Incredible Woman #16 - Laura Jarman. Monday's questions

This week, I'm excited to be featuring Laura Jarman - the owner of Dear Lizzie, in Highland, Utah. She was nominated by one of our readers. What a fun chance to get to know this incredible woman! I hope you enjoy the week. Make sure you come back each day to read new interview questions. Check out the slideshow, with pictures of Laura's beautiful store. Also, make sure to comment on one of the posts this week - Laura is giving away something wonderful from her store - a Lollia gift package of bubble bath and hand creme! PLUS - you guys are SO lucky - Laura is offering 20% off your entire first on-line purchase at www.mydearlizzie.com to our readers!!! Just enter the promo code: SPARK


KARA: "Tell us about yourself. What makes you an Incredible Woman?"

LAURA: "I am honored to be considered an 'Incredible Woman'! I love the idea that we can be successful being true to who we are and the things we love! My business has allowed me to know the most incredible women who have enriched my life with their amazing gifts. It has always been easier for me to identify the unique gifts of others rather than identifying my own... maybe I should count that among my talents - to recognize the wonderful in others!"

KARA: "Tell us about your family. What one word describes each member of your family? What do you like to do as a family?"

LAURA: "I have a lovely family of 6! Darryl and I just celebrated our 20th anniversary this year which just blows my mind! His trust, support and encouragement makes all of this possible for me and for us! Not to mention his willingness to do whatever I ask - from tearing down walls and hanging chandeliers at the shop to simply accepting that we have too many pillows on the couch (I can't help it!) My children rock my world... Noah is a thinker. Rosie is all delights. River is a free spirit and Scout is totally organized. We love each other."

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

THE BLOG IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW. COME BACK TOMORROW TO MEET SOMEONE NEW!

Thanks to Kim!

Thanks goes to Kim for the interview this week! It's so much fun to find out all about these women. I hope you had an enjoyable this week too.

THE TWO WINNERS OF THE CDs FROM KIM ARE TERESA CLARK AND DARRYL/MAUREEN. Please contact me - I'll need your addresses in order to send them. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Because of Thanksgiving this week, I just wanted to remind everyone about one of the reasonsI started this blog... this started as a thank you to the wonderful women who helped me through a really bad year of fighting breast cancer last year. As I count my blessings, they are among the most valuable. Thanks Kris, Janie, Carol, Lori - and so many more.

I'd love to get more nominations from all of you for the Incredible Women in your lives. Write to me at kara(dot)incrediblewomen(at)gmail.com to nominate someone.

This coming week I'll be interviewing Laura - the owner of Dear Lizzie Boutique and Bistro in Highland, Utah. Can't wait!!!!

Come back and visit, please.

Incredible Woman #15 - Kim Weitkamp. Saturday's Questions

KARA: "When I heard you tell a story for the first time, it was at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival this year. I was mesmerized! Then, right out of the blue, you started singing. You have a beautiful voice – talk about using that talent, and how music adds to your storytelling."

KIM: "I didn’t do any music for the first year or so of my storytelling. Then my friend Michael Reno Harrell said, “Kimmy, why aren’t you doing those songs you write on stage.” I told him that I really was not a good guitar player, then he said that all good songs are only three chords and the truth. He also told me that folks weren’t coming to see me play guitar, they were coming to hear stories. The songs would be just a little icing. So, I started playing and singing on stage. I am really glad I did. Sometimes songs spring up right out of my stories. I love to sing. Michael and his wife Joan actually bought me a beautiful guitar. Good, good, people."

KARA: "Will you share your beauty secrets with us?"

KIM: "Boy, I have some friends who would love answering this question for me…they’d poke some fun. But I think the best beauty secret is to laugh. Laugh, laugh, laugh. It keeps you young. It releases healthy endorphins from your brain! Anyone, when they are smiling or laughing, looks younger. I am also a big Oil of Olay fan if you really must know! My mom is 67 and she looks like 59. She has used it all of her life."

KARA: "If you had a day all to yourself, what would you do?"

KIM: "I would have breakfast with all of my girlfriends. Then go to the spa for a deluxe pedicure and a hot stone massage. Then I would sit by the pond, on a blanket, with my dog and a good Mark Twain or Jack London book. Then my family would join me there for a picnic (salad w/poppyseed dressing, watermelon, sushi, Tiramisu). The day would end with my grandkids and me hanging out around the fire. Man, that is one stinking perfect day. Thanks for asking. I feel good just typing it."

Incredible Woman #15 - Kim Weitkamp. Friday's Questions

KARA: "You travel a lot. Tell us about some of the places you’ve visited and which places are your favorite."

KIM: "I love, love, love to travel. Sometimes it does wear me down, but after a few days home I start to get the itch to travel again. My dad says it is in our DNA…wanderlust, the strong innate desire to rove about. Let’s see, my favorites? I am in love with Utah, really beautiful in all seasons. I love Oregon and Northern California. Virginia is one of my favorite places. I will travel somewhere and be so taken by the beauty that I see. Then I come back to my home state and say…ahhhh…perfection. I have a real issue with mountains and water. My dream is to have a Yurt in the mountains by a lake. (If you don’t know what a Yurt is, just google it!). I think people are surprised to find out that I actually love the outdoors and camping. Living in a Yurt is how I want to live my last 30 years or so."

KARA: "Do you have a hero? Tell us about that."

KIM: "Wow, a hero? If you look up the definition of that word you’ll find it is pretty hefty. I am so careful not to place people on pedestals. It just makes it easier for them to fall. BUT, I do have some folks I really admire. (I hate naming names, ‘cause there are sooo many folks that I love, but here are two that are blog worthy): Bill Harley is a stinking brilliant guy. Amazing songwriter, writer, and storyteller. Plus, a nice guy. Bil Lepp is also really darn smart and he makes me laugh plus, he is a good human being. My dad is amazing. With only a 6th grade education he became quite the business man and took really good care of us kids. And last but not least, my mom. She adopted me as her own and there was never one moment that I felt she loved me less than her own children. To love your own child is natural, to love someone else’s child as your own is divine."

Tomorrow is the last day of our interview with Kim. Don't forget to comment on one of the posts this week to be entered into the drawing for one of 2 story CDs of Kim's.

Incredible Woman #15 - Kim Weitkamp. Thursday's Questions

KARA: "How do you come up with the stories you tell?"

