen your hands to do the good work. Come with us as we rise and build. Hey you guys, welcome to the Rise and Build Podcast. I am so excited about today. So I am setting across from Mary Beth Smith and Lauren Bryan, and we are gonna talk about building all children. And one of our empowerment programs is the play and build groups. So we are gonna talk a little bit about why play is important, why do we spend a lot of effort and a lot of time on these play and build groups? Let's talk real quick about you, Lauren, for a second. So you are an educator, pastor's wife, mom. So I want you to tell us a little bit about you, and then I'm gonna talk about how Building All Children got you. Oh, but let's talk about just tell us about you.

SPEAKER_01 1:04

Um raised in Dallas, Texas, a social worker by degree, worked with inner city adolescence for a few years, raised four amazing kids, one of which has um is on the autism spectrum. And um, so I just have a passion for encouraging young moms, but especially those with special needs.

SPEAKER_02 1:32

I love that. And how long have you been with Building All Children?

SPEAKER_01 1:36

Six and a half years.

SPEAKER_02 1:37

Okay, so quite a while.

SPEAKER_01 1:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:39

I will talk about how I got to you in just a second. But Mary Beth, go ahead and tell us about you.

SPEAKER_00 1:45

So I am from the St. Louis area, um, moved to Oklahoma about 27 years ago. Okay, and um landed in the role of a child development specialist, have been in various other nonprofits um as a child development specialist, and then a month and a half ago started here.

SPEAKER_02 2:09

Yes. So I've known Mary Beth for quite a while. We used to be child development specialists years, years ago together. Um, and an opportunity came available for you to be part of the Building All Children team, and I snatched you because um I know I've worked with you, I know how good you are. So you're gonna help us today talk about play, the importance of play, the development behind play. Um, but Lauren, let's go back to when I called you and said, Hey, would you like to have coffee? So you were a teacher at a local church, building all children partners with churches, and I saw your passion for kids, your your energy, you were organized, like everything about you I loved. And so, do you remember me calling you and asking you for coffee? Yes. And do you remember you were like, sure. And so we went and had coffee, and then do you remember me saying, Would you want to become part of the Building All Children team?

SPEAKER_01 3:08

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 3:09

Okay, so how did that conversation go?

SPEAKER_01 3:11

Um, yeah, I remember we met and I was going to transition out of preschool, and um, we had had many conversations in the classroom. And um so we were talking about what that might look like. Yeah. And then a couple days later, you I think that day you said, Why don't you come see our office? Yeah. And then when I was at the office, you said, I think it'd be great if you could work here. And I was like, Are you kidding me? Like, that's a dream come true. I love it.

SPEAKER_02 3:47

Well, so because part of the vision was play. Like, we know the importance of play and we feel that families, because of the busy world we live in, are not just playing enough. And so we, I mean, I started when I started building all children, we were doing these play and build groups, but they weren't anything that they are now because you've taken them to the next level. But my kids were the one like loading up my car and we were setting up these playgroups. Like when they found out BAC hired Lauren to do playgroups, they were like, Thank you, Jesus. I don't have to do this anymore. Um, but all honesty, you took the vision and you put it to a different level. Um, and I I from the bottom of my heart, I don't know how to thank you enough for that. Um, and so we are gonna talk a little bit more on the end of this, but your family's been called back to the Dallas area.

SPEAKER_03 4:44

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 4:45

And so you are leaving, building all children. Um, and God is so good to building all children because we had hired Mary Beth before you had told me that you were leaving. And so Mary Beth is gonna step in and carry on all that you created um and continue to build children through play. So the transition piece has been beautiful because you're already here and you hasn't been long enough.

SPEAKER_00 5:10

Well, she's been long enough to get everything that's in her mind.

SPEAKER_02 5:14

She's been soaking up everything that's in Lauren's brain.

SPEAKER_01 5:17

We have been hip to hip for three weeks.

SPEAKER_02 5:20

Yes. Um, but we do refer a lot of our families that come through the assessment process to our play and build groups because they're behind in development and play builds development. Mary Beth, could you talk about why is play important? Sure.

