Terri is a TA-DAH Mom! Triumphant And Determined to Achieve Happiness. For more from Terri - read excerpts from her books at www.terricamp.com. If you're in Texas, be sure to use Terri for all of your real estate needs. Terri is also now speaking to groups such as MOPS and Single Moms groups. E-mail her for more information. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:20:00 -0500 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:20:00 -0500 When I first heard the kids talk about facebook I thought, oh right, like I need another thing to occupy my time. I'm already busy with my real estate career, ta-dah mom, raising kids, being a good girlfriend, and all the other things I do. (oops gotta run in a sec to pick up kids from class and work). Well, I discovered facebook, and I totally love it! I'm reconnecting with people I haven't seen in ages, like the foreign exchange student from France, a pastor's wife from years ago, friends from California, and fellow authors who I rarely get to spend time with these days. If you are on facebook and want to connect, search for Terri Camp. You can become a fan (insert hysterical laughter), download the ta-dah application, or drop me a note. Oh, you can even see pics of my new grandson.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/604102/ Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:20:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/604102/ I was reading an online news article at yahoo news when I came upon an article with the headline, Americans' Unhappy Birthday. The headline made me bristle. I do not like fear, intimidation, scare tactics, or negative news. I decided to read the article anyway. When I got to this quote, "Joanne Kontak, 60, an elementary school lunch aide inducted just this day as an Optimist, sums things up like this: "There's just entirely too much wrong right now." I began to laugh. I think she should have her membership revoked! (I feel like saying, HELLO! - but will refrain) You know friends - there are only two ways to look at circumstances. But the thing is, every time we make a comment about our lives, we are making a choice. Think for a minute about the people you really like. What is it you find enjoyable about them? My mom is the happiest person I know. I remember when my kids were little she would give them "happy shots." She would poke them repeatedly while saying, "happy shot, happy shot, happy shot" then she would make this funny rolling tongue sound. She would then give the child a tic-tac. This little act of happiness sharing has given my mom the title of "Favorite Grandma" - but don't tell the others. It's so easy to be negative and unhappy - but don't do it!  Resist!  Resist with every ounce of being you have. Join the optimist club and say, "Wow!  I can't wait to see what God is going to do in this situation!" http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/557096/ Sat, 5 Jul 2008 23:53:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/557096/ If you are able to help your children establish goals in their lives, you are giving them a tool that will carry them through into a successful life. The first time I remember setting a goal for my life was when I was in tenth grade. I had just learned about half way through my 10th grade year that I would have enough credits to graduate at the end of my junior year.  I was told that my high school didn't allow students to graduate a full year early. They only allowed a mid semester graduation. I wanted to get out of school!  Since I'm telling the truth here, the whole reason was because I was in love. I wanted to get out of school so I could start setting up house. Even though I would have enough credits to graduate, my character was not good.  I sat down with my dad to talk about what I wanted to do and this is what he said, "They aren't going to let you graduate early so you can get married. You are going to have to come up with more compelling reasons." Then he added this, "What kind of life do you see yourself having? Make a list of all the things you would like to do if you could do anything." And that's what I did.  I went to my room and began to dream on paper.  I saved that piece of paper because it changed my life. There were many tears as I began to dream.  I had to dedicate some time to this. After I wrote out my dreams, My dad and I looked at the dreams and talked together about how to make those dreams a reality.  What would be my role in making my dreams come true? Some of the items on my list included become a lawyer, write a novel, have several children, etc. The first thing he noticed was that I really wanted to have a successful life. I'm pretty sure he didn't think I would have that if I went off and married the guy I was "in love" with. With each dream he encouraged me to write out the tools I would need to fulfill those dreams. Under lawyer a college degree would be required. What college would I go to?  What kind of grades would I need to attend there? All of these questions he asked me. Yet he did it in a way that made me feel like I was discovering something completely new about my life.  This was definitely an exercise in self discovery. Never once did he tell me my dream was out of reach or that it was unrealistic. He helped me to discover that on my own. Yet, he helped me to see which goals were attainable for me in the near future, and which ones would take a while to fulfill. Armed with a new lease on life, I approached the school board with my list of life goals. I now had a clear picture of what I wanted to achieve and I wanted to get started toward these goals immediately.  