My Montana Miracles

Let me tell you MY story of the power of visualization and a DREAM/PRAYER coming true for me...

A year ago, we moved back to Oregon after struggling financially in Montana for about 2 years. I had no idea that it was the beginning of the worst recession our country has seen in decades and felt so lost and alone and scared as our finances dwindled and our debt increased. I had been on a path with my business that was amazing and growing like crazy and to see it level off and not grow as fast was disheartening. I lost a lot of my confidence, too.

In Oregon, my husband got a new job in a brand new field, hearing aid sales and service, and did very well at it. We started to recover our finances and pay off debt and get back on our feet. We were very focused on that goal. But in my heart, I knew that Oregon wasn't where we were supposed to be. I love Montana and so do our kids. They missed friends, family and all that Montana represents to them. I choose to be happy so I was... but I wasn't content. It's ok to let yourself be discontent if it drives you to action to seek out something better. That is what I did!!

Collin and I sat down at the New Year 2009 and discussed our goals and dreams for the new year. We determined that if a job ever opened up in Montana that we would move back to Bozeman to be closer to family and to give the kids a Montana upbringing.

I started visualizing everyday... Collin working as a hearing practitioner in the office where my grandma gets her hearing aids, our family living close to my dear friend, Lori Dawkins and her family in South Bozeman in a 3 level home with 4 bedrooms so each kid could have his/her own room and a big quiet office for me (my office in Oregon was in my laundry room and I had to shut off the washer/dryer just to call a prospect), good renters for our Oregon home, and finances to make the whole thing happen smoothly.

A few weeks after I started visualizing and praying for the miraculous, Collin got a job at the very office where my grandma is a patient with a company where the regional manager lives in Portland. I had 3 of his kids as students when I taught there 15 years ago. Small world! They needed a sound booth delivered to Missoula so the manager asked if we could throw it on our moving truck and they would pay for our moving expenses. We also got our tax return just in time!

We needed renters for our house in Oregon and within a day or so of getting the new job, a wonderful couple we know from church heard we were moving from their daughter, who was friends with our daughter, and asked us about our house. They were looking to downsize and our house was perfect for them. A perfect fit for both of us!!

Then we needed a house to move into in Bozeman. We own a home there already but we didn't want to evict our amazing renters. Collin moved ahead of us by a month and the day after he arrived into town, he went over to our dear friends, the Dawkins, to say hi and see if there were any houses in the area for rent. Right across the street from them was a beautiful 4 br/3 level home with a FOR RENT sign in the yard. It had become vacant only a few days before. He was able to look at the house the next day and put in an application. A week or so later, we had the house and it was exactly the house I saw in my mind when I visualized my perfect house for the next phase of our life. We didn't look at any other houses because I knew that was the house for us!

The sign on the door says, "Welcome Home Andersens!"

So we moved back to Montana a week ago and I'm focused on even bigger dreams and goals for myself... in my business and beyond. During my time in Oregon, which was a time of isolation and loneliness, I was able to discover some things about myself and pinpoint exactly what I want and what I do not want. I began journaling everyday and reading books that offered hope. I didn't allow myself to focus on the negative or be around negative people. I had to take drastic measures to get back on MY RIGHT PATH!

I'm not perfect or lead a perfect life but I give God the glory for helping me through the hard times and giving me such amazing miracles. He puts wonderful dreams into my heart!

Kari Andersen

Double Diamond

Bozeman, MT

http://www.momsmakingmoneyfromhome.com/

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Moving... again

Have you ever had to wait to find out if you got something (like a house or job or pregnancy)? Well, I am waiting to find out if we get to rent a really cool house in Bozeman, MT where we are moving to in just a couple weeks.

It's funny the stuff that goes through your mind!

*The house is OURS, no problem. It's meant to be.

*I have faith that God will give us this house.

*Maybe they didn't get our application. Call them again.

*Hmmm... maybe it's not the right house and God is sparing us from a bad move.

*Nothing we can do but wait and pray.

*It's ours. It has to be. Who would be better.... right?

*Um. I'm patient. I can be patient. It's all about timing.

*I'm packing and labeling boxes in faith.

*Please, please, please God!

So you see how my thought process is going right now because I really want that house. We already own 2 homes and have renters for them. So renting ourselves is going to be different for us.

Collin took Grandma Lou and my dad over to the house to show them and they loved it, of course. But now we wait.

Why are we moving back to Bozeman, MT?

