Freeing Moms Forum

Another Conversations blog

2007-10-08T16:20:00.001-07:00

Robert and Patricia have gotten on the bandwagon with their Daily Conversations blog. Check it out here.

For the record, I had a couple of non-agenda conversations with some of the moms from my daughter's kindergarten class at the park today. A few of us have been getting together to play and hang out on Monday afternoons, so it's very casual, but a good chance to work on building relationships.

Two and One per Day

2007-09-28T08:52:00.000-07:00

Tom has started a new blog specifically to record three conversation he attempts to have every day. The idea comes from Brian Bumpas, who advocates having two conversations without an agenda and one with an agenda each day. Network marketing is all about relationships, so this discipline creates plenty of opportunities to build relationships as you go about your daily activities. Check out Tom's summary of the concept here, and his journal of the past few days here. You'll get the idea.

Parallel Cultures

2007-07-11T20:55:00.000-07:00

I've been reflecting lately on my other blog about how difficult it is to stand against the predominant values of our culture. An article I read recently (it's an old article, but new to me), talks about Vaclav Havel, the Czech playwright, dissident and subsequently president of the Czech Republic, and the story of how he and others like him brought about the end of Communism in Eastern Europe.

So Havel and other dissidents began to ask, "How can we live the truth in a culture based on a fundamental lie, especially since the lie is in our heads? How can we begin to live into the truth? We desire so much more than just things. We want something to hope in, a reason to believe."
So in his country, as in other iron-curtain countries, people began to set up what he called "parallel cultures." They had underground study groups. They studied Plato. They had drama. They had music groups. They wrote novels and poetry, and published them underground. He called this a "parallel culture." It was not a counter-culture because, he said, it was impossible for us to live totally outside the system. You cannot live outside a culture. But you can create within it zones and spaces, where you can become who you really are. It is in such places that one can speak the truth, where one can gather with others who share that truth.
This went on for years, not without difficulties, but for years. Over time, the truth became stronger and stronger, and at a certain point people began to walk in the streets and to say to the system, "We don't believe you anymore." And the system fell. It fell, not because of the power of Western nuclear equipment, but because the people said within the system, "We don't believe you anymore." It was a vision that had been nourished within those parallel cultures.

It struck me today that part of what we are about is creating a parallel culture for those involved in our business. The fundamental lies we are challenging may not be insidious as the ideology of Communism, but then again, they may be just as damaging to the human spirit.

The first area we present a challenge is in the area of health: We challenge the idea that the so-called health care system is the repository of all wisdom regarding health and wellness for us. Put another way, we are about encouraging people to take responsibility for their own wellness, through nutrition, healthy lifestyle choices, etc.

If you don't think there are fundamental lies about health and wellness being promoted in our culture, just look at the next commercial for a fast-food establishment that comes on the TV. Or, if you dare, get out your reading glasses and read the fine print behind the magazine ad for the latest pharmaceutical product. An industry that makes its money on managing illness rather than showing the way toward wellness hardly deserves the name "health care."

The second challenge to our culture comes from the business model. Instead of pursuing economic security through trading time for wages, we're building a business that has the potential to deliver residual income, even when we aren't working at it. That's the power of network marketing, of building a team of people who can support each other. Again, it's about taking responsiblity for our future and that of our families.

There's probably lots more to be said about both of those aspects, and I invite your thoughts on them. Two implications strike me right away, though.

First, part of the reason the process of bringing others on board may be slow at times is that we're having to educate people into this "parallel culture" that we are at one stage or another of coming to participate in ourselves. I know it has taken me years to integrate things I learned at Mannatech events a decade ago.

Second, one important part of staying connected with each other is that we are creating those zones where a parallel culture can be fostered. We might be reading Paul Zane Pilsner instead of Plato, and coming alongside friends battling various health challenges instead of writing plays, but working together we reinforce our beliefs in this alternate view of reality. That's one reason staying connected through calls and training events is so important; even calling an upline leader for a three-way call is part of that zone where your ability to live into the truth will be strengthened.