I attended three school board meetings where I had to stand before them and speak. I had never really spoken passionately in public before. The energy I felt was amazing! I believe this event prompted another goal to be added to my goal sheet, "Become a Public Speaker." Three months after beginning my quest to graduate a year early so I could get married there was an article in the paper, "School Board Grants Student Early Graduation to Pursue Her Dreams" One year before I was originally supposed to graduate I walked across the stage at my high school as someone stated, "Terri Sween, voted Most Likely to Succeed by her classmates." My dad stood and applauded, but I wanted to applaud him.  Without his influence, I would not have dared to dream. #1 Tell Your Own Goal Setting Story or Stories #2 Talk With Your Children About Their Dreams #3 Encourage them to Create a Dream Sheet #4 Help Them Discover the Path to Achieve the Dream #5 Applaud Their Efforts   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/547203/ Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:59:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/547203/ I was sitting in Barnes and Noble taking a little time off. It's funny, my idea of taking some time off is going to Barnes and Noble to read Real Estate or business books. I can't remember the last time I read a novel.  Oh yes, I can, it was The Shack. That was the last book I read "for fun." ..sorry..got distracted...which is really the point of this blog. I get easily distracted. Here's a real life example from this morning - I began by checking my e-mail. I have a daily e-mail that is a forum for moms to ask questions. I rarely read this....because I don't have enough time!... I began reading it. One of the posts reminded me of a book I loved called Sidetracked Home Executives. I began looking around that site for awhile, signed up for this little brat thing (the jury is still out if that is going to help my life or make me more distracted), then I was reminded of this phrase I came up with, "A Goal Mind is a Gold Mine". I decided to write a blog about it (which I am doing in a sidetracked sort of way), then I looked at my profile, needed to change my picture, read previous blogs, began reading other people's blogs, and now...here I am finally writing a blog on being goal minded.  If you totally understood that paragraph, you need to have a goal mind! ...please hold...I need to check my e-mail real quick....15 minutes later...I'm back. So..I've been thinking about goal setting and how important that is in business. Typically I get all of my "office duties" out of the way before noon. Then I focus on clients and their needs. Now it doesn't always work this way, sometimes I have a client who needs to see a house in the morning, or I have a closing or something.  What I didn't factor in to my goal setting was....well....goals.  Basically I'm doing a time management thing but not with any goals. Even with homeschooling we need to have clear goals and we need to help our children establish clear goals for their lives..... Before I write another book long post, I am going to end here....My next post is going to be on "helping children develop goals" http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/546150/ Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:12:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/546150/ Okay, before you blast me for my lack of faith, spirituality, or whatever it is people like to jump on me for ....  well...just don't do it....I'm just sharin' is all. Last Sunday I was sitting in church minding my own business when suddenly the Holy Spirit lovingly whacked me upside my head - in a spiritual sort of way. The pastor was preaching on fear. Well for those who know me, fear is not something that I have. I am brave!  I am strong! I am Woman! and guess what I discovered?  I am scared. I am scared when I have a closing and I have bills, that there won't be enough for the next time.  I tried to convince myself that I tithed in my heart.  That when I would receive a check, I knew God was giving it to me.  I knew He was my provider. And I knew that He was okay with me using the money to pay bills, buy food and clothes for the kids, and one nice treat for myself. I was absolutely certain he was okay with this. I would tell him, "When I feel comfortable, I will give you so much Lord!" Do you think he laughed at me?  I sometimes wonder if he just gets a big kick out of what I say to him. I would even reason that if I could use all of the money, then He wouldn't have to work so hard to get me more. There were other times I would feel like I "should" tithe...but then I knew my heart wasn't right, so maybe it was best for me to not tithe since I didn't have a right heart.  Isn't it amazing how we can rationalize away spiritual truths? It has really been a rough road the last three years financially - and other ways as well. But God always has come through for me. I know He is my provider. There is no question about that.  There I sat when I got whacked. Quickly my mind began calculating - I only have enough in my account to cover the tithe. There would be nothing left after that. To top it off, I'm in real estate. I only get paid when I have a closing, and closings typically take 30 days, and I don't even have any offers on the table.  How can I give all that I have? What could happen?  I began to tremble, but felt that I must tithe.  I decided to go to the altar for prayer.  I secretly hoped the person at the altar would say, "Oh no Terri, don't give your last bit. Keep that, just in case."  But instead he took my hand and said, "Ask God how much he loves you." "How much do you love me God?"  I giggled as God spoke to my heart these words, "I love you more than you can imagine." With that I knew He would be the one taking care of me - and my family. I wrote the check while trembling. I didn't write it expecting to get something. I didn't have that heart attitude. The only attitude I had was that I knew he would take care of me. When I arrived at my car, there was a voice mail on my phone, a new client who wanted to see a house that night. I giggled. Later that night I went to the house the new client wanted to see. He was late so I opened the door, letting the house air out a little and sat in my car.  