Getting Older, But Never Boring | Korie Robertson, Mamaw Jo & Friends

Summary

Podcast Summary: WHOA That’s Good Podcast

Episode: Getting Older, But Never Boring | Korie Robertson, Mamaw Jo & Friends

Air Date: October 13, 2025
Host: Korie Robertson
Guests: Mamaw Jo, Carol Durham (Aunt Carol), Grace Burke, Aunt Barbara Shackleford

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Overview

This episode radiates warmth, humor, and heartfelt wisdom as Korie Robertson sits down with her mother-in-law Mamaw Jo and a beloved circle of long-time friends—Aunt Carol, Grace Burke, and Aunt Barbara Shackleford. Together, they candidly discuss friendship, aging with purpose, living through transitions and hard seasons, and the timeless lessons they wish to pass along to younger generations. Rich with nostalgia, practical life advice, and hilarious moments, it offers an inspiring look at how to grow older joyfully—and "never boring."

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introductions & Family Legacies

• [02:50] Aunt Carol: 81 years old, former teacher of 39 years, proud grandmother, stays connected with family through FaceTime.
• [04:24] Mamaw Jo: Matriarch with six children, 12 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, 12 great-great-grandchildren—still growing! Worked as a real estate broker with her husband after age 55.
• [06:04] Grace Burke: Real estate agent of 53 years, renowned cake baker (“Grace cakes”), active grandmother, highly involved in family and community.
• [08:29] Aunt Barbara: 82, moved from California to Louisiana, finds deep joy in her friendships and thriving faith community.

2. Friendship, Faith, and Community

• Text Group "Coffee Ladies":
  • The ladies maintain a steady rhythm of in-person gathering, texting, and sharing life ("There are seven of us...and it's just great fun." – Mamaw Jo, [11:29]).
  • Monthly and yearly traditions keep connections alive, including lunches, bridge, and trips.
• Impact of Friend Groups:
  • Grace’s “Girls of ’64” stay close after decades, cheering each other on and sharing adventures.
  • Aunt Barbara: “Your friends are your treasures.” ([15:01])
• Loneliness Epidemic (statistics shared):
  • The group recognizes the cultural trend toward loneliness and the vital importance of real, in-person connections for well-being, especially amid a digital world ([16:15]).

3. Rapid Fire Fun—‘Life, Favorites, and Fashion’

• [17:38] Coffee Orders: Black decaf, cream and sugar—the essentials!
• [18:47] Favorite Fashion Decades:
  • The 1950s and 60s, when hats and gloves were the norm ("It's very difficult for me to wear jeans a lot, be relaxed. But I've done it lately!" – Grace Burke, [20:04])
  • Noticing how dressing up changes people’s reactions: “People are more polite and friendlier.” – Korie, [19:34]
• [20:42] Memorable Travel:
  • Australia, Greece, Italy, France, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, US National Parks, and Colorado for skiing.
• [22:11] Skincare Routine:
  • “Keep it simple!” The group mostly skips elaborate routines.
  • “If you want your face to look like a roadmap…just live to 94.” – Mama Jo ([22:37])

4. Aging Real Talk

• [23:16] Hardest Thing About Getting Older:
  • Losing eyebrows ("Mine is putting on my eyebrows because they just are nonexistent." – Mama Jo, [23:16]), hair turning gray, mobility challenges, and the necessity of being careful ("I'm not getting out of my heels, but I can watch where I walk." – Grace Burke, [24:57]).
• [27:13] Letting Things Go:
  • The group reflects on how things like cooking daily, keeping the perfect home, and “stuff” aren’t as important as they seemed when younger.
  • “Just stuff is not important anymore. What's important is family, your relationships and your faith. That’s all there is to it.” – Mama Jo ([29:41])

5. Advice to Younger Selves

• [30:16] Spiritual Intentionality:
  • “Be more intentional with my walk with Christ at 20 than I was.” – Grace Burke
  • “Pick up your Bible and read it every day.” – Grace Burke ([30:55])
• [32:54] Practical Wisdom:
  • “Take each day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself.” – Mama Jo
  • “Be ready to roll with the punches.” – Carol Durham
  • “Get your education and find yourself a good comfortable life.” – Aunt Barbara

6. Friendship in Hardship

• [35:56] Supporting Each Other:
  • The “Coffee Ladies” are present for each other in illness, loss, and loneliness, with daily check-ins, practical help, and unconditional belonging.
  • “We just...accept me just the way that I am. And every once in a while I get to enjoy, but they make me feel so very welcome when I do get to enjoy.” – Grace Burke ([37:51])
  • “When one of us faces something, there is probably someone in the group who can say, been there, done that, and offer advice and support.” – Carol Durham ([40:06])

7. Suffering & Resilience

• [41:00] Patience and Perspective:
  • Taking care of aging parents and sick spouses – “Taught me a lot of patience...the Lord works in so many ways.” – Aunt Barbara
  • Lifelong support from church and chosen community: “I will be forever, forever indebted and grateful...pulled me through.” – Grace Burke ([42:19])
  • On loss: “You do live through it...other things in life can take that place.” – Mamaw Jo ([46:10])
  • Singleness can be joyful: “The single life at 78 is the best.” – Grace Burke ([45:33])

8. Healthy Habits for a Good Life

• [49:56] Spiritual routines:
  • Bible reading as both a habit and comfort, especially at night/when anxious.
  • “If I didn’t have a dog to care for, I’d probably sit a lot more than I do. That little dog keeps me getting up.” – Aunt Barbara ([53:09])
• [55:32] Purposefulness:
  • “If you don’t have a purpose… you can completely consume yourself with distractions. I get up every morning and put on my makeup…anticipating whatever is going to happen. Be ready.” – Mamaw Jo
• [56:06] Eat Clean:
  • “We are what we eat. Watch what you eat.” – Grace Burke
  • But also: “Most of us are good cooks too, and we love to eat the bad stuff!” – Carol Durham

9. What Makes a Good Life? (Advice to Younger Generations)

• [56:48] Relationships & Purpose:
  • “Associate with the best people…later in life I’ve found more spirituality than in my earlier years.” – Aunt Barbara
  • “Relationships might not be forever—and that’s a plan. Learn from everyone you associate with, and cherish your ‘rocks’.” – Aunt Barbara ([58:34])
• [59:11] Top Priorities:
  • “Relationship with Jesus Christ is the utmost…the most important thing.” – Grace Burke
  • “Put other people first. The way people will think of you is when you were kind to them.” – Mamaw Jo ([60:11])
  • “Everything does not have to be perfect. There are more important things to tend to.” – Carol Durham ([62:06])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Friendship:

  • “Your friends are your treasures.” – Aunt Barbara Shackleford ([15:01])
  • “Our texting name is Coffee Ladies.” – Mamaw Jo ([10:51])

• On Faith:

  • “Pick up your Bible and read it every day. At least every day…it's all right there.” – Grace Burke ([30:55])
  • “Relationship with Jesus Christ is the utmost…He is running after everyone.” – Grace Burke ([59:11])

• On Aging & Perspective:

  • “Just stuff is not important anymore.…What's important is family, your relationships and your faith.” – Mamaw Jo ([29:41])
  • “Take each day at a time.” – Mama Jo ([32:56])
  • “You do live through it.…There are other things in life that can take that place (after loss).” – Mama Jo ([46:10])

