Dear friends,

I am still numb and in a happy fog from all these kind words!! It has been quite the amazing journey to Double Diamond and I feel so blessed and thankful for my LIFE... and all of you!

When I signed up on Oct. 25th, 2004 (Thanks Jackie for always remembering our anniversary;) to become a distributor, I was looking for a way to GET A LIFE. Of course I wanted to make money but I was really looking for a way to be empowered. I was stifled and bored and just KNEW that there had to be more. Well, I not only found MORE, I found YOU!!

I can honestly say that knowing all of you is the best part of the whole deal. I look forward to the events (VEGAS, BABY!!) to see you, chat with you, learn with you and of course, party with you!!

When I signed up with Jackie, I got on every training call offered for 2 years. I still get on a lot of them esp. Jackie's calls. I always learn something. It always reminds me why I am here. I never tire of hearing the story or telling my story. I keep selling what I bought and my check keeps growing and my life keeps getting better.

Many of you know that this last year was a hard financial year for us (like it was/is for many of you) so we relocated to a different state, tightened the belt and adjusted our lifestyle so we could make it through the storm.

I never stopped working my business and I never gave up and quit. I still can't believe that I achieved my heart's desire and goal of becoming a Double Diamond at the height of the worst recession that our country has seen in a long time. What a story that is!! What an awesome company and product we have!!!! What a blessing to have such a fabulous team... I am humbled by them and grateful for them.

This is where I want to give a special thanks and congrats to NEW 5K Diamond, Cheryl Hill, Chill, who has been my business partner and friend for almost three years now. She has let me cry on her shoulder and is also the first one I call to share good news. She listened to my daily updates on volume status and even checked it for me when I was at the beach during Thanksgiving without internet access. She is sillier than me and always makes me laugh.

I traded a candle for a tube of lipstick from a mutual friend who does MK who later showed Cheryl the candle and she signed up. What if I wouldn't have shared my candle with that mutual friend??? I might have been denied my best friend... I can't imagine life without her. The lesson... your new best friend and top leader might be one brave decision away.

Of course, I have to thank Jackie Ulmer. She was there on the internet with the keyword "candles" on her website and I found her. Yep, I typed "candles" into a yahoo search and SHE was 1!! That is amazing. I really didn't look any further than that... she was who I wanted to be and how I wanted to do it. She has been the perfect leader/mentor for me. God had her waiting for me when I was ready.

Thank you Jackie for your patience with me and your gentle accountability. You never brow beat me or make me feel like I don't measure up. Just great training and cheering... that is what I needed at this stage in my life!!

I feel like I'm accepting an Oscar...hehehe!

I also want to thank Charlie Umphred. For some odd reason, he believed in me from the start. He began mentoring me and caring about my success from early on and what he taught me through his training calls, speeches at events and personal conversations has made all the difference. He's not just an owner or VP of marketing. He's a person you could call if your plane has been delayed overnight to come get you, offer a place to crash at his house with him and Cyndi, feed you a gourmet meal and take you back to the airport at 4am. (true story, obviously!!)

And last but not least, thank you to my family. Collin, my wonderful husband, has cheered for me and supported me ALMOST from the beginning. It was shaky at first but with time and education and a NICE check, he came around! My kids have hung in there when I needed to be on a call or go out of town. They love that I'm home when they get home from school or when they have 3 Snow Days in a row!! They are awesome business partners, too!

Thank you all again. I am a better person because of my friendships with all of you!

Kari Andersen
Double Diamond
California/Montana/Oregon/Beaches of the World!!
http://www.MomsMakingMoneyFromHome.com