Broken Ribs and a Cup of Coffee

Here I am... just sitting... the temperatures are dropping outside and if you know absolutely anything about me, that is a sign of fear and dread in my world.  

I have been a snowbird for the last seven years and was pretty happy with that way of life.  
I'd winter where it was warm, 97% of the time.   I was usually near water.  I was able to get out and about to explore most days.  (Hurricane season was sometimes tricky, but it's not like they sneak up on you.  You have a pretty good idea of when they're coming and if you need to pack up or not!) 

When the danger of cold weather was past, I could make my way up north to visit family and see what else I could find; dragging my camper along behind ready for new adventures. 

I haven't owned a winter coat in seven years.  I barely wear shoes, for that matter.  I am SUCH a beach baby at heart.

Well... this year is going to be a bit different.  I am officially trapped in colder weather. 
The first weekend in October, I busted my ribs.  I didn't think much of it at the time, but five days later, when I was still having trouble breathing, I went in and had it x-rayed.  One rib  broken, one fractured.  Not a thing they can do for it except to tell me to be still for the next 6-8 weeks and don't lift anything over 5-8 pounds. 
Trapped.  Trapped in cold weather until at least the end of the year. 

Trying the see the best in a freezing situation, I find myself inside a new experiment.  How to make this the best winter ever?  It's a big ask.  The cold weather is not just something I complain about for fun (we all have to have our "thing"). The cold, damp weather is actually pretty painful for me since I have arthritis in a good number of my joints.  But, it could be worse.  I could certainly be worse.

I choose to fill my brain with happy thoughts.  I flood my heart with gratitude.  I reflect on all the ways that I am blessed.
​I am near my family.  A rarity since I have found wings... I haven't spent Christmas with my grandchildren in all those years of snow-birding, because... well... cold.  (I transferred my Christmas spirit to Easter.  Easter is my favorite holiday and I pull out all the stops for this holiday!). But this year, I get to spoil them EXTRA, actually ON Christmas!  (Their parents may even INSIST I head back to the south by the time I get done! Lol!)

With out being allowed to do much other than sit around and forcefully  WILL my bones to grow back together, it allows me to brainstorm and putter around with other ideas I've been wanting to do, but just couldn't find the time ... Boy, have I got time now!   This is the best injury when you have a laptop close by! (Hint- I ALWAYS have a laptop close by.)
​
I'm ahead in my Bag of Bones Podcast episodes for the first time in... forever.  That feels pretty good.  I'm working on the new book that now I have NO excuse for it not being released on time at the beginning of December.   Plus plans for a years-worth of new books to come out in 2023.  (The way my luck runs is that I'll get all these things started then get released from couch therapy and be right back in the rat race!)
The damage was enough that I was informed that I probably won't be able to travel the way I was used to and that I will need to make some pretty severe changes in my future activities.  If that ends up being the case, I am so grateful for my adventures over the years and wouldn't trade them for anything.  I'll have to be more careful where I end of an invalid next time though, THAT'S for sure!
Okay fine... I know you're asking but how... how did you break your ribs? I was broken in the most loving way possible.  With a hug.  A hug from a 21 year old football player that was just trying to pop my back.  And he did... just went a little beyond that.  I heard a crunch, but neither of us believed that I was actually broken... 
The evening wore on and I was hugged again and again and the more you love someone, you just want to squeeze them so tight so they know right?  Can I just say, I am SO LOVED.  Each squeeze probably added to the fracture. 
Adding to that... I am pretty active and chest pain or no chest pain, work had to be done, so I pushed through it lifting and carrying... just doin' what I do... until I couldn't anymore.
My jaw dropped when I saw the x-ray.
So now I sit.  Trying to figure out how I'm going to be able to NOT step one foot out the door until the crocus comes up.  Not gonna happen, so I sip my coffee and snuggle under the piles of blankets begrudging letting others take care of me.  I am so loved.  I must keep my whining to a minimum.  

The Whole Story

This is going to be such a hard post to write, so bare with me... 

Things have shifted. And in a big way. Things don't always go as planned, and... you have to shift.  The emotion is still really close to the surface so, I apologize if it spews out across the page, but... you've been with me this far, and you're still here so this won't be the first time.  Lol

To start... my husband left me in February this year.  I knew I was taking this trip alone so, that was just that.  If I'm being honest, I didn't give myself much time to work through that grief because I'm a master of being busy.  I am always going, doing, creating... all the things.   Being a life student and a relationship coach... it is really hard to swallow that my own marriage wasn't a perfect and lovely textbook example.  It is humiliating, if I have to put a word on it.  It feels like I learned nothing if I couldn't even see and remedy the issues in my own marriage.  I must be a terrible relationahip coach. 
What they don't tell you in your relationship classes, and you have to pretty much figure out for yourself is that... sometimes, you can't control another person's actions.  And by sometimes, I mean, MOST times.  You have no control over someone else's choices.
I had no control over his leaving me... I just had to decide how I was going to respond and what I was going to do next.

