In this heartwarming episode, Dr. Chrysandra Brunson sits down with Morgan Wise and Michele Wilson to discuss the founding of Mistletoe Market by M&M, a venture that brings Christmas magic into homes while alleviating parental stress. The sisters share their personal journeys from childhood friends to mothers and entrepreneurs, emphasizing the impact of family values and love. Hear their inspiring stories of overcoming self-doubt, understanding their God-given callings, and embarking on a new business that reflects their desire to create memorable family experiences. Discover how Morgan and Michele balance motherhood with entrepreneurship, navigating the challenges and joys that come
00:25:40 Mistletoe Market: Product Details and Purchase Information
CHRYSANDRA :
Welcome, everyone, to The Calling’s radio show to all the dreamers. I’m your radio host, Dr. Chrysandra Brunson, and it is such an honor to be with all of you today. You know, at The Calling, we have realized that so many people are afraid to go after the dreams that God has put inside each one of their hearts because they are afraid to fail. And that is just plain wrong because if God has given us a dream and we’re not living it out, we are wasting it. And we do not want you or anyone else to die with regret. That’s why at The Calling, we love to inspire, empower, and equip people to, after Jesus’ calling on their lives, to reap the best kind of eternal legacy possible, to have immediate impact on themselves and their families. And we love to do this through so many different avenues, from custom tools, programs, workshops, seminars, but especially through this radio show where we bring on world-renowned guests. And like we do today in studio, you guys, we have the one and only Morgan Wise and Michele Kemp. What? Wesley Wilson. Wilson. Michele, I knew that in the back of my mind and it was right there. But you guys, I just have to share with everyone tuning in. These two are just the dearest of souls and friends. And it’s seriously amazing. One of the deepest places in my heart that it’s so special there in studio. Morgan and I were best friends from childhood at Bear Creek Elementary. And Michele was our leader of the pack. She was the older sister of Morgan. And that meant that she was my older sister, too. So you guys, welcome to the show. Thank you so much for having us. Yes. Thank you. Appreciate it. Yes. Happy to be here. Oh, you guys, we’re so honored to have you. And can you just share, Morgan, we’ll start with you and then Michele, just some of the roles that you’ve had just growing up and where we’re at today.
MORGAN WISE :
Yes, okay. Yeah, right now I’m a mother of three. I have a seven-year-old, a six-year-old and a four-year-old. I’m still in the throes and survival of motherhood. It’s partly behind our story of today. I’m a native to Colorado, obviously, since we were best friends growing up. I stayed here for high school, college. After college, I met the love of my life, and that’s where we got married, and now we are raising three kids together. That’s so hard to believe. It’s like a snap of the fingers.
MICHELE WILSON :
It went by so fast. And Michele… Yeah. One of my greatest roles growing up was being Morgan and my other sister, Melissa’s big sister. Family is number one and always has been. So I also stayed in Colorado and did my education and then fell in love with the love of my life. And we’ve now been married for 20 years and we have three kids together. One who’s leaving for college next year is going to Ole Miss. And then I have a freshman son and then I have a daughter who is in seventh grade. And We just love family and enjoy being together and so excited to be here. So thank you.
CHRYSANDRA :
This is so special. And you guys, this background to where we’re at today and what you guys have created. Tell us about you guys are now the founders and owners of a really special product and company. Tell us the name.
MORGAN WISE :
It’s called Mistletoe Market by M&M. Obviously, M&M meaning Michele and Morgan. Yeah, so it’s a Christmas shop basically right now. Our biggest product, our only product right now is Countdown to Elf on the Shelf. um to take away the stress for busy moms and um to keep the christmas magic alive instead of feeling overwhelmed and stressed we’re trying to take a piece of that away and helping by providing these boxes for parents to use every night with all the products that they need for elf on the shelf and so how did this whole idea happen how did you guys come up with it and what was the urgency
MICHELE WILSON :
Well, I have wanted to do this for a couple years, but I’ve been so busy with my kids’ schedules and sports, and I feel like we got a little late in the game this year, but I was actually cleaning my house the other day, a couple months ago, and I had this overwhelming urge that I was being called to do this, that it was time to get these boxes together and reach out to my sister and make the magic in homes in hopes that parents can have less stress and focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Rather than just the stress and anxiety of figuring out what to do with the elf on the shelf. Yes.
CHRYSANDRA :
And Michele, tell us the emotions that were going behind. Like, how did you know? Like, what what came with that urgency?
