That Night at the Gas Station

Started from Facebook...now I'm here lol....okay it was corny yeah I know. I started this post on Facebook and noticed that was going to be a very long post, so I decided to blog about it. Here goes....

Your Dreams

Your dreams are your dreams and that's okay. Did you know that God's dreams are not your dreams and his dreams for YOUR life are usually bigger than yours?

On Friday night, I was bored. I started digging in my storage looking for old pictures that I captured of clients when I used to do hair. Yes! I used to do hair in high school and college. I didn't find any of the pictures but I stumbled across my senior memory book. There was a place titled "Dreams & Goals." As I read that section, I was smiling but shocked at the same time. I'm a very ambitious person and I couldn't believe that I didn't/did accomplish those goals that I had listed. I know that God has something better for me. I don't know what THAT may be but I know it's better.

Trying not to sneeze from the dust, the page read, "I want to be an entrepreneur Cosmetologist doing hair AND nails in my own hair salon. The car I will own is an Acura, I will own a three bedroom home and marry and have ONE child. I'm literally laughing out loud. I didn't get an Acura (Yet anyway) Not sure if I even want an Acura anymore. I didn't go to school for Cosmetology. I ended up getting a Bachelor's degree in Criminology and a Master's in Social Work (neither am I using right now nor do I have the desire to do so.) I am an entrepreneur but unsure on my direction. I am married with not ONE but TWO beautiful and smart children.

See!!! God blessed me abundantly. His dreams for me were/are bigger than my own. What I'm trying to figure out now is what road to take; do I go left or right. Prior to me reading that page in my senior memory book, I told my husband I was considering going to hair school BUT I'm not sure what I want to do. I stopped doing hair a long time ago because I wasn't passionate about it. I also stopped doing social work because I started feeling overwhelmed and burned out.

God's dreams for me are bigger than my own and all I can do is pray for his direction and understanding. If anyone is reading this and may be in the same boat, my suggestion is to pray. God knows better than you/I do. Love you lots!!!

Thanks for reading. Peace and blessings :)

Photo Credit: http://holleygerth.com/why-you-really-do-have-a-god-sized-dream-even-if-you-dont-know-it-yet/

Situations and Other Things

When you attend college, you know it's a four year term, well, at least for those who aren't playing around. You know that once you start college, without a shadow of doubt, you're gonna graduate because it generally takes four years right? You also don't expect to have drama, unresolvable issues (as it appears), complicated lengthy term/research papers, late night studying, early morning classes, broken hearts, back stabbers, scams & fraud, jacked up credit or any of that right? BUT you do know that if ONLY, if ONLY, if ONLY, you can get through all of that, you already know you're going to successfully complete those four years and graduate right? In saying that, you know and you don't know certain things but you do know that in four years, all of those things will be things of the past and you're now on to seeing better days right? Yeah, better days! *sigh* More after the break.

Tuesday's Blessings

Today has been such a long day for me. I had so many errands to run; personal and business. This will be quick. I just want the world to know that God is an awesome God. Since allowing him to move in my life, he has done just that. Today was my daughter's first day of 2nd grade (To God be the glory). She was so excited to see her friends and her new teacher. In the back of my head, I'm nervous because the tuition this year is significantly higher than it was last year, business is slow right now and I have no clue how it's going to be paid. Read more below.

Sleep is For Broke People...Guess I'm Sleeping Too Much

Sleep is For Broke People...Guess I'm Sleeping Too Much

First and foremost, I would like to say hello to all my Readers. Yeah, I know. It's been a minute. In Lil Wayne's voice, sorry for the wait.

Faith

Having faith takes a lot of courage. You really have to believe and trust in God that he will make a way when others (including you) believe that there is no way. I define faith as doing the impossible but believing God and knowing he will make it possible. If I have to say this everyday to make it through, I will say it: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen" Hebrews 11:1



I received this in an email today and it really touched my heart. "You should look at yourself as a pioneer. Things that you do today, will influence the lives of our future tomorrow!!! You are struggling now to give some kid 10 or 20 years from now the courage to." I sometimes need to hear encouraging words as well. I have days where I work so hard then other days I feel as though I'm not working hard enough. God is able to do all things so I will continue to believe and trust in him. I love the Lord with all my heart and soul. That is all!

Listening When He Speaks

For two years I've been struggling with something God told me to hang on to. It's not that I don't want to hang on to it, I'm just tired of waiting.

God gives everyone a message. It's up to you whether you listen or not. Speaking to you as well as myself, we all should listen when he speaks because he knows what's best. Matter of fact, he knows us better than we know ourselves. Over the past three years, I've grown more into God and I have a better relationship with him. We talk all the time. Every time I'm about to make a very important decision, I speak with him and ask is it the right thing to do. The decision I make is not always what he tells me. Sometimes I'm in denial and I want what I want so I'll do it anyway then say to myself, if it's a success then I know it's God, if it's not, it's still God, he's just telling me NO because that's not what he told me to do and I did it anyway. Though people on the outside looking in don't quite understand why I do certain things, it's not for you to understand. I've spoken with God and he has told me my next move. He has told me what I deserve, what I'm going to get and he's gonna give it all to me in his time. He also said that this isn't going to be easy but I'm giving it to you anyway because I know you can handle it. I can't tell you what he told me I'm getting because that's our secret ^_^ but I will tell you what he said it's gonna take to get there and this is for my readers too because he may have spoken to you about your own situation.

This particular day I cried, I cried and I cried. I prayed to God and laid everything on the table; feelings, questions and all. There are two things I want so bad and I work so hard to have them both. God has told me he's going to give them to me but I need to be patient. He's not going to give them to me when I want it because I'm not ready to have it and it's premature. He says all things need growth including me. Remember I spoke about tunnel vision? He confirmed that I'm in the tunnel, the toughest part of my life. Sometimes I go back on his word and say I doubt it's gonna happen. I think I'm psyching myself out because I want what I want so bad. Then God steps in again and confirms that I'm going to get it, just not yet and that I need to press forward. I've never been so confused about certain things in all the days of my little 26 year old life but God says it's on it's way. I know God works in mysterious ways so I'm sitting back wondering what is he gonna do to make these things happen for me. I don't know; all I know is he says it's gonna work. When I feel like it's not working or it's not going to work, I try to run away and my little confirmation runs me down and hits me smack dab in my face and...I smile again. Anyone that has a relationship with God, understands where I'm coming from and anyone that does not, you'll get it later. I go back and forth with God all the time about the message he gave me. Is it really gonna happen God? Why do I feel humiliated? He says you're suppose to feel humiliated, it humbles you. Then I'll say, I'm throwing in the towel, it ain't happening; I think I misheard the message. Then God steps in again and says, Child you are gonna get what you ask for, keep believing in me!!! Every time I have a negative thought and I feel like giving up or throwing in the towel, he always gives me my confirmation in a different way that this too shall pass and I'm gonna get all that I ask for plus more. I need to be obedient, live holy and lastly, listen when he speaks.

Committed to my Dream

This past Saturday I attended a going away party for my friend's fiancé. He is transitioning from being the head high school football coach to a college football coach. Saturday was a busy day for me and my friend texted me at 11am saying "Are you coming to the party?" I said to myself, "What party, she didn't tell me about a party." She responded and said that she forgot but the party was at 6pm. I said okay, I'll try to stop by but my day was already planned out. I had a youth workshop with the Makeva Harold Foundation, Inc. from 1pm-3pm then I was going to the movies to see Alice in Wonderland with my daughter and my friend and her daughter. After that, I just wanted to go home and sleep. I had no intentions on going to the party, I was just going to tell my friend I was tired, she told me at the last minute and I couldn't make it. *keep reading, I'm getting to the point* While were watching the movie, I thought to myself, I have to go to my friend's fiancé’s going away party. There's no doubt about it. This is the closest friend I have, I love her and she's always here for me through thick and thin. She's that friend that I know I can call on for anything....ANYTHING (this has been proven) I need to support her so I'm there! I called her as we were leaving the movies and I asked, "Are they having Publix cake?" Anyone that knows me knows that I LOVE me some Publix cake; it's the best, in my opinion. She said yes! Her family likes cake from Sam's club and I hate their cake! *no pun intended* "Okay I'm on my way." I called her back to find out if her fiancé’s friend was going to be at the party because she's tried to introduce us before and I turned him down :-( *shame on me because he's a great guy and he’s in Med School studying to be a doctor* don't judge me but I'm a hard working woman and I deserve a hard working, trustworthy, man. :-)

