Long time, no blogging

I am sure that many of you have been wondering where in the world I have been.  If we are Facebook friends then you know where I have been.  I have been getting back to life as a real estate professional. 

For several years  Doug encouraged me to get my real estate license.  It was after Parker was born that I did so.  That was over 10 years ago in 2002.  Fast forward 6 years to 2008.  I was working for Jenny Pruitt and Associates as the VP of Career Development.  That was the year my world changed.  Brady was born on December 31, 2007, Doug went to heaven on March 2, 2008 and my mom followed him on August 1, 2008.  That is when I decided to take a break from my professional life in real estate and moved to California.

Fast forward again 4 years to 2012.  I moved back to Georgia to resume my life as a working mom.  In May of 2012 I met Shaun Rawls and Jeri Moran with Keller Williams Realty.  For the past 9 months I have been learning, growing and fully immersed in my work.  It has been a very long time since I have worked on myself as much as I work on others.  It has been INCREDIBLE.

If you have read my blog posts from the past you know that I very rarely write about myself.  So this is not a post about me.  Rather a writing about how important it is to remember to continue to focus on your own personal growth.  If you have ever been on an airplane you know that when they go over the safety procedures they always say "in the event the oxygen masks drop, please put your mask on first before assisting others." That is what I am writing about.

The 2 adorable faces you see here are the reason I am committed to continuous self education and growth.  There is one thing that I am 100% sure of in this world.  God wants us to be prosperous.  God wants us to live lives that are full and abundant.  If he didn't then he would never have created the world and it's many glorious wonders for us to live in.

Here is a recent email from my boss...

Superstars-

Back in the day, I used to be a pretty competitive tennis player.  I became interested in playing tennis seriously in junior high school, and by the time I graduated high school, my performance on the tennis court was a very big part of who I was.  One of my biggest influencers as a young man was my high school tennis coach, Coach Whitlow.  He was one of the coolest teachers I ever knew.  He could crack the whip of discipline with ease, and he could tell jokes and poke fun at us kids even easier.  I rarely got dressed for school without making sure that there wasn’t something about my appearance that Coach Whitlow could make fun of because if he could, he would.  I loved Coach Whitlow for always reminding me that I was capable of being better than I was.  Regardless of how tired or lazy I was, he wouldn’t let me linger there.  And I always found myself wanting to push myself harder under his direction. 

One of the greatest friends in my lifetime has been Mark Brown.  Mark and I met in the 7^th grade and we played on the basketball team together throughout the following years, and we ultimately ended up as doubles partners on the tennis court.  The more we played, the better we got.  And during our senior year we found ourselves playing in the state championship tournament some two hours outside of Atlanta. 

Coach Whitlow drove us to the tournament, and during our drive he talked to us continually about our mindset and our perspective.  He knew us both.  He knew that we were skilled enough to win; he also knew that we were probably too immature to let that happen.  As Mark and I joked and talked about our opportunity to play in the state tournament, Coach Whitlow listened and took it all in. 

“You boys have put in a lot of hard work to get here,” Coach said.  “It’s going to be a shame to drive all this way and come home without winning.”

“What do you mean, ‘without winning’?” we asked.

“You’re not focused on winning.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Because you are acting like this is your first crack at a state championship, and you’re just happy to be here. You’ve already lost if you’re just happy to be here.  And I think you’re both just happy to be here.”

As it turned out, Mark and I lost that day.  It was one of the most disappointing losses of our career together on the court.  To say that we were mad would be an understatement.  I was mad at not playing to the level of which we were capable, but I was even “madder” at the fact that Coach Whitlow was right.  We were so excited to play in that tournament that we were, in fact, just happy to be there.  And in less than two hours, we were back in the car with Coach Whitlow, heading for home.  I’m not sure if any of us spoke on the way back.  Mark and I sat there, stewing over our regret while Coach let the lesson sink in.  And it did.

