This Monday, June 21st, concluded my second year of teaching middle school art. I can honestly say that I felt every emotion possible this year while teaching through a pandemic both virtually and in person simultaneously. Just as I encourage my students to do, I felt through those emotions and created art to process them. …
Read the full post →“How Practicing Mindfulness Transformed My Art Classroom”
Today marks Beauty in the Bayou’s 6 month anniversary and today Freedom is 18 months old! Read more to see why I published my debut book on my daughter’s birthday along with my encounter with a prophet several years ago that let me know what would happen when she was born.
I posted a new video on my YouTube channel on Sunday sharing some hard truths about motherhood. I’m talking about mom guilt which is a real thing, breastfeeding, separation anxiety, postpartum, and more. There are also a few clips of my kiddos. Check it out here! Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel so that …
This month has been one for the books as I sit and reflect on all that has come from it. On top of launching my podcast and publishing my book, I’ve grown a lot and have learned even more. I’ve also had the opportunity to come face to face with some hard truths that I’ve …
Day 5 of Self-Love
One thing that I’ve been extremely grateful for during this stay at home order is creating a new bond with my baby boy Legend. Before Freedom was born, Legend was practically glued to me. I always carried him, we were so close. I talk more about that in a past blog. Of course I thought …
As I reflect on finishing my first semester as a middle school teacher, I note that one of my greatest accomplishments is maintaining my breast milk supply for my baby girl. This isn’t my first breastfeeding journey having breastfed Jarvis Jr for 14 months and pumped milk for Legend for 4 months, but I can …
Read the full post →“What Breastfeeding Has Taught Me About Self-Care”
Jarvis and I went on a date this weekend; not just any date, we went to Walmart. We had a gracious offer for baby sitting our three children and an opportunity to get out for a few hours. Instead we both fell asleep taking mid day naps that we seldom get to do. We woke …
Legend had a great month in May! He’s gaining weight, growing taller, and controlling his episodes better when he throws up and struggles to breath. He has a new care team. He’s been doing great in therapy exceeding the expectations that his old company had set for him. He’s more alert and becoming increasingly active …
Read the full post →“My Soul Teacher Lesson #17: Delayed, Denied, or Divine?”
I pulled up to Jr.’s school on Friday. I asked him if he was going to have a good day. He said yes. There was no hesitation, tears, or hints of fear in his voice. He said, “I’m not going to cry at nap time today because you always come back to get me.” As …
Never in a million years did I expect my son to have complications with his health and have developmental delays. However I can say that I was prepared that this would be a different ride from what I was use to dating back to his time in the womb. The featured image is titled “Differences”. …
I’ve been carrying Legend for almost 2 years now. First in my womb and now in my arms. I use to carry him everywhere in a carrier before he got a g-button placed in his stomach. In the womb, he was unable to sustain his own life so I did all that I could to …
Read the full post →“My Soul Teacher Lesson #13: Carrying Grace”
It had been a long week spent in the hospital with Legend back in March after the doctors diagnosed him with lysosomal storage disease (which has changed since then, thank God.) We were all exhausted, stressed, and ready to go home. I had asked the Child Life Specialist to come in to speak with Jr. …
Read the full post →“My Soul Teacher Lesson #12: Jr. The Artist”
Welcome to Magical May! Last month for Abundant April I got to witness God’s abundant favor in a major way! Not only did I experience this favor but I also saw God’s hands working in my family and love one’s lives too. So many great things happened and I am forever grateful. I’m expecting the …
Legend started teething a few weeks ago. It’s been a challenge I must say. He’s 4 months old but get this, his first teeth that are coming in are his molars. Yes, the big ones that grow in the back. I know I earned my degree in Child Development 4 years ago and I may …
Read the full post →“My Soul Teacher Lesson #9: Greater Pain, Greater Gains”
My son is fearless He’s quite brave He jumps from the Highest of heights Knowing that he Will be saved He’s confident to try Just about anything He believes he can fly Regardless of who Can see his wings Imagine if I had the Faith that he possesses More of my no’s Would be yes …
Read the full post →“My Soul Teacher Lesson #8: The Mustard Seed”
Two months after graduating from college I was pregnant, engaged, and living in a new city. I received advice, most of it unsolicited, about what I should not do as a wife. I also heard a bit of the negative sides of marriage. While some of the advice came in handy, no one told me …
On Sunday, I washed Jarvis Jr’s hair, dyed it (per his request), combed it out, and gave him some small twist. After completing the lengthy process, I pulled out all of his hair that shed out of the comb. He saw me do this and gave me this look of terror. “Mommy is that my …
Read the full post →“My Soul Teacher Lesson #7: Just Let it Go”
Jarvis Jr. was building a tall structure with his blocks until it toppled over and the blocks came tumbling down. He got upset. I told him that his structure was too tall and that he needed to put it down on something while building instead of holding it in his hands. I started to look …
Read the full post →“My Soul Teacher Lesson #6: No Cracks in the Foundation”
Did I understand why at the time? Of course not, but it was necessary.
My baby boy, Legend, just made two months yesterday. Lately I’ve been carrying him around in a baby carrier. I’m able to put him in and the straps hold him up securely. As a result of this, I’m able to cook full meals, do laundry, clean, grocery shop with my oldest son, and more. I …
Read the full post →“My Soul Teacher Lesson #4: The Carrier”
Featured Painting: “Rage” Can I Be Honest? I feel everything so deeply right now I just want to cry My emotions are raging I want to eat a full meal Without stuffing my face I want x amount of sleep I want silence I want peace I don’t want to be touched right now …
My oldest shouted, “Mommy I want some breakfast.” “What do you want?” I asked. He answered with, “Just some plain toast.” While I was preparing the toast, he kept asking if the toast was ready. I urged him to wait a few more minutes. He began growing impatient and I began to get slightly annoyed. …
Read the full post →“My Soul Teacher Lesson #3: More Gratitude, Less Stress”
My husband was holding our baby boy a few days ago and he made the observation, “He still hasn’t stretched his legs all the way out.” My husband tried to hold baby boy away from his body to help him stretch his legs out. His legs stretched a little but quickly curled back up. My baby’s …
Last night my three-year-old asked me if he could paint. Me being a fan of creating when your heart speaks to you, quickly pulled out some newspaper, a pack of poster paint, a brush, and let him do his thing. While he was painting, he made a “mistake”. I love abstract art and I see …
Read the full post →“My Soul Teacher Lesson #1: “Blank Canvas, New Beginnings””