Who knows what change for the better can happen when enough people are ready to say, "We don't believe you anymore"?

Updates - Business Resources

2007-07-01T21:39:00.000-07:00

I updated my links on the side bar recently. Take a few minutes to check them out.

"Introduction to the Business Model" - takes you to exploringfreedom.com\kairos, which has a couple of good videos (they're in cartoon-looking flash presentations for the sake of all those people with dial-up connections still). You can send someone there to watch Brilliant Compensation. The site is hosted by Tom Butler, so drop him an email or call if you send someone there so he'll know how they got there.

"Autonomous Growth/Getting Started" is Tom's work in progress training presentation. It's definitely worth a few minutes of your time to see this simple, three-step approach to getting started in the business. Then go to "Autonomous Growth/Training" for more details.

Under "Other Links" I put links/instructions to two valuable videos: Sam's Story, which is Sam Caster's personal story from an event last year; and Rob Sinnot's product update. Both of those requires you to log in to Mannatech.com, and I've given a hint on how to find the right videos.

Tom has posted the audio from a three-way call he did with a new associate, helping him get started. It's worth listening to this 20 minute or so call.

Finally, don't miss out on the Brian Bumpas call on Sunday evenings. Here's Tom's description:

Brian's call is every Sunday night at 6pm pacific, 8pm central, 9pm eastern.
Here is the number: 605-772-3900 access code 292740.

Brian's call deals with the business of network marketing. Stories about the health impact of the products can be heard on many calls. This is one of the few calls out there that deals exclusively with what it takes to be a successful network marketing professional.

How do we ask people?

2007-06-10T19:08:00.001-07:00

Following the Bumpas call tonight, something I read the other day came to mind. We were talking about the challenge of recruiting leaders into our organizations and the sorting process that goes on as we discover who is serious and who is not. This is from a book called Organic Community by Joe Myers:

I've heard it said that when asking someone to participate, you should include in "the ask" two ingredients. One, you should include how their participation will directly benefit them. And two, you should include how their contribution will better the group. Basically, offering these two cost-benefits are a response to our misunderstanding that people generally operate from a position of "What's in it for me?"

I don't find this presumption to be true. ... Instead, they want to know, "Why me?" This is not a self-serving question. It is a self-identifying, individual question.

People participate as individuals. They are interested in why they -- specifically -- are being asked. They want to know that you have chosen them first and foremost because of who they are,not to fulfill a strategic master plan. ( p. 62)

Myers is writing primarily about creating community in the context of church, but he gives a lot of examples from the business that he runs as well (not a network marketing business, as it happens). What he says resonates with the priority of relationship in network marketing, though. I can't really begin to answer the "Why me?" question with someone I don't know. And I really don't just need cogs in the wheel or warm bodies or monthly auto-orders in my organization; I want people who have gifts and interests and desires that will make them successful business builders and team members with me.

What do you think? Have you found effective ways to answer the "why me?" question?

20/20 Does Mannatech a Favor

2007-06-01T10:46:00.001-07:00

Tom Butler comments on the story that will air tonight:

I think we should thank 20/20 for what they have done. They have so effectively demonstrated the manipulation that is going on in the media around dietary supplements. Watch the real interview on YouTube.

Here is my opinion: The videos stand on their own. Therefore, if someone brings up the 20/20 piece, simply ask if the person is interested in the truth. If they say yes, direct them to YouTube for the entire interview. I think we should stress that WE haven't edited the interview to skew it to our perspective. If they watch all the videos only the most biased would come away thinking Mannatech is unethical.

I agree with Tom. I've posted the YouTube segments below. Just scroll down to watch. What do you think?

