Linda Bourgault

I've finally decided to tell you MORE about one of the most important professional and personal success stories in my life... I am proud to share it with you. I also hope it may inspire someone else... someone that is facing just one or a multitude of issues which makes them wonder IF they will survive or ever see their glass half to full again.

Some of you know about Bruce Bourgault, my late husband—his battle with cancer, his success as a mortgage banker and the extraordinary life he lived. He was the man of my dreams, my best friend and now my steadfast angel. Without him I would not be a member of Activerain nor would I be a loss mitigator. I also would not be the person or have the life I have today without him.

In August 2006, Bruce was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. In the following weeks and months he survived surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. He also survived my ministrations, worries and concerns to keep on top of any and all of his health issues... I drove the dear man bonkers - LOL! During this time he was a member of Activerain and the RAIN became his voice when he could not speak. I became his professional voice as his loan officer assistant. I was his care giver and he was my inspiration. Central Pacific Bank Home Loans offered him a new position as Vice President which he humbly accepted. I organized a mini-family reunion with our children and grandchildren... they all came to Hawaii to celebrate his remission and regaining his voice. It was the happiest of times!

All of our happiness came crashing down around us with the death of his mother. We traveled to Seattle to lay her to rest. It was the saddest of times coupled with the arduous task of traveling with medical equipment and nutritional supplies in tow. I was rabid about the potential of infection, the possibility of physical complications and the known entity of the emotional toll upon him. All-the-while Bruce was steady as ever ... an amazingly patient, impatient man married to an impatient woman. Once again my dedication drove him nuts, but he laughed about it and lifted my spirits when I was so terribly tired.

Our crash continued as the cancer returned with a vengeance. We faced second opinions, more tests and more decisions which resulted in Bruce being in hospital for two months for more surgery(s), treatment and ultimately everything going wrong at the worst possible time—and he died which was NOT on our radar screen!

On October 25, 2007, I found myself without him, thousands of miles away from family and alone... so terribly alone wondering what in the hell I was going to do. I was blessed, as always, and discovered I was not really alone... friends and family, whether in person with me in Hawaii or thousands of miles away, surrounded me with their love.

So much of this love and support emanated from the RAIN. Bruce's blogging about mortgage banking AND his battle with cancer was a matter of public record on AR. I even blogged (under his name) about his progress and set backs when he was unable to do so. I also shared his death and plans for his Celebration of Life on AR. The prayers and support we received from the multitude of rainmakers sustained us together and eventually became the backbone for my loss mitigation practice.

After Bruce died I was faced with a myriad of issues...Many challenges lay a head which required life altering decisions. One of the most critical decisions I had to make was to sell our home and relocate to the mainland. I was ill and not financially able to carry the mortgage on our home even though I managed to do so for several months. The result was to become my own loss mitigator and assist in negotiating my own short sale with my Realtor. It was an eye-opening experience and not one I recommend under such circumstances, but sometimes there just isn't any other choice. The bottom-line is I survived, rediscovered my bedrock determination and began to turn my life around ever so slowly.

While in the midst of these challenges and changes I let my involvement with AR go... I had lost my energy, drive and any interest to do anything much beyond breathing or doing what insisted upon being done. I couldn't see myself participating successfully the way Bruce had done... the RAIN was his place, not mine. Then one day in August 2008, I decided to re-emerge on the RAIN and make it my virtual home for awhile and see what would happen. If you look at my stats you'll see what a slow start it was... it was pitiful - LOL! I was afraid and didn't really know what to do, but I kept returning, reading, commenting and finally began to blog while I was building my loss mitigation business.

Once I hit 10,000 points I realized I was enjoying myself... I hadn't paid attention to points or followed any particular or proved methodology to grow my business, but I was hooked by all of the support and knowledge that was available in the RAIN. It seemed as though, almost overnight, my business was growing, blogging came easier and faster, my photography was taking off and my fear of writing was receding. That's when I decided I should go for 20,000 points. I'm over 27,000 now and my next goal is 50,000. I'm not setting the blogging world on fire, but I have definitely made progress in the RAIN as well as in every other aspect of my life.

