The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey

My guest for Happy Hour #119 is Ginger Gilbert Ravella. Ginger is a military wife, mother of five, stepmother of two, widow, writer and national speaker. At 36 years old, she faced the sudden tragic loss of her husband in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the horrors that followed. He left behind five beautiful children, all under the age of 9 years old. Her late husband, Major Troy Gilbert, an Air Force F-16 pilot, gave his life while saving twenty Special Operation soldiers, defining a true American war hero. Ginger now shares her heart-wrenching story of loss and hope and is the Director of the Speakers Bureau for The Folds of Honor, a non-profit charity who raises educational funds for fallen and wounded soldiers’ families. She travels internationally and speaks on behalf of the foundation. She is remarried to another widower, Colonel Jim Ravella, who lost his wife to breast cancer. Together, they share their testimonies at churches and have recently written an upcoming book, “Hope Found”, to encourage anyone who seeks peace in life’s times of suffering. Ginger and Jim currently live in San Antonio with their children. In our conversation, Ginger shares about learning the devastating news that her husband had been killed and his body taken. She tells about the days and months following his death and the depression that gripped her, but how God rescued her and taught her to not waste her story. In an unexpected twist, Ginger tells about meeting her now husband, their short dating relationship and quick marriage and how they've learned to mesh two different families with similar stories of grief and loss. Grab your tissues because this episode had me in tears. Ginger's honest testimony of wrestling with God in her despair and depression resonated with me so much. If you have faced tragedy or extreme suffering, I think you'll feel like you have a friend in Ginger, and feel encouraged by her vulnerable transparency. For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE!

My guest for the Happy Half Hour #20 is my friend Jessica Honegger, founder and CEO of Noonday Collection. Jessica is old fave around here at The Happy Hour. She's been on episode #5, #55, and one of the guests for the very first live event.  Jessica and I were able to get together and record in the actual flesh at her office here in Austin. We make our rounds through our normal half hour show questions, but I think you'll love hearing her dream of a communal life that she's having to let die, the quality of vulnerability that she values in her best friends and the best advice she's every received. I know you'll enjoy today's show and hope you feel inspired by my conversation with one of the very best business women I know. {You can listen to the show HERE. And of course, I would love if you would share with your friends. Just use the FB & Twitter links at the end of this post!} Links from the Show Telemachus Playing God by Andy Crouch + Strong and Weak by Andy Crouch + The Soul of Shame by Curt Thompson + The Anatomy of the Soul by Curt Thompson + Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton Ian Cron's Enneagram The Center of Being Known Connect with Jessica Instagram // Twitter Connect with Jamie Facebook // Instagram // Twitter Sponsor Noonday Collection Noonday Collection is a business that uses fashion to create meaningful opportunities around the world. When you purchase Noonday accessories, you create a marketplace for artisan businesses, enabling them to provide dignified jobs in vulnerable communities. They develop artisan businesses through fair trade, collaborative design, responsible financing, capacity building and long-term partnership. Together Noonday is building a flourishing world— come join!

My guest for Happy Hour #118 is Emily Ley. Emily is the Founder and Creative Director of Emily Ley Paper & Gifts. She is also the creator of the bestselling Simplified Planner—a daily agenda for what matters most— and author of Grace Not Perfection. Raised in Pensacola, Florida, Emily graduated from the University of West Florida with degrees in English, creative writing, and public administration. She later became the executive director of the city ballet. From there, she worked in nonprofit management and public relations before launching her brand in 2008. Following the success found at its online home, the Emily Ley brand quickly grew to be carried in retail outlets across the United States and around the world. Emily has been recognized with numerous awards, including Best New Product at the National Stationery Show as well as being named a Top 10 Designer to Watch in 2015 by Stationery Trends Magazine. Emily lives with her husband and three children in Tampa, Florida. Emily shares about growing her business from the ground up, all while remaining a debt-free company. She talks about difficult learning curves and decisions that she has had to make to maintain the company values - including a recent decision to cut down on wholesale to be able to better connect with the customer. For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE!

My guest for Happy Hour #117 is Becky Kiser, founder of Sacred Holidays, a small business connecting the heart of women to the heart of God during the holidays they celebrate. She is also a MBTI Certified Personal & Executive Coach with orbitingnormal.org and loves working with women, small business owners, non-profits, and teams. Becky, her husband and three beautiful girls live in The Woodlands, TX and are a part of Church Project. She’s addicted to ice tea, loves Texas summers, and is usually reading three books at once (although it’s a lot of picture books these days). In our conversation, we chat about how Becky created Sacred Holidays, including the vision behind it and her dreams for the future. She shares about her experience as a life coach – which is obviously now going on my Christmas list. We walk through the rough start to her marriage, leading her and her husband to discovering their unique personalities and learning to give grace to one another along the way. Becky also shares about her recent health issues, how she’s responding and what’s next in the unknown. And finally, if you have extra time on your hands, you’ll get a good dose of Netflix recommendations. CONNECT WITH JAMIE Facebook // Twitter // Instagram GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE!

