Category: 12 in 20 (women who follow their passions)

Welcome to my 12 in 20 series, where once a month for a year I highlight a woman who has found and is following her passions! I hope that you enjoy each story, find yourself in them, they are wonderful women. I am blessed to highlight them and to share their story with you. Thank you for joining me for the sixth post in the series.

There is a beauty in never having to discover your passion. Some will look for their entire lives and not feel that they have stumbled upon what they were meant to do, what brings them the greatest joy…Clare has never had to “discover” her passion. She was born with it, was nurtured towards it, and has spent her entire life pushing to keep it present in her everyday.

When Clare was a teenager she asked her father for a new pair of jeans, her fathers reaction was that she would have to wait a couple weeks. Clare’s reaction was to tell him that if he didn’t give so much money to charity, they would have enough for her jeans this week… his response was to remind her that “her home was a lot bigger than she thought it was.” This became the mantra for her life- So this notion that family extended beyond the walls of her home sent her into this life of love and activism.

So when the whole world is part of your family, where do you start? Let’s start at the beginning…

Clare was born the youngest of six children, to an Italian Father and a Mother who was a mix of nationalities. She and her siblings always identified with the Italian side of the family, in fact the exuberant Italian gene took over the household, think large gatherings, great Italian food, wine and conversation, lot’s of loud conversation.

Clare was described as the chatty child, something she didn’t give much thought to, until it started getting her in trouble at school. Her report card would often show a check mark next to “Talks to much” or “Visits with friends.” Clare attended Catholic school where God and Family were celebrated. She would enjoy science, cheer-leading, singing and plays. She recalls a time when she was sent to the principle for her chattiness, and her father was called to the school to talk with the principle. The principle told her Father that “Clare must get a handle on her talking.” Her Fathers response was “I don’t worry about the kids that talk, I worry about the kids that don’t talk and you don’t know what they think.” Her Father was always good with putting life into perspective. She began to realize that communication would play a big part in what she would do with her life.

Her senior year she met her husband, Scott. Clare was a cheerleader, Scott was the captain of the baseball and basketball team. They were set up on a date by the class president who asked if she would be interested in going on a date with Scott. She remembers that Scott was wearing a fedora, a vest and bell bottoms. Of course she couldn’t resist, they began dating, and the April after Graduation they married. It would be eight months later they would both, on the same day devote their lives to Christ and together they would spread the gospel “the good news” that “Jesus came for all.”

They began serving, taking part in youth groups, bible college, and advocating for the undeserved. They have been partners on this journey of life and seeking God. Together they sought to help young girls who found themselves pregnant and were looking for options outside of ending their pregnancies. When one of their children became the victim of a violent sexual assault, Clare and Scott became advocates in the field for those who had suffered this type of trauma. They both have become active by volunteering, and serving on the boards for the Child Advocacy center in Calhoun Co. Together they share their passion for serving the poor and the marginalized.

Thirty years ago Clare and Scott had a calling to start their own church. They were given word from God that the church they would have would be a church “at the crossroads.” Although they built the church near where two major highways cross, they also took the crossroads name to mean that all were welcome, all genders, races, everyone from all walks of life would come together to worship and feel welcomed. Much like her father had explained, her family was indeed so much more than the people she shared a home with.

Crossroads church was born out of hard work, faith and love. When looking for a place to start the church, Marshall Michigan was where the lord lead them. They joined together with ten families and the dream of Crossroads came to life. Clare and Scott Co-pastor at the church and she continues her work as a social activist. She currently sits on the boards for Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force and Sexual Assault Services Calhoun County Advisory Board. Adding to her list of credits – she is a formally trained spiritual director and has authored three Enneagram books. She holds the title of President of the International Enneagram Association (Great lakes Chapter). She is the developer of a program that certifies Emmeagram instructors in the Harmony Triads, and is also cited as a recommended instructor with First Analysis Institute of integrative studies, Loyola University Chicago.

When talking with Clare you can see her heart, her intentions shine through her smile. She truly has taken the words of her father to heart, and also the words of her Grandfather who had two phrases he would often use, “Come to where the love is” and “Love together.” This is what she does at Crossroads. Clare welcomes you in to gather in love. To be where the love is, she knows no other way.