SPEAKER_00 5:35

Um play is important. Play is, you know, we call it work. Um kids learn through their work. Um, they are meeting all their milestones through that play. Um whether it's structured play or whether it's unstructured play, the kids are learning in everything they do. So they're learning, they're building their cognitive skills, they're building their communication and language skills, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, problem solving skills. Everything is done, everything is mastered through that play. Also, um self-help skills. So parents need to families need to set up that play for them. Um and it can be open-ended play where they're just, you know, they set out things, they're intentional about that play, they set out um activities for them just to explore and be creative, because kids need to have that opportunity to be creative. But then they also need to have opportunities to do structured play, whether it's soccer, whether it's board games, those things, those that type of play has a goal. Um, and there are things that children learn through both types of play, whether it's structured play or unstructured play. Um I think that we don't give our kids enough opportunities just to play.

SPEAKER_03 7:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:05

Um, they're overscheduled. Um, sometimes they have too many toys at home. Yeah, it's too much. It's too much. And so they I I would suggest to some families to rotate those toys. Yeah, I love that. Um, and then be intentional about if they're gonna do the unstructured play, which is like your dramatic play at home, it can bring in real objects. Yeah. So that makes that play so much more meaningful. And when I was a teacher, I often added in the real objects into my classroom. The real cereal boxes, yes, the blow dryers, the curling irons with the cords cut off, or the iron with the cord cut off. You're gonna throw it away anyway. Yeah. So cut the cords off and let them play with it. It is much more meaningful to them when they play with those real objects. So parents can do that at home as well.

SPEAKER_02 7:55

I love that. Those are great examples because a lot of times we'll have parents say, I don't know how to play. Um, so what if we have someone watching this saying, I don't really know how to play? Do you have any simple tips? Like I love the real the real things. Like those, that's a great example.

SPEAKER_00 8:13

I would go back to just being intentional about the play. Okay. Play can be with any objects that you have at home. Yes. It can be with your Tupperware bowls, yes, and setting up a little cooking area while you're cooking dinner so that they can have that pretend play opportunity to be creative. Um, it can also be with the toys that you buy at the store, but there's so many opportunities of just your household things that you have around the house in order to just facilitate that play.

SPEAKER_02 8:47

Yes. I love that. When my girls were little, they would set up a restaurant and they would wait for Ryan to get home. The minute he walked through the door, they'd say, Welcome, can we take your order? And he probably was so tired and did not want to play. But every single time he would say, Yes, I need a cheeseburger, and he would order, and then they would be like, We'll be right back. So then he would go change his clothes and come back. But it it's like they knew he was coming home and you would see him start setting up the restaurant, but it was just the back and forth of getting into their world and playing. Right. That makes no sense sometimes.

SPEAKER_00 9:22

And we always think of the big skills that the kids are mastering, but it's so many little skills underneath that.

SPEAKER_02 9:30

I love that.

SPEAKER_00 9:31

You know, so it's it's it's organization, yes, it's planning, it's starting a project and finishing a project. There's so many little subskills underneath those big domains that we as teachers think about. There's so many skills that they just master through that fun everyday play.

SPEAKER_02 9:52

Yeah, and I think that brings up a good point because our parents need to hear that those basic play skills bring them success in their education and academics in the future.

SPEAKER_00 10:02

But as a parent, you're not sitting at home thinking, okay, I'm gonna check off the box and make sure that I meet this skill or meet that, but just know that that's why play is important. Yeah, because there's so many things that they do master that you don't even realize. Yes. You don't even realize. And our kids are going into school not having the ability to play. Yes, having not many interactions with other peers. Yes. And that is really what they need to be given the opportunity because those things will make them successful going into school.

SPEAKER_02 10:35

Yeah, I love that. I love that. So let's jump into our play and build groups. So obviously we know play is important. Yes. Could you, Lauren, just talk about why do we have play and build groups?

SPEAKER_01 10:47

Um excuse me. Well, we have play and build groups to give families an opportunity to get out of the house. Okay, have something fun to do with their families, um to um play with them uninterrupted. Yes, no distractions from home. And um, we've done all the messy work. Yeah. We make you can come, you can make a big mess, and we'll clean it up for you. Yes. So if you're not into messes, it's a good place to come.

