Episode 21: Obedience and Generational Dreaming - Ashlee Fay Branstetter

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Jan 17

Oh I'm so thrilled for you all to meet Ashlee Fay Branstetter on today's episode of Pain to Passion Live!

She is the co-founder of the amazing event, Embrace Your Ambition and has so much goodness to share!

In our conversation we chatted about how choosing uncomfortable obedience gave Ashlee Fay opportunities and success she never could have imagined. She chose vulnerability in some situations where it was scary, and saw how it impacted so many people. We also talked about how the impact of brave obedience has affected her children and how we can pass on generational healing and dreaming! I was brought to tears hearing about how Ashlee Fay's obedience in the face of grief and in the unknowns has helped her daughters grow into courageous dreamers, too.

More about Ashlee Fay:

Ashlee Fay Branstetter is a successful trailblazing serial entrepreneur whose extraordinary grit, drive, perseverance, and determination have helped her to not only transform the life of her own family, but also the lived of thousands of people all around the world. Originally the creator of Ashlee Fay Designs, which started with a humbling -$54 in her bank account. With more than 125k in her virtual community, she's since turned this mega influence into an entire movement through the Embrace Your Ambition Experience, which she now co-owns. Ashlee now spends her time traveling through speaking and events. Her greatest passion is inspiring others to live their best life, and she is available for both virtual and in-person events via request.

Connect with Ashlee:

Instagram - @ashleefayinspires

Facebook - www.facebook.com/AshleeFayInspires

Tik Tok - @ashleefayinspires

Website & tix to Embrace Your Ambition - eyambition.com

Connect with Gabi:

Instagram - @gabiruth

Facebook - facebook.com/gabiruth84

TikTok - @gabiruth84

Website, coaching, and invite to speak!: gabiruth.com

(TRANSCRIPT) Episode 21: Obedience and Generational Healing - Ashlee Fay Branstetter

Note: Please excuse all typos and errors. Transcript is generated by AI.

Gabi: Hey friends. Welcome back to Pain to Passion Live. Yay, I get to talk to Ashley Faye . I'm so excited. Um, I got to meet Ashley at her amazing event. Embrace your ambition. This past summer in Denver and I'm so, so glad that our paths have crossed and I've gotten to know this amazing human. You guys, if you haven't heard of her yet, you are going to love her.

You're gonna wanna follow her and all the things, but hi Ashley. I'm so glad you're

Ashlee: here. Oh, thank you so much. I'm super excited to be here. I adore you. I just told you that I totally adore you. I think you're like the cut. Woman alive. I just think like, I love your post. I love like your personnel. I just, I just love you.

So I'm super excited to be

Gabi: here. Oh my gosh, you just totally made my day. . I'll have to tell my daughter because Yeah. Um, I tell her every day like, you are the cutest person ever. And I'll just have to tell her someone else thinks that I'm the cutest

Ashlee: look I did. I'm the cutest now. Yes I do. I think you're.

Adorable. You know, like, I just think you're joking. I just love you so . Aw. Well

Gabi: thank you so much. That's super sweet. But yeah, I'm just so thrilled that I get to chat with you today. Um, like I said, this is an amazing woman and you guys are going to love her story. Um, I have. gone away from reading people's bios on the podcast because I feel like that can get a bit dry.

And also I've realized that when people tell a little bit about themselves that some juicy little tidbits can tend to come in . So why don't you tell us who you are, where you are, what you do, all that fun stuff.

Ashlee: Yeah, so my name's Ashley, Ashley Faye Fay's, my grand's, uh, middle name and obviously mine . Um, so everybody knows me by Ashley Faye.

It's kind of cool. I like that. You know, her legacy, you know, on, um, I have three daughters. I have one that just turned 14 and nine and a six year old. They're, they're awesome. Oh my gosh. They're so awesome. Um, and so, and my husband, I have a husband, , he's in Special forces and so we've gone through a lot, you know, we've been through a lot.

Ups and downs. And at some point while he was away, I thought, man, I'm gonna build my business. And so that's kind of how I am where I am today, is really going all in and, and realizing it's okay to do things for me and not just everyone else, not just my kids. Um, and so today I get to. Speak all over the country, hopefully world soon,

Um, and we host events that traveling events with a big one always in Denver, every June. And so, um, yeah, it's crazy how I got here and what we're doing today, but God is so good, right. And he's just led me down a path of really realizing, I am worthy and I am enough, and I am chosen and being able to kind of see myself the way he sees me.

