My guest for The Happy Hour # 241 is Jada Edwards. Jada is a Bible teacher and discipler. She has committed her life to equipping women of all ages, at all stages, with practical, biblical truth to help them live authentic and transparent lives. Jada currently serves as the Creative Services Director and the Women's Director for One Community Church, where her husband Conway serves as the Lead Pastor.

Jada and I start off the show talking about what reconciliation looks like when things are messy. We also dig into something we all need to examine in our hearts - are we maximizing someone else's sin and minimizing our own? I loved hearing Jada's story of how she asked God simply "show me how do I do this", and the changes she saw happen in her life. We then dive into discussing how we "set up people for failure, when we're waiting for them to be something they're not". Lastly, we talk about what it looks like to truly live the Gospel and have it influence everything you do. As Jada stated so well, "your job doesn't have to be in ministry, but ministry needs to be in every job." 

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My guest for The Happy Hour # 240 is Nicole Unice. Nicole is a Bible teacher, author, and passionate communicator who delights in bringing God’s Word to life in a personal and relevant way. Her training as a counselor informs her work, as she emphasizes the importance of facing our own reality and embracing the transforming power of God’s grace. Nicole serves as a pastor on staff at Hope Church.

Nicole and I start off the show chatting about kids starting to drive and I just loved Nicole's idea of how to use the family car. We then dive into talking about the struggles with contentment. She describes how we are so often trying to get to the next thing that we don't see what God has put in front of us today. I loved hearing her prayer to live each day as an adventure that God is partnering and leading us on. Nicole then speaks of how the past can impact our present reality, but it does not have to define it. She encourages us to stop saying "but, it's not a big deal", and instead confront the past to allow opportunity for healing and true freedom in Christ. Lastly, we chat about leadership, and no matter what your sphere of influence looks like, we can all be conduits for reconciliation for others.

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My guest for The Happy Hour # 239 is Audrey Roloff. Audrey is passionate about motivating women to always believe in the more that is within them through Christ. She spreads this mission through her devotionals, Always More clothing line, and blog. Audrey is also the co-founder of beating50percent.com, a marriage ministry, with her husband Jeremy. The couple also hosts the top-rated Behind the Scenes podcast. She’s an 8 on the Enneagram, mom to Ember, drinks her coffee beige, loves all things floral and the Pacific Northwest.

Audrey and I start off the show talking about she and her husband's love story through 3 years of long distance, writing love letters, to deciding it was time to step away from the reality show, Little People, Big World. Audrey shares why she and Jeremy are so passionate about marriage, and the motivation and hope behind their book, marriage journal, and ministry. Audrey also tells us how writing the phrase "Always More" on her arm during her time as a track runner, led to her create her business Always More. Audrey and I also talk Enneagram, and she shares something I never had heard about it! Lastly, Audrey opens up about learning what she needs in a community and how it can be difficult to find or create that community in different seasons of life.

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My guest for The Happy Hour # 238 is Jennifer Welker. Jennifer is a former Neonatal ICU nurse turned founder and designer of the jewelry brand, Golden Thread. Golden Thread is a luxe line of personalized and dainty jewelry that's been featured in magazines like Vogue, In Style, & People Style Watch, and is a celebrity favorite. Jennifer and her husband Ellis reside in Houston with their three children (and one on the way!)

Jennifer and I start off the show talking about how her business Golden Thread started out as an outlet to deal with the grief she encountered while working in the NICU. Jennifer then opens up to share how deep wounds in her childhood led her to live life with a self savior mentality - one where on the outside everything looked "normal", but on the inside she was empty. She tells us how this spiraled downhill fast as she entered into an affair that would last years. I appreciated so much that Jennifer gives us the raw truth about the darkness, codependency, and toxic addiction that the affair was. I know you will be so moved as you hear Jennifer speak of when she hit her lowest, and the moment she tangibly felt God remove the scales from her eyes. Infidelity is not something that is often openly talked about, but friends, let us not get trapped in the lie that it only happens to "those" people. We are all in this boat together, and Jennifer's story is one we can all relate to, because her story speaks the truth that we are all in need of our savior, Jesus.

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My guest for The Happy Hour # 237 is Lara Casey. Lara is a mom to 3, a grateful wife, and an unlikely gardener. She's the creator of PowerSheets goal planner, founder of Southern Weddings magazine, and author of Make It Happen and Cultivate.

If you are part of our Happy Hour Party on Patreon, you heard Lara's amazing episode in our mini-series about dreams and goals. Today, I am so thankful to have Lara on the show as she shares her journey of faith and how God has changed her life in so many ways. Lara and I start off talking about taking the time to really slow down. She tells us about a recent neck injury that has brought about suffering, but God has shown her how it is an opportunity to live each moment well. Lara then shares the story of how she and her husband struggled and fought for their marriage through deployment, infidelity, differing faiths, and more. You will absolutely see God's hand all over her story, and how He made what seemed impossible, possible. Lara also talks about people who bore witness to what God could do when she couldn't believe it, and it renewed in me the commitment to seek out others and ask about their heart.

