Marilyn Ruth BurkeI have earned two (2) black belts during my lifetime - one in success and the other one in failure. The first inception or "idea" of the East Texas Fun Bunch (ETFB) was in 2006, the year my Mom died. It came from my desire to provide my younger siste, Betsy Elaine Burke, the same love and support that my Mom had given to her throughout her life. Betsy was born in 1950 with Down Syndrome. ETFB grew, evolved and changed - just like this book did. I am so grateful and happy for the people and organizations that I met along the way - those that were supportive as well as those that were not - they both provided invaluable learning lessons and assisted me in growing a larger and stronger heart, persistence, resiliency, resourcefulness and creativity. Without each person and event along the way, I would not be the person I am today. So below is my tribute to all of YOU: First and foremost, I want to thank God - my Higher Power - my divine and infinite source of love and wisdom. My parents, Anna Belle and Ward R. Burke, who gave Barbara, Betsy and me the greatest gift of all - LIFE! The three (3) of us were born in Lufkin, Texas. All the many amazing, awesome, beautiful (inside and out) special friends of Betsy that I had the honor and pleasure of being with and sharing quality time. Then, the many, many people and/or organizations and/or family and friends that had a significant role in my personal evolution through ETFB, Inc. and/or editing and publishing this book and/or through personal relationships. From the time I was 18-years-old to the time I was about 40-years-old, I moved each and every year - either to a new college or university (I went to a total of 8 and have a B.S., MEd., and M.A.) OR a new city OR a new job OR a new home. I have been a director of a child care center, teacher/counselor, real estate broker/property manager/florist/ Licensed Professional Counselor, flight attendant. I have been a wife and I am still a mother of four (4) and a grandmother of four (4). All of whom I dearly love plus other family members. I love attending church and personal growth seminars and workshops. I love growing and expanding and transforming myself and watching and encouraging others to become all they can be. I enjoy romance and spirituality, transformation, transition and vibrant joy! I have lived in Washington, D. C. area, Aspen, England, Beaumont, Houston area, New Jersey, My hobbies are eating out at new and different places, scuba diving, going to "new" and uncharted places, traveling - the world is my playground - dancing - all kinds - any kinds - Eating healthily and exercising, meeting new and different people around the world, being an anonymous philanthropist. I love the journey of my evolution and I keep asking myself: What do I want to do and be when I grow up? Butterflies are on the cover of Mandy's book. They represent the celebration, endurance, expansion each of us experience along our life's highway. My personal life and journey is reflected in the life of a butterfly. I started out as a caterpillar - not knowing or understanding the reason I was on earth - the reason I was born - My mission or purpose in life. Then for a while, I lay dormant and/or hid inside my cocoon - fearful - unsure - not realizing that I was designed with special talents and attributes. It took both courage and commitment and desire to overcome my fears and "old ways of being" in order to emerge into a whole new world with profound changes and vibrant joy . To become free and expand and embrace a new way of "being" that I had no idea was even possible. Read More Read Less