And so today I get to live my dream , you know, and, and speak and travel and throw events. And it, it's, it's been incredible. So, . That is

Gabi: so, so cool. I, I kind of, um, resonated with what you said about you, you realized you could do things for you. Yeah. And then you kind of launched into a bunch of stuff. . Yeah.

I'd love to hear a little bit more about that cuz especially, you know, my audience is probably 99.9% women . Yeah. Yeah. So, and that's something that we tend to struggle with. So can you share about that a little bit?

Ashlee: Absolutely. So, After my mom passed away, it's been 11 years, just over 11 years. Um, I was really angry.

I, I guess I was in a place of like stuck, like I felt broken, right? And I felt very stuck. But the thing was, I stayed in that place for so long and I, I always put on a brave face. I always took care of my kids. My husband was special forces. He was gone a lot. I had to be the mom, the dad, I had, you know, to do all the things.

And so I really stayed in a place of, I don't wanna say I wasn't content cuz I had three beautiful babies, you know, like mm-hmm . It's not that I wasn't like a happy person, it's just that I wasn't doing what I know God put me on this earth to do. Yeah. And so, um, one day, you know, I sat down to do bills. I had negative $54 in the checking account.

Everybody kind of knows the story, but I'm gonna share a little bit of it anyway. . Yes, please. For me that I don't know what that number, because to be honest with you, I've seen negative numbers in my account prior to that, and I've seen negative numbers in my account after that. Like if I'm a hundred percent honest while I was building the business.

Right? But something about that number was like a moment of. I don't wanna survive anymore. I wanna live. Hmm. Like I'm tired of sitting. I'm tired of being just a mom, just a wife. And not that those are bad things, those are my priorities over all things. But I considered myself just a mom. Right. Just a wife, just Ashley.

And I prayed and I felt like God was like, go all in on the side gig, which I was making those glitter Tumblrs that everybody's seen to have one behind me back there. Um, and I, the first thing I said, I said, no, . I said, I don't wanna be in production of those forever. Cuz in my mind I thought either this is gonna fail and I'm gonna, you know, cuz I've had businesses before and I didn't go all in.

And so I'm like, It's gonna fail, or I'm gonna go all in and I'm gonna be stuck in production of making these Tumblrs all the time. But I was so desperate. I was like, okay, God, I'm gonna listen. I'm just gonna listen . Mm-hmm. , you know, for once I'm gonna, I'm gonna hear you and I'm gonna do what you're asking me to do, even though I don't think it's the right path, whatever.

And so I started to do that. I started to sell them out. I did live sales with them, which a lot of people weren't doing. Now you kind of see live sales everywhere, but at the time, this was almost five years ago, that wasn't a huge thing. And so I did live sales. I would sell out and. , I got into that production state, but we were doing well, you know, financially things were changing and I, I do remember thinking like, man, I'm in the production.

You see God, I'm in the production, , . See what I was trying to say? Um, but I had someone ask me how I got started and in that moment, everyone thinks the changing moment was the negative 54. And yes, while that propelled me off my butt and made me do something, The change was the night someone asked me how I got started and instead of sharing with them how I had done crafts my whole life, I've sold 'em on the side my whole life.

I felt, God tell me to share with them the negative $54 story. Hmm. And I shared that and girl, I cried. I looked like a crazy person. . I was like booing, you know, like, it wasn't like a sweet cry. It was like a full, like snot cry. I love it. Um, on this live of like a couple hundred people and I went to bed and I told Brian, I said, man, I ruined the business.

No one will take Mely. You know, like everyone's gonna think I'm a fraud, you know, all this stuff. And I woke up to just so many messages and just tons of new followers, cuz that video kept getting shared out. Wow. And, um, it was like a crazy experience, you know? And yeah, that was a moment though for me of realizing that I wanna share everything.

Yeah. I wanna share the good and the bad because I, I, even to this day, I will look. Instagram reels and be like, man, how do they have to, how do they have it all together? Mm-hmm. , like, what are they doing that I'm not doing? And I have to remind myself they don't have it all together. They just have different priorities and their priority is making the Instagram or the TikTok, or the Facebook.

You know, really nice and beautiful right? and, and, and that's not mine. And so, um, I share the good and the bad and so I've shared as much as I can. One thing that I've shared, cuz I know you said, you mentioned this, is like the just a mom or feeling bad for wanting something more than what I already had.