MICHELE WILSON :
I really feel like God was telling me it’s time. I had chills. I just had. Wow. I always told my kids. I got chills. You just said you got chills. I believe we all have. I believe God gave us that sixth sense. And when you feel something strongly, and I tell my kids that all the time, like, you got to go for it. And this one was really strong for me. So I reached out to Morgan. She was in. And then our husbands were 100% in to support us. And my kids are older, so they can support us. What did your husband say? We have to give a huge shout out. Courtney and Kellen, tell us what they said. They’re like, honestly, they’re great husbands. So what makes you girls happy? Go for it. Yeah.
MORGAN WISE :
I think they knew it would bring us joy that we’re also still learning to find in motherhood sometimes. So, yeah, 100 percent. That is so special.
CHRYSANDRA :
So you guys had this dream and you were trying to what was the first step of being able to go after it?
MORGAN WISE :
um the initial first step was kind of just reaching out to morgan but then we’re also super close with our mom yeah so the three of us met at starbucks right we’re at starbucks yeah we had a couple starbucks planning dates some lunch dates just you know jotting down on napkins really is how it started just trying to figure out what nights we needed to do and what steps we needed to take and eventually we It came together. Yeah. We actually had product to put together.
CHRYSANDRA :
Well, a huge shout out to your mom, Sharon. And I remember even being a little girl and Morgan, I think it was probably in your lunchbox, just seeing like how it was all formatted and notes and just the littlest of details. But your guys’ family has been, that’s just, God has given you such creativity and love through the littlest and biggest of things. And Style and fashion and beauty just all the things but you guys we we’re gonna touch We’re gonna go back to the newest product that everyone is gonna be able to purchase for Christmas time around the country around the globe but we want to hear about your guys’s personal journeys and of going after your god-given callings and to be making this today can you just think of when you were a little little girls um just how god was starting to weave this passion in your heart to touch you know not just this product but what the product brings to homes and families um what what was it like when you were little girls what kind of dreams was the lord weaving in you
MORGAN WISE :
yeah i think um we were very blessed in our family because our mom was so heavily involved in all of our aspects of our life she made every holiday feel magical um every birthday i mean every part that she would put 100 into us uh there wasn’t a second that went by that we didn’t feel the love and so for me personally and i’m sure michele can probably say a similar story but That was what I always wanted. My calling was to be like my mom. Like I just knew that when I grew up, that was exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to provide this magical safe place for my own kids and home. Um, just like my mom. And I think that, um, that God puts on us is that as women, we are called to be the shepherds of the home. And it’s not only just creating a safe place for our kids, but it’s also having the joy and the magic that we get to create for our kids. So I think that was part of the calling of, And I mean, you kind of lose yourself in motherhood at some point once you’re like in the throes of babies and diapers and all that. And so I kind of lost that calling for a little bit. And so recently after Michele reached out, it was a good opportunity to find, to pull back that calling of what I had always wanted as a little girl.
CHRYSANDRA :
I think that that is such a powerful way to share probably so many women’s heart desires as a mom of what to do. And Michele, for you to resonate and you guys just are magnets and seeing this that you lose the fun of motherhood. And what is that? So you said birthdays and holidays. Can you guys just kind of describe like I see it because I’ve been able to live through it and your guys’s family. But just describe some of those scenarios. I don’t know.
MICHELE WILSON :
what does fun look like fun yeah yeah as a mom as a mom yeah it’s when your kids smile and laugh yeah it’s the hugs they give you yeah morgan and i are in very different stages of motherhood hers are little and mine are a lot older and more independent but the hugs that my grown child who’s you know the size of his dad gives me means the world or my daughter still wanting to hold my hand or my little seventh freshman that wants to still snuggle up to a movie so i think i think the twinkle in their eyes is still there it’s just at a different time yeah um and they love being great big cousins so they’re super excited about this elf on the shelf and yes they’ve really discussed like oh this is a great idea this we remember when our elf did this so it’s been fun to bring that in um and pass it towards like the little cousins and stuff
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes. And Michele, you are so creative with bringing out, I mean, costumes and food. Describe maybe one of your, both of your favorite parties that, like what went into it and what would people see if they were…
MICHELE WILSON :
It’s funny you ask that. Honestly, I think my love language is the love I put into throwing and hosting parties. It’s like my favorite thing to do.
CHRYSANDRA :
Michele, I want to come to your next party. They’re fun.
