The SpecialMoms Parenting Magazine 1st Issue | Page 40
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Interview
There is no “typical day”. It doesn’t exist. I try, my
launch stage event in November 2013, and the
best, to accommodate a schedule, but life has a
Roseburg Start Up Entrepreneur Weekend event.
way of derailing that. It really is wonderful, when
you step back and look at that point. It’s letting
go, not trying to squeeze and control the “life out
of life”. It reminds me of the movie Parenthood,
when the Grandma, with dementia, says she likes
the roller coaster.
[Gil has been complaining
about his complicated life; Grandma wanders
into the room]
Grandma: You know, when I was nineteen,
Grandpa took me on a roller coaster.
Gil: Oh?
Grandma: Up, down, up, down. Oh, what a ride!
Gil: What a great story.
Grandma: I always wanted to go again. You
know, it was just so interesting to me that a
ride could make me so frightened, so scared,
so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together!
Some didn’t like it. They went on the merry-goround. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the
roller coaster. You get more out of it.
How do you balance work
and family life?
I always give the weekends to my family, and
What motivates you?
Following God’s plan. Like I said, previously,
I struggle with perfectionism, patience and
control. I could not understand why “bad things
happen to good people” (Like in the case of
my grandparents living with Alzheimer’s and
my daughter with autism.) This is not to say that
having these conditions makes anyone’s life
bad; it’s simply stating that life is more difficult, a
challenge, a roller coaster. And out of my roller
coaster of a life, I have been fortunate to have
the opportunity to not only make a product that
can help others, but to be an advocate as well.
I would never be the person I am today without
these struggles. God has used a less than easy
life to show me that good things come when
you let go and trust Him. For that reason, the Lord
motivates me in many ways.
Is there a charity or organization
you volunteer for and/or support
and why?
especially Sundays. I learned, from my Granga
I volunteer for 3 charities/organizations at the
and Papaw, the importance of slowing down and
moment.
spending the weekend with family. There is always
1. The Alzheimer’s Association
work to be done. Sure enough, as I write this, there
2. Conference on Extraordinary Living, Roseburg
will be more work for me ready and waiting the
Oregon (chairperson)
following day. But, my family…I want my girls, my
3. Emeritus at Manor House (I get to go on field
husband, to still be wanting me to be around, to
trips with the residents of a local memory
be excited and happy when I am in the room
care community. A joy!)
with them.
Do you have any awards or
recognitions you want to share?
What do you see in the future
for your business or charity?
I would love to see the business expand and
The concept of Caregiver Cards has won two
grow to meet the ever demanding roles placed
awards: the Roseburg Angel Investor Network’s
on the Alzheimer’s community. My vision for the
40 The SpecialMoms magazine ~ Winter 2014