Double Portion Inspiration

Renee and I want to wish you a Merry Christmas!   Today we celebrate Jesus' birthday - that precious baby born in Bethlehem.   May the richest blessings and peace be upon you this day and as we head into 2015.   From our family to yours... Renee & Roslyn - Christmas 2013 Roslyn enjoys holiday decorations

  Christmas is days away and there are many of us excited about spending time with family and friends.  The anticipation of receiving gifts, eating holiday favorites and laughing over old stories make this time of year my favorite. Today however, I was reminded of those that might not be happy this holiday season.  Over the course of a year, my husband has suffered the loss of his mother and one of his best friends.  In the midst of a joyous season, I know he will miss their smiles and conversations.  He's not alone . There are so many experiencing their "firsts" without loved ones.  First time holiday shopping without them.  First Christmas.  First dawn of a new year without their warmth and love. They are members of a club that no one wants to join .  What about those sitting in a hospital this year while they watch their family member cling to life?  What about the parents waiting for...

I am sure some may think this a political statement but it isn't.  For the past three days I physically didn't have a voice. A wicked virus affected our entire family.  A sore throat soon catupluled into a bad case of laryngitis.  I knew the only remedy was vocal rest and lots of fluids. The only problem with that plan, I work in the retail industry and the month of December means me being in stores selling products to consumers as they complete their holiday shopping list.  I had out of town visitors and I greeted them with no voice.  As I met people who were speaking at a normal tone, I just had to smile and point to my vocal chords using sign language to inform them I had no voice. I had SO much to say during their visit but I physically couldn't.  No one heard me.  I could just sit and observe the conversations happening around me.  Honestly, a very humbling experience. We ate lunch and there was normal chatter, di...

It's hard to believe that it's almost time for Thanksgiving.  I love this time of the year.  Food, fun, family and Christmas shopping.  (Need some Black Friday shopping tips?  Here you go! )  What could be better? We traditionally gather together with a large sampling of our family members.  Everyone under one roof is loud from the football games playing on the tv, kids playing games, and the rest of us reminiscing and catching up with each other.  Seeing cousins, uncles, and aunts, that you haven't seen in awhile is such a joy.  The agenda for the event is simple. Bring a dish. Say a prayer of thanks. Eat like tomorrow may not come. We have a traditional southern Thanksgiving meal.  However, the other day I realized, there's some traditional items I've never enjoyed .  Some would say it's a tragedy but I would say, why add something new to the menu?  If you think I'm missing out, leave a comment...

It's almost here...Thanksgiving is next week and we will officially enter the 2014 holiday season.  I've already started making list and researching savory recipes.  This time of year, life is all about being thankful. Living a life of gratitude leads to surviving even the toughest moments of your life.  I've actually seen others at their low points and still find a way to be thankful. Here are my personal FIVE TO THRIVE , they represent the top 5 things I'm most thankful for: HEALTH It is my daily declaration to say that sickness and disease are far from me.  I'm thankful for a body that is strong, mobile, and full of health. EDUCATION Simply stated - education dispels ignorance.  Education is your passport into the future and one of your most powerful weapons. BIBLE Reading the Bible daily is apart of my sacred morning ritual.  I crave hearing from the purest voice I know.  At birth, God formed my physical body but daily h...

Parenting has the ability to make you laugh and cry all at the same time.  I don't profess to be a perfect parent but I know I'm a determined and dedicated parent.  This weekend I had a chance to show my "tween" aged daughter my dedication to our relationship.  We visited SeaWorld and before we could even make it through the gate, my daughter knew the roller coasters she wanted to ride. Manta at SeaWorld I knew she would want one of us to ride with her.  Alton nor myself was eager to step up and ride along.  I was even willing to let her go on the ride by herself.  I would just walk with her to the top and then stand on the other side and wait for her.  While we were walking through the line, she said, "Come on mom, this is a great bonding moment for us."  Did she really just say that?  Bonding?  On a roller coaster that travels up to 56 miles per hour?   The face I wanted to give my daughter when she wa...