If you watch a service either in person or via live stream you’ll see her giving the message or hear her beautiful singing voice. She is a woman of very high energy, waking in the morning wondering what she needs to do to make sure no injustice is happening anywhere. She has to remind herself that she can’t make it through the day if she moves too fast. All that results from that is the unintentional consequence of leaving people in her wake.

She and Scott have a beautiful family, children and Grandchildren who are present in their lives and their church. Clare will tell you however, that she views her family just as her father had taught her, beyond the biology and DNA, her family is all inclusive.

One could never sum up her passion in one sentence. The fact that you can’t do that is the greatest compliment. I tried to pin it down while talking with Clare, to make it all fit in a pretty little box with a bow, but that isn’t how her passion is. Her passion is vast …and our world is a better world because of it.

Thank you Clare for sharing your story.

Erin

https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Rhythms-Enneagram-Handbook-Transformation/dp/0830836004

To visit Crossroads Church and Ministries please visit the “About Us” link below.

About Us

Welcome to my 12 in 20 series, where once a month for a year I highlight a woman who has found and is following her passions! I hope that you enjoy each story, find yourself in them, they are wonderful women. I am blessed to highlight them and to share their story with you. Thank you for joining me in the fifth post in the series.

Sometimes the passions of a woman are born from the traumas of her childhood. This truth, however hard, is what molds a person to become who they are. Somehow, because they have endured trauma they do not become hardened to the world- they become one with it. This is the story of Wannetta.

If you want to find out the heart of a human you can look to see how they treat the most vulnerable among us. I do not refer to other humans, but rather every other creature God has created. There is no better friend to nature then Wannetta.

Her story starts on a sad note, and really doesn’t crack enough to let the sunshine in until much later in her life. Born the last child and only female to her parents, her mothers health was not good. She spent a great deal of time with her Uncle Hugh and her Aunt Flossie. Wannetta loved her Aunt dearly, and she came to believe in her heart and mind that Aunt Flossie was her mother, even calling her Mom. She stayed between “home” and her Aunt’s Chicago home, while her parents and three brothers all lived together. At age three her mother passed, and not knowing how he would raise this little girl alone with three sons at home, her Father allowed her to be raised in the city by her Aunt and Uncle- a life which she enjoyed. Then, at age five her Father remarried, and soon he came for his daughter. Wannetta can recall a literal tug of war between her father and his sister, she being the rope as they both fought for their “daughter.” Her life would be turned upside down for decades to come. Her father had won, and she left all she knew, for a home she didn’t know and didn’t care to be in.

Wannetta could not find solace at home. She would never have the type of relationship a girl would want with her father, and her traumas forced her to spend a great deal of time outside. She became a fierce tennis player who could beat semi-pro players, both female and male. Spending hours and hours on the court perfecting her game. She found refuge on the softball fields as well, playing center field and left field. The rules stated a girl was suppose to be thirteen to join the league- but at age ten with a nod and a willingness to turn a blind eye by the league, she was encouraged to sign up and lie about her age. So she did. Wannetta would go on to play well into adulthood and was proud to be named the All Star in 1970’s Midwest Semi-pro tournament series. She was twenty five and at the top of her athletic game. But this did not translate to everyday life. She lacked confidence when not on a field or court. She recalls being in a therapy session, the group had for the first time openly talked about their lives in a group setting, and it got very intense very quickly. Peoples stories were brutal and painful, she recalls that the two therapists ended the meeting in tears and visibly shook themselves by what they had heard. Upon meeting again, they asked how everyone had handled the intensity of that last meeting and most had not feared well. They had held up in bed in the fetal position for days, crying and struggling. Wannetta recalls that she had gone that day and played softball, she had always taken refuge outside- it was where she found peace.

Just because she had excelled on the field and would receive great accolades, times were still not kind to her. She wasn’t like the other girls who would wear dresses and act ladylike, times were different and she wasn’t held up as the achiever she was because she was ahead of her time. Women athletes were not revered as they are in today’s society. She is grateful that times have changed for women athletes. I’m sure players like herself paved the way.

Time as we know moves on, and Wannetta worked at the United States Post office from age twenty seven until age fifty seven, all the while her love for the outdoors, nature and animals grew. She would never marry or have children, but would share those years of her life with her boyfriend Joe and in their thirty years together they made the forest and the world a better place.

