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Save over $200 when you book weekly. Stays with VRBO this winter. If you haven't seen your college besties since, well, college, you need a week to catch up in a snowy cabin. Take a week long vacation and save over $200. Book now at vrbo.com welcome back to Unlocked. I just wanted to do a quick little episode leading up to Christmas and first and foremost, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for all of your support over the past few years. Because of can show up and record this podcast, I can be authentically myself. You guys have seen the ups, the downs, the all the things in between. And I started this podcast in October of 2022, which is absolutely insane. If you remember, my parents were found guilty in Fulton County, Georgia in their federal trial. And I think it June of 2022 and the show got cancelled. That I had been on for 10 years, which is absolutely insane. And that was my primary source of income. And when that got cancelled, I really didn't know which way to turn. I feel like I had a huge identity crisis. I mean, I've been on TV since I was 16 years old and it all came crashing down at one time. Not only did the show end, but also tons of social media endorsements just ceased to exist at that point and I was getting custody of two kids. And that's when I had the idea to start my own podcast and have a platform to where I could be 110% authentically myself and tell my truth and the truth before someone else got the chance to, whether it's a tabloid or a YouTuber, podcaster, whatever it may be. And because of you guys, I've been able to do this for, gosh, a few years now, which is absolutely insane. So thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for giving me a voice. Thank you for helping to pay my bills. Thank you for all of the things. Because this podcast has been so therapeutic for me and it has shaped me into the person I am. I no longer feel like I have to run from anything. I can live my life as authentically as I want to live it. And if you know me, you know I put it all out there. Okay? My whole philosophy has been other people are going to tell my story and make money off of it. So why shouldn't I, Why shouldn't I capitalize off that? And I think that could potentially be a lesson for you guys as well, is living your truth. It doesn't matter how ugly your truth is, live in it. Because other people are going to judge You. So at that point, just live in it. Be who you are. Don't let anyone else's outside opinions dictate who you know you are. And in the world of social media, that is so, so hard. There was a time to where I listened to what everyone said, and it was terrible for my mental health. It was terrible for how I saw myself. And I just don't want that for any of you guys. So maybe starting out this next year, jump in to 2026 and just be you. Who cares if you lose people along the way, if you lose friends along the way, family. Because if they truly loved you, then they wouldn't cause you to question every ounce of who you are. And going into the holiday season, I know it can be really, really tough. The past few years without my parents were unbearable. I didn't know how to act. All of our traditions that we once knew were no longer there. I didn't have mom to do our Christmas Eve appetizer dinner. I didn't have her to go Christmas shopping with. I didn't have my dad to go Christmas shopping. My mom. Growing up, stockings were a huge thing. And I have taken that tradition and it will be a part of my life forever. We have, like, the needlepoint stockings. We have all of our names monogrammed on them, and we fill them with all kinds of fun stuff. And one thing my mom always did was she put scratch offs in our stockings. And I know it sounds absolutely insane, but that was our favorite part. We would put stockings and makeup gift cards, and I made sure to keep that tradition alive. And anytime I've dated someone, they ended up with a stockie on their name. Now, granite, when you break up, it gets thrown away, but that's okay, too, because we are living in the moment. But when mom and dad were gone, it was tough and. And I tried to go on like they were still here. And it was really hard that first year. And then the second year, I was like, you know what? I'm gonna stop faking this. I'm gonna stop acting like they're still here, because that's not good for my mental health. It wasn't good for the kids mental health. And we did whatever we needed to do to just get through the holiday. And if that's you, I see you, I feel you. Do whatever it is you need to do in order to make yourself feel as happy and whole as possible. And I came across this Instagram post the other day, and I just wanted to read it to you guys because it truly did speak to me and let's see my phone. I swear, anytime you get a new phone, nothing wants to load. But there's a girl that I follow and her Instagram is clearly stated and I encourage you guys to go and follow her because everything that she posts, I feel