Just a couple of days ago….I did something I thought I would never do……something that it was my first time to ever do…….and something I DEFINITELY want to do again!!
I shared my story as the keynote speaker at the National Sales Convention of Usborne Books and More! This is my first time to speak at a corporate event!
Let me just tell you how nervous I was the night before! I had received a call and a text from my sis that the people there were phenomenal and that they would love me……however the butterflies in my tummy were kicking some bootie!! I wasn’t so nervous that they wouldn’t like me….but more nervous of if the corporate side would feel like I delivered the “motivation” they intended!
This was really an awesome event! I was dubbed “the mystery speaker” so that no one would know my story before I spoke! There were many guesses of who it might be…. Was it Oprah? Barbara Bush? These were all names the attendants were tossing around…….LOTS to live up to.
Well……the opening of my time slot….they played the first time I was on Oprah…to open and tell my story. Then….my sister took the stage and said she was proud to introduce her hero (melted my heart<3) and her big sister (to which there was a huge gasp of all who had heard her story just the day before) and then up to the stage I went.
I shared my story as I normally do in most of my talks……but this time I also included some of my successes in the business world. The trips I’ve won and goals I’ve accomplished! Heck, I even showed them a pic of the 1989 Dodge Caravan with the paneling that I qualified for waaaaaaayyyyy back when!! I just wanted them, as I want everyone, to know that no matter what you’ve been through….there is always more.
If you wake up in the morning…Praise God….there is more!
Some people say this is my “do-over life”…..well guess what? We all get do-overs…..every single day! Every new day is a new beginning! You decide what you will make of it!
I showed a pic of the boys all reading and put a title that said “You decide what the next chapter will be…..” Some may disagree. Some may say that things happen in the day….that you didn’t plan…so how can you decide what is next when things happen that you have NO control over? Well…to that I say you can control how you react. We all have the choice of how we react to ANY situation and there is NOTHING……not any person, situation….not ANYTHING….that has ANY power over us except the power WE give it by how we react!!!! Agree or disagree….it is true!
I may not like something that has happened…..but I can choose to move past it….and not let it take up valuable time in my life. I can choose to feel sorry for myself or think that there is nothing I can do to change it. Well…..I maybe can’t change it….but I can change me and choose to look for some sort of silver lining. There is always a silver lining…… sometimes you have to look really hard to find it.
There is a song out that I have just fallen in love with because I truly feel what this song says. It has taken me a long time to realize that there are times when God chooses to use difficult times….difficult situations to grow us…to mold us….to teach us…and yes…even to bless us.
Allow me to share the lyrics.
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser thingsCause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguiseWe pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believeCause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguiseWhen friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our homeCause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise
So remember…..
1.) Blessings don’t always come at the happiest times in life!
2.) ALWAYS look for the silver lining!
and
3.) If you wake up in the morning…..there is MORE!!!
A great big thank you to Usborne and the wonderful men and women I met this past weekend! You definitely blessed my life!
blessings sweet friend! ~c
My Life as a COMMA! 
Cheli,
You are truly an amazing woman, as is your sister. I told Heather on Saturday night that your mother must have also been an incredible person to have raised such strong, positive women. All of us at the Usborne Books and More Convention were so honored and blessed to hear you speak this weekend. So many of us felt like you were speaking directly to us! I have a downline supervisor who lost her husband suddenly and tragically this year. She wasn’t able to be at Convention but I’m excited to be able to share your story with her. She is doing surprisingly well considering her circumstances but I believe that your story will inspire her to continue to be strong and look for the “silver lining.” We spoke yesterday about the “rainbow” that is sure to come. I’m glad that you have yours (times two!). Thank you again for being a part of our convention and, as a result, a part of our lives. I wish I could have thanked you (and hugged you!) in person but hopefully this will suffice. :o) God is good and I’m glad He brought you to us! May He continue to bless you and your family.
Shelley Sanders-Gregg
It was amazing that your talk sharing such horrific events in your life as your 3 sons being murdered, and your ex-husband committing suicide, could also provoke much laughter and focusing on the MORE in everyone’s life by your motivations for a positive future full of blessings. Thanks for inspiring so many people by your positive example of going on in your life with positive new directions. Linda Deutmeyer–
I too was in the Usborne Books Convention audience this weekend, Cheli, you touched me so deeply. Yes, we all have a story, some are much harder then others but you are right, we can, with God, chose how we go on. I have posted where I read it each day “This is the day the Lord has made I WILL rejoice and be glad in it.” There are times when I don’t follow it and the past year has been tough, I have been working on it with God’s help and I thought you and Heather spoke this week just for me. I am going to see that silver lining and let God! I had a dear friend that listened to me and with what you and Heather said it was like I turned a corner. Thank you! You were a real blessing!