MICHELE WILSON :
They are a lot of fun. But I always really try and go with that extra special detail, whether it be a specialty drink or a little goodbye gift. or your name on a cup so you know you were wanted and desired there. I think it’s the small things that make it so special and so much more fun. And that’s actually what we’ve gone and done with our boxes. There’s so many extra personal touches that you’ll feel the love in all the work that we put into these boxes. And it’s because… That, again, is kind of our calling and our passion to make it just go one step above what you normally would do, I guess.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes. And it gives me it gives me goosebumps. So you guys in and putting this all together and just in your callings in general, becoming moms and then but before that, even becoming wives. And this journey of being entrepreneurs, can you guys each just share a scenario where there were these giants, whatever that giant was, and how you were able to move forward on this path that God was calling you to, to be here today. But tell us about one of those challenges and how you were able to walk out in faith.
MORGAN WISE :
Yeah, I think the beginning of motherhood was really, really challenging for me. That was one of my giants. That postpartum life is really hard that no one prepares you for. And we don’t think that it’s publicly talked about. Yeah, it’s not. It’s kind of like taboo and it’s frowned upon if you admit that you are having any issues. you know difficulty processing being a new mom and i think that was one of my biggest giants was that i never felt good enough where i was never doing enough for my kids or i wasn’t perfect enough my house wasn’t clean enough i didn’t i had laundry to do or dishes i just like i couldn’t do it all and i felt the need to be this perfect type of person and i think the more i focused on being that person who i thought was needed to be perfect the bigger that giant became and i that was a really hard one for me to kind of work through but the more and more I’m kind of getting my head above water and motherhood and finding joy again God has really called that I am enough you know it I don’t need to have a perfectly clean house that’s not what my kids are going to remember they’re not going to remember if I had dishes in the sink or not every night what they are going to remember is the magic and the love that we create inside the home
CHRYSANDRA :
so perfect absolutely you guys we have to go on a short break but you’re listening to all the dreamers radio show we have morgan wise as well as michele wilson on with us we’re so honored to have them to talk about their newest product elf on the shelf but brand new coming to your home stay tuned Hi guys, this is Chrysandra Brunson, host of To All The Dreamers. I am so happy to introduce personal training, nutritional guidance, and behavioral change coaching. Healthy, happy, and heavenly for your wellness, spirit, soul, and body. Contact Mimi Kroger at healthyhappyandheavenly.com.
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CHRYSANDRA :
We are back. Thank you for listening to all the Dreamers radio show. I’m your host, Dr. Chrysandra Brunson, founder of The Calling. And it is such an honor to be in studio live with Morgan and Michele, sisters of the brand new product. And you guys tell us again the name of this incredible product that people can bring to their homes today. uh a spin on elf on the shelf yes we are mistletoe market by m&m and we are doing the 24 days of um surprises for elf on the shelf in a box ah we’re so excited thank you and we’re gonna be telling everyone how they’re gonna be able to um hear more about this but also you have a chance to win one of these incredible boxes yes That’s right. You get to win. But you guys, right before break, Morgan, thank you so much for just your vulnerability of motherhood and what it was like to first become a mom and having to overcome it. So how were you able to overcome those beginning stages of motherhood?
MORGAN WISE :
Yeah. I mean, honestly, I’m still a work in progress, so I can’t say I have it all figured out, but I think a lot of it, I think a lot of it was just truly accepting the truth of God’s creations. Like he creates everything in his image and it’s, it is perfect. I am enough. And I think letting go of that control is, of me trying to control every aspect of my life has been a big piece of it. It’s definitely every day it’s a battle and I have to pray about it specifically, but just letting go and just realizing that I am enough and God created me in this moment to be a mother to three kids. So I’m just trying to live up to that potential. It’s so powerful. Yeah, it requires a lot of grace. Yes. Yeah, because I make a lot of mistakes as a mom, but I’m figuring it out that each morning is new. And give a shout out to your kiddos, Morgan. Hudson, Savannah, and Hunter. Yes, they are sweet children.
CHRYSANDRA :
they are they are and michele what comes to mind for you with uh just being able to overcome what giant comes to mind just on this path of following god’s calling how are you able to persevere yeah um i think my biggest giant was always self-doubt um i feel like maybe society
MICHELE WILSON :
thinks you should do this you should be the doctor or the lawyer and i grew up always knowing i just wanted to be a mom and a wife and i think i had to take the just out because i’m not just a mom and a wife i am a mom i am a wife and that is my biggest joy so i think when i finally was able to find my own confidence that um the world opened up to me and um The Lord, it was a long journey, but I think with the support of family and friends and then just knowing that I was never alone because he was always there. Yeah. I became very confident in who I was and the mom I was and the wife I was. And I knew it was OK that God perfectly placed me where I needed to be. And I’m thankful to be there.
