Ep. 18 – We Were Wrong About Marie Kondo

Ep. 18 – We Were Wrong About Marie Kondo

This is the story of the secret shame we all carry about our houses.

And the one thing that can free you from it.

This is a story about Christie’s house Maplehurst being adrift in a sea of mud and construction and the pungent smell of mushroom farms nearby. And what Lisa-Jo’s daughter said to change how Christie sees/smells her house.

There is nothing like the power of seeing your home and your life through someone else’s eyes. For better or for worse. This week Christie admits her own secret house shame. Lisa-Jo admits all her judgy thoughts about Marie Kondo and they are both surprised by what they learn from this diminutive Japanese woman who is taking us all by storm in her new Netflix show.

Do you have a secret shame about your home? Then this episode is especially for you!

Out of the Ordinary

The podcast for anyone who’s ever felt the nagging frustration of wondering if her life is too small, too boring or too ordinary to make a difference. Lisa-Jo Baker and Christie Purifoy, longtime friends and bestselling authors, explore the surprising ways that cultivating ordinary life leads to extraordinary stories.

Visit our official podcast page!

Christie Purifoy

Christie Purifoy

Co-Host

A writer and gardener, her favorite ordinary things include strawberry jam, homegrown flowers, and old books with someone else’s notes in them.

Find Christie’s books here.

Lisa-Jo Baker

Lisa-Jo Baker

Co-Host

A reader and writer, her favorite ordinary things include hot tea with milk and sugar, a good movie, her mom’s hand-me-down books and Sunday afternoon naps.

Find Lisa-Jo’s books here.

RECENT PODCASTS

#outoftheordinarypodcast is on Instagram!

I always think of early winter as a dreary time of year, but there is nothing dreary about this light, these clouds, and the last few golden leaves. The present moment often gives us beauty and goodness we did not anticipate.
.
So many things in the world and in the news make me sad, and I feel helpless to do anything about them. But I have been given steady ground beneath my feet and people to love. I have dishes to wash and soup to prepare. I have a book to finish writing. A few bulbs still to plant. It’s more than enough to be getting on with.
.
#autumnatmaplehurst #weareplacemakers
Had to leave my computer (and a big unfinished project!) in order to buy Brussels sprouts and cranberries at the farm and market near my house. So now this is me not waiting till Thursday to give thanks.
.
If you celebrate this week, tell me what you can’t wait to cook  and / or eat!
Everything is terrible but everything is beautiful. I’m talking about … Teenagers. So sweet and funny until I check his grades. Marriage. So much love, so why are we bickering? The clouds that finally brought not-quite-enough rain after months of drought. The state of my current book project. But let’s not talk about that. My kitchen! So full of good food. So full of messy crumbs and half-melted lettuce and something that might be a radish or maybe a beet.
.
What is beautiful and terrible and too much and also a gift in your life these days?
Long summer days are glorious, but I’m grateful for this annual invitation to rest.
.
#autumnatmaplehurst
Today, reading the election results, some Christians say “God has heard our prayers!” Others, reading the election results, cry “God, why did you not hear us?” The critic might say that both have shot their prayers toward an empty heaven where no one listens. The cynic might tell us God doesn’t care who is President and aren’t both sides awful? The wise one might say that prayer is not about asking and receiving but a reaching out for the hand of God.  And the ordinary Christian? The one who doesn’t feel wise and worries about the state of the world? I think she might tell us, just keep praying. When we pray, something might shift out there in the world, but—even more likely— something might shift inside of us.
.
Lord, help me to do justice. To love kindness. And to walk humbly with my God.
All Hallows’ Eve at Maplehurst. Sweet, spooky fun with family, friends, and neighbors. 🧡
This is the real world. Can you believe it?
.
#autumnatmaplehurst #autumninpennsylvania
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Ep. 17 – When the Answer is “No”

Ep. 17 – When the Answer is “No”

This is the story of a Jasmine-scented South African summer night.

This is a story about disappointment in God, and this is a conversation about the dreams that do NOT come true.

Christie and Lisa-Jo recorded this episode the week of Christie’s twenty-second wedding anniversary. They marveled over the long years of their friendship, and all the dreams-come-true they have witnessed in each other’s lives.

But what about those dreams that don’t come true?

Can we trust a God who sometimes says NO? Is that God still good?

Lisa-Jo tells the story of her most bitter disappointment and the surprising encounter she had one warm, South African night.

Out of the Ordinary

The podcast for anyone who’s ever felt the nagging frustration of wondering if her life is too small, too boring or too ordinary to make a difference. Lisa-Jo Baker and Christie Purifoy, longtime friends and bestselling authors, explore the surprising ways that cultivating ordinary life leads to extraordinary stories.

