GRABB'S 4TH ANNUAL FINALIST RECIPIENT...

Grand Rapids Area Black Business (GRABB) announced its The Black Bottom Community Builder Finalists November 2016. This award recognizes individuals, groups or organizations that works tirelessly, passionately and collectively to help make our community a better place. On November 18th the award will be announced at the GRABB 4th Annual Black Market Awards Banquet. The finalists are Linc Up, S.T.A.R.S., and Life Quest Ministries. 

CONGRATULATIONS S.T.A.R.S. - SISTERS TAKING ACTION REVERSING STATISTICS on this remarkable recognition!

Be Proactive And Not Reactive!

I have always been athletic but one day, I started losing focus of my eating habits and was not really working out. It was not until I went to the doctor one day and he told me that I had high cholesterol. Then he hit me with the big bug! That it was hereditary and that I would be on medication for the rest of my life! The crazy part is how he looked at me. He said that my cholesterol levels were so high and so low that he was surprised I had not already had a heart attack!

I immediately went into panic mode. I have a husband and kids. What will they do without me if something happens? I begin to pray and then heard God say, did you hear what the doctor said! He was surprised that you have not already had a heart attack! Did you not realized how I have kept you! I will continue to keep you but you have to put in work too!

It was then that I decided not to accept the doctor’s report! This is not hereditary!

We Have not because we Ask Not

Shouts out to all the moms who just make it happen, those that are not afraid to ask questions, or go against the grain! I really wanted to participate in a race, but I had class. It was a local race and it was for a great cause, the Salvation Army Kroc Center. The 5k is a community event. Proceeds from the race support the scholarship fund, which provides $120,000 in scholarships annually to help families participate in recreational programs. In 2014, Dash Down Division raised over $5,000! I had class. I could not miss it and my girlfriends were packing up and heading out without me (I had to throw that part in). I thought to myself, I want to support this cause, I want the bling (yes, I run for bling) and other than this class it worked for me and my daughter's schedule. Basketball was over and we needed some mommy and daughter time. To make a long story short, I enlisted a runner gal pal to get the message to the race director in my absence! To my surprise, he replied with a YES! After class I headed to the location (I had packed my clothes just in case), had my husband meet me with my daughter dressed and we ran our 3.12 miles and collected our bling. Our first mommy & daughter virtual race. I am so glad I did not let fear or embarrassment get in the way! You never know what shiny treasure may wait! ;-)

Everyday is NOT Easy!

Everyday isn't easy. Run at least one mile a day- a fitness streak/goal for March. It sounds easy but after working all day, girl scout troop meeting, washing hair, combing two heads of hair, One MILE WAS the furthest thing from my mind. I figured my 4-day streak was over. Training called for 6 miles. I just didn't have it in me. I thought about how I push my students in fitness classes to their limits.