My guest for the Happy Half Hour #19 is Jo Saxton. Jo is a pastor, missional leader, speaker and leadership coach. She is the co-host of Lead Stories podcast and is the board chair of 3DMovements. Jo is the author of More Than Enchanting and High Heels and Holiness. She loves Starbucks, the gym, her people, and the everyday stuff, like good music, good food, and good books. And Target. She really, really loves Target. She spends her days dreaming big dreams, and making big plans. Jo lives in the  Minneapolis area with her husband Chris and their two daughters. Y'all loved Jo on her first appearance on the Happy Hour for episode #83, so it was a no-brainer to have her back today. We chat about our favorite apps, how Jo recharges, the best advice she's ever received and her pet peeve. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and enjoy this episode with a full belly and a happy heart. {You can listen to the show HERE. And of course, I would love if you would share with your friends. Just use the FB & Twitter links at the end of this post!} Links from the Show This Is Us Starbucks App Voxer Connect with Jo Facebook // Instagram // Twitter Connect with Jamie Facebook // Instagram // Twitter Sponsor Mercy Candle Co. Mercy Candle Co. is a small business with a heart for savoring the beauty in life’s everyday moments. On each candle you’ll find scripture or an inspiring message to serve as a reminder to take time out for what matters most. At Mercy Candle Co, they believe that details matter, and you will see our dedication to detail all the way from our quality, non-toxic ingredients to our thoughtful packaging. Your purchase makes a difference: Fifty cents from the purchase of every mason jar candle is donated to help fight the battle against human trafficking.

My guest for today’s episode is Ann Voskamp. Ann is the wife of a down-to-earth farmer; a book-reading mama to a posse of seven; and the author of the New York Times bestseller One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, which has sold more than one million copies. Her latest book, The Broken Way: A Daring Path into the Abundant Life released in October 2016. Millions do life with her at her daily photographic online journal, one of the top 10 most widely read Christian websites: www.annvoskamp.com Admittedly, I was a little nervous about chatting with Ann. She has a sophisticated and incredibly intelligent aura about her that intimidated me from afar. But, gracious, I loved talking with her and getting to know her a little bit. In our conversation, Ann shares about the heart behind her newest book, The Broken Way. We chat about the temptation to present a polished life, but how God uses our brokenness to bring healing to our own hearts and perseveres the hearts around us. We chat about everything from their adoption journey to the refugee crisis to living modern day Esther lives. If you need a hug and a good kick in the pants, this is your episode. I think you'll feel so encouraged by Ann and also a push to use your influence to be a minister the oppressed around you. For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

Rachel Hollis is back! Today, she’s joining me for episode #115. It’s a very special episode and one of my favorites every year, where we get to tell you about a few companies that are doing some fantastic work, making great products and running their businesses in a way that would make all of us proud. Today, we’re highlighting 13 companies. You can read all about them here, find their sites and discounts they’re offering. Rachel and I had such a great time chatting about these companies, their products and their business models. If you’re starting to think about Christmas shopping – well, you’re about 5 steps ahead of me – but you should definitely check out these shops. From jewelry to aprons to popcorn and candles, this episode just made your life so much easier! Make sure to hop over to the post here and check out each of these amazing companies. For the full summary and links to the show, Click Here!

My guest for Happy Half Hour #18 is Laura Kelley. She and her husband, Josh, currently lead a tribe of 5 little ones...soon to be 6...in Nashville, TN.  Laura loves Jesus, color, creativity, being a momma and foster mom and believes baked goods might possibly change the world.  Laura spends her free time flexing her artistic muscle, creating and sewing.  She teaches a Bible journaling class anywhere, everywhere and online.   Laura was first on the Happy Hour for episode #16! If you haven't listened, you can do so here. But, Laura is back today to catch up on the latest with Kelley clan, including their fostering and adoption journeys. And of course, she shares her childhood dream of being an ice skater, what she values in her closest friends and her pet peeve.   {You can listen to the show HERE. And of course, I would love if you would share with your friends. Just use the FB & Twitter links at the end of this post!} Links from the Show Falling Free by Shannan Martin This Is Us The Good Place The Branded Collective Revlon Bubble Curling Wand The Beachwaver Co. Curling Wand Kristy Yamaguchi's Books Connect with Laura Facebook // Instagram // Twitter Connect with Jamie Facebook // Instagram // Twitter Sponsor Mercy Candle Co. Mercy Candle Co. is a small business with a heart for savoring the beauty in life’s everyday moments. On each candle you’ll find scripture or an inspiring message to serve as a reminder to take time out for what matters most. At Mercy Candle Co, they believe that details matter, and you will see our dedication to detail all the way from our quality, non-toxic ingredients to our thoughtful packaging. Your purchase makes a difference: Fifty cents from the purchase of every mason jar candle is donated to help fight the battle against human trafficking.

Alli Worthington is my guest for Happy Hour #114. Alli is the author of Breaking Busy: Finding Peace and Purpose in a World of Crazy, speaker, and the Executive Director of Propel Women. Her goal is to help women live the life they were created to live. Alli co-founded multiple companies and has helped individuals, small business owners and Fortune 500 companies be more successful. Her no-nonsense, guilt-free take on business, family and balance has lead to appearances on The Today Show and Good Morning America. She has written for Huffington Post, Fox News, Redbook and more. She, her husband, Mark, and their five sons live outside of Nashville, TN. In our conversation, Alli shares about her life as a working mom with a household of boys. She's a big advocate of personal freedoms - which goodness, I think we could all learn a thing or two from - like, taking the pressure off ourselves to do the things that don't fit within our natural giftings or capacity. Alli and I chat about our strengths and the sexy strength of woo that neither of us possess. If you've ever questioned your giftings and if you should pursue them, make sure to stick around for the last few minutes of the show. I felt so encouraged by Alli's motto to show up, love people, be herself and not quit. For the full summary and links to the show, Click Here! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

My guest for Happy Hour #113 is Sarah Rodriguez. Sarah is an author, speaker, blogger at www.journeyofsarah.com and also the Huffington Post. She is the creator of the Choose Joy Project, a random-acts of kindness initiative to honor the life of her late husband Joel. Her life's greatest role is that of Mommy to Milo and Ellis. Sarah is a one time NYC transplant who now makes her home in Oklahoma, where the best sunsets on earth are found. For the full summary and links to the show, Click Here! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram