This morning was the first day of school in my household! Yippeeee!!! (Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to rub it in..) Anyway, as my husband Jeff, whose a school teacher, and our two boys Jalen, and Jason headed out the door, I couldn’t help but reflect on the blessings that God has given us. He allowed us to get through a hot and tedious summer. Even when one of our air-conditioned systems went dead, He stilled blessed us to get through that time of torment until we were able to get it repaired. We didn’t die of heat exhaustion nor did anyone break into a violent outburst over the boxed fans that we purchased temporarily from Wal-Mart. We managed to maintain a peaceful family home despite the challenges we went through during the summer. Might I also mention the night we lost power when the telephone company hit a power line and some one accidentally hit a gas main. Apparently, they were attempting to install fiber optic lines in the neighborhood. Not only did we smell gas in the air, but we were actually in the dark for at least 5 hours. When I tell you God provided blessings all through this season he really did. He protected us from being blown up, from any intruder breaking into our home, from any type of danger seen or unseen that could have harmed us or our neighbors; God is a bulwark & a shield; (for those of you who don’t know what a bulwark is, it is a wall of earth or other material built for defending something) Yes God is my Heaven and my Earth of Defense; He is truly my Fortress and I have faith in Him! If you don’t know him Read Psalms 91; ” Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty….” (NIV) Now we can rest in his blessings for as this season ends, he has a beautiful harvest prepared for us for the new season we are approaching. I just needed to take time out to thank him and again reflect on the new blessings that we are enjoying right now because of our patience and because we endured . Have you taken time out to thank him for some seasonal blessings that he’s given you? Maybe it was a new home, or a new job? maybe he delivered you from an affliction? Maybe he blessed you with a renewed mind for Christ? Whatever he’s done in this season, you ought to thank Him today; Even if you don’t think he’s blessed you; begin to believe he already has and watch Him reveal it to you in your new Season! Be Blessed!

Exodus 3:11-14- 11.” But Moses protested to God “Who Am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”  12. God answered, “I will be with you And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain. 13.But Moses protested,” If I go to the people of Israel and tell them ‘ The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’  Then what should I tell them?” 14. God replied  to Moses “I Am Who I Am.” Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.“  

  Remember in school whenever you heard your name being called you had that nervous jolt in your stomach, or even butterflies swarming around inside; maybe the hairs on the back of your neck stood up? You were either called to do an event, make a speech or if you were misbehaving, about to take a trip to the principal’s office. Anyway, in all of these instances, you were called to represent, to account for, or to accept responsibility for something. In the book of Exodus, Moses is called by God to represent him; (Not that God needs to be represented,) but the Egyptians had the Israelites in bondage long enough, and God needed to use a human being , not just any human being to lead them out of Egypt and defeat Pharaoh, but Moses.

When God chooses and uses you how will you respond? what will you do? Will you question who you are?  If you are a believer will you doubt that you even know him? God knows what he has instilled inside of you, and he will never put you in situations he has not equipped you to handle. He only asks that you acknowledge Him  in your everyday life. It is important to know that He loves you so much that you are needed in difficult situations sometimes because you are that extraordinary!  He sacrificed his Son so that you could live!  I don’t know anyone that spectacular or that wonderful that I would give up any of my children for! God works through you to establish great and marvelous things in the earth ! Ephesians 3:20 says ” Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us,” (NIV) So allow God to fill you with his perfect strength, then when someone calls your name, instead of saying “who am I?” you will say, “I AM Who I AM.” a child of the great “I AM!”  Be Blessed!

