What's In For 2010?

What are you doing this New Year's Eve?

This New Year's Eve I will be quietly celebrating and thanking God for helping me through a tough year. But looking back on things I accomplished more than a little this year and anxiously await whats to come with wide eyes. (Those that know me, know I always have a story to tell, LOL). Let's see what chapter I will write next year.

My wish for the New Year is simple. I want to embrace my future full force. The start of a New Year brings about a breath of fresh air, a chance to revive the aspects of your life you once thought passed on.

I wish you all a safe and happy 2010. May the new year bring answers to questions, light where there was hope, love where there was hate, and joy where there was pain.

See you next year.

Love Janelle

Merry Chirstmas

Wishing you all a safe and Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Open Prayer to God

It takes a little voice to remind you things will work out.

Dear God,

I come to you with my heart in your hand and I am not calling you to ask why anymore

I am calling you because I know you are the one I can count on to always pick up when I ring.

You’ll listen to me without that judgmental look

You’ll allow me to cry as many times as I need to without thinking I am too sensitive.

I remember we talked a few days ago and I swore I was doing just fine, but I’m back

I don’t mean to bug you, although I know you won’t mind

Truth is, it hurts

Truth is, I can’t do it alone

Truth is I need…

Well God I really need…I need YOU

I need you Lord to guide me and hear my calls

It’s amazing how wonderful I feel after we talk

We can chat for hours and I am never at a loss for words

I know, I know…I talk too much

But you’re just such a good listener and I know you hear me

Well, God I have to go now

Duty calls, I have to give someone else your number, I hope you don’t mind

If they don’t call you today, just wait for their call

They will definitely call you after I tell them what you told me

God I love you and our conversations…Talk with you soon.

Prayer Written and Spoken By Janelle Wade

Making it Through This Holiday Season

The Holidays can be a difficult time for many people. Those that have lost loved ones, the homeless, the poor, the sick, and the lonely. Sometimes we forget that people around us are silently suffering through what should be the happiest time of the year.

Holidays are filled with joy and cheer, parties and gifts, and most importantly friends and family. So how do you cope through this blissful season when something in your life is surely missing?

I can say that I have managed through all of the situations above, with difficulty of course, but more importantly with strength and the grace of God. I remember not having a dime to my name and no real place to call home one Christmas. It was a very sad time for me. The thought of Christmas gave me a sense of isolation and a queasy feeling to my stomach. Instead of allowing the feeling to overcome me, I made some adjustments. I remember buying a plant and making decorations from notebook paper to attach to it to call “my Christmas tree”. It wasn’t much but it brightened the table of the dingy hotel room that was called home. I can’t say what I ate that year, but I do know it was a humbling experience. I never looked at the Holidays the same again.

You see the season isn’t about what you have or what you can give monetarily; it is about how you allow God into your heart. Without prayer and hope I don’t know where I’d be. Hope is a powerful trait to possess. Having hope, and the belief that situations will get better are the ends to all mean when you are down on life. The constant belief that God will help you through, leads for a brighter day and a new beginning. I know it may sound cliché and sometimes hard to understand, but it is true that if God bought you to it, he will lead you through it, you simply have to listen

The lonely are often overlooked because the shear emotion of being lonely is something that doesn’t have to physically display itself to the world. Rather it is something a person could be holding inside. An invite to a Christmas dinner or holiday party could be all that someone needs to help make that day easier. While some people that are dealing with depression choose to be alone, others yearn for a sense of acceptance. When you are healing through a rough time, it is natural to cry and feel alone. One way to take your mind off the pain is to surround yourself with people that love you as much you love them. If you don’t have anyone like this in your life, it is a great idea to volunteer to help others (if you have the capability). Volunteer at a homeless shelter, send a child a gift, or help an elderly neighbor wrap Christmas gifts. Initially it may be difficult to go and you may want to stay at home and feel your pain, but once you are out and about your mind won’t feel as cluttered.

Life difficulties can be overwhelming, but remember the Holidays are just another week and this too shall pass.

Happy Holidays and a Bright New Year
With Love, Janelle

My Hopes for the Future

I have been contemplating my wants over the past week. I have never focused on what is that I want in life. I have always focused on making sure others around me were happy and taken care of. But these last few years have taught me that it is more important to take care of myself first in order to take care of others.

