We have a little "pay it forward" going on in our family. Mom will send me some chicken soup in a container. I'll make some chili and send it on to one sister in the container. She'll make some shortcake and send it on to another sister. She'll make some casserole and send it on to our brother in the same dish. Finally, brother ends up putting some garden hot peppers in it and sending it back to Mom and Dad. It's a fun thing, especially if the dish doesn't follow the loop and you find it coming back to you six months later! Blessings to all!

Dawn M. Wilson

www.braveheartwomen.com/dawnwilson

Linda, you are paying it forward with so many of the Braveheart Women. I hope you know what a tremendous impact of encouragement, leadership and inspiration you are to us. You are a "Pay it Forward" story. May God continue to bless us with your wisdom and caring.

Rebecca

www.braveheartwomen.com/awakening

Terry, who said before this project she used to be shy, contacted professional painters, artists and area businesses, and raised close to $200,000 in donations, furniture and equipment to revamp the dilapidated living quarters. "I sent out e-mails and letters and made phone calls to people I thought would help," she said.

She heard the word "no" more than once, but that didn't deter her.

One time while visiting the shelter, one of the residents referred to Terry as an "angel," A modest mother of four, Terry said the real angels are the contributors who helped make the makeover a success. On June 18, the women's bedroom at Grace Centers of Hope received a garden-style transformation. Terry believes gardening satisfies cravings for fresh air and sunshine. "Gardening soothes our souls and replenishes our spirits," she said. "When we garden, we learn to appreciate the rhythms of the seasons and the patience to wait for spring flowers to bloom, for summer vegetables to ripen on their vines."

A long list of the "angels" who made a difference is posted on Terry's web site.
"I call them angels because I believe God sent them. Ninety angels from all over the world, including Australia, donated to this makeover. A very, very large furniture store in Michigan  donated all the bunk beds, baby cribs and carpet. A professional painting company donated its services to paint the women's bedroom and stairway, and all the paint was all donated. Color has the power of bringing inspiration and daydreams to life. Also donated were all the materials to revamp the women's bathroom. The total cost was $7,000." This BraveHearted woman was determined to create a bedroom that would enable the sheltered women to awaken to a room that would remind them every day:

She crafted a homemade sign for above the women's front bedroom door. It reads:

"This sign represents a brand new chapter in the women's lives and the spirit of the room," 

Terry believes the most touching thing found in the room are photographs of the women who currently live at the shelter."They were placed on the wall so that all the future women who find their way to safety will know there is hope," she said.

"I believe in myself more. I didn't realize how much strength I have. I have always been shy, but even a raindrop can make a ripple effect."

I want everyone to know that all it takes is one person to say,

"I want to make a difference."

 Many Blessings,
Terry Grahl
734-776-0848
"Sing like a bird after every storm!"

Please click here to see a video of Project Hope

Aloha BraveHeart Sister Linda! Here's my story of how I pay it forward.

I lived and worked in Japan for several years as an English teacher. I knew some of the language, but was not very good at speaking Japanese. I was going through a transition in my life at that time. I lived alone and had no friends or family nearby to go to. Living in a foreign country for the first time, I experienced culture shock, and was homesick for family & friends, the beach, the local food, and reading, speaking and listening to English.

Luckily, I had wonderful co-workers and students who really helped me to survive in Japan. They helped me at the bank to communicate with the tellers, they took me around and shared with me their country, they were there for me when I was going through some rough times, and so on.

Now that I am back in my home country & state, I feel so much appreciation for being an American citizen and for living in the most beautiful state, Hawaii. I became a teacher here and was able to help foreign students adjust to living in a foreign country and be there for them when they had no one else to turn to. Even now, I am so fortunate to be a Homestay mother for a 16 year old student who is from Japan. She lives with us and I am her Hawaiian Mommy. I also learn a lot from her, too, and really enjoy the exchange of culture and aloha. I am able to pay it forward to her and help make her American experience an experience of her lifetime. I trust that she will then go on to pay it forward to someone else and share her aloha with others.

Isn't it wonderful to be able to spread peace and love through one person at a time? We CAN make a difference in this world. It starts with us, and how we interact with others. We CAN make this a more peaceful world by being peaceful ourselves and then sharing that feeling with others.

Thank you for letting me share!

Alison Murata

www.braveheartwomen.com/inspiration

Thank you for being You, Linda and continuing to "Pay It Forward." Linda very graciously offered to mentor me, in the business she's in, now mind you, I was in the same business last year and she was not my sponsor. Yet, she wants me to succeed and mentored me many times this past year and is still willing to mentor me. She has well learned the art of negotiating and subtly offers suggestions on how I can improve my prospecting, my voice, my message, and my mindset. She is very knowledgeable. I encourage those of you who don’t know  Linda Carol Berry to get to know her. She even thanked us in advance for the stories and messages we will leave on her blog! Thank you again,  Linda! In Loving Gratitude for being Your BH Sister and Your Fellow Founding Member, Robin Edna Bair www.braveheartwomen.com/abundance4usall/

Linda, I loved reading what you wrote about paying it forward. You are an inspiration to us all, and you do truly pay it forward. God Bless you my friend, Allison www.braveheartwoman.com/allie

This Linda is a awesome woman! Today she took time out of her very busy life to lend me a hand with my BHWGC site. Along with some very good pointers, her greatest gift to me was her loving attitude and openess to sharing. We had a few very good laughs! I know now, there's no way we can fail! Big Hugz Linda, www.braveheartwomen.com/kathybibby