Sam Caster's 20/20 Interview part 4

2007-06-01T10:45:00.001-07:00

Sam Caster's 20/20 Interview part 3

2007-06-01T08:56:00.001-07:00

Sam Caster's 20/20 Interview part 2

2007-06-01T08:55:00.003-07:00

Sam Caster's 20/20 Interview

2007-06-01T08:55:00.001-07:00

The 20/20 story airs tonight. Here's the raw footage (part 1 of 4) of Sam's interview.

Guest Post: What is Your Cornerstone?

2007-05-03T11:41:00.000-07:00

Tom Butler sent me these thoughts -- I promise I'm going to get back to posting myself soon!

Long ago there were not the sophisticated tools for cutting and measuring that builders use today. Therefore it was important to use a cornerstone to ensure that a structure was soundly built. Everything was built in relationship to the cornerstone and therefore any error in the cutting or placement of the cornerstone would get magnified as the building progressed. The cornerstone needed to be as perfect as humanly possible.

What is the cornerstone that you are building your business around? Jackie and Dr. Vicky often say that Mannatech organizations mirror their leaders. Are you working to ensure that your leaders will see in you the actions that will lead to a sound organization? When we look at large network marketing organizations the one thing we can know for sure is that those at the top are not perfect. How do we help our organization to be sound despite our imperfections?

My desire is that I have an organization greater than myself. Therefore I need something greater than me to be the cornerstone of my organization. I find that cornerstone in the book of Ephesians. Chapter 2 verses 19-20 read in the Message translation:

19 That's plain enough, isn't it? You're no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You're no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He's using us all - irrespective of how we got here - in what he is building. 20 He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he's using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone 21 that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day - a holy temple built by God, 22 all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.

So the question for me becomes how to ensure that I am using the Cornerstone in everything I build. That is a question that I will be answering all my life. My primary goal is to be continuously improving my use of the Cornerstone as the first element of the foundation of my organization.

Mannafest

2007-04-03T21:25:00.000-07:00

Tom has posted some of his impressions from Mannafest. Hopefully I'll have time soon to write up some of mine.

Also, the main session talks from Mannafest are on the new mannatech.com site.

New Resources

2007-03-18T17:02:00.000-07:00

Tom has posted two new resources over at his blog.

1) The new skin care brochure by Dr. Doug and Rachel Willen (the producers of the Sweet Language of Life videos). There's a link to a downloadable pdf file.

2) The schedule for MannaFest is available in an excel spreadsheet.

Also, I'm hoping to do some blogging from MannaFest (If I get my new laptop setup in time!) -- just in case you aren't going to be there, but of course you will, won't you?

Guest Post : Little is Much

2007-03-18T16:54:00.000-07:00

Tom Butler sent me these thoughts on the real resources we have to help others --

Do you ever doubt what you are capable of doing? Do you believe your Mannatech organization will grow to 5,000 or more people? This morning our family worship focused on the miracle of feeding over 5,000 hungry people. In Matthew chapter 14 we see that the disciples wanted to send people away when they were hungry. They hadn’t yet learned what all they had to offer being connected to the greatest resource of all. Jesus tells them instead to feed the people themselves. Could you imagine being asked at a place like Mannafest to feed all the people with just a sack lunch? Jesus helped the disciples see His power available to them. Jesus does such a great job of helping all of us to see past our limitations. We are all asked at some time to trust in His abundant blessings despite our limited human view.

Our family worship book, God’s Amazing Creatures and Me, had this to say:

You might feel that you don’t have much to give other people. Remember how many people were fed with one boy’s lunch? Don’t forget that God is able to multiply every little thing that you give – whether it is your time, your money, your prayers or your love. Little is much when God is in it.

So how do we use the lessons of this story to help build our belief in our business success? First of all, Jesus doesn’t want us to simply send people away when they are in need. He wants to bless us with the resources to help others ourselves. Secondly, the spirit of giving comes from a place of compassion. We need to have compassion for those who have financial challenges that interfere with a feeling of peace. Our “feeding” of people with the financial opportunity is meant to provide them with what they need much like the feeding of the more than 5,000 people allowed them to stay and hear Jesus. Without the fish and loaves, the people would have had to go away instead of being exposed to life-changing information.

