Who is Rebecca?

Hello!  And thank you for checking out my website!  I’m excited to share laughter and occasional tears as we find ways to be happy together.

I grew up in Minnesota, went to high school in Morocco, attended Brigham Young University, American Military University, and Georgetown University. I have a BA in Intelligence Studies and a MA in International Business and Policy. I’ve lived in Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Upstate NY, the Netherlands, Northern Virginia and Utah.

I’ve owned several small businesses over the years including a shop in Utah, a greeting card business in Saudi Arabia, and a tutoring business in northern Virginia. I have also served as a strategy consultant for a variety of domestic and international businesses, from a winery and vineyard in the mountains of Chile to a video marketing firm in the Rockies, my clients include, among others, a successful quilting and fabric design company based in Texas, and an Instagram-based wellness consulting firm. I specialize in helping business owners discover their competitive advantages and leverage them to bring success.

I’ve spoken to businesses, school groups, parents’ groups, educational conferences, youth groups, religious conferences and others around the country on a variety of topics including Finding Strength in the Storm, Spy Skills That Can Save Your (Spiritual) Life, How to be Open to Inspiration, Educational Options for Gifted Children, and How to Help Kids Love Books. I’ve published many articles and am in the process of publishing a book.

I have six (yes, 6!) wonderful children. Four were born to me and two were adopted from Ukraine.  We have been blessed with wonderful, challenging and exciting lives.

This website started as a blog after I discovered my husband of 24 years had been sexually abusing one of our daughters.  She was 12 at the time I made the discovery.  While this is, clearly, one of the Really Hard Things our family has been through, there are others.  We’ve faced serious medical problems, emotional challenges, and educational adventures.  Like all families, we have our ups and downs.

I’m a Christian, and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as Mormons.  I love and respect good people of all denominations and am thrilled to see people everywhere teaching and practicing kindness.  If you’d like to know more about my religious beliefs, please visit Mormon.org. Or ask!  =)

I truly believe anyone can develop a love of books, and that our love of books will lead us to discover adventures, truth, and who we really are.  =)  I hope to share that love with my Recommended Books links..

I am currently blessed to live in a beautiful little town full of wonderful people at the base of the Rocky Mountains.  I hope this website will encourage all of us– myself included– to remember that even in the midst of chaos, there are at least 1001 things to be happy about.

Rebecca  =)

PS.
This website is part of my attempt to financially support my family through writing, speaking and consulting.  Any speaking engagements, consulting, writing or editing purchased through this site, or purchases from Amazon or iTunes through a link you find here will help keep this website (and my family) fed and clothed.  Or… whatever it is websites need to stay alive.