Having a loving heart and a wish to do no harm, Wannetta and Joe spent decades being observers of nature and caring for the animals. It is her belief that traumas can be healed by nature and that if you want to find spiritual connection, you need not look any further than the backdrop of nature that God has provided.

Wannetta has a paticular fondness for owls, and they seem to know what a friend they have in her. She has educated many people over the years, appearing on news casts and in the news articles of the Chicago Sun Times and alike. She is known as the “Owl Whisperer” and has a reputation for sitting perched for hours and hours while she looks into the tree baskets she has provided with nesting material throughout the preseves around her home so that the Great Horned Owls have a safe place to nest near Mattson Illinois.

https://abc7chicago.com/archive/8625035/

Her love of animals has sent her on many a wonderful adventure. An avid traveler, she has been on dozens of beautiful trips to view wildlife up close. Africa, Gala’pagos Islands , Alaska and Mexico to name just a few. While in Mexico Wannetta was particularly taken by a mature gray whale who neared the boat she was in. This large animal could have easily caused damage to the boat her travel group was in, but instead trusted that they wouldn’t harm him- so he swam right up to the boat, allowing Wannetta to pet him. It was a very spiritual moment for her. One of Gods largest creatures could have acted violently toward her but instead he chose to trust her and she in turn trusted him.

The wonder of what might have been is always present for Wannetta. Certainly had she remained in Chicago life would have been different. Perhaps the absence of forest preserves in her neighborhood would have changed the love she feels for nature and animals, it’s hard to say. It is evident to all who know her that she has a loving heart, a love for life and all it offers, and a true passion for the most vulnerable among us- perhaps because she can relate so well to them. She can truly see their beauty and I think whenever we hear an owl hoot, we should know that he is probably retelling the stories that were passed down from his ancestors about the woman with the kind heart who cares for all the animals she sees. I’ll bet they praise her name…as they should.

Thank You Wannetta, for sharing your story with me, and allowing me to share it with others.

Till next time- Erin

Welcome to my 12 in 20 series, where once a month for a year I highlight a women who has found and is following her passions! I hope that you enjoy each story, they are all unique, although I am finding there is a golden thread woven through each story… these women knew early on in life what their passions were. For some the road was long and bumpy- sometimes fast and covered with Georgia clay. The “fast with clay” is this kind of story. Thank you for joining me in the fourth post of this series.

Carlie always knew she had a passion for helping people, (I call it the helpers heart). Her passion was especially strong for helping kids and to be a difference maker in their lives.

Her path to fulfilled passion started in the seventh grade, realizing that she was one of the lucky ones who not only understood math, but enjoyed it! (Who does that??) Always one of the “good kids, she found herself beyond bored in her math class. While her favorite teacher, Mr. Wiley explained the same concept for the fourth time to other students, she had already finished her work. Mr. Wiley recognized this early on (thankfully), and began handing her the lesson and the nights homework at the start of class, she found that she was able to get all this work done before the warm-up for the other students was over. After finishing her work, she would than help with small groups of students in class, it was early on that she realized that she was able to explain the concept to her peers with ease and most of the time was able to increase their level of understanding.

Love of math than took her to earning some spending money tutoring, and she quickly realized that she had a knack for being patient with those who needed extra help. Fast forwarding to high school where her love of math did not falter. Carlie enrolled in Teacher Cadet class in her senior year of high school. Teacher Cadet class allowed her to leave campus at lunch to learn about teaching two days a week, and observe in the classroom the remaining three. On the first day of observation she was “thrown to the wolves” by the teacher, Ms. Bonner who was teaching at the same middle school Carlie had attended. Ms. Bonner had her go over the homework with the class, no warning, no cheat sheets, no practice. At first she was horrified but almost instantly realized that it felt like home to be in front of a class giving instruction. Carlie still holds a great deal of gratitude for Ms. Bonner at her willingness to let a high school student take over her classroom giving her a wonderful life experience that propelled her into her career.