• On Joy & Singleness:

  • “The single life at 78 is the best. I can do what I want, when I want…within the realms of Jesus and God and my church family.” – Grace Burke ([44:10])

• On Letting Go:

  • “When you're young, you think your best friend is going to be your best friend forever, and they're not.…But the close people you're with today are your rocks.” – Aunt Barbara ([58:34])

• On Selflessness:

  • “Put other people first.…Put yourself in your hip pocket and think of others.” – Mama Jo ([60:11])
  • “The more you think about yourself, the worse you’re actually off. But when you think about others, there is peace and joy in that.” – Corey ([61:07])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:50] – Guest Introductions & Life Stories
• [10:45] – Friendship & "Coffee Ladies"
• [16:14] – Loneliness Epidemic in Today’s Culture
• [17:38] – Rapid Fire: Coffee, Fashion, Movies, Travel, Skincare
• [23:16] – Hardest Thing About Aging
• [27:13] – Things That Aren’t a Big Deal Anymore
• [30:16] – Advice to Your 20-Year-Old Self
• [35:56] – How Friends Support in Hardship
• [41:00] – Lessons Learned Through Suffering
• [44:10] – Singleness; Living Well on Your Own
• [49:56] – Healthy Habits: Spiritual, Physical, Mental
• [56:48] – "What Makes a Good Life?" — Final Lessons

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Tone & Atmosphere

The tone is playful, honest, faith-filled, and candid—full of laughter, affectionate teasing, and deep respect among women who value relationships, purpose, and faith above all. The wisdom imparted is gentle but rich—never preachy, always authentic.

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Final Takeaway

If you’re seeking advice for a joyful, meaningful life—especially as you age—this episode is a masterclass in friendship, surrender, service, faith, and perspective. Whether it’s learning to let go of “stuff,” keeping your people close, facing the hard things with humor and hope, or simply “putting yourself in your hip pocket,” the “Coffee Ladies” demonstrate that life only gets better when you walk it together—with God, with purpose, and with an open heart.

“Put other people first…That’s the key to relationships throughout your entire life.” — Mamaw Jo ([60:11])

Transcript

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Your teen adjective used to describe an individual whose spirit is unyielding, unconstrained. One who navigates life on their own terms, effortlessly. They do not always show up on time, but when they arrive, you notice an individual confident in their contradictions. They know the rules, but behave as if they do not exist. New Teenagers. The new fragrance by Miu Miu defined by you.

[Corey]

I'm Scott Hanson, host of NFL Red Zone. Lowe's knows Sundays are for football. That's why we're here to help you get your next DIY project done. Even when the clock isn't on your side. Whether that's a new Filtreat filter or Bosch and Cobalt power tools, Lowe's has everything you need to feel like the MVP of diy. So get it done and earn your sundae shop now in store and online, Lowe's official partner of the NFL. Hey there. Welcome to wo. That's good. I hope you are having a great Monday. Your week is off to a great start. It's about to get a lot better because I have some amazing guests here. Right here on the couch with me and some people that you're. I'm going to introduce you to today. One person you know well, and that's Mama Jo Ma Joe is you're getting to be a regular here on this podcast, right?

[Mama Jo]

Right. Well, it's not bad. I kind of like it.

[Grace Burke]

Good.

[Corey]

You're welcome anytime, I promise you. Actually, I was talking to Sadie last night about getting to do this, and she was like, I'm kind of jealous. I wish I were getting to do this, have this conversation. But she'll get to listen to it along with all of you and. And just learn from these women. I am so excited to have you all on here. So this was inspired by last week I got invited to Yalls lunch, your normal lunch that y' all do often. But every year for everybody's birthday, you go to a special place for L and I get invited. And a lot of times I can't come because I'm out of town or whatever, but for this one, I got to come. And it was Aunt Carol's birthday last week, and I sat there among all these amazing women and just left. So inspired and encouraged and excited about getting older. I have to admit there was a time in my life when I think I was a little bit nervous about getting older. But watching all of you and how you have done life and your friendship and your relationships and all of that just has been so inspiring to me and makes me not fear getting older anymore because y' all are just doing it so well and so beautifully. And so we wanna learn from you today.

[Grace Burke]

Thank you, Corey.

[Corey]

So thank you for being here. So, first of all, let's just start off by telling. Telling everybody your name and a little bit about yourself. We'll start with Aunt Carol over here and kind of work our way around the couch.

[Carol Durham]

Well, I'm Carol Durham. Aunt Carol. I just turned 81 years old last month. I was a teacher for 39 years, and I taught a lot of Corey's k. I have one daughter, unfortunately, she lives in Atlanta. She used to live in Jackson, which was a very workable distance to travel to see her. Atlanta's not so workable, although we just got back from a trip last week to see her and her family. She has two daughters, so I have two granddaughters that are my pride and joy. Even though they're far away, we sometimes FaceTime or yesterday, the youngest one was watching the Auburn game and she was FaceTiming with her grandpa, discussing different plays. And that's kind of fun that we can keep in touch that way.

[Corey]

Yeah. So thankful for the FaceTime technology.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Yes.

[Mama Jo]

Something we didn't have when you were young, Corey.

[Corey]

That's right. I just had to make the trip to Shreveport.

[Mama Jo]

She used to call me Memoir and Shreveport. That was my name. Not just Mamaw, but Memoir and Shreveport.

[Corey]

And I loved it. I love to get to go see, Visit Memo and Shreveport because Mamaw's place was just a haven. You just got to stay up as late as you want to and watch Nick at night and sleep as late as you wanted to. And my mom made all your favorite things, and it was just like the best warm hug to get together.

[Mama Jo]

I've always said Corey came to my house to decompress from her racetrack.

[Corey]

Mama, that's actually true. That's actually true. All right, Mama, tell us a little bit about yourself.

[Mama Jo]

Okay. Do you want me to name my family?

[Corey]

You can say how many. Tell us how many.

[Mama Jo]

That's what I meant.

[Corey]

Yes, please tell us, because it still.

[Mama Jo]

Kind of amazes me when I think about it. I have six children, 12 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, 12 great great grandchildren, and three more on the way.

[Corey]

That is amazing.

[Mama Jo]

Isn't that crazy?

[Corey]

That is amazing. Yeah.

[Mama Jo]

We added up crazy wonderful.

[Corey]

Like 54 direct descendants.

[Mama Jo]

I think there's 61.

[Corey]

61 direct descendants. And then counting spouses, there's 90.

[Mama Jo]

Yes. That's. That's incredible.

[Corey]

Under you, as you. As the matriarch, you don't have them to launch anymore.

[Mama Jo]

And. And I retired at 84 from a real estate brokerage that my husband and I owned. And that has been my life since then. Kind of. I call myself, with my grandchildren today, a spect because that's. That's my role.

[Corey]

You're the best spectator. Everybody loves.

[Mama Jo]

I love being a spectator for all those kids.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

I love that.

[Mama Jo]

It's just great.

[Corey]

And one thing I think that's interesting about you is you didn't even start working until you were 55 years old.

[Mama Jo]

I did not. Until all of my children.

[Corey]

You worked. You worked. You raised six children.

[Mama Jo]

I did.

[Corey]

And took care of your home.

[Mama Jo]

Right. And our parents. And yes, our parents lived with us, too.

[Corey]

Yes.

[Mama Jo]

But it was.

[Corey]

So that was at work, but a different kind of work.

[Mama Jo]

And my husband and I enjoyed being together anyway, so working together was the best. Just the absolute best.

[Corey]

That's awesome.

[Mama Jo]

Yeah.

[Corey]

All right, Grace.

[Grace Burke]

I'm Grace Burke. Can I look at you?

[Mama Jo]

Yeah.

[Grace Burke]

I'm Grace Burke. I have been a. I've been in Monroe 43 years. I was born in Bossier Parish. I will be 79 on November 16th. I have been a real estate agent since 1972. That's 53 years.

[Carol Durham]

Wow.

[Grace Burke]

And I love doing that, and it's been very good to me. I have two children. I also do weddings, and I do birthday cakes. And I was going to bring that.

[Corey]

Up if you did not mention that because grace has a claim to fame. We call it a grace cake. Like, everyone loves a grace cake. And every birthday party, wedding, whatever. It's a big treat if we all get a grace cake, so. And you're still doing that. I got a grace cake last weekend. Aunt Carol's lunch and.

[Carol Durham]

Yeah.

[Corey]

And wedding. I know that you. Recently. I heard that you were working at a wedding at our farm not too long ago. And I heard you were foraging in the woods for. For branches and trees and making it so beautiful for Smilax.

[Grace Burke]

We did. We went up and down in Calhoun. We went all over the place getting Smile X so we didn't have to pay for it.

[Corey]

That's amazing. I hope I'm still doing that at your age.

[Grace Burke]

Oh, I hope you are, too.

[Corey]

Yes.

[Grace Burke]

Because it's fun.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Good.

[Grace Burke]

I have two children, Dennis and Cam. Cam is a RN and at Ochsner's in day surgery in New Orleans. Dennis is a health consultant in Dallas, but he's all over the place. And I have five grandchildren. Kayla is 28, Blake is 25, and Scotty is. She's six. Sunny is two, about to be three and boss Boston, but we call him boss. He's one.

[Corey]

Love it.

[Grace Burke]

And I get to go back and forth and keep them all the time.

[Corey]

The best.

[Grace Burke]

And so I get to go week this week and stay a week next week.

[Corey]

That's great.

[Grace Burke]

It's great.

[Corey]

That's the best.

[Grace Burke]

Have a grand, grand, grand, grand life.

[Corey]

That's amazing. All right, Aunt Barbara.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Well, you just announced me. I'm Aunt Barbara Shackleford. I am my sweet sister, Ms. Joe's sister in law. Our husbands were brothers. That's why I'm here in Louisiana. Moved here seven years ago from California and moved to California from Wisconsin. So I've been around a little bit. I have. I have to count them. I don't know why I can't remember. I have three children, two sons and a stepdaughter. A stepdaughter has my newest grandchildren who are 8 years old, and my other grandchildren are in their 30s. And I have six great grandchildren and several bonus great grandchildren that are steps, but none of them live here. And the reason I'm here is because the three children all live in three different states. So when it comes to the decision of where to go, it just seemed like the best thing to do. And it certainly was the best, best move of my life. And, oh, gosh, I'm 82 years old. Love these ladies. They've welcomed me. When I moved here with open arms, I walked into a fabulous church, a fabulous family, and was welcomed in it. It was delightful. Thank you.

[Corey]

That's amazing. Well, I think that one of the things that struck me about Yalls friendship and sitting around that table with all of you is just that. It's just that friendship. Friendship and community. And I know there's been a lot of. A lot of things that have come out about blue zones and how to live to be your 80s and 90s and all that. And a lot of it has to do with health and what you eat and what your exercise, but also faith is a huge part of that every single time. And community and friendship. And I think y' all do that so well. Y' all do all of it so well. But that friendship, community, your faith and all that. And I think that's a big part of you live in the good life. I agree. Yes. So do y' all have like a friendship name? Like a. A group name?

[Mama Jo]

Well, our. Our texting name is Coffee Ladies. Coffee Ladies.

[Corey]

Coffee Ladies.

[Mama Jo]

Yeah.

[Corey]

Coffee Ladies.

[Mama Jo]

Coffee Ladies. That's it.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

I love that.

[Corey]

That's great. That's a good one. And. And I know with you, Mama. I know your. Your kind of friendship rhythms, which I would probably not even call it that, but that would be in this. The language of this day is like, what's your friendship rhythms? I know one of the things that I've. What you do is your. Your weekly friendships that are here, right here, every day. And then I know once a month you drive to Shreveport.

[Mama Jo]

I do.

[Corey]

Or bridge.

[Mama Jo]

I do.

[Corey]

With your friends that lived in Shreveport during that time period.

[Mama Jo]

We have lunch and we play nonsense games.

[Corey]

That's great.

[Mama Jo]

So we can talk and visit.

[Corey]

That's so great.

[Mama Jo]

There are seven of us in the group there. And it's seven, maybe six now. Yeah. And it's just great fun. I look forward to it every month.

[Corey]

That's amazing.

[Mama Jo]

And these are friends from that I made in Shreveport at church. Oh, about 35 years ago.

[Corey]

Wow. Yeah, that's.

[Mama Jo]

And we've done this for about the last 20.

[Corey]

Wow.

[Mama Jo]

Yeah.

[Corey]

And then once a year you go to Hot Springs or.

[Mama Jo]

Or somewhere.

[Corey]

Somewhere. Sadie. I know Sadie ran into you one time in Franklin with your friend group. Yes, she did.

[Mama Jo]

She was coming out of a department store that we were going into and it was just hilarious. I could not believe we ran into each other.

[Corey]

That was so great. She said that was a highlight, running into you with your friend group.

[Mama Jo]

It was.

[Corey]

So once a year you do that as well. So just that investment in friendship and relationship, I think is so important and valuable.

[Mama Jo]

It is important. It's just I contribute that as one of the factors of my living long.

[Corey]

Yeah, I think so.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Foreign.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

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[Corey]

All.

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[Grace Burke]

I have a group as well, if I may. Energetic.

[Corey]

Yes, please tell us.

[Grace Burke]

The girls of 64 that I graduated with, we started out with eight of us, but we enjoy one another three or four times a year in Shreveport and Bossier. They have come here and I took them on a tour of the Beaten Horn.

[Corey]

Yes.

[Grace Burke]

And we did the whole thing and they just thought it was the best.

[Corey]

I love that.

[Grace Burke]

It was the greatest. There have been two or three of them that we have lost along the way. But the rest of us, we are in a group text all the time and share things. And we had one of us just went to Italy.

[Corey]

Wow.

[Grace Burke]

Spent two weeks.

[Corey]

That's amazing.

[Grace Burke]

It is amazing.

[Corey]

That's wonderful. Just cheering each other on and all that. Yes. Barbara, did you have something to add to that?

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Well, one of the things that crossed my mind and it's something that I heard I don't know how many years ago, but it kind of stuck with me that family is there and as family is important, but your friends are your treasures and that really hit home and it truly is to have a good friendship with more than one or many or even just one good, really good friend that you can talk to. But yeah, as far as traveling is concerned, I do get in the car and haul myself off to Oklahoma to see my family there. That's as closest. But yeah, it's wonderful.

