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Molly’s New Book is Here!

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Meet the Cheese Ball Chick!

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The Cheese Ball Call

It’s not as cheesy as it appears… I promise! But you’ve gotta read till the end! ;)

It was in the spring of 2008 and I was returning to Minneapolis from speaking at a youth conference in Virginia. It was there that I had been coaxed into bringing some left over cheese balls home to my three nephews. The big awkward container of cheese balls was wedged under my arm as I wheeled my carryon through the airport. It didn’t take long for me to notice the growing grins around me. It seemed as though everyone I passed was motivated to smile as my cheese balls and I passed by.

When I arrived at security and sent the big container through the x-ray machine, I was greeted on the other side by eight smiling guards, all curiously eyeing my cheese balls. I opened the container to offer my new friends some snacks, but they politely refused. However, they still snuck in some “cheesy” jokes. I left them smiling as I boarded the plane home.

Shortly after take off, and to my complete surprise, the flight attendant announced over the intercom that “snacks will be provided by the cheese ball lady in seat 9D”! This happened not just once or twice, but 3 different times! This is where things took a turn. I couldn’t have thought this up. The people on either side of me started talking to me because of the cheese balls. They asked why I had them. I told them I received them at a speaking engagement. They asked what I was speaking about. I simply said, “Jesus”. And just like that, a meaningful faith conversation began. I had the privilege of encouraging my seat mates and it all started with cheese balls!

 As my journey progressed to and through the Chicago O'Hare airport, I made some friends as a direct result of my cheeseballs. At my connecting gate a woman started talking to me because of the big bulky snacks. Before I knew it, we were deep in a spiritual conversation with her admitting she wanted to get back to church and was in search of one. I invited her to come to mine and… she did! It was becoming hard to deny the fact that these cheese balls were bringing the world together. Ha! Ok, well, maybe just a few airplanes and airports, but still… something was happening, and I can see now that God had something to do with it.

I finally returned home and shared my jovial journey with my friends. It was over dinner when the plans began to unfold and one of them said, “Why not carry cheese balls around as a way to make people smile and see how God uses it?” To be honest, this idea sounded a little weird, but I also sort of saw it as a dare, and I’m not one to turn those down! I took the challenge from my friends and had no idea that I was beginning a mission of bringing joy to the world one cheese ball at a time.

The first step was creating a duct tape harness. Then I wore it out in public. Lots of people laughed and it started great conversations, but most people were hesitant to stick their hand in the community container and risk contamination. So I determined to make a sanitary dispensing system and enlisted the help of my brother, Andy, and Jim, an innocent by stander, employed at Home Depot (now special friend!). When Jim approached my brother and I in the PVC aisle, he had no idea what he was getting into. Now he’s got a verse in “The Cheese Ball Song” dedicated to him!

And that is how it all began. Now nearly 20 years later, my cheese ball dispenser and I have been to almost all 50 states, nine countries, on the TV show Wipeout. I wore them on my first date with my hubby, on our wedding day (but not down the aisle!), and pretty much everywhere else you could think of. I’ve had the privilege of meeting thousands of strangers and using this super cheesy icebreaker as a way to encourage people. I keep wondering if and when God will have me hang this up, but He keeps showing me that He is still using it to ignite laughter and light, to bring hope to the hurting, and start lifegiving conversations with people who need some joy. So, even though this silly little mission can be misunderstood or mistaken as an attempt to draw attention to myself, I’ll keep looking like a fool as long as it points people to Jesus. Back in 2008, I never would have guessed how God would and could use cheese balls. But He’s proven Himself time and time again. He’ll use anything we offer to Him. Go ahead and try—I dare you! ;)

Oh! I almost forgot! I wrote a book, and guess what’s it’s called! Cheese Balls for Jesus: Funny, Faith-Filled Stories to Encourage and Inspire. Chapter one is the whole cheese ball story in way more depth with some fun pictures and special stories. The following fourteen chapters are individual short stories recounting God’s faithfulness in my life through good times and bad times (some really hard times) and some ridiculously hilarious and embarrassing times. Oh boy. I get real. Check it out here. Oh, and to stay super up to date (like how my cheese balls are bringing joy to all my cardiologist appointments—yup, open heart surgery just around the corner) be sure to come say hi on social media @cheeseballchick on Insta or Facebook.

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Frequently Asked Questions for the Cheese Ball Chick

Why do you carry cheese balls around? To make people smile and share my joy (which is from Jesus)! It’s also an opportunity to shake up the monotony, cause people to look up from their devices and enter into meaningful conversations in hopes to leave them feeling seen and valued.

How did you come up with the idea? I had a crazy fun experience in an airport as I was bringing some cheese balls home to my nephews. To read the whole story, just scroll up to the beginning of this page.

How long have you been doing this? My first container went “live” in March of 2008.

How many cheese ball containers have you gone through? Well over 200, but I stopped counting a long time ago!

