Steve Charbonneau, a Reiki Practitioner and retired Chief Information Officer of Navy Region Northwest, and I have been married since 1977. We have raised four children and have 7 grandchildren. And many more children, now adults, whom I call my own.
I closed my real estate business and continued to invest for myself as a stay-at-home mom. I had invested my “retirement monies” from my being forced to leave accounting position at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard when they couldn’t provide me with a smoke free place to work in 1977. I bought rental properties because I wanted to provide clean, safe homes for people. I used the property equities to buy more and worked them myself, i.e., cleaning, painting, marketing, landscaping, etc.
I managed Charbonneau Unlimited while raising our young children on our organic two acre “farm” . They had all of their childhood illnesses, allergies, doctor appointments and a flurry of activities and vacations. I raised an organic garden, preserving the vegetables for our yearly needs. Having grown up with a compost bucket on the kitchen sink, it’s a natural for me to compost. We raised chickens for eggs. We had ducks, geese, muskovies, fish aquariums, hermit crabs, salamanders, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, llamas, a pony, puppies, dogs and cats. And lots and lots of kids coming to play, party, and spend the night.
I never believed I would say: “I am a recovering catholic“. Along with my family, I dedicated 30 years to serving/volunteering with the local catholic church: In liturgy services as a lector for 25 years, praying in the chapel before mass that the congregation would here the apostle‘s voice and not my own, as I read the New Testament from Bible to them from the lectern. In the religious education program as a teacher for 25 years, weekly loving and serving 3 year old through high school and adult programs. I was also an active member of the Education Board and served a term as Chairperson of Parish Council. I made food and served at funerals. I offered classes and workshops in my home for those seeking baptism for their children, marriage, family planning, and receptions. I deadheaded the gardens and cleaned the facility. I was asked to speak at training workshops. I took continuous training throughout the archdiocese. We once entertained five priests from various countries and four continents, in the same evening at our dinner table. (A comment was made that the roof may blow off.) My family was named “The Seattle Archdiocesan Family of The Year” and invited to a special mass at St. James Cathedral in recognition. As you can see, my family spent a good portion of our lives at church, when not at home. Then, the abuse came to the surface. My family personally was involved in the deceitful and hateful actions of the church authorities to cover up misconduct by their priests and employees.
Ask me about Spirituality vs. Religion. I know God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit intimately. This church experience used a large portion of time of my life dedicated to being here on earth. I loved deeply and have only one regret. Holy Fire II Reiki and I have already been kindred! Please read about Holy Fire Reiki at: http:/www.reiki.org/holyfire.html
I have home educated my four children:
Two daughters have received University Degrees, Music Pedagogy and Chemical Engineering. My third daughter earned an Associate of Business and my son an Bachelors of Computer Science. They have worked at least one part time job and sometimes three at a time, while getting these degrees and continued their extracurricular interests as well.
I was a shopkeeper from 2000-2017 in a historic waterfront port city. This business began as a home education project for my two youngest and a way to welcome people to our waterfront town. It continues to give people job experience and a heart to our community.
August 2017 ends my experience as a shopkeeper as I pass on this wonderful project to allow myself more time to dedicate to my passion, Body and Soul Care! Happily I continue to love, serve, provide, and teach our community with Reiki energy care through my Body and Soul Care, llc business. I teach beginning through advanced Reiki and offer a Reiki Class for parents and children that involves working with our llamas.
Some of My Specialties:
Reiki Sessions and Classes, Marriage, Spirituality, The Care of Extraordinary Women,
Stress & Trauma, Church Abuse, Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Master Gardener, Student of Herbology,