Fast forward to today.  It’s 2013.  More than 25 years have passed since that day.  I, along with my Realtor friends and family, have successfully battled through the toughest 5 years that our industry – and our economy – has ever seen.  And now we find ourselves in a rebounded market, ripe with the opportunity to re-succeed in new, yet familiar market conditions.  For many, the next several years may be no different than my trip to the state tournament.  If you survived the past five years, you could be at risk for just being “happy to be here” in a market with momentum, anxious only to ride the economic tide to wherever it takes you.

If, in any way, you resemble that remark, then I’d like you to take your right hand and slap yourself across the cheek right now.  You can’t afford to sell yourself short like that.  As Mark Willis recently reminded me, “The infinite power of the universe does not exist for you to be average.”  The universe provides a lot of things, but it usually provides answers to the questions we ask, and nothing more.  In the Aladdin Factor, we learned that the size of our questions determines the size of our answers.  If you don’t like the answers that life is giving you (the amount of money you receive, the quality of the relationships you have, the level of stress you live with, etc.), then you need to ask bigger questions that beg for bigger answers in your life.

The past 5 years has created a detrimental mindset of “survival” for many people, particularly for people in the real estate industry.  And if you give more power to your memory of the past than you give to the opportunities in your future, then you’re going to find yourself wallowing in regret that’s reminiscent of my loss in the state championship years ago.  Quite simply, it’s time to clear out your memory and re-set your hard drive. 

What would phenomenal success and happiness look like over the next 5 years?  What could you do TODAY that would be a great first step in that direction?  What do you need to do to solidify your resolve to win?  Do you have the right people around you who make you want to do and be better?  Are these people modeling success for you, leaving clues for you to follow?  What’s wrong with your thinking that’s always been wrong with your thinking?  And what do you intend to do about it?  Now is the time to answer these questions and get serious about building a career worth having, a business worth owning and a life worth living.  Later is for losers.  “Now” is how you need to roll.  Now is when you need to go, to be, to do, to have.  Now is when you need to live into your future with your actions.  “The infinite power of the universe does not exist for you to be average.”

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready.  I’m ready to be better than I’ve ever been.  I’m ready to win this match.  The market of the past five years has only given me more experience and more confidence to succeed in any market, and I’m going to make the best of the best conditions we’ve seen in years, and I want to help you do the same.  I’m asking that you join me, that you take a stand and declare your intention to get your unfair share of what is yours for the taking.  I’m asking that you ask for greatness and work relentlessly until you find it for yourself.  Will you?  Won’t you?

“Together Everyone Achieves More.”  Losing out on a great future by settling for average is not an option that we should consider.  Let’s win this thing.

Your Biggest Fan

-Shaun Rawls

Shaun and I at my KW office Awards Celebration

Now, I know that this is a whole lot of reading.  Don't worry I have gone total intellect on y'all.  I will still continue to blog about random topics such as mayonaise and crayons.  Do not PANIC!!!

So many of you have supported me during the hard times, celebrated with me during the joyous times and I want to make sure that you know that I am to help you in any way I can.  There has been 1 continuous theme in my life over the past 5 years... 

 "LIVE LIFE OUT LOUD!"

I am.  Are you?

Friendship

Well, well.  If you know me you might think I have a lot of friends.  The truth is... I do.  I cherish my friends dearly.  I have had some friends since I was 5 years old.  Danielle and Shannon have my staple for over 30 years.  The ups and the downs.  We have endured them together.  I have their cell #'s in my phone.  I text them when something strikes me in a way that makes me think of them.  Sometimes we chat often and sometimes there are long periods of time that pass us by.

Myself, Danielle and Shannon.

8th Grade Graduation.