Right. But one thing I share with them is, When I first, when the business from that point really started to shift, it really started to explode. I turned it into a shopping network so I didn't have to be in production. I became a coach. I didn't have to be in production. I got to speak on stages and podcasts.

So everything kind of changed from that moment. But there was a moment in there when I remember thinking like, I am so selfish. I'm so selfish for wanting so much when I have three beautiful babies in a home and a husband, and here I am. Not volunteering at their school anymore and not coaching cheerleading.

Mm-hmm. And not doing this and not doing that. And I had a moment in and I shared that with, you know, my followers of like, you, I feel selfish, but I have to remind myself that I'm here for a purpose. God put me on this planet for a purpose. And yes, while part of that is to be their mother, I can't not do what I'm called to do too.

Mm-hmm. and. You know, I started saying no to volunteering and I start, I stopped going to their school. I stopped being the parent That kind of did everything, and that was really difficult in the time. But now looking back and watching my kids grow from that has been huge because they've gotten to see me live my dream.

Yeah, they prob they know more about business girl than I did. By the time I was 30. I mean like they , you know what I mean? Oh my gosh. It's awesome. It's incredible. I've just kind of included them into everything that I do because them seeing me live, my dream is more important for me than volunteering at their school because they are seeing me do what I feel God put me on this planet to do.

And so for those that feel selfish or that feel like they're giving things, For their kids to chase your dreams. It's okay. My kids are so much happier now without me doing all those things because I'm happy because I get to live my purpose and they get to see that. And I tell people all the time. . This is like the thing for me, right?

Everybody has a why I want to leave an inheritance for them, but more so I want to leave a legacy inside of them. Yeah. Knowing that they should go for their dreams. Mm-hmm. knowing that they can do it and have it all. And yes, saying yes to the dream might be saying no to something else, but that thing you're saying no to isn't the thing that's meant for you and someone.

Will step into that position, you said no for that, it is meant to, right? Mm-hmm. . So we're giving that opportunity to someone who, that's what they truly love and inspire to do in, in being able to say no to that and yes to what we truly love and what we are meant to do. That's huge. That's huge. Mm-hmm. .

Gabi: Yes.

So, so good. I mean, I think like, like I mentioned earlier, most of my audience is women and we just need to hear this message. I feel like over and over and over again because we get such mixed signals, you know? Mm-hmm. especially, let's be honest. Christian women . Oh, oh yeah. Because we have this like kind of convoluted morality radar that is off, like mm-hmm.

being selfless is so different than what we think it is. Right. Um, and I know that God has called us to honor one another and it, the Bible says to, um, treat others as better than yourself, but we've twisted these things, right. To be like that means that I grovel and I just give everything I have to what I think is.

Supposed to be what I'm doing, which again, no shade to the moms who go to school all the time and Right. Do all of the things like everyone's calling is so different. Exactly. But my question here is because all of this revolves around you being authentically you and stepping into your authenticity, which why would God make you the way that you are and then say, no, don't use.

Right. That's really the kicker for me. But I'm curious, cuz like you mentioned your mom passed away and I know that was extremely challenging. Oh yeah. Your husband's been gone a lot and that's really challenging. So many challenges that you've faced, like how has stepping into that authenticity and realizing that you're free to do that, how has that like healed you and set you free on the inside?

Ashlee: Oh my gosh, that's been huge. I mean, we all have scar. Right. We all have scars, and I remember the first, at the very first embracing your mission, Denver 2021. Um, I was praying the night before I was gonna give my big, my bigger speech right of, of the ones that I had given and. . I felt God be like, I want you to talk about your mom.

I want you to scratch everything that you thought you were gonna do, . Wow. And I want you to share about your mom. And I told Mar, I said, Marcus, I feel like God's prompting me to share about my mom, but like, I can't. I've never opened up, I've never shared with anyone how hard that was and how I, how I lost my faith in that moment, and how angry I was with God.

I've never shared that with people. I can't do this. and Marcus was like, well, it's up to you. And even to the moment before I got on the stage, I sat back in the thing with my sister in the very back of the room and I was like, do I share or do I not share? She's like, I don't know, but if you share, I need to leave the room.

Cause I'll just start crying the whole time. Like, you know, like, I don't know what to do. And then I got up there and it was just like a release and I just shared everything about losing her and what that felt like and how I got out of it and, and all the things. And I walked off that. At peace, you know, like, just like, wow, I bald like a baby.

