The SpecialMoms Parenting Magazine 1st Issue | Page 40

Be sure to follow us 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