like it speaks to me in some way, shape or form. But she posted something that says Christmas doesn't erase hard emotions, it invites Jesus into them. The holidays have a way of amplifying what's already tender. Grief can feel heavier. Loneliness, sharper. Relational tension and unanswered questions often rise to the surface at this time of year, making December feel complicated, like joy is expected, but your heart is holding more than one emotion. But Christmas was never meant to be a season of managing or manufacturing feelings. The story of Jesus entering the world doesn't begin with everything resolved. It begins in the middle of uncertainty, disruption, and deep human need. That isn't a contradiction of the season, it's the foundation of it. Isaiah calls him Wonderful Counselor not because he avoids hard places, but because he meets us inside of them. He doesn't rush grief, shame, questions, or demand emotional mightiness. He sits with you. He listens. He speaks peace where things feel fragmented. He is the Everlasting Father when relationships feel fragile, and the Prince of Peace when your heart feels divided. Christmas is an invitation to stop carrying what you wish you didn't feel and bring it into the light. The intensity of life doesn't threaten the hope of Christmas. It reveals why Jesus came. Because of Jesus, you don't have to silence the weight of life to receive the light of Christmas. I'm going to reread that again. Because of Jesus, you don't have to silence the weight of life to receive the light of Christmas. He meets you as you are, holds what feels heavy and brings peace not by erasing reality, but by entering it with you again. Christmas doesn't erase hard emotions, it invites Jesus into them. And when I read that, it really hit me. Because anytime we feel sadness, anger, bitterness, we're in the middle of grief. Those are extremely hard emotions, and we really don't know how to deal with them. And there is no perfect way to deal with them. But when I read this, I think that you have to sit in it, right? Like you have to sit in those hard emotions. Because if you don't sit in them and feel all the feelings that go along with them, then it's going to be hard for you to get to the other side of it. It's going to be hard for you to have healing in the midst of all of this hurt and trauma. And when you invite Jesus into those emotions and feelings, I feel like you slowly start to heal. When it comes to holiday gifting, I want to give things that people really love. Beautiful, timeless pieces that they'll wear for years. And that's why I'm going with quints. From Mongolian cashmere sweaters to Italian wool coats, everything is premium quality at a price that actually makes sense. And y', all, you know how girl math goes. Like if you find something that's less expensive, then you can just buy more of it. And that's why I absolutely love Quince. I have totally done an overhaul on my closets and Nashville weather has been absolutely insane. I mean, it has been freezing. So I went on to Quince and I bought their responsible down long puffer jacket. This is perfect for your cold weather adventures. You'll be warm all winter long and the even coldest of climates. And the water repellent and wind resistant fabric makes this jacket perfect for any winter activity. And right now this jacket is $200. Traditional retail is 350. It also comes in so many different colors. It holds up well, super comfortable and it being water repellent is absolutely amazing. I also love the fact that this jacket has a hood. I mean, y' all know I don't like getting my hair messed up. Nashville weather has been absolutely insane. So I throw the hood on, protect my hair, stay warm. And that's just how Quince does it. But Quince also has something for everyone. Their soft Mongolian cashmere sweaters are only like 50 bucks and they look and feel like designer pieces. Silk tops and skirts for dressing up perfectly, cut denim for everyday wear and outerwear that actually keeps you warm. So find gifts so good that you'll want to keep them with quence. Go to quence.comunlocked for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Q U I n c e.com unlocked to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com unlocked I spoke at an event in Dallas this past week. And when I was speaking, I spoke about when my parents left and. And at night, like during the day, I would do everything possible for the kids, right? Breakfast and school, drop offs, doctor's appointments, extracurricular activities. I tried to make life as whole as possible. Even if I had a pit in my stomach, even if I was angry with God, even if I was angry at the world, I still kept going. And then at night, I. That's when the warrior in me kind of jumped out and I started planning on how I was going to get my parents home. And I. There were so many times that I prayed to God and it was just like, it wasn't a pretty prayer. It wasn't a. God, I love you and you're so amazing and I understand everything you're doing. That was not my