Photo Credit: Miller Mobley and Penguin Random House
Michelle Obama Amazing “Becoming” Book Tour Surprise
My husband Rodney gave me the surprise Christmas present of a lifetime – a ticket to see Former First Lady Michelle Obama during her “Becoming” book tour. Before I go into detail about the surprise, let me say that this is not a political post. This post is about the type of person Former First Lady Michelle Obama is and why I look up to her as a role model.
I have adored Michelle Obama ever since she stepped onto the world stage during Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2007 and gave her first speech. In that speech, she talked about her blue-collar background and growing up on the South Side of Chicago. She talked about her father and the love she has for her entire family and how commitment to her family shaped the woman she is today.
Dedication to Helping Others
While yes, all of that is awe-inspiring and admirable, it is her passion to help others that inspires me the most. I have always felt compelled to help others and I admire people that dedicate their lives to this mission. If you follow my website, you know that I come from an abusive childhood. What I endured in my youth drives me to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.
In my opinion, we were all put on this earth together and we all should strive to live the best life we can live and that includes helping each other, accepting each other's differences, and not putting our beliefs above someone else's. As Thomas Jefferson wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration of Independence).
Community Service
Her dedication to community service prior to becoming First Lady:
- While at Princeton University, she created a reading program for the children of the school’s manual laborers.
- She left corporate law to pursue a career in public service.
- While she was the executive director for the Chicago branch of Public Allies, she created a leadership-training program for young adults.
- She developed the first community service program for the University of Chicago
- She served as the executive director of community relations and external affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals and was promoted to vice president within three years.
- Served on numerous charitable boards.
Dedication to Community Service as First Lady
- Targeted the epidemic of childhood obesity and encouraged healthy eating habits.
- Launched the Let's Move initiative to promote physical activity.
- Co-founded the Joining Forces program with Dr. Jill Biden to expand educational and employment options for veterans and to raise awareness about the difficulties impacting military families.
- Created the Reach Higher initiative to inspire and encourage young people to explore higher education and career-development opportunities.
Choosing Civility Over Party
I have always respected the position of First Lady regardless of the political party in office. Whether you agree with Michelle Obama's politics or not, there is no denying that she is an inspiration for women and young girls around the world. She is also a shero to so many men and young boys as well. I am looking forward to meeting her and hopefully getting one of her infamous hugs. Hopefully, I will be able to maintain my composure so I can at least get a decent picture with her!
Autumn Murray and Charis Hanberry
The Set-Up
My husband Rodney and his friend Dwayne surprised Dwayne's wife Charis and I with tickets to see Michelle Obama on her book tour. Rodney and Dwayne totally set Charis and I up for a surprise reveal and what a surprise it was.
Our husbands individually made plans for us to go out to dinner at Pappadeax (we all LOVE this Cajun seafood restaurant). They planned for us to “accidentally” run into each other at the restaurant. Not knowing this was a setup, Charis and I were thrilled to see each other as it had been a few months since the last time. So we sit down and talk and laugh and eventually order our food.
They made up an excuse to go outside and left us behind at the table. Their plan was to record an Instagram video of the big reveal and tag us thinking that we would get a notification and we would check our phones. Well, both of us were focusing on catching up and didn't have our phones on the table so we didn't see the notification.
The Surprise
Our husbands returned to the table and kept giving us hints to check our phones. We both thought this was weird, but we played along and retrieved our phones from our purses and checked our notifications. There was a notification on Instagram and a video of Rodney and Dwyane. We clicked to view the video and at first, we didn't quite grasp what they were saying, and then it sunk in. They announced in the video that for Christmas, they got us two VIP Meet and Greet tickets for Michelle Obama's book tour stop in Dallas along with flight and hotel. We will get to meet her, take a picture with her, and sit in the 7th row during her presentation! I really wished they would have recorded our reaction because it was priceless. I teared up and we both were literally stunned. Their gift to us is Simply Amazing!
Becoming is the Bestselling Book of the Year
According to NDP BookScan data, in just two weeks after its release in November, Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s memoir “Becoming” became the bestselling book of the year. Her book has sold over 2 million copies in North America (selling 725,000 copies on release day alone). It is also topping bestseller lists throughout Europe.
Get a copy of “Becoming” by Michelle Obama click: Becoming
“Becoming” Charitable Focus
Penguin Random House strongly supports social responsibility and the mission of The Obama Foundation. Penguin Random House donated one million children's books published by Penguin Random House to First Book, a longstanding Penguin Random House nonprofit partner and the Washington, DC-based partner for the 2016 White House digital education initiative, Open eBooks. First Book is dedicated to promoting equal access to education by providing new books, learning materials, and other essentials to children in need in the U.S. and Canada.