SPEAKER_02 11:21

Yeah. So one of the goals is also to help families see that it doesn't have it, play doesn't have to be expensive. Like we can pull things out of the cabinets, we can already have the equipment. Um, and so I feel like that is one of the things that you guys do such a good job is creating. I mean, we try to touch on all eight domains, which that's just goes back to the importance of play. We don't have to talk about the domains, but we try to touch on all of those. So we're kind of building all areas of development, but you're doing it with very inexpensive toys. Could you and creative, like you guys think out of the box, it's so beautifully done.

SPEAKER_00 12:00

For the mom that's sitting at home, I would say their best um resource would be Pinterest.

SPEAKER_02 12:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:06

Because you could go to Pinterest and put in how to play with paper towel rolls, and you're gonna get a whole bunch of activities to do.

SPEAKER_03 12:13

That's true.

SPEAKER_00 12:14

So I would suggest doing that if they can. Yeah. Um, because you're gonna run out of ideas and you're like, how am I gonna reuse this macaroni or how am I gonna reuse those those roles? Yeah. So I would I would suggest using Pinterest.

SPEAKER_01 12:28

I love it. I think that um we like to try and use very simple, very inexpensive items that um maybe we've thought of using them in a different way. Yeah. Then um, I mean, we do definitely use Pinterest as a resource for sure. Um, but um putting together popsicle sticks and a lid and showing how that's building their child's skills, yeah, dropping them into the bucket over and over and over again, maybe they wouldn't have thought of that. Yeah. Um, so I think that that is one of the strengths of the play groups is um putting together very simple items and showing how they could be used in different ways to build different things.

SPEAKER_00 13:15

So the kids are so excited when they come in. Oh, they love it, they just love it. I asked a little boy yesterday what his favorite activity was, and he said the shaving cream. Yes. Yes. Well, just so you know, we do that quite often.

SPEAKER_02 13:28

Yes. Well, because I mean, yesterday you guys did shaving cream with blocks, and it lets the children really build what's in their mind because they kind of stick together a little bit. Yes. So it's just taking really two manipulatives that you put together to make it a little bit different for some of these children.

SPEAKER_01 13:46

Yeah. Which and hopefully the parents come and they see well, maybe they could do it outside.

SPEAKER_00 13:51

That mom asked where to get that shaving cream.

SPEAKER_01 13:54

She did. Good. A dollar. She can get it for a dollar.

SPEAKER_02 13:57

I know. It goes back to everything we do is really inexpensive. Yes. And so we're also building all children is family driven. And so this is not drop your kid off. I mean, this is you are stepping into play, you're into their world.

unknown 14:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 14:11

Um, could you talk about how and why we want families to step into play with these children?

SPEAKER_01 14:17

Um, again, I think the play and build groups give an uninterrupted time for you to really see um what your child is interested in. Yeah, first of all, because we have a wide range of activities. We try to hit all the domains at some point in the in during the play group. And so um seeing what they're interested in, um, a lot of the moms say, Oh, Christmas is coming up and they're loving this toy. I think we might invest in this. I love that. Um, I think that um to let your child lead the way in what they're interested in and ask them questions about what are you making with the play-doh and what are you, um, what colors are those, and just giving them just um play groups are not a quiet time, right? Because there's lots of socialization going on, but it's also a time for you to engage with your child and see what they're interested in. And if play doesn't come naturally to you, um, we have volunteers there that are engaging with the children. We have the kids wear their name tags on the front of their shirts, so everyone's being addressed by name, and we're just it's all about engaging and talking and hopefully those parents are getting some by looking around, maybe getting some ideas of how to play with their kids.

SPEAKER_02 15:38

Yeah, I love that. I love that. And there are some families that come in that you guys have to really work with to get on the floor and to interact and to play. Yeah. Um, we also have some moms that come with their friends and they are socializing, but we we like that too because we know as a mom it's important to socialize. Yes. Um, so there's there's lots of different things happening, I think, with kind of educating and building the parents and the families as well. Sure.