KIM: "All of the stories that I tell are rooted in the memories from my past. Even my tall tales are born out of an experience that I pull from my childhood. We all have stories to share, some of us just choose to share them with large audiences! Thanksgiving is just around the corner. When you are sitting at the table with your family, start asking questions like:
• What is the best toy you ever got as a kid
• Do you remember your first pair of roller skates
• When was your first kiss! (The kids love hearing adults talk about this one)
• First car ride (for the older folks) first plane ride (for the younger)
• Tell about a time you got in trouble
These are only five questions, but if you think about it for a few minutes you’ll come up with a lot more. Sit back and be patient, gently encourage people to share, look at them directly when they do open up, and then sit back and listen. You will be amazed at what is shared. To me, the best storytelling takes place informally, around the table, with friends and family."

KARA: "Can you talk about trials – what kinds of trials have you had throughout your life, and how did you overcome those trials?"

KIM: "My list of trials is about three miles long which means that I am on pace with just about every human being on earth. I almost lost one of my daughters when she was born, I was homeless at one point of my life while pregnant with twins, I lost one of my twins, my mother abandoned me at a babysitters when I was 6 weeks old, my husband’s business went down the tubes, I was terribly betrayed by my best friend, I was in a wheelchair for 6 months, the list could go on and on.
I have overcome by learning to forgive, leaning on faith, and loving as if I have never been hurt. It may sound corny…but it works. I live by this rule: Be kind to each person you meet, everyone, in some way, is fighting their own personal battle. So with that said, you will find that I rarely focus on my trials. I put them under my feet and use them as stepping stone to helping others who have been through much more than I have. I use trials as a stepping stone to the next level. I also love taking the stories from those trials and using them in applied storytelling to help others open up and realize that they are not alone."

Thanks for joining us on Thanksgiving!!! Come back to tomorrow for 2 more questions/answers with Kim Weitkamp.

Incredible Woman #15 - Kim Weitkamp. Wednesday's Questions

KARA: "What is one of the most inspiring things that has happened to you?"

KIM: "I have had so many inspiring moments, but I will stick with storytelling for my answer. My first trip to the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN was radically inspiring. It was as if I had finally found my fit…my people. It sounds so corny, but I had a life changing moment there when I realized that there were other people who thought like me, communicated like me, and valued story like me. I had no idea that subculture existed. In other cultures storytellers are considered valuable assets to the community and culture. It is something that is missing here in the States, but that is slowly changing."

KARA: "You have a new program, called the Wrinkles Program. Tell us all about that – I think it’s amazing!"

KIM: "The Wrinkles Project is a national campaign to raise awareness of the treasure that we have in the stories of our ‘seasoned citizens’. The Wrinkles Project has been in the works for almost 4 years. The first two were just pilot programs, working out the kinks. Then I started teaching the workshops about the project throughout the country. Just recently we launched our website (thewrinklesproject.com) and are currently focusing on having a Wrinkles Rep in every state by 2011. Our representatives receive training and resources to go into places like retirement communities and senior centers. They do workshops with the residents and train the directors on how to gather and share their stories. We even give the residents the option of archiving their story in book form."

Return tomorrow to learn more about Kim! By-the-way, Kim has agreed to give away 2 of her storytelling CDs to lucky readers of the blog. Make sure you comment on one of the posts this week to be entered into the drawing!

Incredible Woman #15 - Kim Weitkamp. Tuesday's Questions

I met Kim Weitkamp this fall at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival here in Orem, Utah. She told a story to the group I was with (Cherish Bound consultants). It was a wonderful story and the song she sang touched my soul. I was mesmerized. I'm very excited to introduce you to Kim Weitkamp this week. I hope you'll take the change to visit her website and blog - see everything on the sidebar. You can find her CDs for sale on her website - they would be a great gift for the holidays! I own the "Freckles, Fibs, and Family" CD. SO. GOOD. I even read that Taylor Swift said: "Kim Weitkamp is awesome!" So cool, huh? So, here we go...

KARA: "Kim, please tell us about yourself – hobbies, talents, likes, dislikes, family, etc. What makes you an Incredible Woman?"

KIM: "This is a loaded question! I am going to answer the last question first. What makes me an incredible woman? Learning from my incredible mistakes, being incredibly grateful, and working incredibly hard.

My hobbies are: Collecting antique books, watercolor painting, writing new material and songs, playing with my grandkids. I like food – friends - family... all at the same time. I hate being stagnant, I am a major multi-tasker."

KARA: "You’re a great storyteller – can you tell our readers what “storytelling” is? How did you get involved in storytelling?"

KIM: "I am actually considered a humorist and a storyteller. There are so many misconceptions with storytelling. People think that storytelling is reading books to kids. Nope, not quite. Think Bill Cosby meets Dave Berry meets Garrison Keillor. Bill Cosby is more of a storyteller than he is a comedian. Everything that he does is in story form and involves memories that he has. There are lots of different types of storytelling: historical, folk tales, humorous, personal, healing, etc. It is an amazing world. I actually used storytelling for 15 years in my work with youth. About 4 years ago I decided to take my telling in a different direction and headed out the door to become a traveling teller. I love it. I travel full time all over the country making people smile and think."

Please come back tomorrow and we'll continue this wonderful interview!

NEW INCREDIBLE WOMAN - TOMORROW

Tomorrow starts the feature on Kim Weitkamp! Check back so I can introduce you.

An important announcement...

I'm trying to get ahold of Danielle, who commented on November 11th on Quinn's post - YOU WON THE FREE BLOG DESIGN!!!! I have no way of getting ahold of Danielle, so Danielle - you've got one more week before I have to give away the blog design to someone else. Please email me at kara(dot)incrediblewomen(at)blogspot(dot)com.
Thanks!

Thanks to Natalie - and a few announcements...

Hello everyone -

I'm sorry that our new Incredible Woman feature is not up yet. I got hit with the worst flu of my life on Friday, and I haven't been able to move off of my bed since then. So, I want to let you know that I'll be featuring Kim Weitkamp, a national storyteller, starting on Tuesday and going through Saturday, hopefully.

Also, I'm sorry I didn't comment on Natalie's week - I really loved getting to know Natalie more and I hope you all enjoyed it too. I would normally do a description here of what I loved and learned, but I'm feeling sick again, so I better run.

The winner of the Dr. Pepper with Lime is Peppy, from Orem Utah. Peppy, call me and I'll figure out a way to get that 12 pack to you! 801-360-4666.

By-the-way, I'm excited to announce that the new design for our Incredible Women blog will be done next weekend and this blog will be transformed! I can't wait for you to see it. Here are a few hints of what it will look like: retro, Bewitched, Larry Tate, etc. :-)

See you all on Tuesday!

Incredible Woman #14 - Natalie Grant - Friday's questions

KARA: "What is the single most important thing you can accomplish in this life? How will you accomplish it?"

NATALIE: "The single most important thing I can accomplish in my life is to instill Self-worth in my children. If they can know how important they are and know their worth, they will be able to achieve true happiness. That is all I can hope for, that my children and their children can be happy. If my posterity can find true happiness, I truly will have accomplished something!"

KARA: "What is your definition of beauty? Can you share some of your beauty secrets with us?"

NATALIE: "As a little girl, I started being concerned with how I looked and noticing attention from people about how I looked. My wise father, sat me down and he said "Natalie, you are only as pretty as you are on the inside". He went on to explain, "it doesn't matter how beautiful you are on the outside if you aren't pretty on the inside, then you have nothing". This has stood out in my mind since I was a small child, and has stuck with me my whole life. My definition of beauty is that the most beautiful people are those that are as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside. Looks come and go but beauty within is timeless!"

Thanks Natalie - what an enjoyable interview!

Incredible Woman #14 - Natalie Grant - Thursday's questions

KARA: "What do you aspire to be?"

NATALIE: "Matthew McConaughey's wife!!! Just kidding (kind of)...
I hope this doesn't sound trite, but I want to be the best mom and grandma I can be. I stated before that my children are my world, they really are. I want them to know how much I love, respect and am so honored to be their mom. I want them to know I am always here for them no matter what. I will work the rest of my life to be a mom they can count on, to know I will never let them down. That is my aspiration - to be a mom worthy of my children!"

KARA: "Your oldest son and his wife are going to have a baby soon - and that means, you'll be a grandma! What do you think your job as a grandma is? What kind of Grandma will you be?"

NATALIE: "I AM GONNA BE A GRANDMA!!! Just when you start to wonder what your purpose is, children grown and out of the house, you get the most incredible news!!! You are going to be a grandma!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Chase and Brooke (who I consider MY daughter), are expecting, that makes me an expectant grandmother!!! This is the most exciting and uplifting news our family has had for a long time. I am so excited to be a grandma, I don't know how life can get any better than that. My grandbaby will be spoiled rotten, sorry Chase and Brooke, but that is what grandma's are for, it is our job! I think the only person that might come close to my excitement is Stefan, he told Chase and Brooke before he left on his mission that they better have a baby for him by the time he got back. I know Paige is up there preparing Chase and Brooke's little one as we speak. I will be the best grandma ever, second only to my mom, who was the very best grandma ever! Chase can attest to this as he and his Grandma Marrott were very close. My mom, Nancy, knew how to love her grandchildren and she loved with every fiber of her being, I can only try to be the kind of grandmother that she was!"

Tomorrow is the last day of the interview with Natalie - don't miss it! And make sure you leave a comment on the post in order to be entered into the drawing for that 12 pack of yummy Dr. Pepper!

Incredible Woman #14 - Natalie Grant - Wednesday's questions

KARA: "I know friends have played a big part in your life - how important is friendship? What do you do to be a good friend?"

NATALIE: "The importance of friendship is hard to define. I have been fortunate to have friends that are still with me from all the way back to grade school. As friends, we experience much of the same things in life. I have had friends lose parents with me, go through divorce with me, the illness of a spouse, motherhood. I even have friends who share the loss of a child with me. Friends have been there for me through some of the best and some of the worst times of my life. I love you all, and you know who you are - As far as me being a good friend, all I can do is try to be as good of a friend as my friends have been to me. I think it is an ongoing process and I work at it everyday. I can't imagine how sad my life would be without the friends that have touched my life. Thank you!"

KARA: "You are the mom of an LDS missionary - what kind of impact has this had on your life?"

NATALIE: "YES I AM!!! Stefan is currently serving a mission. It has been wonderful for our family to have him out of the house... just kidding!!! We tease him, because he causes us all so much grief. Stefan's decision to go on a mission was a huge turning point for our family. I also believe that this is the best decision Stefan has made for himself so far in his life. I am happy for him, he is moving forward in his life, he is serving people and living a life of selflessness - being dedicated to service for 2 years. I must admit I am a little jealous, what an incredible opportunity to forget about yourself and focus on the happiness of others. This has impacted my life in ways I am still discovering. I feel very close to him, Chase and I can even admit that we miss him...hee,hee (sorry, I can't help it). It was hard to think of him going away, after losing Paige, I just wanted to keep my family all together close at hand. I was so worried I would lose him too. I have been blessed with peace of mind, I know he is safe and I can't think of a better place for him to be at this time in his life. We do love you Stefan and we miss you, even if none of us cried when you left. Hee,hee!"

Incredible Woman #14 - Natalie Grant - Tuesday's questions

KARA: "What is one of your most inspiring memories?"

NATALIE: "One of the most inspiring memories I have is that of my family, friends and neighbors when we lost Paige. I will never forget the love that was shown to our family. So many people were touched by the life of our little princess, and everyone of them came to our family to support us through such a hard time. There were pink ribbons put on every plant in our yard when we returned from California. Friends flew out to be with me, friends that were already there took care of me and Stefan until Chase, Brooke and Morgan could arrive. People got together and made photo albums, quilts, you name it we were taken care of. Women in my ward stayed with me, made our family food and just were always around for support. Family was a constant, always here taking care of us and showing so much love. I find this inspiring because of the love of Mankind. There are so many wonderful loving people out there. So often all we see or hear of is the bad in the world, I was reminded about all of the good and there is much more good than bad!"

KARA: "I know you've been through many trials - your husband had cancer, you went through a divorce, and you lost a beautiful child. What lessons have you learned from your trials? How have you been able to make it through the trials you've had?"

NATALIE: "What have I learned? The biggest thing I have learned is that when you are at the bottom of your ladder and the very breath you breathe feels as though it has been knocked out of you. When you are so numb you wonder if you will ever feel again and when your world feels like it has come to an end and you have no reason to live. You will see that, the sun still comes up everyday, people go on living and laughing. You want to yell at them "how dare you, my life is over", and then you realize that life does goes on. The world keeps turning even though you feel like yours has stopped. You have to dig deep and find the strength to get out of bed, to see that sun rise, to breath that air and to live. I have learned that no one experiences this life without trials, we are here to learn and help each other and live the best life we can! (some days are easier than others...)

You asked how I have made it through these trials... I pray A LOT!!! I am making it through because of having a loving Heavenly Father that is always there when I need to pray. Being blessed with incredible parents that gave me words of wisdom. True friends, loving family and the best and most caring children a mom could ever hope for. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for my children, they are my world!!!"

Tomorrow we'll ask Natalie about friendship and about her missionary son!

Incredible Woman #14 - Natalie Grant

I'm thrilled to be able to introduce a neighbor of mine - Natalie Grant. When I first thought of this blog, and made a tentative list of women I wanted to feature, Natalie was on that list. She has had some really rough times during her life, but is an incredible woman because of the strength she has gained through trial. I'm sure you'll love her. Join us each day this week for 2 questions of the interview.

KARA: "Tell us about yourself - hobbies, talents, likes, dislikes, etc. What makes you happy? What makes you an Incredible Woman?"

NATALIE: "My name is Natalie, and I was born on May 28th to Joe and Nancy Marrott. They were the most incredible parents ever. I am the youngest of 4 children and the only girl. Life growing up was great, I was the only girl and gave my brothers a run for their money. I got married at 19 and started my own family at 20. I have three children, Chase, Stefan and Paige. Growing up I was very active in gymnastics and dance. I loved to sing and perform and enjoyed musical theatre. School was always a pleasure for me, I loved being around friends and people in general. As I have matured, I still enjoy being active, love the outdoors and all sports. I would say I love to watch football the best though. I enjoy social settings but I think what makes me the most happy is getting to be with my family. When I can spend time with my boys and my brothers, I feel like nothing can be better. Although, when I get to travel with my kids it is the best time for me and it is the best way to make lasting memories! I would say my dislikes are mean spirited people. I don't understand why people can be so hurtful to others. Life is too short to have ill-feelings!
What makes me an incredible woman? Just being a woman...I think every woman is incredible!!!"

KARA: "Tell us about your children - describe each one and tell us how knowing each one has changed your life."

NATALIE: "Oh, twist my arm, you want me to tell you about my children...isn't that a mother's favorite topic?!!! Well needless to say, I am more than happy to tell you about my children. My kids are the greatest love in my life. After having children I realized a love I never could even comprehend before.
My oldest - is my son Chase... He was such an incredible joy, I fell head over heels for this little guy. He was such a good baby from the moment he was born and was such a beautiful baby. I had so much fun with Chase, I love being his mom. Chase was always by my side, he was so funny and sweet and way smart. As he grew into a little boy, he just became more of a joy, he was truly the perfect child, I thought I was the best mom in the world. I figured he was such a good kid because I was such a good mom... Well I was humbled soon (when his brother was born). But, Chase has grown into an exceptional man. He is the man of our house, and has felt this responsibility from a young age. He was 5 years old when his father was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease. Chase decided that he had to take care of us, and has done so ever since. I love my Chase so much, he grew up so fast. Chase was fortunate enough to marry a beautiful woman, Brooke, and they have an incredible friendship and love. Chase is a brillant student and is wise beyond his years. I don't know what I would do without this wonderful son, thanks for being my boy Chiefy!

Next - is my son Stefan... he is the child that humbled me. After having Chase, I guess Heavenly Father decided I needed a challenge...hence Stefan was born. Stefan was trouble from the moment he was born, peeing on the Doctor, Nurse and his Nanna when he came out, and he has kept us laughing and stressed out ever since. When I was pregnant with Stefan I worried, how could I love another child as much as I loved Chase. Chase and I were so close I didn't think I had enough love for another child. But then this little guy came into our family and there was so much love. Again, I was shocked at the love of a child. Stefan has always been our wild child, and he adored his brother, wanted to be just like him. Because there were 4 years between my boys, I was fortunate to really be able to spend one on one time with my boys. We had so much fun hanging out! Stefan always had me laughing and always kept me on my toes. He was a toe head and had curls like no other, he hated them and would always tell the hairstylist to cut off his curls!!! He has always made us laugh with his contagious smile and love for life! Stefan has a different role in our family, he is the comic relief. He keeps us in check about finding the lighter side in life. He wears his emotion on his sleeve and has a very tender heart!

Last - is my daughter Paige... Paige Amelia, our little girl. Paige was our angel baby, a miracle. We were unable to have children after my husband's cancer. 12 years went by and low and behold we were pregnant! Chase was 16, Stefan 12 and we were going to have a baby...it was very exciting! Paige was probably my most anticipated birth, I was older and a bit of a high risk, and she was a girl! Her big brothers were so excited, a little shocked but excited. What can I say about our Paige girl? She brought light into our lives, she brought hope and so much love! Because the boys were so much older, I got to spend one on one time with her as well. What a blessing, I really got to play and know my little ones, we were best buds. Paige and I were best friends, we spent so much time together, and I am so grateful for that now. She was a very good baby and like her brothers she had a mind of her own. I believe Paige's role in our family was that of peacemaker. She always had a smile and hugs and kisses for her brothers. She adored her brothers and they her, as big brothers though, they thought she was spoiled and that the world revolved around her...which it did...and if they could remember what their lives were like at that age, they would know that they were the same. Paige was a blessing from heaven, a true angel on earth....we all knew she was special, but we didn't realize how special. Paige returned to her Heavenly Father in September 2007 after only 5 short years on this earth. We all miss her terribly but know she has prepared a way for us and we all want to be with her again some day and look forward to that special day!"

Check back tomorrow for more about Natalie.

THANKS to Quinn - Incredible Woman #13

I'm really happy that Quinn said yes to our interview for this week. I hope you could tell through her answers, what kind of person she is. She is so nice! I learned lots from her this week and I hope you did as well.

Today, I'll be updating the blog for our next Incredible Woman - Natalie Grant. Her interview starts on Monday. I really look forward to it.

THE WINNER OF QUINN'S BLOG DESIGN IS DANIELLE - WHO COMMENTED ON NOVEMBER 11TH. I have no information on Danielle, so hopefully she'll read this and get back to me. Danielle - CONGRATULATIONS!!!! YOU ARE A LUCKY GIRL! Please email me at kara(dot)incrediblewomen(at)gmail.com ASAP!

Also, some of you expressed an interest in blog design, so make sure you check out Quinn's website (click here to go straight to Quinn's designs). Sometime next week, I'll try to post some of the free blog design sites so you can at least learn a little bit about them.

Please come back tomorrow and visit!

Incredible Woman #13 - Quinn Curtis - Friday's Questions

KARA: "What inspires you - and HOW does it inspire you?"
QUINN: "Creativity inspires me. I love to surround myself with creative people. Creative energy is exciting and rejuvenating. We were all divinely created by the most creative being in the universe. His creative work - nature, people, life opportunities, and more - inspires me the most to creatively live to my full potential."

