Hope everyone has enjoyed their summer as it comes to an end, I would like to share some of our summer fun and experiences we had. With the economy being where it is today and the cost of living it can be hard to go out and about with a price for everything. As a stay at home mom, I tried my hardest to keep my children entertained and busy with what we had. We ventured out in our new neighborhood. We had pool days, we went to the local library and we also made new friends in the neighborhood and went bike riding. It was loads of fun! And free! Even better!!! We painted and got creative with our creative side. We gave old objects a new paint job and made it come back to life! We had a picnic in the park and enjoyed the playground. Also, I got our kids to help clean up and gave them chores around the house. My son had his job as my daughter had hers. She would wash dishes he would dust the shelves we all did our part to help. It’s not easy, just a constant reminder to help clean up before they get the hang of it. Some days I would stand back and let them have a free day or so here and there to see what they would do. I try to give them leeway so it’s not to much control and they can be more themselves. We have had a great overall summer and I am excited for them as they enter this new school year!! Hope your children will have a great one too!!! Ps. What did you enjoy most this summer?!?

This new age we live in is a lot different than back in the old days. Back in the old days, you stayed silent at the dinner table you didn’t say a word you just ate your food. It was a very silenced world. You didn’t speak up of anything that would cause a ruckus just keep it between you and close family and friends if any. Nowadays it is so important to speak up to share your experiences with others it’s through our lessons that we bring awareness to one another. I’ve had many encounters of family and friends with so many stories that open up my eyes to all the possibilities and all the opportunities. I had a very good friend of mine who was caring an 18pound tumor in her stomach. She was completely unaware it was when she went into her routine check-up that her Dr. Immediately seen her leg swollen and felt her stomach hard. He referred her to another Dr. If she didn’t go to her routine check-up there is no telling how much longer she would have been caring this 18pound tumor, and if it would have developed to something more severe. Routine check-ups are very important and through her experience, I am jumping right on top of setting up an appointment and getting my health checked out. If I feel well I believe I am, but it’s better to be safe then sorry. My kids rely on me and I need to make sure I’m doing my part to stay healthy. This goes for you all to parents, grandparents, family, and friends stay healthy and listen to your body when you feel more tired than norm ask yourself what’s the new change and please listen to your Doctor. If you’re not satisfied with what one Dr is telling you please find a Dr. whom you are comfortable with and can meet all your needs. Our children need us! as the new school year is approaching don’t forget to get those physicals and checkups in for our littles too! Hoping this school year will be a happy and healthy one!!

I made it! One saying I would always say after I clocked out of work, but it was more deeper than just clocking out of work, it was I made it another day I’m here, I’m here! Truth is I never thought I would see this, I never imagined it. This is everything!! I have two amazing kids a great husband and father of our children. A home of our own. We made it y’all! we made it! When I was younger my parents had separated and my mom left to another state. She not only left my father but three kids too, I’m not sure she thought this through. It was all of a sudden I was 12/13?! I can’t remember how old exactly, but my whole self-worth was shot. My confidence, self-esteem I lost it all. I never dreamed at all. I began to rebel I stopped going to class I didn’t care, what for I thought? My father was so busy being a provider I didn’t even know how I made it through school. I turned to alcohol at times even worse drugs trying to keep at a high. I was drowning in alcohol trying to fill a void I couldn’t wrap up in my head. I remember at night at bedtime asking God to take me, God take me before my father he was everything to me. I thought 30 was a perfect age to go and a long and good life. My plans and Gods plans were a whole lot different. Here I am today it’s my birthday and I’m 34. I’m a wife, mother, and friend. Every night I pray I live another night. God give me life, give me life. My dreams today is to see my children get married, see my children have a family of the own to be here, to be here! My mother is back she has been back for quite some time and honestly I couldn’t thank God more than ever today, and every day. I don’t know what she was going through but she went through it and she’s back! We all make mistakes we all sin. I’m far from perfect and I can honestly say hold on to your faith when the going gets rough pray. God I thank-you so much for blessing me with the family I have, they say it takes a village and I’m so grateful for my village! Aunts and uncles cousins and friends! To my sister who was more a mother thank you so much for everything, my little brother you are amazing! We made it, we’re here and my father you deserve the world you have a heart of gold, and mom thank you, thank you! For coming back it takes such courage. I’m so excited to start this new chapter in life!! Here’s to the good life! here’s to new adventures! Here’s to all things possible through God. I’m excited for it all. To the children of all ages who may feel lost, out of hope hold on, hold to your faith, your a child of God hold on to him he has you!❤️🙏

Hello family and friends! This read is going to be short and to the point. I’m trying to stay consistent and keep it going, there is just not enough time in the day. My threenager a couple of days ago didn’t get his way and he was so upset. He began to shout and yell I told him no sir and sent him to his room. He knows the drill when your ready to behave come out. He goes to his room closes the door and says what are you looking at turtle?!? Omgosh?! I hear him through the door what?! I’m trying to keep my composure, but I had to call dad. It was too funny not to share that’s you, I said what!?! I just can’t with this boy. He’s on another level. He comes out of the room and asks sister why is your turtle looking at me?! He is so serious too, I told sister what happened and she smiled at me and shakes her head. A week passes and we keep going mom life in full effect. A friend of mine asks him of the encounter and he said I don’t know why the turtle was looking at me!?! She said did you apologize I’m not sure what his response was it was low, but I shake my head. So thankful for the reminder. That evening we go into his room and he apologizes. He tells me, mom, okay, you can go to the living room. I said okay but, stayed in the hallway and managed to get a picture and recording for the books. His words: I’m sorry turtle for being mean. This is it, it starts at home if we teach our children how to treat one another they learn. Kids are getting smarter by the minute and growing so fast. Parents I know it’s not easy and some days can be busier than most, but help guide our children in the best way possible. The best work we can do is in the walls of our home.

Today was a fun day with my littles, but also a bit challenging. We went to our local library and spent at least two hours. My daughter checked out a book off her fourth-grade summer reading list and I also let her pick a book of her choice. Preparing our children for the new school year is definitely a plus. My daughter Mariah is nine she is well behaved and knows the drill when it comes to the library. It’s my son who makes it a bit challenging he’s three. This was his first visit and well you just never know how much patience a three-year-old can have at a library. He’s naturally loud, yikes! speaks very clear. We first got our library cards and just the registration alone seemed to be our longest wait, the process. My son was a bit antsy, but sister and I both informed him that if we were to loud we would be sent home and will not be able to return. He tried to run, but I told him walking feet then said sshhh… Lincoln look everyone is quiet and sitting down. (Kids pick up fast and are great visual learners).Yay!! We got our cards and enter the kids’ corner first thing they went to was the computers. Abc mouse was a click away and it is very educational, both kids enjoyed it. After the computer my son played with some tabletop manipulatives and my daughter and I played beside him. We picked up a calendar as we headed out with the list of events and information to what’s ahead. This trip was perfect for us and best of all it’s free!! Quality time well spent with one another and learning a plus, memories made priceless! We decided to make this a weekly visit if not maybe at least every other week. When was the last time you went to the library!?! Waiting game over, go tomorrow!!!

I want to share my faith with my family and friends and how good the Lord is. Trust with all your heart God has put you exactly where he wants you and needs you. People will come into your life as a lesson or a blessing. God does his work through us. I remember when I first stepped into childcare. I didn’t have much experience except for all the home training of watching of my cousins, brother and family friends. I wanted this job so bad at the center I was persistent on calling. I thought having my daughter with me was perfect! I can watch over her and bring home some money to our family was a win win. I called week after week are you hiring ? I finally got the answer, yes!can you come in for a interview, I was there and I got hired. I thanked God for this great opportunity, but little did I know what God had in store for me. A classroom setting was a whole other level for me within itself. This was not okay, kids play.. run.. be free !! This was structure and this new teacher (me) was a free spirit! Structure what!?! We had a full day with a schedule and staying on schedule was hard. God was working within me and helping me grow as a mother, teacher and friend some days I didn’t know what I was doing, but this helped me so much. Til this day I am so grateful for working at the Academy. My daughter Mariah was in another class before she came into mine, she enjoyed being there. I remember my director telling me kids are like sponges they will soak everything up and I held on to this. When we would go home for the day I would take my daughter a night time bath I always would talk to her and tell her water, water just so she could understand we’re playing in the water and eventually pick up the word water. She wasn’t catching on. She was constantly getting into things she shouldn’t, having to redirect her. I began to feel like their was something not right, I just couldn’t pin point it. I remember her having a high pitch scream/cry just so different from what I was use to hearing. I mentioned to her pediatrician that I had been around many children and my daughters cry is different. Its very high pitch, he told me it was normal. Since the Dr. had told me it was normal I believed it to be true. I continued to carry on, and as I did with my daughter growing she just wasn’t listening and this was hard to understand. My husband believed she was like him and just stubborn, but I thought no. I didn’t know what it was, but I knew something was not right. I left work early because she had a check up visit. I remember getting her from her class and her teacher telling me “Val” have them check her ears and I said okay! I will. The Dr. came in and I asked him to check her ears and he did just that with his otoscope, no ear infection! so I continued to go as everything was good. What I didn’t realize until after was her teacher was trying to say more. Until the day I got called into the office with the director “Mrs. Valerie” she said, I did observations in Mariah’s class and I just wanted to ask you has Mariah had a hearing test? I said her newborn screening test yes, but that’s it. She passed, I said and then remember freezing. Everything began to sink in. “Mrs.Valerie” I went in there and I asked who wants candy all the kids ran except her, then the kids were playing outside and I said it’s time to come in everyone came in except her, my tears began to fall I could no longer hold it in as her tears fell too. This was it my daughter couldn’t hear. I called my husband to tell him he was in denial just believing she was stubborn like him. I left the pediatric clinic and found a new one just knowing that the old clinic did not serve us. I scheduled her appointment with the ENT and it was confirmed my daughter had severe to complete hearing loss. I thank God for where I was because what if I wouldn’t have discovered this til years later. So many what if’s, but God put me exactly where I needed to be. I was at a center where the whole staff, the owner, and families reached out. Families cooked meals for us during this time, they prayed for us and it was beautiful. We were so blessed to have the love and support all around. My daughter had her surgery and got her cochlear implant. She has now been hearing for 7 years. God is so good and he does amazing work through us. I am forever grateful for everyone there at the center, the teacher and director indeed did their jobs. Trust God, put him first for his plans our bigger and greater than our plans.❤️🙏