Lemonade Leaders of TLS Book #3

Not pictured: John Weiman

Presenting the authors of The Lemonade Stand Book 3 The Lemonade Leaders

Laura Ann Garris

Why did you choose to share your story in The Lemonade Stand ?

To share hope with others that they too, can overcome a year of overwhelming hardships by leaning into love, faith, and intrepid compassion.

What did you discover about yourself in the process of writing?

That I had a deep reservoir of grit and resilience that allowed me to continue to create the life of my dreams despite my own brokenness, hardship, and failures.

Writing allowed me to see my own strength and light in times that seemed too heavy to bear. It was the process of taking my wounds and alchemizing them into true empowerment for my soul.

How has your past experiences shaped your purpose, why, and passions?

Always an independent self-starter, I put myself through college, had a successful sales career, and then put my family first. With a strong faith background, I knew the goodness and abundance that could exist in life if I could get out of my own way and enjoy the moments.

Travel and meeting new people have always been a favorite passion of mine and something I have passed down to my children. I always want to see the world through a fresh lens of curiosity and exploration, where my soul lives fully each day.

What do you consider to be your key message from your story?

Lean in with grit to the hardships and keep creating your Sweet Life by standing firm in faith, honor, and intrepid compassion. When you do, the miracles of love are boundless.

What are three things you would like people to know about you?

Completed a 5K Spartan Sprint at 54 yrs old.

At 13 yrs old, I traveled to the “Virgen de Guadalupe” and pyramids of Teotihuacan in Mexico.

Lived for one year in the Swedish Arctic Circle.

Life Refresh Coach, Bestselling Author, and Speaker

Presentation Title: Living The Sweet Life - The RV Edition!

Please contact Laura Ann at: liferefreshcoach@gmail.com 206-617-5702 www.LifeRefreshCoach.com

Diana Grasso Barrett

To educate young women in relationships and marriage

The trauma I have experienced, made me a stronger woman

and a stronger mother. Once my mother passed, my purpose was my children. They can be proud of the woman I am, or not, it's a choice. I'm passionate about changing marital law for a very good reason.

Things Happen. No one visualizes the future as being different from today. It's 5,15, 30 years later in the blink of an eye. Now you are 60. Don't ever get too comfortable. If you marry, know the state may not be there for you when you need them. The church's blessing was enough for me. If I knew what I now know, I would not have gotten a marriage license where 50/50 is assumed in all documentation with one primary signature. I would have made sure that all docs were created to jointly include both parties in the marriage or relationship, 50/50. Partnership and ownership should require all signatures at close, with complete transparency in love and property.

You are either a good human being or not. Writing my story reminded me just how much I gave to others in my life, as most women do. All my adult life, it warmed my soul, it's in my blood to do for others, no matter what it is, family, community, and strangers abroad.

What are three things you would like people to know about you?

I'm the girl next store that did everything right by God. I'm trying to get that young smile back, when there weren't any worries in the world. I have always been a leader. I am a Worker Bee, 110% all the time. I worked just as hard as anyone else, every day, all day and late nights.

Please contact Diana at: coffeeandmartinis@gmail.com

Why did you choose to share your story in The Lemonade Stand ?

What did you discover about yourself in the process of writing?

What do you consider to be your key message from your story?

How has your past experiences shaped your purpose, why, and passions?

Julie Kenzler

Why did you choose to share your story in The Lemonade Stand ?

A collaborative book project where I could share my HOPE FOLLOWS story sounded exciting! What an incredible opportunity to meet fellow authors and collectively expand the positive influence we have on others. I get so excited helping people reclaim joy beyond hardships; lemons to lemonade.

How have your past experiences shaped your purpose, why, and passions?

Experiencing the sudden and tragic losses of my father and sister taught me a great deal about myself. I am not a quitter. I desire and need joy and hope in my life after the storms of grief. I am stronger than I think. Just as I was encouraged by people around me, I am driven to be that encouragement to others. When I realized God gave me the gift and responsibility to share HOPE-filled stories, I knew my purpose was to follow His lead. Go after your dreams! Dare to venture into something you are passionate about.

