#70 Transitions in Marriage with Jennie and Gary Guinn
In May, Jennie and Gary celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary and reflected on the challenges and transitions they experienced over the past year. It was a year filled with major life transitions. They became empty nesters as their youngest son graduated and went off to college. They also lost Gary's mother, who had been in assisted living and passed away after a major stroke. When she went into assisted living they began cleaning out Gary's childhood home which was full of memories and lots of stuff. Clearing out her house proved emotionally and physically demanding. On a positive note, Jennie and Gary became grandparents to a baby girl, which brought them immense joy. At the end of 2022, Jennie's parents sold their house and moved in with them.
Throughout these ups and downs, Jennie and Gary emphasized the importance of their faith in navigating the challenges. They relied on prayer and their relationship with God to find guidance and strength. They both acknowledged that sometimes the right words or actions might elude them, but through prayer, they believed that things would work out. Attending Mass regularly became a non-negotiable for them, as it provided grounding and nourishment for their lives. Jennie and Gary found solace in receiving the Eucharist and felt that it fueled them to be better parents, grandparents, friends, and caretakers. Their faith was what kept them grounded as they experienced the highs and lows of each transition.
Here is the link about Jennie's grandfather that is referred to in the podcast.
Jennie is a Catholic speaker, Life Coach, Podcaster, Weekly Radio Show Host on Nashville Catholic Radio, and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. After 26 years of working in Catholic education, Jennie felt God calling her "to step out of the boat" to serve in a new way. In her new ministry as a Catholic Life Coach, she now equips and encourages middle-life moms to reconnect with who they are and their unique God-given purpose so they can MAGNIFY Christ in their corner of the world.