Hey Family! I know it’s been a few months since I’ve reached out to you but I’ve been really focusing on exercise and living a healthy life style; well at least most of the time :).   I still love my chocolate, but I’ve learned to eat a healthier form of it (as if there is  any on the earth!) but I have found dark chocolate to be my match in life! How many of us have searched all over the ends of the earth to find that match that will last us forever? You’ve tried the counterfeits, the substitutes, and the decoys only to arrive back at square one. The thing I can appreciate about this particular piece of confection is that it is in a solid form. Nothing added. No milk, no fruit, no nuts, nothing.  Yeah, I admit it’s gone through a bit of a process, which in life, who hasn’t? We  are all going through “a process”  in this life time.   This time last year, I was just unfolding in my process of weight loss. My heaviest form was 273 lbs. I have lost 111 lbs;  (Now currently 162 lbs). I never dreamed I’d be half the person I am today. But through the power of God, He is building a great vessel that will be able to last. His word says ” The future glory of this temple will be greater than its past glory says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies”…  Haggai 2:9 (NLT).  He is still growing me; strengthening me that I might be “Built to Last” in the days to come. I believed him when he promised me if I would trust him that he would take the weight off. He knew that I was weak, and didn’t have the willpower or the discipline to do it on my own. In my prayers I confessed my sins, asked for help and received the notion that He had already done it. I needed a push; a nudge. Some people think I “cheated” my way to a healthier life and a leaner body, but they don’t know my health journey. They see the glory but didn’t read my story.  I still have to maintain what God blessed me to have just like others, by making healthy choices and exercising daily. My responsibility is  to honor God’s blessing  and make this match permanent. So are you looking for that complete match in your life? whether it is a new body  a new “Beau”  or a new “Boo”, remember that “The Lord is faithful to  those that obey him and keep with his commandments” (paraphrase) Deut. 7:9 . That piece of dark chocolate has taught me to understand that as long as I go by God’s laws, (seeking a healthier kind of sweetness)  He’ll allow me to enjoy it for a lifetime. Be Blessed!

Happy New Year to all! 2016 is destined to be a year of reorganization, reassessment & rejoicing! at least for me it is _How about you?  I am learning to be grateful for the 24 hours that God gives me. “For this is the day that the Lord has made, let us  rejoice and be glad in it! -Psalms 118:24 (NIV). As a mother, I have taken for granted the minutes, the hours, the days, & the years that God has truly blessed my life. I was so focused on proving to the world that I has this “MOM” thing locked down, that I didn’t consider the true purpose of it. To see his Seeds of Greatness grow daily within little bodies  This year is a year of reassessing what is most important; God and his goodness!

The other night a friend of mine called and we had a chance to catch up. The holidays were not as pleasing for her and her family as it was for many of us. She shared with me that she had been suffering with a serious health condition all the while she was working and going to school. She is a single mom that has two adolescents and juggles their schedule along with her own. I was so filled with concern that I hadn’t reached out to her sooner and that she had been going through this all alone. She finally told me that she spent Christmas morning in the Emergency Room along with her  two kids and her Dad who came to take the children with him. The doctor informed her that she was very fortunate that she sought treatment in time; Then proceeded to lecture her on health and well being. I love my girlfriend very much but I also realize that she is a lot like me.  She wants to do so much in her strength but disconnected from God. Ladies, Wives, Mothers Sisters…..  How long do we have to suffer before we realize that Jesus will carry our burdens if we just reconnect to God? We can’t do anything  without Him, (John 15:5) Thankfully, she is recovering and doing well, but this experience reminds me of how merciful God is even when we override his will to follow our own. So take a lesson from this ( I know I have) that tomorrow is never promised but Today is a Gift; One that God wants to enjoy with you, so start 2016 off with reconnecting with Him! ……. Be Blessed!

In my household, nothing is kept quiet; well, not for too long anyway.  I remember last year some time, in the spring, It was 2:30  in the afternoon, and the “DT’s ”  (stands for drama teens) were on their way home.  Sure enough, the door opens, and whatever conversation started at the bus stop ended at the front door.  My nephew Jalen, my daughter Jessica, & my youngest Jason all  head right for the kitchen.(they need sustenance to maintain their obvious debate).   I was on the computer in the family room trying not to listen, but as I said, nothing in my household is kept quiet thanks to the drama and energy that this team brings.

