With a devastating diagnosis, I reevaluated what mattered to me the most. In the process, I was inspired to adopt more optimism and gratitude through recognizing the gift that each day is. That attitude has spilled over into helping others through my second career.

Suddenly, the room was full of people and somehow, I already knew what to expect – call it mother’s intuition. However, when the doctor came right out and said that my son had cancer, I fell apart. While his 26 short years flashed before my eyes, I heard him say, “OK, so what are we going to do about it?”

He has always been level-headed, but his journey back to health through treatment was a true inspiration to me. The entire time, he remained so positive and determined not to let it get him down – his optimism held me together.

I have a strong passion for families facing children with cancer diagnoses because I have been there. Years before that day in the hospital, I lost my father to cancer, and even though we were very close and I still miss him, it is not the same as when it is your baby (no matter their age). In 2019, my son entered remission, and by the hands of God we can say presently cancer free.

My whole adult life, I have been a grateful person. Through my 16-year career in social work, I saw all manner of hardship and difficulty within the families I worked with in my community, and it opened my eyes. That was when I first realized how fortunate I was. As a child, though my family was not wealthy, we were not impoverished either. Above all, my parents loved and supported my brother and me. Even though I spent many years (nearly all of my children’s childhood) as a single mother, my parents continued to give that support.

I have been through tough times. For example, there was the recession. Several years into my real estate career, I had to scramble to make ends meet while also caring for my mother before losing her to Alzheimer’s. However, nothing quite compared to that journey I shared with my son.

While gratitude was not a new concept to me, through our cancer journey I realized it is easy for us to get so upset about the small things in the grand scheme of life. Without minimizing what I am or what anyone else is going through, that experience above all made me reconsider what was most important in my life.

For me, God comes first, family second, and everything else follows. I fully believe that God has taken care of me my whole life. Without his influence, I would not have the success, family or life I enjoy today. My children have been my whole world since the day they were born, and I could not be prouder of the people they have grown into.

Cultivating an attitude of gratitude, I count my blessings every day. I married my husband Freddy (who God put directly in my path) in 2016, much to my own surprise after swearing I would never marry again. I feel lucky each day for him, our combined five children and all our grandchildren. Also, I have had two careers that I have loved. While social work was an adjustment at first, I found a passion for being able to help and make a difference in the lives of children and families around the community.

The biggest surprise about becoming a REALTOR® was how much of what I did before carried over to real estate through counseling, guiding and providing resources. I recognize how rare it is to be passionate about a career, much less two careers! Each day I wake up excited to begin anew. My favorite part of being a REALTOR® is playing a small part in helping my clients take their next step in life through real estate.

Real estate is about a lot more than buying or selling a house, it is about you. I always start with listening to my clients. Through taking the time to ask questions and getting to know your goals, I can help you achieve what is most important to you.

As your REALTOR®, I take a consultative approach because while I have over 20 years of experience, you are the only one who can decide what is the best fit for your lifestyle. I began my career in new construction and learned so much through the decades. It is important to me that my clients know their options, which is why I educate them about the market, buying/selling process, and what it takes for them to meet their individual goals. I have lived in this area all my life and know the communities here extremely well. Drawing on my background in counseling and social work, I provide unparalleled support throughout the process and beyond. Once the transaction is over, I will continue to support your success as your lifelong REALTOR®.

Sincerely,

Lisa Skipper
Broker-Owner