SPEAKER_00 16:04

And we have oftentimes, I mean, just since I've started, yeah, we've had families that'll ask questions about child development. Yes. So it's always nice to be able to answer their questions right then and there if we can take the time and have a little conversation about it. Um, and then if not, then we can always get back to them at a later time to have a more in-depth conversation about what's going on. But it's easy to touch on, you know, some of those child development things as they're playing. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 16:30

I love that you brought that up because that's another one of our goals is we want those children to be around other children. And maybe every once in a while we'll find a child that's kind of behind in development. But the family has no idea because they're the only child at home. But once they start getting around other three-year-olds and they're like, well, wait a minute, my three-year-old's not talking like these three-year-olds, or not that we're about comparing, that's not what we're about, but we want them to see typical development. So if they're falling behind, we can get them help. I mean, we're all about early intervention. Right. Yeah. Um, and so that is another one of our goals.

SPEAKER_00 17:04

So I'm glad we're but that isn't really a a point to be made about the play, is that those kiddos who kids are at all different levels and they all are getting um modeling for each other. And so kiddos who haven't had that exposure and that experience with some of those um opportunities or those toys or those experiences are watching their peers. So they're learning and they're watching. And it's so good for those kiddos who might be a little bit behind in the developmental area to especially be watching and modeling those other, you know, other peers. Um the peers are their their best teachers. Yeah. After their parent, they're they're the best teacher. Yeah, I agree.

SPEAKER_02 17:46

But it also we have a lot of families that aren't a part of a mother's day out, or so it gets them kind of in the process of being around other children, knowing how to follow order. Um, so talk a little bit about the structure of the play and build group. So it's only an hour. I think they are done after an hour, and I think we are done after an hour. Um, but we always have it 10 to 11. Yes. Um, knowing that that does affect some working moms. We've tried to work through some of that, but we just know 10 to 11. We have church partners. So you guys are all over Tulsa Metro.

SPEAKER_01 18:22

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 18:23

Um, which we're trying to hit all areas so that the families that live close to that church can come. Right. Um, so talk about what does a typical hour look like.

SPEAKER_01 18:32

Typical hour, um the families will come to our name tag table and they pre-register. Okay. So we know um the name, all of their names. Okay. We know um, so we can start addressing them by the name, like I mentioned before. We know their ages, so we can look over the list and make sure we have activities for those ages, and we know how many are coming, so we have enough materials for them. So we um we always start by greeting and washing hands, and then they enter the play area. We have, depending on the church, eight or so activities, and then um in different rooms, so they have a chance to kind of travel around. And then we give them at 10:35, we give them a five-minute verbal warning. At 1040, we um ring a bell, which if they are accustomed to playgroup, if we don't have the bell, we hear about it. That's the bell. They love the bell. Um don't forget the bell. Don't forget the bell, always pack the bell. I love all. And then um, and then we all work together to clean up a little bit. Um, and then again, our amazing volunteers that have been running the activities finish up the packing, and then we move into circle time. And we encourage the families to sit together and encourage their kids to listen to stories and sing songs and do finger plays, and um, and then they leave and we try to have just some little resources for them on the way out, and they always get a Jesus loves you sticker on the way out, and they love that too.

SPEAKER_00 20:17

And then we also offer the Bibles, yes, Bibles.

SPEAKER_01 20:20

We do offer Bibles, yes, yes, we love yeah, love. We had to give our takers yesterday.

SPEAKER_02 20:25

Yes, well, I love it because we are we're a ministry, but the word all is in our name. We serve a lot of people that don't have a religion or don't. I mean, that we serve them the same. But if there is a child that doesn't have a Bible, we have a donor that supplies those every year. And so we love to give the Bibles out. Yeah. Um, and it's so fun to hear the kids come back and talk about the stories that have been read to them. And yeah, we use the Jesus Storybook Bible and love to give those out because we love those stories, and we have kids come back and tell us all the different stories that are being read to them. So I love that you guys do that also. If I'm listening to this, I live in the Tulsa area and I'm like, well, I want to take advantage of these. Okay. Um I want you to talk about registration, okay, but I also am sitting here going, my kid would never sit in circle time. I don't think I want to go to this. Yeah. Can you talk a little bit about that?

SPEAKER_01 21:16

Of course, of course. Um, so to register, you go to the buildingallchildren.org new website. Yes. Click events and scroll down to play and build groups. Okay. And the calendar will give you all the choices of all the playgroups. We have at least one a week, and we have um baby playgroups as well for zero to pre-walking that are separate from the other playgroups. And um yeah, sitting and listening is a skill and it has to be taught, and it takes time. So initially, that might be a struggle for your child, but we encourage you to just keep trying.

