We all go through many "roller coasters" in life. God kept convicting me to write a book after I lost Bryan, my husband of 20 years, father of my children in a tragic car wreck 2/2/13. I kept thinking & arguing with God, "What am I going to write about? What could I possibly teach people?" So many people I looked up to, in my business & my personal life, that I thought were much more qualified than me. But, anyone who knows, when God convicts you on something, you will "not win" if you choose to not do it, or try not to!: ) Bryan used to always say, "I want to see you smile." I remember thinking one day, while I was crying, him looking down from Heaven saying this exact thing to me. The thought in my head, "He would not want me to be like this, & I am not being a good example to my children, nor others around me that might possibly look up to me." A lightbulb, a God moment - if you will - "You can smile, even through your tears". I thought that was going to be the title of my book. So i started writing, thinking about chapters, etc... Through much procrastination, & still yet arguing with God that there are many books out there & many others way more capable than me, over the next couple years, this word, this concept, kept popping into my head, "choices." We all have a choice to what we do in life, what we think, what we put in our mouths, what we say to ourself & to others, how we react-so many choices-We All Have Choices, & we can choose wisely or poorly, either way we will suffer or enjoy the consequences of those choices. The next few years of attempting to start writing this book, & making "choices" to put it off, saying to myself, I am too busy, I will start later, etc. If we want excuses, we can find them. In some ways, excuses can be challenges to God. After losing my husband, I didn't think I would have to deal with loss for a long time. 6 months after losing Bryan, I lost our family dog of 13 yrs. He was our sweet Boxer named Bullet. Then I lost my Grandfather, (my dad's dad) who I grew up staying at their house many weekends when I was little. March '14 comes along, we lost Bryan's father. He lived in our garage apt, we had cared for him for 15 years. My 28-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Cancer in June of 2015, then in November 2015, my mother (who was also one of my best friends in life) was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer. My daughter chose chemo plus natural things, was thankfully announced cancer free in December that year. My mother, unfortunately, we lost her in March 2016, 3 weeks before my parents 50th anniversary, huge surprise party my sisters & I had planned for them. Later in 2016, October, we lost my Bryan's Grandaddy (where my kids played on his farm & worked too, many days growing up). Most recently, his Granny Grace in July 2017. Yes, the past few years have been some of the craziest twist & turns life's roller coaster has to offer. Also the different shoes I have been given to walk through life in, & the choices of how we walk in those shoes, can make all the difference in the world. Each twist & turn & upside down moment is the opportunity to find an excuse or to find a reason. Excuses are made by those who are lazy or comfortable where they are. When we seek a true change, a true change in our mindset & in our lives, we find a reason to do it. That reason is our motivation. Instead of using all of the loss my family & I have experienced to not do something, I am seeing it as a way to impact others, to impact myself, to inspire. My choice in moving forward, in a thank you to Bryan, my Grandfather, Bryan's Grandaddy, my daughter, and my mother, as well as others, and a thank you for you also, choosing to believe in me, & making the choice to hear & read my story. Your choice is an inspiration. It is one that will inspire others. It is a choice of confidence in yourself, taking the time for you, & confidence in what this book/story can offer
About the Author: Web, Graphics & Marketing Expert, Family Focused, Client Retention Specialist, Master in Relationship Marketing, Author, Speaker, Coach, Trainer Laurie Delk was raised to be a winner. Her parents, both successful enterpreneurials raised her with the can-do attitude. So it was no surprise that after leaving her corporate accounting career at the age of 26, pregnant with her 2nd child, she ventured out to be entrepreneurial herself. She went into the world of web/graphic design/marketing in 1993. Worked hard, gave it her all & managed to bring that business into a 6-figure income, while still working from home, caring for her 4 children. For a few years, she volunteered her time at the Christian school her children attended, till she started homeschooling several years ago. Bryan, her husband at the time, had back surgery that "went bad", he had to leave his police work, where Laurie had to get a full time job in order to have insurance for her family, & take him to physical therapy daily. She found Send Out Cards in 2004, rose through the ranks to the top 20, has promoted 4 times with this company & currently ranking only 2 steps from the highest possible. She has won numerous company awards over the last 13 years. Laurie knows how to walk through heartache & the importance of keeping a positive outlook during that heartache. She lost her husband Bryan in the beginning of 2013 (while she was out of town speaking at an event). With her mother & 2 youngest children with her, she had to drive the 5 hours back home after the news. Laurie lost their family dog "Bullet" a Boxer, of 13 years in June 13, her grandfather in Jul 2013, & her father in law in Mar 14. In 15, her oldest daughter found out she had cancer, and is thankfully now cancer free, after 6 months of natural & medical healing. Laurie experienced another loss, the loss of her Mother in March 16. Then her kids Grandparents the next year. Laurie has run several non-profit support groups, for copswives, gratitude girls and widows. Laurie also runs a local networking group in the Nashville area (NashvilleNetworkingBusinessLuncheon.com). Laurie speaks at many different events, as well as 1 on 1 coaching & group coaching, teaching on relationship building in business, being a homeschool mom, cop's wife, widow, business success, getting referrals, choosing happiness & forgiveness, how to smile through your tears, & having choices, etc. You can follow & connect with her at www.LaurieDelk.me