Happiness is a choice!

TEDxRexburg: My Message to the World

I woke up one morning and said,  “I believe that God is telling me that I need to work on my speaking skills.” It has been quite the journey, 3 years later, here we go! Just had dress rehearsal. January 12, 2019 When I woke up that morning I knew it was time to sharpen my speaking skills. I wasn’t sure why, I had an idea that it was so that I could share my experience and ideas about how I got through and continue to get through life. So here I am. On the stage at the Romance Theater in Rexburg, Idaho running through “MY” TEDx talk.  I am doing this because I do my best to be obedient to my God. Here is the interview that was played today. Here is the video of my TEDx Rexburg talk, from the TED YouTube Channel. https://youtu.be/7nV54vKhavg

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The 5 Best Ways to Build Equity in Your Home – Pride of Ownership

  Getting married for the 2nd time and being a homeowner was an new experience. I had 3 acres of horse equipment that we accumulated for 20 years. My new husband was renting a large home and it was full of stuff that they had accumulated for 20 years. He said, “We will need to get a storage unit.” I said, ”I don’t believe in storage units. If we have too much stuff to put in our home we need to down size.”  We bought a $100 huge tarp and built a make due shed that would hold a semi with 2 trailers! It was sufficient in the harsh Idaho weather to keep out the wind, snow and rain for 18 months as we downsized and found the ideal home and location that we are now settled in. Together we were building our future and saving for a down payment on our home. Pride of ownership is the saying I have heard all my life and this phrase runs like blood through my veins. Building equity in a home is an important part in our future. Here are 5 ways that will help any homeowner build equity in their home

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You can teach an old ”Grandma” new tricks

My parents were good. I knew I couldn’t read as well as the other children. But I did learn to read, just slower. I always felt that I was special and had something inside of me that no one else had. Though it was hard for me in school to keep up. I managed with the help of my friends. I have always been the mothering kind. I pretty much love everyone. When I see a sign that says, “It is too “peopley” out there”  I am yey! It is “peopley” out there. Honestly, I always wanted to go to college, but I didn’t because of fear, money, time and lack of support. I continued to learn. I earned a certificate with,” on the job training” as a preschool teacher. This taught me to read. I have continued to learn and read books on business building, leadership, budgeting, money management, parenting, health and wellness and a variety of subjects to give me a better understanding of the world. I homeschooled my children and while doing that I continued to learn the skills I missed in public school. I have started several businesses and have become a leader. I train and teach,

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The Shame of Cancer & How Being Impetuous Saved My Life

Really? Stage 4+ lymphoma, one week to live? I am the healthy one, I actually prided myself in my poverty.  Yes, I was prideful that I was poor,  and I grew my own herbs and bought in bulk, capsuled them, and made my own vitamins. I had my children at home to save money and live naturally. We raised our beef and chickens, fresh eggs and organic beef and potatoes out of the field. Big garden and a variety of vegetables. I would process a whole deer right off the foothills into bottles.  We lived off the land, I was a hippy kind of farm girl. Pillar of health.  I swore that I would NEVER allow chemo in my body. If I could have a 10 lb baby at home and live off the land, I could beat cancer with natural remedies! Oh, the shame of “How can I face the world and admit that I have cancer? ” Just pure embarrassment. I started using oils and herbs that would fight cancer. I am confident that this prolonged my life by a few weeks. But it was no match for this fast-growing cancer. My first thoughts were that I would just die

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What is “Real” at Christmas?

I felt so numb. My legs felt like wood. I am Christmas Carol. That is what my mom called me! But she is an angel in heaven and I think she is pretty busy. ( my mom painted these figuriness and notice the book says Christmas Carols, Yes that is about me:)               I would take pictures of off the kids in front of the Christmas tree. Yes, Tex is an angel in heaven and he wasn’t feeling the Christmas spirit that during this picture, maybe because the lump of coal in his stocking was mentioned 100 times a day!   Then I remember the Christmas I was exhausted and drank hot cocoa and watched movies as my children visited their father and we started a “new normal” Divorced parents after 25 years of marriage. Ya, that was a memorable Christmas.   Just 2 years ago I was pretty sure it was my last Christmas because of a life-changing cancer experience.    But now I am here to face these memories, and my heart, legs and mind just wasn’t sure what to do. This is the 1st time in a very long time that I was

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