Friday, May 23, 2014

Long Time No Blog


I can’t believe it’s been more than seven weeks since my last blog! Where has time gone??? There is so much I want to share with you:

Yes, I did play golf on my birthday! It was the first time Scott and I have ever played golf together. Remember, last March he had knee surgery then tore his Achilles in May then I was diagnosed with breast cancer in July. Afterwards, he and Austin took me to Applebee’s for my birthday dinner! Plus, I got two more Pandora charms for my bracelets! Love my boys!
 
 
 
April 3 I had the privilege to be the keynote speaker for our Community Fellowship for Women. My topic? “Not How, But Why”. This presentation allows me to share my testimony about overcoming inevitable adversities in life, as well as inspire and encourage others.

 
April 15 we officially kicked off our new business, Crum-Teague Healthier Solutions, with the first of many Healthy Living Seminars at our home. Along our “pathway to recovery”, Scott and I have been enlightened and very educated on healthier living. Yes, it is incredible to beat cancer, but it is even more important we learn how to take better care of ourselves! To that end, Scott began researching opportunities, which would enable us to share and help educate others about healthier living. After six months of praying and searching for another job opportunity for Scott, it was just divine that we were introduced to this business, whose mission mirrors the mission of the Cancer Treatment Center! Plus, we get to help others who have a need and/or desire an overall healthier lifestyle. It is the most positive and rewarding environment I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of. We are very blessed in many ways.

 
After attending the early service on Easter, we headed to the airport to make an unscheduled trip to the Cancer Treatment Center, April 20-21. I had had some health issues for several weeks that we felt needed to be addressed prior to our return trip planned the end of May. I’m very thankful we made this trip as it was very helpful and provided us with a peace of mind.

On Sunday, April 27, I had the pleasure to speak at Reformation Lutheran Church . . . both services! Again, I shared my “Not Why, But How” presentation.
 
 
The evening of May 1 we were conducting another Healthy Living Seminar at our home when two gentleman arrived we did not know, yet, our senior partner knew who they were. They sat in the back of the room, taking a few pictures, and at the end of the seminar, our senior partner introduced them as the Executive Vice President/CSO and the VP of Sales and Health Science from our company’s headquarters in Dallas, TX . . . OMG! Although we had only been in the business a few weeks, they had heard so much about us and our successful seminars they wanted to attend since they were in town. It was like an episode of “Undercover Boss”! Our senior partner has been in the business for eight years and told us he’d never had top executives at a seminar before. We were very privileged and honored they joined us, which allowed us the exceptional opportunity to get to know two people who we had heard of, read about and listened to on our company’s conference calls.


The following weekend, May 2 and 3, we had the distinguished honor to attend one of our company’s summits with approximately 200 other business owners. To my surprise, in only a few weeks,
 
we were awarded the “gold brick award” for achieving Team Leader, which is the first attainable leadership position in our company, by the two executives who were just in our home, plus our National Field Leader . . . WOW!
 
On Sunday, May 4, I conducted a book signing at Barnes & Noble. That was a great experience! Met a lot of people and signed some books and met some more people!

 
May 7 I held my “Saturday with Susan” at John and Ella Price’s new event center as we were going to be out of town on Saturday. “Saturday with Susan” is an interfaith group of ladies coming together to fellowship, as well as encourage and inspire one another.


After Austin got out of school on Friday, May 9, we headed to Atlanta for Mother’s Day weekend. My boys took me to my first Atlanta Braves baseball game on Saturday evening! It was Austin’s first MLB game! We had a wonderful, family weekend!



On Thursday, May 16, I met who I hope will become my publisher! I’m so excited about this opportunity and hope to hear from her by the end of next week! Eeeeeeeeeks :) Also on this day, I saw my book “Only to Susan” . . . on the shelf . . . at Barnes & Noble in Johnson City – I finally made a shelf! Yipeeee!


May 17-18 our business participated in the merchant’s corner at the Iris Festival! This was great exposure for us, plus, we got to see so many of you who we haven’t seen in a while!


Monday, May 19 was awards day at GMS for Austin and his last day of school . . . where did the year go???


In addition, I have been able to play golf on Tuesdays with our Link Hills Ladies Golf Association and yesterday was our first inter club match at Link Hills.


I continue to help lead the weekly Thursday Devotional Coffee Club at Station 180 (located beside Freedom Fellowship).


I know there’s a lot I didn’t include, but this is meant to be a blog not a book, right? Speaking of books, I failed to mention . . . I have submitted my manuscript for my second book! It is my hope to conduct a women’s symposium in September, at which time, I will release my new book!


So, here we are, Friday, May 23 . . . tomorrow we will be getting in the car and headed to Chicago. This is the first time we’ve driven, but we are going to take advantage of the time we have and stop and play golf along the way! Our first stop? My best friend Donna in KY! My first appointment is not until Tuesday morning, followed with a full day and again on Wednesday then my surgery is Thursday. We will see my plastic surgeon Friday morning and hopefully head for home shortly thereafter.


God has been so good to Scott, Austin and me. In everything, all things, we give him the praise and the glory. We realize to know God is the most important and meaningful relationship you can have. To know His goodness is inspiring. It fills us with hope, and it motivates us to live a life of meaning, confidence and purpose.


I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about our lives the last several weeks, but I’m making a commitment to blog more often. For one thing, I enjoy it; it’s good therapy for me. And secondly, if there is something I share that can inspire and/or encourage one other person, just one . . . then praise God for the gift He’s given me.


And I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge this Memorial Day Weekend. I know we all respect and care about all military men and women regardless whether they are currently serving or are veterans . . . thank you to my husband, Scotty Teague, and my father, Cecil Crum, for your service. But this Monday is about those who gave their lives for our country and our freedoms. Memorial Day started as an event to honor Union soldiers who had died during the American Civil War. It was inspired by the way people in the Southern states honored their dead. After World War I, it was extended to include all men and women, who died in any war or military action. I ask that everyone remember that this weekend. May God Bless you and May God bless America.