Listen. Yeah. I will ne I will not, there's just no point where I can be on stage and share all of that without having a little bit of a Oh, for sure. Um, so, but having that moment of like crying like that in front of them and like sharing my mom's legacy. It, it changed things for me, and I thought, man, from this point on, I'm gonna share about her and I'm going to be open about it because my brokenness turns into bravery when I share.

And my bravery can be someone else's breakthrough. Someone's going through what I went through, and they're looking and they're trying to figure out how they can get past that brokenness feeling. And I, I've done that. Mm-hmm. , I've been able to do that. And so being vulnerable and open like that, I've just realized how many more people.

I impact, I, I can tell you, I promise you, I get more followers from the lives when I am just being so honest to myself. Like I, I can't get on alive and people don't know when I'm upset or had a bad, you know what I mean? Or, or if I've had a great day. Like I'm just not one of those people who can hide those things.

And I have gained more followers on the times when I have been not. Like a thousand percent succeeding, like the times I've been climbing the mountain versus the times that I'm like, I just did this, right? Mm-hmm. . And so I'm like, I'm gonna share all of that because people need to see that we all have scars and so often we're trying to hide them.

But what if we didn't? What if we were able to put them out there and impact lives and create a ripple effect? And we were all. Like, okay. About who we've used to, used to be mm-hmm. and what mistakes we've made and all the hard things that we've gone through, and we can use that to help each other. And so it's really like, it's hard.

It's still hard to be vulnerable. Um, but I know what it's brought to me after I've done it. Mm-hmm. , and I've always heard the saying, you don't, you don't talk about an open wound. So I've always been very, like in the moment, if I. I don't know, having a fight with my husband, I'm not gonna get on and tell you about the vitamin

Yeah. . But in a few days when I can reflect on that and that has healed, I can get on and, and be very vulnerable with this is what happened and this is what I took away from it. And this is, you know, where I'm at now and how we've resolved things. And so, That has helped me heal so much to be able to share once I'm to a point where I can share, and I'm not in the moment of, of it happening, right?

Mm-hmm. . Um, but man, it's, it's made a huge difference and really, honestly, not just with. Me sharing open on the internet, but like between my husband and I, you know, when he's in, was in the military. I mean, he still is, but he's not gone near as much. He was gone all the time. And I would build up walls, you know?

Yeah. Because I felt like that's how I had to function. That's how I had to get things done, was to build up these walls between me and everyone so I could focus on being the mom and the dad, right? Mm-hmm. . And, um, so me being vulnerable to other people has actually seeped into our relationship and we've been able to talk on levels that.

Never , like never have. That's amazing. Before. Um, and same way with the kids. And so, um, man, it's hard. It's really hard and it's really scary and you are gonna have people who are not a huge fan of that, you know? Yeah. When want to say things to hurt you and I just try to remember, it's not really about me.

Right. It's, it's not even really about them. It's what God needs us to do. And for me, I feel like he needs me to. All of it, the whole story. So the other women have hope and have faith and can see that they can do these things.

Gabi: Yeah. And just to lift the stigma of shame off of our stories too. Yeah. So many of us carry the stories from our past or even, uh, our present and feel so much shame because it's like left in the dark.

Yes. You know, like shame breeds in the dark. Mm-hmm. . And when we bring it into the light, yes, it can be very scary because you don't know how people are going to respond or react. But I think that's why it's so important to have voices like yours out there that are doing this because you're showing us like, I'm coming out here and I'm telling you the.

Which the truth sets us free, right? , I'm telling you the truth, and you're showing us like we can do that without shame and. There's healing, there's liberation in it, there's freedom in it. And I think that's just beautiful. And I was actually gonna ask you, I know you, you already brought in your husband, but I was gonna ask you like, how has that affected your, like one-on-one relationships, like even how you build friendships and things like that?

Ashlee: Oh yeah. I mean, so you mentioned something. about the shame. And I was like, oh my gosh, this is so good. Because my thing for 2023, well, my words surrender. I wanna surrender it all to him. Mm-hmm. . But I also want to find all sides of me and understand all sides of me because we have this shame and we have these dark sides of ourself that we try to hide away.

Mm-hmm. . And in reality, you need all of those things to be the whole that God made you to be. Right? Yes. And so, Anytime I'm talking to another person, my husband and I just had this conversation. I'm trying to always see the good in them because here's the thing, it life is like a mirror, right? and what you see in someone else you have in yourself.

