And yet I will praise Him!

So It's gettin' down to the wire folks. Rent is due. Car payment is due. EVERYTHING is due. And all I have is what you see in the picture. A container full of change. And the container isn't even full. This is a 2.75 cup container that sandwich meat comes in. This particular container once held sliced turkey. Now, it holds my entire life savings. Not sure how much is in there. Maybe $5.00 at the most. And it's all I've got until I receive my first paycheck from the job that I am thankfully starting on Monday. So, we're looking at a good 2-4 weeks probably before I have any more money. What will I do until then? I have absolutely NO idea. Am I stressed? Nope. What good will stressing do? None. As a believer in Christ, my faith tells me to TRUST God. He's kept me thus far...almost 1 year of being unemployed. My finances are not too hard for God to handle. So I give this to Him and I TRUST that He will make a way...He always has. Some may wonder why I "put my business out there" like this. Is it because I want pity? No. Is it because I am seeking help? It sure would be nice to have some help, but that's not why I write. It is simply a way for me to declare my faith. Faith that isn't tested is no faith at all. I am clearly being tested, and I know that my God will not let me fail the test. In that, I can be sure. "But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more." Psalm 71:14 (NIV) Let the DIALOGUE begin: Are you down to your very last? Where do you find hope? Talk to me! Til next time...

My "WHYs"

So I've recently joined this group of AMAZING women called "Black Girls Run". I've only been in the group for about 3 weeks and my outlook on healthy nutrition and fitness have comepletely changed. I now walk 2.5 - 3.5 miles 3x a week, and I do aqua aerobics 2x a week. The group's purpose is to show the world that Black girls ARE healthy and fit, unllike the sterotypes that depict us as fat, lazy, and unhealthy. These women are SO supportive and encouraging. It's absolutely mind-boggling. To see Black women come together on one accord and uplift one another is beyond words. So, in addition to promoting fitness (running/walking/jogging/wogging), we're also honing in on healthy living overall. So there are a group of us who will be embarking on a weight-loss journey like no other on August 21st. To "get our minds right", today we had to answer the question of WHY we want to be a part of this group...WHY we want to lose the weight and become healthier. THIS was my answer: Wow! My "why" goes all the way back to childhood. I've always been overweight and as a child that meant ALWAYS picked LAST...for sports teams, and/or pretty much anything else. It hasn't gotten any better as an adult. I'm tired of being "invisible" (as big as I am) and I'm ready for people to actually SEE me. I want my weight to begin with a 1 instead of a 2. I want my clothing size to begin with a 1, instead of a 2. I want to be able to buy my clothes at ANY store, instead of only Lane Bryant and The Avenue. Thankfully, my weight has not resulted in any health issues, and I'm not on any medication. Surprisingly, my annual physical results have always been "normal". I'd like to keep it that way. I have 3 children and I want to be an example of good health and fitness for them. I want to be more confident and less self-conscious. Finally, I want God to know that I appreciate this body that He's given me (fully functioning) and I want to take better care of it as my way of saying THANK YOU to Him. Those are my "WHYs". Looking forward to the journey. I know that it won't be easy. There will probably be tears at times (publicly and privately), but I'm in this 100%. So grateful for this opportunity! So there you have it folks. I am ready! August 21st can't come soon enough for me. Now...Let the DIALOGUE begin: What weight loss programs have you tried, and how successful were you? Talk to me! Til next time...

Scrambled Eggs...they're what's for dinner tonight, and tomorrow, and the next day...

Well folks, I've got GREAT news and not so good news. GREAT news: I have a new job!!! I start next Monday, 7/30. That will be 1 year and 1 day after being laid off from my previous job. I am so thankful to God and so excited for this new opportunity. NOT SO GOOD news: EDD stopped my benefits COLD TURKEY! So I have NOTHING! Not a penny to my name. I hate the way that they stop the benefits and then schedule an interview for me to tell them where I am with my job search. Instead, they should send the questionnaire and/or set up an appointment while CONTINUING the benefits. THEN, if AFTER the interview, they determine that I am no longer eligible, THEN they can stop the benefits. They're approach is "shoot first, ask questions later." Well, they got me, and it hurts pretty bad...FINANCIALLY. Rent is due on the 1st, and the electric bill needs to be paid. Oh...and the refrigerator is practically empty. I mean really...I can name everything that's in there. A carton of eggs, a jar of jelly, a container of yogurt, a jar of mayonnaise, 2 cucumbers, one bottle of Italian salad dressing, and a stick of butter. That's all folks. Once all that's gone...it's gone. So I'm in an interesting spot. I am thankful for my new job yet I am still one of America's poor. Kind of oxymoronic. Nevertheless, I am thankful that I was able to have scrambled eggs for dinner. And when the eggs are gone, I will STILL give God praise. Even with a growling stomach...I will give Him praise. Because He is a good God whether I have food in my fridge or not. My circumstances may change, but He NEVER does. He is good, loving, merciful...ALWAYS! So with that, I say...to God be the glory...even if I am evicted from my home...even if I run out of food...even if my car gets repo'd. To God be the glory! Let the DIALOGUE begin: What did YOU have for dinner tonight? Talk to me! Til next time...

Happy 44th Birthday to ME!!!

There are 10 minutes left in this day, July 14, 2012...my 44th birthday! It's been a great day and I look forward to what year 44 has in store. Nothing but GREATNESS and BLESSINGS my friends...GREATNESS and BLESSINGS! Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you turned 44 yet? Simple question, I know. Talk to me! Til next time...

Different, yet EQUAL

So I was at the grocery store the other day and as I was shopping I noticed a woman wearing a surgical mask, kind of like the one that people were wearing during the SARS outbreak a few years back. I thought it was interesting and wondered what her reason was for wearing it. I came to the conclusion that she probably had a lowered immune system and was more susceptible to germs than most people. At that moment, I thanked God that I have a normal immune system and don't have to wear a mask like that. As as left the store, I put my sunglasses on...as I do ANYTIME I go outside. For me, and MY eyes, going anywhere without sunglasses (solar shields to be exact) is no longer an option. I MUST protect my eyes now...at ALL times. Since I've begun wearing my sunglasses, I've become greatly aware of how many people DON'T need to wear them. I see kids at the park playing...no sunglasses. People at the beach...no sunglasses. People driving down the street...no sunglasses. I am not able to do ANY of those things without sunglasses anymore. As much as I need prescription glasses in order to see clearly, I also need the sunglasses to protect my extra sensitive retina and make sure that I don't cause any damage to them. Since January 29, 2009... everyday that I've been able to SEE has been an absolute GIFT from God, because according to the retina specialist, my "vision clock" is ticking and I'm not supposed to be able to see for much longer. Well, PRAISE BE TO GOD...it's 3 years later and I'm still typing words on the screen, driving myself wherever I need to go and am fully independent with EYES THAT FUNCTION. My observation at the grocery store made me realize that we are all different in one way or another, yet at the same time...we are EQUAL. The lady wearing the mask may not ever need to wear sunglasses while going outside, and I may never need to wear the mask that she has to wear, yet at the same time...she and I are equal. I think that's amazing. In our UNIQUENESS...we are still EQUAL. Wow! How 'bout that! Let the DIALOGUE begin: What do YOU have to do differently that most people don't? Talk to me! Til next time...