Simple... it's home.

I am a Montana girl to the bone and love all things Montana including the wicked winters. I am passionate about Montana. It's in my blood.

A year ago we moved from Bozeman back to Gresham, OR after being away for 6 years... 3 years in L.A. and 3 in Bozeman. The car business was tanking (no pun intended) and Collin wasn't able to make enough to sustain us in the resort-like expensive town of Bozeman so we did some soul searching and realized that he needed to pursue a new career in a field that is in huge demand... anything to do with the elderly and the Baby Boomers.

So he chose hearing aid sales and service. Collin was born with moderate hearing loss and so he understands the challenges and struggles. Perfect fit.

He had a friend who wanted him to sell for him for years back in Portland so we decided to move back to our house we own in Gresham and start working for him. Within a year he was licensed and running is own office. It was a very exciting and learning time for him.

But my heart was never in Oregon, as hard as I tried. I wanted to be closer to my friends, my candle team, my family and my state. So we made the goal to move back to Montana as soon as a job opened up. That was mid-January when we wrote down that dream. Within just weeks, it became a reality. Not only were we moving back to Montana but they needed someone in the Bozeman office and right away!!

The miracles that surround this move leave me speechless and humble at God's goodness and faithfulness. He met me at every point of need. I never lacked for anything.

So as I wait for word on whether or not we get this house, I KNOW for sure that God is working and that I won't be disappointed in the outcome.

Kari Andersen

http://www.mom-dad-candle-business.com/moms-in-montana.html

Turk-n-Surf

Each year Collin's parents host a Thanksgiving celebration at Cannon Beach that they call Turk-n-Surf. Because they have 6 kids who all have families, it's their gift to the family.

Family members arrive as soon as they are able to get out of school or off of work. Some arrive as early as Monday and others not until Thanksgiving Day. But all are there for Thanksgiving dinner.

During the day there is lots of eating, walking on the beach, reading, card playing, game watching and laughing. It's the one time of the year that all the cousins get to hang out with each other and the adults get to rest and act like kids if they want to.

Here are some fun photos I took on the last day right before we left to go home...

Fantastic Fun this Fall

What a wonderful Fall we had this year. The weather was amazing and we did a lot of things as a family. I was behind the camera so it doesn't look like I was there... but I was!!

Here are some pictures from our festive Fall fun!!


Corn maze at Liepold Farms.


Daddy and Daughter




View from our front yard with my cutie girl


View from our front yard. The Fall colors are amazing!!


NOT a scary witch and yummy m&m!!


Too pretty to be a witch


m&m, mad scientist and sorta scary witch

Rock Band

We got the Wii game Rock Band for my son's birthday present and we are totally addicted to it. Not me so much because I detest hard rock music but the kids and Collin love it. But I do kick butt on bass guitar!!

You can play up to 4 people... one of microphone, one on drums, one on lead guitar and one on bass guitar. Perfect for my family... minus me!!

My son asked his band teacher if he can use his playing time of Rock Band as practice time! ha! She said, NO! But he is getting really good percussion practice when he plays so it's like getting extra credit practice because his skills are getting so good!

Kari Andersen

www.kari-andersen.com

Pumpkin Spice is my favorite!!

One of my favorite foods and scents for Autumn is Pumpkin Spice. This lens will explore the wonderful world of pumpkins and delicious pumpkin spice recipes.

I also run my own gourmet candle business and one of my very bestsellers is Pumpkin Spice!

http://www.squidoo.com/pumpkin-spice

Moms for Sarah Palin: The Pitbull with Lipstick

I was undecided about the election. I seriously didn't have any idea which way I would vote. I am quite conservative in my views but have been so unhappy with the state of our country.

That all changed when Sarah Palin came onto the scene. She is ME! I am her!!

She represents everything that I am working for as a woman and a mom. She is showing me that it's possible and I want HER voice (my voice) in Washington.

MOMS have waited a long time to have a voice. I believe Sarah Palin will be that voice for us!!

For too long, stay-at-home moms, work-at-home moms and outside-the-home working moms have been overlooked.

We get the obligatory mention from politicians who want our vote and call us "housewives." UGH!!

But that could change!! Hopefully Sarah Palin the "pitbull with lipstick" will be a voice for us!

This lens is all about MOMS for Sarah Palin because Sarah Palin is for MOMS!

http://www.squidoo.com/pit-bull-with-lipstick