Fast forward to half way through my trip...
My husband's health is failing.  He suffered injuries while serving his country and they are tired of being ignored.  In short- his vertebrae is crumbling and trying without success to reframe his bones and muscle structure to still give him support.  It's not working.  He's going to require surgery (or series of surgeries, and if it sounds like I'm making light of it, please understand that it's my defense mechanism. )

I need to get back and take care of my husband.  I love my husband and this is that part "in sickness and in health" that I agreed to whether he did or not.  I believe in marriage and I want a happy marriage, but I can only do what I can do.  And do it to the best of my ability without judgment, or punishment and in an unconditionally, loving way.  And what I need to do is get to Alabama to get my husband through this surgery and physical therapy on the other side, in the most loving and supportive way I know how.  God is pretty amazing and is capable of turning this marriage around at any point, so I walk in faith. 

No dates have been set, as yet for the surgery and I have come to realize that I will no longer be able to travel.  It's a hard pill to swallow since I've worked so hard to finally get here and now I have to put it to rest.  I am so very thankful that I was able to have this one last bang of a trip.  (Sidenote: This is WHY you don't wait until retirement to follow your dreams or do the things your heart tugs you toward.  Don't ignore it. Don't wait... you might not get the chance "later".)

I am beyond grateful that I got to follow The Oregon Trail... It wasn't the trip that was originally planned, but I'm not sad.  I saw so many things.  I learned so many things.  I made friends along the way.  I learned things about myself that I would have never discovered otherwise.  I got to "meet" all of you.  These memories will set me up for a very long time. 
​
I have yet to go through all the photos, something to look forward to.

A lot of new wheels have been put into motion.
- I cancelled the PostCard Club. 
As I have mentioned before, I did not receive an income from the Club, and more times than not, it cost more than it brought it.  Plus, I will no longer be traveling, so it seemed the right thing to do.
I have decided that all the members will still get their ornament and the 2020 group will still get their digital copy of my book A Devil's Errand when it is released.  I will still send out all the postcards for the month of September and for those who purchased for the full year, I'll send along other gifts instead to make up the difference.

- The History Revisited Facebook Group. 
The group... oh... this is hard... I have enjoyed my time with you so much and I have loved getting to know you throughout the years.  And those who popped in every once in a while... I saw and appreciate you too! 
Seeing as how I'm about to be a full-time caregiver, I feel the best course of action is to delete the group as I won't have the time to keep up with it and again... not going to be traveling or visiting historical sites until further notice.
I will still be producing the Bag of Bones Podcast, for those of you who need your history fix.  I'm going to turn all of my (spare) attentions on that and my author life.  I'll be writing books, coaching and maybe creating some new writing or history courses, I don't know.   I have no idea what my future looks like, but my writing is everything so it will continue in some form or another.

I would be so honored if you would follow me on my Facebook page(s)-
Elizabeth Bourgeret- Author and/or Bag of Bones Podcast
Perhaps we can continue our friendships there.

If neither of those are a fit for you, please know that I will miss you and again, have enjoyed beyond words your participation and presence in my life.

- The Wildwood Conestoga
I am grateful that I will get to visit with my children (both in MO) and my family (mostly in AR) before I get settled in Alabama where my husband and his family reside.
The Conestoga will be sold next month.  It has served me well, kept me safe and the new owner gets a new set of tires! Lol! ​
What a good, mostly sturdy companion it turned out to be :)
Money is about to get extremely tight, so I am downsizing in every way.

I have been so blessed and so ridiculously grateful to have been able to come on this adventure.  It truly has been an adventure of a life time and I am beyond thankful that I was able to make it to Oregon.  
I have earned my Coast to Coast title and being an ocean girl at heart, that's no small thing.
I have SO many new story ideas that have come from this trip so I will never run out of book tasks.  And being able to see what they saw, feel what they felt, touch the flora and fauna, cry with their pain, celebrate thier victories... I promise you to give their stories true depth and emotion so you feel as if you are there.  Witnessing the land and their crossing (even the California route too!) I will have SUCH an advantage to creating an authentic Oregon Trail Series. 

So, I am blessed.  I'm not upset.  A little sad, (okay fine, a lot sad) but I know that I will continue to be blessed in other ways, because my God loves me, and shows me everyday. 
So I walk... and drive... in faith. ​

Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement.  Thank you for your friendship.  Thank you for taking this journey with me.  Thank you for being my penpals. 

If this could NOT be a good-bye, but just a transition... that would be really great.
So... not goodbye... I'll see you on my author page or the Bag of Bones page

And don't count me out... there's more to come from this plucky author,  I promise...

Helpful links to stay in touch:

Bag of Bones Facebook Page

Elizabeth Bourgeret- Author Page

I was taught to "leave things better than you've found it." And my mother was/is a huge advocate for "be respectful of others".  And when looking out into the world and intermingling with other humans, I forget that not everyone had the same amazing momma as I did.

I try never to travel on the weekends as there seems to be heavier traffic and people get upset if I don't want to go 75 on the highway dragging my camper.  (Now if it was just me and Xander - my truck- I'd be all over it!)
So, that usually leaves me in campgrounds over the weekend.  

Normally, I don't mind.  I love hearing the kids squealing in the cold water and playing into the sunset.  I love seeing that families are spending time together. I love the smell of a good campfire and grilling of their fresh catch of the day.   I love that people still appreciate nature... sort of... and that "camping" is still a thing that is sure a tradition that will carry on into the future.

This weekend, there was such little regard for others and zero respect for the grounds and the nature around it.  It just makes me so sad.  Who taught you that this is okay?