KARA: "Will you tell us your beauty secrets?
QUINN: "My beauty secret is eyelash extensions. They are awesome! Your eyelashes always look long and gorgeous without any mascara."

KARA: "Any health tips?"
QUINN: "I'm a HUGE fan of "The Biggest Loser" and have recently discovered that trainer Jillian has an awesome website program to lose weight and be healthy. From the meal plans, to the exercise routines that I can do at home, JillianMichaels.com is rocking my world right now."

KARA: "What is your guilty pleasure?"
QUINN: "Double Fudge Brownie ice cream... oh my goodness, I love that stuff.

KARA: "If you had time all to yourself, what would you do?"
QUINN: "Relax in the bath with a really great book."

Oh man, so would I!! Tub/book = the sweet life. *sigh* I'll be announcing the winner of the give-away tomorrow night, so this is your last chance to enter the drawing!

Incredible Woman #13 - Quinn Curtis - Thursday's Questions

KARA: "Nowadays, it seems like lots of moms have to work outside of the home to make ends meet. Can you give advice to young moms about juggling family, a career, your religious responsibilities, and everything else?"
QUINN: "Always pay close attention to where your heart is. Regardless of how busy your day is, MAKE time to be fully present in your childrens' lives. All other responsibilities fall below that. The role of mother is not easily replaced; you are irreplaceable in your childrens' eyes. They need you. Do your best to keep everything running smoothly on all fronts, but don't guilt yourself away from enjoying life."

KARA: "You've said that you do blog design... tell us a little bit about that."
QUINN: "I've been doing graphic design for awhile, mainly just for fun or for my own businesses. I got the idea not that long ago to offer that service for hire. It's been a LOT of fun sharing my skills, especially to beautify blogs. I believe I have a unique style that isn't seen much in the "blog design" world. I'm also proud to offer many different options so that customers can be very choosy to select exactly what they need."

If you haven't already visited Quinn's new website that offers her blog design packages... check it out now - Created By Chics.com. And don't forget - Quinn is giving away a free blog design package - to enter, just comment on a post this week - telling us about your blog or blog idea and why you should win! Tomorrow we finish our interview with Quinn - don't miss it!

Incredible Woman #13 - Quinn Curtis - Wednesday's Questions

KARA: "What is the hardest thing you've had to do/go through? And how did you make it through that tough time?"
QUINN: "The past few years have been the hardest in my life. It all started when my mother-in-law ended up in the ICU and nearly lost her life. Meanwhile, we took my father-in-law in and cared for him. We knew he was having memory loss trouble, but after living with us, we knew it was much worse than anyone had thought. We took him to specialists and he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. He's very young - just turned 56 this year - and in the past year has had to be moved to a full-time care facility as his illness has progressed to the point that they give him only 6 months more to live. Amid caring for my father-in-law, my mother-in-law recovered somewhat and went to live with her parents to continue her recovery. After a year of that, however, she died tragically and unexpectedly. And of course when it rains, it pours. While all of this family stress and heartache was happening, we were remodeling our home and having our children. It's been a really rocky journey and I am often amazed that we've already made it as far as we have amidst everything in our path. I know the only way is that we've put our trust in God and let Him lead us and comfort us. I know He's carried us many times and sent His angels to our aid. He is the only reason we've made it through."

KARA: "What is your favorite thing to do with your husband - how do you spend quality time together?"
QUINN: "I love laughing with my husband. There isn't anyone that can make me laugh as hard as he can. I also love relaxing with him, either by reading or watching movies or our favorite show, "The Office." We're working to have a set date night each week, though, since quality time is often rare for us and we want to improve."

Come back tomorrow and learn more about Quinn...

Incredible Woman #13 - Quinn Curtis - Tuesday's Questions

KARA: "How do you define success?"
QUINN: "Success is being true to yourself and letting your light shine in that truth. Success doesn't mean lots of money or perfect children. Success is defined by inner peace and living genuinely. I believe that if we live this way, magnificent things are manifest in our life and through us to the world. Success means loving life, no matter what the circumstances."

KARA: "I'm fascinated by the business you run. Can you tell us about that business and the ideas behind it?"
QUINN: "It's hard for me to just pinpoint one business; I technically have three. My businesses are CreatedByMom.com, LimelightFoodPhotography.com and CreatedByChicks.com. Yes, I know it's completely crazy and I'm currently in the process of downsizing. CreatedByMom.com is a boutique for all products created by moms. LimelightFoodPhotography.com is my food photography business. I mostly shoot for Wasatch Woman Magazine, Utah Business Magazine and various chefs who hire me to photograph their food. CreatedByChicks.com is my guilty pleasure right now. It's fairly new and I LOVE it. I highlight creative chicks and what they're creating. It's also my home-base for my graphic design business. I offer blog design, business card design and various other design services. It's been a TON of fun to create."

Now is probably a good time to let you know about our give-away for this week... Quinn has offered to give away a free blog design!!!! The "Petite Customization" blog package includes a custom header and ad button and retails for $175. I'm so excited about this - I really hope that any of our readers who want a customized design for their blogs will enter to win this give-away. And if you don't blog... well, then, START! There is no better time, and starting with a professionally designed blog would be SWEET, don't you think?

TO ENTER... just comment on one of the posts during this week and tell us what your blog or blog idea is and why you'd like to win! GOOD LUCK!!!

Incredible Woman #13 - Quinn Curtis - Monday's Questions

This week I'll be featuring a woman I met this summer at a blogging conference. I immediately liked her - she is so personable. Her name is Quinn Curtis. She is an artist, designer, and photographer. She is the founder of Created By Mom, which is a online boutique where moms who use their creativity and talents to create things, can sell them. She just started a new website business called Created By Chicks - where she showcases her designs, along with other womens' creative endeavors. In her words... "It’s a “check out these chicks” and “hire me if you like my style” kind of place." Visit each of these websites to be inspired!

Here are the first two questions in our interview...

KARA: "Can you tell us all about yourself? What makes you an Incredible Woman?"
QUINN: "The most all-inclusive term I can use to describe myself is that I am an artist. I live artistically and value self-expression and the unique beauty and light found within everyone. I love to paint with my children. We paint together at least once or twice a week. I love design, especially graphic design, and am a food photographer. While I love food and photographing it, I'm not much of a chef. I especially can't bake worth a dime. I adore fresh flowers, but have a black thumb: I can't keep them alive. To unwind (& appreciate my role as a mother more) I scrapbook digitally on my computer. I'm also an avid reader. What makes me an incredible woman? Tough question!!! Hmmm... I think anyone who knows my family thinks it's incredible that I survive each day: my three children are ages 3, 2 and 1. To top that all off, my husband and I are pursuing foster/adoption right now as we feel there's someone meant to come to our family through that route. I don't think these things are so incredible; it's just real life to me. I love having my life so full of what matters most: family."

