Double Portion Inspiration

Thanksgiving is here and that means the 2017 holiday season is in full swing. The level of activity increases for most people. Holiday parties, gifts to buy, recipes to try, family dinners and cards to mail add to our level of stress this time of year. There is a way to change your mental health during this stressful time of year. Today my Pastor spoke from I Thessalonians 5:16-18 and it has the perfect prescription for success. Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful... Shifting our thoughts to gratitude helps us focus on what is here versus what is missing. It grounds us to truly understand the real reason for the holiday season. Although someone else might win that coveted parking spot at the mall, or skip you in line at the grocery store always be joyful, keep on praying and always be thankful. This Thanksgiving, can you find at least three reasons to be thankful?  Well here is my list: Family Friendship Protection...

U. S. Flag Everyday we are bombarded with images of division and evil in our country. Sometimes you walk away from the television wondering, are we really one nation under God? Why does it seem like we are moving further and further away from God? I now realize, from my own personal journey,  one important fact. To be healed from your past, you must confront the painful areas that are buried deep.  That's true in my life, your life and it's true for our country. The journey to uncover and deal with your past can be dark, often hurts and maybe full of tears. However, it's all necessary to adequately complete the healing process. Three years ago I found myself in a broken place. During a women's conference I attended, God brought me to my knees. It was sudden and unexpected. There was a broken area of my life that I never confronted. My way of coping was to bury my feelings and not deal. God had a different plan. In that moment during the conference, the ...

Isn't it easy in our world to ONLY be focused on ME - my plans, my agenda, my preferences, my reputation, my kids, etc. At this point you can have anything customized to your taste, from the food you eat in a restaurant, the temperature in your home, smartphone screen and even the firmness of your mattress. It's all designed to fit your taste. How can I NOT be focused on myself when everyone else is? Magazines, billboards, gyms, and commercials plead with you to take time for yourself. But it really will mean more revenue for them if you spend money on their products that they highly suggest you need in your life. It is easy for me to look around and associate with only those that look, talk and agree with my way of thinking. But is that helping the greater good of humanity? How can WE be positive and light in a dark world, if we didn't expand our own borders to include those that are different from us? There will always be those in the world that don't ag...

When was the last time you rested? Not just a few hours of sleep in the evening or even an afternoon nap. I mean, taking an entire day to REST. Our world is so full of  activities, work, sports, cleaning, cooking, caring for kids and so many other distractions that we often lose sight of the commandment that God gave us in the 20th chapter of Exodus. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9  Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10  but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11  For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. This is one of the longest commandments given as part of the Ten Commandments shar...

What a difference a week makes.  Radar of Hurricane Irma Last week I sat in the aftermath of the strongest storm in history, Hurricane Irma. Power loss, boil water ordinance, friends and family in distress, low water pressure, long gas lines, debris cleanup and grocery stores with empty shelves appeared as an apocalyptic movie scene. Local Grocery Store - Empty Shelves Grocery Store struggle to fill shelves I remember walking out of my home for the first time to see what Irma left behind. Thankfully, nothing but minor inconveniences compared to so many in Key West, Naples, Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Caribbean islands. I think like many Floridians, I've been so humbled by the many comforts of home that I take for granted. The ability to make that hot cup of coffee, take a hot shower or turn on a light and have electricity in the home. Having it all taken away humbled me to realize every community is only one disaster away from total devastation. Floridians o...

Hurricane Irma At the time of this post, Roslyn and I both live in a state being pounded by Hurricane Irma. Millions of people are in the path of the storm causing it to be a historic event. Schools, churches, and even Walmart are closed for the next few days until the storm passes. All week it's been nearly impossible to purchase the basic hurricane necessities like gas, water, bread and batteries. I knew my area was in the path of the storm to some degree, but with the shift in Irma's track, the eyewall will come within miles of my home. Since it was nearly impossible to find plywood for our windows, we will hunker down in our safe room where there's no windows or exterior doors. The sobering reality that nearly 100 mph winds will soon change the atmosphere caused me to take years of memories off my walls.  This entire experience is humbling.  Matter of fact, downright frightening.  Hurricanes are common this time of year. I'v...

Summer is quickly evaporating. We all wait with baited breath to see the solar eclipse that happens on Monday, Aug. 21st. Children and parents are hurriedly returning to a new pace with the school year starting and for some school is already in full swing. Young adults are excited about their new college life. Before we blink, it will be Christmas. I am one of those parents with a teenager starting his senior year of high school and youngest son entering 7th grade. Where did the time go? That is the question that most of us are asking ourselves. I've been blessed to have a refreshing Summer that came with a ton of travel.  Puerto Rico, Dallas, River Ranch Florida, Palm Beach, Melbourne, Naples, Atlanta, Cincinnati, New York, Toronto, Valdosta Georgia it seems that I was away more than I was home. Country living, beaches and metropolis cities I've experience so much in three months with my boys. My suitcase is still packed by the foot of my bed. Roslyn at River Ranch,...

What a difference a few days make. A few weeks ago I shared a testimony about God's grace in a very difficult situation. No worries if you missed it.  Read it here. I'm overwhelmed by the number of calls, texts, emails, prayers and well wishes we've received. I fully realize why God never intended for us to do life alone. We needed a village around us and we got it. Almost everyday there's someone asking about Jordan which is wonderful. That means that he's still thought of and prayed for. I wanted to provide an update because I realize that not everyone is connected to our Facebook page. Walking in with bandages. We followed up with the burn center on Wednesday. Fortunately he was able to have all of his bandages removed! This is what we prayed for. Now that the bandages are gone, we can focus on his total and complete healing. Beyond the physical pain of the experience, the hardest part for Jordan is the limitations on his outdoor time. Since his d...