Do you wear them to work? Yes and no. I wear them to speaking events of course - which is part of my work.  However, when I did my internship in counseling for grad school, I didn’t wear them to work. C’mon, I know my boundaries! However, I did get "busted" by a few clients who googled me and demanded that I bring cheese balls into the session. So I did :).  

What’s the craziest place you’ve worn your back pack? It’s hard to pick so I’ll let you decide! Motorcycling, downhill skiing, rollerblading, roller-skating, zip lining, swimming, my wedding, Target Field, Progressive Field, planes, trains and automobiles, doctors appointments, cardiologist appointments, hospitals, nursing homes, Venice Beach, California, Niagara Falls, the beaches of Kenai, Alaska, the streets of Toronto, Canada, and the market in Antigua, Guatemala, the Sea of Galilee in Israel, to name a few.

Have you ever been denied access somewhere because of them? I was denied access to a concert at a club, but the bouncer kept an eye on them for me. I was also not allowed to bring them into Nashville’s Hockey Arena, but they let me “check” them at the desk. Honestly though, it seems I get a lot of special privileges wearing them, and often they are allowed in places that would otherwise claim a strict “no food” policy. I think it’s because people look at my cheese ball backpack more as an art piece or an oversized purse. I’ve been given free desserts at restaurants, been brought cookies from First Class when flying and have received discounts when shopping.

Has anyone ever gotten mad at you or reacted poorly? I can only remember 2 incidents. The first one happened on a flight out to Washington. The flight attendants invited me to hand out cheese balls to the entire plane, and of course I readily agreed. After going in and out of my window seat a few times, I apologized to the older gentleman seated on the aisle, and as a gesture, I offered him a cheese ball. He replied in a gruff, impatient voice, “Eating a cheese ball is the last thing that I would do”. The other incident happened at Wells Fargo. As I was leaving, the manager stopped me to quench her curiosity. As I shared my tag line, “bringing joy to the world…” a very disgruntled stranger butted in and said, “You know, there’s a lot more needs you could meet in this world than handing out junk food.” After a deep breath and a pause to make sure I was composed, I replied by telling him, “I completely agree and do my best to not only meet those tangible needs but to encourage others to do so.” He calmed down and looked a little embarrassed for his misdirected outburst.

What would make you want to be so nice to people you don’t even know? If you saw the looks on people’s faces when they see and experience the cheese balls, you’d know why I do it! A smile is contagious and if I can encourage someone else to pass it on, then I am quite satisfied. I hope to have a ripple effect. And of course, this is all my motivated by my love for God, but especially His love for me. How can I not share His kindness with others?!

Are you doing this for a specific cause or charity? Though I’ve been offered money numerous times in exchange for cheese balls, I always turn it down. As far as causes… I hope that my friendly gestures and random acts of kindness cause people to reflect on what their source of joy is. Lots of things make me laugh, but my lasting source of joy is my relationship with Jesus Christ. In my interactions with people, I am often given the opportunity to share about my faith. When invited, I love to share about the Giver of genuine joy, peace and hope. If you followed me around, you’d quickly learn that I treat each encounter uniquely. There is no agenda, but to laugh, listen and inspire.

How long does it take you to empty a container? Totally depends. Middle school kids are my biggest fans and quickest cheese ball consumers! I often go through up to three containers at a middle school weekend retreat or conference. That’s over 3000 cheese balls!

How many places have you brought your cheese balls? My cheese balls have been to almost all 50 states and 9 countries.

Did you wear them at your wedding? Yes, but not down the aisle. There are some boundaries ;-).

Do you wear them everywhere you go? I wear them lots of places, but there are situations in which it would be inappropriate such as a cheese balls anonymous support group ;). OK, joking aside though, I strive to be sensitive to when and where I bring them. The point is to be an inspiration and encouragement not an unnecessary distraction.

Doesn’t airport security give you trouble for flying with them? Airport security guards are some of my biggest fans. It’s a pleasure to bring some fun to their routine. I always enjoy explaining myself. Since I fly often and bring them on all my trips, there are always a few airport personnel at the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport that recognize me each time I fly!

Do you wear them around your house? No. Don’t you think I deserve a break?!

Do you ever get sick of wearing them? I admit that sometimes I am not feeling up to the demands that come with being the Cheese Ball Chick. As you can imagine, it requires lots of conversations, answering the same questions over and over again, and always being “on”. But the benefits far outweigh any inconveniences, and I really do find it a joy to wear them. There have been a few times that I’ve begrudgingly put them on out of duty only to end up having a fun and unique experience that left me smiling and grateful, not to mention the strangers I met!

What does your husband think of you doing this? Let me start off by saying that I can’t imagine a more perfect man for me. Craig is so patient, easy going, gracious and supportive. I guess it helps that I wore them on our first date, so he knew what he was getting into! On the few occasions that I’ve second guessed wearing them out somewhere, he’s been the one to encourage me to bring them along. He even assured me that he wouldn’t mind if I brought them on our honeymoon to Cancun. I wanted to start our marriage off right so I did NOT take him up on that offer.