What do you consider to be your key message from your story?

The message I share of HOPE is a strong reminder to others of the light in the darkness of their struggles, fears, and losses. Don't be afraid to step into the problem or difficult time you face. Have a solid support network to walk with you. You can break out of hopelessness. You can experience new joy once again. That is my message ~ Hope Follows the hard stuff in life.

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What did you discover about yourself in the process of writing?

I found a voice to share practical stories with encouraging messages. God is the source of my skills with written words to use as a beacon of light for others. Writing allows me to be my transparent and authentic self.

What are three things you would like people to know about you?

I love hiking the mountains in Arizona, with family and friends, my dogs, or alone. I could hike the same trail a hundred times and will still love it. I'm a bit obsessed with making new memories and traditions, because those are what last a lifetime.

Broadcaster of the show Hope Follows on the International HSBN and CWWN Networks.

Bestselling Author, Broadcaster and Speaker

Presentation Title: Hope Follows

Please contact Julie at: juliekenzler@gmail.com https://www.hopefollows.com/

John Weiman

I believe Michelle is phenomenal at gathering people together to share their incredible stories. I want my story to be heard. My dream is never to have anyone go down the road I did. I saw fourteen people die having Cirrhosis. I was the only one that lived. People need to be aware of the consequences of alcohol abuse.

I learned I'm very lucky to be alive, and sometimes I take that for granted. Having shared my story, I take the time EVERY DAY to be thankful. I'm reminded of a quote by Warren Zevon, who died of cancer and was asked what he learned. He replied, " You put more value in every minute. You're reminded to enjoy every sandwich and every minute." He was right, and I'll never forget that.

There's not enough space here. I learned my childhood experience and how I handled my parent's divorce had far more consequences than I ever realized. None of my friends knew about my parents five year divorce. In my divorce, I repeated the exact same mistakes which affected me and my health. Today, my purpose and passion are about communication. I've made a promise to myself in my practice; If I think it, I say it, and it has given others the courage to express their fears.

What do you consider to be your key message from your story?

Whether you're faced with a life-threatening illness or not, you have a choice to make; how do you want to live, and how do you want to be remembered.

My feelings of inadequacy are wrong. The nicest thing I have ever been told is by my oldest brother and sister; both Princeton scholars. "John, if Mom were alive today, She'd be prouder of you than any of us."

My self-deprecating sense of humor is an attempt to connect with others.

When I was 6 years old, Mom cuddled with me while listening to Barbara Streisand's "People who need People." She taught me how important it was. She was right; people who need people are the luckiest people in the world.

Marriage Counselor and Bestselling Author

Please contact John at: www.lifebridgecoaching.com 410-419-8149

Why did you choose to share your story in The Lemonade Stand ?

What did you discover about yourself in the process of writing?

How has your past experiences shaped your purpose, why, and passions?

What are three things you would like people to know about you?

Courtney Kaplan

Why did you choose to share your story in The Lemonade Stand ?

I chose to share my story in The Lemonade Stand in hopes that some part of my journey with loss, grief, and empowerment can encourage readers to look at their circumstances through a different lens. The Lemonade Stand creates a community of heartcentered leaders in their respective fields. Each story leaves the reader encouraged and empowered.

What did you discover about yourself in the process of writing?

This process of writing has forced me to connect with my traumas again. It is my responsibility to be transparent and detailed with my very personal experiences. I am able to reflect on the past hurts and heal them. I apply the 'new me' wisdom to the 'old me' traumas. This has been such a meaningful and life-changing experience.

My past experiences have revealed my WHY.

Throughout my journey, I can look back and recognize the numerous times I thought there was no way I could make it out of this. Between the fear of failure and my lack of confidence, strength was not a virtue I believed in, at least not for me.

Looking back now, I have no choice but to validate the many times I did make it through and that I am strong. Knowing and doing are two different but equally important to growth. I am living my truth and sharing it with others.