SPEAKER_02 21:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:00

Because I say this every circle time. This is a preschool activity, whether you're homeschooling or sending your child to school. They will need to learn how to sit and listen to a teacher with distractions around them. So why not learn now in a fun setting? A very short, fun setting. It's 15 minutes. And most of it, they're moving. We have a short, we read a short story, but most of the time we have them moving. And even during the stories, we have them moving songs, singing songs, doing finger plays, marching, doing different things. So which are all building development in a fun way.

SPEAKER_02 22:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:38

But it's a very short period of time where they're really sitting and listening.

SPEAKER_02 22:42

And we all it's at the end. Yeah. And we always say, sometimes they're just done. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 22:46

And it is okay to get up and leave. Absolutely. Yes. And if they need to, I always say, if your child is done, take a break out in the hallway. And if they gather themselves and you want to come back and give it a try, great. But it's okay to leave. There's no pressure to stay. And be sure and grab your goodies on the way up. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 23:07

The registration, we have a new website. So we've worked through all that. It's $5 to register. It's not a money maker for us, but it is to hold the spot and keep it safe. So we know exactly how many is coming. So it's really kind of a safety thing for our families. Every church is different. So we can take some more than others. I mean, depending on size and location. Right. Why do we partner with churches? Why do we do that?

SPEAKER_01 23:38

Well, the benefit of partnering with churches is that we are spread all over Tulsa. Yes. So if you live in a particular area, we probably have a playgroup near you, which is a beautiful thing. Also, we don't have space at our office to house 40 children and have them running around. So the churches have beautiful spaces for us to use. Um, they're large, they're set up for children, and um they graciously host us, which we love. And we always give our church partners five days' notice. Yeah. So we give them the registration link five days before it goes public.

SPEAKER_02 24:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:22

So they can share it with their families and their preschools. And um it's just a little perk that we give them, but it also gives them a chance to minister to their families in a way that um we like um just to give them that advantage.

SPEAKER_02 24:40

Yeah, I love it because it's um letting the church pour into their congregation first, and then the community gets to sign up. And that is one thing they fill up and they fill up pretty fast. So we always are like, when it's open, register, get your spot because they do fill up fast. Um, so the play and build groups serve about 1700 kids a year. Yeah. Um, so that is a lot of play, a lot of development, um, a lot of building, which is beautiful. Um, and then another thought that we had that we didn't know if it would work, but we are also finding those unchurched families that they come and play and then Easter rolls around. We know Jack feels really comfortable coming into this church and walking through these doors, and it's actually helped a lot of churches be built, which is kind of what we're about with that too. Yeah. Um, so it's fun to see um just there's a lot of moving pieces, but the moving pieces when they come together, it's actually really beautiful.

SPEAKER_01 25:39

Yeah. We've also seen it um when a family's looking for a preschool. Yes, they can um they start checking out the ones that they've already visited through our playgroups.

SPEAKER_02 25:49

Yeah, because some of the churches will have like a Mother's Day Out program and they've already been there. We also, when we first started, one of the reasons we started it um years and years ago was moms were lonely. They were not connecting. Um, and so we wanted to bring them together so that they could connect. And I'll never forget, I think it was right after you started. We were doing a play group, a play and build group, and a few of the moms left and went chick to Chick-fil-A together. And I think we sat down and cried because we saw that they were connected, they met through the play and build group, they were going to play even more. Beautiful. Um, it it's beautiful. Yeah, so there's a there's a lot more. We have churches all the time say, uh, we don't need to because we've got our own playgroups. And I'm like, uh I don't know. I disagree with that because I think ours are really different.

SPEAKER_00 26:39

Well, and it brings in other moms, yeah, just your church community. Yeah, yeah. So moms need other moms, yeah, and kids need other kids. Right. I love that.

SPEAKER_02 26:48

And we've had a lot of grandmas come. We've had lots of grandmas, which I love that dad yesterday. Yes, we have some dads. I don't want to totally rule out the dads and grandpas because they're showing up also. Um, we've had I had even one dad say, I took off work. Like they kept talking about this and I had to come see it. And so they mom and dad both came. Like it's it's really cool. Yeah, it's great. It is. They are they are something special for sure. Yeah. Okay, Mary Beth. So we know that Lauren is stepping out of this role, which we're gonna talk a little bit more about in a minute, but you are stepping in and you're gonna kind of take over. Um, you have been trained and equipped um by Lauren's brain dump, I guess we could say. Um, but tell us why are you excited about this role?

