Squeak! Monday's Warm Cocoa 9.15.2025

“There was a squeaking sound!” – Amy Ladd

Squeak!

“As we were driving along we heard a squeaking sound,” Amy said, before filling their flowery adventure story with nectar.

Amy and Jeff Ladd were on a road trip. It was their much-anticipated summer vacation. The plan for the first day was to meander along until they reached the half way point, toward their chosen destination. They had feelings of peace and comfort. Worries of daily life were set aside. Vacation mode eased their way. Until they heard that squeaking!

It was an unrecognizable sound coming from an undefinable place. So, they each listened carefully, touching this part of the car and that in an attempt to quell the sound. It was all to no avail! The puzzle stumped them and after a while they decided to take a break from driving and the squeaking.

The stop they made allowed them to get some food, as well as inspect the exterior of their car. They couldn’t see anything unusual, so they got back in the car and resumed their drive. That movement caused the squeaking to start again and the cadence of the squeaking changed.

“The pace of the squeaking was different,” Amy explained. “We had the feeling that something was urgently wrong, so we stopped the car and listened. When we found nothing on the inside, we followed our ears to the outside. Our ears lead us right! We found a baby hummingbird huddled in the wiper slot!”

One of them cradled the weakened creature in their hand, while the other called a veterinarian friend seeking help.

“He told us it would not survive! We should let it go,” Jeff sadly said. “But, we were determined for it to live. So, we stopped and got a dropper, sugar water and frozen blood worms so we could feed it. And, it perked up!”

Then, they used their phones to identify a hummingbird rescuer, who was thrilled to help save the small bird’s life. She and a friend left immediately to drive almost two hours and met us at a designated place.

The experts brought a rescue habitat and food so the bird could eat, every fifteen minutes, as it needed. Once the Humming Bird Rescuer reached her home, she placed the nourished bird into its new habitat, saying it would be old enough to migrate to Mexico in a few months and that it would likely return to her home the next year.

“We know we can’t same everything,” Amy said toward the end of her vacation adventure story. “But, we just knew we could save this elegant creature, no matter what the veterinarian said,” Jeff continued.

Then Jeff said, “No. We can’t save every humming bird, but we helped save that one!”

Saving the one and defying the odds has given Jeff and Amy an internal peace and knowledge that whenever they hear squeaking in the future, they’ll be hearing hope and opportunity for success, no matter what some experts may say.

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I’m Lynn Butterfield, Real Estate & Lifestyle Expert and Television Host for American Dream TV in Northwest Arkansas. I’ve helped hundreds of Buyers and Sellers, as a real estate agent and Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker, to discover where and how they want to live and work; to achieve what I call Realesation™. That’s why I bring you American Dream TV, Both Sides of the Fence, About the Dish, Monday’s Warm Cocoa and Home by Design Magazine to stir your heart and mind. Contact me so I can join you along your own unique path of discovery.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TjKNEZ1QUTxoBXRqghc9Oiwz4-adE6ke/view?usp=sharing

Friendship Delivered, Monday's Warm Cocoa, 9.8.2025

“My friend came to my house and brought me a whole week of food.” – Laura Rogers

Friendship Delivered

“My friend came to my house and brought me a whole week of food,” Laura Rogers said as we talked about how her husband “Roge” was progressing. He was in and had been a local hospital for more than a week and his progress was up and down.

“There hasn’t been a change in Roge’s condition over the past couple of days,” Laura continued.

Yet, she was about to tell me about many exceptions to that statement as she continued. There was a moment, she described as hopeful, when her husband of more than three decades had opened his eyes, focused on her face and clearly said, “home.” And, listening to heartwarming story after story from Laura’s lips, I can understand why he is anxious to return home. The Rogers have witnessed an outpouring of love and concern as a result of the crisis they’re currently facing.

It is as if Roge and Laura have received goodness from everyone in their neighborhood and beyond. I say beyond because I have received emails from friends-in-common expressing their support and offering assistance from a distance. And, distance defies the most common definition of neighborhood as well. I am now convinced that a neighborhood can be defined beyond the confines of a specific grouping of houses in a particular subdivision because the Rogers inhabit a neighborhood of friends independent of subdivision and city.