They seemed to be making some observations about each other that I found to be worth  listening to (again, I wasn’t trying to listen but they are so animated when they speak, you can’t help but listen in. Jalen came to live with us two years ago from New York. He is very inquisitive about everything, and has an opinion about it all whether you like it or not. He prides himself on having a wealth of knowledge.  Jessica, on the other hand is some what reserved; at times painfully shy, whom one might consider introverted. Jason, is on a whole different level; He’s the wildcard! He can be anything at anytime.  Because we left New York when Jessica  was just 7, and Jason was a toddler, becoming “city-savvy”  didn’t become a major part of their  development.   Jalen  had to  acclimate  quite  rapidly to the hustle and bustle of public transportation (buses, subways etc.,)  as a way to get to and from school. It was his natural environment.  As a result, he has learned to engage the public quite easily . Both children have assimilated to their environments which has molded their outward personalities. However, since living in  the South,  Jalen has had a challenge adjusting to the lack of independence with regards to traveling around North Carolina. He realizes that needing a ride to the store or mall, has curtailed his roaming tendency (and his decision-making) quite a bit.

In any case, Jalen makes a comment to Jessica, ” You live a boring life.”  Well, being the Mom I am (always in protective mode), intervened.”Oh really? well, what do you consider boring?” I asked.  Jalen answered, ” Well, Jessica doesn’t seem to have a lot of friends, and I don’t see her going out places socially. I mean how come she doesn’t go out to parties ?”  Hmmmm. “You got me there Sherlock”, I thought .  Suddenly Jessica responded very calmly,” I have my friends and I text whom I feel like talking to; Just because I don’t go to parties or act goofy doesn’t mean I’m boring dummy! (I’m sure dummy added a finishing touch to her defense!)

How important is it to our teens to feel popular and socially connected? Is it important to be Average or Authentic?  Psalm 139:14(NIV) says “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;your works are wonderful I know that full well.”   So as a young believer, is it important to be the “Belle of the Ball”,  the “Girl next Door” or that “Friend in Need”? What do your teens say in your home or church? Let me know your thoughts!     

Hey Guys, It’s been a few months since I talked to you, but you’ve been on my mind always! Well, for the past 4 months I have been working on me. I had Gastric Bypass Surgery in April and I am proud to say I am 3 months  post-op and 40 lbs down! Hallelujah! I have been fighting  the battle of the bulge for half my life. Sometimes it was Tanya = 1 obesity= 0, other times it was Tanya= 0 and obesity= 10.  The battle seemed to never end. I prayed to God constantly to show me what I needed to do to live a healthier lifestyle. As a wife & mother  raising 4 children,  I  became the “team cook” by default. (no one could tolerate my husband’s spaghetti with hot dogs  for too long)  When my husband and I first got married, we ate out a lot, attended family gatherings & cook outs, and was always surrounded by food. Between my family & his family it was always a losing battle to gain self-control within myself. As a child, food was my source of comfort. As I got older it was my source of strength. Food didn’t judge me, or criticize me; When life got crazy or hectic, I would turn to food. Through the rough times in my life, I didn’t realize that food ultimately had an agenda. I became so overweight it affected me physically, and caused some dangerous health concerns.   It’s purpose was to “Fill” but not “fulfill.”  What I desired was a source that could satisfy me and keep me content. I realized that while in my food addiction. When I “reconnected” with the right “source” I  began to see how my overeating and obesity affected my marriage, my family, & ultimately my health. I began to repent for a sin that has kept me in bondage for half my life. Jesus was there all along  loving me until I could love myself. I love my second chance to be healthier in mind-body & spirit! I searched all over for a right fit, never realizing it was  already inside of me.  Now if you’ll excuse me I have a date with a treadmill!  God Bless!

