Double Portion Inspiration

Have you ever averted danger? Have you ever been so close to being in a car accident your heart took a minute to fall back into place? There are many ways in which we avert danger. For me, it starts with listening to the Holy Spirit. Being open and sensitive to when God is speaking to me. Our world is noisy. Would you agree ? I spend the mornings waking up before the sun rises to sit in silence. I pray, read, journal and then ask God to cover us with His amazing protection.  After that I exercise. Exercise is my morning coffee. I get a bolt of energy. After my workout, I sit quiet again but this time I meditate . I turn my focus inward to see what my body needs to fully start the day. At my age, my body often needs ice on a sore muscle. 😁 I sit silent because I want to drown out the noise of distraction in my life. I want to protect my peace. Living as a human in 2022, we need a level of focus and intentionality. There is an over saturation of information and sounds throughout the...

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.  ...

  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...

I know this is shocking news especially since my oldest son is already 20 years old. If I had to do it all over again I would want a sweet newborn that would sleep through the night, not have allergies and not have to deal with asthma or multiple ear infections. CLEARLY - not possible!!  Babies are full of life and innocence. We don't get to choose their temperament. We are designed to parent and love our children NO matter what. As parents, we learn life lessons of being adaptable and vulnerable. Having a newborn in the house is humbling and complex. Everyday we learn about them and also about ourselves. Most likely this year we've wished for a more perfect world. A world that wouldn't have a global pandemic. A world with more employed workers. A world without poverty or social and political unrest. Unfortunately, that's NOT our reality now. How will we RESPOND when our situation isn't changing? Our RESPONSE is the one thing we can control. We can always choose h...

Kelly and I are different. She's Canadian and I'm American. We have worked together and we refuse to focus on our differences. Kelly is a #1 best selling international children's author. You can find her book on Amazon. I read her book OFTEN . I am honored to have her as our guest blogger today.  Kelly discusses strength she's discovered while raising a daughter with facial differences. You never know where inspiration will strike; for me, it was a train ride into the city of Toronto. I was sitting there drinking my morning tea when it came to me; all the situations that we've encountered had one thing in common. We taught her to introduce herself when someone was staring. When my daughter was born, we didn't know that she had Treacher-Collins Syndrome or had ever heard of it. The moment I met my little girl, it changed my life for the better. I took one look and said this little girl is going to change the world. I realized I wanted to be a part of changing it...

Humanity is experiencing a constant stream of loss during this pandemic. The toll on human life as well as the loss of control over our emotions during COVID19, is a reality.  There are many ways in which we could be grieving in 2020: Loss of normal routines Loss of feeling a hug Loss of being around others Loss of not being in the hospital with a sick family member Lost of not meeting a new grand baby Loss of not being able to travel internationally Loss of control Loss of a loved one Loss of employment Loss of attending a concert We can start to feel buried by all the loss and pain. As the days of the pandemic continue, we can feel blue vs feeling full of life. If we are honest, life can feel like too much effort to live.  WHO will rescue us from all this pain? WHO will rescue us from these losses? WHO can restore what has been taken away? Focusing only on the situations happening around us can give us a false sense of defeat. We are definitely navigating some troubled times...

Many times we limit our ability to be provided for by only the paycheck earned with a job or side hustle. We narrow our focus to only look at money in a bank account as a gauge of provision. God can provide beyond our wildest desires. I am on a mission to grow a " victory garden" . Victory gardens were grown during the recession as a way to sustain families. My victory garden is being grown to commemorate the chaotic year of 2020. I forever want to remember this moment in history. I've researched, watched YouTube videos and went to purchase the items needed, but really didn't want to make the investment yet . Yesterday, I started out for my morning run and a miracle was right in front of me. My neighbor was THROWING AWAY 2 bags of unused potting soil and variety of clay pots. Many of the pots had the tags on them. He had never used them. It's exactly what I needed to start my victory garden. PROVISION IN POTS Now it may seem trivial to get this excit...

How are you navigating these uncertain times? Does your heart constantly feel sad? Are you feeling that life is out of control? Are you extremely tired? Have you lacked motivation to get out of bed? Are you having restless nights of sleep? Are you experiencing heart palpitations? Are you walking through grief? If you are anything like the majority of Americans and me, you've had shifts in your mood and emotions on a daily basis. Keeping up with the ever evolving COVID19 updates, being a caregiver, learning the new "rules" to go back to work, being unemployed, loss of a loved one or even dealing with small children while working from home can add to our anxiety levels. Did you know that 1 in 5 Americans suffer with mental illness?  I found a great  resource to help me research a local therapist in my own area. Mental health matters . If you've been feeling like you are having some tough days because of isolation reach out to someone for a virtu...