There was trash, broken bottles and cigarette butts all over the place.  People left their wrappers for the brand new floaty devices all over the beach.  
People drove through the campgrounds- despite there being signs, despite the children running around- too fast or in the wrong direction!  Would it take SO much time out of your life, just to follow the rules?
While I was out walking a vehicle sped past me and kicked up all kinds of rock dust, but also shot a rock out that hit me in my leg.  That sucker hurt!  I have a lovely purple bruise commemorating the moment and a regular reminder, every time I accidentally bump it, about that rude human.

If you want to play music at your campsite, that's fine.  But don't assume everyone else needs to hear it.  And, in the same instance, if you are in a neighboring campsite and the music is not to your liking, is it REALLY necessary to play YOUR genre even louder?

The bathroom... oh... please... just... can't you just... you know, be considerate of others?    Or at the very least take responsibility for yourself and don't assume that it's someone else's job to come along after you and clean things up.

And please... keep an eye on your children and pets.  Neither are meant to be left in a vehicle while you go out and play.  No other explanation should be necessary.  And if you keep your pets on a leash or lead, there would be no need to scream and yell obscenities at them because they are not staying in the invisible parameter of your space.

All of these things, state parks especially, are here for your enjoyment.  Please stop doing the things that will make the state parks decide that it's just not worth it anymore.

We all have different ideas of what we want to experience in our campground vacations and we all have a different idea of what a good time is.  Please!  Go camping! Have a good time!  Create awesome memories for your children and yourselves- but don't rob others of theirs.

Please don't make my state parks unsafe for me, I would just be so sad.

Consider this a public service announcement.
-Pick up your trash.
-Respect others and their space and property.
-Take care of your littles, furry and otherwise.
-Leave things better than you find it.

And our state parks will be here for years and years to come.

Rant over.  Have an amazingly beautiful day.

​Let It Begin With You
 
With it being a new year, it seems like everyone automatically hits the “restart” button and is on a search to make their lives… better, more productive; their bodies, healthier, skinnier, stronger.  Their thoughts more wholesome, or more private or public, learn more, change for the better.
 
We all seek transformation.
 
It makes sense.  While the thoughts of these changes may flit about our thoughts for moments or months, the new year gives us a starting date.  Walking up to that white line at the beginning of a “race” is intimidating enough, but when the rest of the world is joining you in their various audits, it doesn’t seem as impossible.
 
The trick is to find what works and what will stay with you for the duration of the project, the goal or the lifetime.
 
Change must begin with you.  It can’t happen from the outside in.  There could be circumstances that happen TO us that may force our hand, but in the end, it still has to be our choice.  Our change.
 
The doctor may tell you that if you don’t quit smoking, you will shorten your life by X- amount of time.  You must choose how important/valuable that time could be.  And then take steps according to the value you’ve placed on his advice.  Quit smoking?  Cut back?  He’s a quack…
 
In my line of coaching, unfortunately, I do not ask for quick changes.  I’m not the one you seek out when you are looking for different food diets to lose a few pounds, or room customizations, or resolutions that will be let go in a few months.  My teaching/training/coaching demands so much more.  I deal with heart transformation.  Life changes. Love changes.
 
We only have one life and how you are remembered by others, is a question I ask myself on a daily basis and then act accordingly.  That is my line of “work”.  It my calling to Lead with Love and teach others the same methods.
 
Now that I’ve lured you in and if you are still reading, perhaps your heart needs some tweaking and you are looking for some ways to take small steps to change your inner-love values*.
 
Here are just a few, simple suggestions to add to your New Year daily dose of becoming a better person adgenda…

1. Don’t forget to say “Thank You”.

Two little words.  They don’t cause pain to utter them, but they can make a world of difference.  Say them with a smile, and you are golden.  People need to feel appreciated.  We need to feel that you have noticed.  It doesn’t take much effort, but start noticing.  Start acknowledging.  Start appreciating.  Say “thank you.”

1. The Power of Compliments.

Okay, this one might take you a bit out of your comfort zone if it’s something you’re not used to doing.  This is just taking your positive mental observations and making them vocal.  If you like the way someone did their hair, tell them.  If you can see that a co-worker has gone above and beyond, let them know.  If your child helped with the laundry, let them know how awesome it was to have some help.
You don’t have to get all creepy and stalker-ish, but don’t you love to be complimented?  We are often so hard on ourselves that while we are so busy tearing ourselves down, someone out there thinks you are amazing. 
It took me a long time for me to learn how to accept a compliment without downplaying the comment, but now, it is so appreciated because they didn’t have to say anything.  They could have kept their comments to themselves, but they chose to share it with me.  And so often, I am so surprised that I am twice as grateful that whatever it was had not escaped their notice.  And belive me, your kind words will stay with that someone for a long time to come.
Another benefit of compliments, is it helps to build up another person’s self-esteem.  And as we all know, the stronger your self love foundation, the stronger you are able to withstand harmful words, attentions and actions.  Isn’t it better to give someone a stronger shield than to pierce it yourself?  (P.S. It ends up building your self confidence as well!  Win-win!)

