Ten UNEDITED Minutes of Marlena's Time

Today started with a phone call at 4:00 a.m. that no parent wants to receive. My daughter, who is in the middle of a high-risk pregnancy, had a bleeding scare, and was on her way to pick me up so we could head to the hospital. We both expected a quick checkup, some reassurance, and a trip back home. Instead, she was transferred by ambulance to the High-Risk OB team at Ohio State. As I followed the...

Some days just feel...off. You blink, it's late afternoon, and you can't shake the feeling that you've been physically present all day but mentally somewhere else. Today was one of those days for me. I seriously considered saying, "Forget it," skipping the podcast, and calling it a day. Instead, I hit record. Today's Rebecca memory is exactly what you'd expect—ou...

This morning starts with another favorite Rebecca memory...and this one involves themed parties! From prom parties to "White Out" parties, she always knew how to throw an unforgettable celebration. I even share the story of the infamous night we "shot the rainbow"—a decision that seemed like a fantastic idea at the time and a terrible one the next morning! 😂 Then I take you ca...

Today's episode begins with another memory of my dear friend, Rebecca, and the incredible role she played in my life. When I unexpectedly found myself stepping into the role of Managing Editor at a newspaper, I quickly realized I knew the production side of the business—but journalism itself was a whole different world! Thankfully, Rebecca was only a phone call away. She patiently walked me t...

Today's episode starts with another Rebecca memory that still makes me laugh. After borrowing clothes from her closet (yesterday's story), she asked me to help remove a splinter from her foot. The second I touched the needle to her foot, she let out a scream that could've woken the neighbors...and I laughed so hard that we never actually got the splinter out. 😂 Then I share why yes...

Episode 50...I honestly can't believe I'm saying that. Today's memory takes me back to one of Rebecca's incredible acts of generosity. As she cleaned out her closet, she invited me to "shop" through clothes that no longer fit her style. If you know Rebecca, you know she has amazing taste, and at a time when I desperately needed to refresh my wardrobe, her kindness cou...

When my friend Rebecca and I first became friends, she introduced me to a habit that quietly changed the way I looked at life. Every morning, she'd spend 10–15 minutes writing down ten things she was thankful for. They weren't extravagant blessings or lottery winnings. They were simple gifts—a warm shower, a comfortable pillow, a meal on the table, another sunrise. Somewhere along the wa...

Today's episode wandered in the best way. I started by sharing another memory about my wonderful sponsor, Rebecca. Years ago, when my daughter spent what felt like endless days in the hospital as a toddler, Rebecca was one of the people who carried me through that season. She didn't just help herself—she asked her family to step in, too. Her sister would pick me up from the hospital so I...

Today's episode picks up with Part 2 of my Rebecca story... Picture this: We drove two hours to a huge purse sale only to discover a line so long we'd have to wait four hours just to get inside. Nope. Not happening! 😂 Instead, we did what good friends do—we pivoted. We wandered through a thrift store, grabbed something to eat, laughed, talked, and simply enjoyed each other's compan...

Today's episode was supposed to be recorded much earlier, but my granddaughter had other plans...and let's just say Grandma's schedule became wonderfully negotiable. ❤️ I'm sharing Part 1 of a two-part Rebecca memory about the time I nearly scared the life out of her during a road trip to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Why? Because I was determined to get to Indiana "first." It...

Today's episode begins with a birthday celebration. My dear friend and podcast sponsor, Rebecca, is celebrating another trip around the sun, and I spent a few minutes reflecting on what a gift her friendship has been in my life. Recently, she called me while driving home from a long road trip with her son—not because she needed anything, but simply because she was tired and wanted someone to...

Today's Rebecca memory is one that isn't always easy for me to tell. Years ago, after exhausting my FMLA leave while caring for my daughter during a long illness, I lost my job at the newspaper where Rebecca and I worked together. While it was a difficult season, what I remember most isn't the loss of the job—it's the friend who walked beside me as I left. Rebecca's quiet...

