Monday's Warm Cocoa, 27 January 2025, "Surprise"

“You never know what you’re going to do in life.”

Surprise!

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop,” Confucius once said.

That thought came to mind as I sat on an airplane, during the boarding process, watching other passengers slowly file past. It seemed as if that trying-to-board line of humanity was not moving at all! At one such moment a stalled passenger looked at me and said, “You get to look at a lot of people!”

“It’s my hobby,” I quipped, with a good-humored smile on my face.

“You never know what you’re going to do in life,” she said with a lightness to her voice.

“We’re all surprised, aren’t we?”

“Yes!” she added as she turned her head slightly back toward me, as those in front of her began to shuffle forward once again.

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you don’t stop,” I thought again while waiting for the final few passengers to move past in an effort to find their seats. And finally, my mind took off, along with the airplane.

One of the wonderful things about being on an airplane, at its cruising altitude, is the chance to marvel at the change in perspective. It allows one to see the world in a different way. Somehow it seems to make the world much smaller, allowing one to see how everything fits together. Especially after feeling as if progress is slow; as if you’re not moving at all.

We all have times in our lives when it seems as if all we can see is a lack of progress. We feel all hemmed in as if standing in a slow-moving line of people. Such a feeling can cause us to hardly even notice our movement forward. It can be frustrating. But, we don’t have to stay stuck in that place. We can seek a different view, one that doesn’t require a ticket on an airline. Here are some ideas to spur you along.

Take a few minutes to look through old photos to remind yourself of the way your life used to be. Look at photos from when you were in school. Remember that first, old car you once owned. Reminisce of days living in a small apartment with three or four roommates. Then note the differences in the way you’re living now, what you’ve accomplished and soon, you won’t be standing in that stuck line of humanity. You’ll have gained a thirty-thousand-foot view of your life again.

Enjoy the view and relish your surprise at what you’ve accomplished.

_________________________________________

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 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/1kmxoi0M4AAIt0kbOKvplZyAd_Qg2SjYd/view?usp=sharing

Monday's Warm Cocoa, 20 January 2025, Spread Love Everywhere

“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” 

– Mother Teresa

Spread Love Everywhere

Cory Meyer and I were sitting deep in the bowels of the Paycom Center grabbing a bite to eat. We were in Oklahoma City working with ESPN to broadcast the Sprouts Farmers Market Quad Gymnastics Event. Cory has devoted 20 years of his career to college athletics, with positions at Idaho State University, University of Utah and The University of Nevada. In fact, he was part of the transition team moving Utah Athletics from the Mountain West Conference to the Pac-12 Conference and was a member of the National Athletics Directors Association. So of course, our conversation opened with a review of details focused on our about-to-start work with some of the most amazing athletes in the world, women college gymnasts. Yet, as the work part of our chat wound down, Cory introduced me to another adept woman.

“I moved back to Idaho in support of my mother,” Cory said in response to my question about the reason for his move to Idaho. He continued on, explaining that she raised him as a single mother.

“My mom worked and worked to give me a great life,” he explained quietly. “I grew up, went to college and have had an amazing career in college athletics because of her love and encouragement.”

Then, when he had become the person she had worked and hoped he would be, a hard time came, asking for proof. Cory’s mother became terminally ill. And in answer, he returned a small portion of what she had instilled in him by coming home to be with her. It wasn’t that she needed him to become her caregiver. Indeed, her wishes in that regard were quite explicit as an exemplar and mother. There even came a time when she told him she wanted to move to an assisted care facility, because she didn’t want her grandchildren to associate her passing with their family home. She wanted to seal her grandchildren’s memories of her home as warm and cherished. And, her wishes were fully granted. 

I watched the warmth radiate from Cory’s eyes as he shared this intergenerational tale of familial love. His inheritance of love and happiness, from his mother, is so strong that he chose a short quote to encapsulate his own beliefs and ideals.

Mother Teresa said, “Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”

Happily, Cory and I were sitting deep in the bowels of the Paycom Center grabbing a bite to eat, getting to know each other better and preparing for our weekend of work with incredible women athletes. And, another incredible woman’s talent for expressing love and sharing happiness was also on display through her son.

_________________________________________

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 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/1kmxoi0M4AAIt0kbOKvplZyAd_Qg2SjYd/view?usp=sharing

Monday's Warm Cocoa, 13 January 2025, "Forget Me Not"

“I fell two-and-a-half-weeks ago.” – Daniel Madewell

Forget Me Not

“I fell two-and-a-half-weeks ago,” Daniel’s text message flashed on the screen. “Still healing and rehabbing at this facility.”

There was a link for the address of the long-term care facility. So, I clicked the link to see how close it was. It wasn’t very far, about ten to fifteen minutes by car. I studied my calendar to see when I could work a visit into my already-crowded schedule.

Of course, as soon as I wedged a visit to Daniel into my datebook, the rest of the seemingly-expanding appointments shoved the just-scheduled-visit down the plan as if on automatic. Until I opened a desk drawer.

While shuffling some things around in the now open drawer to find what I was looking for, a packet of seeds stung my eyes. The seed packet was filled with kernels of Forget Me Not flowers. The bright color of emotion-tugging-flowers, mostly covering the envelope, arrested my eyes immediately.

Forget Me Not flowers carry a deep message of love, remembrance, and enduring connection with them. Its delicate petals, often adorned with tiny blue flowers and occasionally pink flowers, whisper a timeless plea: "forget me not." These bright and joyful flowers symbolize a longing to be cherished and remembered, making them a long enduring emblem of affection.

Whether found in a garden, wild meadow, or as seeds enveloped in a drawer, Forget Me Nots serve as a poignant reminder of true love, memories shared, and the bonds that tie us to those we hold dear. This flower transcends its physical beauty. It has inspired poets, gardeners, and now it was encouraging one friend to visit another. So, I pushed my friend Daniel to the top of my calendar and made the drive to visit him.

I knocked tentatively on the open door to his room as soon as I arrived, while barely pausing entry. After all, I could hear the mechanical-befriending-TV whispering its dulling charm in the background.

“Let me turn the TV off,” Daniel said as his eyes brightened immediately upon seeing me. “It is what you deserve. I’ve missed you.”

I didn’t know until that moment how much I’d missed him, as I returned his expression to inaugurate our visit. The rest of our time together was spent discussing his tale of falling unexpectedly while teaching children in a local elementary school. Of how the worried children in his classroom fetched the school nurse to come to his aid. And, how his now shattered femur was heeling. That was all important, but it was not the most important thing we shared.

The most significant part of our time together was pentimento, a visible trace of earlier painting beneath a layer of paint on the canvas of our current visit. It was wonderful to have the depth of our history together revealed and coalesced as one Forget Me Not painting.

_________________________________________

I’ve helped thousands of people, as a real estate & lifestyle expert, to discover where and how they want to live and work; to achieve 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/1c2Ma9iKHAj7HZ3lb6mKIvI_0UEh2KbQY/view?usp=sharing

Monday's Warm Cocoa, 6 January 2025, "Unknown Impact"

“I can do hard things!” – Annie and Darryl McDaniel

Unknown Impact

“I received an email from someone I didn’t know, Annie said.

The message started with, “I don’t know if you will ever receive this, but I hope you do,” this unknown sender began.

“Of course, this unusual beginning got my attention immediately,” Annie continued, before saying, “As I continued to read the message, my emotions got the best of me and I broke down in tears.”

The reason Annie began tearing-up was, perhaps, because she had been struggling with an internal decision as to whether she was going to end her Miss Annie’s Home + Kitchen work, calling and endeavor. Something she often refers to as her “inspiration,” not her work. As with many heart-felt pursuits, Annie had been enduring some disturbing opposition. Conflict that had taken a toll on her resilience over a period of time. And, as she continued her reading of the email, her heart was beating into her throat and her chest was warming. The message spoke directly to her tumult.

“I had been focusing my Miss Annie’s Home + Kitchen messaging around ‘I can do hard things,’ in an effort to offer encouragement to others who are facing, often seemingly insurmountable trials. And, this email’s arrival just happened to come to me when I needed strength and encouragement myself. It seemed to beckon. It was a catalyst, urging me to sustain and continue on at a time when I was questioning my ability to do so.”

The email’s sender? The daughter of a woman Annie had never met. In fact, she had never exchanged personal messages or conversed with this unknown, inspiring sender or her mother. A follower who had been interacting with Miss Annie’s Home + Kitchen for a long time.

