"On the Inside" Monday's Warm Cocoa 12.29.2025

"I had a strong feeling." – Randy Cummins

On the Inside

“I wanted to give you a call,” Randy said in an unusually subdued tone. “I wanted you to know.”

Randy was on his way home from the hospital. He had been in the hospital for a few days after suffering a considerable heart attack and receiving a subsequent surgery to restore blood flow. It was just like him to think about others! It is his natural instinct and practice, yet I was about to learn something more profound about him. Randy is led from the inside, out.

“I had a strong feeling,” he said as he began to explicate.

He had been deeply touched by the example and kindness of one particular family many years ago. They had come to his aid when his first daughter was born.

“They opened their hearts and home to us when we really needed help,” he continued. “They didn’t know us well at the time. All they knew was that we needed help. So, they assisted us without asking anything in return.”

Randy went on to say that the strong feelings he was having had created an internal, profound urgency. He was driven by the importance of expressing gratitude to this decades-old difference making family. To express the feelings of his heart, to let them know that even after many years their kindness was still impacting him. And, at the same time, he had another feeling impressing on him.

“Almost concurrently, earlier in the day, I sat with my wife and we discussed deeply meaningful things,” Randy continued. “I just thought it was an important thing to do at the moment. It wasn’t long after I had finished that I was sitting at my desk.”

Randy went to get up from his desk, after sending the message expressing his gratitude and collapsed. His son came running in to help him, followed closely by his wife. He told them he thought he’d be okay. Yet, Randy’s son immediately called for help and got him to the hospital. It was a good thing he did!

Once in the hospital Randy was rushed into life saving surgery. His call to me came two days later as he was being driven home.

“You somehow knew inside that something major was about to happen. It was a gift to be willing to listen on the inside,” I said with reverence.

“The feelings were strongly influential and I’m glad I listened,” Randy said in reply. “Because sometimes timing is indeed everything and the chance to listen ends. Listen on the inside.”

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I’m Lynn Butterfield, Real Estate & Lifestyle Expert and Television Host for American Dream TV. I’ve helped hundreds of Buyers and Sellers, as an 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/10S8aY1KXHyzkBm-Xm7gUyQecrZqeYJNI/view?usp=sharing

"By Addition" Monday's Warm Cocoa 12.22.2025

Twenty-seven countries, one chosen citizenship.

By Addition

“All rise!”

Everyone in one particular District Court of the United States stood as the judge walked into the courtroom. She was the last person to come into an already sardine-packed-room. To say there were a lot of people there is an understatement as another close by room was also filled with interested parties.

Every person was interested in being there for one or two reasons in common. The first reason was for those who had come to take their own, initial oath of U.S. citizenship. The second reason was to watch a loved-one attain their long hoped for U.S. citizenship. There were smiles all around.

The judge was also smiling as she opened the proceeding before saying, “Let’s go around the room and have each hopeful applicant tell us their name and what nation they’re from. Each candidate then took a turn to stand, say their name and state their current nationality. There were men and women with variety of age and one common hope and sense of accomplishment, even amongst huge personal and national diversity.

“United Kingdom,” “Bhutan,” “Mexico,” “Nepal,” “Canada,” “Sweden,” “Honduras,” “Russia.” The count went on until there were twenty-seven countries having been called out. At the end, the judge spoke about strength in diversity.

“We used to speak about American as a ‘melting-pot,” she said. “But, I think of our joining together a little differently. I like to think of each person who becomes a citizen as adding their uniqueness to our whole. It is an addition that allows our nation to become continually better.”

Then, she asked every applicant to stand, raise their right arm to the square and take the oath of citizenship. She led the oath with strength and pride. When completed, the court clerk took the a newly minted, personalized certificate of citizenship and presented it to each new citizen before the culmination of the ceremony.

“I invite everyone to stand to face the flag,” the judge announced. “Please repeat the pledge of allegiance.”

The already seasoned attendees stood and put their right hands over their heart as the judge started and they participated, “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Yet what is commonplace for one is often new for another. Some of the new citizens did know the tradition with exactness. Some struggled with the placement of their hand over their heart, while others whose English was a newer language, watched the lip movement of the judge carefully. And, everyone participated with sincerity and commitment.

Because, citizenship is a commitment to a nation as well as to each other. It is a pledge to give our nation and our fellows our very best. All rise!

