Angels of the Light

                                               Photo by: Rawpixel @unsplash                                                 Photo by: Tim Gouw @Unsplash What is the definition of Etiquette? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary: "It is the conduct or procedure required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be observed in social or official life". In other words, it is the customary code of polite behavior in society to be exhibited in a professional or group setting. In this podcast, Vikki Luna and Lisa Casarez tells us how we are judged within seconds of meeting someone. You must put your best foot forward from the get go. They tell us that practicing great etiquette is like establishing an excellent relationship with others as well as with yourself so you can love your neighbor as well as you do yourself. Listen to Vikki and Lisa as they list tips of good etiquette which will enable you to build great relationships and to make the best first impression you can.

photo by Dulcey-Lima Photo by Jack Cain on Unsplash In order to achieve and maintain excellent leadership skills you have to continuously grow and never stop learning. Who you will be in five years has to do with the books you currently read and the people you associate with. Vikki Luna tells Lisa Casarez about the book she is currently reading: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. One of the author's recommendations to be more effective is to be proactive and not reactive. Anticipate adversity and determine solutions, instead of reacting to a situation after it has evolved. Both Lisa and Vikki employ this tactic in their professional and personal lives by, for example, holding regular staff meeting or family meetings. These meetings help build up relationships and reinforce the fact that no one can go through life alone. However, the most important relationship there is to develop is the one you establish with God. Never stop growing and never stop learning.

 Fresno Women's Network The Fresno Women's Network has been in the community since 1987 empowering women to grow their businesses by working together, supporting one another, and giving back to the community at the same time. Both Vikki Luna and Lisa Casarez belong to this network which has helped their non-profit organization tremendously as well as provided them with the opportunity of growth, both personally and professionally. In this podcast they speak to Debbie Milla, President of the network, about the benefits of belonging to this organization. For more information on Fresno Women's Network go to: https://members-fresnowomensnetwork.org/Home or call: (559) 450-2102

Lisa and Vikki discuss Living out loud. They discuss what it means and why they live out loud. Once you know that God is the way, not a way living becomes easier.

Alex Hudson was only diagnosed with Lyme Disease in the last year of her life. She carried the disease undiagnosed for 10 years. Doctors were unable to link her symptoms with the disease.  Jody explains that dirty ticks carry multiple infectious diseases with them. Not only did Alex have the Lyme disease she carried multiple infections, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Bartonella, and Rickettsiosis.  Each one of the infections carried their own symptoms and problems. If that wasn't bad enough she had Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS).  Alex's mom Jody explains that she never took any pain relievers during the decade of attack. Alex wanted to be totally aware all the time and when it came time. Alex Hudson Lyme Foundation Jody set up the Foundation to extend awareness and education and raise money for Lyme Disease especially Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS).  Jody writes about her daughter's story: On March 24, 2018, the world lost Alex Hudson to Lyme Disease and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). A vibrant 22-year-old girl, Alex had the whole world waiting for her. With a full ride scholarship to UCLA, Alex was eager to further her education and tackle the world with her energetic spirit and vibrant mind. Unfortunately, after a ten-year battle with Lyme and MCAS, her life ended abruptly; leaving a gaping hole in the hearts of everyone whom she met. For nearly a decade, Alex visited countless doctors, underwent numerous tests, received multiple misdiagnoses, and suffered immensely. While many medical professionals often deemed her a “medical mystery,” she never lost hope and finally received a proper Lyme and MCAS diagnosis in 2017. While her family and friends were grateful for concrete answers, many feared the disease had already taken a significant toll on her body. Alex passed away less than a year later. One of Alex’s last wishes was to help educate her community, and help fund proper testing, for those suffering from Lyme and MCAS. After she passed, Alex’s mother, Jody Hudson, and a team of women came together to help form The Alex Hudson Lyme Foundation. Dedicated to spreading awareness and educating others on Lyme and MCAS, the AHLF team is passionate about being advocates for those affected by such a tumultuous disease. If you would like to follow the latest in the foundation be sure to subscribe to the social media accounts. Instagram is here. If you like to donate.    