At the same time, their neighborhood defines the principle of loving your neighbor. I am quite sure that Laura has been a dinner guest every night her husband has been in the hospital. Some friends have delivered food to the Rogers’ home and some friends have stood on watch in Roge’s hospital room while another has taken Laura to a restaurant for a restorative meal. Even strangers have participated in restoration in another way.

This travail began in the parking lot of a mobile phone company when Roge suffered a brain aneurysm. With all of the chaos around getting an ambulance to transport him to the closest hospital no one present noticed that Roge’s wallet had slipped from his pocket. Luckily, someone happened upon it sitting on the asphalt not long after the ambulance left.

The wallet’s benefactor worked for a week to get it back into its familiar pocket, but had difficulty because she didn’t speak any English. Finally, after trying to figure out how to contact the wallet’s owner, she took the wallet to a local community bank, because she recognized the logo printed on one of the credit cards displayed on a building nearby. That bank branch employed a bilingual employee who listened to the story, looked up phone numbers for the Rogers and made calls to make a connection for the wallet’s return.

“What a miracle to have the wallet returned without one item missing,” Laura said with tears streaming down her face.

It is another example of how friendship has been delivered to Roge and Laura Rogers during their time of need. It’s shows how being a good neighbor transcends geography, language and personal familiarity.

Friendship can be delivered in many ways, even by those we don’t already know. It always provides welcome, beautiful change under difficult circumstances.

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I’m Lynn Butterfield, Real Estate & Lifestyle Expert and Television Host for American Dream TV in Northwest Arkansas. I’ve helped hundreds of Buyers and Sellers, as a real estate agent and Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker, to discover where and how they want to live and work; to achieve what I call Realesation™. That’s why I bring you American Dream TV, Both Sides of the Fence, About the Dish, Monday’s Warm Cocoa and Home by Design Magazine to stir your heart and mind. Contact me so I can join you along your own unique path of discovery.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TjKNEZ1QUTxoBXRqghc9Oiwz4-adE6ke/view?usp=sharing

Saving a Hero Monday's Warm Cocoa 9.1.2025

“I knew internally that I was sick and something was coming, had been coming for quite a while.” – Benjamin Walters

Saving a Hero

“Good morning, this is Benjamin Walters. I’m reaching out because I’m exhausting all potential resources,” the message on my screen stated. “I was diagnosed with brain cancer, having had the tumor removed on 25 July 2025.”

The past year started to make sense to me now. I was now beginning to understand why Benjamin had made such dramatic changes in his life. It had been a thought-provoking mystery over the ten proceeding months. I read on.

“I sold my home and land,” Benjamin continued, “feeling that it was the best time to do so this past November, due to knowing internally that I was sick and something was coming, had been coming for quite a while.”

I thought of Benjamin and his two dogs in their mountain home. The dogs had room to run and they swam in the pond toward the bottom of their property. All three of them, Benjamin and his two dogs, would cross the wide, grass filled meadow and then savor the shade of the forest on the back side of their land. They loved the wildlife resident there. They loved being part of bustling life there.

In fact, Benjamin had installed trail cameras in the forest so he could watch the deer and other wildlife from the comfort of his home. He’d sit in front of his Amish warming stove, during the cold of winter, so he could be protected from the harsh elements and still enjoy the local biota remotely. But that was all behind them now.

“I need a place to go in order to get the treatment necessary and I’m fully covered through the VA, I’m financially stable, but again looking for somewhere to go that will provide good treatment and that I enjoy being the area I’ll be living in,” Benjamin’s note to me continued. 

“It may be a stretch but can you help me? I am not asking for anything for free, I have the ability to pay as needed. Thank you for your consideration,” Benjamin concluded.

“Can you help me? Of course, I can and will help you Benjamin,” I said aloud, right before I repositioned my phone to begin making calls to people I know across the United States. Even though Benjamin is not receiving his treatments near me, or the people I know, we’re able to assist him. We’ve already found him shelter in a comfortable apartment, to live in with his dogs, near the VA Hospital providing him treatment.

The amazing life that Benjamin and his mates, who have served and are now serving, have freely given to you and me is an immeasurable gift. Now, It is an honor to freely give to Benjamin in a small way.

Yet, being part of an effort to save a hero is never a small thing!