SPEAKER_00 27:37

Well, I love being a child development specialist. I love assessing kids and helping families. But this gives a different opportunity to do that. It brings out the teacher in me, yeah. You know, the teacher that I was a long time ago when I first started my career. And it's funny how those finger plays come back to you pretty quickly. You don't lose them. You don't lose them. Um, so I really just I really enjoy just setting up those activities and then just interacting with the family, sitting down and just playing and just getting on the floor and seeing they can watch me play, and then just starting those conversations with those parents. Yeah. And I truly love going out into the community. I like it much better. I mean, I love that what you do here and the you know, the groups that you do here, but I think going out into the centers, it just is it just gives such a different opportunity.

SPEAKER_03 28:34

I agree.

SPEAKER_00 28:35

And I and I really like getting to know those partnerships of those people out in the community.

SPEAKER_02 28:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:40

Um and building those relationships.

SPEAKER_02 28:42

Yeah, it's fun to be able to help churches build their congregation and build their church. Yes, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 28:48

So I I really enjoyed it so far, and um I I appreciate you um letting me take in the reins. Yeah. I will do my best to carry it on.

SPEAKER_01 28:58

That's funny you say the word reins because I said Mary Beth has been by my side the past month and she is ready to take the reins. Oh, I love it.

SPEAKER_02 29:06

I love it.

SPEAKER_01 29:08

Definitely ready. Mary Beth is just very talented and very engaging with the families. And um I think she's gonna do amazing. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 29:24

I have full confidence that the Lord provides through his people, and so I know that you're gonna step in and do great. Um does not mean that we are not gonna miss Lauren Bryan because you have really and I I've said it before, but you took a vision I had and you made it beautiful. Well, thank you. And and we won't ever change that. Like we're gonna the vision that we have with this, it's staying the same. We're just can continuing to carry on the work. And so, um, but could you want to you mind? I know we just sent an email out, we're doing a little cookie goodbye, and it went to like 800 moms or something crazy. Um, so Melissa was like, and how many cookies do I buy? And I was like, I know, right? Because you do 800 mom times three kids. That's a lot of cookies. But um, you have poured into a lot of people and a lot of families, and especially you you have a heart for mentoring young moms. Um, and so I know you don't want to leave, but I know that the Lord is sending you and Eric on to to do greatness. Um, do you want to share a little bit about that and what your next step is?

SPEAKER_01 30:36

So um Eric is going to be the next or is he started the job. He is the next chaplain of Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas. That is uh where he studied. And we are just pinching ourselves at this opportunity. It is um a perfect fit for him. Um, it's a wonderful place to serve, and um I'm excited to have the opportunity to pour into um wives of students that are future missionaries, future pastors' wives. Um there'll be plenty of young moms there. So um I'm excited for those opportunities as well, but mostly um just that we get to be a part of this amazing ministry.

SPEAKER_02 31:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 31:27

Well, and I'm gonna back up even a little bit more, but what I I'm a huge fan of Pastor Eric Bryan, and I listen to his sermons often because he has such a gentle way of teaching the truth that it just my brain just grasps it and absorbs the information that he teaches. So I'm sad to lose that a little bit. Um, but what I love about um Pastor Eric is he had an a feeling that he was supposed to stop doing what he was doing, which made no sense because he was in a really great church, great position. Yeah, but he knew he was supposed to stop, not having any idea what the future held for you guys.

SPEAKER_01 32:10

No idea, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 32:11

And he was obedient.

SPEAKER_01 32:13

He was, and it was a little scary. Yeah, but um he's he has said before um, we are not Abraham and Sarah, but God said, take a step and then I'll show you where to go. Yeah, and that is what we did, and um gave me great empathy for them. Yeah, because um not having the direction was a little scary, but um the Lord provided um literally the day after he announced to the congregation there was an email, an interest email, and he read the description. I said, That is you. Let's I said, I think you need to at least apply. Yeah, and um four months later, lots of interviews and things, but um they hired him and we like I said, we're just pinching ourselves, can't believe about this opportunity. So, yes, we're very excited.

