135. We're Back! Vacations, Health Updates & Our Intentions for 2026
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops for the first episode of 2026! After a much-needed January break, your hosts Jena Ochsner and Mary Pat Sass are back behind the mics to catch up on life, travels, and what's on their hearts for the new year. This episode is a classic front-porch chat, filled with stories from their recent vacations, significant health updates, new hobbies, and their intentions for the year ahead.
📌 What We Cover in This Episode:
✅ We're Back! Kicking off the new season with a prayer and a hilarious story about what happens when a pull-up explodes in the washing machine.
✅ January Vacation Recaps:
* Mary Pat shares stories from her trip to Cancun with Seed Life, including meeting awesome new farm couples and getting the worst sunburn of her life (leading to a tangent on "Jenna-approved" sunscreen).
* Jena recounts her relaxing trip to the Dominican Republic with Beck's Hybrids, complete with beautiful beaches, a luxurious spa, and a refreshing alcohol-free vacation.
✅ Real-Life Health Updates:
* Mary Pat's Vertigo: A positive update! She shares the small but significant changes she's made—prioritizing sleep and a new migraine-support drink—that have led to milder and less frequent episodes.
* Jena's Mold Journey: A deep dive into her family's ongoing health mystery. She shares the shocking results of a home dust test, the fascinating experience of having a "mold-sniffing dog" inspect their house, and what he found (including mold in her running shoes!).
✅ New Hobbies & Homesteading: Mary Pat is officially a freeze-drying mama! She talks about her new hobby, the fun things she's already made (freeze-dried grapes are like candy!), and her plans to make beef organ supplements.
✅ An Honest Homeschool Update: Jena shares the beauty of flexibility in homeschooling, taking an extended break after a season of sickness, and her thoughts on evolving their curriculum.
✅ Intentions for 2026: Instead of rigid resolutions, they discuss their "words" and intentions for the new year, including Jena's focus on giving herself grace with her workouts and Mary Pat's goal of trusting God's plan while celebrating slow, consistent progress.
💡 Key Takeaways:
✨ Taking a real break is a powerful reset. Whether it's a tropical vacation or a break from your normal routine, stepping away is crucial for recharging your mind and body.
✨ Healing is not linear. It’s a journey of small changes, setbacks, and celebrating slow, consistent progress. The path to wellness requires patience and grace.
✨ Be your own health advocate. When something doesn't feel right, keep digging. Ask questions, explore all options (even mold-sniffing dogs!), and be persistent in finding root causes.
✨ Set intentions, not just resolutions. A guiding word for the year (like "Intention") or a general focus can be more powerful and sustainable than a rigid list of goals, allowing for grace and flexibility.
✨ Find joy in the mundane. There is an opportunity to find blessings and glorify God even in the most everyday tasks, like a mountain of laundry.
🙌 Join the Conversation!
We’re so excited to be back for a new year! What's one thing you'd love for us to talk about in 2026? Let us know your ideas and tag us @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line! The link is in our show notes.
#NewYearIntentions #HealthJourney #Vertigo #MoldSickness #FreezeDrying #Homesteading #HomeschoolLife #BeyondTheCropsPodcast #FarmWife #Sponsored
