
At the Pena Palace (Palacio da Pena) also in magical Sintra, Portugal

Our son Christopher, our “little” boy. Cliche to say “Where does the time go, but…”
Dearest ButterflyMoms,
So in last week’s blog I shared that I am a crossroads. Still sitting here with all these feelings and ideas to see where my intuition will take me. Sometimes being still is the answer. All the while I’m keeping my intention, “to be the fire that ignites people’s soul”, strong. That is my compass. The form it comes in is really irrelevant, just learning not to take the signs personally and really delve into their real meaning. In the meantime whatever comes out every Friday is what I’m meant to write about.
This week I want to STRONGLY dedicate this blog to my loving husband, Douglas H. Schmidt. People say stuff all the time about their mates about how great they are but Doug is really off-the-charts! Since I have met him, he has completely opened up his heart and mind and emerged into one of the most outstanding human beings I have ever met. Oh, sure he’s also one of the most handsome men I’ve ever laid eyes on, but his heart….WOW! I could start tearing up just thinking about it.

Doug getting his chemo in Boston.
How does one develop a heart like his? I hope he won’t mind me telling you that for a long time his heart was closed. He was a shadow of who he is now, or to put it another way, he was not living his life from a place of AUTHENTICITY.

A week before she died our beautiful Sophia on her 1st birthday! I just LOVE looking at her beautiful face!!!!!
Our daughter Sophia’s birth with down syndrome and then dying 13 months later, after we had fallen head-over-heals in love with her, shattered our hearts. Later Doug developed a life-threatening auto-immune disease for which he had to have chemo and prednisone for years Instead of breaking him, he found a way to quietly make all these “hardships” just add more love to his life! All the while, because we are self-employed, we worked together to keep building Brick House Realty, ButterflyMoms and our Green Dry Cleaners. Through all this, Doug never stopped working or providing for his family. I am in awe of this man who runs almost every day even with “bad knees” because he can’t bear the thought of not doing ALL HE CAN to be with his kids, as long as he can. ALSO I AM VERY HAPPY TO SHARE SOME GREAT NEWS!: This Christmas was the first time in four years that he did not need chemo! YAAAAAAAAAAAAY! Our beautiful Dougie Fresh is in remission! YESSSSS!

Doing “the snowman” at a palace in Sintra

Paco de Arcos, Portugal
I am a little hesistant to write all this publically because most people write about problems with their husbands and I don’t know how much he is going to like me saying all this but it is true and beautiful!
Look, we are sooooo not perfect, but we truly are perfect together. This man has helped me stand in my darkest days. I am in awe of how much love Doug gives his five children, even though as a child he got very little example of how to be a good father. Doug is magic because his heart is open.

Hamming it up for Mialotta who wanted to take a photo of us… So you wanna take a photo, eh? Will give you something to take a photo of! 😉
Lately I’ve been a bit down because my book is coming slower than I’d like and things are shifting in ways I did not expect. If you have seen my Facebook page you will see the amount of amazing motivational stuff Doug puts on their to keep my eyes on the prize! I truly “get” that his intention is for me to reach my best and highest good! Even the simple fact that on my blog, he comments even when no one else does shows how Doug is with me through the good and the bad. He shows up over and over again.

Butterflies with Doug
When Sophia died he was at our Brick House Realty office. I was home with her and got the gift of being able to give her CPR. It did not work and she died in my arms. NEVER once did he blame me for her death. I’m very saddened to say that if it had been reversed and Sophia had died on his watch I don’t know if I would have had the capacity to not blame him…. (sigh)… He really is an outstanding human being who because my light is so bright often goes unnoticed. My intention today is bring him directly into the light of love and acknowledge him for the kindness, love and support he has given to me, our children, our family and our community!
As a woman, a wife and a mother I know I’m one of the most blessed people in the world because I have found someone who believes in my dreams as much I do. I am humbled by the beauty we attract into our lives … our children, our businesses, our community, our friends, our adventures… Part of why ButterflyMoms has been so successful, and why I have had the gift to do the things I have is because I have a partner who can not ground me, but he can inspire me to F-L-Y!
It’s an even bigger gift because we know it is temporary. Our lives here on planet earth are not forever, no matter what the advertisements promise. People “know” that but they don’t live their lives like they understand that concept. Doug and I know one day we will have to say, “Goodbye” to each other. Might be today or might be in 50 years, but it is coming. Remembering this makes us savor our precious time together even more!

Believe it or not we even have this kind of fun at a real estate convention! 🙂
Thank you Doug for all the love you have magnified into my life! THANK YOU!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHEW WHO!!!!!!!!
Great big hugs,
Mariaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
🙂
WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?
MORE WAYS TO FEED YOUR SOUL TO START 2013 OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT!…
COOL NEWS: A new state from the good ‘ole USA has been added to the amazing list of places where fans have bought my book, “Mom Entrepreneur Extraordinaire”! Check out which state below! 🙂

Guincho Beach
√ WORKSHOP: Thursday, January 24th, 2013. MAKING 2013 MY BEST YEAR!… Every January there is a hope that life will get better yet life seems to take over and we lose control of our vision. Come to this amazing open workshop that will share some of the very tools you need to truly accomplish your life’s mission! Can’t build a house without a hammer and nails…so come get your energetic hammer and nails! Lots of laughing and learning! Doors open at 9:45am. Starts promptly at 10:00am-12:00pm. Amazing ocean views at Quiosque Bar http://qb-quiosquebar.blogspot.pt/, Avenida Marginal, Praia de Paço de Arcos, 2770-210 Paço de Arcos, Portugal. Fee is 25€ at door. Sign up right now and get in for only 20€. Do it here..http://tinyurl.com/cslw7l4 See you there!!!!! Please RSVP so we can plan accordingly.