Is it over yet?  Has this all been a bad dream?  Will I wake up and life will return to normal?  Will I be able to go to the mall again? NOPE, not a bad dream. This is REALITY!  It's been a rolling change but we have entered a brand new way of living. 2020 has ushered in a new era. A new level of sensitivity to frailty. It has also expanded our level of understanding how connected we are as a globe. It's not us vs them. It doesn't matter if you are a parent in Spain, Bangladesh or the U.S., you are trying to figure out the best way to protect your family from COVID19. I'm adapting to this "new world" by learning breathing exercises to help cope with stress. I notice that certain conversations, social media post or news stories can start my heart beating faster. In my head I think that I'm calm. My outward demeanor is relaxed and tranquil.  My inward body tells a much different story. Lessons From A Retainer Unfortunately, I had to star...

Fear is defined as an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous and will likely cause pain. For some, it’s an emotion they feel daily. Everyone feels fear and everyone gets anxious at some point. Unfortunately, our world today nurtures an atmosphere of fear. Whether it’s through social media or news outlets, we’re bombarded with fear and anxiety. Often the two emotions travel together. If you’re not careful, instead of the emotions coming and leaving quickly, they will linger and before you know it, you are dwelling in both the emotions. Over the past few years, I’ve learned how to overcome fear. Not manage it but OVERCOME it! Its been a process but if you follow these four steps, I promise that your fear will subside. 1. Read the Bible - it is full of scriptures that help combat fear. 2. Pray - share with God what you’re feeling. Be open and honest. 3. Be thankful and focus on the good in your life - what yo...

Our world is changing right before our eyes. We are now, more than ever, aware of the fragility of our world. The systems that we've put our security in are collapsing around us. Our grocery stores shelves are empty, malls are closed, sports are shut down, churches & synagogues are closed, schools are closed and our financial investments are plummeting in value. In all candidness, I have been discouraged . What about you? The sound of this virus has been SILENCE . Main avenues through downtown are empty. Broadway is empty, libraries and movie theaters are empty. The sound of silence and the unknown leaves us feeling more vulnerable than ever. I am learning like many of you, to keep my social media time to a minimum and watch the news only when necessary. I'm learning how to plug into the blessings that are all around me as our world goes through a GLOBAL PAUSE . We've asked for more time to get things done - now we have it. We've asked for more time with our...

I am sure I am not the only one that feels this way at times. You can have a picture perfect moment with your family and then life turns upside down in a matter of minutes. It's totally valid and OK to feel that life just sucks at times.  Some people have started the year having a car accident, failing a test, received a rejection letter, ended up in ER with flu symptoms, received a horrible diagnosis, or grieving the loss of a loved one at a funeral. For some of us, many things have happened that are unpleasant. Just think - we are only in the 1st month of this new year. Life will ebb and flow, time will march on even when we aren't ready for it. After you get it out, all those raw emotions, shift your thoughts to remember how much you have . Even in life's toughest moments, we can always find a reason to be thankful. God hears our prayers in tough moments. He hears our prayers in good moments. He has NOT forgot about you. He also isn't offended by your honesty....

There have been so many incredible posts on social media about high school reunions, proms, college and high school graduations. Even the graduations from PreK seem to tug at my heart. HOW has time moved so quickly?  I remember some of these students playing T-ball with my son and now they have mustaches, taller than me and walking across that stage happily to receive their diploma. Even my own son (Joshua) is graduating from 8th grade and heading into high school (YES high school). Life brings about swift transitions. I remember feeling so many emotions as Tyler (my oldest son graduated last year). The stress and strain of his senior year had taken it's toll on my physical and mental body. By the end of 2018, I was on medical leave for weeks taking a much needed BREAK from LIFE .  If I could only have told myself to CALM down and carry on. I wish someone would have hit me over the head and said, "stop stressing". But they couldn't because I didn't tel...

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...

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...

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...

A few months ago I told you I was going to commit to having more peaceful and encouraging speech.  You do know when you make a commitment like that, you will immediately be tested.  Well it happened to me. I'm striving to be more intentional with the words I use.  Through a recent study, I learned that I will be held accountable for every idle word I speak.  That's right, every empty or casual word you speak, you will have to give an account to God for using it. And I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every IDLE word you speak. ~Matthew 12:36 Here's what happened - while on vacation major damage happened to our rental car.  I was in my hotel room napping (YES, I love to nap) and I received a phone call from the front desk manager. He informed me that damage happened to my car.  I was delirious from being asleep and didn't really get it.  Finally, I woke up and went to see the car. Sure enough this is what I fo...

I get so annoyed when my boys leave a drop of juice in the jug.  I have my glass ready to pour a fresh glass of refreshment, only to open the refrigerator and find an EMPTY container.  UGH!  I yell through the house, "Are you kidding me!" Has this ever happened to you? Sometimes I race through life and feel pretty empty. There are times when emotionally, spiritually and physically I am running on fumes and completely depleted. We all need a self-awareness  when we have these moments.  Just like our gas tank, eventually we will STOP running.   Surround yourself with those that can hold you accountable to a regular "engine check".  Are all internal systems running smoothly?  Is your face breaking out with pimples like a teenager because of stress?  Are you sleeping?  Are the words you speak negative and snippy?   Those are all triggers showing  - SYSTEM MALFUNCTION! As I've grown as a woman, I realize there are times...