[Corey]

That's great. Well, I don't know. I'm sure you who are listening have read the studies about the loneliness epidemic and they're calling it that right now. And they said since 2010. I looked it up last night. Since 2010, we have as a culture have become increasingly more lonely. And I saw this stat last night. It said that across all the age groups, people are spending less time with each other in person than two decades ago. Which I would think that would likely have something to do with the phones and social media.

[Mama Jo]

Absolutely.

[Corey]

Yes. And it said that it was most pronounced among young people ages 15 to 24 had 70% less social interactions with their friends than any other generation. So I.

[Mama Jo]

That's scary.

[Corey]

I think it is very scary, yes. That face to face interaction, that time together, not just on a phone is so important. And you know, I think, of course, you know, that's contributing to this loneliness epidemic that people are saying. I know whenever we had a conference recently and they asked, you know, how many people in this room feel lonely on a regular basis and you know, so many in the room raised their hands. And so I just want to encourage you as we have this conversation and we're going to talk more about friendship and I want to hear more from you is just, you know, value that friendship and don't, you know, just, just as important as health and your diet and your skin care routine and all those things that influencers on social media are telling you is important and more, more than that is your relationships and your friendships. Okay, so I thought that we'd have a little fun part here. So this is a rapid fire. So this is, I'm just going to go through. We'll, we'll go in order this way too. Just rapid fire. A few questions and we would love to hear, hear from you on this. Okay. Go to coffee, order Aunt Carol mocha black decaf. Okay.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Coffee it can be tea, Cream. No, cream and sugar.

[Corey]

Cream and sugar. Great. Perfect. Okay. The best movie that. I know y' all are movie watchers. I know y' best movie you've seen this year.

[Carol Durham]

I don't think I've seen one yet this year.

[Corey]

You haven't?

[Carol Durham]

We used to be great moviegoers. And then my husband was sick for a while and we didn't go. And then Covid, we didn't go and we just never got back in the swing. So I don't think I've been to. But we're going this afternoon.

[Corey]

You're going this afternoon? What are you going to this afternoon?

[Carol Durham]

Downton Abbey.

[Corey]

Oh, that's nice again. I love it.

[Mama Jo]

Cross me up. I haven't. If I had, if I saw one, I wouldn't remember the name of it.

[Corey]

I'm with you, Joseph.

[Grace Burke]

The chosen are the greatest show on earth.

[Corey]

Oh, those are both good. Those are both great.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

I don't remember either since January. But like I said, we're going today. So I don't watch them on tv, but not, not in the Theater.

[Corey]

Going to the theater anymore?

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

No. Well, yeah, when someone says, let's go, something that interests us. But it hasn't. Hasn't happened.

[Corey]

Hasn't happened yet. This year. We're too busy talking about Downton Abbey is going to be a good one, so that'll be fun. All right. What's your favorite decade in fashion?

[Mama Jo]

Hey, this is. This is way, way back, but I'm thinking, like, the 50s.

[Corey]

The 50s, yeah. I really am.

[Mama Jo]

This was a great year for fashion.

[Corey]

Yeah, it was. You wore the hats and everything.

[Mama Jo]

I did. And gloves.

[Corey]

Emma's always been very fashionable. That's right.

[Grace Burke]

I Wore hats, too. 50s and 60s were the greatest.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

They were.

[Grace Burke]

Everything matched.

[Corey]

Yes.

[Carol Durham]

And now everything is casual.

[Corey]

It's true.

[Carol Durham]

We just don't wear hats and gloves anymore.

[Corey]

Yeah, I would agree. That was a good decade.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

What I remember is that I had to wear a dress to school. There was not slack. Pants were not allowed. But living in a very rural area, we didn't dress up a lot, but when we did, we went to church or went anywhere you were dressed, and it was fun.

[Corey]

A friend of mine is doing an experiment. She said a social experiment. She's wearing dresses now, just on a day to day, regular, day to day basis when she travels or whatever. And she said it is really amazing how different people treat you. She said men open doors for her. People are more polite and friendlier. So I thought that was really interesting.

[Grace Burke]

It's true, too.

[Corey]

Really? You've noticed that, too?

[Mama Jo]

It's true. It is true.

[Corey]

Interesting.

[Grace Burke]

It's very locked in my mind to be dressed up.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Yeah.

[Grace Burke]

Yeah, it is.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Yes.

[Grace Burke]

It's very difficult for me to wear jeans a lot, be relaxed. But I've done it lately. I have done it lately, but.

[Mama Jo]

Well, it's rare, Grace.

[Grace Burke]

I know it is.

[Corey]

Well, I know. Mama, you said, tell us that they would get dressed up to go to the doctor.

[Grace Burke]

Oh, yes. Oh, yes, we did.

[Corey]

We go to the doctor in, like, sweats and our pajamas. Yeah, our pajamas.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Yeah.

[Corey]

It's lucky if you got a bra on. Going to the doctor nowadays? Yeah. Oh, no. Barb was like, never.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Okay.

[Corey]

All right, here's another one. What's your favorite place you've ever traveled?

[Mama Jo]

Oh. Ooh, Australia.

[Corey]

Oh, yes. That's a good one. I've never been there.

[Mama Jo]

Sorry, I need to.

[Corey]

I need to go. All right. Anywhere. Anyone else?

[Carol Durham]

Pennsylvania Dutch country was fascinating. The farmland is just beautiful. And their culture is so different. It's kind of interesting to observe them. And I think that would be one of my favorites. At least.

[Corey]

That's really interesting. Okay.

[Grace Burke]

Greece and Italy probably, and France were probably the most exciting ones that I've enjoyed.

[Corey]

Yeah. So beautiful.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

I haven't been out of the United States other than Mexico, but I think the most beautiful scenery in the world is the coast of California and the national parks in Utah.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

And it's stunning. So that would be my favorites.

[Corey]

So beautiful.

[Grace Burke]

Colorado and skiing. Yes, that's the best.

[Corey]

We all love to snow ski.

[Carol Durham]

Yes.

[Corey]

Yes, it is.

[Grace Burke]

It is.

[Corey]

Well, this group loves to snow ski.

[Carol Durham]

Aunt Carol, we went one year.

[Corey]

You went one year.

[Carol Durham]

And I sat with the other wimpy grandmas on the deck and drank coffee.

[Corey]

But I stayed with Grandma Joe and with Grace. I've skied with y' all a lot. A lot of years.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Yes.

[Corey]

So much fun.

[Grace Burke]

The best.

[Corey]

So much fun. Yes. Seeing each other on the mountain, meeting up at the lodge is the best. Yes. Okay. Skincare routine.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

You know, Corrie never had one growing up my entire life, and I still don't really. It's just too much work.

[Grace Burke]

I don't have one.

[Corey]

You don't have one?

[Mama Jo]

I just clean my face at night and put on my makeup every morning.

[Corey]

Perfect.

[Mama Jo]

Every day.

[Carol Durham]

It's kind of my story, too. Just keep my face clean.

[Corey]

All right. Keep it simple, ladies. These ladies look amazing. And they just say, keep it simple. Great advice.

[Mama Jo]

Well, if you want. If you want your face to look like a roadmap. Lived at 94.