A carload of women stopped and asked to see the house. They didn't like that one, but would like me to show them other houses on their list. The original client came and wanted to make an offer on the house. (It didn't go through, but he's still looking at houses with me) On Monday I went to take a buyer to see some houses. We had already looked at about 50 houses.  This day she said, "Why don't you let me drive this time. I know you spend so much on gas taking me to all of these houses." (PTL) While showing her houses, another client called wanting to make an offer on a house we had seen a month before. (I put in the offer and it was accepted!) A couple of hours later a man called telling me an aquaintance had given him my number (does he know God?) and said he has a house to sell and wants to buy a house, but he doesn't need to sell his house first. I took him to see the house and he said, "Let's make a full price offer."(We now have an accepted offer on that house!) (PTL again!) An hour later someone else called saying, "You just sold a house down the street from me and the sellers said you were awesome so we want you to sell our house for us and we need to buy a house." I will be putting this house on the market on Sunday. I received an e-mail from a man wanting to look at two houses. They are ready to buy now! They just can't see any houses until Saturday. I received a call on one of my listings. I met them tonight, they will be going to the bank tomorrow to check on financing for the house. While showing the man who bought the house, a friend came with him and said, "I need to buy a house too.  Can you help me too?" (HELLO!  DUH!) It is only Thursday, four days after giving everything to God. I'm now so busy with real estate business, I've been barely able to come up to breathe.  I've always believed the word of God, but somehow when I was in the middle of the fear, I forgot how much He really does love me. How much does God love you?  Ask him! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/543987/ Fri, 6 Jun 2008 16:32:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/543987/   Yesterday, I woke up excitedly. I was going to have a big real estate closing. I had been working on the deal for over a month (which isn't really a long time, but when you're feeling broke and you can't wait for a check - it's a LONG time). The whole thing had a lot of ups and downs emotionally for me. I wrote the contract...woo hoo....then the sellers didn't want to take the good offer. Buyers decide to offer full price...I write up the offer...they decide to wait a week.... I write another offer....oh my gosh...I wanted to start taking valium... I hadn't had a closing since the first week in January. I know where my provision comes from, but each day I would look up and remind Him that we need a check..just in case he thought he had already checked us off his list. :-) As I was getting ready to go, I heard a dog bark. Then there was a sudden sound of silence in the air. Why is it so quiet I thought? I glanced over at the clock and couldn't see the familiar yellow numbers. Oh crud! I knew I was a little late with the electric payment, but was hoping they had forgotten me. Nope - they remembered. I really hate having my electricity turned off. So many emotions run through my head. But usually the worst thing is all the negative self talk - what a flake! You should have paid that! What will your kids think? Last week they woke up without water..this week, no electricity (later in the day they will discover they also don't have a working telephone). Suddenly I was struck with brilliance. This will be a "Little House on the Prairie" Day! Woo hoo! They will love it. We won't have any electricity for the day! Everyone will have to just sit around...read....CLEAN. What an opportunity! They won't have any distractions! They can do their school work in record time. (We are a homeschooling family) They can do their JOYS quickly as well. As I was excitedly sharing this adventure with the kids, Briana smiled and said, "I can't do my JOY." "Why can't you?" "Because I have laundry." Oh no, a whole day without being able to do laundry? That means there will be six loads to do tomorrow! I told her to get a bucket, fill it with hot water, and begin scrubbing. She was incredulous. I told her I was kidding. She could help John wash the dishes by hand instead. :-) I went to my closing - picked up the check...kissed it....deposited it into my account...asked the Lord to mightily multiply it....and went home. I was hoping there would be electricity, but there was not. What I found though was my 10 year old son, sitting at his desk...looking longingly at his computer. The really funny part about it was, the 11 year old neighbor, was sitting next to him. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/499225/ Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:44:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/499225/ I cannot contain my excitement!  Can you see me jumping up and down, bouncing off the walls, heart racing wildly?  Around 3:00 this morning I said to myself, "Terri, how in the world are you going to get any sleep?  You are just so excited, and you can't stop the whirlwind of thought in your head." I woke up at 8:30 already with the thoughts swirling. Gosh it feels good to be alive!  For the past three years I was in survival mode and now, suddenly, I'm emerging once again with solid ideas and ways to help my fellow mom. About three months ago, God planted a seed in me. I took the seed and began to nurture it. Suddenly it began to sprout. I so clearly remember pacing in my bedroom saying, "Lord, what do you want me to do with this?  This is huge!" Later that afternoon, while innocently chatting with a friend, God revealed the answer to me. The first thought out of my head was this is huge!  How do you expect me to do this?  God - don't you know who I am and what I'm capable of?  