This month we were so excited to talk with Jamie Ivey. Jamie lives in Austin, TX with her husband Aaron,
a worship pastor, and her 4 children. Jamie is a speaker and writer and also the host of the podcast,
“The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey.”

1. We would love to hear a little about your testimony and how you came to know Christ.
I grew up in a Christian home. Both parents were believers and went to church every week. I grew up
knowing a lot about God and would have even said I was a Christian. When I got to high school, about
my sophomore year, I started finding other things that interested me more, like boys and alcohol. Then I got more in to the party scene when I started college. All of that time I would have said I was a
Christian. Looking back though I see there was no fruit in my life. There wasn’t a lot of conviction or
repentance. I don’t know that I actually was following Christ. At 21 I went to the Passion Conference in
Fort Worth and it was there that God really captured my heart and attention. It was from there that
God changed my life and I started following Him. A lot of outward things changed in my life but a lot of
inward things changed as well. I started to feel forgiven, a peace, and a hope in the midst of crazy
circumstances. I know Christ came in to my life at 21 because I had a lot of heart change.

2. Last month’s theme was Dear Younger Me. What would you tell your high school self?
If I could tell my high school self anything I would tell myself there is so much more to life than ninth
grade. Ninth grade is very important but decisions and friends we make can affect the rest of our life. I
think when we are younger we can only see what is right in front of us and I wish I could have known
that there is so much life ahead of you and what you do now can affect that. I would have also told
myself to really look for friendships that were encouraging and uplifting. I had some friendships in high
school that I wish I would have grabbed ahold of a little bit tighter but they weren’t flashy or the most
popular people in the school. I want to teach my kids to have a good perspective on things that they
seem to care about like clothes or a relationship but know there is so much more to life.

3. You have a daughter. What are some things you try to teach her about self-worth and identity?
We try to teach all of our kids that they are who they are for a reason. This is very important in our
family because three of our children came into our family through adoption. We want them to really
cling to the truth that God has always had a plan for their life. That sounds really awesome when you
come into a family the typical way but it adds something when they are added through adoption. We
want them to be able to stand on that truth in the good times and hard times that God has always
known them and has always had a plan for them. I just want our daughter to find her worth in God
alone and not in all the world has to offer. That is hard even at my age. I want my daughter, Story, to
know her worth comes from one place and one place alone and there is only one person that gives the worth that truly matters and that is God. Because all of the other values from the world are fleeting and the value from God never changes.

4. You and your son just got back from a trip with Compassion International to Kenya. Why is it
important to you to instill a world view in your children and how do you do this?

It is a big value with my husband and I. We want to give our children a bigger worldview than we were
given. There just wasn’t any accessibility to the outside world when we were growing up but now the
internet has changed that. We want our kids to know that the world they live in, in Austin, TX, is not the
norm. There are billions of people who live very different than us. There are hundreds of thousands of
people who do not have the access to food and water that we may have. We want our kids to know this exists and is a reality. Not in any way so they can feel better about what they have, but so that they can know that God is the same everywhere. We also want our kids to have a heart that beats for what
God’s heart beats for like injustice, the poor, orphans, and widows, and for them to know that God cares for these things. We expose our kids to this so that their heart can hopefully care for these things as well. Also, we don’t want to raise entitled children. We want our kids to understand that our house and food and having gas in our car is a huge blessing. Besides exposing our children to things in the world we also give. I just went on that trip with Compassion International because that is an organization our family has supported for over a decade. It was really special for me to show one of my kids that here’s why mom and dad give money every month and here is why it matters.

5. Could you finish with 3 fun facts about you?
1. I I could put mayonnaise on just about anything.
2. When I was in middle school I ran in the junior Olympics.
3. I do not like to go barefoot.

​Natasha Bure is an inspiration for young girls everywhere. You may recognize her from her popular YouTube channel where she gives advice on beauty, fashion, and so much more or from the hit TV show The Voice. She is also the daughter of Candace Cameron Bure, who many know from the hit TV shows Full House and Fuller House.  Natasha has graced the runway at New York Fashion Week, and God has given her countless platforms where she continues to shine her light for Christ. We had the opportunity to speak with Natasha about her newest adventure with her book titled "Let's Be Real," friendships, faith and her relationship with her mom.

​1.      What inspired you to write the book Let’s Be Real?
 
I was inspired to write the book after I graduated high school. Being away from the social scene of high school, you see the effects it has on people. I saw girls trying to compare themselves to others. I wanted to be open about topics that girls were going through. I wanted girls to feel like they can be open and be real.
 
2.      What is your definition of being real?
My definition of being real is truly just doing and being who makes you happy. Being real is being the best version of you that God created!
 
3.      What was your favorite chapter to write?
I really liked writing about the chapters on boys and beauty. I really love beauty so I was excited about giving advice that could help girls feel more beautiful!  
 
4.      In the book you talk about the importance of friends. What does it mean to be a good friend to you?
Friendship is something I have struggled with a lot with growing up. I want to encourage girls to know that If you are not finding the right kind of friends, don’t settle. You want to choose friends who will build you up and friends who you can BE REAL with. In high school, I did not feel like I had a strong group of friends.  My senior year I learned to be independent and not base my identity on people. It took me knowing who I am and choosing friends who would accept me for just being Natasha.
 
5.      Why is your faith so important to you and how would you encourage teen girls who are struggling in their walk with Christ?
 
My faith is the most important thing to me because it is the foundation that I base my life on. I would encourage anyone who is struggling in their walk with Christ to keep persisting. The most important thing is to except those parts you are struggling with and persist. Have the tough conversations with mentors and friends, and just know that no one’s faith is perfect.
 
6.      You were on the voice last season and were so inspiring! What about music inspires you?
Music is my number one! Music is amazing because it makes you feel emotions and it can bring back emotions. I want to do that for other people. I want to evoke emotions for people. People and their emotions inspire me to make music! I love the fact that music is an expression of your heart.

​7.   Who are some of your musical inspirations?
My musical inspirations are Frank Sinatra, Amy Winehouse, and Ella Fitzgerald.  The amount of emotion they provoke in their songs is what I want to do in my music!
 
8.    What advice would you give to someone who struggles with confidence?
If your struggling with confidence, know it’s okay. Ignore those thoughts and embrace who you are.
 
9.    You seem to have a great relationship with your mom. What keeps that relationship so strong?
I just LOVE my mom. She is my role model! She and I are extremely open with one another, so that keeps our bond strong. I also LOVE to hang out with my mom; we have similar interests, and so that keeps our relationship solid as well.
 
10     What is the best piece of advice your mom has ever given you?
My mom really stresses to me the importance about working hard. Both of my parents are very supportive of me, but they want me to work hard in everything I do.  In our family our motto is: “we all need to work as hard as we can and give 100%!” That’s what I try and do!
 
11.      What is a good beauty tip for summer?
My big thing for the summer is I am super into glowing skin and shimmer highlighters.  Glam Glow is amazing and it’s infused with an amazing highlighter. I love it because it makes your skin glisten in the sun. I think everyone should check it out!
 
12.     What is next for you?
I love so many different things. I am open to anything. I am currently working on a bunch of music, and I am continuing with my YouTube channel! I’m super excited to see where God will lead me in the months ahead!