[Corey]

That's what it's supposed to be.

[Grace Burke]

Well, for 20 years, I probably didn't even wash my face at night.

[Corey]

Oh, yeah.

[Grace Burke]

I didn't wash it till the next morning.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Grace Burke]

Oh, it was probably 25.

[Carol Durham]

20.

[Grace Burke]

25 years.

[Mama Jo]

And then somebody said, you look good all night. Great.

[Corey]

You're going to look good for. That's right.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Why take us crazy work so hard. Put it.

[Corey]

I'm pretty bad about not washing my face at night either. Now I do, of course, but not.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

For a long time. Yeah.

[Corey]

All right. That's perfect. Okay. Hardest thing about getting older. This can be funny. This can be serious.

[Mama Jo]

Well, mine is putting on my eyebrows because they just are non existent. That I have to have them.

[Corey]

Yes, you do kind of lose your eyebrows as you get older. I've noticed that already. And I'm 51 and that's the best thing to do. Yes.

[Mama Jo]

I keep thinking maybe I should go have them tattooed, but I don't trust anyone.

[Corey]

Grace said you can get that fixed.

[Grace Burke]

You can get that fixed.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Yeah, I've had mine tattooed up.

[Corey]

I know. I thought about the microblading. Yes. But then it's scary because what if.

[Mama Jo]

They don't get it right? What if they mess up?

[Corey]

Yes. What if they mess up? Yes. Any other hardest thing about getting older?

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

I would say along with eyebrows, when they start turning gray, then now you've got to start putting a color on the gray hairs that pop through.

[Corey]

Yes. That's the regularity of the hair nowadays. For me, my gray comes through so fast. I'm like, wait, I just was at the salon. It's already popping out.

[Grace Burke]

I forgot what I was going to say.

[Corey]

You forgot your hardest thing. You think about it. Aunt Carol, do you have anything?

[Carol Durham]

I think mobility issues. I have arthritis in my knee, which definitely slows me down. And I have difficulty getting out of a chair. So I have to, you know, use my hands and arms to help me. And that makes my hands and arms hurt. So my knees hurt. My hands and arms hurt.

[Corey]

But you're still going.

[Carol Durham]

I'm still going slowly.

[Corey]

That's right.

[Grace Burke]

I remember making sure of my steps.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Yes.

[Grace Burke]

Making sure that I don't go too fast or. My son is telling me all the time, he's a DPT and he's saying, mama, you got to get out of your high heels and you got to watch where you walk.

[Corey]

Yes.

[Grace Burke]

Well, I'm not getting out of my heels, but I can watch where I walk.

[Corey]

That's not happening. So you're going to watch where you walk.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

I love it.

[Corey]

That's great. Well, flights are in right now, so you. You could. You could try to make the transition. It's a good day. I think that was a no. I love it. I love it.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Foreign.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Real talk fam. Feeding young kids healthy food can feel like an Olympic event. I want my kids to grow up strong and healthy, but all the begging and bribing is just exhausting. And don't get me started on the supplements out there. They either taste horrible or full of sugar or somehow still missing the good stuff. And that's why I'm so thankful that my friend and Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson went out and invented exactly what I was looking for. Beam kids all in one super powder. Beam Kids is such a blessing. In our home, just one Scoop has over 40 essential nutrients, vitamins, fruits, greens, pre and probiotics. All the good things that support healthy growth and strong immune systems. And the best part, it is chocolate milk flavored. It is so easy to make. Just mix one scoop of powder with 8 ounces of milk, stir it up, and that's it. So whether it's A part of your breakfast routine or something just simple before bedtime. Beam will fit right into your family's rhythm. It has 87% less sugar than most low sugar gummies and 13 times the nutrients of other kids supplements. It's an all in one solution you can feel good about giving your kids. And the best part, the kids think it's a treat, which is so great. The chocolate milk flavor is a favorite in our house, but they also have chocolate chip cookie flavor, which is seriously delicious, too. Our kids are so picky, and so it is so hard to get them to eat anything healthy. So this is such a win for us. But my oldest doesn't actually like to do milk either, so we actually put her scoop in a smoothie, and it's her favorite part of a smoothie. She always asks if we put the chocolate scoop in there. So she loves it. And we know that she's getting great stuff for her. And so right now, Beam is offering something so good for our listeners. You can get up to 35% off plus two free gifts when you go to shopbeam.comSadie and use the code Sadie at checkout. That's shop beam. B E A M dot com Sadie and use the code Sadie for up to 35% off and two free gifts.

[Carol Durham]

Okay.

[Corey]

What is something that used to seem like a big deal, but now you realize is not actually a big deal?

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Cooking.

[Corey]

Oh, okay.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

I used to think that I would have to have a meal every day, something special, and living alone, it's something that just. Just doesn't matter anymore.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

And trying to figure out how to entertain. And then you think, I don't really have to do that either. I'd love to, but it just isn't something that's on my radar.

[Corey]

Yeah, that's good.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

I think that's the biggest thing.

[Corey]

Anybody else?

[Carol Durham]

Well, I used to think that the house had to be completely cleaned every week. And I can remember when we lived in New Orleans and I was doing a lot of substitute teaching. Friday was the day that you got called pretty often. So Thursday became my cleaning day, and I would stay up until midnight cleaning the house just in case I got called the next day and couldn't do it. And now if it's two weeks between cleanings or three between cleanings, it just doesn't bother me as much.

[Corey]

Yeah, that's great. I think that's great advice to young people listening.

[Grace Burke]

Yes. But I've learned a lot from my daughter in love about things like the house and blah, blah, blah, because the Most important things are taking spending her time and their time with their children. That's the most important thing for them right now. And they do a fantastic job of it.

[Corey]

Yeah, that's so.

[Grace Burke]

I mean, they give them their time from the moment that they get home from school and they're all together, they belong to their children till their eyes are closed at night. And I am impressed by that.

[Corey]

Yeah, that is beautiful, Emma.

[Mama Jo]

Well, there's so many things that were important all through life that you find at the end of your life have no importance whatsoever. Just most of it is stuff. Just stuff is not important anymore. I'm thinking now of how am I going to get rid of all this stuff before I die so my kids won't have to come in and say, I can't believe she kept this.

[Corey]

That's great.

[Mama Jo]

Yeah, so that's got to be primarily what it is. It's nothing really as important except your family, your relationships and your faith. It's just. That's all there is to it. Yeah, that's it in life.

[Corey]

That's it. Yeah, that's it. That's great. All right, so this is goes because we give advice on this podcast and a lot of times we ask about like, what's your best piece of advice? So this would be kind of your best piece of advice for your 20 year old self. Like if you were Talking to your 20 year old self, what, what would you, what advice would you give them?

[Grace Burke]

I would give. I would say that I would be more intentional with my walk with Christ at 20 years old than I was. I would give anything if I could go back and be more intentional with my walk with my savior.

[Corey]

That's so good.

[Grace Burke]

I really believe that with all of my heart.

[Corey]

That's so good. Yeah. A lot of times at 20, you think, oh, you got your life. You can figure that out later.

[Grace Burke]

Yes.

[Corey]

But 20s are such an important age. So many that are listening or young people here, such an important age to really get rooted in your faith because all the other things flow from that.

