Women In Business Club

I was invited by a friend almost two months ago, to join a Women In Business Club (WIBC). Friend "if you're reading this I have to admit, initially I was skeptical," I just new it would be a waist of time. I prejudged the group; I thought it to be one of those groups that get people together, get them so excited about starting a new business that they'll pay for whatever kit, advice and/or direction.....a pyramid scheme. My my my was I so wrong.

The presidents of WIBC Gabrielle White of NY and Ayanna Crawford of Massachusetts, have stated a Facebook group that allows women (and men) to network daily and also come together weekly via a conference call. WIBC encourages, guides and supports each member with life's challenges and business ventures. Often we have accomplished guest speakers who range from business owners to motivational speaker and even life coaches.

Personally this group has answered unanswered questions I've had regarding my business and I have weekly aha moments. I often receive emails and text just checking on my progress towards my goals and sometimes just to say hello. The group members are embracing and offer their expertise when they can.

We have members in several states and are on our way to becoming nationwide. Feel free to follow Women In Business Club of Facebook and listen in on our Tuesday night weekly conference call... I can't wait to meet you on the line.

We might hit a few potholes, but with God there are no road blocks.....

So many times I've been angry with myself because I have yet to accomplish all I’d planned. I would think back to my high school diary where I detailed everything I would attain or accomplish: from my first car, the college I would attend and my major, my career path, my wedding, my family….even the set of twins we would have. I knew exactly which direction my life was going and despite all the naysayers I was going to make it happen. You can only imagine my surprise when I became pregnant at 17, I hadn't included in my plans me wobbling to classes at the local community college. Or years later when I wasn't in the career I choose, I was still on page one of the book I was supposed to author and the biggest blow came when I disqualified myself from ever attaining a nonprofit organization, an organization that I dreamed would help young girls, because of my terrible mistake.

We're often our own worst critics, and what I’ve learned is it's never too late. As long as you have breath there’s more time to accomplish everything you envision. I was on my weekly Women in Business call and our guest speaker said something that resonated with me. "It's time to change or perspective. Our dreams are really our goals."

 Let's make our dreams our reality. Once we write out our vision and make it plain, we should ask God for direction and move in the way he guides us. Let's dust of our diaries, journals and vision board and look at life from a different prospective. We might have to rearrange something's on our life's blueprint, after all it's really us that determines the order of our life's accomplishment's. Though God know every step we take and he's right there with us he gives us free will to choose our steps.

I'm nowhere near where I want to be, but I'm much further than where I use to be. Instead of highlighting my shoulda coulda wouldas I'm stepping into the place of knowing God’s promises for my life are Yea and Amen.

Danelle

Dear Mama

I write this today both with tears and a smile. Today May 5th is my Mommy's birthday. I woke up wondering where my emotions would take me and if I could consciously keep them in check. Thoughts of our last experiences together some clear and some cloudy swirl around in my mind. So much time has passed since our last hug or since I've heard your voice yet I'm still so in love with you. I appreciate everything you were and are to me with the time we had.

In honor of Mother’s Day I wanted to introduce mommy shout outs

To my Mommy who I know loves me from heaven, I love you forever.

To my Auntie (she's my other mom) who has loved me through my foolish teenage years, you mean the world to me. Thank you for teaching me to fall in love with myself before trying to love anyone else. You taught me my worth and made it clear that I deserved the best. You gave me LOTS of lessons on cooking and cleaning……maybe a little too many…lol. You've had an everlasting impact on my life, thank you just isn't enough. I love you forever!

To ALL the mommies out there, you rock!

Share the impact your mom has had on you. I look forward to reading your feedback.

Danelle

Body Scrubs By Rebeca

Yay, guess what came in the mail?! My body scrubs by Rebeca Lemon Burst body scrub.

First let me say the product was packaged ever so perfectly. From the frilly papers in the box that matched her theme colors to the applicator stick that came with my product. No this wasn't the first time I had the pleasure of using her products, but it was the first time I purchased from her website. The body scrubs by Rebeca website was very easy to navigate. On the site you will find information about the owner and her love for skin care. She also has detailed descriptions beside every product making choosing the scrubs that works for you just that easy. I placed the order with no hiccups and the product was received in a timely manor.

When I open the large jar of my Lemon Burst scrub it smelled like just that, a burst of lemon. I wanted to taste it, but settled with applying it to my skin. This product left my skin feeling cleansed and moisturized.

I'm looking forward to using this scrub again and can't wait to purchase another from the body scrubs by Rebecca collection.

Check out her website www.bodyscrubsbyRebeca.com can't wait to hear your feed back regarding this product.

Danelle 

P. S. I wasn't gifted this product nor was I paid for this review..

The Struggle

The blog I Published on 04/23/2015 was such a struggle. I usually publish post by 8am, but I kept giving myself an excuse and didn’t actually post until after 11pm that night. Honestly I was afraid and concerned about what people might think. All I kept thinking was “Someone is going to read this?”

