Double Portion Inspiration

The Christmas season is filled with people literally rolling over you just to get that perfect gift for their friend or family member. If you think I’m kidding, just try to park your car at a mall parking lot today on Christmas Eve. Is this really the happiest season of all? If we are honest in the last days of 2018, we ALL are motivated by SELFISH desires. For example, the craving to take constant selfies and post them on social media feeds that craving. You might say, "Roslyn I’m not selfish". Here’s a simple question - When you are in a group photo who do you look at first? I bet the answer is YOU . We look at ourselves first because if we don’t look attractive enough we want the entire group to take another picture... SELFISH . Here’s another example - we sit in the car line at school. Once we pick up OUR kids we purposely disobey all the school speed limits and ignore traffic signs just to get home quicker... SELFISH . -------------------------------------...

Three weeks ago I woke up to the most intense pain in my life. Piercing. Gut wrenching. Knock you down to your knees pain. More than the labor pains combined with both of my kids. Pain so vivid I will never forget it. I could go on and on but for the sake of time, I'll move on. Coupled with the pain was the undeniable feeling that I could faint at any moment. I couldn't walk. I couldn't lay down. The pain continued to pierce. Typically if I feel pain I take pain meds to make it go away so I can move on with my day. I have a small tolerance for pain so this was way more than I ever wanted to feel. Oh, did I forget to share that this all happened at 6am in the morning and I was scheduled to speak on stage at my church at 11:15 am. The topic was, "Life vs. Chaos". This was true chaos and I needed my Healer to rescue me. Last day of hospital stay After rolling on the floor in pain, I woke my husband and we headed to the emergency room beca...

My Wombmate! Our MOST Special Thanksgiving ! Today is the day when many will enjoy a feast full of incredible Fall dishes. You walk into any Thanksgiving host home and the smells of Fall enter your nostrils making you even more hungry than when you arrived. There is so much activity that will happen around the Thanksgiving table - some people will rummage through retail circular ads planning their Black Friday shopping strategy. The tv, for some, is playing the coveted Thanksgiving Day football games. The kids will catch up swapping school stories as they countdown to Christmas break. Then there is the group that will debate the latest pop culture events and politics. In their opinion, they will solve the world’s greatest problems. Well for Renee and I, this week has been a test of grit, resiliency, faith and a reminder of our incredible bond. I know many of you have siblings but the bond between identical twins is something short of amazing. Renee and I can finish ...

If you live here in the United States it is the morning after one of the most polarizing Mid Term elections. The democratic process has spoken and the winners in each race, for the most part, have been declared. Some of us had our candidate WIN and some of us had our candidate LOSE , now what? First , realize that all hope is NOT lost. We now shift our focus to praying for each of the elected officials. They have the steep task of making good on ALL those campaign promises. As we know some things are easier said than done. When our elected officials succeed, WE win no matter their political party. Second , salvation will NOT come from a party or a single candidate. It will take ALL of us digging in to start the necessary change at home. It starts at home . I have many friends that are teachers and they all say the best training starts at home. Schools are NOT the sole answer to kids problems. In the same way that government is NOT the answer to all of our problems eith...

The 2018 midterm election is looming. There are some people that feel it doesn’t matter, nothing seems to change. Some might feel numb, desensitized and indifferent to what is currently happening to our society. Are the rules of decency being rewritten? I feel anxious, after 3 hate crimes in 1 week - what is next? Who will help preserve Mother Earth? What WORLD am I leaving for my kids? The answer to many of those questions are answered as we evoke our democratic process and VOTE . Don’t become indifferent to the state of affairs around you. Don’t be lulled into any false sense of security. Your VOTE matters.  Renee and I take it seriously and spend weeks educating ourselves on the Amendments, the candidates, their platform and their priorities. Don’t rely on news outlet or negative ad sound bites. Do your OWN research and find the candidate that best speaks to YOUR unique needs. If you are feeling afraid or anxious in light of the recent a...

I'm sure the title of my post offends some, however, it's the only word strong enough to share my level of disappointment and frustration over today's political environment. What happened to the days when we could sit down together and have a decent debate about our views? Sometimes we agreed and sometimes we didn't. So what! We would just agree to disagree and move on. Not today. This political environment is different. Way different. A difference of opinion today means that a person is judged for their beliefs. We're judged by how we vote, what we feel about the issues and where we choose to get our news from. If you believe in one Republican ideal you're labeled a Conservative. If you side with some of the Democratic ideals you're labeled a Socialist or Liberal. There's no middle ground or moderate voice in today's political dialogue. What happened? Whether you believe it or not, families are being torn apart. Friends are ...

"I don't have time for that." "Sorry I can't come, I am too busy." "I wish there were more hours in my day." "I will have to decline that invitation, my schedule is packed." "Oh gosh, so sorry that I am late (again)." "I picked up the phone to call you, but started working on something else and forgot." Have you said any of these statements lately? For most of us, they are common comments or thoughts when we are frustrated that we are running OUT of time. Our schedules are packed with activities, meetings and deadlines. Our kids social calendars creep into our overflowing calendar and missed appointments are bound to happen. This Summer I was inspired to take on a reading challenge. Now reading is something I love to do but like most people, rarely find the time to do it. A team member told me I needed to make edits in my life so that I could find time to read, find time to do something I loved. Di...

If you're connected to me on Facebook, you've noticed that I post a hymn every Sunday. Although I love gospel and contemporary Christian music, there's just nothing like the singing of a hymn to remind you of the goodness of God. Most hymns originated in the middle of a test or trial. They were sung in an effort to set the atmosphere to enter into the presence of God. One of the most popular hymns, "Amazing Grace", was written in the 1700's at a time when the author was in the midst of a turbulent storm that battered his sailing vessel. He cried out to God for mercy. It was a moment that led to his spiritual conversion. In a day and time when our world is full of anxiety, uncertainty, and trying times, we MUST go back to the basics. If you wonder what that looks like, here's my suggestion: KEEP IT SIMPLE ! 1. Pray continually 2. Remain focused on God (not your problem) 3. Sing hymns 4. Stay thankful Here are scriptures that reinforce...

The inevitable happened, Tyler went off to college. I was a stay at home mother for the first 7 years of his life. Time has evaporated and I kissed my son goodbye as he headed back to his dorm just 2 weeks ago. #YIKES Although Tyler remains my son and will come home often, the thought of him being out of the house had my nerves on edge (that's MY truth) this year.  There are many of my friends that previously talked about this feeling. Well, I was  now in the position to experience it firsthand. I constantly thought: How will I adjust to 1 less child in the home? Does that actually mean buying LESS groceries? 😀 Who will NOW entertain our younger son? Will he want ME to play Fort Nite? Being a mom has defined me for the past 18 years. I remember when I left to attend the University of Florida, I did not return back to my mom's house. I got married right after college and started working upon graduation. I guess it's what a mother wants for her child, I'...

Prayer is a conversation with God. It's an opportunity for us to talk to Him and for Him to talk to us. It's two-way communication and it should be continual as you move throughout each day. The God of the Universe, provides us the magnificent opportunity to have a conversation with Him! He wants to hear about our joys and victories and comfort us when life gets downright difficult. Here's the thing though, DON'T pray and then worry. It's like oil and water. They don't mix. They were never meant to exist together. If you're going through a difficult time, please pray about your situation and give it to God. He wants to take the cares of your world away but you must release it to Him. If you keeping worrying about the situation then you're doubting his ability to handle it. Philippians 4:6-7 shares the following: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to G...

The boys are wrestling, running, and screaming in the house often during Summer. Most of the screaming comes from their constant disappointment while playing Fort Nite. I find it hard to THINK when noise levels are high. Come to think of it - WHEN was the last time I had the opportunity to think? The world is moving so fast. In just a month the kids will be back in school. There are many unnecessary items that fight for our attention. If we get a moment to ourselves, we don't sit in silence and think. NO we reach for our the tv, Neflix or our phone to see the latest notification or email that came into our inbox. A red traffic light, in 2018, isn't time to think either. It's now time to scan email, buy a pair of shoes, respond to a text, turn on the music or apply makeup. WHEN was the last time YOU had the opportunity to think? Carving out space to think is important for our mental health. It is very tempting to use a silent moment to peruse through social m...

Most Saturday's I wake up early and head to the trail for a 6 mile walk with my dear friend. We always seem to cry, pray and laugh together. We pray for each other, our families, and just life in general. A few Saturday's ago, my heart was heavy and I was overwhelmed by life. We were walking and talking but my mind kept drifting back to my worries. My mind was anxious and I couldn't even focus on what she was saying. Instead of holding it in, I was transparent and shared my concerns and situation. Even though she's walking through her own difficult situations, she immediately started to pray for me. Those few moments of prayer provided encouragement and a renewed strength. A weight was lifted off my shoulders. My perspective changed and I moved from anxious thoughts to grateful thoughts. I realized in a deeper way that: prayer always works prayer in partnership with others is a mighty weapon The results you're looking for aren't always i...

I am thrilled that the holiday week is upon us. Today is Canada Day and on Wednesday (July 4th) the United States will celebrate our independence. Our freedom as a country. July 4th is such a celebratory holiday where the day is long and the grills are wafting some incredible aromas in the air. People happily stay up late for fireworks and holiday shenanigans with friends and family. BAD NEWS : I try to look at the news daily for edification on the latest events. This year I'm realizing there is so much I don't recognize about our country. The constant bickering on the news really, I mean REALLY upsets me. People no longer take the time to research the facts of a story. Water cooler discussions at work have turned UGLY. Many are just a passionate imitation of what they see on the nightly news. I don't recognize why people love a political party more than their love of GOD and country. The human spirit is alive and well if you open your eyes to see it . The news...

It all happened so quickly, one moment I was upright and presenting on a conference call for work. Then I started to feel a tickle in my throat. Within the next 3 quick hours I was achy, cold and feeling run over by a mac truck. Could it be - The FLU!! I've had the flu before, 13 years ago when I was pregnant with my youngest son (Joshua). I knew the feeling and quickly started medication to hopefully "offset a bad cold". I was celebrating my son's birthday that evening and didn't want plans to change on account of me being sick. WHO HAS TIME TO BE SICK? I repeat, WHO HAS TIME TO BE SICK? Sickness normally comes out of nowhere. It overtakes your body, emotions and feelings to bring you DOWN. I'm not talking about the easy stuff like a minor cold or slight upset stomach. I'm talking about the type of sickness that brings you flat on your back. How can you be cold and sweating all in the same hour? The doctor confirmed I did NOT have influenza, ...

  There is so much that goes into making Mother's Day a perfect day. US Census reports that there are over 85 million mothers in the United States. Mother's day ends up being one of the largest and most profitable holidays in the Spring season. I find that less people are shopping intently for fathers on their special day due to many single mother households. Our world needs strong men who love not only their families but also their communities. Men who are willing to sacrifice. We need strong men as mentors and champions when a father might be missing in the home. I've had the opportunity to be surrounded by some incredibly strong men in my life. They taught me a standard of love in my early years of dating. They also taught me how a strong man leads lovingly and with humor in his home, so that the family is protected from the darkness of this world. I've also seen men in many environments like fraternities, education, churches, performing arts and sports...

Where are my keys? What are we eating for dinner? Where is my homework? Oh gosh, I thought that appointment was tomorrow. Does any of this sound like you? Keep reading, this post is for YOU! I normally take about 25-30 trips a year. I travel countless miles in the air, train, subway, and car. Anywhere from Montreal to Georgia and many states in between. I've visited every borough in New York. I've realized people from Staten Island are MUCH different than those from East Orange, NJ. My favorite radio station comes from Philadelphia, PA - WDAS. The best clam chowder is from Boston. Hands down, in my opinion, some of the most diverse cuisines and people are in Manhattan and Toronto. I can't go further in the email without first thanking my husband, Tyjuan Rice. He sacrificially supports our family and me during all our travel transitions. My handsome hero - team Rice! Over the years, of robust travel, I've learned to SIMPLIFY everything in my life. A...

