Monday Night we hosted a great birthday party for our friend “Hat Lady” Susanne Forbes Dicker.
Thank you to Mike Elliot and Louise Cantrell for sharing their stories to our many guests.
Susanne took home our Aristocrat Chest filled with mementos brought by each of her friends.
Hope to see you all again soon!
Save a Life, Leave a Legacy, Become a Life Chest Lifer!
The story of Detroit shown through street photography is open at the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Mardigian Library. This exhibit will allow people to go beyond just the photos of Detroit in ruins that are seen the most now.
Check Out:
“Street photography exhibit ‘CardioVista’ shows the many sides of Detroit”
(To view the article, please click the above link.)
Check out this very interesting article about using fine art to raise awareness and get vaccines to people all over the world.
Bill Gates always seems to have interesting and thought provoking ways to raise awareness for his philanthropic causes.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2015/01/08/375598624/why-bill-gates-is-commissioning-fine-art
The Green Beret Foundation created a series of videos about “Everyday Heroes in the Special Forces Community”. The videos share the story of these heroes’ military service and their work in their communities as they come home from war.
This is Duane and Louise Cantrell’s Story –
Louise is a constant inspiration to all of us here at The Life Chest, she started the Dancing Angels Foundation to honor her beautiful daughters who had a love and passion for dance.
On March 6, 2012 a tragic fire took her family home in Hope Mills, NC. In this fire Louise lost her husband and best friend Duane and her two daughters Isabella and Nathalia.
“I had to literally figure out how to start my life again. I could not crawl into a hole and give up. I created the Dancing Angels Foundation for two reasons. As a parent who has lost her children, my biggest fear is that they will be forgotten. So this foundation will honor and perpetuate their memory. They loved to dance. Anywhere they heard music they were dancing. Secondly, I want to help a child who shares the same love and passion for dance as my girls did to continue to dance. It is the best way I know how to honor my dancing angels and help others. It is a bittersweet endeavor, but one that I need to do for myself, my daughters, and any child that has a love of dance.”
Thank you for sharing your story Louise, your foundation is changing the lives of so many young girls and you are truly an unbelievably caring and uplifting person.
What can you achieve in 68 Days? Anything!
Art Van has created the 68-Day Challenge to make 2015 your best year yet.
Get ready to “INSPIRE” in 2015 with a Personal Plan of Action!
The Life Chest is taking on the 68-Day Challenge:
Through 6 phases from January 4 to March 11 our Life Chest Team will tackle each of our individual goals separately but have vowed to support each other along the way.
Taking control, having a plan and staying focused is key, we have made a commitment to help each other attain what we want most out of this challenge, and no one will be left behind!
Our team consists of 5 very different women, embracing our individuality we are all taking on the challenge in a very different manner; here are the challenges we are facing:
I love the fine arts. I even majored in Art History in college! Unfortunately my love of art and the time I have to spend on it has diverged since graduation, so my 68-day challenge for myself is to read at least one fine arts article a day. Whether it is on a new artist or an exciting upcoming installation, I plan on immersing myself in the fine arts world again!
MY WRITE, WINE, WALK COMMITMENT
My “One A Day” — WRITE
Correspond to a different friend each day. Not, an email but a beautiful handwritten note. I love to write but have gotten away from it and rely solely on technology to communicate.
My “None A Day” — WINE
Give up wine to reduce those liquid calories, excess sugar, and keep a clear mind. I love fine wines but do not want to take them for granted, instead I’ll increase my daily water intake and that will be an extra benefit.
My “One A Night” — WALK
A brisk walk after dinner to help keep in shape. I used to run but the knees don’t work any more so there is no excuse for not walking. By walking in the coldest months of the year, I can walk anywhere.
I am challenging myself to learn the world’s geography. By the end of the 68 days I will have memorized the geographical location of all 196 countries and will be able to locate each of them on a blank world map. I am motivated to do this in order to keep abreast of current events and be a better citizen of the world. Focusing on at least one continent per week I have no doubt that I will reach my goal. I am looking forward to a bigger brain in 2015!