SPEAKER_00 33:08

Sad to lad to leave Tiltson. They're happy, they're they're very lucky to have you both.

SPEAKER_02 33:13

Absolutely, absolutely, and for building all children, I want to just thank the Brian family because I always say once you're a part of Building All Children, your whole family is, yes, um, and there have been many fundraisers that Pastor Eric has carried those big gold letters and has carried things to the car and is we're always I always feel like him and Ryan, um Paulin. I mean, there's a few men, husbands that stick around and help clean up, and he's always there. And there's also been times where I mean, because I share my story at these events, and there's been times that I one time I just kind of sat down and he came and sat right beside me and was like, Kendra, you did beautiful. And he knew I needed some encouragement. And he's he's just always been a really big piece of building all children. And then your kids um have gotta drag them in. I mean, yes, they have they're very talented. I needed them. They're all in the middle of everything. I could go through all of what they have done. Yeah, but I am just grateful to the Brian family. You guys will always hold a very special place in my heart. Um, Lauren, I love you, and you are so dear to me. And there's not an ounce of me that thinks our relationship will always be connected because you are a mentor to all of us, and we we need you in our world. Um, you just make it a better place.

SPEAKER_01 34:44

Thank you. That's very kind. Yeah. I have um loved working here from little tiny cramped office to bigger space and more staff, and it's been so fun to see it grow and change and um just be blessed by the Lord. Just truly blessed. So anything that I did was just him blessing it.

SPEAKER_02 35:09

So I love it. We always close with a scripture. Do you guys have a scripture that you want to share? Sure.

SPEAKER_00 35:15

I do. So um recently um I'm becoming part of a retreat um team at my church, and somebody shared a uh a scripture for me, but I think it fits well for both of us. It's um Psalm 46. God is within her, and she will not fall. And so I want you to know. Very sweet. You will not fall. And neither will you.

SPEAKER_01 35:47

You're gonna do you have a lot of people. But I thought it was very appropriate for both of us. Very sweet right now. Very sweet.

SPEAKER_02 35:52

I love that. I actually love that scripture because it's so fitting for you guys, but it's so fitting for so many women that are listening to this. Absolutely. Because what we do as moms is hard. Yes, and it is hard to be a wife, and it is hard to be a mom, and it is hard to be a single mom, and it is hard to navigate the school and the homework and the home life and the chores, and it's just hard. Yeah. Um, but through him, we will not fail, we will not fall. And it is beautiful.

SPEAKER_01 36:22

It is. Okay, well, that goes very well with my verse that I wanted to share. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up. Galatians 6 9. And uh this verse was written to a church that needed encouragement to keep doing the good work and continue in the faith. Um, for me, as a mom with four little children, I had um this painted on a pot right by my sink. And um I literally um, you know, something would break out happening, and I would take a big deep breath and I would say this verse to myself I love that. Do not grow weary of doing good. It would get me off the sofa, it would get me to stop doing whatever I was doing. So um I just want to encourage all the parents, all the families, just all the grandparents that we're seeing that are raising their kids, do not grow weary in doing good.

SPEAKER_02 37:26

I love it. Thank you guys. Thank you. Thank you for sharing. It's an honor to set a cross from you. Thank you so much. Okay, so we um always wrap up and end it with a prayer. So I am gonna pray for you, Lauren. Okay. Thank you. Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, God, we are just um, Lord, we're just so humbled that you put the Brian family into Building All Children. Lord, thank you for our friendship and thank you for her mentoring skills and how she has poured into every single woman on the Building All Children team. Lord, I pray um that they would get to Dallas and that you would send so many people to them and let them just do ministry and pour into more children, pour into more families. Father, I thank you for Pastor Eric. Um God, he just has such a tender heart, but such a way to be observant of those that need you and those that don't know you, and then he has such a way of teaching people about you. Father, I just pray um that they would move to Dallas, they would connect with people, they would have strong friendships, they have family close. Um, Lord, just let all the details that need to happen happen so that they can continue on to do your good work. Lord, thank you for who you are. Thank you for believing in building all children, and thank you for always being our provider. In your name we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen.