"I told you so Mom"

For the last week or so, I have been waking up every morning with this feeling of panic. I keep looking at my list of things I need to do before launching my business and it feels just too BIG for me to do. There are so many things that I need to do, that I really don't understand. Social Media is such a big part of it and the future and yet...I feel like I was born in the wrong era!. Still my kids seem to just know it and do it naturally.

My kids really think that I can do these Online Quilting and Sewing Classes, they believe in me.

As we talked about a Mission Statement for my business, all I could think of were the reasons that I would like to do these classes... I would like to be able to teach anyone, who would like to learn how to create. Creating is something that literally made all the difference in my life.
When I was young and my abuse was going on. The only way that I could get out of the situation or at least get my head out of the situation... was when I was creating. It took me to a whole other world...one that was happy and one that gave me hope, hope that my life in the future would be different, better and safe!
Then as I grew up, it continued to create and what even made my life better ...was to not only create, but to share what I created with Others. The feeling that you get when share with others, is just the best!  Knowing that something you created, something from you personally ...could make someone feel special, happy and  loved is truly what I think we were put on earth here to do!

So scared or not, I am going to start LynnMade Online Classes, and hope that someone, somewhere will need them, and learn how to create for themselves! And by creating something beautiful...I hope  that their lives will become even better
What do I have to lose, except Fear itself!

I have to remember all of these things so that I don't freak myself out each day. Truth is, if this is suppose to be, it will be. I need to turn it over to the Lord, and have more faith in myself, my talents and my family! When I do this, I wake up excited and ready to work!

I do hope it works...wouldn't that be neat? I don't think I will even mind...years from now when my kids say "I told you so Mom! " :)

    

I hope this quote becomes true someday of LynnMade!

Good Night dear friends!
Thanks for believing in me!

Lemonade....anyone?

I don't remember if I ever did a lemonade stand as a child, but we probably did. We moved to the country when I was 10, so it had to be while I lived in the city if I did. But I surely remember my kids doing them and that was a happy memory.

 Today Poppa and I stopped what we were doing and helped the girls do a lemonade stand for a couple of hours. We started off in the sun, but after 5 mins we realized our chocolate chip cookies were melting and so were we. So we moved over underneath our tree in the front and set  up shop there. Not a ton of people in the neighborhood today but the ones who came were very nice and sweet to the girls. I made this lemonade stand a year ago for my work. It was fun to finally use it. Still they have used it for other things at home, puppet theater, movie  and popcorn sells... lots of fun ideas if you have an imagination!

 Even in the heat...they were having fun, and learning lots about business in the sales world!

Fun day, we will do it a few more times before Summer is over hopefully! 

Speaking of the happiest things, listen to this song  that you can find HERE:

It should bring a smile to your face for sure!

Good night dear friends!

"One of the luckiest things that can happen to you in life is, I think , to have a happy childhood. "   ~ Agatha Christie

"Children can see magic...because they look for it! "   ~ Christopher Moore

Happy Birthday Bradley!

Today is our oldest son Bradley's Birthday. I can hardly believe that he is so grown up now and a husband and a Father, where did that time go? I still remember his birth, he was born on LABOR DAY, how appropriate was that? I remember Jeff going right out (when he saw how much hair Brad had ) and bought a comb, so that he could comb his hair over with a part. Then he took a photo and shared it with our family saying  "Here is our all American Boy!" He was a happy baby and just a treat to have around. He was loved by his older sister, and they became fast friends. As Brad grew up, he continued to watch out over his younger brother and sister who joined the family. Now he no longer towers over them but still keeps close tabs on them, and shares with them his Older Brotherly Advice...free of charge of course! :)
In this photo Lee is on the left and Lauren on the right. ( And of course that is Brad in the middle )



Now here is a photo of Lee on the left still and Brad on the right ( but this time there isn't as big of a height difference ), then his son Kai is bending over and collecting shells with his cousin Jenny. We have no idea who those 2 people walking are...in our photos!


I have always loved the quote for parents that says " My job is to build you up, so the world can't ever tear you down"
When Brad was placed in my arms 27 years ago, on Sept 4th, at 9:40 in the morning, weighing in 9lbs and 4 ounces and his temperature was 94.9.... I knew he was special! I had the strongest impression, that I would need to do all that I could to raise him to be the boy that the Lord wanted and needed him to be. I was overwhelmed with the feeling that I would have to fight his whole life to protect and teach him, and I really have tried to do that to my best ability.



I look at him now as a great husband and a sweet Father and realize that he is making it in the world, and that it didn't tear him down. The world is actually a much better place, because he is in it! That was what I always dreamed for him...to be safe, to be a great person, to make a difference in the world and to do the same for the next generation...his family. And he is doing it!




Jeff and I just got back from helping them move into Austin, Texas. They enjoyed their time in Boston, but now he is off and on a new adventure...starting his own business ... BRAVETHEWOODS.COM. Yes, he and Krystal have worked hard to make this dream of owning their own business come to pass. They are doing great!
 I hope on this Birthday, that he remembers not only how blessed he is, and that he is grateful for his talents, but especially remembers ... how loved he is by all of us!
It truly has been an adventure for us to have you as our son. And we are so excited for you! Happy Birthday dear Bradley!

 You can find out more about Brad's business HERE:

Slow but Steady

I always liked the story of the Tortoise and the Hare. I liked the moral of the story that even if you were slow and steady, that you would still win in the end. Today was an accomplishment for our RECNAC GIFTS, Lauren and I met with the staff at one of the Imaging Centers.  They had heard of our gifts and wanted to see more. They are going to have our RECNAC GIFTS available to their patients soon, in their imaging center. That would be a perfect location too because it is there at the Imaging centers that you have your MRI's, mammogram's, and biopsies done. Our seat belt covers, treatment pillows and cards could certainly be a big help and support to their patients. It was at an Imaging Center that I had my cancer diagnosed both times. That is where most people of diagnosed. It is not usually diagnosed in the hospitals, but after your tests and imaging... then you are referred out to all the different Oncologist's and Surgeons that you will need to see and talk to.

Even though I was going there today for a good reason, I could feel my stomach churning a bit from just going back there again. As we walked in, one of the nurses took us back to a conference room where we were to set up our RECNAC GIFTS to show them. She took us through the room where I had my MRI's done just a month ago. I looked through the big windows and saw the women laying there either, in the MRI machines or just coming out of it. I don't know if they saw us but I have to tell you when I walked through that room, I had the strongest feeling like I was being disrespectful as I just casually passed by. I mean, I remember all too well what it felt like to be in there, not knowing if what the results were going to be, wondering what this lump was? I just almost felt guilty that I had made it to the other side and am now sorta living a normal life now. I wanted to go in and tell each one of those ladies to hang on, don't give up the faith, don't let fear cloud your decisions, remember it's your body and your life...you have to make the right decisions for you. I wanted to hold them and let them know that someone was there and cared. Many of their loved ones were probably there in the waiting room,  because they are not allowed back in imaging areas. Even though the waiting room is just down the hallway, it felt like Jeff was miles away from me. I just wanted him by my side. Yes, walking through there brought back a flood of memories and emotions.

So today reminded me for two reasons of the story of the tortoise and the hare. One ...because even though our RECNAC GIFT BUSINESS hasn't really taken off very fast, I realize that I need to be patient and hopefully the help and support that we need will come soon. By November we will have our gifts available in two major places, so that is great, slow but steady. The second reason is... that even though my cancer diagnosis was almost a year ago, and the surgery pain and treatment pains seemed to heal slow and would be never ending. I realized that I am still on the right road and that I am making progress. I don't know that I will ever forget the fear, devastation, worry and confusion that came with my diagnosis. But I pray that I will never forget those who are going through it for the first time now, or that are still in treatment. Their lives will go on...but never quite the same. I hope some day that our RECNAC GIFTS will be out there and available to every person that has to face this awful disease called Cancer. I hope that these gifts will truly help them heal and also help them to have hope and courage. I really think our goal is possible, it just seems that we are going very slow but steady right now. Wish me luck!

Here is the logo that my son designed. It shows you that one survivor made these gifts for the next survivor. The word RECNAC is  cancer spelled backwards. And our tag line is... when you call it RECNAC instead of cancer, that you are taking fear and power from the word. RECNAC is a word, it is also a verb, because it is an action. Good night dear friends!

"SUCCESS IS STEADY PROGRESS TOWARD ONE'S PERSONAL GOALS"  ~Jim Rohn

"NO IDEA IS SO OUTLANDISH THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED WITH A SEARCHING BUT AT THE SAME TIME WITH A STEADY EYE"  ~ Winston Churchill

" SLOW BUT STEADY WINS THE RACE"   ~ Aesop

 

 

How to keep our business growing?

Many of you know that since my cancer I have developed a line of gifts (with a dear friend of mine) that have helped me be more comfortable, heal or just make me feel better. They started out as just a way to survive my mastectomy and radiation side effects. Then one night I thought, why couldn't these gifts be available to other survivors. They must have some of the same hurdles that I am having in my healing process. Then of course as you know, I LOVE QUOTES...they inspire me, and so we decided to put an inspiration quote on each gift. With each process in my healing, I seemed to think of something else that I needed or could use that would make the process more comfortable.

One long and painful night, I realized that I was only thinking of Breast Cancer patients, because that is the fight I was battling. But what about other cancers (there are so many different ones out there), what about children that have to fight this terrible battle? What could we do to help ease their pain or at least take them to a place in their imaginations... that would help them be more brave? The ideas started really clicking, and I could hardly wait till morning to call my dear friend who was helping me with this dream.

I first started showing the gifts and selling them to the nurses and workers at the hospital. It was such a success that I decided to take them to the Gift Store, to see if they would start carrying them. They chose 6 out of 21 of our gifts and we were thrilled. Then with them being in the gift store we had a better chance of the cancer patients being able to get them. We had our BIG introduction of our products on June 4th at Evergreen Hospital. It went really well and we sold quite a bit. More important we were able to share our thoughts and hopes for the products and the patients that they could help. We were able to explain the name RECNAC to everyone and introduce our LOGO that my son designed. It was a neat experience and one that we hope will continue to grow.

My question to all of you is this.... Do any of you have any tips on beginning a business? Do any of you know how I find someone to help invest in a business?  I have very limited resources and energy, but I don't want to give up this dream. If you have the time or information, will you email me and let me know your suggestions? My email address is

 learningfromlynn@gmail.com

I realize that I also need to do my homework ...like know how far I want to go with this business. The hard part is my energy and remembering, to do the things that feed me good energy! When I think about the business part, papers, money that isn't the best energy! But when I think about the patient (survivor), the selling, the designing and making it available and affordable to everyone that is battling with this terrible disease of cancer then ...........that is GOOD (GREAT) ENERGY for me! But I don't do the sewing, which is how each gift gets made and I have to respect that my dear friend can only do so much. Yet,the business has been great for her and her family. That is where we are, a little bit in limbo but... remember I will take ANY IDEAS or SUGGESTIONS.

Thanks for your support, hopefully I will have photos for you soon on my web site, so you can actually see what I am talking about  www.recnacgifts.com 

"Whatever we expect with confidence becomes our own self-fulfilling prophecy"  ~ Brian Tracy

"The victory of success is half won when one gains the habit of setting goals and achieving them. Even the most tedious chore will become endurable as you parade through each day convinced that every task, no matter how menial or boring, brings you closer to fulfilling your dreams."   ~Og Mandino