Month: November 2021

I try to make sure I give thanks each and every day, but let’s be real, life gets in the way of that. I am not proud, but this is one of those moments where God knows my heart. Thanksgiving is the perfect time for me to refocus, and think about the many things I have to be thankful for. #Thankful #Grateful #Blessed

I spent last night and this morning prepping and cooking. Last year, we didn’t have a traditional Thanksgiving…you know why. This year, we were all looking forward to the traditions. Sooooooo…yo girl hooked it up. The menu: collard greens, baked macaroni and cheese, dressing, ham, chicken tenderloins, cornbread, banana pudding, and pound cake! The apple pie from the orchard was on the menu, but we didn’t have time nor the space for that! #ThereIsAlwaysChristmas

The bro and his family came over, and all that was missing was my mom (and GG, but that story is for another day). We waited…but then found out my mom wasn’t feeling well. I told her to take it easy and relax. She was beyond hurt. As much as the rest of us were looking forward to today, she was looking forward to it the most. Because last year wasn’t a traditional Thanksgiving, and the year she has had with chemo and radiation, it was extra special for her to gather together with her children and grandchildren. She teared up when we FaceTimed her, but I told her we will find another day to celebrate…one where she is feeling well enough to enjoy it.

We ended up bringing my mom and my dad some food. She at least got a chance to lay eyes on us, and enjoy the meal I put in WORK to prepare! While it wasn’t the image of the day for any of us, it was enough! #EvenWhatIsLittleIsOftenENOUGH

So, today, I am all of the things…thankful, grateful, and blessed! I am thankful for the journey that has gotten us this far, and for all that God has given and not given me (let’s not forget, what God doesn’t give us, is just as much a blessing as what He does give us…remember that). I am grateful for my family, and our health (even if there are challenges in both). And I am blessed…just because He woke us up this morning! He saw to it that we got to spend another Thanksgiving together, even if not in the same place. He saw to it that things would happen just as they did, according to His purpose and His plan! Let the church say Amen!

#Amen

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well folks…it’s been another year! I am beyond thankful and grateful to see this new day, let alone new chapter. I would be lying if I said it was an easy year, but it was a worth it year! #Thankful #Grateful #Blessed

As I reflect on this year, I am quickly reminded of God’s grace and mercy. He made so many ways out of no ways, and continues to show up and show out. Since Chapter 38, my mom has had all clean scans, her body has rebounded every month after a treacherous cycle of chemo, my children adjusted well when returning to in person (and are thriving), my husband and I are mostly done with our basement remodel, and my family is in tact. This isn’t to say Chapter 38 wasn’t shaken, rattled, battered, and bruised…but I am living proof that no weapon formed against me shall prosper! #LetTheChurchSayAmen

Today, my THREE babies went out of their way for me. They planned a scavenger hunt for me to get to their gifts, and the hubby did his thing with a gift that I did not expect. I got breakfast and my tea in bed, and a delicious Olive Garden dinner to round out the day.

About this gift, though…

Sooooooooo…if y’all don’t already know, MTV Cribs is back! I was watching an episode…I think with Michael Blackson. Anyway, he was showing his kitchen off and stop the press, there was this beautiful, shiny object on his counter. It kept winking at me! While it wasn’t contributing to world peace, it was feeding my inner geek! Ladies and gentlemen, meet the newest member of my family…#Toasty

To y’all, it’s just a toaster. To me…well, it’s still a toaster…BUT, she is a beautiful representation of how far technology has advanced. And baby…I’m here for it! #HeyBoo #ItsTheLittleThings

But in all seriousness, I am blessed to see another day, that just so happens to be my birthday. I will not take for granted the opportunity I was given to continue in my purpose for another chapter. I don’t know what the future holds, and that’s ok. I know that I am more equipped in Chapter 39 than I was in Chapter 38, and for that, I am ready to embark on this new journey.

#Leggo

It’s been a while since I posted about the shenanigans of Thing 2. Either I am now immune to her shenanigans OR she was laying low. That all ended today. Look at this…

Soooooo, it didn’t take me long to know what happened. A couple of days ago, Thing 2 turned on 6 glow sticks and was having herself a field day. Because she is curious, one of them magically opened and … here we are!