As a new mom I am finding it difficult to spend time on myself, whether it be in my hobbies or in maintaining good health. My personal goal is to spend an hour everyday, uninterrupted, on one of my hobbies, whether it is knitting, photography or cooking. On those cooking days my family will be very pleased as completing my challenge will benefit them and their taste buds as well. I will also be keeping track of my water intake – drinking at least 8 glasses a day and will be spending 10 minutes a day on personal meditation. I believe that after the 68 days I will be able to not only achieve my goals but also will have a few incredible habits, better health and will be an all around better me.
My goal is to lose 13-15 pounds by immersing myself in fitness at the gym. I will be doing this four times a week with others and twice a week on my own. I’m doing this together with a team of 5 who are all taking part in the same challenge. I am also going to read one book a week and spend time writing in my personal journal every week as well. Woohoo!
https://www.facebook.com/The68DayChallenge
https://www.facebook.com/TheLifeChest
A sea of pink at The Rhonda Walker Foundations annual Christmas Party at The Genesis House II.
The Detroit Rescue Missions Ministries Genesis House II is a transitional housing shelter, there are currently 45 women and 30 children of all ages living here. The foundation brings the holidays to the women and children of the shelter by providing toys and clothes for every child and a gift bag of goodies for every mother and woman.
We were lucky to take part in this incredible event.
Every balloon in this image represents a fallen soldier. Mike and the AVG team joined an estimate of 2000 children of fallen soldiers at the Walk of Gratitude, a part of the Snowball Express.
Now in its ninth year, Snowball Express brings together families of post-9/11 fallen military members for an all-expenses-paid trip to create new memories and provide much-needed support.
My favorite part of Thanksgiving is being home with my family.
I am grateful for the ladies of the life chest and my position here.
The ladies of The Life Chest are wonderful and inspiring. I’m truly grateful to have met such a passionate, dedicated and fun group that keeps me laughing, learning and loving every day!
Joining the Life Chest team in feeling grateful this year. One fond memory from this year was meeting Glenda MacPhail at Friesens.
I travelled to Altona Manitoba this year with Life Chest CEO Donna Yost to help her with the design of her new book, Pumptitude: My Journey from CEO Wife to CEO Life. We were also working on the final layout of her husband CEO Kim Yost’s 4th Book, The Life Chest.
Customer Service Representative Glenda MacPhail was waiting for us when we arrived in Winnipeg, her warm smile and positive nature was the first thing to hook me in, its funny how some people just make you instantly feel comfortable.
It happened to be Glenda’s birthday so the three of us went for a beautiful dinner at the the 529 Wellington, we chatted as if we were old friends and I learned that Glenda was a mother of two who absolutely adored her family. We laughed all night and later Glenda drove us to where we would be staying for the next few nights in Altona.
Working with Glenda over the next few days was a blast, the print world has always fascinated me and what I learned from her and the team at Friesens was both valuable and impressive. Leaving Friesens and Winnipeg I knew that I would remain in contact with Glenda, she has been invaluable to The Life Chest team and is an absolute pleasure. This year I am thankful for Glenda and for the opportunity to travel to Friesens with The Life Chest. It was truly a #LIFECHESTMOMENT
I can’t finish this post without acknowledging my favourite sidekick Henry.
Here is a photo of him playing a hybrid of a few sports.
On Thanksgiving I am Thankful for:
My Dog
Mashed Potatoes
Mike Elliott
Mike is truly a Life Chest Lifer! We are so grateful to have gotten to work with him. And what he does through the All Veteran Group is so inspiring and admirable we are honored to be connected with him. We wish Mike a happy, happy Turkey day!
Mark “Ranger” Jones
We met Ranger back in May and have been learning so much since! Not only does he have an impressive personal story of achievement but he does incredible work with the Fisher Foundation. Another Life Chest Lifer we are so grateful for! Happy Thanksgiving Ranger!