Life happens in seasons.  People come in and out of our lives.  Some enter at times when we are on the top of the world.  Others when we really don't have much to offer.  I have a friend that the onset of our friendship was not good.  In fact, it was ugly.  Sometimes toxic.  Actually we weren't friends at all; we were more like polar opposites.  (Well, we still are:)  Here's the story:

          I met Stacy in 1990.  We pledged the same sorority.  In many ways we were similar; outgoing extroverts looking for the total college experience.   We both held leadership positions.  I am a year older, almost to day.  Although she is a Taurus and I am a Aries.  We seemed to butt heads often.  Disagree on almost everything.  She was a pain in my #*%.  As college wrapped up we both had applied for the same leadership position with our sorority.  Out of 100's of applicants, we both were granted an interview for the job.  Which was a rarity.  Once again we were going up against one another.  

          Me being the older more mature of the 2 (had to say it), called Stacy up and asked if she would like to share a hotel room close to the airport the night prior to a very early flight.  Stunned she said yes.  So here we were going for the same job and spending 1 on 1 time together for the first time ever.  

          It only took about an hour for me to fall head over heals for Stacy.  She was so fun.  She was so real.  And she felt the same way about me.  Who'da thunk it?  Tootle and Perry.  BFF's.  That was 20 years ago.  -and yes we both got the job. 

The point to the story is that not all 1st impressions are lasting impressions.  Outside influences can really construe your ability to open your heart to people.  Now I am not best friends with all of my friends obviously.  That doesn't mean I don't cherish all friendships equally.  Have you ever met someone for the first time and felt like you have known them for a lifetime? It is like your souls have drawn you together.  Instant connection.  Then there are those who it takes time to get to know and then one day you wonder how in the world did I ever dismiss the importance of this friendship.  

Doug was the kind of guy who was friends with people that most people could not stand.  He would tell me about someone and be caught up in their flaws, but end his sentence with "but you would really like him".  I loved that about him.  A friend to anyone that needed a friend.  It was one of many of his admirable traits.  Probably why there were so many that came to honor him.  In fact, the night we received friends at the funeral home there was another family having the same event.  Someone came up to my sister and asked "did someone famous die?"  She replied "yep."  He never would of dreamed it.

Don't let time, distance or differences get in the way of 

Living Life Out Loud 

with friends.

This is Stacy.  

I am writing this as she and I are flying home from a trip to NYC.

Family Traditions

When the holidays come around it stirs up memories for me.  I think about when I was growing up.  How different life was then.  We only had a few channels on TV and we lived for the night when the Christmas shows were on.  Rudolf, Santa Claus and maybe How the Grinch Stole Christmas; if I was brave enough to watch that one.  My mom would always bake a ton of different sweets.  Some of our family favorites are fudge made with marshmallow fluff, creamy caramels (which turned out hard some years), cookies of all kinds, Chex mix, haystacks and many others.  My sister in Oregon made caramels yesterday while her grandchildren were over.  Today I am going to bake with my kiddos and continue those holiday traditions. 

My mother was English.  Her family traveled to California by ship around the horn of South America from Cornwall, England.  When they settled in the foothills of the Sierra's they worked in the mines.  You can image that is was dark and cold so having a warm meal during your shift was a must.  The women would make them a meat filled turnover called a pasty.  Not a pastey, but a pasty.  Click here for more on the  History of the Pasty. 

The pasty was wrapped in newspaper and put in a "lunch pale".  The men would hang the pale over a candle to keep it warm.  My family adds potatoes and onions and seasons with parsley, salt and pepper.  Today you can make a short cut by using premade pastry dough, although there is nothing better than homemade.  It just takes a little more prep time.  

Yesterday I made pasties for my family.  My kids love them.  They are a simple 1 dish meal that makes my heart warm.  Oh and my mother ALWAYS served pasties with a Pepsi.  It really is a must as the pasties can seem rich with the pastry and meat.  Plus we cut ours open and dollop with butter and ketchup.  Talk about comfort food!

As time has passes I long for the things that make me feel warm and comfortable, like when times were simple; when I was little girl.  No worries, no responsibilities, just living life.  When the holidays come around I miss my parents, my Nana and of course my love, Doug.  The little things like baking, decorating with the things that I have seen since childhood and sending/receiving Christmas cards make me feel like I am not just living life, but 

Living Life Out Loud.