Today's episode takes a few unexpected turns...and honestly, I'm not entirely sure how we got from point A to point B. I begin with today's Rebecca memory—a story from our days working together during a historic flooding event. Overwhelmed, exhausted, and unable to make it to church on Ash Wednesday, Rebecca found herself having a moment in the workplace bathroom. As fate would have...

How do you know when someone is going to be a true friend? In today's episode, I share another memory from my friendship with Rebecca and tell the story of the moment I knew she was someone I could trust. It was one of those moments that quietly revealed the kind of friend she would become: loyal, honest, and genuine. Looking back now, it's easy to see how that small moment helped lay th...

Day 2 of my Rebecca series begins with a story that can only be told one way... DIET COKE!!! If you know, you know. And if you don't, you'll have to listen. After sharing another favorite memory of my dear friend Rebecca, I ramble through my morning at Mass, a visit with the homebound, and the unexpected challenge of trying to keep my eye makeup intact. With Father preparing to leave, I...

Today marks the beginning of a very special 60-day series celebrating my dear friend, Rebecca Conklin-Klieboemer. Rebecca has generously sponsored the next two months of podcast episodes, and to honor her friendship, I'll be starting each episode with a sweet, funny, or meaningful memory we've shared over the years. For this first installment, I'm taking you back to where it all beg...

When was the last time you spent an entire weekend truly present with the people you love? No endless scrolling. No rushing from one commitment to the next. Just time together. This weekend, my family enjoyed a camping trip that was gifted to us by Mom and Dad for Christmas, and what I thought would be a fun getaway became a powerful reminder of what matters most. We fished, made crafts, cooked ov...

This morning's episode is short and sweet because there's a family camping trip to prepare for and cookies waiting to be baked! I share my excitement for a long-awaited weekend with family, but also the sadness of missing a special farewell dinner for a priest who has been an important part of my daily life. Caring for the three priests I cook for each day has become much more than a job...

I'm not actually pregnant... but some days it sure feels like it! As my daughter enters her seventh month of pregnancy, I've found myself right there beside her through the excitement, planning, worrying, and anticipation. At this point, I'm joking that I'm seven months pregnant too. Then I watched Netflix's "The Plastic Detox." What I thought would be a document...

Today's podcast was inspired by a column written by local author Bill Herr about an extraordinary Bluffton woman, Marvel Hilty. As I read her story aloud, two simple statements she made stopped me in my tracks. When asked what helped her through difficult times, Marvel answered, "Being thankful for what I have." Later, after being warned that cancer treatments could be painful, her...

Today's podcast started with a lesson in perseverance after a negative comment appeared on one of my YouTube videos. We all face critics and naysayers, but I'm determined not to let someone else's negativity derail my goals or silence my voice. From there, the conversation took an unexpected turn into the world of artificial intelligence. After spending the weekend watching document...

Sometimes God places a message on your heart when you least expect it. Before recording today's episode, I prayed and asked God what He wanted me to talk about. Almost immediately, my mind went back to a video I had watched of Jelly Roll performing at the CMA Awards. In the clip, he shared how he once sat next door in a juvenile detention facility dreaming of simply attending the CMA Awards s...

Today's episode was completely off the cuff and full of unexpected twists! I attempted to sneak away for a few quiet minutes to record, but my granddaughter had other plans and made a surprise appearance midway through the show. From there, the conversation wandered into some current news stories, including school closures due to extreme heat and the incredible story of a police officer who r...

Yesterday didn't go according to plan, and that's okay. In today's episode, I challenged myself to focus on the positive and find the blessings in everyday moments. I shared why there wasn't a podcast episode yesterday, as my day was spent taking my mom to an appointment, supporting my daughter and future granddaughter through a little pregnancy scare, and then simply enjoying...

Today's episode comes from a place of profound sadness and heartfelt prayer. A local Putnam County family is facing the unimaginable loss of two young sons following a tragic automobile accident, and like so many in our community, my heart aches for them. As a mother, I cannot begin to comprehend the depth of their grief, but I felt called to share a story from one of Father's sermons gi...