√ COACHING: For those who want a coach with a lot of heart, I’m here to help you get rid of your blocks and go towards your goal. I’m living what I have been teaching clients for nearly two decades. Whether you are curious or serious send me an email to maria@butterflymoms.com to set up a time to get you to your first step. For those who want something to shift in their lives this is a great time!!!
√ INTERVIEW: Here is the magnificent ButteflyMoms interview on Nancy L. Cantor‘s Dream Factory Television Show… I hope you watch it and that it feeds your soul! ! http://vimeo.com/30095902
√ BOOKS FOR SALE: “Mom Entrepreneur Extraordinaire” See list below for all the places in the world where this book has been sold! Last year I co-authored the book ENTREPRENEUR MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE. If you have been thinking about starting a business or want to take your business to the next level this is a wonderful way to start. WAY cheaper than going back to school…and very helpful! To feed the soul of a friend, buy them a copy by CLICKING HERE NOW… http://bit.ly/gRxe4U. Feel part of the magic below and see where in the world people have bought this book…

Doug and Maria on the beach doing yoga in Carcavelos with a German yoga teacher! 🙂
BOOKS SOLD INSIDE THE UNITED STATES
CALIFORNIA
Anaheim 1
Fullerton 1
Sacramento 1
San Bruno 1
CONNECTICUT
Cromwell 1
Greenwich 1
Yalesville 1
FLORIDA
Fort Lauderdale 1
Seminole 1
GEORGIA
Roswell 1

In Sintra at the Moors Castle (Castelo dos Mouros)
ILLINOIS (NEW STATE added this month!!!!! Thank you Terry Klausmeier!!!!!)
Lake Forrest 1
KENTUCKY
Louisville 1
MAINE
Biddeford 1
MARYLAND
Chestertown 1
MASSACHUSETTS
Ashland 3
Blackstone 2
Bolton 1
Canton 1
Framingham 1
Holliston 17
Hudson 4

Christopher’s prom in Holliston, MA
Medway 8
Millis 1
Millbury 4
New Bedford 1
North Easton 1
Rutland 1
Sherborn 1
South Grafton 1
Watertown 1
Westborough 1
Wrentham 1
Worcester 3

Casa Da Guia – Cascais

Paco de Arcos Beach
MISSOURI
Lee’s Summit 1
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Laconia 1
NEW YORK
Scarsdale 1
Stony Brook 1
OHIO
Dublin 1
RHODE ISLAND
Bristol 1
Newport 1
VERMONT
Waitsville (Mad River Valley) 2

PLEASE BUY MY MOMMY’s BOOK!!! IT’s AWESOME!
BOOKS SOLD OUTSIDE UNITED STATES
AUSTRIA
Wien 2
IRELAND
Dublin, Ireland 1
ITALY
Rome, Italy 3
JAPAN
Tokyo 1
PORTUGAL
Carcavelos 1
Lisboa 11
Ovar 1
Sintra 1
Santa Maria (Azores/Açores) 1
SCOTLAND
Greenock 1
SPAIN
Madrid 1
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **To buy your copy Click now… http://bit.ly/gRxe4U

The Salomao-Schmidt Family in California!:)
WHAT IS BUTTERFLYMOMS?
ButterflyMoms is a community of people who realize they are souls first and human being second. They want to explore more about themselves, to find out what makes them happy and how they can lead a life of purpose. It is simply about FEEDING YOUR SOUL. Although it has the name “MOMS” in the title it is more about being nurturing to your own transformation, as the butterfly is to its own metamorphosis. This community is led by Maria Salomão-Schmidt whose transformation was ignited by the birth and death of her BELOVED thirteen month old daughter Sophia (Sophalicious), the original butterfly.
*Every Friday Morning, as a way of honoring her daughter Sophia’s soul, Maria writes the weekly BUTTERFLYMOMS BLOG. Hundreds of people read it every week to feed their souls. Maria started writing the blog in May 2009 and has written EVERY Friday since. Maria is a Reiki master and every time you read it you are showered with healing love.
Tell your friends… http://butterflymoms.wordpress.com and spread the love!!! FEED YOUR SOUL!!!!!

Planning our future and savoring our present together on the “other side” of the Atlantic Ocean in beautiful Portugal!

In Chicago when we were guests ON The Oprah Winfrey Show. We got to sit in the VIP section with people like Michael Jordan, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Beyonce, Maria Shriver, Jackie Evancho, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Jerry Seinfeld, Madonna, Gail King, Maya Angelou, Rosie O’Donnell, Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, Patti LaBelle, Josh Groban, Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, Nate Berkus and even Stedman! What a wonderful dream come true from a twenty year old goal that was a total gift from Sophia!!!
Off to the beach in Portugal!