I Have a Dream for Queens
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This poem is dedicated to all the young princesses who will grow up to be queens. It is inspired by the incredible advocate and game changer, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I have a dream…
I have a crazy dream. One that screams the screams of little girls, lost in false identities and lacking basic queen amenities like strength, dignity, strategy, and creativity.
Perhaps these have been hidden due to life circumstances, which blind young girls from opportunities and happen stances.
Happen stances of growing up without a father’s love to embrace her self-esteem. Growing up ashamed of the color of her skin, causing her face to look mean.
I have a dream….
I have a crazy dream of little girls understanding their worth. Outside of their girth. The size of their breasts and their butts not being a factor, but the brain being the X Factor.
I dream of little girls growing up knowing the difference between a princess and a mistress. Believing that she’s more than sloppy seconds or thirds. More than some irrational adult’s words of downtroddeness and frown clouding bliss.
I dream of a day when little girls wear crowns, not frowns. They wear crowns, not faces full of makeup at twelve, looking like clowns. I dream of a day when what we look like is a reflection of what we feel like. I dream that we feel royal…from princess to queen.
I have a dream…
I have a dreams that princesses grow up to be queens. Not just be queens, but act like queens. Stack green like queens. Follow dreams that scheme to change the world…girl. You’re a queen.
See, the world told you that you needed to minaj like Niki and dance like Bey to be somebody. No shade, because they’ve mastered who they are by far. Much respect.
But here’s the problem. Music taught you that the best thing about you was your ability to control a man with what’s between your legs. But, I beg of you. That’s not right. Yea, I said it.
That’s not right! What’s right is what’s between your ears. A beautiful masterpiece of a brain. Hand crafted by a King, who by the way has your DNA; He was your Daddy all along. He has been singing you sweet songs and He longs to be with you.
What’s right is your creativity and your capacity to strategize for nations, ruling in your domain; your purpose. What’s your domain? Well only your Creator knows that, so ASK.
But know this. Your were created for such a time as this. What time is it? It’s time to help young girls take back their identity. To grab a hold of every bit of their self esteem.
To realize that they are so much more than the world has molded them to be. It’s time to dispel the lies of false identity, trying to be someone you don’t even know to be true.
Queens, it’s time to be you. It’s time to unleash. It’s time to let out the lioness, that some might call a beast. But, don’t hold back.
Shout from the mountains of conversations, to hills of social media. In classrooms all over the world, let your voice be louder than media. Let your image and how you carry yourself be an essay to the nations, that your brain and your tongue is a treasure to be used, not to trampled upon by the world’s dictations. Let your life be a truth dissertation.
Let Freedom Ring! Let Freedom Ring! Let the Freedom of your destiny RING.
Leave a Legacy. Live your truth….Like Queens…
Do you have a dream?
-Dr. Eboni Bell
WEARY
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Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
WEARY WOMAN
Are you tired of being tired? Bombarded with others’ problems? Do you find yourself constantly trying to fix everyone’s “stuff”? Do you easily get burdened when you hear about someone’s problem and immediately become the fixer?
If you answered any of these questions, you may be on your way to becoming WEARY., but God is saying REST.
As loving and caring human beings, it is natural to sympathize and empathize with those we care about. In fact, I’ve found myself crying from watching strangers on television or at the movies because my heart connected with a situation or circumstance presented on a screen. It is a natural reaction to see a problem and begin to search through the atoms of your brain to find “help” (a solution).
I want to propose to you that we have a very present help. That help is God. I know that you want to help others. I know that you feel what others feel. I know that you want to be there for them, and that is a good thing. There are times when God leads us to physically DO something to help someone. But there are many other times that we are to give that burden to the Lord, immediately. When we try to step in and be God, we may be limiting someone else’s process with the Lord. For example, if I always step in to save someone financially, emotionally, or physically, how will that person see God’s power? I am not saying that God can not work through you, but I am saying to be wise. Pray first, give hugs, and ask God for strategy. Ask God how you can help. Here are some ways we can help without over doing it, trying to be someone’s God, or giving something that we don’t even really have.
-Listen and Allow Them to Cry/Vent
-Take Them Out to Lunch
-Buy Them a Nice Card
-Pray on Their Behalf
-Fast About Their Situation With Them
-Help Them Shift Their Thinking to the Positive Things
-Check on Them and Follow Up
-Be a Support
-Offer Wisdom Through the Word
-LOVE THEM
Love does not always require you to DO something. Many times, it requires you to just BE. Sometimes, people just need someone to be there. In the midst of your being there, do not take on something that you were never meant to take on. This….is how we become WEARY..