My hopes for the future are simple, yet so complicated. I want to be happy. Truly happy. I don't need riches or material things to accomplish this I just need to tune the channel on ME. I have never been selfish before, so I can't wait to see what it feels like.

Aloe Vera Juice

Aloe vera juice is claims to be a cure all. I recently stop by the health food store and it was recommended that I try aloe vera juice for digestive issues and all over health. I had tried aloe vera juice in the past with failed results, so I was a bit hesitant. At any rate I tried it again. I have been drinking 6- 8 oz of aloe vera juice each morning mixed with juice and I love the result so far. My digestive system is loving it and my skin is glowing. Not to mention I have lost about 7 pounds of store water weight. If you don't know about aloe vera juice then I suggest you research its healing powers and benefits.

Crossed and Braided

This weeks hair style is a new one for me to try out. The pictures are not that great, but the hair is crossed and braid into each other. She has eight braids and I used EO leave in conditioner and of course my jojoba and sweet almond oil mixture. I will see if this last me at least 3 days...I pray it does. Again remember the key to maintaining the hair style is allow the little one to sleep in a satin bonnet.

Xmas Wish List

On my wish list this year is a clear and full heart.

EO Conditioner

I'm in love with a new product. (Seriously this time, LOL).

I waited for awhile before I reviewed this product, but I had to share. I absolutely loveeeeeeeeeee this stuff.

The ingredients are as follows:

Purified Water, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Olive (Olea Europaea) Oil, Organic Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) Oil, Organic Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Oil, Behenalkonium Chloride (and) Cetyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Quinoa Protein, Hibiscus (Rosa Sinensis) Extract, Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica) Extract, Hair Nourishing Complex [Papaya Fruit Extract, Evening Primrose (Oenothera Biennis) Flower Extract, Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) Extract, Pomegranate (Punica Granatum) Extract], EO® Essential Oil Blend [Lavender (Lavandula Officinalis) Essential Oil, Lavandin (Lavandula Hybrida) Essential Oil], EO® Organic Herbal Blend [Organic Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis),Organic Chamomile (Matricaria Recutita) Extract, Organic Calendula (Calendula Officinalis) Extract, and Organic White Tea (Camelia Sinensis) Leaf Extract], Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Organic Lecithin, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Sodium Phytate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin

I have used it to do braid outs on both wet and damp natural hair. I use a large amount as a leave-in conditioner and let a little cool water (a stream) run through my hair to distribute the product, after I let it air dry about 60% and I style.

I use it for wet buns and most recently I used it on my flat ironed hair to set my rollers. Awwwwwwwww I am amazed at how soft my hair feels. The product is so light weight it is perfect for my fine hair. It is non-greasy and very moisturizing. During this time that my hair is flat ironed I have been using a dime sized amount on the ends of my hair and sealing with a drop of sweet almond oil and then roller setting my hair at night in a high ponytail. On a scale of 1-5 this product gets a 5+. I will try the other products in the EO line after the holidays and review those later. But for now this is definitely a keeper.

Letting Go Phase 3 “Finding Yourself”

Finding yourself through pain can be difficult. When we are hurt we internalize the pain and somehow view the person actions as a reflection of who we are. But in reality their behavior is what is wrong and not you as a person.

Children are placed in time out for their bad behavior, but as adults, people tend to believe that their actions don’t deserve punishment. More times than not they even justify their own bad behavior by belittling the other person. Ego, pride, self esteem, etc. all play a key role in how the guilty party reacts in a situation. It is simple to place the blame on the other person rather than admitting and apologizing for their wrong actions.

In a time of hurt and despair it is easy to absorb hurtful words and believe in some way you deserved to be mistreated. Although it is easier said than done, to move pass this stage of letting go, underneath all the pain is the truth. Find who you are and have always been and do not allow anyone to change that. If you are a kind, gentle, and caring person continue to be that person. Society tends to view loving people as weak, but it takes far more strength to be graceful and loving than it does to be cruel and malicious.

Do not worry about what others may think, because in the end you know the truth and that is what has to hold you together in order to move forward.