The month of May was a month of celebrations for me! I’m still basking in the birthday blessings and well wishes in honor of my 60th Birthday and 30th Year in Preaching Ministry. In addition to celebrating me, I celebrated my daughter’s Ariel’s graduation from The Ohio State University Master of Music in Choral Conducting on May 7, 2023! I also celebrated with my sister, Yolonda Griffin’s 55th Birthday in a 7 Day Alaskan Cruise which was amazing!
Read MoreThe month of May is an interesting month for many people. For me, May is the month of my birth which is always a reason to celebrate. May is the month when flowers begin to bloom decorating trees and bushes with beautiful colors and scents. In the South, where I live, many schools and colleges conclude their academic year with parties, proms, awards, commencement, and graduation ceremonies.
Read MoreSince travel is one of the ways I’m celebrating my 60th birthday, it fits well with my goal to complete the 50-state half-marathon challenge. My most recent half-marathon was hosted in Eufaula, Alabama. We ran a course in the beautiful Yolo Micco, The Creek Indian Trail, surrounded by beautiful trees along the Eufaula River. One of the things I enjoy most about running marathons is the opportunity to meet new and amazing people.
Read MoreIn my February blog post, I shared concerning the significance of 2023 being a milestone year, celebrating 60 years of life, 30 years of ministry and marriage. As I write this March blog post, I’m sitting in my hotel room near Table Mountain, a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa.
Read MoreMany people adopt a power word as they begin a new year. Often it is a word that defines their mind-set and focus for the coming year. During the final weeks of 2022, I began searching for a word that would characterize 2023.
Read MoreAs I write this blog post, I’m sitting in my seat on a Delta Airline flight to Aruba, looking out the window at a clear sky above me and a bed of clouds beneath me. I’m buckled in my seat with my headphones plugged into the Delta stereo system, listening to the Peaceful Piano Mix, lost in my own thoughts. I’m thinking about all this year means for me. It’s a milestone year, filled with many reasons to celebrate.
Read MoreThanksgiving is one of most celebrated holidays among American families. The Thanksgiving Day tradition is so embedded in American culture that many travel agencies and departments of transportation report having more travelers in the air and on the roads during the Thanksgiving weekend than any other holiday in the calendar year.
Read MoreI saw a meme on social media this week that read, “There comes a point in Life, when you realize that nothing will ever be the same, and you realize that from now on, time will be divided in two parts – before this and after this.” I can relate to this truth, having experienced major life changes in the past 2 years.
Read MoreI recently planted a garden as part of my grief recovery and self-care. It has been a one of the most rejuvenating practices for my mind, body, and spirit. Gardening involves a process of nurturing and cultivating the ground in my yard to grow flowers and plants.
Read More“Life is a series of new beginnings.” This statement rang true for me during a recent conversation with my husband. We were discussing the current season of our marriage as empty nesters and the recent deaths of our mothers. On May 28, 2021, my mother, Margaret G. Baker, passed away. On July 17, 2022, (14 months later) his mother, Dolores M. Alvarado passed away. While our lives are busy with personal pursuits, ministry, and business ventures, being hands-on parents, and active caregivers, has given us a sense of joy and purpose.
Read MoreOn July 4th I participated in an Atlanta tradition, the infamous Peachtree Road Race. I ran this race many times prior to my foot surgery and had not run it in several years. This year I put the Peachtree Road Race on my agenda when I decided to do an organized race each month as a part of my marathon training.
Read MoreIf you know me, you know that I am all things women. Yet, I realize how important it is to empower the men in our lives. The World Health Organization reports, the average U.S. female outlives the average U.S. male by five years.
Read MoreThe spring and fall seasons happen to be my favorite of the four seasons. As I think about the seasons changing, I am always excited about what each season will bring. During the spring season, the temperature rises above freezing, leaves and trees transform from the brush gold and orange colors of the fall season to vibrant green and lively bright colors of the spring.
Read MoreLast year, after my mother’s cancer reoccurred, I began thinking about the finiteness of life. I started thinking about personal dreams and goals that I had yet to complete. One of those dreams is to run a full marathon. I had allowed a corrective foot surgery in 2017 to stop me from pursuing this dream. Although I continued to exercise regularly, walk and hike, I was living in a comfort zone as it pertained to running. After Mom passed on May 28, 2021, I decided to go back and pick up my dream to run a full marathon.
Read MoreMarch is National Women’s History Month. Often women keep silent about their history, and many suffer with feelings of unworthiness because of painful events of their past. Even when we have accomplishments for which we can be proud, some women are less likely to share for fear they will be perceived as aggressive, overbearing or even worse, being the target of another woman’s envy or jealousy.
Read MoreFebruary is American Heart Health Month, a time when we are educated and encouraged to focus on cardiovascular health. The human heart is one the most significant organs of the human body and affects the healthy function of every major system in the body.
Read MoreRecently I purchased a Peloton bike for my home gym to take my fitness routine to the next level. Often while riding with Tunde Oyeneyin, she challenges me to go beyond levels where I function with ease and comfort. When she pushes the class, she shouts, “Take the Challenge!”
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