Cherish Each Moment

Hello World,

I have to say I just got back from vacation with my family and I had a ball.  We were able to hang out, have fun and just laugh and enjoy being around each other.  Something that many people do not do often.  I am so happy that I was able to be in the midst of my family in such a fun and relaxing atmosphere.  You have to love not the magic of Disney, but the Magic of the love of a family.  During each moment of my vacation I took the time to really take it all in and enjoy and cherish every moment.  It really made a difference for me during my vacation.

While on vacation I received news that a Sorority Sister of mine passed away. A woman who I spoke to just recently on her 70th birthday.  I recalled the conversation we had and was so happy that I was able to know her and speak with her on such a milestone birthday and all throughout the time I have been a member of Sigma Gamma Rho.  She discussed with me how happy she was to see this birthday and that she was so excited to be able to help others through the venue of our sorority.  We went on to discuss her getting some rest and really working hard to take care of herself. She told me stop trying to do it all and let others help me.  Then we talked about sorority issues and business that we had to get finished within the sorority.

Towards the end of the conversation we went back to just being happy for another day.  Soror Boyd-Stewart said to me you know we have to Cherish Each Day, Cherish Each Moment that we have and know that we have done something good for someone.  I quickly responded with a "yes Ma'am."  My Sister went on to proclaim her love for me and proceeded to say how proud she was of me and how much she was supporting me in my life and sorority endeavors.  She continued on to point out every strength I had in order to get things done in life. I sat and listened on my cell phone in the midst of people all around me and enjoyed the conversation and the love I was feeling from my Sister.  I felt proud to call her my sister & even prouder that she saw in me some things I couldn't really see in myself.  I couldn't say anything and when I didn't she stated to me, "that is why I love you, you take a moment to take it all in and marinate on each and every word. I love that you have listened & I know you know what I mean by cherishing every moment." I sat in awe of her words and finally mustered up enough courage to thank her for her words of encouragement & love.  I also thanked her for always being the strong woman she was and we ended our conversation with "Soror I love you stay well and cherish each moment."

Right now at this very moment my Soror, my Sister, my Friend is being Eulogized.  A this very moment I cherish the time I had with her, the conversations, the face to face together time, the straight to the point in my face "you better do such and such" moments. (Soror I know if you were in front of me you will smile at that statement LOL) I cherish that final conversation and feel so blessed to have had it with her.   What a great woman she was.  So loving and caring, in her own strong way, even when she didn't know it.  Her stern way of talking and her straight heads on stance on it all, surely told each person she was in contact with that you were loved.  I will miss you Soror Boyd-Stewart I know you will rest in peace in the arms of our loving God!  I sit and recall that conversation and Thank God that I Cherished that Moment like she instructed me to do!

Today, don't just go through  the day complaining and pointing out the negatives.  Take a moment to take it all  in and Cherish Each Moment to the fullest, no matter what your situation, know that tomorrow is surely not promised to any of us and each moment is a true testament of how important each relationship is and should be to each of us.

Take that time today to Cherish Each Moment, don't let one second pass without realizing the blessings big and small in your life.


Be Blessed, Be Encouraged & Be A Blessing!
Racquel

Look Better Naked

I am reading a book called "Look Better Naked" what an awesome read with great ideas to shape your body and get healthy.

I have to tell you I am on a mission to Look Better Naked.  When you think about it, as women, naked cuts into the core of our deepest insecurities.   Many women have a deep fear in showing their bodies.  They live a life covered up and overdressed because of their own body image & self esteem.  Body image affects how you feel about yourself. It's an important factor in self esteem for women, men, adolescents and children. The modern world glorifies the perfect body and if you're a woman it's difficult to be positive if you believe you are fat, ugly, too tall etc.

Self esteem in women these days seems dependant on how they think they look. Many women check the scales several times a day. They often say to themselves, "I'm fat, short, skinny" - these are opinions you hold that may not be true. We all know people who are fat and happy and others who are slim and unhappy. 

Guess what? Some men like large, some small, some thin and some tall. You don't have to be thin to be attractive! Someone will like your appearance just as you are and if you have a good feeling about yourself that's even better!

With a positive or healthy body image, a woman has a real perception of her size and shape. She also feels comfortable with her body. With a negative body image, a woman has a distorted perception of her shape and size, compares her body to others, and feels shame and anxiety about her body. Being unhappy with your body can affect how you think and feel about yourself as a person. A poor body image can lead to emotional distress, low self-esteem, unhealthy dieting habits, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Developing a positive body image and a healthy mental attitude is crucial to a woman's happiness and wellness.

We all want to look our best, but a healthy body is not always linked to outer appearance. In fact, healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes! Changing your body image means changing the way you think about your body. At the same time, healthy lifestyle choices are also key to improving body image.

This book goes into so many different ways and levels of strengthening your body image.  Like Healthy eating can promote healthy skin and hair, along with strong bones. Regular exercise has been shown to boost self-esteem, self-image, and energy levels & Plenty of rest is key to stress management.

