Hey everyone, welcome to the Wild and Free Podcast.

I'm Ainsley Arment and we're recording this special episode due to a heartbreaking event that's occurred in our community.

We wanted to come together to show our support for a very dear family.

Thanks for joining me.

This year has ushered in more brokenness than we could have ever imagined.

Last week, our community grieved the loss of a beautiful mother.

Emily Mitchell of the Hidden Way was a radiant light to her family, friends, and so many of us in this wild and free community. Just last Wednesday,

she was unexpectedly taken home to heaven, along with her unborn child. We are heartbroken and can only

imagine the grief and sorrow her precious family is experiencing right now. She was not unlike you and me.

She loved her family fiercely,

adored her husband,

longed to give her children a childhood of wonder,

whispered prayers over their sleeping heads,

and hoped for a beautiful future for them.

She will not be forgotten.

On the evening of December 26th, our community hosted a virtual vigil on Instagram.

Thousands of mamas lit a candle in M's honor and posted a photo using the hashtag Vigil for M. We lit up the world with

remembrance of our beloved friend to let her family, her children, and her friends know just

how much she impacted all of us. We had recently recorded a conversation with Emily for this

podcast, but she passed away before we had time to air it.

We decided to share it with you today.

But before we do, I'd like to read something Emily shared on her Instagram feed last March.

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