Rest and allow the harvest of God’s faithfulness be revealed in their lives just like God revealed it in your life. Let them have their encounter with the Lord without you blocking their view of the Lord by always trying to “save” them. TRUST God. He knows everything. He candle handle much more than we can. Be refreshed in truth. God is able…
THANKS FOR READING AND I PRAY THAT THIS BLOG ENCOURAGED AND STRENGTHENED YOU! LEAVE ME A COMMENT AND PLEASE SHARE WITH SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO HEAR THIS. xoxo #DrEbInsires #AllThingsWoman
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BEAUTIFUL DISASTER
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“Beautiful Disaster” by Artist, Eboni Bell Follow I Dream in Color Art on Facebook to view more artwork.
Sometimes, as women, we get so caught up in what we “think” we are supposed to be doing. We walk around with our Superwoman cape on all the time, when sometimes, we want to walk around with absolutely nothing on. A t-shirt and panties and the most! lol I’m here to encourage you that it really is OKAY. You can do just that, and in fact, you should throw you a batch of cookies in the over, pour you a glass of wine, and watch your favorite movie. Mine is “Coming to America”. Sometimes, you’ve got to just put everything down and enjoy the moment of craziness, disorder, and UNDONE. Here is what I learned this week.
This has been a crazy week, but with God’s grace, I got through it! Dinner was awesome, boys down for the night, message for Saturday is complete…but all the laundry is not done and neither is my “to do” list. This week’s lesson…it really is ok to have some “t”‘s not crossed and some “i”‘s not dotted. Being a woman, wife, mother, entrepreneur, and minister is BY FAR not easy, but with some help, wisdom, prayer, and a few things on the back burner, it is possible. As long as my family is straight, my most important ministry assignment is on point.
Just wanted to share in hopes to encourage someone to just ENJOY THE MOMENT OF CHAOS. Life is sometimes just a beautiful disaster…
Thanks for visiting ALL THINGS WOMAN BLOG and feel free to leave a comment telling us how you enjoy those crazy moments of UNDONE.
The Struggle is Real
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Photo By Strikingly Odd Media
The above photo is a true juxtaposition. You see me, gazing out of the window, peaceful and serene, pondering what this season of my life will be like, as I hold my newborn son, David. As the photo was being taken by our photographer at our home, my three year old son, Ronald was crying in the background and my husband was juggling the scene of watching us take the pictures, helping with props for the photos, taking orders from me, and tending to our toddler. All while I think to myself…this is a true adventure. My husband and I just look at each other with a sarcastic smile. Picture that!
I quietly try to zone out at times, wondering when I will sleep again, trying not to complain, but wondering what I’ve gotten myself into (insert “confused” emoticon). My toddler insists on watching YouTube on my phone, which has recently used most of our cell phone data, and since the baby was born, his potty training has taken the back burner, partially because of his anxiety, and partially because our ours. Not to mention, the almost impossible effort to show everyone in your house some attention. And for get about that hour you used to use to give yourself a home mani and pedi in order to save a few dollars that could go towards groceries or formula. No, I didn’t breast feed…it was too much for me. Date night? Wearing heels? The hair appointment every two weeks. Talking on the phone? Nope… Oh, don’t mind me; I’m just venting….
I love my sons to the moon and back. I’m still in awe that God would allow me to have two sons! Having two children is by far the most joyous, crazy, exciting, frustrating, satisfying, did I say CRAZY adventure ever. I’ve juggled many things at once in my past, normally keeping the objects of work, school, sports, business ventures, ministry, hobbies, and social life all in the air with nothing falling. However, being a sane woman, loving wife, present mother, determined dreamer, and first lady of a church is the epitome of honor and simultaneous struggle…The struggle is REAL.
Every part of me must be nurtured in order to maintain and have something to offer. While that sounds great, and politically correct in mommy world, it’s not always possible to be whole in every area. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a great goal, but not always realistic. In the past, I would say that it takes an extravagant amount of balance, prayer, and perseverance to do all that it takes for us to be a virtuous woman. But, I’ve recently embraced a new level of honesty with myself, and today, I say to the Mommy reading this: “Sometimes you just have to put one of the objects in your juggling act down. Gather yourself. Scream. Cry. Pray if you can. Then, pick it back up when you can. Do whatever you need to do to survive the moment.” THE STRUGGLE IS REAL…AND NOT TO BE DIMINISHED OR IGNORED!