KARA: "Describe each member of your family and tell us what you appreciate about each one."
QUINN: "My husband steals my heart every day. I wonder every day how I got so lucky to be loved by him. He is such an incredible support, always seeking my happiness. He's an incredible father, also. He's the reason why my life is so full and blessed. He's so firm in his faith and inspires me every day to be a better person. My children are my jewels. Tate, my oldest (3 - almost 4 - y/o), is such a wonderful, kind-hearted brother to his younger sisters. He's exactly the kind of older brother I always wished I had when I was young. Claire (2.5 y/o) has a tender soul and helps me to remember to pause and enjoy the beauty in our day together. Norah (17 months old) is my shadow. I appreciate her unconditional love for me; it's mind-boggling. I appreciate all my children for how they keep me grounded and keep me laughing. My life is so full of wonderful people to love."

Please check back tomorrow as we continue this interview!

I'm really looking forward to sharing my interview with Quinn Curtis - this week's Incredible Woman! Come back tomorrow - and tell all of your friends about the blog. I love sharing these wonderful women with so many of you. I hope the interviews we've had so far have inspired you - and helped you to realize how incredible you are too!

See you tomorrow!

Incredible Woman #12 - Betty Pearson. Friday's question...

Ok, I don't know what's wrong with me. I left on a trip this morning and thought it was Saturday, so I didn't post Betty's last two interview questions! Silly me. So, here are the final questions....

KARA: "If you had a day to yourself, what would you do?"
BETTY: "A day to myself? Wow! How would it be? I'm afraid I would cram it full of fun things. Certainly a long bike ride. Then maybe watch a movie. I've always wanted to go on a train ride. It would be fun to go in the mountains near our home and go fishing. Sit and read a book. If no money was a problem, well, then I would order a large bouquet of flowers (I love fresh flowers--even plant them in my veggie garden!). I would eat chocolate ice cream and look at my flowers. I would sit on top of a mountain and enjoy the beautiful view. I would get my hair done and have a manicure and a pedicure. I would hire a cook and enjoy a wonderful feast. And of course, travel someplace fun with my husband.

Can I fit that in one day? Pretty please?" :-)

KARA: "Betty, will share some of your beauty and health secrets with us?"
BETTY: "I love exercising in the form of bike riding or walking. When my kids were young, I always took them with me on walks. When we have cold weather, I dance inside to my favorite dancing music--oldies, 80's, polka's, whatever works. I also do weight lifting in the cold months. Gotta keep those bones and muscles in good shape.

I always try to eat healthy. I threw out bad oils long ago (partially hydrogenated oils) and eat only real butter, olive oil, and coconut oil. I eat fresh salads, veggies, homemade soups, etc. Since my diet is pretty restricted anyway, I must eat healthy things. It's a good thing I love veggies and proteins. I eat limited fruits because of my diabetes. I have backyard chickens that are pasture-fed (3x the amount of B12 in their eggs,etc.). I am a Chapter Leader for the Weston A. Price foundation (www.westonaprice.org). I follow a traditional diet from REAL food. Real eggs, butter, whole raw milk, raw cheese, grass-fed meats, and organic veggies--preferably from my own garden. The way my parents and ancestors were raised. I also prepare homemade Kefir for my family. I am going to learn how to make my own naturally fermented sauerkraut, Kim-chee, and beet kvass.

I try to get a good night of sleep. Almost impossible when you have teens out late at night sometimes."

KARA: "Please share your advice for women."
BETTY: "Enjoy your life! Be sure to do things that you love. If you don't have a hobby, find one! Learn to do something new every year. Find time to express yourself."

Again, thanks to Betty for her wonderful interview this week. I forgot to post this cool thing - as I was walking through Costco last week, I saw a Christmas cookbook called The Worldwide Ward Christmas Cookbook. I stopped to look at it - because I always stop in the book section of Costco, it's a bad habit I have - and as I was flipping through the book, who's recipe do you think I came across??!!! That's right - Betty's! Isn't that weird that I found it right before I featured her on Incredible Women?! I emailed her when I got home and asked her what the recipe was for and she emailed me the following...

"I submitted the recipe for Betty's Garden Tomato Soup. I actually named it Harvest Garden Tomato soup, and the author changed the title. And in the ingredients list, she has down that I use frozen chopped onions. NOT! Onions do not freeze very well. :-) But that is ok. It was fun seeing it in the cookbook. Many of the submitters are Missionary and Military moms in my groups."


Go ahead and click on the picture of the book to buy the book on DeseretBook.com.

One more thing... Betty's husband, Karl, emailed me a picture of their entire family and for some reason, I couldn't figure out how to open it. I finally asked my son, who immediately opened it for me (grrrr!!!) and so I've replaced their slideshow with the family picture for this last day. Make sure you take a peak. :-)

Thanks to Incredible Woman #12 - Betty Pearson

Thanks goes to Betty for allowing me to feature her this week on Incredible Women! It was so fun getting to know Betty - someone who has had such an impact on my life in the last 2 years. I'm really grateful for her. What did I learn this week from Betty? Two things stand out -
1. Fill your time with lots of good stuff/enjoy your life.
2. SERVE, SERVE, SERVE!

I hope you'll all join us next week as I introduce one of the wonderful bloggers I was introduced to this summer - Quinn Curtis, of Created By Mom.

Have a great weekend!

Incredible Woman #12 - Betty Pearson. Thursday's question...

KARA: "Tell us about the email lists you run. They are amazing!
BETTY: "I started my first email list in 1995 for stay-at-home moms. I dislike gabbing on the phone, so this was a fun way to share and socialize through emails.

The next group I started was for moms who home schooled. It is an international group. We support one another, encourage, help, are resources and sounding boards. Back in the old days of home schooling, most people had never heard of it, and there was no curriculum for homes. It was very challenging. Karl and I wrote a book on how to home school (before the internet arrived). And I was the state convention chairman for a few years, planning, organizing, and making sure it ran smoothly. We had 80 plus workshops, over 100 commercial exhibitors, and as many as 2800 attendees.

