Hi I'm Mary Ann Decker, co-founder of the wonderful Pearls of Wisdom
group of women you are reading about on this site.  (Please see "Who We
Are")

Professionally, I joined the law firm of Phelan Hallinan & Schmieg about
16 years ago.  I started as a Paralegal in the After-Sale department
then moved to Loss Mitigation (we didn't call it Loss Mitigation back
then - just "Problem Resolution") and Title and all the odd stuff that
comes up during a Foreclosure. I remember our first Drug Forfeiture
cases, redeeming property after a tax-sale, ahhh... the memories. In the
midst of all this and after resolving a difficult title problem and
getting the property back to the servicer free and clear I had a
thought.  What happens to the property after an unfortunate foreclosure?
The firm didn't handle REO's back in the early 90's and didn't know much
about that part of the business.  I learned and our REO department was
born.  After several years helping to build a successful REO practice,
traveling and doing business development for the firm, Larry Phelan
asked me to join him full-time in the business development area of the
firm.  Never a regret for a moment.  I enjoy an incredible, creative job
that allows me to develop relationships that have turned into life-long
friendships.  Truly, I am blessed.  Which leads me...

To my family, who are my world and reason for everything I do.  I am
married to an awesome guy (no, ladies, not perfect, just awesome
:-)named Joe.  He's a real, old fashioned good guy.  Lot's of my friends
joked with me when we got together and asked "When do I find my Joe?"
OK, so we establish that I'm lucky in love... Together, Joe and I have
eight children ages 29, 28, 27, 25, 23, 14, 13 and 12.  We have three
grandchildren with the fourth due May of 2009. Thank God, our children
all love each other and get along terrific! There is nothing more joyful
to me then watching them all together laughing, telling stories of past
memories, congratulating on present life achievements, commiserating
over current woes, encouraging each other in future pursuits or just
playing a game of volleyball or football or whatever the current sport
or game on their radar. Holding my grandchildren, reading them stories,
laughing while we share a meal are God's incredible bonus in my life.

Aside from my family and my job I have been blessed with an abundance of
really good friends,  I can pick up the phone and call one of my
Catholic Grammar School girlfriends after five or more years and it's
like not a day has passed without talking.  My best friend has been my
best friend since we were 12 years old.  If that isn't enough, there are
these terrific friends I have made through the years who are known as
Pearls....

We live in Southern, NJ, close to the Jersey shore, boating, beach and
summertime fun while still close to Center City Philadelphia and even
New York City Culture.  We are a huge sports family.  Whether playing or
spectating, we are a loud group.

The truth is having an abundance of goodness in my life isn't just fate.
Sure, mostly it's God's grace but I work hard at bringing unity to my
family by example and creating an environment of peace and acceptance.
I work hard at all my relationships, families and friends by trying (I
stress, trying) to be present, really present when together, being
compassionate, listening and offering advice when asked (OK, all who
know me...  I know, sometimes when not asked...) and by trying to bring
joy into whatever situation or life I'm touching.

My secret to happiness?  Being grateful, every single day, accepting
that stress will be there, no matter how hard I try to avoid it and
balancing that stress with all the goodness life has to offer, by
mentoring when the opportunity arises and by not taking myself too
seriously.  In the grand scheme of things, I'm just one of God's
precious children, just one of many, connected.

P.s  I forgot, a good red wine helps tremendously in the happiness
department! FYI, my current favorite is Amplus One, 2005 going for about
$18.99 here in South Jersey where I live.