Nothin' But Fine: with Emily Trotter

We didn’t realize we would be so passionate about this topic. We had no idea that it was considered to be toxic among some people. For a movement that was supposed to be about including all shapes, sizes, colors, and genders, it is pretty exclusive. What you see the most on social media is white women. While we are being told we are beautiful no matter what we also have to deal with Martha Stewart...

Psalm 31 has too much good stuff to be combined with another one!   The NET broke Psalm 31 into two parts:  verses 1-18 being a prayer and verses 19-24 as the results of the answered prayer.  It’s a good way to break it down.  You can see/hear/feel the change in David’s tone.  Something else I was thinking about is that when David was pleading for protection and for rescue, he genuinely needed it....

What makes a good dad? Who makes the rules?  Our good friend The Internet gives us a great list. Involved, Caring, Patience, and Affectionate, to name a few!  We also dive into our favorite TV dads. Emily has a list… Helen couldn’t think of any. However, we question why the dad from Breaking Bad is on the list of Best TV Dads.  Helen shares one of her fears of Eli growing up… it might surprise you...

I studied Psalm 25 four years ago.  Like exactly to the date.  The notes I took were going to be my starting off point this time, too.  But as I read a different theme jumped out at me.  I knew this group of psalms (25,27,28,86) would follow the 23rd well.  There are so many mentions of the right paths.  David repeatedly asks for God to guide him to the right path, to guide him in and to truth.  S...

The Gatlin Brothers need no introduction.  You all know at least one of their songs.  All the Gold in California was one of my favorite songs as a little girl, and it still is.  I am fortunate to have grown up around some pretty spectacular people.  I am lucky to be able to take my podcast on the road and set up in the kitchen of Steve Gatlin's home, the same home that I spent countless night...

Probably the Psalm that everyone knows, the 23rd.  You might be able to recite this psalm from memory, but do you really understand all that it says or means?  I was fascinated digging into this one and even found another psalm that was very similar in message, 138.  I made so many notes in my Bible that I can barely find the real text.  This is why it is so good to read scripture even when you th...

Let’s get one thing straight - there is a difference between a VACATION and a TRIP. The thing about a trip? There will be children, someone will get sick, expectations will not be met, and there may or may not be tears. But Emily and Helen walk you through ways to turn your TRIP into a VACATION….or at least let you know that you aren’t alone in all your feelings.  Also, did you know, as Americans,...

Psalm 22 is technically a lament, but there is such HOPE in it.  I almost skipped over it.  Let’s face it, we are all ready to be done with the laments of David.  Right?  I have made up a list of the Psalms to cover and working on getting a schedule down and I was so vulnerable and honest with you guys last week that I wanted to move on quickly and on a totally different track.  I don’t know what...

There is so much information out there about taking care of yourself.  The self-care movement is loud.  But what does it really mean?  Is there a one size fits all approach?  Helen and I don’t think so.  You have to find what calms you, what centers you.  We are going to give you some of our favorites and what works for us.  We both think you should get outside! Subscribe to our YouTube channel wh...

This is a vulnerable one.  I was going to do it next month with the upcoming Let’s Talk episodes about Body Positivity and the conversation with Morgan Cheek of Winmo Fitness, but I felt like Holy Spirit nudged and said this is the time to do it.  That unexpected turn last week in Created With Purpose on Psalm 19 and 29 really made the connection too good to ignore.  So, this is a little different...

It is so hard to watch our kids struggle or even * gasp * fail.  But, oh my goodness, it causes a real problem later on in life.  If we always rescue our children they don’t learn how to problem solve.  They don’t learn how to cope.  “Rescuing your children constantly is parenting for today, not tomorrow” ( RCFamilies.com ). This was a super hard episode to research because I think I do this a lot...

Psalms 19 and 29 are praises. Pure, unadulterated praise for the Creator of the universe.  I think I have mentioned before how astounded I am with the night sky.  I mean, holy moly.  All the things that are up there that we can’t even see.  They just exist out in space.   Galaxies and galaxies, sparkly stars that twinkle, planets that orbit and stay in their own path.  The sun that gives us light...