[Grace Burke]

Pick up your Bible and read it every day. At least every day, or at least two or three times a week. But every day is the best.

[Corey]

It's good.

[Grace Burke]

It's all right there.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

That's hard to top, but yeah, that's. That's a good thought. In my 20 year old self, I was already a mother of two, pretty busy, married to a police officer at that time whose schedule changed weekly. So I had to deal with changing my lifestyle weekly to his days that he worked and his days off and the children were not in school at that time. So it was keeping the children quiet because he worked during the nighttime. So it's just a lifestyle that a lot of people do live with it and a lot of people don't. They have nine to five type working schedules. But I just made sure that I took care of the children and if I had to get them out of the house to keep them quiet, we did. We would just walk the mall or go to a McDonald's or whatever was important at that particular moment. But it was basically just making sure the children were comfortable, happy and you know, just being a mom. So a 20 year old that is not in any type of situation like that, I would say try to keep yourself out of that type of a situation.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

And be in school and get your education.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

And find yourself a good comfortable life.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Yeah, that's good.

[Corey]

Thank you for sharing that.

[Mama Jo]

I would tell myself, think only of today. Don't worry about tomorrow. Don't worry about what you're going to have to do tomorrow. How much you owe, are going to owe tomorrow. All of, all of the things that you can just trouble your mind when you're just starting out in this adulthood of marriage and family. Just think about today. Tomorrow's going to take care of itself. You're going to work on tomorrow's things tomorrow anyway. So just take each day at a time.

[Corey]

That's good. Yeah, that's biblical. Jesus said he'll take care of all that. Just don't only worry about today. I remember when I were little, I could only think through till the next nap time. I remember there was a point where you're just like, okay, they all have to take a nap at some point. And I just got to get there. And then it was to bedtime. Okay, everyone's. We're all going to go to sleep at some point tonight. And we just got to get there.

[Mama Jo]

And so we had pretty scheduled routines at my house.

[Corey]

Did you.

[Mama Jo]

If it was dark you went to.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Bed.

[Mama Jo]

It was time for mom and dad. Seriously, it's good. I was, I was pretty stern about getting the kids off to bed when it was time for them to go.

[Corey]

To bed because, well, you needed your time. You and papa needed yalls time together. Yes. With six kids under what were, what was the age range?

[Mama Jo]

I had four under four at one time and I don't remember how old Jody was.

[Corey]

Four under four.

[Mama Jo]

Jesse was born four under four.

[Corey]

That's a lot.

[Mama Jo]

Yeah, that was a lot. There were a lot of them. We had to have some pretty stern routines, although I didn't think I was a routine person.

[Corey]

You figured it out, huh? Yes. That's good. And Carol?

[Carol Durham]

Well, my life at 20 was a little bit different because I was not married, and I was the teacher, so my career was kind of my whole life. But I think my advice might be when your situation changes, you be ready to change. Because when I met my husband, I was still a teacher. Once a teacher, you're always a teacher. But other things became more important, he became more important, and eventually our family became more important. So be ready to roll with the punches.

[Corey]

That's good. That's great. Loved all that advice. Okay, so back on the kind of the friendships and the relationships I was thinking about. I know all of you experienced different hardships. Divorce, loss of spouse, illnesses, all of that. How have y' all been there for one another? Or how has a friend been there for you? And how can. I guess the advice would be to. To this group is like, how can you be a friend to somebody that is going through that? And. And how do relationships carry you through?

[Mama Jo]

I think we've got a handle on that. There are. There are how many under our. Our group?

[Grace Burke]

Nine.

[Mama Jo]

Okay. And we. We eat together probably about three times a week.

[Corey]

Wow.

[Mama Jo]

So we sit around a table or sit somewhere and visit and talk, and we complain about all of our illnesses to each other, and everybody listens, respectively, and goes ahead with whatever is happening there. If somebody is sick and we're missing on our group right now, two of our ladies that have been sick for several weeks or been out for several weeks, and we miss them, but we keep up with them daily, text to see how they're feeling, take things to them that they might need help in any way we can. And so I think that's really our. Our basic purpose is just to stay in touch constantly so that they can be uplifted by whatever there is that we can do for them.

[Corey]

Yeah. That presence with one another.

[Mama Jo]

Right.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

I don't think anybody feels slighted if there's four of us to do something and they're. They just can't make it that day, or there's six of us and three can't. And nobody feels any way at all that they were left out. It's just either you can or you can't. And like I say, we just.

[Corey]

The security.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Yes. And we're all different ages.

[Grace Burke]

My work schedule does not allow me to enjoy their company as much as they enjoy one another, but I don't. They don't make me feel like I shouldn't have done that or I should have been there or I wasn't there. They just roll with me and accept me just the way that I am.

[Corey]

That's.

[Grace Burke]

And every once in a while I get to enjoy, but they don't make me. They make me feel the opposite. They make me feel so very welcome when I do get to enjoy.

[Corey]

That's so great.

[Grace Burke]

Yes, it is.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Okay, fam, let's talk about something that we get super excited about. Building your life with purpose and Liberty University. They are all about that mission. Their mission for over 50 years has been to train champions for Christ. And they've got options for your whole crew. From little kids to grad school. They've got a K through 12 online academy called Liberty University Online Academy. That's, that's flexible, Bible based and taught by certified teachers. And it's more than just logging into class and checking boxes. LUOA includes student clubs, field trips, and ways to build community, even from your home. And if you're ready for college or grad school, Liberty's online programs are amazing. They offer over 600 degrees to choose from. Lots of them are fully online and designed to work with your schedule, not the other way around. And it's really super doable. I think you guys are going to love it. If you have a busy schedule but you've been wanting to pursue your dreams, I think you're going to love it. I actually love taking online classes personally from Liberty because it gave me the freedom to keep up with the things in my life and keep growing in my faith and education at the same time. Plus, if you're in high school or thinking of transferring, you've got to check out college for a weekend. You'll get to tour the LU campus, which is gorgeous by the way, visit classes, eat in the award winning dining hall. All the things, let me tell you that dining hall is legit. So it is the best way to see if Liberty is where God's calling you. The next fall dates are November 6th through the 8th. So if you're interested, get the ball rolling. Friends. Liberty really is amazing. I think almost all my siblings have had some, you know, at some capacity, gone to Liberty. Whether they went in person or did it online, the in person school really is absolutely beautiful. I've been there several times to speak at their convo and it is incredible. So don't wait. Go to Liberty Edu Sadie now to learn more. And because you're a. Well, that's good podcast listener. Liberty is waiving your application fee. How amazing is that? Y' all go to Liberty Edu Sadie now and take the next step towards your future. You have got this, my friend.

[Carol Durham]

Because we've all lived a pretty long time. We have a variety of experiences, and when one of us faces something, there is probably someone in the group that can say, been there, done that, and offer advice and support, and that's just really important. My husband had a very serious illness a few years ago, and he was four and a half months in the hospital, and their support just could not be replaced.

[Corey]

Along with that, along with, you know, hard things happening in your life, as you said, you've all lived a long time. I'm sure you've experienced a lot of hard things. And what has that taught you? What is suffering? I guess through the hard thing, taught you that you feel like you are grateful that you've learned through that.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Go ahead. No, no, you go right ahead.