Culture for your kids

When I was a kid growing up my parents were patrons of the arts.  They had season tickets to 2 theaters in San Francisco and spent every other Saturday in the "City" (as we call it) going to watch a show and dine out with friends.  Subsequently I also spent a lot of time in the "City".  Whether we were shopping, site seeing or dining out.  All of which are my favorite activities to this day.  

As I am now a parent I find it easy to stay at home with little kids.  I mean, it takes real effort to prepare for the day, load up, entertain and stay cheery with antsy little boys in the car or waiting in line for something.  But what I have come to learn is the more you do things with your kids the better they are at being in public.  Taking them out to eat can be a challenge for a 3 year old.  But if you are consistent with your efforts, they become a very patient 4 year old.

So this year I took the boys to San Francisco for the lighting of the tree in Union Square and site seeing in the city.  We walked to Coit Tower and saw the "City" from a bird's eye view.  We enjoyed the Merry Go Round at Pier 39.  We watched the street performers along Fisherman's Wharf.  Rode a cable car to Union Square; which stalled and we had to get a push start up hill.  After watching the tree lighting ceremony along with thousand's of other holiday onlookers we caught a taxi back to where we stayed the night.  When we awoke we drove across the Golden Gate Bridge and stopped for photo op.  


This was a memory that I will always cherish.  The boys want to go again next year and go to Chinatown and eat in Little Italy.  Sounds like a plan to me!

So the next time you decide to just stay at home, push yourself to go out instead.  Create a passion for culture in your kids.  

Teach them to Live Life Out Loud Culturally.  

MY SPECIAL PLACE

My first trip to Maui was in 1979.  I was 8 years old.  My parents, my Nana and my sister traveled to Oahu for my dad to teach a course at the University of Hawaii, then we traveled to Maui for an additional week.  I don't remember much about that trip, but my parents fell in love with Maui.  We returned in 1985 to celebrate my sister's high school graduation.  My parents then invested in a condo in Kihei Town and we returned every year until my mother sold in 2000.

Every visit I make to Maui I am remember the fun that was had during my visits with family and many friends...

• 1986 Shannon and I visited July.  The winds were strong and a screen flew off of the 3rd story and hit me in the head.  A hot ash landed in my eye on the 4th of July after my dad encouraged me to roll down the window of the car to get a better view of the fireworks.  We took a catamoran to Molokini snorkeling and the waves were pretty big.  I "fed the fish" the entire trip.  (which means vomited)
•   1987 with Stephanie.  We swam in every pool on the way to Hana.  We had drinks with my parents and went night swimming every night.  We learned never to over indulge on the blackened fish dishes.  Poor Stephanie paid the price for that.  Lots of laughter and good times had.  Steph is still a great friend to be around.
• 1988 with Terry.  Boy did we have fun.  Because Terry was used to flying by herself as a kid and I was in Maui for a month with parents, Terry came for part of the trip.  She had to teach me the song girl routine for cheerleading camp so that I would be caught up when I returned home.  We met some cool wind surfers from South Africa which we thought was totally awesome.  
• 1989 with Kerry after high school graduation.  Of course we met some more boys.  That year is was all about how tan we could get.  Kerry won, of course.
• in the 90's I visited Maui with my college boyfriend, my college roommate and spent a summer with a group of my sorority sisters working summer jobs.  We had so much!!!  That was when I learned about being a Kaimaina (local).  We worked in the evenings and partied all night long.  We would cure our hang overs in the sun by the pool or at the beach.  We met so many people.  It was a summer never to forget.  
• 1998 Doug and I were married on March 30 in Waliea.  We had 15 people in attendance.  It was a dream come true.  Love you, Dougie.
• 1999 we returned with our mothers.  It was a nice trip, but not the same without my dad.
• On 10-10-10 Steve and I exchanged vows of love and promise in Kapalua.  Danielle and Ray were present.  It was the first time I had been away from both of children for such a long time period.  It was nice to have time with only Steve.  Something we have come to cherish in our relationship.