Mm-hmm. . So if you're seeing the bad qualities, guess what, sis? , you might look worse in yourself. You know what I mean? But if you see the good qualities, the light in someone, you know, when you look at someone and you just see that sparkling light and you're just so attracted to that, the only reason you can see that is because you can see it in yourself.

Mm-hmm. . So knowing that though, and then being myself and being vulnerable with every person that I. I have gotten so many, like deep friendships, not surf surface level. I actually have a hard time like, oh girl, you know what? At church, I don't know if your church does this, but I hate, I hate that my church does this and I love my church, but you know, when they say like, okay, everyone turn around and, and answer this question to each other.

No, it's the worst. because I've, I've really come into like being my own and like I don't wanna have. Conversations that are surface level. Mm-hmm. , like I wanna have deep conversations on a level that every time we walk away from each other, we've both grown. Yeah. Whether spiritually or mentally or whatever.

And we both feel like we've gotten something out of it. So I hate those little small talk . So like with all my friends, like I come into that relationship. Very open and honest and knowing that life is a mirror. Mm-hmm. , and, you know, I, I'm looking for the good qualities. You know, I don't wanna find that, but even if I see something that, I don't know, kind of irks me a little bit.

It's like a way to look inside of me. Why does that bother me? Mm-hmm. . That's good. Oh, it's cause I have a little bit of it in myself too, right? Yeah. My husband and I just had this conversation because I called him a procrastinator the other day. , you know, we were just, we were just talking and I was like, yeah, well you're a procrastinator.

And as soon as I said it, I was like, gosh darn it. That means I'm a procrastinator. Then I can look at all the times when I have procrastinated and be like, Uhhuh. . Now I need to accept that side of me. How has that side of me actually helped me in some ways? And how can I allow it to be without like overtaking right?

And so, um, Yeah, I'm on this whole venture of trying to find all sides of me and be vulnerable and use all sides of me and understand what all sides of me are and find that in everyone else too. So, you know, it's me. I'm just . Yeah,

Gabi: that's a good perspective. I think that we should all take, um, of being willing to look at ourselves if we see something in someone else.

Yeah. Um, someone, I was on Twitter this morning, and Beth Moore actually did a tweet. I love Beth Moore. I'm like the biggest Beth Moore fan in the world. But, um, she did a tweet talking about like the people who are the most, I don't remember exactly the word that she used, but the, the loudest about specific things that they don't like.

Yeah. Um, are probably doing those exact same things in the darkness, which. Really what we're talking about right now. Right. And clinically too, just knowing what I know about mental health and stuff, there's so much truth to that of that mirroring. Mm-hmm. of like, oh, if someone is saying something bad to me about me, like you said earlier, like it's really not about.

Me. Right? And we don't always have to say like, oh, it's because they're bad either. Right? But it's flipping that script back onto ourselves and saying like, why is it that this is bothering me so intensely ? Like why do I feel the way that I feel in my gut right now? And instead of really like getting upset with that person and taking on bitterness or whatever, being able to become.

Ourselves. Like, I think that's a fabulous perspective to have. So thank you for sharing that. Of course. For sure. Yeah. Um, well, I would love for you to tell us a little bit about the evolution of, embrace your ambition too, because I know all of this story that you've told feeds into that. , um, who you've become over the last few years, the dreams that God put in your heart.

Um, gosh, I'd love to hear about that too, like when that was planted in your heart. Yeah. So just, just share however you want about, embrace your ambition, the evolution of that, all that.

Ashlee: Yeah. So it, it was so crazy. So I was sharing my story. I was going on podcasts, I was doing some virtual events. The Ashley Face Shopping Network was like at an all-time high.

I had 35 boutiques under. Amazing. Who are just killing it, you know? And it was fun. It was really cool being the leader and, and, and being able to help these women really step into their life, all these things. And then like right in the middle, I'm like praying. And I feel like God was like, I want you to create a stage that combines business mindset and.

And I was like, Hmm, one, do I have any time to do this? No, I don't. But and I, and then my second thought was like, I'm not Rachel Hollis. Like, how am I supposed to do this? You know, like, I don't know. She was like my go-to. I just love, you know, what she was, what she, you know, brought to the table at that time, all the rise and everything.

And, um, he said, I felt like he was like, I know you're not, but like, I want you to bring the aspect of faith, like, you know, I'm choosing you and. I was like, okay, I'm gonna say yes. I'm gonna say yes because I have realized over this period of time, That when I'm obedient in what he's asking me to do.