I asked Thing 2 for the story behind the neon artwork. She said, the glow stick cracked, opened, and spilled on her bed. She then said, she covered the area up so that I wouldn’t see it and get mad. Well…guess I gotta appreciate the girl’s honesty…sort of. The glow stick didn’t crack open without help, but I really wasn’t in the mood for further questioning and getting the famous I don’t know.

I couldn’t even give this any more energy. I just threw the mattress cover in the wash and moved on. I didn’t even trip when I noticed the stain did not come out in the wash. This is one of those It is what it is moments! And lucky for her, no one will ever see just how lit her bed is.

I will have to keep my eyes peeled from here on out. Shenanigans seem to flock to Thing 2! #EyesWideOpen

#LookingForwardToWhatsNext

Every month, I look forward to a Conscious Culture meeting with Lola Wright. She is this amazing human being that has been helping me become the best version of myself. She is helping me realize when I am operating above the line and below the line. These sessions are truly a gift and I will be sad when we have the last one in December.

Today’s meeting was about appreciation. We started off with an exercise to tell our mini-group what we appreciate about ourselves. It wasn’t an easy task for everyone. I immediately appreciated my willingness to always help others. One lady in my mini-group was extremely shy and identifying what she appreciated about herself didn’t come easy for her. It made me realize just how far I have come. There was a time when I was just like her. It took a lot of growth for me to get honest with myself about just how amazing I am. I have never been one to toot my own horn, but I have come to realize, if I don’t…who will? Sooooo…TOOT TOOT!

I also acknowledged the kind of person I am when faced with certain circumstances. The options were fight, freeze, faint, and flee. I…am a FIGHTER! #EverybodyWasKungFooFighting None of these options are good or bad, they just are. It is just what we do by nature. What we have experienced in our past often dictates how we respond. Knowing this about myself is easy…but realizing that as strongly as I am ready to fight, other people may be ready to flee, faint, or freeze, means I have to be ready to accommodate the different response. This is HARD! This will be my internal goal…recognizing and accepting how others are wired to respond and meeting them where they.

My biggest takeaway from the session was learning how I motivate others. I learned that I motivate by fear. Do this…or else! Again, I’m not wrong, I just am the way I am. The hard part here, is knowing that not everyone is receptive to that type of motivation. My eye opening moment, was admitting out loud that my mom motivated by fear, therefore, I do the same with my girls. In addition, I don’t know how to be motivated any other way. If someone motivates me another way, it’s foreign to me, and I almost don’t comprehend it. #ThisIsHUGE

I took Thing 1 to McD’s after school just to share what I learned. She and I were not BFF’s this morning because I made her change clothes. We have been going back and forth with what she chooses to wear to school. She liked her new school clothes up until she saw what others were wearing in Junior High and now does not see her new clothes as being fit for school. I, on the other hand, was not for her changing who she is for anyone. AND, she was not about to throw the clothes to the side that she LOVED at the beginning of the school year to DESPISE now that she sees what others wear. So, needless to say, most morning’s have been a fight. #Exhausting

Now, I have been motivating her by fear because I made her change. I have tried to take things away, all in the name of getting her to wear all of the clothes I worked super hard to bless her with. But it wasn’t working and it wasn’t fun to be at odds first thing in the morning…EVERY…MORNING!

As we journeyed to McD’s, I explained to her what I learned about myself. I asked her if she felt I motivated by fear and she said, “Sometimes!” I asked her how she is motivated and she said, “Rewards!” Of course! This is the same child who we paid to potty train. We went on to have a great conversation. My takeaway, meet her where she is. There may be circumstances that warrant a motivation by fear (because there are always consequences for your actions), but for our daily peace, I can choose to motivate her the way she best receives it. #WinWin

Just a side note, my session with Lola Wright ended with a round robin where we each picked a person and told them what we appreciated about them. Two people, one I don’t work with, had some very positive things to say about how they appreciate me and what I offer at these meetings. I was in awe! You never know who’s watching or the effect you are having on other people! Truly a humbling experience!

Today was a growth day for me. I came, I saw, I conquered, I learned. I ended the day a much better person than I was when the day started. It doesn’t get any better than that!

So, in case no one told you yet…I appreciate you for the unique being that you are. The way God created you is perfect because he doesn’t make mistakes. So, while you go on this journey called life, be open to being all that He has called you to be! And be open to change…because with it comes growth.

#IGrewUpToday #HowWillIGrowUpTomorrow #ICannotWaitToSee