Now, that’s honest!
My newborn is waking up now. 🙂
Gotta go! Thanks for visiting the All Things Woman Blog. Please feel free to leave some crazy, honest comments below.
Don’t forget! Put something down
Giving Birth
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Photo Credit: Strikingly Odd Media
Giving birth is more than a notion. The birthing I speak of is natural and spiritual. When you are impregnated with a dream, a vision, a purpose…the conception is not always easy, the carrying is definitely not easy, and giving birth is beyond description. There are no words to describe the process of giving birth. But, I will try…
I am officially 9 months pregnant with my second son, and I truly can not wait to meet him! Is it because I want to kiss his little face, see who he looks like, get to know him, and lay him on my chest? ABSOLUTELY! But, it’s so much deeper than that. When God allows you to be pregnant, in the natural or in the spiritual, it is more than an honor. But, it can be physically, emotionally, and even spiritually draining as your body gives literal life to what you are pregnant with.
I don’t want this to be a long and drawn out blog, but I do want to say this. You are PREGNANT WITH DESTINY. You have a divine purpose and a calling on your life. In order for you to give birth to it, you will go through a process. My encouragement is that you not give up before God gets out of you what He put in you. It may get rough, you may have morning sickness, be extremely tired, irritable, and maybe even mean some days. But, let God take you through the process. I can guarantee you…it will be worth it.
GIVE BIRTH TO YOUR DREAMS! Then, you will be able to see the face of your dream, hug and kiss it, lay it on your chest, and it will look JUST LIKE GOD. 🙂
Thanks for visiting and I hope you were encouraged by this blog. Please leave us comments!
Fall Fashion Fix!
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Research is not only for school, it’s great for fashion! Each season, I make it a habit of researching the latest trends as well as classic looks to incorporate into my wardrobe. By far, my favorite season to dress is FALL! You get to play with colors, put on layers, wear your hair down, and accessorize!
This year, try something new! Relaxed fit everything is in. Bright color tones as well as metallics and, of course, natural tones are always chic, no matter the season. Another tip is to use your summer tees and tops to layer over long sleeve button ups and turtle necks. Loose sweaters are hott as well. You can always throw a button up under a loose sweater and pair it with some skinny jeans and a nice bootie. High knee boots are always fun, and tights go with everything! Oversized everything is in!
Oh!! And GO THRIFTING! You just never know what you can find. Ok, I will be back with much more! Have fun and thanks for visiting All Things Woman!
Please leave a comment with your favorite fall finds and fixes. 🙂
Check out a few of my Fall Fashion Fixes from last season. I can’t wait to expand!
Legacy
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My beautiful mother turns 60 today!
Legacy is defined as: anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor. Some definitions include items left behind, such as personal property, like homes, property, cars, and money. Today, that legacy I speak of is one of strength, dignity, class, grace, and a sense of family pride. These items are priceless, and far exceed any material thing one can possess. Today, I honor the creation of a beautiful legacy being created by my mother, Ruth Reavis Forbes. The example she has been to our family has paved the way for success in so many areas. I can’t thank God enough for my mother, and I encourage you to think about all of the labor and sacrifice displayed by your family over the years. Today, say a prayer of Thanksgiving for the LEGACY of priceless jewels being created in your midst! The greatest jewel of all: WISDOM.
To a beautiful mother, sister, gaga, aunt, friend, and woman of class! Happy, Happy Birthday! Your strength is a display for us all, and your essence is the epitome of dignity. From trial to triumph, you’ve been a witness to God’s grace, mercy, and Glory. Praying God’s infinite blessings of peace and prosperity to continue to cover you, all the days of your life. As the fruit of your labor continues to flourish, may you continue to smile, and may God continue to smile upon you!
WE WILL CARRY ON THE LEGACY!!!
FASHART: Mixed Prints and Peplum
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Hi ladies! The last few blogs were really serious, so I decided to do something FUN with “what I like to call” FASHART! As an artist who loves to paint and draw, it comes easy for me to step outside the box with color. Now, prints can be tricky, when it comes to mixing. Mixing prints should be done very carefully.
For this particular look, I had some help from my stylist, J.Briscoe. We love searching for fashion inspiration when we come up with looks for various events and photo shoots. It’s incredibly fun!