We as women have to stop shying away from the mirror. We need to stop the stinking thinking in our own skin.  It is time to get comfortable in the skin we are in and look better naked.  And don't forget your kids! The attitude of parents about appearance and diet affects their kids' attitudes. So be aware of that when you pick up this book.

"Look Better Naked is an invitation to stop hiding from yourself, to rediscover—and reshape—the body beneath your clothes, and to boost your in-the-buff confidence. The next time you’re about to step into the shower, take a look at your reflection in the mirror and stash the image in your memory bank. That’s the last you’re going to see of the old you. Then put aside the weight-loss and shape-up disappointments you’ve faced in the past and get ready to look better naked!"(Excerpt from Look Better Naked, by Michele Promaulayko. Get the six-week plan to your leanest, hottest body ever)

Your body is unique, enjoy it and love it. Focus on your good points. If someone likes you they will see the good and not the bad. Make yourself worthy of love and like yourself first. 

I AM ON A QUEST TO LOOK BETTER NAKED, YOU SHOULD JOIN ME!

Be Blessed, Be Encouraged & Be a Blessing,

Racquel

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others


We are all different yet we have a tendency to compare ourselves to others. It's human nature, and while learning from others is an important part of critical decision making, if it is used to reinforce an unrealistic or negative self-image it can be an unhealthy habit to get into.

Much like people, apples and oranges are part of the same family, but are so different that it's pointless to compare them.  To get out of that habit you must do a couple of things. 1. Recognize that comparing yourself to others is a bad habit. 2. Realize that everybody is different, because we are. & 3. Stop being afraid to be yourself.

When you use others as your measuring stick, you usually come up short. You convince yourself you’re not as clever, beautiful, thin or talented.


Equating yourself with others eats away at your confidence and leaves you feeling inferior.


Remind yourself of these simple truths. You are a unique and special person, exactly as you are. You’re one-of-a-kind and you’re irreplaceable.


It's better to be the original you than to be a copy of somebody else.


Be Blessed, Be Encouraged & Be a Blessing
Racquel

Priceless Moments

If you have children you know when you put them to bed & kiss them goodnight they will find their way to your bed. You will hear the pitter patter of itty bitty feet and as you look up and try to adjust your eyes you will see that tiny shadow. Your child may be crying, or still trying to wake up themselves, but they are at the foot of the bed.

Whether it be from a nightmare, because they can't sleep, or something startled them awake and they need comfort or they just don't want to be alone. They will wander in your bed & snuggle in between you & your spouse & be fast asleep before you even realize they are there. The next thing you know it is morning and you have a child in your face asking what are we going to do today mom & dad :-)

Your children know that you will welcome them with open arms. They come to you for that protection, that comfort that love. They long to be close to the ones they love and they know we are going to reciprocate that unconditional love they so desperately need. We are their protectors & they want to be close to us always.

Isn't it awesome to be able to provide that protection, that comfort, that loving feeling? Yes children in our bed can be overwhelming & cause strain in a relationship if not handled well. To avoid that strain, make sure you are open minded to spicing up your love life by going elsewhere for your spousal loving feeling. Don't rule out having to go to the garage or the living room every now and again to ease the strain on your relationship. But that is a whole other conversation for a different blog.

Back to the babies, isn't that child snuggle time the best? To hear your child's every breath and feel their heartbeat next to yours and know that their love is so genuine and pure, is PRICELESS.

Cherish these days. I know I did. My son is 12 1/2, I have to put the half in there he would fuss if I didn't LOL, now and doesn't just pop up at night to say he is scared and jump in our bed. He doesn't cry at night to be picked up because he is lonely, hungry and/or needs his pamper changed. My son is way to big to snuggle and cuddle with in my bed without pushing me off of it. Oh, how you can miss those days of little feet in your back, a head butt in the middle of the night or a finger in your nose, LOL.

I feel so blessed to be able to have had that opportunity to experience that sort of love & need of a child. I love that it never ends only changes. So instead of the middle of the night bed runs, it's the middle of the day Mom I just need a hug run. A plop on my lap with a stinky teenage underarm in my face with a kiss on the head. Or a Mom will I be alright after finding out his life was changed by a life altering disease. Or a goodnight kiss with a Mom can we pray together before we go to sleep. Or a Mom you are the greatest statement. Those PRICELESS moments in time that gives you the want to just press pause and rewind over and over again.

No matter how it changes our children still look to us for protection, comfort and direction.

It is surely a blessing to be able to provide that. Every moment is a PRICELESS MOMENT make sure you take it in fully!

Be Blessed, Be Encouraged & Be a Blessing

Racquel

Silence is GOLDEN

Somthing to think about....

We live in a world that supports a tennis-volley-approach to conversation: 'You say something, and quickly, I say something next.' This happens almost without pause or without us taking a breath. It happens with a husband and wife, a child & their parents & a boss & employee.

