RISE, A Modern Guide for the Purpose Driven Woman Spring 2014 | Page 24

TODAY, as I sat down to write this, I had one of ‘those’ moments. One of those out of body, incredibly grateful, “is this my life?” moments. A moment inspired by a simple request…to tell my story! What followed were several awkward and still moments filled with paralyzing crazy excitement, then… anxiety! Yikes! I thought, “Has my life really become what I designed? Have the details of my lifetime of desires and visions materialized to become my reality?” Well, I do believe they have, and I am thrilled to share my journey with you here! TURBULENCE AND THE TURNING POINT Growing up in Los Angeles for me was very “normal” (Mom was a gorgeous actress, model and artist, and Dad was my entrepreneur-restaurateurreal estate mogul-DIY enthusiast-hero). My sister and I were best friends (still are) and our lives were simple and honest. Mom and Dad raised us to be strong, determined, independent, creative and authentic girls who love God. Life was good. “…PERSISTENCE AND DETERMINATION ALONE ARE OMNIPOTENT…” Calvin Coolidge Having a renaissance entrepreneur type Dad was super exciting. I was encouraged to pursue my dreams as long as I worked hard, gave it my all, and did everything with class and integrity. Later in my young adult years Dad sparked my interest in real estate. I flipped my first house for profit at twenty-one years old. I’ve been hooked on fixer-uppers ever since. The next years that followed were creative and inspiring. However, my life, like the lives of many, has also been a very bumpy ride at times, and occasionally the bumps turned into turbulence, and eventually my plane fell out of the sky and into a corn field. Suddenly, there I was, an abandoned, single Mom with three amazing kids (all under the age of five), and we were on our own in every way. Without any warning, my husband left us. No child support. No alimony. Just gone. A long and painful divorce and years of guilt followed. There is no greater motivation to seek security and success than your own children. “PERSEVERANCE, TENACITY, GRATITUDE, KNOWLEDGE, AND FAITH… THESE ARE THE KEY ELEMENTS YOU’LL NEED TO DESIGN THE LIFE YOU DESERVE!” After several exhausting years of working multiple jobs in order to be home with the kids and make ends meet (event planner/caterer, interior designer, office manager, illustrator, mommy-and-me instructor, co-owner of a successful children’s home décor line and an author/illustrator of my first published children’s book) it had become increasingly obvious that it was time to pursue a different path to security and happiness. I felt that time was running out, and if I was ever going to listen to my heart it would be right now! I knew the road ahead was going to be challenging, but no more challenging then the life I was already living, and what was so shocking was the realization that the tougher road was the road of “thought”, and as soon as I put my foot on the road of my “heart”, it was profoundly less difficult.