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My guest for The Happy Hour # 236 is Shruthi Parker. Shruthi is a professional blogger and event host. Shruthi recently hosted Keep Austin Warm in December 2018 which benefited three Austin nonprofits. Shruthi is passionate about connecting people together and sharing different perspectives with different crowds. Shruthi and her husband live in Austin along with their two rascal dogs.

Whether you love it or hate it, social media can bring people together. I met Shruthi through social media and it turns out we go to the same church and live in the same city! After having coffee, I knew I wanted to bring her on the show to share her story. Shruthi and I start off talking about her conversion from Hindu to Christianity that started with a friend named Faye in the 8th grade who invited her to small group. Shruthi shares how this started her down a path that, years later, would bring her to praying "who is God? I need to know who you are, and I need you to be over my life". I got tears in my eyes as Shruthi told me how God revealed His truth while she listened to her boyfriend recite Romans in a Barnes and Noble. She tells us how she hid her faith from her family for fear of disapproval, and how the secret was finally revealed and caused a deep divide. You'll also get to hear about Shruthi's blog and how God used a job that fell through for an even better plan that He had for her.

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My guest for The Happy Hour # 235 is Emily P. Freeman. Emily is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Simply Tuesday and A Million Little Ways, and her newest book, The Next Right Thing. As host of The Next Right Thing podcast, she helps create space for the soul to breathe, offering fresh perspective on the sacredness of our inner life with God. Emily and her husband live in North Carolina with their three children.

I am so happy to welcome Emily back to the show today! Emily and I jump right in to discuss how unmade decisions can hold so much power in our lives, but Emily offers a game-changer. Emily describes how we can develop spiritual routines and habits that put ourselves in God's path - intentionally and on purpose! - every single day. When these become part of our days, it helps us see unmade decisions as hopeful opportunities to interact with God and our communities. Emily and I also chat about parenting teenagers and how we react when they make mistakes. Emily shares about her passion of encouraging women to go after their dreams, and you'll get hear about the amazing writing community, hope*writers, that she co-founded.

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My guest for The Happy Hour # 234 is Scarlet Hiltibidal. Scarlet is a wife, mother, and author of Afraid of All the Things and He Numbered the Pores on My Face. She also writes a regular column for ParentLife Magazine. Scarlet loves sign language with her daughters, nachos by herself, writing for her friends, and learning how to be a pretend-farmer with her husband in Middle Tennessee.

Scarlet and I start off the show talking about anxiety. We discuss how it can sometimes be glossed over, how some don't even realize they struggle with it, and how anxiety can be absolutely debilitating. You'll hear Scarlet share how she realized she was afraid of all the things which led to an eating disorder, declining health, secrets, and living a life she was praying God would heal. Scarlet's story of how God called her to bring her secret into the light gives such encouragement to anyone feeling shame or hiding something you think could never be told. Scarlet then tells us how she began to truly rest in Jesus and realize that instead of focusing on all the things, she needed to look up, at God. Scarlet says, "if we are looking at Him, we see life, and hope and love." In the last part of the show, Scarlet shares with us the story of the adoption of her daughter Joy. You guys, adoption was one of the things Scarlet had always been afraid of, and you're going to love hearing her speak of the incredible things God did through their adoption journey.

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My guest for The Happy Hour # 233 is Lisa Leonard. Lisa is a momma, author, and business owner. Together with her husband Steve, they built a thriving jewelry business, Lisa Leonard Designs. Lisa and Steve have been married 20 years, and have two boys, David and Matthias. Steve and Lisa live in California and her first book, Brave Love, came out in January! 

Lisa and I start off the show talking about how she started her business. Lisa then opens up about how she felt like the true Lisa was disappearing in efforts to accommodate others. I appreciated her honesty when she spoke about the fear of rejection she felt when she decided that she wouldn't hide the true Lisa anymore. Lisa and I then talk about what it's been like parenting a special needs child. You will love hearing her story of how God prepared her heart for having a special needs child in the most incredible way through a non-verbal second grader.  Lisa also shares about the grief she's been through. I think we can all relate when you hear her speak of the struggle of confronting dark places of grief instead of putting on a happy face and pretending we're okay. At the end of the show, I had Lisa do something I've never done on my show - read aloud from her book! I loved hearing her words, and I know you'll be encouraged to live life with Brave Love. 

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My guest for The Happy Hour # 232 is Jonathan Pitts. Jonathan is the Executive Pastor at Church of the City and husband to my friend Wynter Pitts, who God called home July 24, 2018. Jonathan and Wynter have four daughters, and on the show today I had the honor to talk with Jonathan about what life has looked like since her passing. Jonathan starts off sharing how the ministry Wynter started, For Girls Like You, is continuing and growing. We then get to hear so many incredible stories of how God has shown Jonathan and his family that He's always been with them as they've walked this road. He talks about learning how God is with us in the present, and because of this truth it is possible to grieve and experience joy in the same space. My faith was so encouraged listening to Jonathan speak about hope amidst suffering. I was reminded that even when there is pain now, it is not wasted. God can use all things for His good and His glory, and there is joy coming in the end because of the cross. Friends, I loved Wynter and am so honored to get to share Wynter's life. If you aren't familiar with her and her ministry, please check out the links from the show - I know you will be encouraged, inspired, and pointed to Jesus.

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