Changing the Leadership Paradigm

2007-02-07T20:57:00.000-08:00

Here's a new way of thinking about leadership, from Dee Hock, the founder and former CEO of Visa. He's writing in the context of corporations and their structures, but the principles apply perfectly to network marketing:

Over the years, I have had long discussions with thousands of people throughout many different organizations about management: aspirations to it, dissatisfaction with it, or confusion about it. To avoid ambiguity, I always ask each person to describe the single most important responsibility of any manager. The incredibly diverse responses always have one thing in common: they are downward-looking. Management inevitably is viewed as exercise of authority -- with selecting employees, motivating them, training them, appraising them, organizing them, directing them, controlling them. That perception is mistaken.
The first and paramount responsibility of anyone who purports to manage is to manage self: one's own integrity, character, ethics, knowledge, wisdom, temperament, words, and acts. It is a complex, unending, incredibly difficult, oft-shunned task. We spend little time and rarely excel at management of self precisely because it is so much more difficult than prescribing and controlling the behavior of others. However, without management of self no one is fit for authority no matter how much they acquire, for the more authority they acquire the more dangerous they become. It is the management of self that should occupy 50 percent of our time and the best of our ability. And when we do that, the ethical, moral and spiritual elements of management are inescapable.
Asked to identify the second responsibility of any manager, again people produce a bewildering variety of opinions, again downward-looking. Another mistake. The second responsibility is to manage those who have authority over us: bosses, supervisors, directors, regulators, ad infinitum. Without their consent and support, how can we follow conviction, exercise judgment, use creative ability, achieve constructive results or create conditions by which others can do the same? Managing superiors is essential. Devoting 25 percent of our time and ability to that effort is not too much.
Asked for the third responsibility, people become uncertain. Yet, their thoughts remain on subordinates. Mistaken again. The third responsibility is to manage one's peers -- those over whom we have no authority and who have no authority over us -- associates, competitors, suppliers, customers -- one's entire environment if you will. Without their respect and confidence little or nothing can be accomplished. Our environment and peers can make a small heaven or hell of our life. Is it not wise to devote at least 20 percent of our time, energy, and ingenuity to managing them?
Asked for the fourth responsibility, people have difficulty coming up with an answer, for they are now troubled by thinking downward. However, if one has attended to self, superiors, and peers there is nothing else left. Obviously, the fourth responsibility is to manage those over whom we have authority. The common response is that all one's time will be consumed managing self, superiors and peers. There will be no time to manage subordinates. Exactly! One need only select decent people, introduce them to the concept, induce them to practice it, and enjoy the process. If those over whom we have authority properly manage themselves, manage us, manage their peers, and replicate the process with those they employ, what is there to do but see they are properly recognized, rewarded -- and stay out of their way?

The whole article is worth a read or two. There's a shift of thinking needed for those of us (all of us?) who have been trained in the superior/subordinate model of leadership to succeed in something like network marketing, which depends so much on who we are and what we have to offer those who come into the business with us. Mannatech's nutritional technology is a great gift, but in the final analysis, the gift you offer prospective partners in this business is yourself. Isn't that worth investing in?

Check This Out

2007-01-29T20:36:00.000-08:00

Tom is looking for comments on his new website . Check it out -- it's a great system for keeping it simple.

The Starfish and the Spider

2007-01-25T19:48:00.000-08:00

Here's a book for my next amazon order: The Starfish and the Spider: the unstoppable power of leaderless organizations. Check out the intro and first chapter on their website.

The basic idea is that if you cut off the head of a spider, it dies. But if you cut of the leg of a starfish, the starfish grows a new leg, and the cut off part becomes a new starfish! The book contrasts centralized, top-down organizations (read any corporation you can think of, your workplace, church, volunteer organization, etc.) with decentralized, "leaderless" organizations. It's MGM vs. Napster and it's further mutations in the first chapter.