Hey Family!
Happy New Year! I am sorry I didn’t chat with you in January. I have to confess that it caught me at a disadvantage. I wanted so much to send an encouraging word to jump start 2015, but I was struggling myself. The new year tends to put pressure on some of us whether we’re willing to admit it or not. We ask ourselves, “well, what kind of resolutions are
you going to make?” Then after trying to live up to them we realize that most of them were made to appear focused and disciplined. Well, I tried and I failed. Miserably! I have been trying to lose weight and choose heart healthy foods but I forgot to feed my spirit! February as some of you know, is National Heart Health Month. The American Heart Association states that Heart disease is the #1 killer of men & women in the U.S. We are told many heart diseases can be prevented through healthier habits, healthier lifestyles, and overall better management of our heart. I’d like to ask this question: Have you had a Heart to Heart checkup yet? I’m talking not just physically but also spiritually? Are all the “spiritual” muscles in your heart working efficiently? I mean the muscle that gives, the muscle that is compassionate, the muscle that encourages, Oh! don’t forget the muscle that speaks life and not death. Are you in need of a visit to the Divine Doctor named Jesus? I know I was. He advised me that this is a year of “Rest.” He quoted to me Matt 11:28 -“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give rest.” He can fix any heart condition; The lonely heart, the heavy heart, the proud heart especially the weak heart. Will you trust him with your heart?
“Create in me a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit with in me.” (Psalm 51:10 NIV) Let’s go into the rest of the year with a Heart for the Lord. Are you ready to schedule your checkup? Be Blessed!!

Seasons Greetings Everyone!
I am sorry I didn’t send any blogs for November; I was truly thankful however; for the macaroni and cheese, the sweet potato pie, the turkey, the baked ham……Oh, I’m sorry, I digress; As you can tell I was a little too thankful!:) Anyway, I wanted to share with you some thoughts regarding “The Perfect Gift.” Christmas is coming soon and we are all looking to find that perfect gift for someone or hoping to receive that perfect gift from someone. Either way, temptation starts to reel it’s evil head and you’re either tempted to spend more than what’s in your budget, or you act out of character (to put it nicely) because your expectations weren’t met.
Trust me, I am right there with you; but let me offer some tips that I have learned along the way that will keep you in right relationship with God & man.
1.) Don’t let your pride be your downfall– I let my pride lead me out of balance and I focused on what I wanted my children to have rather than what My Heavenly Father wanted me to give, which was:  Time, Love & Compassion.
2.)Be careful of  Money, Power & Desire– 1 John 1:16 (paraphased) says that the worldly can have lust of the eyes and flesh as well as to be boastful of what you have and what you do(NIV). The Perfect Gift for this holiday season should be focused on the greatest that your heart will ever give or even receive.  Don’t let temptaion rob you of that. Pray that you stay focused.

3.) Recognize the source of the Perfect Gift– Every perfect gift has a source from which it was derived from. Jesus Christ was born to deliver us from temptation & sin. He is the source that gives us the gift of love, and forgiveness, kindness and gentleness. He is the source that allows us to be “Blessed” so that we can be a “Blessing” to others. Enjoy shopping and gathering with friends & family this Holiday Season, and remember, at the end of the day, the  real “Perfect Gift” is  Jesus Christ!  Be Blessed, & Merry “Christ“- mas!

I remember when as a kid there were some things that Mom & Dad taught me and my siblings growing up in Brooklyn. These lessons were taught to us for our protection and for basic survival in life . I appreciated and honored these teachings and learned how to apply them in life as I grew and matured. We all at some point in our lives had some teaching and guidance whether it be from a parent or relative, teacher, coach etc., in order to develop & be productive in society. These lessons have made us who we are as adults in the world. However, there are some things that as Christians that we begin to acquire that may conflict with what was a traditional belief system. In the Bible there is a story in 2 Kings Chapter 17 where I learned that the people of Israel were disobedient to God’s commands. They were removed from their land as a result, and God allowed the King of Assyria to move other tribes into the land. However, these tribes wanted to worship their own gods in this new land. They were also disobedient, so the Lord sent lions to attack & kill them. This king ended up sending out for a priest from Israel to come back & teach the people about what God required. They learned but still wanted to worship their own gods also. How do we walk in the word of God as Christians but still give allegiance sometimes unknowingly to the traditional or “worldly” things in our lives? Are we being disobedient in  what we choose to worship? Are we “idol-worshipping” in how we handle our finances, raise our children, in the workplace, or in our relationships if it conflicts with the word of God? I think about Romans 12:1-2 that speaks of offering our bodies as living sacrifices; our bodies being everything that makes us who we are! Think about how the world lives & thinks! Have you walked in Customs so long that it has blocked the plans God has for you? Assessment time: Maybe it’s time to decipher what is Custom & what is Covenant in your Life! Live & Be Blessed!