We are all guilty of formulating what we are going to say next, even before the person speaking stops sharing their thoughts. We are often so busy formulating responses that we neglect to really take the time and listen to what the person is saying. Most times we become inundated with our own thoughts, removing ourselves from having a listening ear,leading to banter back and forth.

What do you think would happen if we just said nothing? What if the words you did not speak were more powerful than the words you did speak? What if we all got comfortable with being still. If we weren't afraid of silence. How different would our lives be? Imagine taking the time to just stand and be still in the silence providing golden quiet moments that provide clarity & wisdom to last a lifetime.

Did you know that quiet moments provide the ideal environment for growth and insight? Silence is where some of our best growth happens and when some of our best insights appear that would have otherwise been missed during our chatter back and forth.

Without having to work very hard and by just settling into the silence, the quietness of the moment, you can suddenly leap into a new frame of mind.

Silence is Golden even the "silent words" you say to yourself. They are extremely powerful.

Today, Realize that Speech is Silver & Silence is Golden. Turn your silence into gold!

Be Blessed, Be Encouraged & Be a Blessing!

Racquel

Ramblings of the Day

It has been a bit since I have posted to my blog, but I am home for the summer and watching some stupid crap on t.v.

So I am watching the Tyra show and she has these children on her show that abuse their parents. The children range from ages 8-16 and they are beating their parents down. The parents are sitting there saying how afraid and scared they are to sleep and be in the same room as their children. Talking about there are no laws that protect a parent from a child's abuse.

First of all WTH are you kidding me? The only law you need is the law of I'm gonna beat the crap out of you and deal with being in jail after I kill your behind. If my child ever came towards me to hit me I would punch him right in his chest and then break every dang on bone in his body. I have told my child if you ever raise a hand to hit me you better kill me because if you don't, be prepared to meet your maker.

This is a serious situation. The laws in states are giving children so much authority to do whatever they want in their parent's houses. I am all for following the laws of the land but I'll be damned if I birth you and you are going to try to beat me down. Hell to the NO! Why are our children so violent & ready to harm everyone that they feel does not respect them? In a parent child relationship you are not your child's friend, You are not your child's buddy you are the parent and it should be set as such in your house. It is sad to see the state of our children & even sadder to see the state of our parents. It starts from the cradle.

Let's talk about Beauty....

I read somewhere that Angelina Jolie is listed as the "Most Beautiful Person" in the World. Really? what makes her so beautiful? Because she has voluptuous lips & what people see as a nice body? That doesn't make a person beautiful. Although the initial look is pleasing to the eye what really makes a person beautiful?

Beauty goes way beyond skin and it is important that we begin to teach our children that although it is important to be neat and look decent we are not defined by our outer beauty. I am sure there are many other women out there that are just as beautiful if not more beautiful than Jolie, just overlooked because they don't fit the norm of what society says is beautiful.

Everyone is beautiful in their own way. Can't we just see people for the beauty within instead of judging them for what we see......

I don't know why I watch these dumb shows. What a waste of time, are they really helping people?

Peace & Hairgrease!

Mothers Day

As I awakened this morning I felt so blessed to be a mother. My day didn't start out in any other way than waking up and being greeted with...

DJ: " Good Morning Mom."
Me: "Good morning son how was your rest?"
DJ:"It was good, you feel ok Mom?"
Me: "Yes DJ I feel blessed this morning, how about you"
DJ: "I'm good, Mom can you bring me breakfast in bed? I am so tired."
Me: short pause... "Uh son it's mothers day can I get breakfast in bed?"
DJ: " I'm just messing with you mom, (evil chuckle) Breakfast is ready come downstairs"

There is no better way to start a day. Every morning I am greeted by a child that is not only smart as all get out but has the greatest personality and the best sense of humor. He constantly reminds me what a joy it is to be a mother. Sometimes he even acts like he is my little husband and it cracks me up because you really can feel all the love he exerts from his being.

I love being a mother, it is such a fulfilling feeling of love and affection that can make my hard day into a great day.

As this morning continues to progress and my family allows me time just to be me. I sit and reflect on my own life.

I think about my mother and the impact she left on my life in the short time that I had her with me. For those who do not know my mother passed away when I was 9 years old. In those 9 years of my life my mother taught me so much. She taught me how to be strong, how to love others, how to pray, how to be a real woman and a great mother. No matter what was going on with my mother's health she was always there for me and always loved me unconditionally. I now realize that my mother was the strongest woman I have ever known. She always continued on in prayer and love and that was enough to teach all of her 4 children how to carry on after she left her earthly form.

I often become a little sad knowing that my mother never was able to see me get married, was never able to meet her grandchild, then I realize she is always with me. She lives on in my heart and her spirit is always surrounding me guiding me to a life enriched with love. I wish I could touch her, feel her comb my hair, feel her kiss on my cheek, hear her voice say I love you...... What I would do to feel her hug....



This mothers day I have reflected on my mother and all that she has taught me. I have made it my business to make sure that I attempt to be as good a mother as my mother was.


Be Blessed, Be Encouraged & Be A Blessing!
Racquel