Visit our official podcast page!

Christie Purifoy

Christie Purifoy

Co-Host

A writer and gardener, her favorite ordinary things include strawberry jam, homegrown flowers, and old books with someone else’s notes in them.

Find Christie’s books here.

Lisa-Jo Baker

Lisa-Jo Baker

Co-Host

A reader and writer, her favorite ordinary things include hot tea with milk and sugar, a good movie, her mom’s hand-me-down books and Sunday afternoon naps.

Find Lisa-Jo’s books here.

RECENT PODCASTS

#outoftheordinarypodcast is on Instagram!

I always think of early winter as a dreary time of year, but there is nothing dreary about this light, these clouds, and the last few golden leaves. The present moment often gives us beauty and goodness we did not anticipate.
.
So many things in the world and in the news make me sad, and I feel helpless to do anything about them. But I have been given steady ground beneath my feet and people to love. I have dishes to wash and soup to prepare. I have a book to finish writing. A few bulbs still to plant. It’s more than enough to be getting on with.
.
#autumnatmaplehurst #weareplacemakers
Had to leave my computer (and a big unfinished project!) in order to buy Brussels sprouts and cranberries at the farm and market near my house. So now this is me not waiting till Thursday to give thanks.
.
If you celebrate this week, tell me what you can’t wait to cook  and / or eat!
Everything is terrible but everything is beautiful. I’m talking about … Teenagers. So sweet and funny until I check his grades. Marriage. So much love, so why are we bickering? The clouds that finally brought not-quite-enough rain after months of drought. The state of my current book project. But let’s not talk about that. My kitchen! So full of good food. So full of messy crumbs and half-melted lettuce and something that might be a radish or maybe a beet.
.
What is beautiful and terrible and too much and also a gift in your life these days?
Long summer days are glorious, but I’m grateful for this annual invitation to rest.
.
#autumnatmaplehurst
Today, reading the election results, some Christians say “God has heard our prayers!” Others, reading the election results, cry “God, why did you not hear us?” The critic might say that both have shot their prayers toward an empty heaven where no one listens. The cynic might tell us God doesn’t care who is President and aren’t both sides awful? The wise one might say that prayer is not about asking and receiving but a reaching out for the hand of God.  And the ordinary Christian? The one who doesn’t feel wise and worries about the state of the world? I think she might tell us, just keep praying. When we pray, something might shift out there in the world, but—even more likely— something might shift inside of us.
.
Lord, help me to do justice. To love kindness. And to walk humbly with my God.
All Hallows’ Eve at Maplehurst. Sweet, spooky fun with family, friends, and neighbors. 🧡
This is the real world. Can you believe it?
.
#autumnatmaplehurst #autumninpennsylvania
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Error: There are no business accounts connected.

Ep. 16 – When Your Worst Fear Comes True

Ep. 16 – When Your Worst Fear Comes True

This is the story of your worst fear come true.

This is a conversation about trusting God with our kids, and others we love, this new year. Christie and Lisa-Jo recorded this episode after celebrating one son’s eleventh birthday in the Black Barn at Maplehurst. If children make wishes when they blow out birthday candles, the parents who love them make wishes, too. Mostly we want our kids to be safe.

But what if God wants to give them something better, something more, than safety?

Christie tells the story of the terrible mistake that almost cost her young son’s life, leading to a conversation filled with hard questions and trustworthy promises. If you worry about what this year might bring to those you love most in the world, this episode is for you.

Out of the Ordinary

The podcast for anyone who’s ever felt the nagging frustration of wondering if her life is too small, too boring or too ordinary to make a difference. Lisa-Jo Baker and Christie Purifoy, longtime friends and bestselling authors, explore the surprising ways that cultivating ordinary life leads to extraordinary stories.

Visit our official podcast page!

Christie Purifoy

Christie Purifoy

Co-Host

A writer and gardener, her favorite ordinary things include strawberry jam, homegrown flowers, and old books with someone else’s notes in them.

Find Christie’s books here.

Lisa-Jo Baker

Lisa-Jo Baker

Co-Host

A reader and writer, her favorite ordinary things include hot tea with milk and sugar, a good movie, her mom’s hand-me-down books and Sunday afternoon naps.

Find Lisa-Jo’s books here.

RECENT PODCASTS

#outoftheordinarypodcast is on Instagram!