[Grace Burke]

No, you go right ahead, and I'll go.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Okay. Well, mine was a little unusual. My mother moved in with me and my husband, and she moved from Wisconsin to California when she was 92, and she lived to be just shy of 100. So that was a good learning experience for me. Taught me a lot of patience. And I think it's something that a lot of people don't do these days, is take in that family member. Although she's a really delightful woman, my husband dearly loved her. And then my husband got sick before she passed, and it was an unfortunate illness that we knew he was not going to live. And I really believe that the Lord works in so many ways that I was taught the patience to care for him. And it's just these are the life things that we do discuss when we're all together. Something will trigger a thought, and then we can. Everybody allows everybody else to have their moments, to talk to each other about our life, our stories.

[Corey]

That's beautiful. Thank you for that.

[Mama Jo]

Yeah.

[Grace Burke]

About 30 years ago, there was a major change in my life with my son and I. And these people are with you all in my church. WFR just pulled me through that, and I will be forever, forever indebted and grateful for Mac, Owen and Mac and.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Barry, Bradley and.

[Grace Burke]

Joe and Shaq and Mary Lou and Jo Neal and Randy just were so, so, so. I can't. I cannot even describe it. We got through it with flying colors. And I never felt less than what I should have felt because of this family, your family, pulling me through. I will never forget it. And this is us being together. We're still together. I'll never forget.

[Corey]

That's great. Being together through the good and the hard. Would you like to speak a little bit to singleness? Because you've been single for 30 years and I know a lot of people send in questions about that, about loneliness and singleness or how God has carried you in that.

[Grace Burke]

Well, it has been the greatest 30, 30 something years of my life. I absolutely love my life.

[Corey]

And.

[Grace Burke]

The thing of it is I can do what I want to, whenever I want to within the realms of Jesus and God and my church family. I can go where I want to. Whenever I want to, I can go. I don't have to ask anybody's permission to get in my car and go to Dallas and spend many, many days with my grandchildren. And it is the. The best anybody that is by themselves. Just have a relationship with the Lord and you will have great relations. Relationships with people and friends that will listen any time of the day or night. And I've learned to really listen to. That's good because there were many hours that somebody listened to me and let me cry on their shoulder and let me say the things I probably shouldn't have said and loved me anyway. But the Single life at 78 is the best.

[Corey]

Love it. That's great.

[Mama Jo]

Maybe for you, Greg. I don't mean. I don't mean without having a husband, because I've had mine and he was the best. Never could replace that. And the thing I learned from loss is that you do live through it. Even when you've got the best guy in this universe, you do live through it. You learn, live to. There are other things in life that you can bring in to take that place.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Mama Jo]

Yeah.

[Corey]

You've been really sweet. I've seen you have some little side conversations with Mama K a few times since and just helping her through this loss. And that's a real gift that you could. You've been able to share that and help her through that. Thank you.

[Mama Jo]

It's not easy, I know, but you don't have to make it hard. You just have to go on with your life.

[Corey]

Yeah, that's good.

[Grace Burke]

I want to say another thing. I decided when Dennis and I were by ourselves that I made a. I made a commitment at that point that to him that if I dated, he would have a carousing mother. If I dated, then that would mean he might have a stepdad if I. And, and he already had peer pressure. He had a divorced mom and dad. He did not need another thing. So I made a commitment then that I Was not going today because I didn't want him to deal with all of those things.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Yes.

[Grace Burke]

In his life. And I recommend that highly because.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

He.

[Grace Burke]

Is a man of God today, not because of me, but because of God and Jesus Christ. But I have never regretted that for one second.

[Corey]

That's great.

[Grace Burke]

And I'm by myself.

[Corey]

And you can drive to Dallas anytime.

[Grace Burke]

And I can drive to Dallas anytime. I love it in New Orleans too.

[Corey]

That's right. That's right.

[Carol Durham]

Well, I think all of us here have cared for aging parents in our homes. And although you do it out of love, it is stressful and there's just no way around it. And I think support from your peers is really important at that time. But I'll tell a little story on my sister in law. She told me, well, I know some days it's just, you just want to scream. And she said, that's what I used to do. I would leave the house and on the way to the office I would just scream. And I said, well, Joe, that's good advice. Except I have Susan in the car with me taking her to school. So I don't think that one will work. But she did have some other suggestions that did work. And let me just add that of the four of us sitting here, I am the only one still blessed to have my husband. And I thank God for that every day.

[Corey]

That's great. And I think great advice. Sometimes you just need to go get in your car and scream or go. Or go to the woods maybe.

[Mama Jo]

Or sometimes Want to do it at home?

[Corey]

No, don't do it at home. Hold it in at home. That's great. Okay, so I want to hear. This is a question that came in is just, just healthy habits. And I think we've talked about it a little bit, spiritually, physically, mentally that have just helped you live, live to the age you are now and doing the things that you are. So are there any kind of healthy habits that you, you feel like you implemented early on or have implemented later in life that have been helpful? So good, so good, so good. Just then, thousands of winter arrivals at.

[Grace Burke]

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[Corey]

And cashmere from Kate Spade New York, Vince Ugg, Levi's and more. Check out these boots. They've got the best gifts. My holiday shopping hack.

[Grace Burke]

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[Corey]

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[Grace Burke]

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[Corey]

Plus buy it online and pick it up in store the same day for free.

[Grace Burke]

Big gifts, big perks. That's why you rack? I do Bible reading. And especially when I wake up in the middle of the night, which I do a lot of times, like I'll wake up like three o'.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Clock.

[Grace Burke]

That's my best time to wake up, just three o'. Clock. And I do Bible crosswords and they're very hard to find, but I find them. And it's amazing when you do a Bible crossword how much you know. It's amazing.

[Corey]

Wow.

[Grace Burke]

And how much you learn.

[Corey]

Well, I want to say something about that because one thing I have noticed in talking to Mama about waking up in the middle of the night, I think for the younger generation, a lot of times we all worry about, oh, we don't get sleep and we don't have enough sleep. And that sleep is really important. So I'm not saying it's not, but it's like a big problem to be solved. When I've noticed Mama wakes up in the middle of night and she reads. She pulls out her Bible, reads a book or plays a crossword and then you go back to sleep and you kind of get on with your, with your night. And so I think that's good advice. I think sometimes the worrying about not sleeping makes us not sleep more. Where we could just say like, well, it's okay. Sometimes I stay up late and now I sleep really well. I sleep all through the night. But I remember when I was younger I would stay up till two in the morning reading. And I guess at that time I didn't really worry about it or think about it that much. But now it feels like this younger generation, it's like a really big deal if they don't get enough sleep. And I do think, like I said, sleep is an important part.

[Grace Burke]

Well, they say that the health people say that you've got to get so many hours of sleep at night or it's not going to be healthy for you. But I have not found that to be the case.

[Mama Jo]

Either.

[Grace Burke]

I have not found that my health is affected at all because of lack of sleep. Because I have spent my years working all through the night not getting any sleep. Now I cherish the sleep that I get on Saturday night after a wedding is over with because. And it's the best sleep that I.

[Corey]

Ever sleep after hard work.

[Grace Burke]

Best, the best. Best, the best. But I don't worry about. I just. I know people say, grace, you got to sleep. No, you don't understand. I can lay down for an hour. I may be working on cake and lay down for an hour and sleep and wake back up, because I can tell. I don't use an alarm clock of any kind ever.