Then I was reminded that God equips the called, he doesn't call the equipped. I began to ask God to bring people into my life who could help fulfil the mission. I began attending networking meetings.  You wouldn't believe the incredible people I met. There were some who had bits of pieces and it was always exciting to sit and chat with them. One particular meeting I was excited to attend. I thought this meeting would help me launch my new business. Even though I was there for the new business venture, I introduced myself as a realtor in the area. Everyone around our table gave a brief introduction. When it got to Mark, he  had food in his mouth and couldn't talk. We decided to come back to him.  When we finally returned to find out what he did, he simply said he was "between" projects. I took that to mean he was unemployed. After the meeting, there was a time for networking. I had my sights on a few people who I thought might be able to help me launch. There was a lady with a marketing company, a woman who headed up a mastermind group, and a couple of authors.  As I was looking around the room, Mark asked if we could talk for a bit.  That "bit" turned into over two hours. Within five minutes I knew Mark was the man God was bringing. Have you ever thought synergistically with someone? He would say something he had been talking about with his wife, and I would excitedly say YES YES YES...that is the exact thing I was thinking! I've always been an idea person. I love to launch new ideas, but they often fall short because I don't put the effort into planning. Well...along comes Mark...a planning person. But he isn't the kind who plans something to death, he is a plan to launch kind of guy.  It was fewer than three weeks ago when we had our first "can we talk for a minute" sessions. And I'll tell you - it's going to be HUGE!  We're planning to launch on May 1st!!!  The pieces are all falling into place. One of the really cool things about all of this is that my kids are so completely on board with me. They will even come in with ideas for me! A couple of weeks ago I was sharing the logo and another idea with the kids. John said, "Mom!  I had a dream about this last night!" He proceeded to tell me his dream. (hold on a sec I'm going to cry) It's happening - it's moving forward at record speed - and YOU will want to be a part of the excitement!   ta-dah! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/494846/ Sat, 8 Mar 2008 09:40:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/494846/ Remember when it was all the craze to say a phrase, then follow it with NOT!  Well...it wasn't a statement allowed at our house. I didn't let the kids say things that would cause people to shut down communication. They weren't allowed to say, DUH, or DOH, or Made ya Look, or NOT! I was a stickler about this. One of my main priorities was that I wanted chldren who loved each other, not children who felt like their siblings were their rivals. The fruit of this practice became so evident when the children no longer had a dad. The kids bonded together in a greater way than I ever could have imagined. They sacrificed for one another. They poured out love to each other. Now, I'm not saying my children are perfect and that they don't ever get irritated with each other, or that older brothers don't antogonize younger sisters. But what I am saying is that if we are purposeful in how we want our children to behave, we can help shape their futures. On the way home from church today, Erica said, "Isn't it neat that we are nice kids? Don't you like that we love each other, and that we don't fight very much, and that we're hard workers, and we love to do our school work, and that we're all cute." ;-) Other kids started chiming in with things like, "we do our joys without complaining" - another kid said, "We do?" We all laughed. "Erica?" I questioned, "Are you saying that I am the luckiest mom in the world because I have the best kids on the planet?"  She said yes. Suddenly I was overcome with an emotion that is almost undescrible, it's an emotion full of tears, but filled with comfort, and love all at the same time. And there was an exceeding feeling of great joy. My thoughts began to think about how some people could say that my kids are "broken" - even their own dad often tells me that they will never be able to have what they need because they are now in a broken home.  Well to that, I say NOT!!! A broken family isn't a family with only one parent. A broken family, is a family where the people who live there aren't connected. I'm happy to say that the Camp family is NOT a broken family!  Ta-Dah Mom! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/486899/ Sun, 24 Feb 2008 12:50:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/486899/ I am one of the last people on the planet who I ever thought would succumb to watching a TV show on a regular basis.  For one, I don't like TV.  I don't like commercials. But the biggest reason is because I just have far better things to do with my time than to sit blankly at a television screen. I was surprised one day last year when I said to myself - It's Tuesday, American Idol is on. Tonight I realized what it was about that show that made me want to watch it.  First of all, I realized the joy of DVR or TiVo. We can record a tv show, then watch it later without commercials. woo hoo! I don't have to schedule my life around a tv show, but can schedule a tv show around my life. Which means, that if I have a few minutes to fit it in - I can. Or I can wait a week until the next few moments. I spent a couple of hours at the library - no wait - it was Barnes and Noble, but I read a book while there. It was a book about the life of Sandra Lee. I read the whole book and truth be told, I felt a little guilty that the only money I spent was for a latte. When I arrived home I was feeling a bit guilty that I missed watching American Idol with the kids, but it was so great to sit and read a book. Christi was sitting on the couch, watching the recorded shows. She watched all 5 hours and it only took about 2 hours to do it. Anyway - I sat down and began watching with her.  