This episode explores the profound impact of both born and chosen families on personal growth and relationships. Jen and Betina dive deep into navigating complex family dynamics, understanding what makes chosen family relationships so transformative, and how to honor blood ties while creating meaningful connections with others.

Time stamps:

00:45 Family relationship temp check

04:35 Jen discusses a listener's insights about ADHD traits

11:43 Jen sharing gems from her born and chosen families

15:15 Backstory: How we’ve navigated family dynamics together

15:20 Betina shares her revelation that born and chosen families are divinely curated and why

10:05 Clarifying Question: What qualities or what about the relationships made them so impactful?

24:11 Alignment moment: Jen’s first real friend having qualities she wanted more of

32:10 Betina on taking ownership of the qualities you desire to become the best version of yourself

35:12 A stranger spoke life into Jen / Crying on a Tues-dee

37:40 Life focus: Creating chosen family while honoring your blood ties

38:35 Jen acting on love which requires honoring blood ties / fear of intimacy

46:14 Tested relationships

47:50 Betina’s framework for chosen family

56:14 Recipes: Heritage Dish

Betina’s Family’s Cornbread Dressing

Keys to success: Homemade Cornbread and Stock

Stock:

In a stock pot add:

Turkey or chicken parts

Water

Diced: celery, onion, bell pepper

Season with: Chicken bouillon, seasoning salt, garlic powder, pepper, cajun seasoning, poultry seasoning, sage (little)

Boil

Cornbread 1 Cup flour, 1 Cup Cornmeal, ¼ cup sugar, Pinch of salt, 8 teaspoons baking powder

1 egg

Milk

Mix well (no lumps)

In baking dish melt butter

Pour excess butter into cornbread batter

Fill pan

Bake until golden brown and let cool

Sauteed Vegetables:

Dice more: Celery (lots), onion, bell pepper

Sautee in skillet with a stick of butter until soft and fragrant

To a roasting pan add 1 box Mrs. Cubbison’s seasoned Cornbread stuffing mix

Crumble in cornbread

Add about 2 cups of stock and begin mixing

Add 1 can cream of mushroom soup

Pour in sauteed vegetables

Mix

Season with Poultry seasoning, pinch of sage, seasoning salt (to taste) garlic powder, white pepper

Bake for about 45 minutes at 350 degrees checking periodically for dryness

Remember to add stock as necessary.

I add meat from stock to the top and bake uncovered for about 20 more minutes

Luke’s Mom’s Hamburger Helper

1lb ground meat (turkey or beef)

2 cans tomato soup

1 carrot

1 celery rib

½ cup onion

½ cup red or green pepper

2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

½ box macaroni shells

Peel and chop vegetables

Sautee vegetables with meat

Add both cans of tomato soup

Add 2 cans water

Add W sauce

Bring to a boil

Add macaroni

Simmer for 10 minutes or until noodles are done stirring occasionally

Music Credits:

0:00 “For My Good” - AFTR