Mm-hmm. usually works out pretty well for me. , you know? Mm-hmm. , like, I don't know what I'm doing. I did not know how to build a conference. All I knew is that I was being called, and if I say yes, then I become chosen, right? Mm-hmm. , that's always been a thing for me. Called to chosen. Love it. And um, I called my friend, my best friend Jess.

I was like, uh, so I need you to fly to Colorado. We're gonna go find a place to host, to host an event, and I found a great place. We're actually having this next one at the exact same place that we did the very first one. I'm really excited about that. To cool back? Yeah, I'm really excited and so I found a place.

This happened all so fast. Like I said, yes, I found a place, I put the tickets out there. All the women that had been following me, you know, purchased tickets. I started getting on clubhouse and sharing on there, and that's where I met Marcus. Mm-hmm. . And, um, I asked Marcus to be a speaker. I, again, still didn't know exactly what I was doing whatsoever.

I just knew. That I wanted a place where we could be open about our faith, but teach business and teach mindset and bring, be able to pour into people in a place where the, the people who were coming felt like they were the stars too. And it wasn't just about those on stage. And so I had all these visions in, in my head of what I wanted it to look like and feel like, but still organizing it every step of the way was.

Trying to figure it out. Trial and error, right? Mm-hmm. , I mean, it was just, but we ended up having that first event, June, 2021. And, um, it was magic. I mean, it, it was crazy. It is, like I spoke about my mom for the first time. I also did Antar call it, which was unexpected. So many unexpected things happened, but the main thing everyone said,

God was in this place, like God just showed up and it was amazing. And it turned from what I thought would be so much business and mindset to something that was even more faith driven. Wow. And it just was incredible. And so that's when I asked Marcus, I'm like, I, I would love for you to do this with me.

Um, how do you feel about us teaming up and doing one in Dallas? And he was like, yeah. Like I feel like. Everything God has given me dream wise is what you are saying your dream is, wow, why not team up? We have been become really close friends, right? Mm-hmm. before that, even though Denver was the very first time we met in person, it was like, it just seems so right.

And so, you know, we, we scheduled Dallas. We had Trent Shelton there, Amber Lee Lago, you know, getting some big names. And Dallas has still, I loved, I love all the events we've put on BA Dallas. For me, that has still been my favorite because we actually had someone ask us if we would baptize them right there, I think.

And so everything just kind of went from what I thought was gonna be this small thing to a movement, you know? And, and God's been in it so much, and I, I've asked him so many times, you know, like, Can I pull this off? Can I do this? And it's always consistent is you can't, but I can't. Right. And so I've always been very adamant about like, it's not mine, it's God's, and I'm a chosen vessel.

And so wherever he takes it is where he will take it. Mm-hmm. . But I do know that, um, I, I know, like in my heart of hearts, because when he gave me the vision, it was never like a one-time conference. It was a consistent traveling conference of us pouring into communities, serving communities, doing missions with communities, and, and you know, just spreading his word and growing the kingdom.

Um, and so this next conference, our big one will always be in June in Colorado. Um, so our next big one in June, Colorado, we are actually doing a movement called Proud to Pay. And so you can pay what you want or what you need or how much you feel it's worth to get into the store because we just feel like.

You know, once you start something and, and people see it taking off, everyone has an opinion and I'm not saying that mm-hmm. in a bad way, but you have a lot of people coming at you saying you need to charge more and you need to add this, and why are you charging so little? We get that a lot. Mm-hmm. . Um, and so we did charge more on some of our other events because we felt like,

Oh, well this is what we have to do to make this a reality. Right? Right. You guys aren't gonna be able to make it if you don't pay for things, blah, blah, blah. And so we did. And then we both afterwards were like, man, it's not that we felt bad about charging, cuz what we bring to the table is amazing. Right?

But how do we reach the people that can't do that? Yeah. You know, how do we reach the people that need what we have? And so we prayed on it a lot and we felt like, Gave us the green light to do this . Wow. Um, and so yeah, now it is a pay what you can, what you feel that it's worth. We don't want anyone to put themselves in a bad position.

We just wanna get you in the room. Wow. In the room where your life can be changed. And so we're really excited. Little nervous, but God's got it . And, um, you know, we're just excited to see where it goes from here.

Gabi: Okay, people. This is what a life of faith looks like. .

Ashlee: I know we had so many people, we announced it and so many people were like, this is awesome, but also crazy.

And we're like, welcome to crazy faith guys. This is us. Yes, this is us going out a li going out on a limb and hoping that the tree falls because, uh, you know, God is, God has to have his hand. What's great about this though, honest to God, is that if this, if this works, Because the only way it can work is for God to step in, right?

