Reinventing Myself - Lasting Legacy

Leaving a lasting legacy for my children is one of the main reasons for Reinventing Myself.  


Psalm 127:3-4 (MSG) says, 

"Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?  Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth."

My obedience, trust, and faith in God lived out, live and in color has already began to set the example for them.  They will be able to draw from the strength and courage that God has bestowed upon me to accomplish extraordinary things.  


One thing that sticks out so vividly in my mind, is hearing Joshua say, "Momma I wish you could eat lunch with me and pick me up from school everyday."  That statement from a 5 year old can really tug a momma's heart strings!  I began to wonder how can I make that happen.  


It's amazing how God intricately alines our lives.  That's why it is essential to life to know what God has purposed for you.  God had opened a few doors of opportunity for me.  Each one of these opportunities were in sync with what God has called me to do.   So I decided to take the LEAP.  


Now between loads of laundry, I look for legacy moments.  Instead of rushing to fold the clothes so that I could move on to the next task, I take the time to teach my daughter Victoria how to fold a towel and match mates to socks.  Instead of just being UFC referee for the Murdock Showdowns, I teach them what it means to respect & love each other.  


Our children are a gift from God, not burdens.  We must take time from our busy lives and ensure that our "arrows" when released will hit the mark.   Loving and caring for our children is one of the main ways we honor God and share in the building of His kingdom.
   
~Demetria

Reinventing Myself: Thriving Instead of Just Barely Surviving

WPPI Retreat Painting

A few weeks ago, I decided to attach some legs to my faith and take a huge leap towards my dreams!  I left a well paid, "secure", and comfy job in order to live out the purpose that God has placed in my heart.  I've taken early retirement from the status quo to pursue my passion of journeying with others as they discover their God purpose.  So you may be thinking, "This girl is crazy leaving a good paying job in today's economy."  But what I began to realize over the last few years is that that place where I use to be comfortable and fit in was starting to become uncomfortable and like a round peg trying to fit into a square hole. :) Yeah, I know I got that metaphor backwards but I'm round not square. I realized I had put myself in a box.  My creativity had been lost and I didn't know where I had left it. I just recently finished reading "Drop Like Stars" by Rob Bell.  He says, 


"And then there are those who think and feel and live and create from a different place.  They've had their boxes smashed and their insulators dismantled until they had no other option but to imagine a totally new tomorrow." 


All of the little life boxes I had created for myself like having 2.5 kids and living in the house with the with the white picket fence were all crushed when our first son was born with Trisomy 18 (Edward's Syndrome).  There we were in December of 2002, a few days before Christmas, standing eyeball-to-eyeball with the unknown. Trying to figure out why God gave us this sweet, special little boy to raise.  But it was through our son's birth & death 4 years later and 3 more beautiful babies, that God gave me a Hope in Jesus Christ that would never fade. 


It is from that place where I got up the courage to "cross the Red Sea as if it were dry land" in order to leave that place of comfort and security called a job.  It is from that place where I learned to kick fear and doubt out the window and truly begin walking by faith.   You see, your faith has legs and it wants to walk and not be carried like a baby.  

It is from this place that I am leaving the familiar, expecting the impossible, accomplishing the unattainable, and pursuing passion with purpose.  Yes, there are lots of what if's... What if it doesn't work?...What if I totally fail?...So what!  


This I do know. Ephesians 3:17-20 tells us to Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.  It tells us to Reach out and experience the breadth of Christ's love, test its length, plumb the depths, and rise to the heights! 


If you want to live life to its fullest, find your God-ordained purpose, and begin thriving instead of just surviving, I invite you to journey with me over the next few days, weeks, & months as I walk out my mountain moving faith, transforming, reinventing myself.   

Tre' Bear Project - Sharing the Love of Christ

Having a child in the hospital can be tough on a family, but imagine having to be there during the holidays. My family and I have experienced this first hand. On December 22, 2002, our son Tre’ was born with Edward’s Syndrome and given only days to live. From that moment, our lives changed forever. We were in and out of the hospital at least 2 or 3 times a year. Our son passed away on March 30, 2007 after losing his battle with liver cancer. His determination and will to live is what has led us to give hope to others during Christmas by giving away teddy bears. 

In 2007 we started the TRE' Bear Project.  Our supporters donated 50 "Champ" bears from the Build-A-Bear Workshop to the children at Hemby Children's Hospital at Presbyterian in Charlotte, NC.  

This year was very special for us because we actually re-connected with one of the recipients of the bears.  Her name is Morgan.  She has an awesome testimony about how we touched her life and she now works at the Build-A-Bear store!  


Morgan's Story: 

I was 16 years old and had to spend my christmas break at the hospital. During my week there I had friends and family coming and supporting me, holding my hand every step of the way. I had been broken down, exhausted and all I wanted to do was to be home and with my family on christmas. It was on my 3rd day at the hospital that Demetria came in with this Champ Build-a-Bear, in memory of her lost son. The bear had patches over the body and a heartbeat in its chest that thumped when pressed on. It wasn't until I read the excerpt, within the tag of the bear, that I grasped the importance this bear brought. The blurb about the Champ bear explained that each patch on his body represented a struggle he had to overcome and that it is okay to show your hurting wether it be on the inside or outside. It was about 15 minutes after Demetria and her friend had left that tears started down my face, It was such a relief knowing that we will go through hard times but it makes us who we are. The next day I was being sent home, on Christmas Eve. I remember sitting in the back seat holding on to the bear as tight as possible, thanking God for giving me the strength to go home.

I wish I could say that was my last trip to the hospital but unfortunately it was not. I have had 3 hospital visits since then and every single time, Champ was by my side. Every hard day at school or every fight with a friend, I squeezed Champ and knew it was just another patch to add to my fur, so to speak. And to this day whenever I look at my Champ bear it reminds me never to give up no matter how stressful or painful a situation may be, and to be thankful for all the struggles I have been though because they make me the person I am today.

Demetria, It is so very hard for me to put into words how much your gift has meant to me. I hope my testimony has given you a slight idea. I am very thankful of what you have done. If you ever need any help please let me know I would be more then happy to give back to someone even a portion of what you have given me.


This truly shows us the power of the Love of Jesus and how sharing it with others can have a significant impact on someone's life.  


Check out the article: http://www.heraldonline.com/109/story/1803553.html


Demetria