Life moves fast, high school ended and Carlie attended Hope College along the lake Michigan coast line, pursuing a degree in Secondary Education for Mathematics and Psychology. Each year of her four years at Hope had her doing teaching observations and practicums. Unlike some of the other students who had never been on the other side of the desk, she was ready, she had experience…thanks to Ms. Bonner. During Carlies senior year of college, which was the coldest winter she had ever been through, Carlie found herself stuck inside a one bedroom apartment with her roommate for two weeks straight. Within the boredom and confinement she received an email from the education department at Hope. It was advertising this company, Southern Teachers Agency, where teachers (or soon to be teachers) could send an application for free to twelve states full of private and independent schools. Figuring “What the heck” and knowing that once she graduated she really didn’t want to go through another Michigan winter like the one she was suffering through, she sat down and applied and that was that. Not giving it much thought after hitting submit, until March when she received an E-mail from the Headmaster of a private Christian school in Georgia, they wanted to speak to her over the phone! This would be her first teaching interview. She jumped at the opportunity, and was surprised how easy it was to talk about her passion of teaching math, and coaching volleyball. The phone interview went well and the school took the next step of flying her down to Georgia for a face to face interview. Struggling with pneumonia, she aced the interview, and found herself looking at an offer before boarding her flight home. She had been impressed with the school and they with her.

Having just a few short day’s to decide the trajectory of her life Carlie found herself driving from her parents home back to her college apartment in complete silence. This is a “never happens” scenario as she is a lover of music… it was then, in the silence that she decided to pray about this job offer. Thinking that God would offer her a sign about which path she should take. After praying and feeling sure that the answer would somehow come to her, she turned on her radio to hear the Eli Young band sing the song “Dust“… “There’s a future that’s bright in the dead of this night, all she’s gotta do is go and turn the radio up. Roll the windows down she got an open road, Ain’t no stopping her now. She’s got the pedal to the floor in a hand-me-down ford, yeah, the only thing that’s left to do is catch a couple green lights and those baby blue eyes are leaving nothing in that rear view mirror but dust.” She felt like every word of this song spoke to her and fed her soul with peace- this was the answer to her prayers. She would be moving to Georgia.

Arriving in Georgia to an apartment that was secured sight unseen and finding it to be in a bad of town was almost too much. Not only had she planned this new career and left behind her loving and supportive family, but now she was over eight hundred miles from anyone she had ever know. She was scared, and missing home immediately. She was ready to turn the U-Haul around and head home with her family. But she didn’t, she stayed to see what else God had planned for her in Georgia… turns out… a lot!

Life changed so much during this time. Only one month after moving to Georgia before classes even started, she met her husband. He swooped in to save her from an “old man creeper” at the local bar. Her husband, being the southern gentleman he is, stepped in and helped her out. (She notes that his Granny who raised him would have been proud!) Just six months after meeting they were engaged, a proposal coming at the same bar where they had met. Another five months passed quickly and they were wed.

Shortly after getting married they pursued the passion of Foster Parenting together. This was an incredible, exhausting and difficult time for the newly married couple. Three years later they were able to legally adopt their Daughter and Son and during this time they also had a biological child as well. Being a parent was so rewarding that it quickly was her top passion, but knowing that she still had the love of teaching and the desire to help others she continued with her career. Five years had moved fast, they had been filled with about as many life changes as a person can have, graduation, moves, marriage, children, courtrooms, and the fulfillment of teaching at a beautiful school. She had been able to merge her creativity with her lessons, and helped her students fall in love with math. But, her time in Georgia was coming to an end. With three young children and a longing for something new, the decision was made to move from Georgia to Michigan to be closer to family… her career took one more turn.