Mm-hmm. , because mm-hmm. events are expensive. Yeah. The only way this works is for God to step in, bring us sponsors, or bring us whatever is needed. And, um, when it does, no one can deny that. Right? Absolutely. All Lori has to go to him in that moment. No one can say it wasn't, and so that it's gonna be a really cool experience.

So ? Yeah.

Gabi: I'm excited for you. I mean, even as you're talking, I have all of these stories popping into my head, not like from scripture for sure of the times when God said do this, and it looked absolutely insane and impossible, and then something incredible happened. Yeah. But also just historically in my life, in other people's lives, in like so many stories like that where people did something that seemed absolutely insane.

but you're like, well, God said. And when God says he takes care of it. Yeah, right. It's totally in his hands. So I'm really excited to hear what happens. Also, if anyone's listening and you wanna sponsor, embrace your ambition. Yeah. I highly recommend it's a good investment, um, that impacts a ton of people.

Um, and I'll also of course put all your links in the show notes as well for anyone who wants to find out about the events and go and. Just be a part of what you do in any way, cuz it's very, very exciting. Before we go, I would love to hear a little bit about just how all of this has impacted your girls, cuz I know that they're like your little besties

They're adorable . Um, and it's just been, it's been cool to see you being a mom that's doing what you're doing and. , just a little like ground level view of what that's looked like for them. Well,

Ashlee: they all wanna speak on the next stage. Oh guys, , that's not exactly how this is gonna work. Um, but , but it is cool to see them step into their own like that.

Mm-hmm. to feel confident enough to do, you know, to do something like that. My, my now 14 year old, she does speak on the stage, but she didn't start till she was 12. So I told the little ones, they have a little bit of time. I'm not, they can't do it yet, . Um, but the first time she spoke on stage, Right before she went out, she just started bawling.

Oh. I mean, like, just so she's like, I can't do this. And I'm like, oh my gosh, I made a mistake. Like I'm forcing my daughter to do something she doesn't wanna do. But we had talked about it so much. I knew in my heart she wanted to do this. Like she had her story, she was ready, you know? Mm-hmm. and, um, And she's like me.

She's always enjoyed things like this, right? And so I knew she wanted to, but in that moment she's like, I, I don't know why I'm doing this. This is crazy. And I'm like, do you wanna do it? Like, I'm not go, I felt like I should say I'm not gonna make her. But then the other side of me was like, no, get her up there.

And so, but she calmed down. Her music ended up, you know, was at the end time for her to walk on and she walked on and she got up there and I was like, okay, breathe. You got it. You know. Looking at her, trying to talk to her, and she's still crying, girl. She's still crying. Oh. I'm like, oh my gosh, I made such a mistake.

I'm the worst mom ever. And then she finally caught my eye and she looked at me and we took a deep breath together. And then she delivered the best speech she's given to date. Aww. And I mean, it was absolutely incredible. And she walked off so happy and so proud and she told me in that moment, she's like, I saw you.

And then I felt God standing next to me and I knew I could do it. and what she doesn't realize is the lesson that she gave to every single person that day. Oh, for sure. Like getting past the fear, taking five seconds of courage to get up on that stage. Right. Taking a breath and then doing it. Scared.

Mm-hmm. and like, I'm like, Carrie, that speech will live on forever for you, you know? But. Watching them all really step into their light mm-hmm. and understand that who they are is exactly who God made them to be. All my kids are very different and my oldest. Used to compete a lot , right? Not because they were at all the same.

Like my, my oldest, um, Carrington is one of the top in the nation in tumbling. This girl's crazy. My middle wants nothing to do with tumbling Uhhuh . But there was a, like, they would kind of hit on each other for, I'm better at this than you, and I'm better at this than you. And finally, kind of realizing that.

We're all so different and unique, and we're all exactly who God made us to be. Yeah. And using those parts of us that he, he needs, right. And how we can all come together. And so it's been amazing to really watch them grow. Um, my middle one's incredibly good at school, you know, and so they're also different, but.

Realizing that they can chase their dreams. You know, I always tell 'em the story of Mr. Jones. They all know it. They all wanna share it with every single person. And in my book, in our past book, our collaboration book, I like Carrington. Write a chapter in that. And at the end, she said, She stole, she told the story of Mr.