Maui is my special place.  I feel peace, joy and love when I am there.  I hope to someday make it my permanent place of residence.  I hope you have a special place where you can 

LIVE LIFE OUT LOUD.  

MAUI NO KA OI! 

 

Holidays Holidays Holidays

No one loved the holidays like Doug.  If you knew him you know what I am talking about.  Really all of our family knows that Doug was the center of all holidays.  Let's start with Thanksgiving; he wanted everyone in the family to be together.  We enjoyed having this holiday at our home.  I love to set a table and cook.  We would have everyone over and of course Betty Ann would bring 20 different dishes and 3-4 cakes with her.  The kids would run around like crazed animals while the men and Sissy watched football all day.  Good times.

Doug and Parker opening their stockings on Christmas morning.

Now Christmas was the BIG DADDY of holidays for Doug.  It was all about Santa Claus.  We would argue every year about how Parker would receive his gifts from Santa.  Doug would insist that all gifts come from Santa Claus and I was raised that Santa brought just a few and mom and daddy gave the rest.  Doug always won.  (I would always ask how his buddies felt when they would see Doug's 20 gifts from Santa and they got 2-3 gifts from Santa?  He would respond by saying "I guess Santa just likes me more.")

As I prepare to host my first Thanksgiving since Doug's passing I am excited and full of joy as I remember how much joy Doug brought to the holiday season.  His heart was always in the right place.  Parker loves his family and there is really no toy that he would ever want if he had to trade time spent with the people he loves.  I admire that about him.  I am sure that Brady will learn to love this time of year too.  

Steve grew up not celebrating holidays due to his families religious beliefs.  Boy did he hit the mother lode when he met us!  The past year had been full of firsts for all of us.   We have celebrated every holiday with Steve and his parents; Christmas, 4th of July, Birthdays, Halloween.  It has been awesome to see them enjoy the fellowship and memories we are making during these special times.  

 This is Parker with Santa on the Polar Express.  He thought we were really going to the North Pole and was so disappointed when he saw the trailer park at the end of the ride.  We laughed so hard.

Parker and Brady pose in front of the tree 2009. 

This holiday season remember to create memories with those you love by Living Life Out Loud.  Happy Holidays!

Seasons of Life

Well since my last posting I have celebrated another birthday.  I don't know why, but this particular birthday was different than all the rest. 

I remember some of my past celebrations...  like Chuckie Cheese's when my dad didn't come home on time and I mom walked the entire birthday party ,which was also a sleep-over, to Chuckie Cheese because she couldn't drive us all in one car and wouldn't leave some behind and make 2 trips.  We only lived a 10 minute walk away.  Or my 21st birthday which was on Easter Sunday and the only bar open was Black Angus and my sister drank more than me.  When we got home my mom said "You aren't even drunk."  Then my bestfriend, Danielle said "your mom is so sweet, cuz you are trashed."  4 days after my 28th birthday my dad died.  I remember asking him not to die on my birthday; thanks daddy.  The Waco, TX cult raid happened on my birthday.  So did the Oklahoma bombing.  I was born on my Great-Grandmother on my moms side birthday and my Grandfather on my dads side birthday. 

I have come to learn that around the 19th of April God gets real busy.  This year I feel as though I am entering a new season of life.  I am a widow and my parents are gone too.  I have 2 amazing little boys that fill my life with love and laughter everyday.  I am getting remarried to an incredible man.  To be a bride at 39 is a little wierd.  I am struggling with how I want to mark this season in my life.  I grew up as Jennifer Tootle.  I have lived a wonderful life as Jennifer Greenway.  Who will I be as Jennifer Taylor?

Seasons of my life remind me that there is only one way to 

LIVE LIFE and that is OUT LOUD.

"Happy Birthday to you whenever your special day is." -Jennifer