If you knew, in just a matter of hours a brutal beating of your body would take place, what would you do? If you knew that you would have one last meal with your friends before your horrific death, what would be your demeanor? If you knew, in only hours, your head would bleed profusely due to a crown of thorns being jammed into it, how would you react? If you knew your mom would have to witness your back being ripped open and your hands and feet nailed to a cross, could you even sleep? What about if you knew, your shed blood and broken body would redeem people who would never even say thank you. How would you respond? If you knew ...... I've wondered about the answer to those questions. Today in church our teaching Pastor taught about the excruciating pain Jesus endured before dying on the cross. Simply, it was difficult to hear. It birthed inside of me a spirit of gratitude for His supreme sacrifice. To know that His passion for us was so strong and deep...

A few weeks ago, I told you I would be attending a marriage conference. Tyjuan and I (by the grace of God) will celebrate 23 years of marriage in October. We have been together for almost three decades and this was our first time participating in a marriage conference. I love that it was on the heels of Valentine's Day. Most men and ladies are gearing up for the "day of love" on Wednesday, February 14th. This conference was everything I thought and needed it to be. The crescendo of the event was Tyjuan and I renewing our wedding vows. Almost 23 years ago we said them at our wedding ceremony in Orlando, Florida. But this past Saturday was different. We actually knew what we were saying. The day of your actual wedding was pure adrenaline. The dress, the cake, the guests, the minister, the flower, the party, the limo and all of it leaves you wanting more. ALL that money, ALL that planning and within 4-5 hours it is OVER. Roslyn and her father October 28, ...

Happy New Year! This is my first post of 2018 and it's already February. I've missed being with each of you. Maybe you read this blog while commuting, home with a cup of coffee or on your office desktop. Renee and I are deeply honored to be apart of your life and sharing our unique adventures with you. Today is our 7th year of blogging. We started with our 1st post on 2.1.11. Time just evaporates doesn't it? Every year my friends and I decide NOT to make resolutions. Instead, we choose ONE word that will help shape and frame our new year. In the past, a list of resolutions would have us defeated in the first week of January. Choosing ONE word allows us to have an anchor and focus in every circumstance we will face in the upcoming months.  My word for 2018 is: EXPLORE Wouldn't you agree that with every passing day we are in unchartered waters? Our world and this country is changing fast. Technology is disrupting many industries and our days are often spent wish...

Lunch: Fresh Guac, Tuna Salad & Veggies Last week I shared about my 11 pound weight loss. I shared four small changes that made a tremendous difference in my health. If you missed it, no worries.  Here you go! Since that post, I've received a few requests to share a little more about my diet during the past few months. Let me just say, I don't believe in diets. They come and go and never seem to work for me. Instead I make healthier choices one meal at a time. About 80% of my meals came from the following list (see below). I'm not a nutritionist and I urge you to consult with your physician before making any changes in your diet and exercise. Eating off this list made it easy to maintain. I also fully believe in cheating on any plan. Instead of a cheat day, have a cheat item. No matter what you decide, keep it simple! Meat; Chicken Turkey Salmon Shrimp Eggs Pork Pepperoni Side Dish: Roasted Veggies Veggies : Squash Carrots Arugula Romai...

BEFORE I've always embraced my body's curves and edges. A little extra love handle never really freaked me out. I'm comfortable in my own skin and I don't feel the need to be the skinniest chick in the crowd. I exercise, eat fairly healthy and take care of my body. Last year during a routine physical, I was made aware of my blood pressure being on the high side. It wasn't crazy high, but it was elevated. My physician asked me to eat less sodium, continue to exercise and return in three months for a follow up to see if it would make an impact on my numbers. In a matter of minutes, I quickly realized why high blood pressure is called the "silent killer". AFTER I didn't feel sick or anything. I needed to lose weight to help combat this concern. It was time to take action. Over the next few months, I implemented a few things that made a tremendous difference. Before I share, realize there's no silver bullet with weight loss. You'...