So, I can see myself through my own eyes now and I like what I see—I have overcome many challenges and obstacles, my loss mitigation business has grown, I'm earning a higher than average income during lean times, I'm healthier, closer to my family and friends AND discovered a passion for photography... plus I've even been able to help a few people along the way to a better life.

A new chapter is just beginning... I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. I'm living a blessed life—one I thought that might not be possible again.

This is how I measure my success story—and I'm living it in the RAIN!

Thank you to all who have supported, encouraged and taught me so much.

I'm very grateful for everyone of you and every rain drop I've been given.

Cheers to the RAIN!


Copyright 2009 by Linda Bourgault and lulugraphix. All rights reserved.

Copyright 2009 by Linda Bourgault and lulugraphix. All rights reserved.

Photo: Interior of hot air balloon. (Seen at Explored on Flickr)

Last year as my fifty-eighth birthday approached I was contemplating how I wanted to live my life... to live it fully and passionately while embracing new adventures and doing something good along the way. I considered several ideas about what I'd like to do on my special day. The one idea that literally kept floating to the top was hot air ballooning.

So, I set about researching hot air balloon companies in the Lewisville and Flower Mound (Texas) area. There were several from which to choose. I contacted all of them. Much to my dismay the responses were few and those who responded did not instill confidence in me. I was beginning to think I would have to fore-go my adventure when Breeze Balloons floated into view. This company is a breath of fresh air. Needless-to-say I booked my flight immediately.

Our pilot, Sally Graf, is the number one female pilot in the nation. Man does she know how to fly! We met her at dawn for a sunrise flight. She encouraged us to help set-up the balloon with her crew and explained the mechanics as well as the art of ballooning. Our take off was perfectly quiet until Sally pulled the gas burner to lift us higher into the air.. We reached altitude just as the sun was rising over Lake Lewisville. We could see for miles and miles and miles. It was spectacular!

Breeze Balloons is the name of Sally's balloon company. They offer Hot Air Balloon Flights in North Texas, Dallas/Ft. Worth and East Texas area. They specialize in making your adventure something you will remember for a lifetime. Champagne and drinks are served after every flight which is a ballooning tradition. You may call them at : 214.616.4651 or email at: Breezeballoons@aol.com.

The next time you are looking for an adventure give Sally a call. She and her crew will make sure you have an experience of a lifetime!

Additional photos (clockwise): Filling the balloon with hot air; priming the gas burner; continuing to fill the balloon; sunrise over Lake Lewisville; balloon shadow over trees; and me in the gondola.

Copyright 2009 Linda Bourgault and lulugraphix. All rights reserved.

While I was out driving around running errands one afternoon in Lewisville, Texas I looked up and saw this amazing cloud formation building as a cold front was blowing in. Of course, I had to pull over, jump out with my camera and dodge traffic to capture it before it changed again.

This is what people like me do whenever we see something we think is amazing, beautiful, strange, fascinating and want to share with others... or just look at for ourselves. My family thinks I'm crazy about my obsession with photography. My friends know I'm crazy... about shooting photos anyway. They all still LOVE me so I just say they are all crazy about me—LOL!

Hope you enjoy this image as much as I did shooting it!

This is my first post to this great group I just discovered today. If it weren't for Robert's (Swetz) comment on another blog I would have missed this fun group. I'm excited to be a member and can't wait to see more of what everyone has to offer.

Copyright 2009 Linda Bourgault and lulugraphix. All rights reserved.

All of you will learn soon enough that I'm a little crazy about photogtraphy and love my new camera. It's a terrific tool for self-expression and it gives me tremendous pleasure to share my images with people. Whenever I'm running around or traveling somewhere my camera is always with me.

This photo of Sunset in Central Texas occured while I was driving back to the Dallas/Fort Worth area after spending a week on South Padre Island, Texas. Just another one of many mad dashes to pull my car over to capture a photo before the light or something else changed.

Copyright 2009 Linda Bourgault and lulugraphix. All rights reserved.