1. Start With the Family

Sometimes our family members get the brunt of our foul moods, because we know they are family and they will love us anyway.  While we may still love you, it gets hard to withstand only seeing the negative side of your brilliant personality.
Yes, be yourself, but you can also be considerate. 
Remember your manners.  Just because they are related to you doesn’t mean you don’t need to say “please” and “thank you”.
Don’t take and take and take- what can you do to give back?  So many adults are angry with a family member because they feel they are not getting the attention they feel they deserve.  My question to you is, what are YOU doing to participate with the family?  How often do YOU reach out to each of THEM?
Aging Parents- It’s taken an enormous amount of time, money, effort, patience and love to raise you into adulthood.  Don’t take it for granted.  Be respectful.  Be patient.  It is such a difficult thing to KNOW that you are not as sharp or as healthy or as quick as you once were.  It’s not like they don’t know of the changes happening in their lives.  Life is busy.  You have a life of your own.  But don’t forget that at one time you were their whole life.  Keep them in the loop.

1. The Power of the Pause

Before you utter a sound, pause… are those words encouraging? Uplifting? Helpful? Kind?  A nano-second of a pause could save a lifetime of damage.
 
 
I hope these simple starters are tiny little adjustments that you could add to your “attitude regiment” to have really and truly a happier and heart healthy new year and lasting relationships.
 
* For more reading, Love Begins With You is available on Amazon!

The New Year is well under way and it looks like it's going to be a busy one!
2015 was awfully good to me and I expect nothing less from 2016.

For those who know me or have come to know me, can attest to the sheer diversity I have in my life.  I am into all kinds of things!  This year will be no different!

Last year, Daddy's Girl was released and given great reviews.  This year, A Detour Home will continue the series in Bakersfield, AR with some familiar names, and introduce new characters to grow our lovely family.

Last year, this site was all about me.  
Late last year I opened up the Book Club to allow new authors an opportunity to get their work in front of new audiences.  And you, my audience, my readers, my friends have made them feel very welcome and I am so happy and proud that you have warmly accepted these new visitors.  
They find me through a website called Fiverr and they pay five dollars to promote their book.  I started this because my on-line bills were starting to out weigh their income, so the Fiverr would off-set it and help me out.  I didn't want to compromise my site with a bunch of unsightly banners or advertisements so this seemed to fit in nicely.  And, thanks to you, it now completely pays for all my websites, fees, and other silly stuff I am responsible for.  
Sure, it started with the intention for a small income, but then I was able to "meet" some of these brilliant authors!  There's a little bit of everything in the Book Club!  If you need a new read (and you've already read my whole collection, Lol) there are SO many choices!!  My to-read list is growing by leaps and bounds.  There is fiction and non-fiction and something for every age group!  I am so happy I chose to do this.
One of my favorite quotes by Zig Zigglar is, "You can have everything you want, if you help others to get what they want."  That is SO true!  I love seeing these new authors post their books on my site!  They are so passionate and creative and amazing!  And, like I said, you have made them feel so welcome!!
(And I know your favorite way to correspond with me is through e-mail, but I would be so grateful if you'd show a little love in the comment sections.  These authors could use some positive feedback!  Don't be shy! They are good people and who doesn't need a little positive reinforcement?)

Next- at the end of 2015, my daughter and I opened a vapor shop called Phoenix Vapes.  Talk about a new world!!  I am learning so much!  If you are unfamiliar, it is proving to be the best, and healthiest option for people to quit smoking.  The most common term is the e-cis, or electronic cigarette.  (It is WAY more complex than that, but I didn't want to bore you with all kinds of extra details!  It opened in November and we are still in the scary first quarter stage, but I am feeling pretty good about it.  It's my first "brick and mortar" venture for quite some time and let me tell you how it not only sucks up money, but it sucks up quite a bit of time as well!!  So, my writing has been put on the back burner for a minute until I can create a new schedule that includes everything.  For the last few months Phoenix Vapes has been front and center, but now I need to get back to my writing.
Which brings me to...

More website changes...  I am thinking of taking down the on-line store of this website and just promote my books and my upcoming events and of course, the Book Club.  My goal for 2016 is to expand to the online courses we've talked about before, but time has not allowed it to happen.  I'm not ignoring your requests, by any means... I just have to get back into the swing of things.  
I was told that if I wanted to go down all these separate paths that I was going to have to divide into separate entities.  Apparently, they were right.  


Whoo!  This blog turned out to be longer than I expected! Lol!  But there you have it... So, if I'm missing from here, check one of the other sites or I'll be helping the world quit smoking! 
Thanks for sticking by me...


Links you might be interested in:

Visit the Elizabeth Bourgeret's Book Club and see what she means with a huge variety of good reads, study material, audio books, and even coloring books.  A little bit of everything.  Make these authors feel welcome! 

And finally, follow Elizabeth on Facebook!

Why On Earth Would You Want to Work with Teens?

​This is a question that is often asked of me... a lot.  Easy...

When you bring your new baby into the world, you are bombarded with "how-to's" and "help guides", support groups, play dates, manuals, classes, videos, blogs, books, cd's, and entire television shows on how to care for your new little infant.  If you're a new parent or a repeat offender, the world has you covered to make sure you know what to do with your adorable new family addition.

But as your infant starts to grow and become a little human, your support groups begin to dwindle a little.  Your advice columns that you checked faithfully everyday no longer apply to your family situation.  And yet, the babies just keep on growing.

Soon, they reach the double digits in chronological maturity and you find you are all alone in the parenting community!!  There is no support group, a smattering of blogs, books and videos and no television shows (except the ones showing how the teens are needing new baby help!).  A parent can feel awfully alone as their once logical, emotionally stable child goes through these horrifying changes.  

