I have some sad news to share with you today on the podcast.

Sadly, my dad passed away on May 22, 2025.

My dad was such a pivotal part of my family. He was an amazing husband to my mom. He was such a loving father and a supportive and involved grandfather. This loss is deep.

It is interesting because your mom and dad are there when you take your first breath. But it is so heartbreaking to be there when they take their last.

I am going to be taking some time off to grieve the loss of my dad.

I remember when I lost Jeannie back in 2016 and my divorce in 2014, something that really helped me was to read--- read God’s Word and read books that pointed me back to God’s Word. I need that again this summer.

I need time to input and allow myself time to sit in the pain and grieve—take time to process the hard emotions. I want to thank you in advance for giving me space to do that this summer. I don’t know how long it will be, but I know it is my best yes. I believe God is going to use that time, so I can pour back into you when I return.

I cannot wait to see what God wants me to learn in the midst of the pain.

So, I thought today would be very honoring to share one of the episodes where my dad was a guest back in 2020. I know you are going to learn so much from his wisdom!

My dad’s episode back in 2020:

With Father’s Day just around the corner, I am excited to have my dad, John Brownlee, as a guest on the Depth podcast this week. I asked him to share some of his words of wisdom and best advice as he is a father to 4 girls and a grandfather to 7 grandchildren.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I love that my dad shares some of our funny memories and crazy dinner activities as well as encourages other dads to make their kids a priority. I am so thankful that my dad was an intentional father to me and my sisters.

I recommend listening to this episode alongside your spouse or if you are a single mom like me, there are still lots parenting nuggets in this episode for you as well! I believe parenting is the most rewarding and challenging job all at the same time, so I hope this episode encourages you along your parenting journey!

I promise you do not want to miss this episode.

Book Recommendations:

• *The New Strong Willed Child by James Dobson
• *The New Dare to Discipline by James Dobson
• *Bringing up Boys by James Dobson
• *Bringing up Girls by James Dobson

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

Have you ever been frustrated with not getting a prayer answered in the timing you hoped? Maybe you wish God would do it quicker? Honestly, I know I have struggled with God’s timing on certain things in my life, so I am excited for this episode with my friend, Jackie and her son, Alex.

It is one of my special mom stories for the month of May. They are both going to share how God reunited them many years after Jackie gave up her son for adoption. What I love about this story is you see God’s fingerprints and God’s timing all throughout the episode. I know you will be encouraged, and I hope that if you are struggling with God’s timing that this story will also give you hope to trust and wait on God’s perfect timing.

Link to Jackie’s Heartbreak to Strength Story

I love to highlight Special Mom Stories in the month of May. For some of us, our mothering journey has had it challenges- either getting pregnant, keeping the pregnancy, or struggles after, so I love to give voice to these difficult times. These episodes are filled with honesty and vulnerability as well as practical advice and tips of how we can come alongside and help another mom walking down the same hard road. Check out the following episodes on the Depth Podcasts:

• Episode 31 (Infertility)
• Episode 32 (Adoption)
• Episode 33 (Foster to Adopt)
• Episode 34 (Step-mom & Special Aunt Role)
• Episode 81 (Infertility- special episode with Holley Gerth)
• Episode 82 (loss of a child, foster to adopt)
• Episode 83 (Mothering a Child with Down-Syndrome)
• Episode 84 (Motherhood Miracle)
• Episode 130 (Infertility & Miscarriage)
• Episode 131 (Infant Loss & Step-mom)
• Episode 132 (Mothering a Child with Autism and Foster to Adopt)
• Episode 133 (International Adoption)
• Episode 134 (Mothering a Child with a Disability).
• Episode 175 (Infertility & Miscarriage)
• Episode 176 (Mothering a Child with a rare genetic disorder)

Hope these episodes will encourage you that you are not alone on your mothering journey!

Jackie Wheeler is a child of God who loves her family deeply. She has been married to her husband, Patrick for 25 years. Jackie is a boy mom with two sons from her marriage and one she was reunited with in 2021, who also gave her the special title of grandma. She has a healthy obsession with purple, chocolate, coffee, fashion and all things Parisian. When she is not spending time with family she is busy with her image consulting business, JackieStyle Image and Branding Agency, where she helps women enhance their style, image, and brand. You can connect with Jackie on Instagram or her website.