I always think of early winter as a dreary time of year, but there is nothing dreary about this light, these clouds, and the last few golden leaves. The present moment often gives us beauty and goodness we did not anticipate.
.
So many things in the world and in the news make me sad, and I feel helpless to do anything about them. But I have been given steady ground beneath my feet and people to love. I have dishes to wash and soup to prepare. I have a book to finish writing. A few bulbs still to plant. It’s more than enough to be getting on with.
.
#autumnatmaplehurst #weareplacemakers
Had to leave my computer (and a big unfinished project!) in order to buy Brussels sprouts and cranberries at the farm and market near my house. So now this is me not waiting till Thursday to give thanks.
.
If you celebrate this week, tell me what you can’t wait to cook  and / or eat!
Everything is terrible but everything is beautiful. I’m talking about … Teenagers. So sweet and funny until I check his grades. Marriage. So much love, so why are we bickering? The clouds that finally brought not-quite-enough rain after months of drought. The state of my current book project. But let’s not talk about that. My kitchen! So full of good food. So full of messy crumbs and half-melted lettuce and something that might be a radish or maybe a beet.
.
What is beautiful and terrible and too much and also a gift in your life these days?
Long summer days are glorious, but I’m grateful for this annual invitation to rest.
.
#autumnatmaplehurst
Today, reading the election results, some Christians say “God has heard our prayers!” Others, reading the election results, cry “God, why did you not hear us?” The critic might say that both have shot their prayers toward an empty heaven where no one listens. The cynic might tell us God doesn’t care who is President and aren’t both sides awful? The wise one might say that prayer is not about asking and receiving but a reaching out for the hand of God.  And the ordinary Christian? The one who doesn’t feel wise and worries about the state of the world? I think she might tell us, just keep praying. When we pray, something might shift out there in the world, but—even more likely— something might shift inside of us.
.
Lord, help me to do justice. To love kindness. And to walk humbly with my God.
All Hallows’ Eve at Maplehurst. Sweet, spooky fun with family, friends, and neighbors. 🧡
This is the real world. Can you believe it?
.
#autumnatmaplehurst #autumninpennsylvania
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Error: There are no business accounts connected.

Ep. 15 – An Alternative to New Year’s Resolutions

Ep. 15 – An Alternative to New Year’s Resolutions

This is the story about promises buried like Spring.

We recorded this episode on the 3rd floor of Maplehurst surrounded by the wrapping paper dregs of Christmas. And neither of us was ready to rush into the New Year just yet.

For all of us who feel like we’re back at a starting line when we only just crossed the finish of the old year here is an alternative to setting New Year’s resolutions.

Join Christie and Lisa-Jo as they spend some time remembering the ancient promises already waiting for us in the New Year. Let go the pressure to have to chart your own course perfectly. Here’s permission to believe that spring will come just as surely as those bulbs are buried in the dirt and uncertainty right now.

Out of the Ordinary

The podcast for anyone who’s ever felt the nagging frustration of wondering if her life is too small, too boring or too ordinary to make a difference. Lisa-Jo Baker and Christie Purifoy, longtime friends and bestselling authors, explore the surprising ways that cultivating ordinary life leads to extraordinary stories.

Visit our official podcast page!

Christie Purifoy

Christie Purifoy

Co-Host

A writer and gardener, her favorite ordinary things include strawberry jam, homegrown flowers, and old books with someone else’s notes in them.

Find Christie’s books here.

Lisa-Jo Baker

Lisa-Jo Baker

Co-Host

A reader and writer, her favorite ordinary things include hot tea with milk and sugar, a good movie, her mom’s hand-me-down books and Sunday afternoon naps.

Find Lisa-Jo’s books here.

RECENT PODCASTS

#outoftheordinarypodcast is on Instagram!

I always think of early winter as a dreary time of year, but there is nothing dreary about this light, these clouds, and the last few golden leaves. The present moment often gives us beauty and goodness we did not anticipate.
.
So many things in the world and in the news make me sad, and I feel helpless to do anything about them. But I have been given steady ground beneath my feet and people to love. I have dishes to wash and soup to prepare. I have a book to finish writing. A few bulbs still to plant. It’s more than enough to be getting on with.
.
#autumnatmaplehurst #weareplacemakers
Had to leave my computer (and a big unfinished project!) in order to buy Brussels sprouts and cranberries at the farm and market near my house. So now this is me not waiting till Thursday to give thanks.
.
If you celebrate this week, tell me what you can’t wait to cook  and / or eat!
Everything is terrible but everything is beautiful. I’m talking about … Teenagers. So sweet and funny until I check his grades. Marriage. So much love, so why are we bickering? The clouds that finally brought not-quite-enough rain after months of drought. The state of my current book project. But let’s not talk about that. My kitchen! So full of good food. So full of messy crumbs and half-melted lettuce and something that might be a radish or maybe a beet.
.
What is beautiful and terrible and too much and also a gift in your life these days?
Long summer days are glorious, but I’m grateful for this annual invitation to rest.
.
#autumnatmaplehurst
Today, reading the election results, some Christians say “God has heard our prayers!” Others, reading the election results, cry “God, why did you not hear us?” The critic might say that both have shot their prayers toward an empty heaven where no one listens. The cynic might tell us God doesn’t care who is President and aren’t both sides awful? The wise one might say that prayer is not about asking and receiving but a reaching out for the hand of God.  And the ordinary Christian? The one who doesn’t feel wise and worries about the state of the world? I think she might tell us, just keep praying. When we pray, something might shift out there in the world, but—even more likely— something might shift inside of us.
.
Lord, help me to do justice. To love kindness. And to walk humbly with my God.
All Hallows’ Eve at Maplehurst. Sweet, spooky fun with family, friends, and neighbors. 🧡
This is the real world. Can you believe it?
.
#autumnatmaplehurst #autumninpennsylvania
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Error: There are no business accounts connected.

Ep. 14 – Does God Still Give Good Gifts at Christmastime?

Ep. 14 – Does God Still Give Good Gifts at Christmastime?

This is the story of a Christmas baby.

This season is all about gifts. We give gifts to one another, and we remember the very good gift of God’s son, given to a weary world on the first Christmas Day.

But is God still in the business of giving good gifts?

Lisa-Jo tells the story of her own Christmas baby. It’s a story of how shame and sorrow gave way to peace and joy. It’s a story of good gifts freely given, no strings attached. 

If you feel discouraged, if God’s goodness feels a little hard to grasp, we hope you’ll listen and be reminded that something as small and ordinary as a baby can change everything.

Out of the Ordinary

The podcast for anyone who’s ever felt the nagging frustration of wondering if her life is too small, too boring or too ordinary to make a difference. Lisa-Jo Baker and Christie Purifoy, longtime friends and bestselling authors, explore the surprising ways that cultivating ordinary life leads to extraordinary stories.

Visit our official podcast page!

Christie Purifoy

Christie Purifoy

Co-Host

A writer and gardener, her favorite ordinary things include strawberry jam, homegrown flowers, and old books with someone else’s notes in them.

Find Christie’s books here.

Lisa-Jo Baker

Lisa-Jo Baker

Co-Host

A reader and writer, her favorite ordinary things include hot tea with milk and sugar, a good movie, her mom’s hand-me-down books and Sunday afternoon naps.

Find Lisa-Jo’s books here.

RECENT PODCASTS

#outoftheordinarypodcast is on Instagram!

I always think of early winter as a dreary time of year, but there is nothing dreary about this light, these clouds, and the last few golden leaves. The present moment often gives us beauty and goodness we did not anticipate.
.
So many things in the world and in the news make me sad, and I feel helpless to do anything about them. But I have been given steady ground beneath my feet and people to love. I have dishes to wash and soup to prepare. I have a book to finish writing. A few bulbs still to plant. It’s more than enough to be getting on with.
.
#autumnatmaplehurst #weareplacemakers
Had to leave my computer (and a big unfinished project!) in order to buy Brussels sprouts and cranberries at the farm and market near my house. So now this is me not waiting till Thursday to give thanks.
.
If you celebrate this week, tell me what you can’t wait to cook  and / or eat!
Everything is terrible but everything is beautiful. I’m talking about … Teenagers. So sweet and funny until I check his grades. Marriage. So much love, so why are we bickering? The clouds that finally brought not-quite-enough rain after months of drought. The state of my current book project. But let’s not talk about that. My kitchen! So full of good food. So full of messy crumbs and half-melted lettuce and something that might be a radish or maybe a beet.
.
What is beautiful and terrible and too much and also a gift in your life these days?
Long summer days are glorious, but I’m grateful for this annual invitation to rest.
.
#autumnatmaplehurst
Today, reading the election results, some Christians say “God has heard our prayers!” Others, reading the election results, cry “God, why did you not hear us?” The critic might say that both have shot their prayers toward an empty heaven where no one listens. The cynic might tell us God doesn’t care who is President and aren’t both sides awful? The wise one might say that prayer is not about asking and receiving but a reaching out for the hand of God.  And the ordinary Christian? The one who doesn’t feel wise and worries about the state of the world? I think she might tell us, just keep praying. When we pray, something might shift out there in the world, but—even more likely— something might shift inside of us.
.
Lord, help me to do justice. To love kindness. And to walk humbly with my God.
All Hallows’ Eve at Maplehurst. Sweet, spooky fun with family, friends, and neighbors. 🧡
This is the real world. Can you believe it?
.
#autumnatmaplehurst #autumninpennsylvania
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Error: There are no business accounts connected.

