that’s Hector Lavoe’s song (Everything has an end) and it seems that the economic downturn in America is impacting more than households. Brands we’ve come to know and love are on their way out, soon your Old Navy Store could just be a Gap and Kmart well, read what’s up here.

Just in case you were thinking what the heck happened to Liz’s 28 day challenge through the book of Matthew…its on a separate page now and on my blogroll.

The other day while I was at the Big Noble (using Ragamuffin Diva’s terminology for Barnes & Noble) doing “research” on the current competition in the area my book will fall under my husband said “one day your book will be here.” I said “yeah maybe.” Inside my heart leaped at the prospect of such a dream coming true. While it takes a combination of God’s favor, people loving your book and good publicity efforts to get a book on this list, it is a dream of perhaps every writer to be on it and of course, carried at the Big Noble.

Heck, truth is that I’ve had about equal parts of dreams shattered as dreams come true. So while I hope my husband’s word were prophetic, I know that on this side of heaven I’ll have to believe God for the supernatural but do my part in the natural i.e. make time to write, get things in when they are due, etc. etc.

Now, my agent recently had a great post where she queried folks on why they write here. I, for one, use this verse as inspiration for writing “Publish His glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things He does.” 1 Chronicles 16:24 (NLT) and on her blog I noticed many writers do. But let me be specific, I write because:

a.  I’ve loved books since about 10/11 years old when I would walk to the public library “by myself” and bring home tons of books. They had the power to transport me to another world even though I never even left NYC (other than Puerto Rico for Christmas) until AFTER I got married.

b.  I used to think that I was God’s Stepchild because life was so darn difficult and painful. I used to think that I pissed God off so badly (but didn’t quite know what exactly I did) that He allowed me to go through so much. But now I know God loves me dearly and life is just well, life and it happens whether you are ready or not. Besides His word, books published by others, telling of the amazing things God did for them in the midst of “their” pain helped me to understand my Stepchild syndrome was a result of bad theology, self-righteousness and good ole’ Christian comfort.

c. I don’t want to waste my pain. I’ve been through “stuff” and many thought I would lay down and die, I even thought I would be out for the count but I rose again and still I rise. I’ve failed and I’ve succeeded, this is all part of the journey we call life and I want to give people a reason to continue to hope. There are so many people trying to kill hope in this world, saying that believing in God is weak. I say, what is wrong with ‘choosing’ to believe and who cares what others think!

d. I want to help others RISE & SHINE. I operate from the abundance mentality meaning I won’t hate on you just because you have it going on in any particular area. You go! Sadly,  this is not the case in many circles I’ve been in but I choose to use my life and resources to help others get out of their pit, develop a new mindset and determine to get up despite life’s hard knocks and shine for Jesus through the use of everything He’s given them.

Bottomline folks, I could have been in a looney bin after two major life circumstances rocked my world and I can only attribute my sanity to God. You see, people can argue with you about theology and other things but they absolutely can’t argue with you about your testimony. I’ve lived it and I know that I know that I know that God kept me and because of that I attempt to publish His glorious deeds among the nations and tell everyone about the amazing things He has done, is doing and will continue to do in my life!

I have been homeschooling my son Sam since February and wow…it is intense but also so wonderful!  While there “are” days I want to pull my hair out (come on I ain’t a saint) they are few and far between which is more of a surprise to me than I thought. I am hooked on homeschooling. Now granted I use a curriculum (Sonlight) and I added my own stuff for spelling and vocabulary, it is much easier than some folks against homeschooling made it sound. It isn’t for everyone that’s for sure…you have to “want” to spend time with your kids. LOL. But seriously, we live in a world where both parents usually have to work to just survive or where single parenthood is the norm (although I have read stories of homeschoolers in both those categories getting by wonderfully). All this to say, I am glad I had the option to homeschool after researching for more than 1 year. I heard today that CA judges recently interpreted law to essentially rule out the option of homeschooling.  I would hate for that to happen in FL. I am learning so much along with my son and in this season of my life and ministry/work has to fit into my life as it is right now. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t know what tomorrow brings but I’m prepared to give my next 8 years to Sam…what an honor to raise my son to be a God-fearing, intelligent communicator and thinker with a love of science, classical music and piano.By the way, since I’ve been homeschooling my son reads for LEISURE people! He actually carries his book with him, reads while I cook, reads at his desk while I write on the computer, bottomline, he’s doing what I’ve always wanted him to do but for the life of me could not get him to like books (hey I was willing to accept like as a woman who LOVES them..that’s big!). His current book: Diary of a Wimpy Kid.  I am supposed to get book 2 this weekend since he just started this book last Saturday and is almost done! People this is progress with a capital P!!!!!