Patsy
Cheli,
I just wanted to express my sincere thanks to you for sharing your story, your life, with us at our National Convention. Meeting you, was really life changing. I have never met two stronger women then you and your sister, Heather. I know your mom must have been an amazing women and she is so proud of you both! I will never face challenges in my life the same way again. Your strength and courage are an inspiration! Thank you so much for showing us how to get MORE out of life! Wishing you nothing but happiness in the future!!
Linda
Cheli,
I spent the day telling my friends at work about your touching story. Thank you for taking the time and sharing your story with us. I want “More” and know that I can do anything I put my mind to. One foot in front of the other, One day at a time. It can happen!!
Thank you again. Michele from Mankato, Minnesota.
Cheli – what a profound difference you made in our convention this year. The weekend was so much MORE than a normal convention because we had a completely different perspective than ever before, provided by you sharing your story. I continue to be amazed by your, and Heather’s, strength and your contagious positive outlooks. We’re so lucky to have Heather as part of our home office staff and lucky that she chose you to inspire and motivate us this year. My hat’s off to you strong, courageous women!
With great admiration,
Cathy Eads
Cheli ~
Your “corporate” motivational speech on Friday was so incredibly powerful, heart pounding, and inspirational that I cant imagine a better “mystery” speaker!! God had me in the right place at the right time to hear you speak and I will be forever grateful. You and Heather are beautiful examples of God’s love for His children and His commitment to making our lives more than we could ever imagine. Thank you for sharing your story on Friday and for sharing your sister with Usborne Books!!
Jennifer in SC
Cheli,
Truly incredible!
Thank you so much for taking your time to speak with us at our convention!
Jill
Celi,
Thanks for making our convention one of the very best ever, and certainly one of the most memorable. I had high expectations and you gave us even MORE! You are an extraordinary woman with a powerful message and I am delighted Usborne Books & More provided your introduction to the corporate world of professional speaking. Your mom must be looking down and bursting with pride watching you and Heather.
Randall
Cheli,
I had actually visited your blog before (after Heather posted a link on FB) and did know your story (kind of) and had a good idea that you were going to be the mystery speaker. But even without the element of surprise (or shock and horror) over what you experienced I was SO incredibly inspired by your courage and faith and optimism. You reminded me that regardless of what we are facing we can get through; or even better, overcome and choose to be happy. Thanks so much for sharing with us! You are truly a blessing to all who heard you last weekend.
Sincerely,
Jill Cox
p.s. Heather… wow! She is so great!
Cheli,
We are SO grateful to have Heather on the UBAM team…she has done many incredible things for us already and one of them was giving us the opportunity to hear you speak. It was so honest and sad….yet at the same time so uplifting and inspiring! What you have been through and done shows us that we REALLY can do ANYTHING. You have touched our hearts FOREVER. THANK YOU for that!
Tabatha Roach 🙂
Cheli, thank you sooo soooo much for sharing your story with us this weekend! It was so brave of you and so inspiring! Thank you thank you!
Cheli,
Thank you SO much for choosing to let God write your success story and for being willing to share that story with us! I left feeling so inspired, encouraged and motivated because the last 18 months I have been learning that while I may not like some of the things life throws my way, I can choose to have a great attitude and move forward. I loved how you said that sometimes we have to recalculate and that there is always more for us to do as long as we are breathing. Thank you for reminding me to dream big and then get out there and work to make those dreams a reality! God bless you and thank you again for sharing your amazing story!
Cheli,
I will never forget the 2011 National Convention for many reasons – you being a big one. What an inspiration you are just for breating in and out all day, let alone moving forward with your life, finding happiness, moving forward with your 4th and 5th child, and finding success along the way. Success that should be celebrated! You didn’t let your life end that horrible dreadful day. I still don’t know how, but you didn’t. And I’m so grateful you shared your story with us. I hope you’ll continue sharing it with many other people in the future. I know some who might help in that way, so let me know how I can be of help!