_______________________________________________

I’m Lynn Butterfield, Real Estate & Lifestyle Expert and Television Host for American Dream TV. I’ve helped hundreds of Buyers and Sellers, as an 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/10S8aY1KXHyzkBm-Xm7gUyQecrZqeYJNI/view?usp=sharing

"Granddad" Monday's Warm Cocoa 12.15.2025

"I’m busy getting a new home finished for my coming grandbaby.” – Darrell Gibby

Granddad

“I’m busy getting a new home finished for my coming grandbaby.” Darrell said over the phone, “The baby is coming soon and we’re close to getting a new home built in time for the arrival.

Darrell is not going to be living in the house. But, his son and wife and their other two young children will be living there. They’ve all been working together to finish the construction for their growing family. They started building their new home a little over one year ago and have been doing almost all of the construction themselves. So, finding time to fling a hammer or wield other tools has been challenging since both father and grandfather have demanding careers.

Some grandparents would simply say they’re too busy, too old or too tired to throw themselves into such a large project. But not this Granddad! And, he is also busier than many others. He practices law, having his own firm, helps to care for aging parents and works as a volunteer, donating countless hours each week in his community. It is almost as if he is a “constructive tornado”! He does so much, one might be tempted to think of him as a “unicorn granddad.” Yet, if he is a mythical unicorn granddad he’s not the only one.

I sent a message to my friend Rob Surom two days ago asking if I could come over to visit. He’s “retired.” I was surprised to receive his unexpected response.

“It would have to be after 2 p.m. today,” he responded before I asked to come over at 4 p.m. that afternoon. But my schedule unexpectedly cleared so I sent a follow up request asking if I could come a little earlier. That’s when I received another text from him saying, “We’re home. You can come now.”

I wondered who the “we” was referring to as I knew his wife was working busily at the Children’s Hospital. My question was answered when I was invited into his home to find a baby girl held in this former naval aviator’s arms.

“I spend my days watching my grandkids,” Rob said with his disarming smile.

“Granddad,” I said to myself as Rob’s granddaughter looked at me and began to cry!

Rob immediately comforted her and in no time at all her tears were gone and her eyes were again a bright cerulean blue. Those cute eyes weren’t the only blue I saw after spending time with Rob and Darrell.

I saw a promising blue sky ahead for their grandchildren and I understood the use of “grand” as a precursor to the term grandfather and grandad!

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I’m Lynn Butterfield, Real Estate & Lifestyle Expert and Television Host for American Dream TV. I’ve helped hundreds of Buyers and Sellers, as an 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/10S8aY1KXHyzkBm-Xm7gUyQecrZqeYJNI/view?usp=sharing

"Bryan's Recipe" Monday's Warm Cocoa 12.8.2025

"It all starts with the dough.” – Bryan Brandon

Bryan’s Recipe

I was sitting across a table from Chef Tyler Rogers. He’d been crafting a new menu over the past year. One focused on local food products and producers. After explaining the basis of his menu, he brought out a couple of dishes for tasting.

The first dish, smoked shrimp with smoked pimento cheese, came with a beautiful slice of sourdough bread. When I tasted these in combination my eyes rolled back into my head. It was sublime! I had never tasted such layered, complimentary flavors. And, it was anchored solidly by the bread.

“This bread is amazing,” I said, before asking, “Did you make this bread in-house?”

“No,” Chef Rogers answered. “We get it here locally from Ozark Natural Breads.”

I made a mental note of that, excitedly thinking that, perhaps I would be able to purchase some of this crusty, tasteful bread to eat at home. But alas, my hopes were quickly quashed when Chef Rogers went on to tell me that the bread was only available on a wholesale basis. Still, I never gave up hope and before long I thrilled at the sight of Ozark Natural Breads in a farmer’s market.

That’s where I met company owner, master baker and artisan Bryan Brandon. Since then we’ve become friends and he’s been kind enough to teach me a little about what makes his offerings so delectable.

“It’s all about the dough,” Bryan told me in his bakery yesterday.

His sourdough starter began twenty-two years ago. Since then he added a cooling room to make it more vigorous. And, he’s worked to become better at his craft every day since he received his Bachelor’s Degree from the American Institute of Baking, completed an apprenticeship in a French bakery near Normandy and purchased the bakery from his parents. As a result, he’s an extraordinary artisan baker.