prayer. My prayer was, God, I'm so angry. Please just show me that you're still here. That simple. It wasn't a pretty prayer. It was just like, please, I don't know how I'm going to make it through tomorrow. And praying those prayers. I truly felt like God was in that room with me and listening and I would see him act in certain ways in my life. Whether it was a smile on the kids faces or it was a job opportunity that came up. You have to be able to see him in every little win. And I think that think it's so hard for us to see these little wins and accept them. And I think when you open your eyes to these little wins and you're grateful for them, it gives you hope in what's to come. And holidays are tough, right? They. They suck sometimes. And I just want you to know I see you and however you handle it is the perfect way to handle it. I am in a season of life right now to where right now I'm honestly at my burnout phase, right? It's the end of the year. We've all been working so hard. There's all this pressure and I'm burnout. I am so ready to have a week of just doing nothing. But in the midst of this burnout, I see myself reflecting on the past year and how grateful I am. As hard as it was, I am so grateful for all of my wins. I'm grateful for the heartbreak because it's brought me to a place of love in my life. If it wasn't for all the heartbreak, I wouldn't be able to appreciate where I'm at right now. So just take that as a little bit of encouragement. Your win is coming. It may not be in the time that you would like for it to be, but I promise you, your win is on the way. Pray this 2026 is coming. Maybe set new goals for yourself. I know for me, I have said that I want to be in church every single Sunday in 2026. Even on days to where I'm like, all right, I wish I could just be lazy. And every time I go to church, I Get something from it. So maybe you don't know Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior. Maybe look into it this next year. Maybe go out on a limb. Go to church by yourself. Go to church with a friend or a loved one. Pick up your Bible for the first time. Forgiveness is also a thing. Big, big thing that I would encourage you guys to work on because that's what I'm gonna be working on this next year. There's a lot of people in my life that I hold grudges against, and I'm working on my forgiveness phase of things right now because at the end of the day, we all go through hurt and we react the only way that we know how to react. And unfortunately, our reactions and can hurt a lot of people along the way. So I'm trying to have grace for those in my life that were reacting in the only way they knew how to react at the time. So 2026, I want to go to church more often. I want to give more grace. I want to give more forgiveness, and I just want to be the absolute best person that I can be. I'm looking at my schedule now for 2026, and it's absolutely insane, y'. All. I mean, I am thanking God right now. I'm going to be doing a fun little travel show with my mom. I am co hosting the View the week of February 15th, 16th. So I'll be on the View all week. And I am so excited for that because I like doing things that challenge me. I like doing things I that that educate me. I'm totally going outside of my comfort zone by doing the View. I mean, this is a show that has bashed these anchors or personalities, have bashed my family, have bashed me. These were the same women who made a comment to the extent of wonder what she had to do for those pardons. So I'm going outside of my comfort zone by going on a show to where there's four or five women who all believe one way and I believe differently. And I'm excited for it because I know God's hand is going to be on me throughout that entire experience. So welcome to almost 2026. This is your last holiday season of 2025. And if it's hard, sit in the hard. If it sucks, say it sucks. That's what I normalized with the kids. I was like, if people ask you how your holidays are, you don't have to lie to them. Like, if it was great, you could say it was great. If it sucked, you can say it sucked. It's time to normalize the saying that it's okay to not be okay. And I see you, I'm praying for you and set some goals for 2026. And also before 2026 gets here, I saw this TikTok trend that I absolutely love. And it's a friend group that has a cake in front of them and they all put like a little note on like a toothpick in the cake and you go up and it's like, I'm proud that I'm a year sober or I am proud that I got a promotion at job. I am proud of myself for overcoming depression and anxiety. So maybe do that. Maybe get your friends together and point out your wins and be so proud of yourself for making it to today. And again, thank you so much for making this podcast a song success. Thank you for standing by me. I can't wait to grow with you in 2026. And Merry Merry Christmas. TV Stream Pluto TV Stream Pluto TV for free. Stream blockbuster hits like 21 Jump Street Ted, the Expendables and so much more on Pluto TV Stream now pay never.