Chats from the Blog Cabin

MELISSA VERA

Come join Melissa and her guests on the Chats from the Blog Cabin Podcast! From North Carolina, this podcast will have you feeling like you've known these folks for years. Listen in as they chat about life, culture, current events, and more - all with a special Southern flair! Curl up with your favorite beverage and get ready to be entertained. Tune in now for a unique experience that's fun and insightful!

  1. 1d ago

    Self-Care Isn’t Selfish—It’s Necessary

    Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean you care any less about the people you love. So why do so many of us feel guilty the moment we put ourselves on the list? In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, we’re kicking off the Self-Care Series with an important reminder: self-care isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. We’re talking about what self-care really looks like beyond bubble baths, spa days, and face masks. Sometimes it’s taking a nap. Sometimes it’s turning off your phone, asking for help, setting a boundary, sitting quietly with a cup of coffee, or simply admitting, “I’m not okay today, and I need to take care of myself.” If you’ve spent years being the helper, caregiver, fixer, mom, wife, friend, or person everyone else can depend on, this episode is your reminder that you deserve some of the same love and care you so freely give to everyone else. Before you ask what everyone else needs from you today, ask yourself one simple question: What do I need today? Because taking care of yourself doesn’t mean loving everyone else less. It means finally remembering that you are someone worth taking care of, too. 🎙️ Chats from the Blog Cabin — where every voice is heard and every voice matters.

    Self-Care Isn’t Selfish—It’s Necessary

  2. 2d ago

    Then God Sent Me a Kitten: Meet Teddy

    Sometimes God answers the ache in your heart in ways you never see coming. In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, I’m introducing you to Teddy—the tiny kitten who seemed to show up at exactly the right time. After spending July talking about gratitude, I found myself unexpectedly emotional, exhausted, and wondering what my purpose looks like in this new season of life. My girls are grown, they have lives of their own, and I was wrestling with the feeling that maybe my days of being needed were behind me. And then, on a Friday night, the cat distribution system went to work. Teddy showed up needing food, patience, safety, and someone willing to earn her trust. She still doesn’t completely trust me yet—we’re working on that—but little by little, she’s letting me into her world. Maybe that’s the lesson in all of this: purpose doesn’t retire. It simply changes shape. Sometimes it looks like raising children. Sometimes it looks like creating something meaningful. And sometimes it looks like sitting quietly in the Blog Cabin, waiting for one tiny kitten to decide you’re safe enough to come a little closer. Come meet Teddy, the newest little resident of the Blog Cabin, and hear why I don’t think her timing was an accident. Because sometimes God doesn’t send a sign. Sometimes He sends a kitten. 🐾💕

    Then God Sent Me a Kitten: Meet Teddy

  3. 3d ago

    When Gratitude Brings Up More than Gratitude

    What happens when a month-long gratitude series brings up feelings you weren’t expecting? In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa is sharing how focusing on gratitude also opened the door to some deeper emotions—including a moment when she found herself bawling her eyes out, wondering if her days of being needed were behind me. And then Friday night happened. The cat distribution system sent a tiny, scared kitten her way. Her name is Teddy, and while she’s still learning to trust Melissa, she’s already become the official Blog Cabin Kitty—and an unexpected reminder from God that her purpose isn’t gone. Maybe it’s simply changing shape. We’re talking about gratitude and grief existing together, navigating new seasons of life, learning to trust God when we don’t know what comes next, and recognizing that sometimes His answers don't arrive the way we expect. Sometimes they arrive with four tiny paws and whiskers. 🐾❤️ Because maybe God didn't just send her a kitten. Maybe He sent her a reminder: I’m still needed. I’m still called. And He’s not finished with my story yet.

    When Gratitude Brings Up More than Gratitude

  4. Jul 25

    When Gratitude Feels Exhausting: I’m Tired and in All My Feelings

    What happens when you spend an entire month talking about gratitude…and suddenly you don’t feel very grateful? In this vulnerable episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, I’m admitting something I think we all need permission to say sometimes: I’m tired. Not just physically tired. Emotionally tired. The kind of tired that makes little things feel bigger, old hurts start talking again, and feelings you thought you had dealt with suddenly come knocking. But maybe gratitude isn’t about pretending those feelings don’t exist. Maybe we can be grateful and exhausted. Blessed and disappointed. Faithful and frustrated. Thankful for our lives while still admitting that today feels heavy. We’ll talk about why exhaustion can make old wounds louder, why rest isn’t something we have to earn, and why sometimes gratitude isn’t a celebration—it’s simply a whisper: God, thank You for carrying me when I’m too tired to carry everything myself. Because you don’t have to feel grateful every second to live a grateful life. 🎙️ Chats from the Blog Cabin — where every voice is heard and every voice matters. I've been spending this month intentionally looking for gratitude—in my relationships, my experiences, my past, my everyday life, and even in difficult seasons. But then I hit a wall. I felt tired. Emotional. Overwhelmed. And very much in all my feelings. Instead of pretending everything was fine because I'm supposed to be talking about gratitude, I decided to talk about this instead. In this episode, I share: Why gratitude and exhaustion can exist at the same timeHow being tired can make old wounds suddenly feel fresh againWhy gratitude shouldn't become another reason to shame ourselves for having difficult emotionsThe difference between being ungrateful and simply being exhaustedWhy we don't have to solve everything we're feeling immediatelyWhat Jesus teaches us about the importance of restWhy gratitude sometimes needs to be incredibly smallHow I'm learning not to make permanent conclusions based on temporary exhaustion