As an artisan baker he is constantly experimenting. He’s always working to improve his product and offerings. And he showed me his diversity by taking me on a little field trip to one of his latest ventures, Wicked Wood Fired Pizza. 

It’s a great little shop anchored by a colorful, large wood fired pizza oven, highlighting the side of his small restaurant. When I tasted his pizza, it filled my mouth with the flavor of red oak smoked sour dough!

When I pointed that out, Bryan looked at me with his big, wide, welcoming smile and said, “It’s all about the dough.”

That’s when I agreed, “Yes! A good, happy life requires a great base enhanced by constant experimentation and adaption. Then, when you throw in additional quality ingredients such as spice and diverse toppings, you have Bryan’s recipe for pure joy!

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I’m Lynn Butterfield, Real Estate & Lifestyle Expert and Television Host for American Dream TV. I’ve helped hundreds of Buyers and Sellers, as an 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/14AsoipiePjMdj7ds-f80BAGFyGWst-em/view?usp=sharing

"Harmony" Monday's Warm Cocoa 12.1.2025

"A Marshallese Man Singing.”

Harmony

The vestibule of the large building was filled with people. I was one of them and I didn’t know any of them sitting, waiting there with me. I didn’t expect to as I was there as a favor for a friend. Such situations can be stressful! You know, sitting with strangers surrounding you in a strange place.  Waiting!

I’ve never been particularly good at waiting. Not in a doctor’s office (one of the reasons I rarely see one), not in airports, and now that I’m thinking about it as a reflection, I’ve come to realize that it is clearly not something I like to do, period! But, in this case I was happier to do so because I was helping someone important to me. As fate would have it, it turns out though, that there was another reason to like waiting on this one occasion.

That reason turned out to be an old man, with silver hair, a color matching mustache, and just between caramel-cocoa-bean colored skin. He wasn’t the only one with similar features with me in that lobby last week. Most of the others waiting with me were also Marshallese as it turns out. I was the odd person in the hotchpotch assembly of waiters there. Yet, this man stood out from all others waiting with us there.

He stood out because of, what appeared to be one of his personal and natural traits. He was gently, quietly singing traditional Marshallese songs. His tones were sweet, heartfelt and soothing. So much so that the bothered nature of my waiting-disorder quickly melted away. The entire waiting room had become peaceful because of him. All of the faces around the room reflected his invited contentment. Each face matched my own. Suddenly, sitting with strangers was replaced with commonality.

We had a common feeling of serenity just because one person in the room, the “singing man” was able to remove cultural differences and angst by gifting us with what could be thought of as a lullaby. Yet, it was a serenade that too quickly ended.

The big, double doors just to my left abruptly opened. Those doors ushered in the end of singing man’s induced trance. His voice was stilled and I was startled to know that our waiting had too soon ended. I was sad when the music of the moment had ceased. So, when the musical man walked near me I came up to him.

“Your singing is beautiful,” I said in gratitude with an outstretched hand of friendship.

He accepted my hand and my thanks with his warm caramel eyes gifting me amity in return. Or was his gift harmony?

Yes. The singing man’s gift is harmony!

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I’m Lynn Butterfield, Real Estate & Lifestyle Expert and Television Host for American Dream TV. I’ve helped hundreds of Buyers and Sellers, as an 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/14AsoipiePjMdj7ds-f80BAGFyGWst-em/view?usp=sharing

"Remembering" Monday's Warm Cocoa 11.24.2025

"Remember your why.” – Lucas Treat

Remembering

Every Wednesday, 1 Million Cups provides a supportive, inclusive space for entrepreneurs and their communities to gather and connect; where they can work through business challenges and identify opportunities. During “Cups” people discover business solutions and engage with their local community. They’ve done so since the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation developed and began the 1 Million Cups network across America in 2012.

Since then participants have worked toward economic stability, mobility, and prosperity together in community. By working together, participants champion ideas and support solutions designed to improve education, boost entrepreneurship, and help communities and individuals thrive. It also opens the way for personal, lasting friendships to form.

Lucas Treat is the perfect example of such business-to-friendship success. He began attending 1 Million Cups as a small business owner. He started a small, on-line camera resale company about five years ago and presented his fledgling company and concept on one Wednesday morning, so he could receive feedback and ideas as to how to make his company more successful.

After that, he volunteered to video broadcast his local chapter meeting on Facebook, so those not able to attend in person could still benefit and participate virtually. Today, he continues to volunteer as a member of his local organizing team. He is a faithful attendee, participant, friend to many, and encourager to the one.