Annie continued reading.

“My mother battled ovarian cancer for a long time,” the email-sender continued. “My mother was never able to tell you how much your posts had meant to her. So, I am fulfilling her desire to thank you, as unfortunately, my mother recently succumbed to this horrible disease. Yet she remained strong and hopeful as a result of your continuous encouragement. In fact, she wore her ‘I can do hard things’ t-shirt, purchased from your site, regularly. She wore it at her passing and into eternity.”

“I received an email from someone I didn’t know, Annie said, with Darryl, her husband, at her side.

It is just like the two of them, Annie and Darryl. They offer encouragement to people they know and don’t know, naturally.  It’s just who they are and what they do during the course of daily living. 

And, someone unknown, returned their encouragement and goodness, as if on cue, just when they needed encouragement themselves.

_________________________________________

I’ve helped thousands of people, as a real estate & lifestyle expert, to discover where and how they want to live and work; to achieve 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/1c2Ma9iKHAj7HZ3lb6mKIvI_0UEh2KbQY/view?usp=sharing

Monday's Warm Cocoa, 30 December 2024, "Pajama Train"

Riding the “Pajama Train” with Santa Claus

Pajama Train

The Johnsons were rushing to catch the Holiday Pajama Train. Their hurry seemed to be a representation of the holiday season.

“One of us would not get his pajamas on so we could get here on time,” Kilee Johnson said, while sharing her getting-readying-challenge with her most energetic and youngest son. “But we’re here and everything is all right.”

With that being said the five Johnsons began to walk up the ramp to board the Arkansas Missouri Pajama Train with Santa Claus. The family, along with the other riders, were all dressed in their Christmas Pajamas.  And, the Johnsons walked onto the train in their new, matching Christmas PJs, where Jeff, the train’s conductor welcomed them warmly.

Jeff was in his festive-enhanced conductor’s uniform. He wore a red Santa hat, trimmed in white faux fur. His tie was a caricature of Santa, diving head-first into a frosted top, red brick chimney. He even had gingerbread men neatly tucked into each side of the hatband. The red, green and white embellishments stood out brightly against his black suit and white shirt. He was perfectly matched with the waiting Santa Clause, who walked up to greet the family almost as soon as they took their seats on the soon-to-depart train.

As the train began to ease out of the station Santa walked up and down the aisles of each car greeting everyone personally. He also handed crayons and coloring pages out to the pajama-clad-children, so they could add color to this holiday memory. Jeff followed Santa closely while handing out music sheets. So, the train was soon purring along with caroling; the tracks clicking to keep time.

Oh’s could be heard between the verses of song, as the children looked out of the train’s windows at the passing scenery. They pointed to community decorations and enjoyed nature’s beauty. It was as if the world had stopped, allowing the merrymakers to breathe joy into their lungs and hearts.

“What does Rudolph’s nose do?” Jeff asked, as he came into each carriage to recite Christmas trivia questions and hand-out small, sweet prizes to those answering his questions correctly, before the train pulled back into the station.

“Everyone please sit down as we pull into the station,” Jeff announced all too soon. “We don’t want anyone to fall down as we’re coming to a stop.”

And, as the train stopped, the joyful experience did not end. The now comfortable and Christmas-Spirit infused passengers began gliding off the train. In the end, the Johnsons and their fellow passengers were no longer rushing through their holiday season. They were relishing it. Hurry was no longer representing their season.

Christmas joy was now the track they were riding. After all, they had taken the pajama train to leave the feeling of bustle and stress behind.

_________________________________________

I’ve helped thousands of people, as a real estate & lifestyle expert, to discover where and how they want to live and work; to achieve 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/1c2Ma9iKHAj7HZ3lb6mKIvI_0UEh2KbQY/view?usp=sharing

Monday's Warm Cocoa, 23 December 2024, "Spot-check"

“Sometimes the pain is just too much.” – Christie Davenport

Spot-check

It was a joyous occasion. There was food, drink and smiles on every face. But two. 

Those two walked into the room, separately, greeted a few people and pasted an obligatory smile on faces that showed strain in every other expression. All seemed just fine on the surface for a casual observer. So-much-so that others, attending the social, continued to swim around the room without giving a thought to little, other than celebration of friendship and cheer.