Friday is Halloween and many people are buying costumes, props, and makeup just to dress up like someone else.  For instance, I walked into my chiropractor's office today and this conservative man was dressed as Kanye West.   It's the one time of the year where we truly celebrate the ability to BE SOMEONE ELSE .   Renee and I wish you a fun and safe holiday.  (Posted by Roslyn) My hubby as an aspiring break dancer

PEOPLE ARE DYSFUNCTIONAL I know what you are thinking...that's a strong statement.  But whether you want to admit it, people really can be dysfunctional.  You start off as their friend, spouse, child, coworker and then quickly realize that something changes the more you know them.  Don't worry, people think the same about me and you. We are all human and have the natural propensity to make mistakes .  We say words that offend, don't return a phone call, annoy our sibling, become to busy to invest in a friendship, or even betray a loved one.  The list could go on and on. No matter who we are, we are ALL a part of the human race .  We cry, breath, love, reason, and feel a myriad of emotions. How can dysfunctional people be in functional relationships?   Tough question, but start with realizing that everyone is different.  Don't expect every one to think or always agree with you.  We live in a world full of different races, cultures...

  Today I thought I would share my story on "Awareness Wednesday".  I normally don't get this personal on the blog but the more I share with others about my health challenges from 2012, I realize it's a common battle that several women face. My journey began on January 1, 2012.  I distinctly remember being positioned on my mom's couch in the fetal position.  The position helped to minimize the pain I was feeling on a day when I should've been out catching the final hours of New Year's day shopping.  For some reason, my monthly feminine occurrence was heavy and the stomach cramps were brutal.  I wasn't quite sure why a monthly occurrence was different this time around but it was noticeably different.  With each passing month, my symptoms became worse.  I didn't take the time to see my gynecologist because I just figured it was the result of getting older. By October of that year, I'm sure my sister was tired of...

The weather where I live has turned a few degrees cooler.  It's starting to feel like Fall is in the air. I was inspired by Ree Drummond (Pioneer Woman) on the Food Network.  She used six pounds of apples to make yummy recipes. The apple recipe appealed to me because my oldest son has started eating applesauce before school.  He leaves so early in the morning and just needs a fast snack to coat his stomach.   Homemade applesauce is the perfect way to accomplish on the go eating. APPLESAUCE INGREDIENTS: 5-6 pounds of apples (honey crisp or golden delicious) Ground cinnamon (1 teaspoon) Brown sugar (1 firmly packed cup) Lemon juice (juice from 1/2 lemon) Water (1 cup) Start with Honeycrisp or Golden Delicious Apples Peel and core the apples - this tool was bought at my local grocery store The tool allows the core to be removed and the apple is sliced into 8 equal parts Put cut apples into a pot with 1 cup of water Cook on m...

Fall in Los Angeles (2013) It's hard to believe that Fall is upon us.  Wasn't it just yesterday we were saying, "5, 4 ,3, 2, 1, Happy New Year"!  One thing I've learned along my life journey is that time waits for no one.  Whether you're ready or not, Fall is here and we must say goodbye to the long, sweltering days of summer.     I recently studied the cause of seasonal changes.  It's more than just a change in temperature.  Seasons are the result of the Earth's yearly orbit around the sun and the tilt of the Earth's axis.  The closer we are to the sun, the warmer the weather.  The further away we are, the colder the temps.  What a metaphor for life!  If we changed just one letter in the word s-u-n, it would be the word S-O-N. Seasons in our life occur the same way it occurs in the atmosphere around us.    Floral blooms in Springtime     Spring -The time in o...

Are you starting to lose faith? This does not have to be faith in a higher power or creator but losing faith in other sources.  We all have faith in something.  We have faith that our car will start when we turn the key, faith that our lungs will take in air so that we can breath.   But are you starting to lose faith that a family member can change his manipulative ways, faith that your sick loved one will be healed, faith that your marriage can be restored, faith that your child will learn to respect you, faith that your finances will recover or faith that your career path is sustainable? Faith in material wealth, health or people can sabotage our ability to believe in God.  An imperfection or betrayal by someone has ruined your image of the church or how you view the world.  A marriage ending in divorce leaves you with anxiety of making a lifelong commitment to your partner.  Don't have faith in people, wealth or health because that can all b...