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I’m Lynn Butterfield, Real Estate & Lifestyle Expert and Television Host for American Dream TV in Northwest Arkansas. I’ve helped hundreds of Buyers and Sellers, as a real estate agent and Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker, to discover where and how they want to live and work; to achieve what I call Realesation™. That’s why I bring you American Dream TV, Both Sides of the Fence, About the Dish, Monday’s Warm Cocoa and Home by Design Magazine to stir your heart and mind. Contact me so I can join you along your own unique path of discovery.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TjKNEZ1QUTxoBXRqghc9Oiwz4-adE6ke/view?usp=sharing

"A Grandfather's Impact," Monday's Warm Cocoa, 8.25.2025

“He was my hero, my best friend, and the keeper of all the best secrets.” – Andrew Bart

A Grandfather’s Impact

I called my friend Andrew Bart. I knew he could answer my questions. We both spend our mornings in the gym, lifting weights. We use different gyms because we live in different states. 

As we were talking, an image of the classic cartoon He-Man came to my mind. So, the next day I sent him a link of a classic He-Man episode through YouTube and designated him as, “He-Man Poppy,” because he’s a physically strong and is just as strong as a father. What I didn’t know is that he has a strong emotional connection to that very character as a result of his maternal grandfather.

Andrew’s childhood memories are not a blurry collection of events, but a series of distinct, brightly-lit vignettes. And, one of his most vivid memories are centered around He-Man, thanks to his grandfather, his beloved Poppy Arnold. He was Andrew’s hero, his best friend, and the keeper of all his best secrets. One of those secrets was their trips to an independent toy store called Big Mo’s, owned by Poppy Arnold’s friend.

Big Mo, was a close friend of Poppy’s. Their friendship was a bond built on shared stories, classic cars, and, unbeknownst to Andrew, a mutual affection for bringing joy to one little boy in particular. The store itself was a wonderland of toys that Andrew had only seen in television commercials. But the true magic wasn’t on the shelves. It was hidden away.

One day, Poppy lead Andrew behind the counter as Big Mo smiled at Andres and pointed to a large cardboard box, its flaps taped shut and a bold, black marker scrawled across its side: "ANDY." Andrew’s small heart pounded with excitement as he asked, “is this box for me?”

Big Mo cut the tape with as large smile creased across his face as an answer. And as he pulled back the cardboard, a vibrant, plastic world was revealed. Inside, nestled among a sea of packing peanuts, were the action figures Andrew had been dreaming of: He-Man, Master of the Universe, standing tall and muscular, ready for battle. Beside him were his arch-nemesis, the ghoulish Skeletor, the fanged Beastman, and a host of other legendary characters. Andrew has never forgotten that moment. It wasn't just a box of toys; it was a connection!

“From that day on, my world was made up of epic adventures. He-Man, Transformers, and GI Joes dominated my imagination. But these weren't just any toys. They were Poppy’s toys,” Andrew says. “He-Man was always my favorite, and I only had the figures and all other items at my Poppy’s house. Every Friday night was a ritual. After my grandparents' spaghetti dinner, we would retreat to the basement. There, on the carpet, the floor became the mythical land of Eternia. The coffee table was Castle Grayskull, and the sofa cushions were treacherous mountains. Poppy would sit with me, his warm presence grounding the wild battles we waged. He would make sound effects for Skeletor's evil laugh and cheer as He-Man raised his sword and yelled, ‘By the power of Grayskull!’”

Those hours were more than just playtime. They were the foundation of Andrew’s relationship with his grandfather. They shared a language of make-believe and adventure, and an understanding between a boy and his grandfather. The toys were simply a vehicle for impactful connection.

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I’m Lynn Butterfield, Real Estate & Lifestyle Expert and Television Host for American Dream TV in Northwest Arkansas. I’ve helped hundreds of Buyers and Sellers, as a real estate agent and Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker, to discover where and how they want to live and work; to achieve what I call Realesation™. That’s why I bring you American Dream TV, Both Sides of the Fence, About the Dish, Monday’s Warm Cocoa and Home by Design Magazine to stir your heart and mind. Contact me so I can join you along your own unique path of discovery.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TjKNEZ1QUTxoBXRqghc9Oiwz4-adE6ke/view?usp=sharing

"Collision" 8.18.2025 Monday's Warm Cocoa

“Collision is the intentional, rapid, and often unplanned convergence of diverse people and ideas.” – Jeff Amerine

Collision

My friend Jeff Amerine is extraordinary. He’s an expert in venture capital and entrepreneurship and is particularly distinguished for his work in building business startup ecosystems in non-traditional locations. Locations commonly referred to as, the “fly-over” states. Those not on the east or west coasts of the United States. 

