Treasured with Courtney DeFeo

Allie Stanley is originally from Milton, GA and graduated from Auburn University this past May. She has a passion for serving students and was a middle school small group leader, a Young Life leader, a camp counselor and the Student Coordinator at Auburn Community Church.  Allie now works with college students at a church in Woodstock, Ga while she is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Christian Leadership from DTS. She has a heart for pouring into younger generations and her prayer is that the Lord uses her to inspire and equip students to be godly young men and women who are passionately pursing the Lord while loving the people around them.

In this episode, we discuss:

- growing up as the daughter of Andy and Sandra Stanley

- how to follow God in college

- what she appreciated most that her mom did

FELECEIA B. BENTON, affectionately known as Zoe's Mom, is a passionate lover of God, His people and His purpose in her life and the lives of others.

Her knack for creativity and business inspired her to start her own company. Now in its seventh year, the Zoe Communications Agency is a creative content and brand management company that builds strategic marketing solutions for cities, communities and businesses like the City of DeSoto, the City of Hutchins, RISE Clothing, and the Midlothian Chamber of Commerce. She is driven by her desire to find really big solutions to really big problems, especially for organizations and communities.

As a single mother of an amputee born with Down Syndrome, Feleceia still finds the time to record a weekly podcast, LifeChat Radio, where she and her co-host talk music, business, spirituality and all things life.

In this episode, Feleceia encourages all moms to see the gifts in their children! She encourages those raising daughters with special needs to find support, lean in to their reality and enjoy the unique gift they are to the world.

Lysa TerKeurst is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Uninvited as well as 21 other books. As president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa and her staff are passionate about teaching the Word of God in ways that get people excited to live the Bible out loud. With their First 5 app and Encouragement for Today devotions, millions of people are studying God’s Word every day with Lysa and her team. Lysa writes from her sticky farm table and lives with her family in North Carolina. Connect with her at www.LysaTerKeurst.com or on social media @LysaTerKeurst.

In this episode:

• Lysa shares very practical tips and encouragement, for how we can implement and guide our kids in the area of faith. She goes through each stage from toddlers to elementary to middle school to teens and beyond.
• Lysa challenges us to ask, "When do our kids need comfort vs correction?" Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and leading on this.
• We discuss the middle school years for our girls. Lysa challenges us to questions, "Are they pushing me away because they actually want me to pull them close? Which is it? Sometimes 'go away' means 'hold me close'."
• Remind your girls - "You are an amazing gift to me. You are the exact child that I asked God for. He gave me so much more than I asked. You are worth good friends and good relationships. No matter win or lose - I love you forever."
• How to pray more words for your girls than you speak about them or with them.

Kay Wills Wyma is a blogger, author, vodcaster and mother of five. Using raw and real stories Kay’s latest book, Not the Boss of Us: Putting Overwhelmed in its Place in a Do-All, Be-All World contemplates being overwhelmed by Truth with all its hope and peace and joy rather than life's pressures, stress & circumstances. Through it and her previous books, I’m Happy for You (Sort of … not really) and Cleaning House, Kay has appeared on Canada's The Social, the TODAY Show, CNN, The New York Times, Focus on the Family, Family Life and more. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, she held positions at the White House, the Staubach Company, and Bank of America. Kay lives in the Dallas area with her husband, Jon, and their family.

Mo Isom is a New York Times bestselling author, a nationally sought-after speaker, and a zealous voice rising up for her generation. Formerly, Mo was an was an All-American goalkeeper for the Louisiana State University soccer team, as well as the first female to train with and tryout for an SEC men's football team. After enduring a tremendous amount of adversity – including battling an eating disorder, overcoming the suicide of her father, struggling with promiscuity, and surviving a horrific car accident— she encountered the love and mercy of Jesus.

She is now a Holy Spirit-filled daughter of God who isn’t afraid to speak bold, raw, courageous Truth to a generation being crushed under the weight of their sin, their circumstances and the lies of the enemy. She has been featured in Sports Illustrated and appeared on Ellen, ESPN, CBS, The 700 Club, and countless other platforms. Isom speaks nationally and internationally on a variety of faith-based topics, and facilitates a faith-centered blog that has garnered millions of views to date. 

Her first book, Wreck My Life: Journeying from Broken to Bold, was a New York Times Bestseller and her second book, Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot, released March 2018 and has already reached tens of thousands around the globe. Isom and her husband, Jeremiah, live in Atlanta with their two daughters, Auden and Asher.

Lynn Cowell is a Proverbs 31 speaker and the author of several books, written for women of all ages. Her newest Bible study for girls ages 8 - 12 is Brave Beauty: Finding the Fearless You and for women Make Your Move: Finding Unshakeable Confidence Despite Your Fears and Failures. Lynn calls home North Carolina, where she and her husband, Greg and the occasional backyard deer are adjusting to life as empty nesters. Along with their three adult children, the Cowells love hiking, rafting and anything combining chocolate and peanut butter.

In this episode we discuss how to help our girls build a foundation of confidence/identity that lasts.

For more on this episode and links mentioned, visit leadinggirlspodcast.com and to connect with Lynn, visit lynncowell.com.

Rachel Anne Ridge is a speaker, artist, and writer in Texas who adopted a stray donkey, naming him Flash. Together with her husband Tom, she bootstrapped her way through the Great Recession, raised three kids, and rediscovered her purpose in the midst of the everyday juggle of life. Rachel's book, Flash: The Homeless Donkey Who Taught Me About Life, Faith, and Second Chances, reveals how ordinary, (and sometimes hilarious) events help us find God’s purposes-- and experience His extraordinary care for us.

In this episode, we discuss playing with our kids. We talk about the real life struggle that it presents as a mom with real chores and other interests. However, Rachel looks back and shares ways she was able to still make play a part of her calendar and why it matters for our girls.

More about the episode at LeadingGirlsPodcast.com or connect with Rachel at RachelAnneRidge.com

Wendy Henderson has been married to her amazing husband Jeff for 21 years.  Jeff is the pastor of Gwinnett Church, a campus of North Point Ministries. In this episode, we discuss: Creating memories and milestones, how not to get caught up in making their birthdays about us, getting to know your daughter and her personality, being intentional with the mentors and voices in their lives and giving them a chance to speak affirmation over them on these special occasions, and ways to help your daughter find community and friends!

Founder of Moms On Call, has a passion nspire and encourage parents. In this episode, Laura covers so much wisdom for every stage from babies to teens. It's the ultimate parenting pep talk! This episode includes: How to parent out of truth not fear, finding moments to enjoy, how to discipline when our emotions get wrapped in it and so much more!

In this episode we talk about-- How to model love and marriage for your girls, how to make your marriage a priority during these busy years of parenting, how to work through struggle and hard years of marriage and some of the Merrill Family rules on dating!