I arrive at the party at 6:30, they were still setting up so I stepped outside and made a few business calls and sent a few emails from my iPhone, of course, *this is what iPhone can do, lol* Okay, okay now to the point....party started around 7:45, you know black people don't ever start on time lol. There were about 30 people in attendance at the party, mostly everyone got up and gave their farewell speech. EVERYONE piggy backed off each other stating how he was committed to his dream and he never gave up. He comes from a family of lawyers and they all wanted him to be a lawyer. They talked about him taking the LSAT and having a great score; they knew he was going to law school and were very excited. It was his dream to always be a football coach, so that's what he worked towards and NEVER gave up. His family didn't agree with him becoming a football coach but supported him in all that he did. Being committed to his dream placed him exactly where he wanted to be, a college football coach! Way to go Alan! I'm proud of you too!!! :-)

After hearing all their farewells I said. “Hmm I'm glad I came and I think it was meant for me to hear this.” Lately, I've been feeling as though I need to make a career change, I'm 26 years old and I feel lost, what will I do, do I apply for jobs to work for someone other than myself, I don't want to work for anyone else, do I keep going in the same direction? These are the questions I've been asking myself. Just to hear everyone talk about how he was committed to his dream inspires me to continue to be committed to mine. Its tough trying to do that when your family doesn't believe it's going to happen. At least that's what I think. They don't even know what my organization does; they don't know what type of organization it is. I've given them brochures, showed them the website and they still don't know. Makes me feel as if they don't care or it’s not important to them. My grandma constantly tells me I should get a job. Am I not working now? I'm here in this office, my house or her house working AT LEAST 60 hours each week. I don't know, I guess she doesn't quite understand. I love my family, I just want them to support me in what I’m trying to accomplish because this is no easy task and I'll say it again, if it were easy, everyone would be doing it. I love a challenge!

Leaving the party, I felt that I received my confirmation to continue to be committed to my dream. Though my eyes are blurry right now and I can barely see where I’m going, I'm going to continue moving and praying my GPS(God) leads me in the direction I should go. That's called Faith and I have it, I just need to strengthen it.

Success

Today is a day where I'm lost for words. I don't really have anything to talk about. My mind feels as though it's moving 100 miles per hour. "I just wanna be successful!" I'm thinking about all the endless opportunities I have with my career. Makeva Harold Foundation, Inc. may only be known right now as a county/state/city organization but in due time, we will be nationally known since....of course...I'm on my Global Grind! I plan to have an office in a few other cities and states. I work so hard I know I can only go up from here. I've been down for a while but nobody or nothing can hold me down. I've fallen several times but I always manage to get back up and that's what's important. If you ever fall, get back up and try it all over again but with a different strategy.

Currently, God has put me in a position where I've humbled myself, I now appreciate the value of a dollar and things I've taken for granted in the past, I am now grateful for. I realize that things really are here today and can be gone tomorrow. I've heard this from other people time and time again but because it never hit home, I always brushed it off. Now that it has hit home, I realize it. DON'T TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED!



Although there are many people that think like me, there are still many people that don't. I look at success and say, "I'm on my way." I'm closer to my goal more than I ever thought. Success doesn't fall in your lap, you have to WORK for it. I don't ever expect anything to be handed to me. I work for all that I have and all that I want. Of course, my vision gets a little blurry at times but I still find my way to keep moving to the end of the tunnel. I have tunnel vision. I remember starting at the beginning of the tunnel and seeing all that I was gonna go through as I struggle to get through the tunnel and make it to the end. Now, I'm in the jungle (tunnel) fighting my way through. I'm almost there. I keep God in the midst of all that I'm doing and all that I have going on. God is my GPS and I cannot go anywhere without him. I'm not perfect but I'm trying my best to live holy. Not to mention, through everything you must have FAITH. "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, evidence of things unseen." Hebrews 11:1

Another thing about being successful, you can't be the smartest person in your pack. You have to surround yourself with a few people that are smarter than you; that way you can learn from them. One can never stop learning and if you're the smartest person in your pack, what are you learning from everyone else? Absolutely nothing!

I don't have anything else to say. Time for me to pack up in the office and get dressed to go to the gym to get my sexy back! Have a productive remainder of the day! Be great this day and everyday! That is all!