A few tips on mixing prints:
Allow one of the prints to act as a neutral so that the prints don’t overwhelm each other.
Keep it in the family. For example, two animal prints will work well together.
Pair a solid shoe with your mixed prints, and avoid over doing the jewelry.
Above, you see stripes and florals, and to top it off…we added the peplum look! You can never go wrong with peplem. It adds shape to your figure, and helps hide unwanted belly bulk. Oh! The tshirt is from my line, Kingdom Fresh Clothing! ;-}
Ok, now go try it! Remember, fashion is ART! Have fun, until next time. Xoxo
*Blazer: Charlotte Rousse
*Tshirt: Kingdom Fresh Clothing
*Skirt: J.Briscoe
*Jewelry: Mi Joi Jewelry
*Photo: Strikingly Odd Media
NECESSARY SEASONS
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If I had written this blog post earlier this week, I would have called it “Hell Week”. When I say that this has been “that week”, I really mean it. I’m not one to share all of my business, especially when I’m feeling down, but I will not hesitate to be transparent when I’m sure that God will get the glory. My heart is for people to see God through all things!
Ok. So, this week for me was filled with discouragement and feelings of (what felt like) depression. I can’t really pinpoint one specific thing that happened, I just felt down. It was definitely a spiritual attack. Now, I could be deep and say that I’m not going to claim depression, but these emotions were so bad that I had to reach out to some prayer warriors in my close circle. There comes a time when we have to get off the battlefield and allow another soldier to fight for you. It could be that you are tired, weary, or just frustrated from looking at a tree with little to no fruit, especially when you know you have been putting in the work.
Speaking of fruit. In the midst of the storm I experienced this week,
God spoke. In Ecclesiastes 3:1, we learn that there is a season for everything. God began to show me through a series of events, thoughts, and prayer moments, that every season is NECESSARY. Though I was not in a place fully comprehend why I would be going through a winter, right in the middle of my approaching summer, I knew it to be true. We can’t forsake our seasons.
Here is what I learned in this week’s storm. We are not all in the same season at the same time, spiritually. Imagine that you are in your winter, when no fruit is on your tree, no leaves are on your trees, flowers aren’t blooming, it’s cold and windy outside, the sun is rarely shinning, but you are still trusting God. You look over to your friend’s tree, and you see the sweetest looking fruit filled trees, the others are filled with beautiful green leaves, and the sun is shinning bright, like a diamond. All is well over there, but you feel like you are in hell. What do you do?
Real talk… It is difficult to look at someone else’s spring, while you are in your winter. But, what we must realize is that the person who is in spring just came out of a winter. Praise break right there!!! You don’t know the struggle and preparation they had to go through to get to their spring. They had to wait, just like you are waiting. It is IMPOSSIBLE to successfully jump from one season to the other, without properly going through each season, and getting all the lessons…that’s if you want to be ready for your new level.
You can’t just jump from one course in school to the other without successfully passing (and learning) the pre-requisite course. God showed me what it looks like when people forcefully jump out of their winter because it’s too cold. See, the winter was supposed to prepare you, and to prepare your atmosphere for the coming blossoming. But, you aborted the season. You couldn’t stand the heat. You couldn’t stay in the furnace long enough to come out like gold. So, you come out half processed. Now, you are in your spring because you jumped out of winter too early. And guess what? You have to go through a spring, summer, and fall WITHOUT THE PREPARATION YOU NEEDED.
So, then we start wondering why the fruit on your tree looks good, but doesn’t taste good. See, we, as women, we know how to dress it up. We know how to put makeup on a scarred face, and we can jazz up a tired body, and we can smile on top of our depression. But, I’m coming out of this winter season ON FIRE! I’m determined to stay until I’m ready to come out; no matter how much it hurts.
It will be worth it! I don’t want to look up next year and find myself going through the 2015 winter that I was supposed to go through in 2014. I don’t have time for that! Therefore, I will learn to recognize my season, praise Him anyway, and dress according to the season I’m in, and keep it moving. See, because now, I know why I’m going through my SEASON. I’m being prepared for my next level. Therefore, I WILL REJOICE!
WILL YOU REJOICE WITH ME? Comment below with your praise! Let’s start giving God Glory now. Remember, a butterfly goes through stages (seasons). If it comes out of its cocoon too early, it may not be able to fly properly. It is the struggle of getting out of the cocoon that produces the strength that enables the butterfly to soar. Stay there until He moves you into your next season! REJOICE!
allthingswoman 