I recently read an article about the business of commercial surrogacy.  It can cost up to $200K!  I get on my soapbox a little about this.  I am not opposed to women carrying and birthing children for other women or helping individuals have families, but I get a little riled up about the reasons you might choose it.  I am not for choosing a surrogate because you don't want to experience labor...

This episode starts with Psalm 15, but then goes into Psalm 24, Psalm 25, Psalm 65 and even gets into Ezekiel with some New Testament cross-references in Romans, Titus, and Matthew!  It’s a whirlwind of a study.  It’s a longer episode, but I am proud that I kept it to under an hour.   So, Psalm 15 really got me thinking.  Do you know where you are going when you die?  My Uncle Chris would say, “Do...

A lot of topics were covered in this one with guest, Heather Cannon!  We talked about being the wife of a resident, infertility, adoption, pregnancy, post-partum depression/anxiety, yoga, breathing . . . good grief!  You will learn something new I promise you! Be sure to check out Heather Cannon's Yoga Studio: Yoga Redeemed --- Let's Talk - a monthly podcast series by Nothin' But Fi...

When everything stinks, God is still on His throne.  Psalm 11 is, you guessed it, another lament.  However, this one is not as doom and gloom as the others.  And I think it is the perfect follow up to 9 and 10.  It has been so interesting to me to read and study these psalms with David as the author in mind.  Since we spent so much time digging into David in the fall (episodes 81, 83, 85, and 88)...

Mother's Day is right around the corner.  Have you gotten your mom anything?  Let this serve as a reminder that you still have plenty of time to get the perfect gift.  I really think some Nothin' But Fine merchandise would be perfect. We ship!  If hot pink isn't her color (I don't know why it wouldn't be) you can also shop the Nothin But Fine shop on Amazon.  Lots of fun o...

Back to lamenting...but I must say this one hits a little different for me.   We are doing 9 and 10 together because most translations agree that in the original manuscripts, the two were combined.    To me these two psalms speak to why do bad things happen to good people and why do bad people have or experience good things.  Psalm 8 last week was so much about "who is man that you are mindfu...

So it's the time of year when school is coming to an end and seniors are closing chapters and moving on.  This episode took a turn Helen and I did not expect.   You know we graduated in the 90's while Amy #1 was only 10 years ago.  A lot has changed since then.  In 1995 when you left the graduation party that could very well be the last time you ever saw or heard tell of some of those pe...

It's not a lament!  For the first time in this study of the Psalms we have a praise.  Finally we get to hear from David out of his joy.   The notes in my chronological Bible reminded me that again, we can't be sure of the exact time any of the Psalms were written.  Those writers think that the Ark of the Covenant entering into Jerusalem would have been an excellent cause for David's...

You all know that we have a lot of fun on Coffee Talk.  We have covered a lot of topics across many genres.  Not all of them are comfortable topics.  Hello, remember Where Do Babies Come From? This week we are talking about the prevalence of marijuana.  And Helen opens up about her 18 months of sobriety.  This is a really good talk.  I am so proud of Helen.  She has mentioned sobriety before, but...

It's another lament from David.  But this one hit me a little different. You never know what you are going to learn when you start digging into the Word.  [6:27] Reading of Psalm 7, NIV [9:05]   Psalm 7 being about a Benjamite can be a reference to one of two stories.  The first is in 1 Samuel 24.  David is fleeing for his life from Saul and is presented with an opportunity to kill Saul in hi...

We enjoyed talking about birds and their parenting skills SO MUCH that we decided to talk a little more about it! The process of baby birds becoming fledglings, taking that first step out of the nest is fascinating.  Also a good analogy for what we do to our human children.  Up to a point.  Birds don't come back to the nest once they jump.  Ever.  P.D. Eastman really gave us some false inform...

What a treat!  This chat will definitely leave you wanting a golf lesson.  Mark is delightful and you can feel his passion for the game that captured his life.  So honored to have him in the little ol' Nothin But Fine studio. (Also, the South African accent is chef's kiss​​.) Check out Mark's podcast and website ! --- Let's Talk - a monthly podcast series by Nothin' But Fi...

This psalm is a little different from the ones we have already talked about.  While it is a lament, it is also penitential.  David is going through some things and he has done something that requires him to beg God not to discipline him in His anger.  We don't know the specifics and we don't know when David wrote this.  What we do get to see is David crying out to God for mercy and the r...