Carlie had grown up in a family where she felt loved and secure. She didn’t go to bed wondering about her safety or if she would have food to eat. In middle school and high school her “group” of kids were considered “misfits” or “outcasts.” The middle school and high school years were difficult for her. She knows first hand the amount of damage that can be done to a persons self worth and self esteem from being bullied. She was determined to make her classroom a safe haven, as free from the nastiness of bullying as possible A safe haven for those who maybe didn’t have the safe haven at home that she did. She brought that attitude along with her desire to make math interesting to her new classroom. In Georgia, Carlie had taught at a private school where the kids were expected to make good grades, to not only finish but to excel! Parents were paying a good tuition fee to see that their children were taught what they needed for a successful future, and the student parking lot always had nicer cars then the staff parking lot. With her move came a new challenge that filled her heart, she began teaching at risk youth, this came with great worry and the feeling of obligation. She is always reminded of the basic needs that go unmet for her students, food, clothing, deodorants, baby diapers etc… she finds herself spending portions of her paycheck to go toward these items. Along with providing rides, a safe person to talk to, and reminding them that she is always there for them. There are nights (too many to count) that she spends awake with worry for her students. The one who has not shown up to class in the last few days, whose brother was shot and killed, the student whose Grandma calls to let her know her Grandchild is suicidal or the student who steals extra snacks from the cabinet while she pretends not to notice because it’s Friday afternoon and she knows that they will not eat until she see’s them Monday morning. Her wish would be to make the pain go away, to make everything better. She’ll always do her best for her students, sometimes she is all they have. She considers herself blessed.

We all know that wonderful teachers can be the make or break for some students. I feel like the young adults in Carlie’s class have found their angel on earth.

Thank you Carlie, for being who you are-

Till next time,

Erin

Welcome to 12 in 20! Once a month this year I will highlight a woman who has found and followed her passion. Enjoy their stories, find yourself in them, they are wonderful women. It’s a blessing to highlight them. Thank you for joining me for the third post in this series.

I’m so excited to introduce you to Lauren, who at first glance might remind you of a Disney princess, and at second glance…well, you’re still not convinced she’s not. Let me settle your mind about this, she looks likes a princess, and works like a gladiator from the movie Three Hundred. This is Lauren’s story.

Lauren has know what her passion was since she was a sixteen year old girl working at a local pizza joint. While working there firefighters from a nearby station would frequently come in to eat, she began talking with them about their jobs and the roll that women played in their department. These conversations started Lauren on her quest. Having gone through life being told she was “tiny” or “cute and petite” had become frustrating, while these are all flattering statements, what she wanted to hear was that she was brave and smart. She wanted people to realize she had the qualities she would need to pursuit her passion. At the age of twenty eight she found herself feeling unfulfilled by her current nine to five. She had known since age sixteen what it was she should be doing. It was time to put this long awaited desire into action. At just five foot three and one hundred and eighteen pounds this princess knew she would be “kicking against the pricks, swimming upstream and taking stabs at wild and crazy dreams.”
Lauren was going to be a firefighter.

But fairy tales and the pursuit of passion do not come easy, and what began as an adventure with her head held high and her spirit strong turned into darkness as she realized that she had a very, very rough road ahead. The journey would take her almost four years, and the obstacles seemed endless. Imagine feeling a high level of disappointment every day for years but continuing the fight.

Lauren’s fight began with a twelve week EMT course that ends in a state and national test. Once completed, she had to wait for a city to put out applications-she would then have to create a profile and sign in to be one of the fifteen hundred or so applicants. After that process she had to look forward to a written test of around one hundred and fifty questions that will usually take about three hours to complete. Finishing in the top five percent will likely get you a first round interview in front of a random panel of firefighters from the hiring city. She managed all those steps and next it was on to CPAT (candidate physical ability test) which consists of eleven events that must be completed in ten minutes and nineteen seconds, or she would fail out. But failing wasn’t an option, so she moved on after that to a second round of interviews and a five week unpaid internship academy which she did after work for four hours and on Saturdays for eight hours. Making it through all that brought her to a twelve week official academy where you are tested often on your physical ability, teamwork, reading and fire skills specific to the city which she would be working for. She never allowed herself to have a back up plan, this was it- and she attributes her success to this attitude. Much like Joan of Arc she would think, “I’m not afraid, I was born to do this.”

Being a firefighter has many benefits, a great home life ranks right near the top. Lauren is a wife and mother to two small kids. She loves being their role model and knowing that her schedule will allow her twenty days a month at home to take care of her family and still have time for being social with her friends. Lauren is blessed with a supportive family who attended her graduation where she was chosen by her peers to give the commencement address. Isn’t that just like the fairy tale ending the Princess always seems to have? She can now show young boys and girls that they can break molds and do anything they set out to do without permission from society.

There is something to be said for grit, for sheer determination and the will to fulfill our passions. Lauren is an example to not only young boys and girls, but to all of us who think that the cards are stacked against us. She really is the heroine in her own life story.

Thank you Lauren for sharing your journey to fulfilled passion with us. It was my pleasure to learn abut your life and journey.

Welcome to 12 in 20! Once a month this year I will highlight a woman who has found and followed her passion. Enjoy their stories, find yourself in them, they are wonderful women. It’s a blessing to highlight them. Thank you for joining me for the second post in this series.

The first time I met Kristen was a few years ago in a business networking group we were both members of. She was the fun, bubbly, smile in the room. I recall that back then she told her story with a bit of nerves showing in her voice. Fast forward to 2020, here she is this amazingly strong, confident, game changer of a gal with no sign of those nerves! Her story will leave you inspired!

So, what do you do when you find yourself a bit behind on bills? Well, Krisiten was geared up and ready to take on a second job at Payless Shoes. Already working for a Durable Medical Equipment company in Florida full time she mentioned this part time gig at Payless to her boss who than asked “How would you like to make more money in less time?” Wondering what kind of trouble she might be getting caught up in Kristen asked what she had in mind. Turns out this employer had a husband who ran a clown company. Next thing ya know she was dressed as a clown, making balloon animals and painting the cheeks of small children. She never did take that job at Payless.

Soon Kristen and her then husband found themselves expecting a baby and living far from home. A move back to Michigan to be near family was one move closer to fate. Still needing that extra income for her growing family Kristen went to a church service geared toward entrepreneurs. There the question “What do you have?” was asked. This question is what sparked her business nine years ago. She knew one thing that she had, a barely touched face painting kit in her closet. She got that kit down and began watching YouTube videos realizing she was capable of doing some pretty impressive designs.

Healing through art... Fast forward five years and see where talent and determination has led her. Although her body art had been featured in Several publications, and she had ongoing contracts with amazing companies, she knew that she wanted her art to have a purpose. She attended another life changing meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan about their annual event “Art prize.” Knowing that she wanted to make a difference and would literally be in front of thousands, she decided to paint nude bodies in public. These bodies would be painted with messages of personal trauma that each model had encountered. A risky move that had her getting rejection after rejection from each venue she asked to be affiliated with. Kristen approached The B.O.B. Venue and finally got her yes! Now, to make an impact!

That’s when healing through body art was born. Kristen will tell you she had no idea what she had gotten herself into. Seeking the help of a therapist friend, she was sure not to cause more trauma to her would be models. Feeling like she had set herself up for the impossible she went searching for her “unicorns.” Her unicorns were people brave enough to be nearly naked in public, brave people who were wanting to share their most intimate horror stories. Surprisingly enough, her unicorns showed up. They came with bravery and beauty to share their stories with the public. For Kristen this meant getting hit with the reality of others. Friends were telling her stories they had never shared, others came to her to tell their stories too. PTSD, depression, child sexual abuse, addiction to alcohol and drugs, bi-polar, suicide of a loved one, medical conditions and more. As hard as it was to hear the stories, Kristen knew they needed to be heard. Art prize kicked off and for eighteen days these models showed up literally and physically exposed to tell their stories and share their trauma. Most beautiful, was that they could embody their stories through paint… then wash them away.

Eighteen days of eight to ten hour days brave models shared their stories, and the public responded by telling their stories as well. Kristen found herself hugging and crying with total strangers as many in the crowd broke down telling their own stories, the exchange of vulnerability between strangers was the most beautiful thing she had ever witnessed.

Something unexpected was that Kristen found her own wounds were healing. She began to express her own suppressed trauma that she had been wearing as shame. It is true that when you heal others, you heal yourself. As you can imagine, Art prize was a huge success! Coming off of the high of Art Prize, and knowing the healing had to continue, Kristen took her next step. She went to the UK and brought healing through body art to women who were on a spiritual pilgrimage. This lead her to believe in a world where women connect with their inner voice, their higher self and their body to remove blocks, to heal from their past. She also adopted the belief that we can go from “fight or flight” to “stay and play.” Believing it’s possible to overcome being stuck in self sabotage and self doubt and become empowered to take the next steps in life.
Kristen now holds a safe space for women to remove the blocks and heal. She provides all the tools she has learned from her body art project, and from her own healing from trauma journey. She provides guidance and coaching, and holds amazing retreats where women can come and experience the healing process- they can even have their body painted if they choose. Of course she still paints the faces of smiling children, but healing through art is her passion! Healing is a journey.