I don't care how much you may try to avoid a tragedy, it might just find you. Few of us go through life without experiencing some type of tragic event or loss. It comes out of nowhere. It's never expected. It has a way of finding you whether you open the door, answer the phone or say hello to it. Recently I returned home from a 10 day vacation. Our family time away started in West Palm Beach with us cheering on our youngest in his rookie baseball state tournament. We were on such a high because the boys dominated and won their district championship that allowed them to advance to the state competition. Unfortunately our state appearance ended quickly. Oh well. Despite the sweltering heat and game losses, we had a blast! Accidental country girls! We then traveled from the Palm Beach area to our yearly vacation with my sister and her family. Just two hours north we would find the wide open fields of ranch living. Beaches, city lights, and a vibrant night life gave...

In his footsteps! There is so much love during Mother's day. Everyone knows that most kitchens are closed that day because mom is taking a much needed break. I remind my kids constantly about the MOMENTOUS occasion called, "Mother's Day". I tell them not to ask me ANY questions that day, especially this question: Mom - What are we eating for dinner? I find a way to solve and answer that question most nights. But on Mother's day, I want someone else in the house to figure out what's for dinner. Now the tables are turned as we march towards Father's day. I wonder at times, does anyone care ? The stores are a bit slower. Restaurants and churches aren't as noticeably busy, as we find it on Mom day. WHY are dads overlooked? That might appear as a loaded question. Well, I CARE that Father's day is on Sunday. I am pleased to celebrate the many men that are in my life and are respectfully phenomenal fathers. It truly takes a village to r...

Happy Friday! The weekend is here and we are already into the month of June. Many kids are graduating whether it is pre-K or college. It's been fun to see and read about all the senior / grad activities. I've had the pleasure of reading, "Finding The Space To Lead" by Janice Marturano. I quickly learned that many people are going through life fractured. They just push through due to the demand of the day. She states, "We often simply do not have the space, breathing room, necessary to be clear and focused, and to listen deeply to ourselves and to others." I have learned how to take purposeful pauses each day. It's as simple as setting aside 5 - 10 minutes daily just to breath and focus your attention. I know this seems easy, but it really isn't. My mind runs away with thoughts of what to cook for dinner or what I need to cross of my "to-do" list. HOW CRAZY? I can't find 5-10 minutes a day just to breath . Well, if I don't...

Last month, Alton and I celebrated 20 years of marriage!   It was an exciting time in our house.   We pulled out our wedding album and the kids couldn’t believe how young we looked when we got married (we were also both a lot smaller).   Wedding Day In 1997 we both walked down the aisle having no clue what the future held.   Neither one of us fully understood two simple yet complex words, “I do”. I’m happy to say that I’m still madly in love with him. I don’t just tolerate him. We’re not just roommates staying together to raise kids. We are FRIENDS! We make each other smile and laugh at our corny “inside” jokes. Now, with that being said, we’re not a perfect couple by any means.   Does he get on my nerves? Yes!   Does he make me want to scream at times? Yes!   Do I get on his nerves?   No!   Just kidding.   Of course I do.   Despite those facts, he’s the one for me and I’m thankful to God...

This is my favorite question to ask, especially in a group setting. It never gets old. Now, it's time for me to ask you: When was the last time YOU did something for the first time? Ahh, are you still thinking? If you think about this question more than two minutes, that means you need to GO out there and have a new experience. Sometimes we just get stuck. We are on the wheel of life going around and around. Only doing the mundane and routine events every day. That can get boring fast. The wheel never stops. Where can we get off? How do we make it stop? What's going to be the NEXT thing that knocks us off our feet? Instead of expecting tumultuous times ahead, try experiencing something NEW . It can be as simple as flying to a new city, trying a new restaurant or taking a new route to work. I challenged my husband to take a new way home from work. GUESS what - it took him less time. The old way isn't always the best way. NEW hair for our 90's party! Renee ...

At some point in our life, we will have to say good-bye. It might be to a relationship, career, marriage, school, or even an old way of thinking. Realizing that everything does not last forever is sometimes the hardest part. The only constant in our life is CHANGE.   Our country went through transition of power on Inauguration day, saying good bye to an old administration and welcoming in a new vision. In my own personal life, I had to say good bye to a special friend.  Many miles and ocean water now separate us. Moving away from our comfort zones causes us to sometimes proceed with caution. When you say that final good bye you feel sad and devastated inside. You move forward, but not always really sure how. My friend name is Kanoon, and she was my nail technician for over a decade. She's seen me through some of the toughest and greatest celebrations of my life. She helped me welcome in a new baby, prepared my nails for my 40th birthday shoot, encouraged me through su...

Parenting is probably one of the biggest challenges in my life. There are days that I win as a parent and days that I fail big time. Every day it's a different twist and turn. I have a teenage daughter and an 8 year old son. They have different personalities, likes and dislikes. Most days they don't agree but on the days that they do, it's a wonderful blessing to see them together. My kids when they were younger! Photo credit: Delana Brooks When I share with some people that I'm absolutely loving the teenage years, most look at me like I'm crazy. Especially raising a teenage girl that's full of emotion and attitude. It's not easy BUT I'm just resolved to enjoy every phase and stage of my children's lives . Those were words of wisdom given to me by a colleague years ago and I've never forgotten it.  Before I know it, she will be an adult and living on her own. If I CHOOSE not to enjoy these years, I WILL MISS OUT ! I recogni...