A Big Announcement is Coming 

Welcome back!  

All month we have been talking about Christmas Courage. And people have been opening up about their struggles. Which is so powerful in helping others not feel alone. That’s what happens when we are willing to share our stories. 

And today we have a big announcement, but you will need to stay until the end to hear it. 

Please Welcome the Best of the Best 

I am so excited because I have the best of the best with me – my hubby Eric Brock Fillinger. Thanks for coming in, Babe. In starting this podcast, my hope has been that telling my story would encourage others in theirs. And you are a large part of my story. 

We have been through everything together since we were 19 and 20 years old. That was my freshmen year and your sophomore year of college. 

For those of you who don’t know -Eric and I met the 2^nd quarter of college calculus. He has always been a smarty pants and since he passed his high school AP exam, he didn’t have to take the 1^st quarter. A mutual friend I had dated a few times introduced us and you made it your mission to make me laugh out loud in class.  

Calculus came easier for you. But I had to actually pay attention.  

Since that time, all throughout our lives, our stories have been similar due to shared experiences, but there are differences. For example, the way we process grief has been different.  

Podcast Interview 

When Nicholas died, I was in between jobs and was able to stay home and lay on the couch, but you bravely went right back to work immediately. You’re self-employed. So that means if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. And one of us needed to work to pay the bills. 

1. Can you describe that time? You let me stay home and grieve but it forced you to push down your grief so you could function at work. 

2. Looking back, what has made a difference in how you have healed from this horrific loss?  

We have been on this journey together. We chose early on not to blame one another. What could have killed our marriage, God used to make us stronger.  
 
We have been home alone together as empty nesters a number of years now. We have always loved each other, but I am so thankful we still like each other.  
Even though we made it a point to spend time together all along, I was afraid when the boys were gone, we wouldn’t still like each other, maybe we wouldn’t find things we both enjoyed. 

A couple of weeks ago I told the listeners Robin would help me hide your body if needed, but you really are my favorite person to be with.  

3. Maybe the listeners would like to hear the hiking story. 

God gave us 4 beautiful children we don’t deserve, two of which we have to wait until we get to heaven to meet. But the two God did allow us to parent are way more incredible than us. We did nothing to deserve this blessing.  

4. Why do we sometimes forget how blessed we are? 

Like all proud parents, we love to talk about them and their accomplishments. Drew has been on a Broadway tour and is looking to bust out on Broadway in New York. Nicholas had realistic goals of going to the Olympics. In different ways, each of our boys got the best of us and then some. 
 
A few years after Nicholas died, you, me, and Drew had peace about starting a foundation in Nicholas’ memory. 

5. Can you tell our listeners about the Foundation. 

When we started The Nicholas Fillinger Foundation, we wanted to use it as a tool to share Nicholas’ story as a means to advance God’s Kingdom. But we discovered we can only tell our own story – the one God gave each of us to share. 

6. What has been one of the biggest struggles in telling Nicholas’ story?

7. Today we are making an announcement! Please share the big reveal of what we have been praying about and working on for years. 
 
8. Will you tell everyone about our first stop on the Courage for the Journey LIVE! Tour? 

The first stop is our own local church family. Starting January 7, 2026, we will co-lead the 6-week series at Cullman First Baptist Church on Wednesdays at 6:00 pm. We will use feedback from those in the class to improve the curriculum and our delivery. Then we plan to reach out locally to churches in which we have contacts to gauge their interest and availability. From there, we hope to spread our reach as God leads and provides. Whether across the state, nation, or world, we are ready to go wherever God sends us with His Message.
 
Co-leading this series should prove very interesting. We are hoping to use each of our strengths for maximum impact.
 
The following Tuesday after the first class in the series, I will begin sharing my reflections starting with the January 13^th episode of this podcast. And I really want to hear back from our listeners so we can improve on the curriculum.  

I am going to update the speaking page on my website to include Courage for the Journey Live.  

You can reach out to me using the form on the speaking page or just email me at juliefillinger.com@gmail.com. 

In Closing 

Thanks for joining me today, Babe. I know it can make you uncomfortable to be vulnerable, but your willingness to share your story is really powerful and together, Lord willing, we have an opportunity to encourage others in 2026!