CHRYSANDRA :
So, yes. And I think that everyone could resonate with that. What would you say to someone who’s struggling with self-doubt?
MICHELE WILSON :
It’s a real thing. But we are all uniquely and beautifully and perfectly made. So don’t ever like what we were talking about earlier. Like I was like, oh, I just like to make parties or make crafts. It’s like it’s not enough, but it is enough. Your gift is enough out there to change the world.
CHRYSANDRA :
It’s so powerful. And we, yeah, I think that, you know, that’s one of the biggest ways that Satan tries to prevent us from moving forward is that we’re not enough. Yeah, that just word, we need to erase it. Yeah, we do. Yeah. You guys, so this is, you know, the story of going after our God-given dreams. You guys are, it’s just such a beautiful, joyous celebration. And especially just in this new journey of a God-given dream. Can you tell us a story of doing the impossible and being able to see some of these miracles come alongside in your journey? I know it’s a big question. But an impossible situation that you were able to see a miracle come through. Because a lot of times we don’t want to be in these situations that miracles are required, but God always comes through.
MORGAN WISE :
Yeah. That’s a tough one. Yeah. Goodness. I got to think about this one.
MICHELE WILSON :
Do you have something, Michele? I think God’s miracles are in everything. Yeah. I mean, as simple as you are growing a baby and you have to have that baby. That’s a miracle in and of itself. Yeah. How am I going to do this? And it happens. Right. I think even our little business that we are starting and kicking off, we were like, well. Is it going to work? Are we going to do anything? And we’ve already had sales. We’re already shipping boxes off. And it’s seemed impossible, but to the grace of God and call it a miracle, call it friends, call it whatever, being here, like we would have never guessed that our little venture was going to bring us to your radio station. Yeah. I think there’s miracles in every day. You just have to be able to see them and know which ones they are.
CHRYSANDRA :
Right, right. I think, Michele, that’s a perfect example. It’s like you had to take one step of faith to be able to see the ripple effect. And a lot of times we’re like, we want to see the whole timeline from start to finish, how it’s all going to be. And. Jesus just takes us on this wild adventure when we’re able to trust him with that first step. And so you guys, we love a good love story. And so just a little bit about you guys and your love stories. Can you just share a summary of how both of you met your husbands? Because there are stellar men that you guys, tuning in, you need to look up to these gentlemen. Yeah.
MORGAN WISE :
Yeah, I met Kellen. We’ve been married almost 10 years. 10 years? Almost. Next June will be 10 years. Incredible. I know it is. We met after college. We met through just honestly a mutual friend. She had went to college with Kellen and she introduced us. And honestly, it was kind of, it was like one of those stories that seems like you just know the second you meet them. And that was honestly kind of it. Oh! I know there’s like not much to our story, but that’s just how it works. Well, and Morgan, you had a couple of frogs along the way. Oh yeah, I did. She did. Yep, I really did. We love Kellen. Yes, yes. I know. I think that’s why I knew the second he was just so different than anybody I’d ever met. And he supports me 100% in everything I do. He does. He’s a very supportive person. Yeah, he leads us in our faith and our home. And you know, he is just a good, good, solid man.
CHRYSANDRA :
Ladies, we’ve got to wait till the right one. It’s such a good story, Morgan.
MICHELE WILSON :
And Michele, tell us about how you met Courtney. Yeah. Courtney and I have been married for 20 years, three kids. Courtney was the first guy that I dated that I was really honest with. I shared, oh, I’m not going to be a CEO. I’m going to be a mom. I’m going to be a wife. I hope you feel okay with that. And he immediately… was 100 on board and so um we were just best friends from the beginning and then 20 years later we backpacked through the south pacific and came back got married had babies and i’ve been raising them and um he is supportive and loving and we fulfill our dreams together that’s so fun and when you say the south pacific where do you mean we were we went to fiji and new zealand wow Wow. It’s quite an adventure. Yeah, he proposed on a boat. Really? That was sinking. That was sinking? Yeah. Sharks in the water.
CHRYSANDRA :
Real story. And Michele, did he parachute in different continents? Or what did he do recently?