The music of joy was adding to the ambiance of merriment, yet it did nothing to ease disquiet whispering to my heart. Perhaps, it was because I recognized the look on those faces. Seeing them was like viewing a five-o’clock-shadow. A shadow causing me to the scan the room for a spot-check on the two friends.

After looking hard, I located one of them standing alone near the Christmas Tree in a quiet corner of the room. I swam through the crowd seeking to have a conversation with her.

“You can’t hide back here,” I started.

She laughed. “I had a hard day.”

She told me of a day filled with anxiety, misfortune and unforeseen events. Her tale was one I identified with. As a result, there was an undeniable connection between the day’s events and my own experience. Sharing this connection allowed a genuine smile to ease across her face for the first time during the evening. Our discovered nexus allowed me to glide toward my other friend with a lighter heart, one more attuned with the purpose of the evening. 

I caught sight of her moving toward the exit. Her face clouded.

“You’re leaving?” I asked.

“Yes. Standing here is painful for me. My lower back is shooting pain down my legs,” she responded.

“I wish I didn’t understand,” I replied with heart-felt empathy.

There was a brief glimpse of appreciation on her face.

“Sometimes the pain is just too much,” Christie, said in an almost whisper, with an understanding smile.

“Yes. It does,” I said, speaking of shared pain.

It was a joyous occasion. There was food, drink and smiles on every face. But two. 

Those two walked into the room, separately, greeted a few people and pasted an obligatory smile on faces that showed strain in every other expression. All seemed just fine on the surface for a casual observer. So-much-so that the others attending the social continued to swim around the room without giving a thought to little other than celebration of cheer.

At the same time, sharing an empathetic moment with two dear friends allowed the celebration of a deeper moment in friendship.

_________________________________________

I’ve helped thousands of people, as a real estate & lifestyle expert, to discover where and how they want to live and work; to achieve 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/1c2Ma9iKHAj7HZ3lb6mKIvI_0UEh2KbQY/view?usp=sharing

Monday's Warm Cocoa, 16 December 2024, "Seeing and Sight"

“It is not what you gather but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.” – Helen R. Walton

Seeing and Sight

“Having to call someone to drive me where I need to go isn’t easy,” my friend Jay said to me over the telephone three days ago.

My heart went out to him as I responded, “I can only imagine how hard it has been to for you to be losing your eyesight. But, your vision is beyond measure!”

I was speaking of his ability to impact the future through sight, beyond eyesight. Jay has an unusual ability to see opportunities that go unseen by others. And, he quietly moves forward to change the world around him, for the better, as be moves steadily forward. Such sight is one of his gifts, as well as a gift to the rest of us. Luckily, he’s not the only one to share such a gift of sight.

Helen R. Walton said, “It is not what you gather but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.” The Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center is the personification of this vision. Yet, looking more closely allows everyone to see how much she has impacted life in her home town by following her philosophy of enrichment put into personal practice. Create a healthy, nurturing environment focused on intentional play, exploration and family well-being.

The seeds Helen planted over a lifetime are flourishing everywhere, in her hometown, as the invitation to accept her vision has been accepted and implemented by thousands of people. They’ve fused with her focus of building an environment of healthy living, art and outdoor recreation.

When the town was ravaged by a bevy of destructive tornados on Memorial Day this year the people joined together to shelter and feed those most affected before going out on the bicycle trails with shovels, wheelbarrows and chainsaws to rebuild them. A task that continues to this day as a result of catastrophic damage. Perhaps, such damage was most apparent around the one-hundred-twenty forested acres surrounding the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Crystal Bridges houses one of the largest private collections of American Art in the world and allows free general admission for all to come and experience enrichment of the soul to by viewing artisan visions of our world in its galleries and experiencing art throughout its nature-rich grounds. The beauty of Helen’s life in on full display here and the people who love it have not allowed a natural disaster to destroy her vision. Just as natural deterioration of my friend Jay’s eyesight hasn’t disconnected him from his vision.

Jay continues to scatter his kind of life, as he fully embodies the distinction between simply seeing and sight.

_________________________________________

I’ve helped thousands of people, as a real estate & lifestyle expert, to discover where and how they want to live and work; to achieve 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/1c2Ma9iKHAj7HZ3lb6mKIvI_0UEh2KbQY/view?usp=sharing