Ep. 13 – How to Keep Doing Your Ordinary Work Without Feeling Discouraged During the Holiday Season

Ep. 13 – How to Keep Doing Your Ordinary Work Without Feeling Discouraged During the Holiday Season

This is the story of how to keep doing your ordinary work without feeling discouraged during the Christmas season.

The wonder of the holidays can be diluted when we have to balance it with the work we do that makes gifts and celebrations possible. This week Lisa-Jo and Christie unpack the reality that everything doesn’t stop just because it’s December. Instead there are still deadlines and work commitments and maybe that’s actually OK too. Maybe we don’t need to believe the Hallmark premise that everything stops around the holidays in time for hot chocolate and mistletoe. Maybe for so many of us the courage to keep providing for our families in the midst of the meaningful season is itself a good and generous gift.

This week we celebrate the holiday season that has to find a way to fit hand in hand with our ordinary, daily work. And we recognize that different lives have different rhythms of work and rest and there is no one perfect pattern. And we discuss how the work we’re doing here on earth will likely bear fruit in the kingdom to come.

So, lean into your own timetable this season and let Christmas unfold slowly, and let your family and friends off the hook and give them permission to be themselves in the way they work and the way they rest too.

Out of the Ordinary

The podcast for anyone who’s ever felt the nagging frustration of wondering if her life is too small, too boring or too ordinary to make a difference. Lisa-Jo Baker and Christie Purifoy, longtime friends and bestselling authors, explore the surprising ways that cultivating ordinary life leads to extraordinary stories.

Visit our official podcast page!

Christie Purifoy

Christie Purifoy

Co-Host

A writer and gardener, her favorite ordinary things include strawberry jam, homegrown flowers, and old books with someone else’s notes in them.

Find Christie’s books here.

Lisa-Jo Baker

Lisa-Jo Baker

Co-Host

A reader and writer, her favorite ordinary things include hot tea with milk and sugar, a good movie, her mom’s hand-me-down books and Sunday afternoon naps.

Find Lisa-Jo’s books here.

RECENT PODCASTS

#outoftheordinarypodcast is on Instagram!

I always think of early winter as a dreary time of year, but there is nothing dreary about this light, these clouds, and the last few golden leaves. The present moment often gives us beauty and goodness we did not anticipate.
.
So many things in the world and in the news make me sad, and I feel helpless to do anything about them. But I have been given steady ground beneath my feet and people to love. I have dishes to wash and soup to prepare. I have a book to finish writing. A few bulbs still to plant. It’s more than enough to be getting on with.
.
#autumnatmaplehurst #weareplacemakers
Had to leave my computer (and a big unfinished project!) in order to buy Brussels sprouts and cranberries at the farm and market near my house. So now this is me not waiting till Thursday to give thanks.
.
If you celebrate this week, tell me what you can’t wait to cook  and / or eat!
Everything is terrible but everything is beautiful. I’m talking about … Teenagers. So sweet and funny until I check his grades. Marriage. So much love, so why are we bickering? The clouds that finally brought not-quite-enough rain after months of drought. The state of my current book project. But let’s not talk about that. My kitchen! So full of good food. So full of messy crumbs and half-melted lettuce and something that might be a radish or maybe a beet.
.
What is beautiful and terrible and too much and also a gift in your life these days?
Long summer days are glorious, but I’m grateful for this annual invitation to rest.
.
#autumnatmaplehurst
Today, reading the election results, some Christians say “God has heard our prayers!” Others, reading the election results, cry “God, why did you not hear us?” The critic might say that both have shot their prayers toward an empty heaven where no one listens. The cynic might tell us God doesn’t care who is President and aren’t both sides awful? The wise one might say that prayer is not about asking and receiving but a reaching out for the hand of God.  And the ordinary Christian? The one who doesn’t feel wise and worries about the state of the world? I think she might tell us, just keep praying. When we pray, something might shift out there in the world, but—even more likely— something might shift inside of us.
.
Lord, help me to do justice. To love kindness. And to walk humbly with my God.
All Hallows’ Eve at Maplehurst. Sweet, spooky fun with family, friends, and neighbors. 🧡
This is the real world. Can you believe it?
.
#autumnatmaplehurst #autumninpennsylvania
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins
Error: There are no business accounts connected.

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