Cheli,
Thank you so much for how you shared your life with us this past weekend. As I began to read your blog, I started to cry-AGAIN! And when I started to read the lyrics to the song, I REALLY started to cry. I love that song, and it always reminds me of how God is faithful in ALL things, if we just look at it through His eyes. Thanks for inspiring me to wake up every day expecting MORE!
Love in Christ,
Wendy
P.S> Have you read One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp? We are doing a book club on it at church, and it is amazing. I know you would love it!!
Cheli, thank you, thank you for being with us this past weekend. I almost didn’t come to convention, but so glad I did. God used you so beautifully on Saturday to touch the lives of so many, including my own. My first born is also named Cody – so it especially moved me because of that. The lyrics you shared are so amazing – God will use anything and everything to draw us to closer to Him. May the love of Christ forever shine through you – may He always protect you and your family, give you the peace only He can offer.
Cheli,
YOU are SO awesome! Thanks so much for sharing with us! Your inspiration was a wonderful opening to our UBAM National Convention!
Warmly,
Nancy Ann Wartman
I was there, it was an amazing presentation! In fact, today my GPS did some “recalculating”and tears sprung to my eyes. Thank you so much for inspiring us!
Cheli- I feel SO blessed to have heard your message this weekend. You did a fabulous job at truly inspiring us! I am so thankful that you and Heather have shared your family with all of us in the Usborne family. You are both amazing women, and a true blessing to me. Thank you! – Sara ODonnell
Cheli,
Your talk this weekend was inspirational and thought provoking! We all walked away knowing that there truly is nothing we can’t do! Thank you so much for sharing your time and your story with us – you are amazing!!
Dawn
Cheli,
God is so good to have brought you to our convention this weekend. The strength he has given you is beyond amazing!! I’m overwhelmed how He used the loss of your boys to such good. May you and your family continue to be blessed and hope to see you at Convention again next year!
Jamie
Thank you so much for joining us this past weekend. You gave an amazing talk and I am so impressed with and inspired by you. Please continue to share your amazing story. Your life will undoubtedly continue to bless the lives of others. May God bless you and your family always.
Cheli, I heard you speak at the Usborne convention and you will continue to be an inspiration to me, to know that we can smile on the other side of whatever life throws our way. May God continue to bless you and your family!!!
Cheli – I was in the audience this weekend and also want to share with you how much your message inspired me. I feel blessed to have been able to hear it and be renewed in the fact that each and everyone one of us has a “do-over” everyday! There have been many times over my past 10 years in business that I have allowed life circumstances to hold me back and sometimes even defeat me. Thank you for sharing your powerful message.
Your blog this morning is perfect for everyone of us who are exhausted but excited ….returning to our families AND still in business! God obviously has given you a gift to share your experience and I am so glad Usborne Books was blessed to hear it first in the corporate world! Thank you!
I am ready to experience MORE and be MORE ! To God be the Glory!
You are a inspiration. I love that you let God do what God can do through you. So thankful to call you my friend and sister in Christ…love ya precious friend!!
Thank you for touching our hearts and our lives this weekend! What an amazing journey you have had. Thank you for sharing that with us at convention.
Holly Brisken
As I said when I introduced myself, I felt like you were God’s gift to me this weekend through your message. Then I see you have a blog too—my gift this morning! You are truly sharing His love with all around you and are such an inspiration.
I can’t wait to say I met you before you were “famous”!!
Hugs in Christ….Korisa
Awww….Thanks sweet lady! What a doll you are! I love the pic! Thanks for sharing on my fb page! What a gift you are to me as well. Your encouragement and kinds words mean a lot! Hugs right back ! ~c
Cheli,
I was in the audience this weekend and just want you to know how much I loved your talk. I left thinking there wasn’t anything in my life that could hold me back. Your faith is evident and your story is so powerful. May God continue to bless your “do-over” life as He uses your whole life to reach people deep in their hearts. Thank You!
Thank you so much! I pray you don’t hold back and He blesses your endeavors!
Awesome Cheli! God is using you in HIS big and mighty ways!! Thank you for inspiring me today to DO and BE MORE for GOD!
Cheli,
You truly inspire me, just wondering if I might need to sit down with you someday & just talk, think I could learn a lot from you, you’re way ahead of me in this journey! I knew before I saw what the lyrics were what song you were going to share, that song has really resonated with me too from the first time I heard it. It has to be the way we look at it, even though it’s so hard. Anyway, just wanted to let you know, you are a blessing & an inspiration!
Twyla