Turning forty was amazing.  We blogged about our excitement last year.  No worries if you missed the post, here it is.   There's something so powerful about entering a new season in your life.  The exhilaration of new beginnings and the closing of a chapter sprouts forth hope and expectations for the best being yet to come. I've learned quite a bit after being forty for only about six months.  Prepare yourself for the good, the bad, and the ugly. My eyes don't see everything they did before. My metabolism slowed down. I stay hungry. (Not sure if that's changed much from being 39 years old) Other people's opinion no longer matter as much. I love dancing like nobody's watching. My body aches more with less activity. I have to color my hair more often to cover the new gray hairs. I've found my purpose! Authenticity is a must. Running is a great workout and a wonderful therapy session. Sleeping with a fan next to my bed helps with the night swe...

This has become a popular saying - STAY CALM I'm turning 40, STAY CALM I'm fabulous, STAY CALM and stay strong, STAY CALM I'm a kindergartner, etc.  The list goes on and on... My boys and I spent last week together before they head off to school on Monday.  Each day we did an activity to get them organized and prepared for a successful year in 4th and 9th grade.  We now are parents of a high schooler and the rigor of his classes will be a transition in his freshman year. On last Thursday, I wanted us to spend time creating some personal goals.  The boys each came up with robust goals for themselves, and I know they have the creative and academic ability to reach those goals.  I was inspired by a dear friend to set a goal for myself - STAY CALM .  My kids are getting to the age where they are testing their own independence and I want to learn NOT to freak out about every decision. Interestingly enough when my friend told me to try and stay calm ...

In recent months, so many loved ones have passed away.  Not only my friends and family but the loved ones of those I know.  It's heart breaking to hear of another friend that's lost someone near and dear to their hearts.  Until you've lost someone close (especially a parent), you can never understand the grief that one feels during that season of life.  Unfortunately I've lost a parent and it's a "club" I never wanted to join. I was always a daddy's girl.  My dad was my hero.  When he became ill, it rocked my world.  I had to move from believing God was a healer to knowing without a shadow of a doubt that He was my father's healer.   God showed His awesome power, time and time again during dad's health challenges.  That's why when he passed away, it was devastating. I was mad at God. We prayed, we believed, we fasted and he passed away.  Even though God  worked miracles in dad's body in the past, right now, ...

These words speak to me.  Lately, I have felt a bit depleted when it comes to my inspiration for others.  When you deal with your own twists and turns in your life, you don't always have an inspiring word to encourage someone else.  That's why I try not to live based on my emotions or feelings .  Those twins - emotions and feelings - can lead me down a wrong track. I encourage you this week to just keep calm and handle the ups and downs with grace.  You are not alone in this journey of life.  Changing your perspective and focusing on only what is helps keep you calm.  Don't overthink or overanalyze every situation, women do this easily.  Have a support system that listens and doesn't always try to judge and solve your problems. My stress has caused break outs on my face.  A recent dentist appointment revealed that I'm also grinding my teeth at night...not pretty.  Stress can evoke several harmful reactions within our body, so jus...

It's Monday!  The Summer is moving quickly and back to school supplies are already appearing in stores.  Before we know it, Christmas will be here and we will be ringing in a new year. As time moves and doesn't allow us to "get off" and catch up with it, we must remain focused on intentional actions.  Not just mundane but an intentional plan to have a greater impact in the world around us. When was the last time you told someone that you BELIEVE in them?  You believe in their dreams, abilities and have confidence in who they are as a person.  We've all heard negative words spoken over us.  Growing up, children at school called you names.  Employers dumb down your abilities to a performance score or rating.  You even start to agree with the negative label that might have been placed on you during childhood.  You wear that label, positive or negative, as a banner or badge of honor. Truth Moment:  It's never about what you ...

I have to blog twice this week.  Once for Double Portion Inspiration and again on Friday for GFC Beautiful Blog.   I thought having a similar theme for both blogs would make writing a little easier.  I thought about the title the other day while driving in the car.  A post that's fun and reflective.  There's no rhyme or reason to my confessions.  Just some "summer" fun. I've never shopped at Big Lots As much as I love a deal, I've never even been tempted to shop there.  The other day I wondered if I should go inside.  I don't even know if it's a grocery store vs. clothing store vs. Walmart wanna be.  If you think I should venture inside, let me know. I feel guilty giving my daughter chores   Not sure why??  I'm sure I'm not the only mother who feels this way.  I've come to realize that I need to have the kids help out around the house because it's through their responsibilities that they will le...