Double Portion Inspiration

This summer I spent time with my daughter and Goddaughter. They've both successfully made it through their freshman year of college. During our time together, I asked for their top pieces of advice for high school Juniors and Seniors. Here's what they shared: Continue to build relationships in your Junior year . They stressed the importance of building relationships with teachers, counselors, and coaches in your Junior year. They will be important in your Senior year when asking for letters of reference and recommendations.  Apply for as many scholarships as possible.  There are so many scholarships available. Provide yourself time to apply for as many as possible. Use a calendar system to help remind you of scholarship deadlines.  Apply for college early in your Senior year of high school. Most colleges will open up registration for college admissions the summer before the fall semester begins. Take time to apply early so that you're not stressed by any deadlines.  ...

In a recent blog post I shared about my menopause journey and 5 tips for the men in our lives. Here's the  link  in case you missed it. One of the side effects that I didn't mention is weight gain. It can be such a big part of the menopause journey that it needed its own post. If you're between the ages of 45-55 (average age range for menopause), you might have noticed weight gain in your mid-section. You may also find maintaining your weight is much harder than it used to be. I started looking into the correlation between menopause and weight gain after gaining 10 pounds in 3 months. At first I thought the weight gain was due to COVID. Late night eating, less active days and cooking new recipes can wreck anyone's weight loss plans. Couple that with menopause and it's a horrible duo in any woman's life. Just know that it's not just your body going through changes.  Women are more likely to gain excess belly weight, especially deep inside the belly, as they g...

  A few weeks ago, I shared my cancer journey. Did you get a chance to read it? If not, here's the  link . As a result of the diagnosis and the surgeries that followed, my body was thrust into menopause . It was a shock to my system. Many women I know are either in this season of life or close to it. I wanted to share some of my challenges to let the guys in our life know what the heck is going on.  Just know, this can be a sweet time in a woman's life or it can literally be hell on earth . (Most likely, it's hell on earth).  For simplicity sake, menopause is the time in a woman's life when there is a decline in reproductive hormones. A woman normally reaches menopause in her 40's and 50's.  Ok guys, here's 5 things to remember: She's probably HOT !  Meaning temperature hot. Personally, the hot flashes are the worst part of menopause. It's not just a typical hot either. It's an internal flame that comes out of nowhere and literally stops my abili...

The thoughts twirling in my head on any given day in 2020 are random. As I try to process the amount of information and news to stay informed it can lead to anxious thoughts and nervousness. Sometimes the largest battle in our life isn't happening externally (outside world) it's happening internally (inside us). Our smiles and normal demeanor can hide the true feelings rattling around in our brain. We mask (no pun intended) how we really feel thinking no one has the time to truly listen.  WHO wants to hear us complain?  I hear people say reach out to someone if you are struggling, but honestly most often that someone is too captivated with their own day to day living. How do we stop the self defeating and anxious thoughts? What do we do after we've reached out to someone and we feel the same way? With each passing day in 2020, there is more and more to frighten us. I'm learning (not there yet) to sit still. This might be the hardest part of my day, sitting still.  I si...

During a recent family meal, we each went around the table and shared one thing we loved about each other. Typically my 16 and 10 year old are on each other's nerves, so it warmed my heart to hear them being pleasant to each other. They were also surprised to hear each other's response. Do you ever ask similar questions around your dinner table? If not, try it. My youngest during vacation  As much as it was a blessing to hear them talk about each other, their answer to me was beyond words. My 10 year old started out first. I was pretty sure he was going to compliment my cooking. I've always felt like I take "rock star" status in his mind because I enjoy cooking his favorites on a regular basis. His world revolves around sports, video games, sleep, reading books, and eating. Typical kid stuff. Instead of him listing my participation in any of those activities, he quickly let me know that he loves how I teach him God's word. ...

Two years ago I was at my heaviest weight. If I would've put my pinky toe on the scale, it would register 200 pounds. My blood pressure was on the rise and I just didn't feel healthy. Now, with that being said, I was still a beautiful black woman. I just had a few more curves and edges. When I visited with my doctor for my yearly physical and to discuss next steps regarding my blood pressure, she suggested that I decrease my sodium intake. I quickly realized that it was poison to my body. So many foods that I loved were high in sodium. I remember looking at the sodium content for a grilled chicken salad that I frequently enjoyed at a local restaurant and it exceeded 1100 mg of sodium! That's almost a daily supply of sodium in one salad. At my doctor's suggestion, I decided to make small changes. Over time, those small changes led to 21 pounds of weight lost in a 2 year period. Here's what worked for me: Decreased my sodium intake Decreased my food portion...

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...

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...

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'...

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 ...

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...

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...

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted.   If you let it, distractions can make you lose focus and disrupt destiny.   Writing my blog posts is a way to encourage others, t herefore, I need to make time for it.   I’m typing this post while returning home from my family reunion.   I’m blessed that both my mother’s and father’s side of the family have an annual reunion.   It’s such a great time to catch up and reconnect with family members.     This weekend we came together in Warrington, Florida (near Pensacola) where my father grew up.   The city holds precious memories of a time full of laughter, love, and wonderful fun. This would be our first family reunion without the last living matriarch of the family because my dad’s twin sister passed away last year and she was the last of his 7 siblings remaining on this side of Heaven.   Our reunion starts on Friday and lasts the entire weekend.   As a family we pray, fellowship...

My boys enjoy video games, like most kids.  This generation is so stimulated by those interactive games that it has seeped into our classrooms.  My 4th grader has to complete homework every night on a private educational website that looks similar to Facebook. Normally, when my boys play on the weekends, I snuggle into take a nap.  It is one of the RARE times in my house that it is quiet.  The other times at home are filled with rowdy boys making crazy noises with their body parts.   With a simple xbox controller they can CREATE themselves in this fantasy world.  They choose from a plethora of features like eyewear, skin color, hair style, shoes, body type, etc.  They have the ability to build the perfect athlete, with the perfect skills and stamina.  No work has been done to achieve all this, just a little boys creative imagery.  My youngest always HAS to win.  If he doesn't, he carries around an attitude all day,...

Sad but true, rejection is a natural part of life.  There are many parents that might have a problem saying, "no" to their children, but eventually that child will experience the bitter sting of rejection.  In the month of February, many anxious high school seniors found out if they were accepted or denied an opportunity to attend the university or college of their choice.  You can believe there were many that were experiencing extreme happiness and some unfortunately felt the pain of being rejected. Even as adults, we struggle to find meaning on why someone rejects us in a relationship or our workplace.  We have all the qualifications to add value to a company but they intentionally move on to another candidate.  In the midst of the emotion you will feel, realize that: The rejection does NOT define who you are! There is not one person, organization, club, team, competition, school or university that holds that much control over us.  My mom ha...

We are almost 15 days into this new year.  2015 started with us intentionally making promises to ourselves. Do some of these sound familiar - improve finances, stop shopping, build an emergency cash fund, spend more time with family, weight loss, better eating, more organization, more exercise, clean out a closet, etc. Whatever it is, just a few short days ago we were fired up and ready to invoke positive change in our lives. WHAT HAPPENED? Some of us didn't even keep the promise for a day without falling off the wagon.  Truth moment:  a box of Godiva chocolate that sits in my refrigerator keeps me from keeping my promise.  The sad part for me, I find a way everyday to justify  why this little pleasure or distraction won't derail MY success. Think about it, one little slip up doesn't hurt that much does it?  Well overtime that little slip up, compromise and justification can quickly lead to me gaining 20 pounds. The funny part, at the end o...

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, ...

Do you feel like your prayers aren't being answered?  There are seasons in our lives when God sits silent even after constant pleading.  It normally happens when He's ready to move you to another place of knowing Him and His ability.  It can be a difficult process because we long to hear him speak words of wisdom, comfort and peace. In those times, patiently wait.  He will answer in His timing (which is always perfect). Here are 4 tips that have helped me in my prayer life:     1.  Be specific.   Early in my twenties, I wanted to marry. My twin sister married her high school sweetheart immediately after we graduated college and it increased a desire for me to find my soul mate. Before her marriage, we were always together. Childhood.  High school.  College. She was always there.  Now she was leaving college with a new car, fiancee, and an exciting career. On the other hand, I was heading ...

What would you say if God asked, " What do you want me to do for you ?"  How would you answer?  Would you ask for financial blessings?  Maybe a new car?  Increased wisdom?  Maybe a new career?  That was the question posed today at my church.  It was such a wonderful message on the power of prayer.  My pastor pointed out that our prayers touch the heart of God.  That one statement resonated with me.  To think that the God of our universe who intricately created every human being, spoke this world into existence, and knows the intimate details of my life can be touched by my prayers is amazing! My pastor taught from Matthew 20:29-34. 29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be qu...