10 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2017 JOIN OUR FAMILY! GoodLifeFamily has opportunities for tenured account executives and student writers. For more information, emailTricia@goodlifefamilymag.com. - Sheryl THE GOOD PEOPLE at goodLIFEfamily PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sheryl Lilly Pidgeon Sheryl@goodlifefamilymag.com Direct: 214.476.8131 EDITORIAL TEAM TriciaWhite ManagingEditor Tricia@goodlifefamilymag.com Direct: 214.725.1981 Elle Parks FashionEditor Elle@goodlifefamilymag.com Rick Seaney TravelEditor Rick.Seaney@farecompare.com COPY EDITORS Audra Glidewell Tracy Graivier Bell Senior Copy Editors Logan Blakely Copy Editor WRITERS Rebecca Baker Lisa Beach Karyn Brodsky Kristin Cicciarelli Joyce Logan Dawn Bluemel Oldfield Lindsey Pidgeon Deb Silverthorn AliciaWanek ADVERTISING TEAM Amy Lendl Advertising Manager Advertising@goodlifefamilymag.com Melinda Bogoslavsky AdvertisingAccountExecutive Melinda@goodlifefamilymag.com Direct: 214.603.9478 Shane Brennan AdvertisingAccountExecutive SHANEPBRENN@gmail.com Direct: 214.264.0975 Lizabeth DeBoe AdvertisingAccountExecutive Lizabeth@goodlifefamilymag.com Direct: 214.727.9986 Mendy Lea AdvertisingConsultant Mendy@goodlifefamilymag.com Direct: 214.228.5052 Beverly Parkhurst Moss AdvertisingAccountExecutive Beverly@goodlifefamilymag.com Direct: 214.226.6541 CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Melton jennifer@goodlifefamilymag.com PRODUCTION TEAM Savannah Peer DigitalContentandSocialMediaManager SavannahPeer@goodlifefamilymag.com Jaxie Pidgeon MarketingAssistant Bill Brock Videographer Bill@whiterockfilms.com GOOD LIFE FAMILY 3308 PRESTON ROAD, STE 350 PMB #113 PLANO, TX 75093 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com LIVE. LAUGH. LEARN. (HUDDLE!) REPEAT. ABOUT US There are two things parents hope to give their children: roots and wings. But it’s often hard to know if the decisions we’re making are the right ones, especially when the world is changing so quickly. GoodLifeFamily is a resource for parents with kids tweens to twenties. Extensive and insightful content addresses the daily joys and struggles of finding a balance between kids and parents while keeping ourselves sane in the process. You’ll meet inspiring women and men who have stared down life’s challenges, survived, and now are willing to share their journey with you. GoodLifeFamilyis committed to making a difference in the lives of our families, friends and communities as the go-to source. We’re living, we’re learning, and most important, we’re laughing.We hope you will too. CONTACT US SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE: GoodLifeFamilyMag.com/subscribe ADVERTISE: Advertising@goodlifefamilymag.com SUBMIT EDITORIAL IDEAS: Tricia@goodlifefamilymag.com goodPOINT Game of Life There are many lessons we can learn from sports. In college, as a journalism major, I found myself in a class with half the UT football team where we studied sports and journalism. My professor often referenced Vince Lombardi, and I fell head over heels for his wise words and philosophy. Coach Lombardi was one tough cookie. He practiced what he preached - courage, commitment and character - and he taught us invaluable life lessons that are still as valid today as when he said them over 50 years ago. In many ways being a mom is like being a coach. My most important team is my family. We huddle over family dinners, most often at home, making it a priority to sit down together, talk about our day and plot our strategies for the rest of the week. Understanding the value of teamwork and commitment was Lombardi’s legacy. If you work together you will win, he’d say, “whether it be against complex football defenses or the problems of modern society.” Work together. Find compromise. Look for and focus on each others’ strengths. If we have a game plan and make the plays as a team, we have a heck of a better chance to get into the end zone. Lombardi described discipline as “character in action” where mental toughness trumps physical agility every time. My 19-year-old son Bryce is the most disciplined person I know, and he has worked hard to achieve excellence in his sport. While we will be missing this member of our home team this fall, we’re excited that Bryce is starting his freshman year at Trinity University where he earned a Presidential Scholarship as well as a coveted place on their golf team. Discipline itself does not always deliver the winning score, but the qualities of relentless sacrifice, commitment and self-motivation sure do make you a contender in the game of life. Our children will cross many milestones. First jobs, true love, marriage, children of their own. They will face heartbreaking disappointments and incredible joys. At each of these moments, we have a chance to be their coach and their cheerleader, to offer our thoughts, our wisdom and our love. My commitment to my family extends to my amazing friends, my expansive community, my Good Life Family team, and to you, our faithful readers. You are my first round draft pick. In this exciting issue of GLF, I hope you will be inspired, enlightened and moved to take action in pursuit of your own personal game plan for the good life. “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” - Vince Lombardi