[Corey]

Wow.

[Grace Burke]

I just tell myself I'm going to get up at five o'.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Clock.

[Corey]

Okay.

[Grace Burke]

And I do. And. But I would lay down for a minute, rest, get back up after an hour, and I'm just fresh as a daisy.

[Corey]

Keep going.

[Grace Burke]

Just keep product going, going. So it's possible to do.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Yes.

[Corey]

And everybody has different sleep needs. But I have noticed with all of you is that. But you know, if you need to stay up late and get the job done, you just do it. Yes, yes. Or if you wake up in the middle of the night, you read and.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Keep reading and then fall back to sleep.

[Corey]

That's great.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

But as far as habits are concerned, I've told Joe many times, if I didn't have a dog to care for, I'd probably sit a whole lot more than I do. But that little dog keeps me getting up, feeding it, doing whatever it needs and walking it. And it's. I. Yeah, it's really, it's definitely forces me into doing something that I probably wouldn't do. So at our age, if you're capable and you're ambulatory, I think something like that is really important.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

And then of course, if you do a lot of traveling, you have to worry about who's going to care for it. But it's still something that I think is important. It really is important to me anyway.

[Corey]

I think that's good. There's studies that come out that talk about, of course, importance of pets and also for, for girls, like, for even for young girls, how important it is to have a dog that they can come home to and that can love them unconditionally, even through, through high school or middle school or all that. So I think that's a really important part of all different phases of life.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Something that you can love on and it loves you unconditionally.

[Corey]

That's great.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

And really greets you at the door, is happy to see you. There's nobody else there except your dog. And that's pretty kind of cool.

[Corey]

That's great.

[Carol Durham]

I love it.

[Mama Jo]

I think the most important thing in aging, after you, after you retire, is just having a purpose. Just if you, if you don't have a purpose, especially today, when there are so many things that you can occupy your brain with, you can be on Facebook for three hours and it can pass like in 30 minutes in your brain. So those things can just completely consume where you are. But if you have a purpose when you get up every morning, that's why I get up every morning and put on my makeup and get dressed for the day, anticipating whatever is going to happen. And I may have something planned. I may not have something planned, but I'm. I'm always thinking ahead to that point that there may be something that will happen that I want to be ready for when it does.

[Corey]

So that's good advice right there. Yeah, Just be ready. Yeah. That's so good.

[Grace Burke]

I think.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Go ahead. No, no, I did it last time.

[Grace Burke]

I am a real advocate for eating clean. And as we age, as we have aged. I didn't used to eat clean, but I am eating clean now. And we are what we eat.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Grace Burke]

And I would encourage anybody to watch what they eat.

[Corey]

I think that's really good. That's so important. Just that I think we've all become more aware of that, of how what we are eating is actually fueling our body. It's not just about enjoyment, which there is enjoyment to food. And all of you. I had lunch with y', all, and everybody enjoys food and all that, so it's not about that. But there is.

[Grace Burke]

Most of us are good cooks, too, and we love to.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Carol Durham]

Eat the bad stuff.

[Corey]

Okay, last question. This is just to wrap up. So what do you. What do you know? What do you know that you wish younger generations knew? That makes up a good life.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Through my travels and living in different areas, and a lot of people do, and a lot of people don't. There's a lot of people that will travel through your life that may be really, really important to you when you're young and for some sort of situation or moves, people come and go in your life, and it's not a tragedy. I think it's a plan that you're going to learn from everyone that you associate with. I think the best thing to do is to associate with the best people that you can and that are as spiritual as you are or choose to be or want to be. And if you're not, then choose those that are. And later in life, I've found much more spirituality than I've had in my earlier years. My mother and my grandmother were very spiritual, but we lost that along the way and got it back, and it's in full force, and that's important. But there's so many people that come and go in your life, and when you're young, you don't realize that you think your best friend is going to be your best friend forever, and they're not. And if they are, then that's a Blessing on you and your friend. I have two friends that I associate with now that I went to high school with. And it's a rare occurrence that we talk to each other, but when we do, it's like we haven't talked. We just talked yesterday. But the close people that you're with today are your. Are your rocks and you need that. And I'm so blessed to have the rocks that I have.

[Corey]

I think that's great. That's a good word. To know that people might come and go out in your life and that can be part of the plan as well. It doesn't have to be forever. I think sometimes when we lose a friendship or relationship, you can think, you know, what went wrong necessarily. Sometimes things do go wrong, but that's a part of your learning and growing as well.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

And I think as your children grow and you meet new parents or mothers, that that's how the life cycle goes.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

So.

[Corey]

And it's okay to let relationships.

[Mama Jo]

Sure.

[Corey]

Go and move to a different phase.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Right.

[Corey]

That's great.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Love that.

[Grace Burke]

Having and maintaining a relationship with Jesus Christ. He is running after us. He's running after everyone. He wants us and we should do whatever it takes to maintain a relationship with him. Whether it's a regular routine that we get up and at seven o'clock and read and pray or go to bed at night and read and pray, or do it at noon. Read and pray. A relationship with Jesus Christ is the. Is the utmost.

[Mama Jo]

It's the.

[Grace Burke]

It's the most important thing, in my opinion.

[Corey]

It's great.

[Mama Jo]

Well, this is a principle that was drummed into me by my mother and that was to put other people first. This is the key to relationships throughout your entire life and the way people will think of you is when you were kind to them. I always refer to it as put yourself in your hip pocket and just think of other people first. And that's the. I think that's the key to relationships all through life.

[Corey]

I would agree. That's so good. Thank you for that. Yeah. I think that we got it wrong for a little bit of the self confidence and the self esteem and the self. Everything revolving around self. And I think, you know, as social media played into it too, it's like your page and your pictures and you're this. But life is about surrender and serving others and loving others and finding that purpose and meaning. And that's where you find your purpose and meaning.

[Carol Durham]

It's peace.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Peace.

[Corey]

Yeah. Yeah. I've heard this saying that, like, there's nothing different than thinking about yourself. If you think too much about yourself, you're going to worry, you're going to be anxious, you're going to be fearful. The more you think about yourself, the worse you're actually off. But when you think about others, there is peace and joy in that. Yeah, y' all live that really well, all of you. Aunt Carol.

[Carol Durham]

Well, I have, all of my life kind of been a perfectionist, to the point that I have wrapped a birthday present and looked at it and thought, I don't like the way that looks. Torn the paper off and done it again. And as I've aged, I have learned a little bit to not be such a perfectionist. Everything does not have to be perfect. You don't have to do things over to make them perfect. If they're done and done acceptably, then leave it and move on. There are more important things to tend to.

[Corey]

That's great. That's awesome. Wow.

[Carol Durham]

All right.

[Corey]

I feel like there's so much here and we could go on for hours and hours. There may have to be A Part 2 After this, after everyone listens and sends out more questions. But thank you so much. This was a real gift and I love every single one of you. So great pleasure.

[Grace Burke]

Cory.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Such a pleasure.

[Grace Burke]

So fun.

[Corey]

So fun. I'm so grateful to have every single one of you in my life and grateful to get to share you with the world through this podcast. So thank you.

[Aunt Barbara Shackleford]

Thank you. Court, Sam.