Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Graceology with Gwen Smith podcast. I'm Gwen Smith, and I am so glad you've joined me today. Around here, we have fun, faith-focused, grace-filled conversations, all to help you know and trust God more. Our discussions are honest, often humorous, and always practical,

and they're going to encourage you in meaningful ways to live out and lean on the grace of Jesus

in the midst of cluttered messy days. You got any of those? I know I do, and I can't wait to

get to today's conversation, which is all about living

on the bright side.

My guest is the fun and fabulous Melanie Shankle.

Known in the blogging world as The Big Mama, Melanie is a New York Times best-selling

author and proud graduate of Texas A&M who loves writing, shopping at Target, checking to see what's on sale at anthropology,

and trying to find the lighter side of every situation. Most of all, she loved being the mom of

Caroline and the wife of Perry and the official herder of two wild dogs named Piper and Maple.

Today, she and I sit down to talk about her new memoir on the bright side.

These days, y'all, so many voices tell us what to do, what to think,

what kind of parent or friend or spouse to be, that it's easy to feel overwhelmed and defeated.

Somewhere in the midst of all the online arguments and crazy

politics and the ups and downs of life, we've lost sight of the gifts that are all around us,

things like kindness, love, mercy, and joy. In her down-to-earth relatable and totally enjoyable

style, Melanie opens up and shares some

stories about how she's been learning to find all the joy that life has to offer.

And she talks about why encouragement is never something we should keep to ourselves.

Today's episode is a refreshing conversation that will inspire you to live and love your life on the bright side.

Well, hello, Melanie. I'm super excited to have you on the Graceology show today.

Thanks for coming.

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