He is the co-founder and Managing Director of Startup Junkie Consulting, a firm dedicated to accelerating small and scalable businesses in America’s Heartland. He’s also veteran of the United States Army.  You know, one of those guys who have created, protected and maintained the life you and I enjoy. These two life experiences have given him a unique view of business and life.

One of the concepts he developed and uses in his life and business is a principle he calls “Collision.” Not the kind of collision one thinks of occurring as a result of a car crash. Yet, it is of comparatively, high impact. Collision, as he defines it, is the intentional, rapid, and often unplanned convergence of diverse people and ideas. In the context of a startup business, this means creating an environment where founders, mentors, investors, and potential customers interact frequently to test assumptions and get real-world feedback. It is a process of constant "bumping into" new perspectives and challenges, forcing a startup business to either pivot and grow or fail quickly, saving valuable time and resources.

This same principle can be powerful for you and me to accelerate personal growth. It is a transformative method of moving from passive living to active experimentation. In other words, instead of spending months or years in a state of indecision or uncertainty, you can use the power of collision to accelerate your own learning and development.

A key application of collision is in embracing what could be called unstructured networking. Traditional networking can feel like work, a series of pre-planned, formal meetings that you really don’t want to attend. Collision, however, encourages a more natural approach. For example, you could attend a conference of interest, join a local meetup group related to a hobby, or volunteer for a cause that interests you. The goal isn't just to add names to your contact list, but to expose yourself to unexpected ideas and conversations, leading you toward chance encounters, often providing extraordinary insights, while steering you toward a new direction you hadn't considered.

Additionally, collision can redefine your concept of failure. In the startup world, a product that fails to gain traction isn’t necessarily seen as a complete disaster. It's viewed as a data point. Similarly, when you apply collision to your personal life, you can consider setbacks as valuable feedback, a learning opportunity. This shift in thinking allows you to move on quickly, analyze what went wrong, and adjust your approach for the next attempt.

Finally, the collision principle pushes you to accelerate your learning curve by prioritizing action over deliberation. If you're contemplating a major life change, such as a career transition or a move to a new city, instead of spending months in a state of anxious analysis, create small, low-risk collisions. This could mean taking a long weekend in a place you’ve often thought of living, to meet locals and explore different neighborhoods. Attend a workshop of interest. Try a new hobby. Such hands-on "collisions" provide a much more authentic and immediate sense of whether a path is right for you, allowing you to move forward with clarity and purpose.

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I’m Lynn Butterfield, Real Estate & Lifestyle Expert and Television Host for American Dream TV in Northwest Arkansas. I’ve helped hundreds of Buyers and Sellers, as a real estate agent and Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker, to discover where and how they want to live and work; to achieve what I call Realesation™. That’s why I bring you American Dream TV, Both Sides of the Fence, About the Dish, Monday’s Warm Cocoa and Home by Design Magazine to stir your heart and mind. Contact me so I can join you along your own unique path of discovery.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TjKNEZ1QUTxoBXRqghc9Oiwz4-adE6ke/view?usp=sharing

More Than Enough-Monday's Warm Cocoa 8.11.2025

"My 16-year-old son dropped some wisdom on us.” – Brad Alexander

More Than Enough

“Last week my sixteen-year-old son dropped some wisdom on us while we were out at dinner,” Brad Alexander said.

His son has dyslexia. So, reading is torture for him. It always has been. As a result, Brad and his wife have always been worried about him doing well in society and with school work. But, the other day he received the score for his first-ever AP class final test, and he made a four out of five! That’s college credit level stuff! In high school.

“Several of his friends scored lower than him,” Brad before continuing. “Here’s what he said about the test that made me a pretty proud dad.”

“I think being dyslexic actually helped me. I had to focus way more in class than my friends, and I think it helped me learn better.”

Did you catch those three personal deductions?

Brad’s son has discovered something most people have yet to.

The things that make life harder for you might actually be your secret weapon! Another way to say this is, your most difficult challenges are likely to lead you to your greatest successes and growth, if you allow them to.

Brad’s son struggles with reading. And he's a terrible at spelling.