It seems that overnight, the baby that they have loved and cared for has become unrecognizable, sleep deprived, mouthy, emotional, secretive, and no longer seeks the advice or friendship with their parent.  Suddenly, the parent is on the outside looking in not knowing how to handle these changes.  And just as suddenly, the child is on the inside, looking out not knowing why these changes are happening but are certain that no one else could possibly understand.

I saw a gaping hole in the parental/family teaching world and I decided to fill the need.  I became a life coach specializing in teens first, then family dynamics and then relationships.  There just didn't seem to be much help for families as their children grew into young adults.  


When I was a teen, I felt lost.  And I made sure my mom was just as miserable as I was.  While I know my family loved me and did the best they could with the knowledge we had, they didn't think to teach me the skills of living a successful life, much less what to do with all these surging hormones and changes going on in my brain and body.  No one really thinks to do that.  Society believes that when a child graduates from high school, they just... know.  We turn them out into the world and just expect them to be successful.

Science has now proven that teens go through as big of a "growth spurt" as far as change and learning, during their teen years as they did in the first eighteen months of life!  That's huge!!  Remember how quickly your newborn learned and changed and grew almost right before your eyes!!  Your teens are doing a second round of growing and that is why they are so foreign to you.  Information overload!


I am here to support the teens and help them get through this trying season of their life without going too far to any extreme.  I don't doctor them or analyze them, I just respect them and help them work through all the stuff in their life.  I work with the other family members as well, trying to keep that cohesion which is so important but so very fragile during this growth spurt.  I help them make choices and work through this new growth without hurting themselves or others! Lol.  I love being a teen-life coach!  But there was more...

So I came up with the Total Truth Workshop.  A lot of common denominators were coming up in my sessions with teens and so in order to reach several teens at once and focus on some of the core materials and have fun with it, Total Truth Workshop was born!

The Total Truth Workshop is an intensive, interactive weekend that I created to present a small group of teens with the basics of getting through this time in their life and planning for their futures, no matter what they might be.  I've made it fun and engaging so they will lock it into their memories and be able to access it for years and years to come.  Anytime we can connect an emotion or involve our peers in an exciting way, the information is more likely to stay with them.  The Total Truth Workshop is an entire weekend of just that.  The teens have so much fun!  They meet like-minded people that will inspire and encourage them.  They learn valuable life transforming information and skills.  Plus they (and I) have a great time doing it!

Speaking totally selfishly, this gives me my teen fix, and it gives me the opportunity to travel!  I'll take the TTW to cities all over the United States one weekend at a time.  It's a win-win!  The workshop can be so beneficial to teens and  their families.  I have created this in such a way that they get the most information, in the shortest amount of time and still have access to me in case they get "stuck".  

There is also a class that follows the workshop for the parents, so they can get an inside look into what was taught and how they can best help their teen get the most from the weekend.

I love working with teens!  They have SO much to offer!  They are bright, intelligent, creative, funny and coming into their "own".  I think because they are caught in that battle of finding out who they want to be that many people get turned off, because while in that battle, comes a lot of attitude, anger, secrecy and rolling of the eyes.  

And while their parents are totally thrown off guard at the changes taking place in their "babies", I have the opportunity to be welcomed in as an odd outsider that is still an adult but is still welcomed and usually even respected!  And for parents, hopefully, I fill that need for support and encouragement and information, helping them raise their teens without killing them. :)

The Total Truth Workshop embraces and celebrates this valuable time in their life as well as gives them some basic guidelines and tools to help them make the best choices for their present life and their future.  My workshop can't fix everything, but it does give them a leg up if they apply the principles.

These are the tools that they will not learn in any school.  These are life skills.  These are practices that I came up with from learning from my own mistakes and studying how to by-pass the pot holes in the "road of life".  I don't pretend to know everything.  I am still learning everyday.  I do not have letters behind my name, and do not claim to be smarter than the rest of the "experts".  But I can promise you that my study has been focused on these issues and this age group for many years.  And while the information that I present to you isn't new, I have become an expert in creating memorable learning experiences so when the information that is being presented to your child would be considered boring and forgettable if just read in a book, will be retained, enjoyed and most likely executed because of the unique way I offer it up to them.  

I had no idea the culmination of my creating summer camps, homeschool classes, coaching and writing would come to this, the Total Truth Workshop, but I love how all of my loves have joined together for this one special purpose.  

Why on earth would I want to work with teens? Because I believe it was my calling, my specialty, my area of expertise.  This is my arena.  We can't ALL be baby experts! Lol!
I love working with teens.  
I love teaching.  And now, I can do both and change the lives of teens all over the world.  
I can meet and bond with families.  
I can see all of the beauty the United States of America has to offer.  
And I can write at all the intervals in between! 
How perfect for me!  

If this is the last thing I do... travel from state to state and city to city working with teens the rest of my life... I couldn't be happier. 

A Big Announcement

​Now that the release of my second novel Waiting for the Sun has passed, I can move on to my BIG announcement!!

This has been a long time coming!!  I am so excited to announce the official 2014/15 Nationwide Tour of the Total Truth Workshop!!

All year I've been doing smaller beta tests of the workshop to get out some of the bugs and to make sure I'm offering up what the kids need most and I am pleased with the results as are the kids.  So the only thing left to do is to take it out on the road!

