Truly Inspired - Thriving as a Real Estate Agent diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis

WELCOME to my blog... You are receiving this private blog because you are one of the select few in my life who have inspired me to maintain my hope for healing and reach all the blessings God has for me. I ask for your daily prayers over the next 60 days to receive God's blessings in HEALTH, FAMILY SUPPORT and INCREASE in my REAL ESTATE BUSINESS! The purpose for this blog to keep you informed so you will know how to pray for me and Together we can celebrate God's answered prayers.

Please stand in faith with me believing God for an immediate increase in listings and closed sales - with 3 listings in the next three months. I am asking for God to bring those into my circle who will value my wisdom, skills and expertise in real estate and refer clients to me. I am asking for daily resurrection power with healing and energy to go beyond meeting client expectations, manage home life, enjoying friends and be a part of ministry in Saddleback CR.

I Choose to be Dancing

Lately, my favorite song is by Donnie McClirkin.... I Choose to be Dancing is on his CD, We All Are One.

reflections

Life... has ups ... and Life has downs... Life has a beginning ... Life has an end... There are times full of joy fun and surprises Full of LOVE. Today, I am reflecting... I am more confident, knowing that no matter what challenge I face, the situation will change. For the past two years, I enjoyed the peaceful place of refuge at 2 Via Esperanza in RSM. The mornings with cool breezes, chirping birds and beaches were my favorie. Now is the time to move on. Packing and reflecting. Thankful 4 family and friends. Thankful to have a home in AZ. Life can get complicated but each time we rise to meet the challenge. .. or oportunity to move into a new space, a new place and gain a new perspective. As Dad (aka PaPa) says, Life IS Good. May you rise to your challenge, gain a fresh perspective and LOVE your life.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

This year I am celebrating Christmas with mom, dad, my brother David and his family, Mario Anthony, Amber and her family.

Today, I drove Mario Anthony around for his last minute shopping since he is still in a cast on his left arm / hand. I thought about posting a picture of the pins and stitches - but it looks really ugly - it looks like a shark bite!

Tiffaney and her family are in Utah celebrating Christmas with Justin's family. I miss our Meia and little Cason. Getting them to the airport was quite the experience as Meia could not find her Nintendo DS - she sobbed saying we are supposed to be leaving to go to the airport and I can't find it - (of course her Christmas gifts are games that she can play on the hand held system). So we all searched the house while considering a quick trip to the store to buy another! Thank God - Justin found it!


Oliver is working (Southwest Ambulance - transporting). Angela and kids are celebrating with her family. On Sunday, Oliver, Angela, and I will continue to look for a home in Augusta Ranch so Lissy can continue to attend the same school.

I feel blessed to belong to my family!
May your Christmas be filled with fun, joy, and peace.

Discouraged

Unpleasant and unplanned things continue to happen - Usually this conversation is about my health BUT not today. I am trying to follow my budget ... and SNAPFU the unexpected happens requiring another revision. Some of the SNFU's are small but $100 here and another there add up quickly. This series of unexpected things - uggh - (UNITED HEALTHCARE personnel) stressed me out today.

I need to relax and return to my pleasant self - so I'm going to Amber's for birthday cake... yummmm AND maybe the Suns game! - oops - another $15 for parking... maybe not - hmmm - I will get back to you on that one.

Learning to Live Within the Parameters I Have Been Given

My reality is knowing my limits and appreciating my resources - including my family and friends. Over the past 8 months I have had some amazing faith building experiences. This morning the scripture, ‘I can do all things in Christ’ comes to my mind. Yes, I have managed to accomplish many things over the past 8 months while experiencing health problems and lacking the benefits of working (pay checks).

I am profoundly aware that my ability to be who I am and do the things I have done is not only because of My Creator but because of my family and friends who encourage and assist me. Because of you, the past 8 months of my life have been very fulfilling.

Thank you for making the following experiences possible:

* Staying in San Francisco for Emma’s birth for a total of 5 weeks.
* Going to Kentucky to support Cassie and Marty in their sobriety.
* Purchasing and moving into a lovely condo that is in a great location.
* Taking a mini vacation after my move,
* A day at the beach with Payton, Emma, Amber and Nick’s family.
* Living in the cooler temperatures of Southern California during August.

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A very Big THANK YOU to my

mother, Barbara Swartwout.
Her encouragement and assistance have exceeded my expectations. I am so very lucky to have my mom!

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Another really Big Thank You to Tiffaney and Justin for taking care of my dog, Sierra during all the different times I was not home or not able to get out and walk her!

I am very appreciative of all my family and friends who have blessed me!

A special thank you to Mario Anthony, Amber, Nick, Cassie, Oliver and Angela; my friends Lee, Mark and Mary; my father Bill Karstadt and Ken Swartwout; my cousins Laura, Ben and Katrina; my nephew Christian and niece Alicia.

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I Know that you all made a positive difference in my life!

Fillipe

Look around - Our Father, God has provided so many resources for us. Some come in the most unexpected manner. My story has a familiar sequence similar to the Best Christmas gift I received as a young child.

When I was 10 years old on Christmas morning I woke up to find a rather large brown card board box (the kind used for refrigerators) next to the tree. On top was written, Merry Christmas Susan. It didn't look appealing but I was very curious so I opened the box to find towels and rags. Well - What was Santa trying to tell me? This was my Bag of Coal!

As Christmas morning progressed, my family sat together opening all kinds of wonderful gifts. If I remember correctly, David received his request for a unicycle and Ted received his 10-speed bike - I had a card board box with rags. To make matters worse, Dad announced that we had to put our dogs, Peanuts and Snoopy, outside in the cold. You can guess what I said if you weren't there...

Similarly, one week ago I was on my way to pick up Sierra who was at Tiffaney and Justin's when I passed Fillipe, a man who held a sign, "Need Work." Tiffaney had kept Sierra since I cleaned up the patio and it was impossible for me to walk her in the 100 degree temperatures. As I drove on toward Tiffaney's home I kept thinking about the man with the sign. I prayed for wisdom and felt comfortable - if the man was still on the corner I should stop and talk to him.

Well, he was still there on the street trying to capture the smallest bit of shade. He told me that he would do any work. In the past he had worked cleaning and bussing tables. I asked if he was interested in helping me complete a move... Over the next 3 nights, Phillip slept on the floor all alone in our old apartment. I began to learn a lot about him as we traveled together while moving boxes from the apartment to the condo.

Phillip had been on the street for the past 3 days and boldly stated that sleeping on the floor was much better than rocks. It was apparent as he spoke with me that he had a developmental disability. His 60-year-old father, who he had most recently lived with was described as an angry man who yelled a lot, one of the dogs barked a lot, and he was uncomfortable with his dad's girlfriend. His Dad pushed out the front door with no keys, no clothes, and no ID. He did not want to go back -

Phillip was raised by his grandmother who passed away in 1996, he lived with aunts and cousins, and then found room and board while working for a restaurant since 2006. He had excellent memory of dates but communicated in a child-like fashion. Based upon his information, I was able to determine that Phillip is in his 40's. Phillip required some guidance and restating of specific details. He worked well with Mario, my son. Together we moved and Phillip worked without complaint.

Phillip, similar to my Christmas gift, was no Bag of Coal. He was cooperative and extremely helpful. I could not say 'thank you' enough. He really blessed my life similar to my Christmas gift - a small homeless kitten.

I do not advocate for picking up strangers from the street. I would not have considered doing so without my ferocious dog Sierra and having inner peace. God brought Fillipe into my life and I am a better person in a better curcumstance because of him. I hope he can say the same of me.