Jeannie is a pastors wife, a mother of 4, and a thriver! After being rear-ended one afternoon driving home from church, a pre-existing condition in her body “woke up” with life-altering symptoms. This same rare disease has not only wreaked havoc on her body but has triggered other painful and debilitating diseases in her body. Jeannie went from being an energetic home-schooling mom or 4 to a pain-filled, mostly bed-ridden woman dependant on others for even the most basic tasks. Jeannie bravely shared her story of pain, loss, grief and hope with me. She is still very much walking through this storm in her life and has had to navigate more in the last few years than many of us have to face in a lifetime. Her and her husband Drew have been serving as pastors of a church they planted in Southern California for the past 15 years.

She is using social media to share her story of hope in the midst of the storm to encourage others by showing the good, the bad, and the ugly. You can find her on all platforms at @alittleaboutalout.

I trust you will be encouraged as you listen to Jeannie share her story of pain, grief, and hope.

I first “met” Kelly online through a hashtag. If that isn’t one of the truest and craziest things about our world today I don’t know what is! If I could share an alternate title for this episode it would be “living in the tension.” Kelly does such a beautiful job articulating tension of loss, hope, joy, pain, waiting, and seeing God amidst it all. This truly is one of my favourite episodes of Ready to Thrive and I’m honoured to be sharing Kelly’s story here.

Kelly is a writer, speaker, and former world-traveler who traded in her passport for a permanent address and now calls Atlanta, GA home. She hosts the Even If Podcast, where she shares weekly insight from her own story of losing her first child at birth, and offers words of hope for women navigating seasons of uncertainty and loss. When she’s not podcasting, she’s working for a non-profit in southwest Kenya, traveling across the country to speak at churches and retreats. She runs on Diet Coke, but maintains she can quit anytime she wants.

If you have never checked Kelly’s podcast please do! She speaks with conviction and compels you to move through the difficult places in your life with the love of Christ. Her and her husband Peter are taking steps toward adoption and if your heart is moved towards giving towards them you can find that page here! You can find out more about Kelly’s story here on www.kellystreiff.com.

Brandi Wilson was living her dream life, as a stay at home mom, and pastor’s wife when the rug got pulled out from under her feet and it all came crashing down. Brandi shares with me how she navigated the trauma of walking through her life imploding while under the scrutiny of the public eye. We cover grief, forgiveness, healing, and what it looks like to thrive today. There were so many Holy Spirit goosebump moments in this story as Brandi shares about how God met her in her pain, and continued to be the God who provides. Her circumstances changed, but God did not.

Brandi is co-leader of Leading and Loving it, as well she has launched lovebrandiwilson.com where she is coaching women who are ready to gain mental clarity and increase their emotional health. Check it out for a free 30 minute consultation to see if her coaching program is right for you!

Well we have officially crossed over into 2021 and if you’re like most people, you may still thinking of how you are going to tackle those goals and hopes and dreams you have for this new year. Or maybe you’re just feeling tired. Getting back into the swing of things takes a lot of energy and the holidays - however small and simple they were - can leave us in need of a little more rest. I get that.

In this time of year where we often talk about goals and dreams, Kristy and I sat down and talked about her journey from working in Corporate America towards her dream of writing. It wasn’t quick and it wasn’t easy. Be encouraged as you listen to her story and let it spark something in you towards what you have been called to in this season.

Kristy Cambron is a vintage-inspired storyteller, writing both award-winning historical fiction and Bible studies. She has served as a women’s ministry leader and speaks at events across the country, encouraging women to experience a deeper life in the Word through verse mapping.

Wendy Speake is the author of The 40-Day Sugar Fast and The 40-Day Social Media Fast. She is also the coauthor of Triggers: Exchanging Parents’ Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses. Wendy hosts her annual online 40-Day Sugar Fast every January and her 4-Day Social Media Fast every Lent.

If you are feeling that nudge to either spend a little bit of time detoxing from your phone, or even finally tackling that sugar addiction that has reared its ugly head over the holidays then this is the episode for you!

Everleigh joined me last Easter for a spontaneous episode and as providence would have it, she joined me for a very spontaneous Christmas episode as well! Quite literally there was no prompting or coaching, but just a girl who is excited to share the joy of Jesus with you in this season. Enjoy this short episode and Merry Christmas!

Let every heart, prepare Him room. But how? This episode does a mini deep dive into preparing our hearts not only for Christmas, but to thrive all year long.

I also am sharing a link to my favourite new Christmas album that combines worship with Christmas classics by Maverick City Worship, listen in!

Mary and I are both children of the 80’s. Though we grew up miles and worlds apart, we share a love for the pop culture we grew up with and you will hear that referenced in this episode! Mary’s story is one of overcoming, but not just her challenging childhood experiences. She shares about learning to find freedom from the drive to achieve as well as the process of forgiveness and grace. I loved this conversation with Mary and I know you will too. Check out Mary’s book, "Dirt: Growing Strong Roots in What Makes the Broken Beautiful."

Mary Marantz grew up in a single-wide trailer in rural West Virginia and went on to attend top-ranked law school in the US, Yale Law. However, instead of pursuing a career in law she took a giant leap with her new husband and launched a successful photography business followed by an online education platform for creative entrepreneurs. She is also the host of the popular podcast The Mary Marantz Show.

Dorina Gilmore Young is a picture of strength. Suddenly widowed and left to raise 3 daughters on her own, forced to walk away from the life she had built and loved, Dorina had a choice. Was she going to let the circumstances in her life take her out or was she going to keep running?

Dorina is such a beautiful woman both inside and out. She literally glows when she speaks. And even if you are not a runner, or you haven’t walked through a devastating loss as Dorina has, I trust this episode will deeply impact and encourage you. I won’t spoil the rest of her story but its all about the kind of redemption only God can bring us.

If you want to connect more with Doring you can check out DorinaGilmore.com and her latest book Walk, Run, Soar: A 52 Week Running Devotional.