This is will be my first attempt to travel with this kind of event, but I see it as an adventure!  So many new places to see and new families to meet!  And lots of good information to be passed around to make a difference in people's lives and futures!  I am so excited! (& terrified!)

"I'm so glad someone finally listened to what teens need and not what they think we need."

"I love this workshop.  I think it will help a lot of people.  Miss Elizabeth is awesome."

"The Total Truth Workshop wasn't boring at all.  Miss Elizabeth always thinks for fun things for us to do and before we realize it, it became a lesson."


I'm kicking things off here in my home town of St. Louis, MO first on the last  weekend of June, 2014 and then starting off slowly.  A weekend here, a weekend there and when school starts back up, I'll really swing into gear hopefully offering two workshops per month through the winter months.  What a life change for me! But I welcome it with open arms.  I could use a good challenge to keep me on my toes!

I've been working diligently on the website which is now live.  (I wish I was more tech savvy, but I am not!  So, I had to work at it  in bits and pieces at a time.)  I am thankful for my support system at St. Louis Onsite (Shout out to Paul Arthur and Joey Felps) and to the newest addition to my tech crew, Ryan Lambert.  Ryan is working on making the teen website pop with awesome videos.  I am so very blessed to have so much talent around me.
I am also so thankful for my Personal Assistant, Sarah Arnold, she gets my phone work under control and helps keep me on track to what my most present task is. If you only knew how much I needed that!! Lol!

The workshop is starting to get press and is moving along faster than I'm ready for!  So that just means I need to work harder and faster!!   But I wanted to let all of you know first before it is released to the rest of the world!  I am excited that it is getting positive feedback.  I hope that helps the Total Truth Workshop get off the ground and have all the weekends sell out!

For those of you that don't know about the Total Truth Workshop, it is a project that I have been "working" on for about six years now.  It was going to be just a book called Do It Now or Re-do It Later- and it still will be, but it seemed to me that teens would get more out of the information if it was presented to them in a live, interactive format.  When we have the opportunity to experience something over just reading about it, those experiences are more likely to make an impact and stay with us longer.  And since creating fun camps and classes are my forte, this seemed like a perfect fit.

So basically, for one weekend, these kids will come and hang out with me and we will work on life lessons, accountability, goal setting, and all the things they won't be taught in high school but NEED to know to be successful in the grown-up world.  It's called Total Truth because I won't pull any punches or sugar coat the facts.  The real world doesn't care whether you're tired or not feeling well or ran out of money.  The world moves on and you need to be ready to move with it or get trampled by it! (I know the trampled part!  I don't wish it on anyone!)

It's so much more than sitting in a room and being talked at for three days.  I wouldn't want that... I can't think of anyone that would!  There are games and dancing and a fun atmosphere.  These kids will come out of this event with a good idea of where to go next to make their future one they can look forward to.  Instead of waiting to see what opportunities or jobs "fall into their lap" they will have the power and the know how to go and get what they want.  They will be given a set of tools to help deal with bumps in the road and letting go of harmful habits and replacing them with productive ones.  The workshop also deals a great deal with relationships and communication.  Two things that everyone needs to be comfortable with so they can be prepared to deal with the relationships of their future.  Bosses, teachers, family members, love interests, co-workers.  The information they learn at the workshop will be of use to them the very first day.   

This workshop will be a huge asset for those kids who choose to use it.  They are not only creating a future for themselves, they are linking with like-minded teens and developing a support system, a mentoring group and new friends that will last them a life-time.  And me.  I'll be there with them for as long as they need me.  I've set up a members only Facebook group, their own membership pages within the website, on-going blog posts to keep them on track and they will have life-time access to me and to any webinars I host.

I am just so excited about this whole thing!  This is my life's work.  This is what all my years of experiences have led me to.  I wish I had something like this when I was in my teen years.  I certainly wouldn't have made as many mistakes trying to figure things out as I went.  I hope you will come on board and help me spread the news about my new "baby"!  I can't wait to share it with the world!   I love this age.  So many new things coming their way and so many things to learn.

Please comment below or shoot me an email if you'd like to know more information but I'll try and keep everything posted on here so you can see my progress.  To find out more about the Total Truth Workshop, please visit the page on this website or you can bounce right to the brand new website to learn all the details!  www.totaltruthworkshop.com

Please be happy for me and keep theses prayers and well wishes coming my way, because I need all the encouragement I can get!

BONUS if you or would like to sign up for the Total Truth Workshop (in the St. Louis area), please send me a message in the Contact Me and I'll give you a discount code for HALF OFF!!  This offer is only good until June 17th.  
(Not in the St. Louis area?  Message me anyway and first, let's see when I'll be heading to your city and second, I'll give you a special friends and family discount offer that you can use!)

Shift Change

​I had something completely different planned for my blog today, all nice and neat and written out, but I was side-tracked. So please bare with me.  I just have to get this out there...

I am participating in a marketing program that is taking my web-site, my blogs, my writings and the things that I offer and scrutinizing them to  find my strongest areas and creating the best ways monetize them.  This is so very overwhelming.  First of all, yes, I do want writing and training to be a career for me.  So, I need to change my way of thinking that I can't just write whenever and whatever I want.  It has to shift into more of a business mind-set.  When they asked where my heart was; what my passions and personal goals were, I told them MY personal goal is to be able to offer fun and interactive workshops for teens.  I want to be able to travel from city to city and give them this amazing opportunity to become the best part of themselves and face their future with confidence.  I've called it the Total Truth Workshop.  I am really proud of it but have not put it into action as yet.  (I was waiting until this marketing team gives me feedback, I guess.)