Sign up at www.deepshift.org under the NYC tab. I could sure use some help at the event, if you are reading this and are from NYC, help a sistah out. And yeah, the address is WRONG (sorry publisher error)! Its 170th street but if you are in NY you know that already LOL.

This is from the February 2007 issue of Harvard Business Review… 

“Leaders cannot succeed on their own: even the most outwardly confident executives need support and advice. Without strong relationships to provide perspective, it is very easy to lose your way.  Authentic leaders build extraordinary support teams to help them stay on course. Those teams counsel them in times of uncertainty, help them in times of difficulty, and celebrate with them in times of success. After their hardest days, leaders find comfort in being with people on whom they can rely so they can be open and vulnerable. During the low points they cherish the friends who appreciate them for who they are, not what they are.” 

I am a person who loves learning and consider myself a perpetual student. My husband says that I will be 90 years old walking the aisle with my 15th degree but I don’t do it for the letters behind my name, I don’t do it for prestige (pleassssse) and I certainly haven’t done it because I would be bringing home the Benjamins. So some say, why the heck do it?

Everyone has their reasons. For me, I love to read, I love being challenged, I love writing, I love introduction of new ideas and trends and love to examine how they impact my faith journey. I know that some people are impressed by titles (although that population continues to decrease), I am not one of them. As a matter of fact, I get really turned off by folks who demand you call them by their titles. You know, Rev. Dr. Pastor so and so, Grand Bishop Rev. Dr. Pastor, you get my drift. My policy is to introduce folks with their titles in public gatherings but if I see you at the mall or something, I don’t think I should have to say “Hey, Rev. Dr. George how you doing?” unless there is an informal relationship. Anyway, I bring this all up because I was looking for something online and google took me to this post when then led to this post.  So on reading that here’s my two cents…

1. I think that some people are driven by competition…if that person got her doctorate I need to go get mine–WRONG REASON

2. I know I’ll get more respect and credibility –WRONG REASON - this may or may not happen

3. I will be able to earn more money and have a better pick of jobs–not necessarily a wrong reason but perhaps a bit optimistic. My experience and those of many I know suggest that opportunities (aside from God “open door” miracles) are what you create for yourself.

4. The letters after my name, the titles before my name will make me appear important and knowledgable. WRONG REASON…key word here is “appear”. We’ve all met “super dummies”, “emotional midgets”, “highly self-engaged” folk with letters and titles and I for one haven’t liked them all that much. Ugh!

 With all that, I still think any academic road one chooses to follow takes time and dedication. Sure, some folks due to schools who value their reputations as being high in standards academically may make their students go through gruelling exercises of no real value and maybe some that do have real value while others may not have to sweat at all but regardless, those folks paid $, took time away from family, work, etc. to put some new information in their brains and hopefully put it to good use. So I say, they all matter depending on what you want to do in the future i.e. teach, write a book, become a pastor or marketplace leader and I say get a life to those who have to judge any of the options for a terminal degree one takes.

 As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, I signed up with my church to take part for the first time ever with American Cancer Society’s (AMC) relay for life that took place today in Pembroke Pines. I participated because of what it meant to me to be there and remember those who have lost their lives fighting this disease and the new people in my life who have been diagnosed with a form of cancer. High fives to the Ladies of Warm Spirit and my girl Rhonda who came out in full force to support our baby church in our attempt to put on the Ultimate Rest Stop! 

Here are some pics of the night: 

 Sam with Kristi Krugger Morning Anchor of Channel 10 news

Hiram and Bob, Spa Bouncers

 Some of the team at 7 pm…more arrived later

The soaps Sam and Janie made on Weds.