MICHELE WILSON :
He did not do the parachute. Okay, okay. But your friend did. Okay, okay. But he has gone skydiving with that friend. Yeah.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yeah, such adventures. He has a very adventurous spirit. You guys are both just power couples and your whole family. Melissa’s here in spirit with us. Yes, our other sister who we love dearly. Yes, we love Melissa. And your parents are just wonderful. world shaker they are the best they really are yeah we got very lucky and i just i call all of you the fight masters i know some names have changed but we will always be a lot of my kids friends and even some of courtney’s friends are like you really should have kept her name Yeah, that’s right. You guys tuning in their last name, the maiden names was Fight Masters. So you guys were coming on towards the end of the show. I mean, I know, but we still have so much more to cover real quick. We want to know for people that are tuning in. They’re afraid to go after what God’s called them to. And they have that sacred dream that’s in there. But what would you tell them to encourage them to step forward and to truly embrace this season to live out Jesus’s calling on their lives? Go for it. All things are possible through him.
MICHELE WILSON :
I love it. Yeah. Just go for it. Don’t live in doubt. Yeah. He’s on your side.
CHRYSANDRA :
He’ll steer you in the right direction. Love it. Love it. Michele. Yeah. Just kind of jump.
MORGAN WISE :
Powerful. Yeah. You just can’t be afraid. You know, Joshua one nine says, have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged for the Lord. Your God will be with you wherever you go. So I think that’s just one of those, you know, verses that we always have to stay to ourselves in the moment of that first step might be the hardest one, but just make it because, you know, God is calling you and he’s never going to give you more than you can handle. Yeah.
CHRYSANDRA :
Which I think that we forget, but he has entrusted us with it. Yep. pearls of wisdom you guys okay so tell us all about this new venture how we can get involved and why it’s essential that we bring this joy not only to our own families home but we can also give it to others absolutely yeah um so we have this special box it’s um
MORGAN WISE :
I think we’ve said it a couple of times off on the shelf, but it is 24 nights. Every night has a stickered bag with everything you possibly need to set up special adventures and surprises and treats for your kids to wake up to every morning. It is part of that magical touch that we can create during this holiday season. Our boxes are stand out just a little bit because we’ve added so many personal touches to each and every night. so it’s not just like we’re not just buying things and stuffing them in bags we have put our hearts and souls into these boxes to provide just you know just that extra touch of magic for your kids to have and and it takes away the stress for parents you know i’ve had many a night where i’ve woken up at three in the morning because i haven’t moved my elf or i haven’t said i forgot to set up something and This just takes away that stress so that we can know exactly what we’re going to set up that night or that morning. And then we can focus on the real things about creating those moments with our kids and just being more present. So it just takes away one of those. And the true meaning of Christmas.
MICHELE WILSON :
You’re not spent taking care of things that don’t necessarily matter. You really are able to celebrate the true meaning. Absolutely. And we’re just here to, you know, help busy parents. And I think parents, when they get the box, I think it’s a gift for them. I think they’re going to open it and be so excited. Yay! There are so many special touches and there’s pictures to go with each night. So it is literally foolproof.
CHRYSANDRA :
Oh my gosh. Can you guys give us one example? And we’re so grateful that this is trademarked and this is exclusive, but for parents tuning in, this is a little hint of the magic that you’ll receive. Oh, we have some good ones.
MORGAN WISE :
What’s your favorite? I like our ziplining one. We have a night where our elf takes a little zipline adventure through the house. Oh, no way. It involves some candy green. Are you serious? Yeah. So it’s just little special things. I think he brings some snow from the North Pole. He does.
MICHELE WILSON :
He brings magic gloves in case he needs to be touched or wants to be touched. Oh. Oh, you guys. Okay, we’re going to leave that. We don’t want to share anymore.
CHRYSANDRA :
This is literally, I mean, I think everyone’s like, that’s such a great idea. And you guys provide all of it in these boxes, in these kits. And how much are they for everyone to get?
MORGAN WISE :
Right now, they’re on our Etsy shop for $115. Perfect. Per box. It includes, you know, you let us know how many kids you have so that we can make sure that there’s enough for each one of your kids to have something special. So it’s not just catered to, you know, one kid. It’s whatever your family is. Take care of your whole family. Yeah. What is that Etsy website? Mistletoe Market by Eminem. Say it one more time. Mistletoe Market by Eminem. And they just Googled that. Yep. You just go to Etsy and we’ll be right there. And we also have an Instagram page that you guys can find us. It’s Mistletoe Market. And that’s how if you go like us. Yeah.
MICHELE WILSON :
If you like us and share our Instagram, you will be entered to a drawing to win the box. Yes.
CHRYSANDRA :
And that’s what you guys, so you have a chance not only to buy one before they’re sold out, but also to be able to win one. So you do need to follow Michele Morgan and these two Instagram pages for you to be entered to win. And I’m just so excited for everyone to experience this magic. I can’t wait to get one and to be able to spread it to all the world. So we love you guys. Till next time, dreamers. Keep dreaming big.