Jones and at the end she said, I don't wanna be like Mr. Jones. I wanna be like my mom. I wanna chase every dream that God has before me. I want everything that God has promised me while I'm here on this earth. And I was like, that is awesome that they see that. And and girl, they pretend like they're me sometime.

And it just like warms my heart. . Like they'll be on stage, you know, upstairs with the microphone, especially my littles and like giving us their stuffed animals. And I'm like, That makes me so happy that like they just, they really, they're such God-loving kids and I'm very mu I try to teach them so much when they have questions, you know, I try to answer them or if I don't know the answer, find the answer.

Especially pertaining to the Bible and all the the things. And so seeing them really be vulnerable with that and talk about God with their friends warms my. So much so, so much so, yeah, they're, they're incredible. I , they're just the best. So.

Gabi: Well, if my video was working right now, you totally would've seen that I got all teary-eyed because it's so beautiful.

Like, it's so powerful. Just thinking about Carrington being on stage and finding you, like finding your face and realizing like, okay, mom's here, God's here. I can do this. Like, What she would've missed if you hadn't said yes, and just how much farther ahead your girls are than you were , you know, at their age.

Oh my gosh. Um, I just love seeing moms empowering their girls to be free and to walk in their giftings, like, what's this next generation gonna do? I just don't even know, but

Ashlee: it's my girl, my middle. Okay. I have, you know, all my old boutique stuff. I got out of the boutique business when speaking started to take off.

And so all that old boutique stuff's downstairs. I should probably do something with it. . That's okay. Because my middle has, my middle has literally been like running a little business at school. I had to say, wow, Hij like, babe, we can't be doing that at school. But like, wow. You know, like to be that age and like understand.

How you can run your own business, you know? And seriously, it blows my mind because I, that is not the kind of things that I was thinking about when I was in nine, you know, no , . And she's like, oh yeah, I've, I've made like $20. And I'm like, cool. So like, what's your profit and loss here? And she's like, well, You paid for everything

Like, I, I'm like, oh, so like, I'm not getting any from this cool , but, um, no, it's just really cool. Like they know so much and have really, not just about business, but about faith. Like, I, I've been able to speak to them so much, even though, like I told you after my mom passed away, like my faith was shook.

You know, like I promised my mom, I would always have faith, but I was mad, I was angry. I felt like God took the wrong person and. But to be able to share that with them and like show them all of it too. They've seen me cry. They've seen me have moments of failing, but getting back up. Yeah. And getting to see me do that like that, they, they're just so strong and I can't wait to see what they do.

Like they are world changers a hundred percent.

Gabi: So Cool. Like, talk about legacy . That's incredible. My dear, I just think you're amazing and I love chatting with you and I'm so glad that we got to spend this time together today. Um, I would love for you to just share whatever you would like to in closing and also let us know where we can connect with you.

I'll put everything in the show notes, but if you just wanna tell us like what's the best way to connect with you and get

Ashlee: involved. Absolutely. So what I feel called to share right now is that the dream on your heart is not meant to be optional. God placed it on you because you're meant to accomplish it, because you're meant to go for it.

That is your purpose. That's why you're here. This is your moment. It's your time. Embrace your ambition. You guys that on your heart. It's not meant to be optional. It's meant to be what you do, and I think whatever it is that's holding you back, whether you feel selfish when you go for it, or whether you have self-doubt or.

You've got to have five seconds of courage and push past that. That's all it takes is five seconds of courage to change your life because I promise you, someone's watching you, whether it's your kids or whether it's someone else, someone's watching you, and they need to see you go after that dream. They need to know that the dream is, is non-negotiable.

It's not optional. They need to know that it's okay to step out and to do that, and so that puts a responsibility on you, right, to do. To do it to at least try. And so you guys can find me at, on all the places it's at. Ashley Fay Inspires Facebook, Instagram, TikTok. Follow me on TikTok. I've been trying to grow my TikTok

Nice. , TikTok. Okay. Um, my Facebook page has been big for a while and so I'm new to TikTok. I'm trying to figure that out. Yeah. Um, and. It's my link Tree is Link Tree, Ashley, Faye. Everything is on there, so that's like the easiest route. But if you're super interested in, um, embrace your ambition. It's ey ambition.com.

Perfect.

Gabi: Amazing. Well, thank you. I'm inspired. I'm sure everyone who has been listening is inspired as well. You're a beautiful human. I'm so glad to know you. Thank you. And we'll chat soon. Okay? Yes, sounds good, . Okay. Bye friend. Bye.

Gabrielle Kelley