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What happens when someone walks into your life and helps rebuild the very foundation grief once tore apart?

Nearly 30 years ago, Katie (Hines) Thomas entered our lives not to replace what had been lost—but to hold space for all of it. In this deeply personal Mother’s Day episode, we sit down with our stepmom, Katie, and reflect on the three decades of love, loss, and legacy that have shaped our big, beautiful “family bush.”

From the sudden loss of her in-laws and the death of her first child to the heartbreak of divorce, navigating a radical mastectomy, and raising four children on her own, Katie’s story is one of extraordinary resilience. When she met our dad shortly after our mom's passing, neither of them were looking for love—but what they found was something transformative. Together, they blended their adult families with intentional love, grace, and a shared commitment to showing up for each other, no matter what.

This episode explores:

• The unexpected love story that brought Katie and our dad together
• The complexities and gifts of blending families as adults
• Katie’s remarkable career in education and counseling
• Her personal losses and the legacy she’s building through it all
• What it means to be mothered in different seasons of life
• How aging with love, humor, and purpose is its own form of legacy

Whether you're navigating your own blended family, grieving the loss of a parent, or reflecting on the relationships that shaped you—this story is a reminder that family is about more than blood. It’s about who stays, who loves, and who grows with us.

Recorded just before Mother's Day, this conversation honors not only one extraordinary woman—but the resilience and tenderness that shape the families we choose and create.

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Ways to Connect:

If you have a story or expertise to share, please reach out & connect...we'd love to hear from you! Learn more about The P-I-G, sponsor and partner programs, and link to all episodes at https://www.thepigpodcast.com.

Connect on social at:

• https://www.facebook.com/podcast.thePIG
• https://www.instagram.com/thepigpodcast

Hearing the stories of others helps us create a more meaningful connection to our own because, “Legacy isn’t just what we leave behind—it’s how we live right now." If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe wherever you podcast, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with others.

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How do you survive the death of your husband, then one child... and then another? How do you hold on to hope when your own children are battling the same rare genetic cancer that took their father?

In this extraordinary episode of The P-I-G, sisters Kellie and Erin sit down with Diane Herman, a mother, founder, and unwavering woman of faith whose story defies understanding—and radiates grace.

Diane walks us through her unimaginable journey:
💔 The loss of her husband Travis after a 13-year battle with cancer.
💔 The loss of her daughters Hope and Isabelle, both diagnosed with the same rare genetic disease.
💙 Marrying Justin (Travis's brother) and the simultaneous cancer diagnoses of her son Slate and daughter Isabelle—just one week apart.
🌍 And the life-changing decision to move to Guatemala and found House of Hope, a children’s home that has now served over 170 children.

Through every heartbreak, Diane found purpose. Today, she pours her love into the children of Guatemala, leads two non-profits (House of Hope + the Loom Project), and continues to live out the very legacy her children inspired. Her words are rooted in faith, resilience, and an unwavering belief that legacy is built not in what we leave behind—but in how we live through life’s hardest moments.

Released just before Mother’s Day, this episode honors not only the strength of one extraordinary mother—but the unbreakable bond between love, loss, and legacy. Whether you're navigating your own grief, supporting a loved one, or simply seeking light in the darkness, Diane’s story is one you’ll never forget.

Show Resources & Links:

• Learn about & support House of Hope & The Lüm Project
• Purchase & read Mothers Like Me: Stories of Faith, Hope, and Love in Loss

Support the show

Ways to Connect:

If you have a story or expertise to share, please reach out & connect...we'd love to hear from you! Learn more about The P-I-G, sponsor and partner programs, and link to all episodes at https://www.thepigpodcast.com.

Connect on social at:

• https://www.facebook.com/podcast.thePIG
• https://www.instagram.com/thepigpodcast

Hearing the stories of others helps us create a more meaningful connection to our own because, “Legacy isn’t just what we leave behind—it’s how we live right now." If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe wherever you podcast, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with others.

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In this special P-I-G Afterthoughts episode, Kellie and Erin circle back to reflect on their powerful conversation with Gini Thomas—whose story of love, loss, and resilience is still echoing in their hearts.

They unpack the layers of Gini’s journey: meeting the love of her life, surviving the accident that took him, navigating 24 surgeries and an eventual amputation, and ultimately becoming a fierce advocate for herself and others.

Along the way, The Sisters explore their own experiences with trauma, motherhood, faith, and the power of showing up for one another. From "Eeyore days" to gratitude lists, this honest and heartfelt conversation is a reminder that we all have the capacity to rise—and to carry legacy forward, even in our hardest seasons.

April is Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month—and this reflection continues the conversation with deep respect and gratitude for Gini and all who walk this path.

Resources & Links:

• Connect with Gini Thomas at https://linktr.ee/ginithomas
• Celebrate April's Limb Loss & Limb Difference Awareness Month
• Learn more about & support The Limb Preservation Foundation

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Hearing the stories of others helps us create a more meaningful connection to our own—because legacy isn’t just what we leave behind, it’s how we live right now.

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