Jonny Baker has a review on his blog. He contrasts the characteristics of the traditional CEO with the "catalyst" that is essential to "starfish" organizations:

CEO | catalyst
boss | peer
command and control | trust
rational | emotionally intelligent
powerful | inspirational
directive | collaborative
in the spotlight | behind the scenes
order | ambiguity
organising | connecting

I've learned a few things about our kind of business in the past year. One is the importance of leadership. This is a business that works when you have good leadership above you who are supportive and able to help you grow your business. We tried it twice before without that, and never really got off the ground. But more than just being willing and available, even knowledgeable, effective leaders in network marketing have the characteristics of the catalyst.

The obvious corollary is this: in order to succeed we need to become this kind of leader to those in our organizations.

The inside/outside anti-aging program

2007-01-25T07:05:00.000-08:00

A few of us were at Dr. Vicky's house last night, and she and Jackie said something that finally helps me make the connection between the new skin care line and the core health and wellness part of the business. It's all about anti-aging (at least for those of us of a certain age who worry about such things): anti-aging on the inside with glyconutrients, antioxidents, etc. and anti-aging on the outside with the new skin care products.

When you consider that whatever you're putting on your skin right now is actually aging your skin (just about every product out there now has parabens, which combine with oils in the skin and UV light to age your skin three times normal), being able to offer something that actually reverses the the process is revolutionary.

I've put a couple of new links under resources (my old link for skin care info was broken). The first is RevolutionarySkinCare, which has great information on the products, right down to ingredients and how to use them. The other is Pre-Position Now, which introduces the business opportunity.

Off-Road Discipline: Meeting New People

2007-01-13T07:57:00.000-08:00

A few of us were chatting the other night about how doing the Mannatech business presents an opportunity for personal growth and development as leaders. I want to continue the discussion with a few thought I came across this morning in Off-Road Disciplines by Earl Creps. The book is about exploring some unusual spiritual disciplines -- the usual ones being things like prayer and Bible reading. (I've only read the introduction, but I'm excited already!)

An experience is a spiritual discipline if it has the potential to form God's heart in me, and if it functions as one because I embrace it as such.

So getting out of our comfort zone, making the effort to meet new people and develop relationships with them (whatever the fruit of those relationships might be eventually) can be seen as a spiritual discipline. And it will function as such -- it will indeed become something that God uses to form compassion, grace, love in us -- if we embrace it. That means accepting the difficulty of it as much as the promise that it will eventually produce good fruit in us.

I'm reminded of what Richard Foster says about spiritual disciplines, something to the effect that the disciplines get us into the ground where God can change our hearts. When you plant a seed, you know you have to wait to see the plant grow and the fruit develop. It's the same with the disciplines: you pursue them and practice them over time, not looking for a quick fix, but with faith that something is developing down there in the hidden places that will become manifest in its own time.

I've been thinking about where my "coffee shop" might be -- as Tom was sharing how he makes it a point to take his computer work to a local cafe on regular basis. Much as I love the idea of taking a laptop to Starbucks and working there, it doesn't quite fit my lifestyle at this point (I don't think I'd get any of my programming work done, for one thing). But I do find myself hanging out a playgrounds with the kids. It's not an easy or automatic thing to really get to know the other Moms (or nannies) there, but it may be something I need to pay attention to and make some effort to pursue. Can I embrace the challenge and see what God might want to do through it? Where are your coffee shops -- the places you might practice the discipline of meeting new people?

It's too expensive?

2007-01-10T17:41:00.000-08:00

Now here's answer to the "I can't afford it" objection -- something to think about as those post-Christmas credit card statements roll in ...

