Treasured with Courtney DeFeo

Founder of Treasured, Courtney DeFeo, is moving into a "season of rest" due to her recent diagnosis of Chiari Malformation. Listen in as Paula Faris interviews Courtney about this decision to leave her current vocation and move into a new season despite fear. Paula is a wife, mom, author, journalist, podcaster and champion of others. In her recent book, Called Out, Paula shares her own journey of burn out and physical breakdowns from her time at ABC News and The View. She knows the peace that comes with seeking your true calling.

Amy is a single mom of 3 teenagers. (Prayers are always welcomed!) Her greatest joy in life comes from her three kids, Jadyn, Pierce and Blaze and the crazy fun life they live in Franklin, TN. Amy works with Orange, a company based in Atlanta providing coaching, support and resources for churches and non-profits. She wears several hats there as an Orange Specialist and Executive Director of Orange VBS. Amy has been in Kid's ministry for almost 30 years. (She obviously started when she was 4 years old.)

Her favorite things are time with her friends and family, eating good Mexican food, finding the best pizza and Amy swears it all tastes better if consumed while on vacation at the beach or in the mountains! Her two favorite places to escape to when she can find time. 

Cheryl Scruggs and her husband Jeff run a marriage ministry together based out of the Dallas area called Hope Matters Marriage Ministries. They are individual counselors, public speakers and co-authors of I Do Again. Cheryl is also the founder and host of the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast.

Toni was born and raised in Houston, Texas but now resides in Atlanta, the city she now calls home with her husband Sam and daughter Dylan. With a degree in business logistics and entrepreneurship, she has used her talents to help ministries, leaders, and non-profits in the areas of student ministry, creative marketing, leadership, innovation, strategic planning, and diversity and inclusion. Toni kills illusions. She confronts the hard things. She takes her challenges head on, then she takes on your challenges too. She’s a speaker, a host, a teacher, and a faith advocate. She’s had the opportunity to proudly stand on stages like North Point Community Church, Chick-fil-A, Orange Conference, and MomCon. She’s also the founder of a women’s ministry brand called Broken Crayons Still Color that helps to reinspire confidence in your own potential. And, in this digital age of anxiety, Toni is teaching people all over the country that you can be broken and worthy and unqualified and still called to do great things . She doesn’t want you to just face your demons, she wants you to quash the illusion of your brokenness so you can live the most colorful life possible. 

Through the “Mentor 4 Moms" Podcast and the relatable style found in her book  “The Intentional Parent: Parenting On Purpose When Life Gets Busy" you can get a sense of Susan’s heart to provide encouragement to moms combined with helpful practical tools. As a wife and mom to 7, she truly understands the challenges of trying to be an Intentional Parent. Susan has been a mentor to women locally in Austin, TX, and Internationally for over a decade. To find out more, visit her website - SusanSeay.com

Ashley Nolan is a wife to Jon and mom of three in the Atlanta area. She is passionate about her role as a consultant with Beautycounter and enjoys encouraging alternative health & living solutions to many. She also enjoys sharing her adoption journey, her passion for orphans and those affected by AIDS, by bringing dignity and honor to these overlooked groups. If she’s not driving carpool or enduring a migraine, you can find her covered in dirt and sweat at the barn riding horses. You can connect with Ashley at @ashleygnolan on Instagram or [email protected].

Jamie Sumner​ has written for the “New York Times” and the “Washington Post,” among many other publications. She is the author of the nonfiction book on motherhood, “Unbound,” and the middle-grade novel, “Roll with It.” She is also a mom to a son with cerebral palsy, and she writes and speaks about disability in literature. She loves stories that celebrate the grit and beauty in all kids. She and her family live in Nashville, Tenn. Visit her at​ ​www.jamie-sumner.com​.

Kirsten is a disciple, mommy of seven and wife to Benjamin Watson (retired NFL football player after 16 seasons). Together, they founded the One More Foundation devoted to spreading the love and hope of Christ to One More soul by meeting real needs, promoting education and providing enrichment opportunities. You can learn more about the Watson family at thewatsonseven.com or follow Kirsten at @_kirstenwatson_.

On this Memorial Day, we are honoring our fallen heroes - and the families they leave behind. Ginger Gilbert Ravella and Rachel Faulkner Brown share their stories of walking the widow's journey and how to walk children through the stages and seasons of grief Visit treasuredgirlz.com to connect with these amazing women and their ministries to support other widows.

Jeremy Cowart is an award-winning photographer, artist, and entrepreneur whose goal in life is to use his creative platform to inspire and help others. Jeremy is a sought-after speaker, having presented at TEDx, the United Nations and creative conferences across the country. His latest endeavor is The Purpose Hotel, a planned global for profit hotel chain designed to fuel the work of not-for-profit organizations. He’s also the founder of a global photography movement, Help-Portrait and an online teaching platform, See University. The story of all of these projects is told in his brand new book “I’m Possible: Jumping into Fear and Discovering a Life of Purpose. He lives in Franklin, TN with his wife and four children.