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In 2023, my world came crashing down. During a follow-up visit for a miscarriage—a loss that was already emotionally devastating—my OB-GYN performed a routine check-up. Suddenly, his face changed. The doctor and nurse quickly left the room, only to return with the news: there was a lump in my left breast.
In an instant, I was scheduled for a mammogram and a biopsy. From that moment until the tumor was removed, my mind was in a state of chaos. I met with specialists and listened as they talked of removal, of possible chemo, of losing my hair, my appetite, my body, and my time. I had to face the possibility that I didn’t have much time left with my husband and our children, who were only three to ten years old. I spent nights wide awake, crying from fear and despair, thinking, "It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.”
After the surgery, the biopsy confirmed the lump was a benign fibroadenoma. It didn't require chemotherapy. A heavy weight was lifted from me, but I was never the same again. My nights of uncertainty had taught me a painful lesson: I had to prioritize teaching my kids the real-life skills they cannot learn in school. I was consumed with the question, "How do I leave them something of value that can help them live their best life?"
I realized that money itself wasn't enough. Inflation, changing policies, and leaving assets could only do so much, not to mention I was still paying off business debt and a mortgage. I owed more than I had. But I could leave them a mindset, a skill set, and confidence in their own unique abilities—something no one could ever take away.
I didn't go through all that pain for no reason; it was a wake-up call. All the excuses I'd told myself, all the limiting beliefs that being an "introvert" meant I couldn’t be "out there," went straight into the trash. Nothing mattered compared to the thought of losing time with my kids and husband. I wanted to become loud, not quiet—not just for my kids, but for other children around the world who might benefit from what I know.
Our kids—Michael, Miko, Naomi, and Yumi—already had a passion for creating cute stationery. They loved designing paperweights and notebook packets, expressing their creativity and teamwork. We started signing them up for local vendor events so they could learn communication, marketing, sales, promotion, and a strong work ethic. I taught them about money: how to earn it, save it, and invest it.
Taking their inspirational ideas, we moved the small company we’d formed for their vendor events online to expand our reach. Each character you see here was created with imagination, love, and the hope that I could communicate with my kids in a way that, if I had no time left, would teach them what they needed to know. These characters are a legacy, a way of spending quality time with my kids so they can share their passion with the world and learn business skills along the way. It is my hope that they bring a little joy into your life and a warm feeling of love to your heart.
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