I started my missionary mom's email groups in 1997, a year before my first two children served their missions. I had a lot of questions about missions and how to prepare for them. We were new in our area, and I didn't know anyone who had sent out missionaries except for my older sister, who lived in Idaho Falls. The thought came to me, "Why not start a missionary mom email group". I already had other email groups, so Karl set it up for me, and that was the beginning.

In those days we lumped everyone into the same groups. I had 8 different general Missionary Mom email groups. Then we decided to separate them into geographical areas. Now we have 88 separate emails groups for moms of missionaries.

We do have some dads in the groups, too. And not everyone is LDS. We welcome those not of our faith who have sons or daughters serving an LDS mission, or those who have parents serving missions.

We also have email groups for those who have service missionaries, and those who are ward missionaries, and those who have missionaries who return home earlier than expected.

We have three groups for those in the Military: Wives, and Moms.

And we have email groups for those that are diabetics, and Karl has a political group.

The most challenging things about running these groups is keeping up with the day-to-day list work, such as adding new subscribers, changing email addresses, putting people on no-mail for vacations, etc. and solving email problems, as well as answering questions and helping individuals with other issues.

The next most challenging is helping people understand how an email group works. Not all subscribers know the difference between email and websites. Many of the moms get an email address right before their son or daughter leaves on a mission, and have no clue how to use email.

The other challenge is making sure people understand email list rules and etiquette, and occasionally stepping in and halting a topic run amok or stopping a flame war, which is rare, thank goodness!

About every 6 months I analyze how each group is doing. Too much chatting? Too little chatting? Then, if needed, I divide a group so that everyone isn't overloaded with emails in their inboxes. It takes a lot of time to separate an email group. It is a full-time job for about 3-4 days just to make sure it happens correctly.

Running email groups and maintaining our websites is a lot of work, but we have loved doing it. It truly is a service that benefits many, including ourselves! We have made lifetime friends. Every year we have get-togethers for some of our groups, so it is fun to meet people in person. Members come from all over the world. Last year we met Ann from Israel. I think that is the furthest someone has come."

KARA: "Betty, tell us what your most important accomplishment is."
BETTY: "I suppose to me, it has been raising a family. Still doing it. :-) I love it. As far as more worldly things, well, I've been able to accomplish many other things. Becoming an excellent Cellist. "Founding an organization called, Utah Valley Citizens for Decency" in the 1980s before there was an internet. We were able to travel to Denver to attend a national conference about how pornography led to violent crimes such as rape, and sexual abuse of children. We were able to get our 7-11 stores to remove magazines that were objectionable, and videos from stores in our county.

I already mentioned helping many people learn how to home school. That was so fun to do!

And now, Karl and I are helping people learn how to do family history and genealogical research.

But, like I said, being a mom and a wife and having a home, a refuge from the world, has been my greatest accomplishment. My kids aren't perfect, but that is why we are moms forever! :-)"
________________________________________________
I've really enjoyed getting to know Betty this week. Tomorrow is our last day for Betty's feature. I hope everyone will come back and leave a comment for Betty.

Incredible Woman #12 - Betty Pearson. Wednesday's question...

KARA: "What kinds of trials have you been through? How have you dealt with those trials?"
BETTY: "Trials. UGH. Sure wish we didn't have any. My husband has had several surgeries, and while I was pregnant with babies, that was a difficult thing to deal with. But you really can't avoid some things that come along, so we just put one foot in front of the other, and live day to day when life gets tough.

My husband has been out of work for about 16 months, and the ups and downs of finding work is really tough. We just have faith and hope that things will work out and he'll get a job soon.

I suppose health issues have been a big part of my adult life, for both my husband and I. I have feet that hurt, and if I stand too long, it becomes very painful. That is probably why I don't enjoy cooking...

Diagnosed with Gestational diabetes, and now full-blown insulin dependent diabetic. Blah! I also have asthma, which is a pain, and I am Celiac, so everything I cook/eat must be gluten-free. I have a few other things that are a pain, but won't bore you with details.

Karl has had 3 corneal transplants, surgeries, and has a bleeding disorder called Von Willebrands which gives him painful arthritis.

And that is enough. :-) Just being a parent, sometimes, is a trial! haha!"

KARA: "Describe a typical day in your household."

BETTY: "My mom wore house dresses, curlers, and put on makeup when she was going to go out the door. I am the opposite. I need to be showered, dressed, throw on makeup, do hair the fastest way possible (and still look decent) and get to work as soon as possible.

I used to have naturally curly hair. It tragically went away after the birth of my firstborn. It was so hard for me to learn how to coordinate using a curling iron and a hair dryer in front of a mirror!

After a quick breakfast, I do my email list work. It can take 3-4 hours, or 2-3, or 8 hours, depending upon what is in my inbox.

My youngest is home schooled. Oh, by the way, I home schooled all of my children from birth to college. Actually, they all attended public schools part-time starting in 9th grade. Since my youngest is 16, he goes to school one full day, and part of the next day.

So, before my kids grew up, a typical day for me was spent home schooling. But now that they are older, I do other things. :-)

During gardening season, I work in the garden until noon. Then I shower, and start email list work, and laundry, dishes, vacuuming, and mopping. When I have a missionary out serving, I write part of a letter to him/her each day. My letters are detailed news of family and community and thoughts.

I hate running errands and shopping. Oh, I should have put that in things that I hate! Gosh, I can't be perfect! :-) Shopping is the dreaded headache for me.

While Karl is out of work, besides doing contract work online, or odd jobs here and there, he runs my errands and does most of the shopping. Hallelujah!!

Three nights of the week Karl and I are training people on how to do their family history and genealogy. Monday evenings are relaxing for us, and Fridays and Saturdays we babysit grandkids, go on a bike ride (which I love to do) or visit parents.

The 2nd Sunday of each month we have a big family gathering with all of our children. We have dinner and a short family home evening, and celebrate the Birthdays that are that month.

Other Sunday Evenings we have a family night with our children living in the home, and if the weather is good, the entire family will go for a walk together.

I don't suppose any of our days are typical! But I tried. :-)"
_________________________________________________________________________________

Tomorrow we'll talk to Betty about her most important accomplishment, and about those incredible email lists that she runs. See you all then!

Incredible Woman #12 - Betty Pearson. Tuesday's question...

KARA: "Betty, what is your definition of a hero? Do you have any heroes?"
BETTY: "My definition of a hero? My definition is one who is exemplary in action and thought, both in public and private, who has integrity and takes the high road. Someone who cares about the people around them, and chooses to make a difference in the lives of others.