I thought about not positing it, at least not yet. I justified not posting to myself saying “I’m just starting out and this is too deep, maybe I should wait until the readers get to know me a little better.” Then I thought maybe I should wait until my book is published (Yessss, I will speak it into existence) because it will contain further details of my story and will better explain the compounding situations that lead me to thoughts of suicide. All I kept thinking was “Someone is going to read this?”

At about 11pm that night I got into my bed without posting for the day; “Someone is going to read this?” My spirit immediately responded and said “What if someone doesn’t.” Then I remembered that this thing really isn’t about me. I didn’t go through all I’ve experienced and cry all those tears to be silent.

I’ve done many things in my past that I’m not proud of and I’ve been places mentally that should have resulted in my death, but I’m here. So with all the hesitation and embarrassment I thank God for the strength he gave me to finally post. My blog has become an outlet for me, but ultimately it’s for my readers. I’m coming to terms with being transparent in hopes that someone will find hope in my story. It seems improbable at times, but I hope to use this platform to save someone’s life. I will use myself and my story so someone that may be in that same place realizes if I made it through so can you!

Danelle

My Very Life Is A Testimony

Last week when I was asking God what this blog should be about I kept hearing "Your life is a testimony.” I'm thinking “Yes I know I have a lot to say and many testimonies, but how can I put them all in this blog.” How would I even do that? Would I list them chronologically? Or rate the events of my life from most trying to least? How does one even compare or rate testimonies? Would it be a list at all; I was lost.  Days passed and I wasn't getting any clarity, until I heard a devotional read by one of my aunts on our family chat.

So my family gets together daily and besides laughing and sharing our daily life with each other we also pray, have devotion and sometimes out and out church. Lol. No really…..actual 2 and 3, God's in the midst…. Church.  Singing, scripture and my wiser aunts offering wisdom like only church mothers can.

This particular morning devotion was titled "Over looked blessings.” It started basically by asking if we ever stop to think about how blessed we really are. She read about the blessing that people don't always acknowledge like having clothes and the activity of our limbs. During the devotion statistics were given; if you have money in your wallet you are considered to be in the top 8% of wealthy people, If you've never starved, I mean really starved, or have been to jail you're doing better than 500 million people and being able to read, something most consider a simple skill, places you at more of an advantage than 2 billion people in this world.

Now those statistics may be old, slightly elevated for the purpose of conveying their point or out and out made up, but what I got from that is exactly what God told me days ago... "My whole life is a testimony.” Waking up from day to day is a blessing, because somewhere someone else didn't. Walking, running and even typing this blog is a massive blessing, because someone somewhere is paralyzed from the neck down. I thank God for my blessings day to day, for life health and strength. Yes God saved my oldest when her umbilical cord wrapped tight around her neck threatening to take her very life. And he was there and protected me in high school one of the many times I decided to run away from home and walk in the dark of the night to Queens. I thank God for that, but I also thank God for EVERYTHING ELSE.

There is absolutely no way to rate blessings, so I won’t be rating my testimonies, I will simply give them to you as God directs me to; and I hope my story can add blessings to your life as your support has already added to mine. 

Danelle

The Stand Off

Hey everyone,

I was thinking about the other day when my husband and I had a slight disagreement and decided that our resolution to the disagreement would be to stop talking to each other all together. What’s ironic is, during our standoff I had an opportunity to realize how blessed I am that he is in my life. Crazy?! I know!

Let me explain.... Oddly enough we were preparing for church when this disagreement began.  As you know, if you had a chance to read my previous journal, we have a brand new baby. As any ultra-concerned mom would know, washing and sterilizing your new baby’s bottles is super important.  My husband, on this particular morning, washed the bottles and placed them where the sterilized bottles go as if he had sterilized them. I was pissed!!!!……and had a few smart remarks for him like "What are you trying to do to my baby" mind you he is her daddy... "You do this all the time" so not true cause’ I've witnessed him sterilizing bottles in the past. Stop looking at the screen like that my hormones are still out of whack….lol. My husband just decided to ignore me as I went on my mini rant. I responded to him ignoring me by ignoring him. I know it's kind of childish, but we were in a standoff.

Getting back to how our standoff showed me how blessed I am. All though I was clearly wrong and my last vow to him before my silent treatment was that I would be silent for a week, he treated me ever so perfectly. He was a perfect quite gentleman. As always he held every door and closed everyone behind me. He helped me out of the car and guided me in the church while carrying our baby and her bags. He pressed the elevator button and stood back so I could walk through it first. I know this doesn't seem like much but I just love the way he loves me, I'm so blessed.

For the record the standoff, or should I say my standoff, is officially over.... I gave it up in service….I couldn't have a better husband.

Danelle