I enjoy all the aspects of my writing "career", but they, the marketing team, have a point, and it is that I am spreading myself too thin.  Try as I might, I cannot be all things to all people.  I was told to choose.  UGH!  The agony!!  I want to help EVERYONE!!!  Why can't I help everyone?? 

With my history and my happiness, I return, always, to teens.  My work in coaching leads me in that direction as well.  I enjoy working with families and I do well with relational coaching and seminars.  I have been working with kids for over twenty-five years!  Whoa!  That's saying something!

Why teens:
That time in their life is such a struggle and it seems like we are in a weird "pretending it's not happening" to "micro-managing" to "it's someone else's fault" way of dealing with things.  These kids on the verge of adulthood are amazing but no one gives them the credit or the directions they need to make that transition!!  I want to help them get everything they want out of life.  I want their teenage years to be happy memories.  I want them to have the confidence to go after whatever their heart desires regardless of where they came from.  There is no other program out there that is offering what I do.  It's fun, it's interactive and it's a life-time of support and new friendships.  I am excited to get it out there.

Back to the marketing people...
Teens don't pay for my kind of programs.  That's where the parents come in.  So they suggest that I work on things for parents and then lead the parents into the Total Truth Workshop.  
I can do that.  I would enjoy doing that...  but...

At the moment, I am feeling so overwhelmed and pulled in several directions.  I have my fiction followers, my motivational followers, my relationship followers, my Christian followers, my fitness followers and (deep breath)....  I don't want to disappoint a single one of them.   I do however need to eat.  So I am trying to "chunk down my niche."  Not sure how I'm going to do this and for just a moment, I wasn't going to do it at all.  I was just going to keep on doing what I've always been doing for as long as I could do it... but then...

I went to a couple of the teen support group pages I regularly comment on, and was so overwhelmed by the sadness that was coming from the posts.  So much sadness and confusion.  They have no foundation within themselves to turn to for strength when times get hard.  I help provide that.  I can help them.  My workshops for teens are created for them.  My seminars for families can help heal them.  This is where I need to be.

So, it is decided.  I will start shifting things in that direction.  Teens and family will become my main focus.  I do have some projects that are currently in the works that I will complete but I need to narrow my focus to where my heart is needed most and I feel that I am called.  So hang with me as this slow shift happens.  The exciting thing is that I still get to do all the things that make me happy, write, travel, speak, create, motivate, help others, I'm just narrowing down my target audience even more than before.

So- if you are part of a family (and there's a good chance that you are) and you need to communicate with others, (my area of expertise) then chances are you still might be able to find some value here on my site.  

No! No! No!  You've got to stop me!! Don't let me try to go back to writing for everyone!! Lol!!  I need you to help keep me focused!!  I'm so weak!!
Thank you for letting me go off track and vent just a little... I will get things back on track soon!  Please, feel free to leave your comments below.  I love to hear from you!

EAT CAKE!

Birthdays mean different things to different people.  There was a time that I preferred not to celebrate my birthday and would allow the day to just come and go as if it were just another day.  Then I decided, wait a second!  It's NOT just another day.  I have made it a WHOLE additional year!  And if every day is a gift!  That's an extra 365 gifts given to lil ol me.

​
These days, I celebrate my birthday.  I am having the time of my life!  I've reached the age that the tiniest things don't stress me out.  I find beauty and love all over the place!  I know that worrying is just a waste of time.  I have made mistakes, but they didn't kill me and have taught me many, many lessons.  I have done the best I could with the resources I had to be the best mother I could be.  I have grandchildren... I enjoy the fact that I have been granted another one.  I may not do anything big, or public, but there will be cake.

Cake means there is something to celebrate.  I am something to celebrate.  I am loved.  I may not have accomplished every thing I have set out to do, but I've been given another birthday to keep trying.
I have lived a full life and in case this IS my last birthday, I'm not at all upset.  I can look back and see all the wonderful people who have shared my life in the past and how they have made a difference.  Some have stayed for a long time, others for only a season, still others were merely a blip on the screen, but I'm a firm believer that people come in to your life for a reason.
So, I am happy that YOU are in my life.  Thank you for being a part and helping me to continue to fulfill my dreams and help others along the way. I am happy that this is where my life's path has lead me.  I am looking forward to what the future has to offer and I promise to be grateful for all the moments in between.

Today is my birthday.  Celebrate with me.  Appreciate all the things that have happened to bring you here.  Love the people that are in your life now today and all your yesterdays.  And above all...Eat cake!!

"Thanks" Giving

​The topic of being grateful is one that I feel is so vital, that I touch on it in every one of my seminars and workshops.  I call it the Attitude of Gratitude.  It's a way of thinking that impacts your whole life.  Not just for one day a year but all 365.  Whether I am speaking to children, parents, teens, couples, or co-workers, gratitude is a topic that has the power to change the attitude and atmosphere of a relationship.  Any relationship.  And even the way we think and feel about ourselves.  Of course, this seems to be the perfect time of year to blog about it.  In fact, I think you might be a little disappointed in me if I blogged about anything BUT thankfulness this close to the holiday with Thanks in its title.

