One sunny crisp morning, I headed into one of my local Starbucks, aka, my happy place, and ordered a giant hot tea and oatmeal. As I chatted with the barista, a young man about the age of 27 (ok, when it’s a man, do you say, baristo?) and with the usual small talk, he asked me, “So, any fun plans this weekend?” My response came very naturally, without any self-pity or woe, I said with a chuckle, “uh, no. I’ll be at the children’s hospital all weekend.” He then asked, with causal curiosity, “Oh …
Growth Opportunities
Young Mother’s battle with Cancer
On the afternoon of Friday March 27th; 10 days after my 27th Birthday, 6 days after my 5 year Wedding Anniversary, 4 days shy of starting the paperwork to buy our first home, a month shy of my oldest child turning 5, and less than two weeks away from undergoing our first deployment as a family… I was diagnosed with Stage 2B Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The feelings that I experienced at that time were unexplainable. I have had so many angry feelings & emotions running through me that as I sit here …
Awareness: Acknowledging the Battle Many Women Fight
The image of my sister waiting in anger, bitterness and bewilderment will always haunt me as she was wheeled into the operating room for a life altering surgery. Stage four breast cancer at age twenty-seven. Never married. No kids. A double mastectomy eleven days after being diagnosed; three weeks later a round of intense chemotherapy treatments began stripping my sister of all that identifies the female body. Radiation would also take place to attack the aggressive, BRCA 2 positive gene …
Using Company Profits to Bless Others
Recently, my husband and I had the opportunity to visit Phnon Penh, Cambodia. This was Tim's fourth trip visiting local churches and schools in the capitol city of 1.5 million people, as his company supports and sends funds to organizations on the ground. Being this was my first time in Cambodia, I found myself absorbing everything that I saw; the colors of the fresh fruit, the shades of brown from the dirt roads and bland colored cement structures, the stories told in the eyes of all the young …
Hope for Mental Health
The CDC says 50% of all American's will suffer from mental illness in their lifetime... It’s difficult to imagine that 50% of adults will develop depression, anxiety, self-harm, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, PTSD, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, or some other mental illness in their lifetime. This staggering reality can feel daunting, But there is HOPE... HOPE says that you are not defined by your illness. HOPE says your life has a purpose …
Why You Shouldn’t Fear Your Business Competition
Janeal Ford of Fordable Freelance says that--especially when it comes to funding your business (her area of expertise)--take the words “unique” and “only” out of your vocab. Recognize that there are organizations with similar goals to yours. Instead of seeing other businesses in your industry as competitors, realize that they are potential partners. Acknowledge and appreciate what you each offer. Identify how your differences can compliment each other, how you can partner to serve your …
How to Start a Non-Profit- PART 2: Mission, Vision, Values & Differentiators
This is Part 2 of a series on how to start a non-profit: although, some info is applicable to for-profits as well! Feel free to refer back to Part 1 of this series {Here} before getting started! In this post, I'll explain what vision, mission, values, and differentiators are. I've also provided examples of each from an organization that I've always admired: The Rock Church in San Diego (sdrock.com). Vision Your vision is a description (about one sentence) of what the world would look …
Spiritual FitBit
I was recently gifted a Fitbit which has become the new crave these days for those active and tracking their personal exercise levels. It has taken me a little while to figure out the apps and programs to accurately use the new device, but overall, it's been pretty easy to use this new toy. I find it very telling to view my steps at the end of the day. Some days are filled with lots of table teaching as I home school the kids and others busy with outside play or gym classes that keep me moving …