    When Gratitude Feels Exhausting: I’m Tired and in All My Feelings

  5. Jul 23

    Gratitude for Freedom: Never Taking Liberty for Granted

    Freedom is a gift that many of us experience every day without stopping to think about it. In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa reflects on the freedoms many Americans enjoy, why gratitude should never lead to complacency, and how appreciating our liberties can inspire us to serve others, participate in our communities, and pass these blessings on to future generations. Join this thoughtful conversation about gratitude, responsibility, and hope. Show Note In This Episode Why freedom is a blessing worth celebratingAppreciating opportunities that are easy to overlookThe connection between gratitude and responsibilityWays to strengthen your community through service and civic engagementHow faith encourages us to use our freedom to love and serve othersGalatians 5:13 (NIV) "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love." What's one way you can use the freedoms you enjoy today to make a positive difference in someone else's life? Gratitude grows deeper when we remember that freedom is both a blessing and a responsibility. By serving others, participating in our communities, and treating one another with respect, we help preserve the opportunities that allow future generations to flourish.

    Gratitude for Freedom: Never Taking Liberty for Granted

  6. Jul 23

    Gratitude Is More Than a Feeling—It's a Way of Living

    Gratitude isn't something we practice only when life is going well. In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa shares why choosing gratitude—even during life's ordinary and difficult moments—can change the way we see the world. Join the conversation as we explore how noticing God's everyday blessings helps us find hope, joy, and peace no matter what season we're in.

    Gratitude Is More Than a Feeling—It's a Way of Living

  7. Jul 21

    Gratitude in the Hunt: Finding Wonder Through North Carolina's Trolls

    What do giant wooden trolls, reclaimed wood, and a birthday adventure have in common? More than you might think. In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, I'm sharing why going troll hunting became the perfect birthday celebration. After celebrating our anniversary by finding the five trolls at Dorothea Dix Park, Raul and I continued the adventure by visiting Big Salley for my birthday. As we explored these incredible works of art by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, I was reminded that each troll is built from reclaimed wood—materials others had discarded but were transformed into something breathtaking. Their story became a powerful reminder of God's own work in our lives: taking what feels broken, forgotten, or worn out and giving it new purpose. Join me as I reflect on gratitude, the joy of choosing experiences over things, and how God is still creating beauty from every chapter of our lives. Whether you love road trips, art, North Carolina adventures, or faith-filled encouragement, this episode will inspire you to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Scripture: Isaiah 43:19 – "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" Because sometimes the greatest birthday gift isn't something you unwrap—it's discovering that God is still making all things new.

    Gratitude in the Hunt: Finding Wonder Through North Carolina's Trolls

  8. Jul 20

    Gratitude Series: When You Don't Feel Grateful

    This month on Chats from the Blog Cabin, we've been exploring what it means to live with gratitude. But what happens when you're the one struggling to find something to be thankful for? In this heartfelt episode, Melissa shares the honest story of her birthday—a day that left her feeling forgotten instead of celebrated. She opens up about how old wounds resurfaced, how easy it is to believe the lie that we don't matter, and how God used one unexpected Facebook message from a reader of her devotion in The Year of Hope to remind her that her story was making a difference. Join Melissa as she explores the truth that gratitude doesn't mean pretending everything is okay. Sometimes gratitude begins with honesty, and God often meets us in our most vulnerable moments through the kindness of others. If you've ever felt overlooked, unseen, or wondered whether your life or your words truly matter, this episode is for you. In this episode, you'll discover: Why gratitude and disappointment can exist together.How childhood wounds can resurface during life's milestones.The unexpected ways God reminds us that we are seen.Why your words and your story may be impacting people more than you realize.A simple challenge to encourage someone who may need it today.Because sometimes the greatest gift isn't the celebration we expected—it's the reminder that we were never forgotten in the first place.

    Gratitude Series: When You Don't Feel Grateful
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Trailer

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About

Come join Melissa and her guests on the Chats from the Blog Cabin Podcast! From North Carolina, this podcast will have you feeling like you've known these folks for years. Listen in as they chat about life, culture, current events, and more - all with a special Southern flair! Curl up with your favorite beverage and get ready to be entertained. Tune in now for a unique experience that's fun and insightful!

Information

  • Creator
    MELISSA VERA
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    617
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © MELISSA VERA
  • Show Website
    Chats from the Blog Cabin