Happy Birthday Ciara

January 16, 2024 findthegoodinyourlifeLeave a comment

Dear Ciara, they say, “A daughter is the sunshine of her mother’s life.” I completely agree.

In mom terms you are 366 months, or 1461 weeks, or 10,227 days old. It’s hard to believe this, but I have loved you longer than that. From the moment you became a thought you have been loved. I could not imagine what an amazing person you would become. You have tested me almost all your life, but in a good way. You have taught me so much as a mother and as a person. You never cease to amaze me with your strength, love and compassion. I love telling stories about you… “Did I tell you Ciara did…”

As a child you were always so loving. We would dance around the living room as I would sing, “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.” You would ask me to spin you around and around until I became so dizzy I couldn’t see straight. I loved that you wore dresses with your purple Doc Martins and carried a purse full of rocks. You had a phase where you only wanted to wear your red sparkly shoes with everything. It did not matter if they matched or not, they were princess shoes so they had to be worn. I loved your imagination as you would play in your room by yourself and seemed ok with your alone time.

As a teenager we had moments of not so good, but overall you were great. I loved your confidence and that you told me most things. Now that you are an adult, some of the stories you have told me make me shake my head and thank God I didn’t know it all, but thankful I kept you covered in prayer. One of my favorite things you ever told me was, “I am not Caleb. I will go to parties and probably drink. I will not get in the car with someone who’s been drinking and I will always let you know where I am.” You were very strong in who you were. I always appreciated the times you would text and tell me what was going on, from sneaking out to walk around the lake, to going to someone else’s house instead of where you were planning to go. I never worried that I couldn’t find you.

As an adult I think I had more challenges with you in college than any other time. I guess it was more worry than challenges. You were grown-ish and I needed to trust you would do the right things. Not going to lie, I loved that you hated your roommate so you moved back home. I felt we grew closer at that time. I know moving to California was hard on you and making friends was a challenge, but I loved the time I got with you.

Watching you become a wife and mother does things to my heart that I cannot explain. You were the most beautiful bride I have ever seen. I will always be grateful that I was there when DJ was born. I was nervous at times watching you in so much pain, wishing I could take it away. I’m thankful you did a home birth so that you had your things around you that gave you comfort. Also thankful in knowing you come from a long line of strong, stubborn women who will set their minds to things and make it happen.

I wish I could sit here and tell all the Ciara stories, but I can’t. Maybe one day. For now, I will hold you in my heart, pray for you always and wish one of the funniest, kindest, loving , loyal, compassionate, beautiful, inside and out people I know Happy Birthday. If I wasn’t your mom, I would want to be your friend. But lucky me, I get to be both. Here is to an amazing year of love, laughter and always Finding The Good In Your Life.

Entrepreneur · family · fear · gratitude · Inspirational · Life · Overcoming

Worth the Struggle

January 12, 2024 findthegoodinyourlifeLeave a comment

Hello Beautiful People! “Our struggles can be strengths.” ~ Jim Kwik

Growing up I definitely was not the smartest girl in school… probably even in the bottom. I was in speech class, was/am dyslexic, but they called it stupid or slow, couldn’t spell to save my life and would get punished for not doing well, all because I couldn’t comprehend what was being taught. I dropped out of high school once I was 18 because it was too much for me. I worked my butt off at any job I had, because once I understood the job I could work circles around people. But I had a passion for reading and writing, even though both of those things did not come easy for me.

When my kids were little I would tell them stories before bed. Rarely did I ever read to them, because unless I pre-read something, it’s hard for me. One day my son asked me what was the name of the story because he wanted to go to the library and get the book so he could read the story again. I told him it was a mommy story and that they weren’t in libraries. Fast forward many years later, I am working in corporate America. I had worked my way up the ladder because, once again, my work ethic will out work anyone if I want it bad enough. I was not happy because I was not living my purpose. What was my purpose? I still am not completely sure, but I did know it had to do with writing and speaking, so I did it. My family encouraged me and would always ask when was I going to write my books. Finally, I quit that job and wrote my first children’s book. It took me a moment because of the research that went into it. The writing was hard for me at time. Thankfully I have an amazing husband who said, “You write and I will help you with the grammar.” He still does that to this day with every blog, every book I have written, and sometimes before I post a long post. (Thanks Babe you’re the best!)

I think about that young girl who people doubted, and at times doubted herself. I never get upset with those people. Honestly, I’m not sure we knew what dyslexia was until after I was out of school. I feel bad for all the kids that were just called “lazy” but we actually loved things like English, but the thought of having to read out loud would send us into a complete panic attack. Now that I am a 3-time Best Selling Author and I speak on stages in front of thousands of people, I am thankful that I get to share my journey with so many and give them hope that they can turn their struggles into strengths, and I hope you too can Find The Good In Your Life.

family · gratitude · Inspirational · Life

Sunshiney People

January 10, 2024 findthegoodinyourlifeLeave a comment

Hello Beautiful People! “Stay close to people who feel like sunshine.” Unknown

I have been very blessed to have amazing friends in my life. People who feel like sunshine; people who have loved me through some hard moments and celebrated my accomplishments. People who have only been there for a season and people who have stayed a lifetime. I take none of them for granted and I appreciate them all for who they are in my life. I even appreciate the “friendlies” as I like to call them. We aren’t really friends but we are more than acquaintances… we are friendly towards one another. We “run” in the same circle, we speak to one another when see each other, might even have a few things in common, but they aren’t the person you’re calling to go get a cup of coffee.

But let me tell you about my sunshine people. They are the people who will speak your name in rooms to build you up and will not allow slander to ever be spoken about you. They are the people that at the first mention of something you might be good at says, “Let me tell you about my friend. She is amazing and would be perfect for that.” One of my best friends got a call when I was going through a divorce, and the things that were being said to her she could not handle anymore. She stopped them and said, “I do not care if she is a crack whore on a corner, she’s my best friend and nothing else you say matters,” and then she hung up. She has had my back since we were 12 years old, so I expect nothing less.

I have another sunshine person who was sitting with me when I got a call that there was something wrong with my mammogram and I would need to come back in. Being a breast cancer survivor, I got scared. I found out later she was scared for me too, but in that moment that friend reached over, grabbed my hand and prayed with me. She never said any doubt out loud to me. Every day until I found out that it was just scarring, she prayed and lifted me up in prayer. I love her so much for that.

Then there are the sunshine people who you just sit and talk for hours with no agenda. You make time for one another whether it’s monthly or weekly, and sometimes yearly. You tell each other your hopes and dreams for the future and you are excited for one another. They are the low maintenance friends who you can’t wait to just laugh or cry with. They are the people who respond to your text a week later and you never get upset because you both know if it was important you would call, because getting a call from them makes you smile and you never send them to voicemail. They are that friend that you meet up for coffee early because you know you’ll be there all day, even though you just spoke a few days before.

I have heard you are who your friends are. I hope it’s true. I hope I am sunshine to others; the friend you call when you need prayer, the friend you feel safe with, the friend you can’t wait to have coffee with, the friend who you know will always have your back, who uplifts you when you are having a bad moment; the friend who will always help you Find The Good In Your Life.