Itz Holistically Wholesome

I needed a refreshing reminder, so I took a break. Life can sometimes become overwhelming and burdensome. But I guess that’s just a part of what it means to be on a journey for which you do not know what tomorrow holds. We can plan as much as we like, but there are no guarantees since we do not have the keys to life, death, or things. So since we do not know what is next, we can only hope for the very best, mainly because our Creator promises that he has great plans for our future, plans of prosperity, hope, and favor.

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

A few weeks back, I felt my dreams were not manifesting as I thought they would, and hopelessness and frustration began creeping into my mind and heart. I felt miserable and just wanted things to make sense. I also felt physically and mentally exhausted. My faith was tested during this time, and I thought it best to take some time to gather myself. Of course, it is easier to profess strong faith when things are going well, meaning you are gainfully employed and have a roof over your head and food on your table. But the most authentic expression of faith in God comes when you have little or nothing or have lost it all and have to rely solely on God and believe even though you cannot see a way out of your situation.

 My family and I suffered a massive setback due to decisions that we made and believed to be in our best interest. We decided to hold to our convictions no matter what. As a result, my husband and I lost our jobs, health benefits, and comfort that we were enjoying at the time. In addition, I could not continue my educational pursuits as no organization affiliated with my school would allow me to do my clinical. So basically, most things were at a standstill for us. We were now living on our savings, which began to dwindle quickly. The bills were getting too much, and we had to learn to readjust quickly. Since we wanted to live an honest and faith-driven life, weathering this storm was something we had to do. It’s been the most challenging period we had to go through as a family, but we adjust daily and thank God for caring for our needs. It’s been almost two years with no significant changes, and like Job, we are holding fast, working, and waiting because we believe that God will restore us to a better place than before.

Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

I wish I could say next that my faith is rock solid, but that would be untrue. I sometimes waiver in my faith, and since it’s hard to please God without faith, I had to dig deep because I aim to please and obey Him. I am a work in progress, but I can safely say that I have seen the hands of God working things out for our good. Now that I have been strengthened and refreshed, I want to get back to doing meaningful things to me. 

I miss being here, but I promised myself that whatever I write here must be from the most sincere place, not solely for the heck of it. I aim to add something valuable every time I post on this platform hence being in the best state of mind is necessary.

What else is up?

Bye, bye freshman

My eldest has completed her first year in college as a Computer Science Major. Calculus I was challenging, and one of her tests left her in tears. However, my daughter is a quick learner and passes exams with flying colors without much studying. She thought it would be the same in college but now realizes there are just some things she must put more time and effort into. I am happy she overcame it and will take Calculus II this summer. 

Bye, bye Kindergarten

My son’s kindergarten era is approaching its end, with less than three weeks left in the school year. His sisters and I attended his “Feild Day” at school, and all had a great time. So naturally, I am a bit nervous at how fast he is growing up, but I am excited to see his future.

Baby Emmah-Rose is nine months old.

My baby turned nine months old on May 28th. She is an energetic little girl who loves to climb and get herself into things that she has no business getting into. Her first set of teeth has grown, and she enjoys eating fresh homemade foods. She can also feed herself finger foods. Also, her favorite song is “The Wheels On The Bus.” She is saying Dada, Mama, up and clapping and learning to wave hi or bye (not sure because it’s the same action for both). Emmah-Rose now holds both hands up to indicate that she wants to be picked up. She puts everything in her mouth; hence we are always on high alert. However, I cannot wait to see what she will do during her ninth months period.

Summer Deck Garden in Full Swing

I love this time of year, warm weather, because it means growing fruits and vegetables in my deck garden. We have planted white potatoes and callaloo outdoors and will plant cucumbers and tomatoes this week. The berries bloom, and we have already begun to enjoy the succulent June-bearing strawberries. I am anticipating that our harvest will be bountiful.

Stay-at-Home Mom (SAHM)

Genesis 50:20 – “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, saving of many lives.”

I will start by saying that God has blessed me with a husband who is not particular about what he has to do to provide for his family’s needs. He will do it whether the job is menial or prestigious; as long as it is an honest way to earn a living, he will do it.

Motherhood is my ultimate joy. I have always desired to be at home with my children, especially during the first year of their lives, and was able to for all three. I am enjoying being a stay-at-home mom and homemaker for the most part. Losing my job was more of a blessing because I now have unlimited and uninterrupted time with my children. I am available for school activities. For the entire semester, I dropped my eldest to and from school, saving her the hassle of a long commute on public transportation. Whenever my son’s school calls, and this happens several times for me, to pick him up early from school, I can do so. I get to see my children off to school and am here to receive them when they get home. 

My misfortune allowed me to have my now nine-month-old daughter, but not only that; I get to care for her during the most critical stages of her life. I know I would be miserable if I had to leave her for work at a young age. So while many personal and financial setbacks have arisen, I focused on God’s blessings. Whether or not I will return to work depends on several factors, and I will address them when it comes.

What I want you all to take away from this is that life is full of uncertainties; things do not always go how we expect them to. The decisions we make may be challenging and the consequences tremendous, but remember that there are no doors in your life that God opens that anyone can shut, and if God allows that door to be closed, it is for a good reason, even though you cannot see it. Trust and believe He will restore you several folds once you are faithful.

Be blessed and stay encouraged.