Brad said, “I used to worry about him constantly.”

Three questions constantly haunted Brad and his wife as their son grew physically, mentally and intellectually through his childhood years. 

Would he keep up in school? 

Would others be mean to him?

Would he be okay?

Brad says, “Turns out I was worrying about the wrong things!”

And, he was kind enough to tell me what he has learned from his son through his years as his father.

First, we are all dealt cards we don’t want or don’t expect.

Second, how you play those cards matters way more than what cards you’re dealt.

Brad’s supposedly handicapped son is the embodiment of a powerful principle of great importance. Our biggest struggles might actually be our greatest advantage. They will always shift our minds to seek different answers and alternate paths forward. Paths and answers that we would never have considered otherwise.

You and I just have to learn how to turn everything to our good. It is a learned skill!

Pretty smart for a sixteen-year-old who would have a hard time reading this story!

As parents, we worry our children and grandchildren won’t be enough. But, maybe they’re already more than enough.

We all worry that, we won’t be enough. 

Maybe we all are.

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I’m Lynn Butterfield, Real Estate & Lifestyle Expert and Television Host for American Dream TV in Northwest Arkansas. I’ve helped hundreds of Buyers and Sellers, as a real estate agent and Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker, to discover where and how they want to live and work; to achieve what I call Realesation™. That’s why I bring you American Dream TV, Both Sides of the Fence, About the Dish, Monday’s Warm Cocoa and Home by Design Magazine to stir your heart and mind. Contact me so I can join you along your own unique path of discovery.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TjKNEZ1QUTxoBXRqghc9Oiwz4-adE6ke/view?usp=sharing

Lynn Butterfield's Monday's Warm Cocoa, "Stuck in Neutral"

“I believe my plans have become stale.” – Ed Stokes

Stuck in Neutral

“I believe my plans have become stale,” Ed’s message said. “I’m not sure if there is any strategy to help overcome this.”

Ed’s lament sounded familiar. After all, who hasn’t had an experience of feeling as if they’re stuck in neutral? But, Ed had decided, enough is enough.

For the past two years, Ed has been talking about moving to a mid-sized city in the South, a place holding his attention due to its vibrant community, lower cost of living and temperate climate. Yet, the real draw to that particular location is his family, already living there.

Ed's voice, usually a calm and steady baritone, was frayed with anxiety as we talked on the telephone moments later. “I can’t seem to make any progress!”

As Ed talked It became clear that there was something deeper not being acknowledged.  

"I need to ask you something, and I want you to be honest with me," I started with trepidation. 

"Sure, what is it?" he responded, with a note of acceptance in his voice.

"Why are you deciding not to move forward?" 

There was a thoughtful silence on the other side of the phone call as Ed began to let the question resonate.

“Why have you been deciding not to move forward with your plan? You’ve been holding off for two years and based on your anxiety level it’s clear that you’re paying a high cost by living with such uncertainty. Don’t you think it is time to put an end to this? Tell me the reasons you decided to go forward a couple of years ago."

Ed took the next few minutes to rehearse the factors that caused him to create a new plan for his future.

“Have any of those compelling reasons changed?”

Ed responded firmly. “No!”

“Then it’s time for you to just get it done and finished!”

The feeling on the call changed instantly as soon as Ed’s intent had been refreshed. He began planning again on the spot. Most importantly, he began to act. The barriers he had identified earlier melted away instantly because he changed his thinking. He had shifted the gears in his mind from neutral to drive again.

It is impossible to live in “drive” all of the time. Sometimes a temporary shift to neutral is needed. After all, moving forward with purpose requires a solid plan based on intent. Ed just got stuck in neutral this time.

Ed discovered his sought-after strategy, to shift out of neutral, by simply reclaiming his “why.” 

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I’m Lynn Butterfield, Real Estate & Lifestyle Expert and Television Host for American Dream TV in Northwest Arkansas. I’ve helped hundreds of Buyers and Sellers, as a real estate agent and Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker, to discover where and how they want to live and work; to achieve what I call Realesation™. That’s why I bring you American Dream TV, Both Sides of the Fence, About the Dish, Monday’s Warm Cocoa and Home by Design Magazine to stir your heart and mind. Contact me so I can join you along your own unique path of discovery.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TjKNEZ1QUTxoBXRqghc9Oiwz4-adE6ke/view?usp=sharing