What do you consider to be your key message from your story?

To remind our readers that no matter how hard life gets, and how impossible overcoming may seem, there is always a way. Acknowledging and acceptance can be the most difficult part of the healing process. Once you identify the challenge, you can begin to step through it.

What are three things you would like people to know about you?

I would like people to know that I am an organ donor mom.

I am mother to five beautiful children. My greatest lesson has been I am stronger than I know.

Bestselling Author, and Inspirational Speaker

Presentation Title: The Gifts of Grief

Please contact Courtney at: courtneybkaplan@gmail.com 702-628-0510

How has your past experiences shaped your purpose, why, and passions?

Rebecca Callahan

Why did you choose to share your story in The Lemonade Stand ?

I chose to share parts of my story because I wish somebody had shared theirs with me. For most of my life, I was in a mode of reacting to things happening around me or to me. I would have loved to have had someone to guide me. When I was diagnosed with cancer, my friend Melanie took it upon herself to host an evening with people who had previously been diagnosed with breast cancer. I learned more that night than I did at any office visit. Imagine how my life could have changed had someone guided me through some earlier struggles. Hearing someone else's story is a way to share ideas and thoughts. It helps to know someone else is going through the same stuff and came out OK.

I am interested in self-growth and development. I have come to realize how resilient I am. I have witnessed and personally been through a lot, but I try to stay positive and maintain a sense of humor. Every experience has been a learning opportunity. Sometimes I make the right decision, and sometimes I need a little more "learning." At some point, I will get things right.

What do you consider to be your key message from your story ?

Everyone starts with a Plan A, the hope that everything will go as planned. Plan B is where you see a person's integrity and character. It's where you climb over the wall or fall and stay down. It's part of the journey. I want people to know that falling doesn't mean you failed; it just means you tripped.

A Plan B journey can be the most difficult but the most rewarding. When things get tough, you need to keep moving in some direction.

How has your past shaped your purpose, why, and passions?

I have learned more about myself and others because of my past. Divorce and cancer have forced me to take a hard look at my life. I am a workaholic and struggle to balance my work/home/fun life. I work at it every day and, by doing so, have had some of the best times ever. I have broken ties with toxic people and have learned to embrace others. At work, we were recently asked what our "why" was. My "why" is to make enough money to pay my bills and have some left over to have fun and enjoy life. In the meantime, I hope to help others to reach their potential.

Mom, Daughter, Sister, Friend, BASE Supervisor and Bestselling Author

Please contact Rebecca at: bcally64@gmail.com

What did you discover about yourself in the process of writing?

Susan Z. Franklin

Why did you choose to share your story in The Lemonade Stand ?

I've wanted to be an author since I was seven. When presented with this opportunity, I knew writing has always been something I have passionately loved to do. Finally being published, feels like an impetus to not only write for myself, but now get to share with others.

It has been a cathartic experience that has increased my self-knowledge and awareness beyond anything I have experienced before.

How has your past experiences shaped your purpose, why, and passions?

Though I embrace my positive experiences with joy, I've gotten invaluable but painful lessons from the experiences I have deemed as negative, especially in regard to family and close friends.

What would you like people to know about you?

Growing and learning about yourself, others and the world is an ongoing experience that never ends, and it is never too late to be all that you were meant to be and beyond.

I have always loved and written from my heart and soul since I was seven. I loved being a third-grade teacher and working with children in poverty and secondlanguage learners. My students always soared in learning English and academics because we became family, and they felt safe to be their best selves with me and each other. I desire and am working towards being what I was in my classroom on a broader scope.

Teacher, Bestselling Author, and Speaker

Presentation Title: Eternal Teacher

Please contact Susan at: susanzfranklin@gmail.com. 602-350-5097

What did you discover about yourself in the process of writing?

What do you consider to be your key message from your story?

Akachi Phillips

Why did you choose to share your story in The Lemonade Stand ?