My heroes were my grandmothers. They have now passed on, but they lived full lives in spite of hardships. They were exemplary and strong women. They left a wonderful legacy of hard work, compassionate caring in spite of difficult lives.

My father's mother left her homeland of Germany and came to Utah with her husband and children. She converted to our faith, gave up riches to follow a path that changed her life forever.

My mother's mother was widowed young, and managed to care for 10 children, ages 18-6 years of age. She stayed a widow, supporting her family by selling Avon, walking door to door, for 44 years. She had to sell the family car to help pay debts. She had a wonderful sense of humor."

KARA: "What inspires you?"
BETTY: "MUSIC! Music touches my heart and soul! I can't live without music. I also love beautiful scenery. As a family, we love to travel, and we love our majestic mountains, lakes and streams, and our colorful, rocky national parks.

I am also inspired by religious thoughts, feelings and talks from my church leaders, and from reading the scriptures. I'd be a dry well without them."

Please come back tomorrow as we continue the interview with Betty. Please let others know about our blog - word of mouth is the best way to help it grow. By-the-way, today we had record visits - over 700! I'm stunned! Imagine if each one would have signed up as a follower. Wow. It boggles the mind. If any of you are enjoying this blog, and would like to continue to read about Incredible Women, please sign up to follow the blog - it doesn't take long, and is really no big deal, but it helps me to know who my audience is.

Thanks!

Incredible Woman #12 - Betty Pearson. Monday's question...

This week I'd like to introduce Betty Pearson. I have met Betty only once, and she probably doesn't remember me. :-) But, she has made a big impact on my life in the last 2-3 years. My son, Grant, served an LDS mission to Fukuoka, Japan from February of 2007 to March of 2009. While he was serving there, I stumbled across an email list for the moms of LDS missionaries in Japan. I joined the list, and I can't tell you how much it helped me through those 2 years. I met many wonderful people on the list, and got lots of help. Betty and her husband are the two that run that list. And I found out that they run TONS of them - list for moms of missionaries from all over the world!!!! And they do it all for free. What an incredible service. Don't you think? So, now that you know why I'm featuring Betty.... here are the first two questions in our interview.

KARA: " Please tell us about yourself... likes, dislikes, hobbies, talents, etc. What makes you an Incredible Woman?"
BETTY: "I have so many hobbies and interests, and not enough time to do them all! I love to go bicycling when the weather permits. My husband and I ride on bike trails all over our area. It's fun, and I miss it very much when the snow comes and prevents us from getting out. I love to knit/crochet. I am a beginning knitter. I taught myself how to crochet. I like doing things with my hands, and find it hard to completely sit still or waste a minute of my time. I play the cello, and that is how I met my husband, Karl. He plays the oboe. We met in an orchestra pit for a musical. He proposed on our 3rd date, and we've been married for nearly 32 years. I also teach music lessons. I love gardening. We grew a very large garden this year. Each year we try to grow something new. This year it was Butternut squash, and I've decided that it is so good we will plant it again next year. I grow my most of my veggie plants from seed. The only space I have is our living room window, so my husband set up grow lights in the bay, and my plants thrived. :-) I learned how to do home bottling last year. This past year I learned to bottle salsa, spaghetti sauce, and 3-bean salad. Last year I learned how to bottle fruit. I also dehydrate everything in sight. :-) Right now I am drying apples, and in a couple of days I'm going to learn how to bottle applesauce. I love to learn, and history is my favorite subject. Math is my least favorite. I am really interested in the history of England right now, and am searching for a good book. Know of any? I also love to learn about nutrition and health. Another thing I found a love for is family history and genealogy research. Karl and I train others in our area (Stake) on how to do it. Karl is the computer expert, and I am the research expert. Any spare minute I get, I am doing research on the computer. I find it fascinating. It has been fun to use modern technology to see places where I most likely will never visit. I google earthed (is that the right way to say it?) where my father was born and raised in Germany. I looked in Cornwall, England, where some of my ancestors drowned in a river. I found the street that they lived on. I love music! Of course I have my favorite classical music, but love musicals of all kinds, and have played in the orchestra pit in many community theaters. I also love to read. I like all kinds of fiction/non-fiction. Right now I am reading the Percy Jackson series. I especially like fiction for youth. I think it is time to read the Anne of Green Gables series again. I've only read them once many years ago. I have a list of books I want to read. I also like to watch movies. Friday or Saturday night is movie night! My dislikes are... time wasters. I sometimes hate the thought of needing to sleep at night. Just think of all that could be done when one didn't need to sleep! Of course, my family members would still need to sleep, or how else could I ever "catch up" on things if there is twice as much to do? I just wish I had some secret potion I could take that would keep me youthful and rested, and let me get more things done by not needing to sleep. Although I love food, especially chocolate, buttery popcorn and ice cream, many times I am not in the mood to cook. I love reading and collecting cookbooks, but because of my restricted diet, cooking just isn't fun anymore. My youngest son LOVES cooking, so sometimes we work out a deal. He will cook dinner if I do the dishes. I love it! I heartily dislike spiders and many other creepy crawlies. I love spring, but hate cold winter nights. I do not like pettiness, nor gossip. Well, that's about all I can think of.

What makes me an Incredible Woman? Gosh, I don't know how to answer that one. I consider myself a normal woman, but a busy one because I choose to be busy. Does that make sense? There are many incredible people who have a lot of incredible talents."

KARA: "What is one word to describe your family - and one word to describe each of your children?"
BETTY: "Only one word to describe our family? Oh boy, that is tough. Crazy/never boring. How is that? haha!

One word about each of my children that I love? That is tough because there are many things about each one of them that I love.

My family: I have to put down more than one word about my husband.
Karl is a wonderful man. He is absolutely awesome. He is so willing to help others. He has a dry sense of humor and is never boring. He can do anything he sets his mind to doing. He is talented, a genius, a fun dad. A genuinely good guy.

Lisa, age 31. Married, mother of two darling girls. Compassionate and caring.

Erik, age 29. Married with one daughter and another girl expected in January. Has a great sense of humor.

Andrea, age 27. Single and college graduate, teaching orchestra. Friendly.

Glenn, age 25. Married and has a little boy. A hard worker.

Daniel, age 23. Mischievous/tease.

Michael, age 19. A quiet thinker.

Josh, age 16. A tender heart."

Wow, I'm impressed. It's not easy to describe your husband and children with so few words. Thanks to Betty for trying! Tomorrow the interview continues. And, as I've mentioned before... if you have anyone to nominate for Incredible Women, please email me at kara(dot)incrediblewomen(at)gmail(dot)com.