I FREQUENTLY hear that people can’t afford the $1250.00 to get going with Mannatech. And you know what, this is true. A few people can’t afford this investment. However think about this: In 2005 in the months of November and December alone there were 1.4 million HDTVs sold. The projection for the 2006 holiday season was that even more would sell even. The average price for a Plasma High Definition TV in 2005 was around $3000.

If 1.4 million people are able to put out more than $1000 for entertainment, there are hundreds of thousands of people who would put out $1250 if they believed that it could make a difference in their life. Especially if they believed that they could make far more then the $1250 back in a business.

(From Tom at Autonomous Growth)

Advent: Organizing around hope

2006-12-11T08:50:00.000-08:00

I haven't had a chance to post much lately... perhaps like me, you find yourself distracted and over-busy in this Christmas season. Here's a thought I came across on one of the blogs I peruse from time to time. Len at Next Reformation was musing on the way we can begin to organize our lives around pain (he'd just been to the dentist!)...

This got me wondering.. if one kind of life is lived by anticipating the worse.. what would life be like if we organized around anticipating the best? What would it be like if we organized around hope instead of around fear? Perhaps we would call it ADVENT..

So in this crazy season where we and everyone around us are probably too distracted to be very productive, I'm not going to worry about what I'm not getting done. I'm going to focus on the hope I have for myself and my family, for those I want to share the gift with, and for anyone willing to come along with us on the journey of Freeing Moms. Maybe I'll get a minute to spell out some more of those hopes here. And the invitation is always open to share your hopes and dreams (email them to me at glycoforhealthAThotmailDOTcom and I'll see that they get posted).

Guest Post: More on asking questions

2006-12-04T07:33:00.000-08:00

In the interest of keeping the discussion lively, here's a guest post from a Freeing Moms husband:

Tom says in comments to the last post: "The questions show we are more interested in what they need than in getting them in as soon as possible."

There is a subtle, but important switch in our minds that must occur. In our hearts we must be interested in getting them what they need rather than getting them in as soon as possible.

When I started in this business, I was uncomfortable because everyone person I knew or met suddenly seemed like a "prospect," a.k.a. a target I needed to give my spiel to. I HATED that feeling.

Now I don't feel that way at all. I wonder where the shift occurred? As I reflect on it, I think it was when I began a routine every morning of reciting the 23rd Psalm before rolling out of bed. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." It has become a part of my being, my heart, that God will always provide for my needs and I shall not be in want. What kind of sheep lie down in green pastures? Sheep who are full and don't want to eat any more.

Subtle switches in attitude make a world of difference. For example, the Bible says that we cannot earn our way to heaven by good works. But it also says that we are to do all things for and with Christ. Dallas Willard says that means a couple of things.

The works must be present. But the difference is between "earning" and "effort." Our efforts don't earn us a thing, but God works with us in our efforts. Another way Dallas puts it is that if we do nothing, then we are not working with Christ either.

So, back to educating people with the truth about glyconutritionals. I like Debbie Jones’s picture of a coffee shop waitress offering EVERYONE who comes in a cup of coffee. She is not targeting them, that is just her job. They can say no, and the waitress won't curl up in a corner for the afternoon paralyzed by rejection. We need to completely let go of being concerned about outcomes.

Our daily effort is to:
1) Engage people with questions long enough for them to decide to look at a backpack.
2) Follow up the backpack with a three way call or feedback -- and ask them more questions.
3) Sign them up if the light goes on for them.
4) Remember daily that our wants will be met regardless of outcomes.

The Power of Asking Questions

2006-11-30T07:49:00.000-08:00

I watched part of Deb Jones's Quick Start Training the other evening. I love her approach, especially her emphasis on asking questions rather than trying to answer them.

What resonated with me was something I keep hearing from Tom Butle r -- that our business is a business of belief: belief in the products and technology, belief in the business model. How does anyone develop a new belief, conviction enough to act on what they know? It's not likely to happen simply because you encounter someone who is enthusiastic and convinced themselves. That might be a start to get you interested, but it isn't likely to create that deep seated belief. Information is essential, but I know plenty of things that I don't necessarily act upon.