**This is a sensitive material that might not be suitable for children** Hurting people, hurt people. Kids that have gone through some type of abuse, whether it's sexual, physical, mental or emotional end up acting out their abuse through negative behavior. They act out in anger because they don't know how to express themselves or how to cope with their emotions. Some of these children don't get the psychological help they need in early childhood and therefore they become abusers as adults, repeating the cycle of abuse. Lisa Casarez and Vikki Luna talk, in this episode, to Margarita Doñez, a doctoral psychology student, who gives advice on how to deal with children who have been victimized so they don't become abusive adults.

This podcast is dedicated to the memory of Carmela Liberta, a woman who made a big difference in the lives of both Vikki Luna and Lisa Casarez. She was a mentor and a big sister, who lived her life with character, conviction and passion. She lived her life following Jesus's example. Lisa and Vikki challenge you to live your life making a positive impact on other people's lives, leaving an everlasting legacy behind for generations to come.

Sanctuary: Any place of refuge and safety; asylum. The Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission started in the early 90's a place of refuge for young people who found themselves living on the streets and called it Sanctuary. This center of refuge has provided service to twenty five thousand young people over the last 25 years. Lisa Casarez and Vikki Luna invited Joe Martinez to share all the wonderful programs the Sanctuary offers to the community. If you want more information about Sanctuary call: 559-498-8543/1-800-820-4968 or visit the website: http://fresnoeoc.org/  

There are those days where nothing seems to go right. Where there is only chaos and discord. Lisa Casarez and Vikki Luna tell us in this podcast how to develop coping skills since, otherwise, we may self destruct and take out our frustrations on other people. When you decide to be in a state of peace then you bring that with you wherever you go, changing the environment you are in. An abundant life is a peaceful life, is a life of gratitude.

One sure way to change lives in any community is to rally people to volunteer and support projects designed for the betterment of its people. In this podcast Lisa Casarez and Vikki Luna talk to Carol Davies, Executive Director of Hands On, a non-profit organization that matches volunteers with organizations. She tells us that matching hearts with causes is the only way to make a project successful, because non-profits can't do the work that they do without volunteers. If you like to contact Hands On Central California: (559) 237-3101  or if you want to donate - www.handsoncentralcal.org  

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by life in general and often have negative thoughts? Well, that is just part of being human, but as Vikki Luna and Lisa Casarez tell us in this podcast, you don't have to live your life in such a state of mind. They share with us how they have managed to control their thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors, and how to build a daily life on a foundation of positive habits. Book recommendations: "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey - and - "The Fred Factor" by Mark Sanborn

  As of April 2018 the city of Fresno's unemployment rate is 7.3% compared to the national rate of 3.9%, according to the United State Department of Labor. There are individuals in Fresno who work day in and day out to contribute to the economic well being of the city. Dr. Randy White from the Center for Community Transformation at Fresno Pacific University is one of those individuals and in this podcast he tells Vikki Luna and Lisa Casarez how this center helps people in the community solve problems through business and job creation. To learn more about The Center for Community Transformation or to make a donation, visit their website: cctfresno.org

  Our daily lives should reflect our celebration of life when we make time to love ourselves and help others see themselves as beautiful beings. Lisa Casarez and Vikki Luna tell us, in this podcast, how important it is to implement a routine of daily affirmations so we can build our confidence, value who we are, and celebrate the way God made us. Book recommendation: Love Who You Are. Live Like It Matters                            by Tim Tebow.  

Just days after yet another mass shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, that left 10 people dead, Vikki Luna and Lisa Casarez speak to retired Sheriff's officer Les Van Meter founder of S.A.V.E., a company which trains people what to do if they are confronted with an active shooter. He shares in this podcast the three basic steps of the training: Run, Hide and Fight in order to stay alive. If you want more information on their services go to: www.saveactiveshooter.com

"Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible". ~Marion C. Garretty, quoted in A Little Spoonful of Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul. In this podcast Lisa Casarez and Vikki Luna share with us what it means to them to be a mother. They share their experience raising their children. Lisa's daughter Alisha Muñoz is a guest sharing her own experience with raising seven children with the guidance of her own mother.