Double Portion Inspiration

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...