Being an encourager to the one means he has formed individual friendships within the 1 Million Cups community over several years and he seeks to make a personal connection with those friends each week.

“How are things going?” Lucas said as he purposefully approached one such friend after last week’s meeting had ended.

“It’s going ok,” his friend replied, in a voice weighed down with worry and filled with angst.

That worry and angst was not missed nor overlooked by Lucas. After all, one of the traits that makes Lucas successful in his business is the same trait that allows him to form successful, long-term friendships. He focuses on the people he lives and works with.

Lucas takes the time to learn about the people surrounding him. He practices active friendship. He does so in a friendly, interested manner. Those that know him know he cares about the details of their lives. This interaction was not an exception.

“Do you remember the reason you decided to do the work you’re doing?” Lucas responded with his characteristic, disarming smile. “Remember your why,” He continued.

His smile was absorbed by his friend, as was his short, poignant advice.

“Thanks Lucas,” the friend said. “I’m going to spend some time remembering.”

Then the friend asked Lucas how his wife and toddler were doing. Because, he reciprocally, genuinely cares about Lucas. I could see that in his response. I could also see its impact on Lucas.

The impact and skill of remembering goes beyond one person and one moment. It is a vital part of creating and maintaining continuous joy, as well as successful relationships.

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I’m Lynn Butterfield, Real Estate & Lifestyle Expert and Television Host for American Dream TV. I’ve helped hundreds of Buyers and Sellers, as an 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/14AsoipiePjMdj7ds-f80BAGFyGWst-em/view?usp=sharing

Internal Drive, Monday's Warm Cocoa, 17 November 2025

“She and her example created my internal drive!” – Carol Silva Moralez

Internal Drive

“Excellerate Foundation and Walton Family Foundation joined leaders from local academic institutions and major employers to connect the region's untapped workforce to skilled positions in high demand industries,” Carol Silva Moralez said as she began to talk about the non-profit she leads.

The Upskill NWA mission is to connect under-employed and under-represented non-traditional students with their dream careers. They provide access to education, offer coaching and mentoring to navigate the educational system, connect individuals with essential “wrap-around services,” and ultimately help them to secure higher-wage jobs with healthcare partners. They change lives!

Since 2022, 373 people have enrolled and 88% percent of enrollees and stayed in the program. 87 participants have graduated since 2022 and 90% of graduates have been placed with employers. But, perhaps the most impressive program result is that graduates have secured 132% percent increase in household income!

Carol’s presentation had ignited inspiration, causing me to wondered after her personal path and its impact on this remarkable professional and community success. So, I sought to have a quiet, personal conversation with her following her formal presentation.

“You seem to have a very personal connection with your work,” I offered.

“Yes,” Carol responded. “For much of my life my mother was single and struggling to provide for us. I watched as she studied each night after a long day of work. Then, I watched her get a new position as a result!”

She went on to say that her mother’s hard work set a valuable example for her and when her mom got that new job, as a result of her extended effort at night, it was a major milestone for the whole family. But, that wasn’t the end of what her mother wrote on Carol’s internal drive.

“My mom kept working to improve her skills,” Carol said with tears starting to build in her eyes. “I watched her walk across the stage to get her bachelor’s degree when she was fifty-five!”

By this time Carol’s tears were running down her face as she re-lived this momentous life-changing experience.

“You’d think that was the biggest moment I shared with my mom, but it isn’t. She never stopped guiding me. She knew me better than anyone. She knew me better than I knew myself.”

Carol’s mom kept telling her she was a teacher every time Carol shared a conquered educational or professional milestone with her.

“I graduated from college. I got my first management position with a major global business. Then, I was hired to run a whole division at that corporation. My mother was proud of me, but she kept saying she knew I was a teacher and she could not be prouder,” Carol explained.

“When I received this position as CEO at Upskill, I knew that this is the teaching and mentoring my mother knew I was meant to do. Even though my mother is no longer with us, I know she’d tell me this is my purpose! After all, she and her example created my internal drive!”

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I’m Lynn Butterfield, Real Estate & Lifestyle Expert and Television Host for American Dream TV. I’ve helped hundreds of Buyers and Sellers, as an 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/14AsoipiePjMdj7ds-f80BAGFyGWst-em/view?usp=sharing