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An Unprecedented Year

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  Pivot and reimagine are two words that are regularly used over the last 18 months. When I think about these words, they have signified for me positive changes in my work and personal life, but for others fear and anxiety are the feelings they invoke.  Fortunately, I have had the immediate and present support of my loved ones, who have encouraged me while I explored and embarked on new and different things for myself. Case in point, creating and writing this Blog.  I paused this week to think about those individuals whose experience of the words pivot and reimagine have not been positive. Not because they wouldn’t want it to be, but because they have not been able to mentally or emotionally support this process on their own.  Recently, I was asked to talk about something positive that I was currently experiencing. I told the group that a few weeks ago I faced my fear of heights by going tree top trekking and zip lining and I inspired them to do the same and face a fear of their own. 
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Being A Helpmate - Shan’s Take

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  “But for Adam no suitable helper could be found. So, the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, He took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man and brought her to the man.” Genesis 2: 18-22 Being a helpmate requires me as a wife to submit completely to God so that in turn I can love my husband selflessly and be a helpmate to him. God knew that man would be lonely and needed support, thus He created woman. The role of a man and a woman is different and as such both bring something unique to the relationship. My role as a helpmate entails several things which I will speak to separately. I have a calling to pray for my husband and my children. Being a helpmate means me praying for his heart, his attitude, his physical and emotional health, and that he will be a Godly leader and father in our home. My husband and I started our relationship on prayer and continu
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Helpmate

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  Two social media posts recently caught my eye. The responses to these posts caused me to pause and reflect on my own thoughts on the topic of today's blog. The first was from a well-known social media influencer named Tabitha Brown who said she was retiring her husband from his job as a police officer. She explained that due to her success she was now in a position to have her husband leave his job and pursue his dreams and interests. The second comprised of screen shots of a conversation between a couple. The woman had apparently landed a 70K a year job and after congratulating her, her boyfriend went on to state that now that she could afford to pull the weight for both of them for a while, he wanted to quit the job he hated and focus on his mental health. Apparently, he had been the main provider for the family for the past 3 years while she was working towards achieving her educational and career goals. He acknowledged that he was not in a good place, and thought that n
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Shan's Prayer Journal

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  For me, prayer is an intimate experience. I look forward to spending time with God and pouring out my heart to Him. While in prayer I can be myself; I am free to be me and completely vulnerable. In one of our daily morning prayer sessions together, Tam spoke to me about joining a 40 day prayer challenge with a few ladies. She told me that the times for the prayer would be 3pm and 10pm daily for 40 days. At first, I was thinking to myself that there was no way I would be joining at 10pm, frankly, I love my bed too much. Also, the 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon seemed somewhat unrealistic. I basically shut the idea down before I had even given it a chance. Jeremiah 29:13 says “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart”. During prayer intimacy is built with finding Him, yet still I was putting my own personal boundaries on when this should be done.   I was up watching something on Netflix on one of these nights and I became convicted in my spirit so I joi
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Praying Women- Tam’s Prayer Journey

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  'This post is dedicated to the Beautiful and Prayerful Women of the 40 Day Prayer Challenge Circle at Lite Your Path' Praying was something I only did in private, until Shan invited me to become a part of a small prayer group of women . For as long as I can remember I always made an effort to pray but didn’t think I was particularly good at it. I was able to communicate exactly what I needed and gave my thanks, but I certainly did not believe I had the language that denoted a good prayer. I learned through that initial group of women that praying was simply and easily a heartfelt conversation with my maker and I became more confident in my prayers and my ability to pray not only for myself but also for others.  Recently, without having a particular reason, I decided to participate in a 40 Day Prayer Challenge with another small group of women. This 40-day challenge was guided by the Devotional, Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson, and this experience was life changing. Througho
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Shan's Take on Making Memories

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  Making Memories   Fry Fish, Oxtail, Curry Goat, Jerk Pork, Rice and Peas, Lasagna, Mannish water soup; these were only a few of the dishes we had at family get togethers. Aunty Paulette and Mommy Rose would be busy in the kitchen preparing, while we talked, laughed and spent time together as a family. We took advantage of every opportunity to be together in this way. Yes, it is a lot of work but the joy that comes with spending time with family and creating these memories is priceless. Uncle Mike always has some jokes and someone was always announcing a pregnancy, engagement, marriage or some other significant life event. Everything came to a full stop with COVID.   Social gatherings have become a foreign concept and we have moved our lives to zoom. You never really know what you have until it's gone. I miss squeezing family members without the fear of getting COVID, or just hanging out by Aunty after dinner until 1am in the morning. At our last Christmas Dinner in 2019
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Creating Memories - Tam’s Take

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  There are so many things I remember from my childhood. Everyday simple things that were a part of the picture of my life. I remember the Croton plant on the verandah of my childhood home, and the first dog my family had, a huge black German Shepherd named Flip. I also remember quite fondly the days I ran reckless outside with my neighbours, who I considered my sisters and brothers.  I played dandy shandy, cricket and doll house with dolls made from soda bottles and grass for the hair. Children programs on Television came on for 1 hour weekdays between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. and Saturday mornings between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. This was when the only TV station we had in the island started their broadcast on weekdays at 4:00 p.m. and ran only for 12 hours at a time before signing off. There was no Internet, no video games, no tablet or computer, at least I did not have them. The only tablets we knew were the ones you took for a headache or other ailments. The other memories I have are of
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