It was surprising that we had so many opinions that were the same! It's pretty neat when your 20 year old daughter has a lot of the same opinions and ideas that you have. I enjoyed being on the couch with her far more than I actually enjoyed watching the show. When it was over she said, "Thanks for watching that with me, it was a blast!"  I felt the same way...privileged that she watched the show with me.  I bounced up the stairs to get some more work done when I realized I was singing one of the songs that was on the show. It wasn't even a song I particularly liked, but I was singing! For those of you who are natural singers I'm sure you won't understand this - but for me to be singing is HUGE! There is this part of me that often wants to break out in song, but I always seem to stop short. As I thought about it, I became aware that in the past few weeks I had been singing a whole lot more. Do you think it could be because American Idol started again? I think not!  I think it's because a few weeks ago, God gave me a vision for something that has been a passion in my heart for as long as I can remember....and now ....it seems like all of the pieces are falling into place. When passion wells up and starts spilling out - You can't help but sing! James 5:!3 "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.  Is anyone cheerful?  Let him sing psalms."    http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/485537/ Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:03:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/485537/ The other day I was talking to my dad, who also happens to be my tax attorney. As soon as my taxes got difficult I had my dad do them for me. Now, this year is a bit different than all the rest of my adult years have been. This is the first full year that I am completely supporting myself and my children as a Realtor®. I called to find out some tax stuff, like what kind of deductions can I take. Now, my dad has known me for a great portion of my life, and you would think he would completely understand that I am a RIGHT BRAINED PERSON! For him to tell me that I should carry a little notebook in my car and record the mileage for every trip I take in my car actually causes a portion of my brain to ache! He went on to tell me about balancing my business and keeping books and records on expenses and other things. I really truly do want to do this right, but I said, "Dad, Can't I just estimate?" I think I heard him collapse to the floor. After he regained consciousness he said the most fatherly thing he could say, "Terri, your personality is not an excuse." I responded with, "Well.....  I WANT to do it right."  What I really wanted to scream at him was, "If you're so stinkin' good at this why didn't you teach me how to do it when I was ten!?"  But I didn't. I promised I would try to do better.  I bought a notebook....  that was a few days ago... the notebook is still on the floor next to my bed...where I put it last when I wrote down a phone number for the computer repair guy. I've been reading this incredible book called The One Minute Millionaire. In a nutshell, there are one minute decisions we make that have the potential to make us millionaires. I decided to use this book as a way to train my son Bryan to do his school work. I know you're going to have a hard time believing this, but Bryan was having a little hissy fit about having to do his TLP. He claimed that his brain wasn't cut out for this kind of random thinking. That he was a left brained person who worked with NUMBERS...Hello!  It made his brain hurt to use the creative side - the spelling side - the grammar side. So there he sat, clutching his head with his brain hurting. I rolled my eyes. Sheesh..this right brained stuff is a breeze! I took the opportunity to teach him a secret of millionaires. I whispered the secret to him, "Millionaires make right decisions."  He looked at me funny. I went on to explain to him that many of the decisions we make will determine if we can become millionaires or not. I told him that one dollar a day invested in a high yield investment will make a million dollars in 56 years. I think when I began talking numbers his right brain stopped hurting. I then talked about the attitudes that we make ourselves have.  He was still being a grump about the whole TLP thing. I asked him if I paid him a million dollars would he be able to have a good attitude. He grumpily said, "yes." I laughed. I then asked if I paid him ten dollars if he could "joyfully" do his school work. I think the realisticness (my invented word) of that made him take notice. He raised his eyebrows and said, "You're going to pay me ten bucks?"  To which I said, "NO.  This is a training exercise."  The question remains, "Could you do it joyfully for ten bucks."  I think he still thought I might give him the money so he said yes.  blah blah blah....  He ended up decided doing his school work joyfully would pay a high yield of return. Within ten minutes his entire lesson was done. ' This particular part of his schoolwork can often take an hour or two, but it's all because of his attitude. How many times have you raised your voice to a child who is whining about how long the work takes to tell him, "If you would just do it, it wouldn't take so long!" It was a triumphant moment for me when I was able to tell his education mentor, John (aka - his older brother) that he was finished with his schoolwork. He looked at me and said, "How'd you get him to do that?"  Simple I said, "I told him eventually it could turn into a million bucks." I just had a thought...maybe I should have Bryan keep track of my mileage. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/475436/ Wed, 6 Feb 2008 01:33:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TerriCamp/475436/