Sharing my story is a stepping out - out of shame and a sense of failure. It is casting off the cloak of regret and accepting who I am and where I am today.

What did you discover about yourself in the process of writing?

I thought I was over the pain of my divorce but I don't think the pain for me will ever be completely gone. It will remain, a tiny dormant seed to remind me of mistakes made, lessons learned and lengths grown.

How has your past experiences shaped your purpose, why, and passions?

I've wasted much of my life being what others wanted me to be. As a result, I have been abused and taken advantage of. I was focused on making other people's lives okay at the expense of mine.

I will always have a servant's heart hence my desire to continue helping people, but all my pain has taught me that I am no good to others if I don't take care of myself first. My purpose is to be a truth-teller who helps bring peace and clarity to others.

What do you consider to be your key message from your story?

Don’t lose who you are for others. Speak up early and loudly.

What would you like people to know about you?

I love life and will forever be an optimist.

I love people- helping people gives me joy.

I am a giver.

Real Estate Investor, and Bestselling Author

Please contact Akachi at: Email: akachi@brickandarrow.com

IG: @brickandarrowretreats

IG: @tellmymoney

Sharla Walhood

Why did you choose to share your story in The Lemonade Stand ?

I chose to share my story because I want people to know that no matter all the negative or bad things that can happen in a person's life, we should always find the positive side. Like my father being handicapped due to a car accident, which in turn made him sterile. Those are both bad things, however, he never would have been my dad and adopted me had he died or not gotten injured.

What did you discover about yourself in the process of writing?

I remembered things in my past that I had not thought about in a long time, which brought some old traumas to the surface, which was very healing and has helped me along my journey of self-healing.

How has your past experiences shaped your purpose, why, and passions?

I had to grow up fast and deal with things that many children never have to deal with, but it made me a stronger person. I think that strength helped me endure the abuse of my ex-husband and now my passion is to spread awareness about domestic abuse. Abuse is not always just physical, it's mental as well.

What would you like people to know about you?

I am a very loving person and always try to see the best in everyone. I hope that my story will inspire many people to see the positives in their lives even when things seem to be at their worst. I also am an animal lover and love to travel around the world.

What do you consider to be your key message from your story?

We control our reactions to hardships and it's better for yourself to dwell on the positive, because negative thoughts can drag your soul down and that can be hard to recover from. So be happy to be alive, every day is a gift and we should cherish the time we have and spend it with a positive outlook to the future.

What do you enjoy most about being a realtor?

It's a great feeling to share in the happiness of someone buying their dream house or selling their home to embark on a new adventure.

Real Estate Investor, and Bestselling Author

Please contact Sharla at: Text: 480-204-5505

Jeanne Perkins

Why did you choose to share your story in The Lemonade Stand ?

I am sharing my story to inspire and restore confidence in individuals that are faced with challenges at any stage and area of life.

What did you discover about yourself in the process of writing?

I discovered how resourceful, resistent, resilient and inspiring I can be.

How has your past experiences shaped your purpose, why, and passions?

Every moment and experience, whether positive or negative, has assisted in forming who I am today. I am grateful for all the synchronicities I recognize to guide me on my path. My "why" at this stage in my life is my son. I want to teach him by example and build a legacy for him in real estate.

What else is on the horizon for you?

In addition to starting real estate investing full time, I am launching my soul coaching practice. I am incorporating my skills to take clients to the next level of thriving in all areas of life. Skills such as active listening, negotiating, strong empathy, highly attuned intuition, trusting personality combined with specialized knowledge, I am able to hold a very special sacred space for people I work with.

What do you consider to be your key message from your story?

My key message is that there is always a solution, let's find a way. Be persistent and consistent, passionate and resourceful to follow your visions. Do not give up. There is ALWAYS a Solution.

What would you like people to know about you?

Generous

Loyal

Extremely resourceful

Real Estate Investor, Soul Coach and Bestselling Author

Please contact Jeanne at: Email: jeannejayperkins@gmail.com

Coming Soon

By Michelle Faust and the Lemonade Leaders