But when someone asks a well-placed question about what I think or believe about something, I'm forced to dig a little deeper. I have to consider whether this is something that's "nice for you" or whether it's going to be important to me, too. Questions keep us engaged long enough for beliefs to develop.

Resource Review: Road to Freedom DVD

2006-11-28T22:06:00.000-08:00

I just want to say AMEN to Tom's recommendation of this DVD. I watched it at a meeting a week or so ago, and my friend who has been very skeptical about the whole idea of network marketing said it answered almost all of her objections!

The program begins with the story of a family where the father had a successful career, but felt he was losing his family. This is the heartbeat behind Freeing Moms Forum -- to free moms and dads to be truly available to their families first. I love the idea of putting this DVD in the hands of people who aren't convinced that the business model works.

The second thing that stood out was the story of a pastor's family who got involved in the business more reluctantly. I thought they did a great job of addressing the concerns of people in ministry -- they are concerns I share, along with my friend, even though neither of us are pastors by profession.

It's a definite must-see. Order it at www.glycotools.com.

More thinking about Freeing Moms Forum…

2006-11-25T11:42:00.000-08:00

I spent some time this morning asking myself what gets me excited about Freeing Moms Forum.

I came up with a tag line: empowering healthy families to bless the world. Each part holds something of the vision I have – and hopefully others will share.

Empowering: The key to offering freedom to women and their families is empowering. I want to help women get into a position where they can make the kinds of choices for their families that they feel are best, whether it’s about what to put on the dinner table, or whether they are going to work outside the home, or where to spend the family’s time and energy. There is a dream in each of us of how we could best invest ourselves in the lives of others; empowerment is whatever we need to make the dream come true.

Our business model is all about empowering each other, as leaders and networkers and business-builders. There are lots of resources out there; I believe what we need is a place to give voice to our dreams and have others come along and say, that’s a great vision, you should go for it! So here’s an open invitation to share your dream (here in the comments, or email me at glycoforhealthAThotmailDOTcom – fix the email address). If you give your permission, I’ll post it here.

Healthy: Well, we’re all about health and sharing the benefits of glyconutritionals. I remember first hearing about glyconutritionals almost 10 years ago, and what always impressed me was the impact they had on children with severe health challenges. We’ve seen a few stories like that in our own organization (those kinds of testimonies are will be showing up here from time to time). Consider the epidemic of childhood asthma, diabetes and obesity, not to mention the increase in developmental issues like autism and ADHD – it all adds up to an incredible challenge to the health of our children. I’m willing to put my finger in the dike!

Families: One mental shift I’ve made since I became a mother, rather late in life, is that whatever I find myself really wanting for myself, I want just as much for those around me. I know we call this the Freeing Moms Forum, and I see it primarily as a network of women, but we’re really about helping families to grow healthy in every aspect of life.

To Bless the World: I don’t know what your particular gift to the world is. It may be your musical talent or skill as a brain surgeon. It may be the kids you’re preparing to launch into the world – I have a daughter who may well be the first human on Jupiter. It may be the hospitality you offer your neighbors or your compassion for African orphans. Whatever we’re building here, it’s bigger than being free to be home to raise our own children; it has an impact beyond us.

Here’s one way I hope Freeing Moms Forum can bless the world: There’s an organization called MannaRelief that provides glyconutritional supplements to medically fragile children in the United States and around the world. I know of four kids right now who could use this assistance. I’d love to see our group team up to regularly sponsor as many kids as we can. It’s just one way to pass on the gift that we’ve received.

Welcome to Freeing Moms Forum

2006-11-19T08:55:00.000-08:00

What are we all about? We're a handful of women with a vision to help other women get free. We want to see freedom in our lives and families -- financial freedom, freedom to spend time with our kids, freedom to develop the gifts we have, freedom to bless others, especially children.

We're looking for others who want to join us...