Thanks to Kristen for sharing her journey to fulfilled passion. Please check out her business Facebook page.
http://kfxbodyart.com/

Welcome to 12 in 20! Once a month this year I will highlight a woman who has found and followed her passion! Enjoy their stories, find yourself in them, they are wonderful women. It’s a blessing to highlight them, thank you for joining me for my first post in this series.

Isn’t it serendipitous when life offers you your passion as a child?

Some can go their entire life and not recognize the call from their soul, this was not the case for Betsy. Betsy was one of five children from our little neighborhood in Illinois. All us kids were fast friends spending many hours being silly and carefree.

I’m sure that I couldn’t recall a day that I haven’t know her. Being the same age as my sister Patti there’s no doubt that the two of them spent most of their days together. I’d tag along as the younger sister and Betsy’s sister Debi was in the mix as well.

No stranger to being her mom’s helper in the kitchen, Betsy found herself being in charge of family dinners at a young age when her mom took a job outside the family home. Betsy scoured cook books at the library, jotting down meticulous notes as she filled notebooks with recipes, and would play restaurant with us friends creating menus before preparing and plating the meals.

Her passion was born!

Preparing fantastic food, and sharing wonderful recipes. When you’re used to preparing food for a busy family of seven at a young age, what comes next? Well, for Betsy it was working at a popular fish market with her mom and sister before the age of seventeen. Betsy had faith in her abilities and asked to be a chef at a banquet hall called Judds Red Derby in Alsip, Illinois. Although the owner, Mr. Judd had laughed at her, he took a chance on this passionate teen allowing her to cook… so cook she did! Unfortunately, our passions don’t always pay the bills.
When college wasn’t an option, Betsy took an office job in Chicago, she would never return to a commercial kitchen again.

Life happened and the pages on the calendar changed. Finding love, Betsy married, and shared with her husband her passion to be in the kitchen. He encouraged her to attend culinary school, so she did just that! Working full time while she attended the Culinary School at Kendall College in the evenings and weekends. By this time Betsy found herself in her thirties, with plans to start a family, this would mean that her mad culinary skills would be put to use on family and friends. Hosting dinner parties and joining cooking clubs. Her love for recipes never faded and she spent hours thumbing through cookbooks or surfing the internet for the next recipe she would share with her family. Cooking soon gave way to her favorite passion, raising two boys. As a stay at home mom she found new joy. Once the boys started school full time she decided to start a website which incorporates her other passion, quilting. ( I tell ya the talent in this gal is never ending!)

So what’s Betsy up to these days now that her boys are college students?

Well, she’s spent much of her time perfecting the notoriously finicky French cookie, the macaron (insert happy dance for our bellies). Once done perfecting the cookie, a task that took a full four months, Betsy’s time was spent developing delicious fillings! Macarons whose flavors include ~ Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake, White Chocolate peppermint, or the new flavor Peanut butter and jelly made with whole shelled peanuts, the results are a beautiful work of art.

With each taste test her family, friends and employees at her husbands business would ask “When are you going to sell these?”. “Well, I’m thinking of selling them, but I’m afraid nobody will buy them” was her answer. But, people know quality, they taste the effort, and the passion. So with twenty one boxes filled with eighteen macarons each she posted them for sale on Facebook~ they sold out in an hour! This was eight months ago and the creating and selling hasn’t stopped. Life is good for Betsy’s Macarons!

Once again, the pages on the calendar are changing and Betsy’s youngest son who is a college baseball player will be playing ball in the spring, and will also play summer ball. The passion of motherhood has not diminished, and she will spend time following the team and enjoy supporting her son. She plans on baking from home (an incredible kitchen for which I have high envy issues) but she’s feeling the need to find a commercial kitchen and get her business registered. She’s loving that people are enjoying her macarons, word is spreading!

Thanks to Betsy for sharing her journey to fulfilled passion. Please visit her at:

www.quiltandcafe.com www.bestsysmacarons.com

Please check out Betsy’s links and support other passionate women.

Till next time- Erin