Thanksgiving is a time for families and feasting and while the commercialized version of the holiday spawned from football and kicking off the Christmas season, let's take it back to what WE have come to celebrate Thanksgiving for.  Being thankful and giving thanks.

You know, this isn't just a once a year thing, though.   You could get those warm fuzzy feelings all throughout the year.  In fact I encourage it.  When we put on a thankful attitude, it takes the edge off of the negative things that are thrown at us on a daily basis.  The harsh realities of life don't sting nearly as bad when we can reflect how good we really have it.  How "easy", by comparison, our lives really are.  There is and always will be someone that is worse off than we are or have a more difficult life.  Having an attitude of gratitude makes our hard times a little easier to get through.


Giving Thanks:
Tell them.  Show your appreciation. Literally, Give. Thanks.  It's something that we take for granted.  People do nice things for us all the time and we pay little attention to it.  Make it your habit to show thanks.  And when someone shows you grace, or forgiveness or an unexpected kindness, make sure they know that you know.  This is often overlooked in the home and the workplace, but when you change your perspective, and take the extra time to see that there are good people around you doing nice things let them know you appreciate it.  Even if the nice thing wasnt' for you!  If you "catch" someone being nice to someone else, acknowledge their kindness and thank them for it.
Look at it this way.  When you do something nice for someone, and they are sincerely grateful  if they let you know it, you are more likely to do nice things for them again in the future.  Because it feels good to be appreciated. And so it goes, back to the old rule "you reap what you sow"  "you get what you give".  Give thanks and more will be given to you to be thankful for.

Keep Score!  Having a tough time getting started?  Just try and thank ten people for something every day.  Let the words just come out of your mouth.  It may feel awkward at first, but soon, you'll find yourself being thankful for even the tiniest things.  
If you are having find yourself running out of people to thank, start texting!  Emailing! Snail mail!  Mom is an easy one,  you could just thank her for being "mom".  Thank your co-workers for their great job!  Thank your friends for just being there.  Thank your family for years and years of putting up with you.  Thank our soldiers for keeping us safe and letting us live a life of freedom.  
When it's all said and done and you have a few months of ten thank-you's a day, let me tell you, that feels pretty good.  It gives you a glimpse at the "bigger picture" when you are thankful for all the paint brush strokes it took to create it.  Just try it.  You'll thank me later!

Being Thankful:
Being thankful is to take the time to realize all the wonderful things you have in your life.  Right down to the air in your lungs, the blood pumping through your veins and even the sun shining in the sky.
It is so easy for us to be harsh with ourselves and the world around us.  We have grown into a bitter and judgmental society.  We complain about the things we don't have and it never seems like we have enough.  When you look at life in that way, it's true, you WILL never have enough.  But for all the things you think you are lacking, what someone else would gladly give for the things that you have and don't appreciate.   The shoes on your feet.  The roof over your head.  The food that you're throwing away because you just can't eat another bite.
So when you look at yourself in the mirror and focus on all your flaws take just a moment to think of how lucky you are to have a body that functions and takes you places.  How you're home may not have the finest furnishings but it keeps you warm and safe.  How you may have to eat the same left-overs for the third day in a row, but you have food to eat to keep you healthy.
I am certainly not trying to paint a morbid picture here.   Quite the opposite.  So many people think that it has to be something big before we can feel thankful- a huge spread of food on that chilly November holiday, a big promotion, a new purchase- but it's the little things.  Every day.
You are a wonderful person and there are so many wonderful things about you that I bet you forget about it.  I am thankful that you are who you are so I can just concentrate on being lil ol me.  Appreciate you.  Appreciate your talents and skills and personality.  Be thankful that you have gotten this far in life and that you have faced any number of trials and tribulations to make you who you are today.  I am thankful for you.  I am thankful that you have found me and are reading my works and have allowed me to touch your life in whatever capacity.  You be thankful for you, too.  Because without you, someone would be very sad.

And while you are rolling your eyes and checking your watch while your in-laws quibble, or your grandpa falls asleep on the couch and snores, or your crazy uncle wants to tell you about his newest, greatest... thing; while your aunt wants to love and kiss on you with her slobbery lips and while the conversation may bore you to tears, remember; these are your people.  Your family.  This is where you come from.  Find something- even if you have to dig deep- to appreciate about them.  Keep looking.  It's there.  They are the only family you have.  And no one lasts forever.  Find it.  Appreciate it for yourself and then... tell them.

Keep Score!  As you lay your head down on your comfy pillow tonight take a moment to think of all the things you can be thankful for.  The big things, the little things even the tiniest of things.  Change your perspective.  See the world as a place that's always trying to do good for you and to you!

While I am grateful for this once a year reminder I am hopeful that it jumpstarts your perspective to be thankful and give thanks every day. (Oh yes, and you know that the "Give love, get love every day of every year" is coming for the next whopper of a holiday, so hold on to your hearts, cause it's-a comin!)
In the meantime friends, have a wonderful, healthy, happy, fulfilling Thanksgiving holiday!! 

You're turn!  What are you thankful for? What can you give thanks for that you didn't notice before?  How can you change your perspective at the workplace, at school or at home to be more thankful?
Please share and comment below!