Former President Barack Obama's memoir is now out and you can get a copy here. The Obamas will donate a “significant portion” of their author proceeds to charity, including the Obama Foundation.
Shop Simply Amazing Living's Amazon Storefront HERE.
Rodney Murray, Autumn Murray, Charis Hanberry, and Dwayne Hanberry
We hope you enjoyed Simply Amazing Living's Michelle Obama “Michelle Obama Amazing Becoming Book Tour Surprise” post.
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[…] I was so excited when my husband surprised me with exclusive VIP Meet and Greet tickets to see former First Lady Michelle Obama on her Becoming memoir book tour in Dallas. For details on how the surprise took place, you can read about it in my post here. […]
[…] I was so excited when my husband surprised me with VIP Meet and Greet tickets to see former First Lady Michelle Obama in Dallas, TX on her book tour for her memoir Becoming. For details on how the surprise took place, you can read about it in my post here. […]
One of the ladies I work with is loving her new book. She’s a huge fan and would be very excited to meet her too, I’m sure!
Wow! It seems like a good read for Christmas season. I’ll look for it in my nearest bookstore! It’s a perfect Christmas gift too.
It definitely is a good read for the Chrismas season! Merry Christmas and thank you for your comment!
It made me laugh that your husbands had to come in to tell you to check your phones. It is so hard to plan surprises based on what we expect people to do, like having your phones. My daughter made her surprise party wait almost an hour because she ran a few unexpected errands while we all secretly waited for her return. Great story.
Thank you! We were trying to be polite and enjoy each other’s company. LOL! Did your daughter feel guilty for making them wait? Sounds like she has some loyal friends and family for no one calling her to spoil the surprise!
It is always exciting to be able to meet someone that you admire so greatly. It’s a breath of fresh air to see others inspired by those wanting to help others, not just achieve personal greatness.
I completely agree. Thank you for your comment.
The Power of Love looks like the perfect Christmas gift. I wasn’t sure what I wanted for Christmas, but now I know it’s this book!
Enter to win and it could be yours! Thank you for stopping by.
She’s truly such an accomplished woman. I always thought she should have been running for president instead of her husband. 😀 Who knows? Maybe it’s in the cards in the future?
She definitely is. You just never know, the world is full of surprises! Thank you for your comment.
What a cool experience! I bought her book recently and truly enjoyed it!
Thank you. Her book is honest and from the heart.
She is such an inspiring and dedicated woman! You are so lucky that you will get to meet her in Dallas!
I can’t wait! Thank you for stopping by!
What an incredible surprise! I bet this is going to be one meet and greet/book tour show that you will never forget. I hope you enjoy every minute of it!
I would love to read her story! Not political at all, I think she is a very classy lady and I find her very interesting. What a great experience for you!
Thank you! I hope you get to read her book, I really enjoyed it.
That will be such an amazing experience for you!
How cool is that? To meet a First Lady is a once-in-a-lifetime experience! You’re so lucky!
Thank you. I am so excited!
What a great experience! I heard nothing but good things about this book can’t wait to read it!
Thank you for stopping by!
Wow lucky you. I’m excited for you. Enjoy meeting her xx
Thank you!
I LOVE both the Obamas, ever since I first heard the former president speak at our national church conference back when he was a senator! Can’t wait to read this book!
Me too! I would love to hear him speak in person. Thank you for stopping by!
This is so nice got from your husband, very thoughtful. This was for me very educative post, I didn’t know that she has done. I will take a look for this book for sure.
I hope you enjoy her book as much as I did!
This will be such an amazing experience! I’m reading her book right now, and I love it.
How amazing! This has had such buzz over here in London and what an incredible thing for you to meet your hero – what an inspiration!
I love how she is adored around the world. Thank you!
wow, so lucky that you got a chance to meet her.. she’s also one of my favorite public figures and i wouldn’t mind to get a chance to see her in person too. so jealous! 😀
i am still yet to get her book, maybe i will buy it once i finish the pile of books that i haven’t read yet until now. guilty as charged. 😛 thanks for sharing!
Thank you. Her book is amazing! I know what you mean, my TBR list is a mile long!
How excited you must be to see her! She is amazing – what a once in a lifetime experience!
I can’t wait! Thank you for stopping by.
I’m so jealous you get to go! I think Mrs. Obama is fantastic and am excited to read the book.
Congratulations, what an amazing experience for you to be able to meet her. I hope you enjoy it. She is an amazing woman who has done countless amazing things.
Thank you so much! I am getting really excited!