"The Grinch Stole Our Christmas" said Tyanna! :-(

My husband and I allowed some friends that we had only known for a little while to move it with us. They lost their home and needed a place to stay for them and their 14-year-old son, dog and 16-year-old daughter who only came every other weekend. (she lost custody and those were her visitation times) In a nutshell, it didn't work out. They didn't pay their half of the bills for a month and a half. My husband was laid off his job and filed for unemployment. No money for us was coming in so I withdrew my book from my publisher and my husband closed out his 401K so we could pay our bills, they’re half and ours. Once that ran out unemployment took forever. And when they finally started paying their half we could only come up with our half of the bills but couldn't buy food. They brought freezer full of food plus canned goods and other things, so we pretty much only had to replenish the small things like milk, eggs...etc. Needless to say we couldn't even do that some weeks.

We cleaned out our garage to make some room for some of their things. Trying to make them as comfortable as possible. They had a storage unit and told us we could store some of our things there free of charge and could get them back whenever. Well, things had been going down hill when their dog started biting all three of our kids. The baby in her face, my son on his cheek and my oldest daughter on her cheek and chin. They never said anything except the kids shouldn't be in his face which they weren't on several occasions. Things got a lot worse when they let their rental car go back and we agreed to let them borrow ours when we weren't using it. This went on for several weeks and they finally bought their car and left ours in Lewisville, Tx at the dealership about 45 minutes for where we live. My husband had it at that point and let her (Mrs. C) have it. She called her husband (Mr. C) at is job and he got off early and they packed and left.

They left us high and dry with no notice and bills due that were accumulated while they were here. So bills needed to be paid and THANK GOD the unemployment came through. We had to sign up for food stamps and Medicaid for the kiddos. Don't get me wrong, all of that is truly a blessing. I'm so trying to not need those services, as you’ve seen!!! Anyway, they will not give us back our belongings in their storage unit. Which includes our Christmas tree, lights, ornaments, our winter clothes (most of the kids, and my husbands'), family photos (our oldest daughter who past, and her birthday is coming up on the 29th), toys...etc.

It's almost 24 hours until Christmas. I made them a tree out of lights with tacks holding it up in its shape. They asked if Santa would skip over our house since we didn't have a real tree. We had to break down and tell them we were Santa and we just didn't have any money to do any Christmas. We helped our church hand out presents to kids in the park yesterday and they wanted to get in the line themselves to get a gift, but we were there to help others. The little one said "Mrs. C & Mr. C, are like the Grinch Who Stole Christmas". However, I truly believe for me this is the worse, and the best Christmas ever, because this situation has brought my little family much closer. I just really needed to vent. God Bless and Merry Christmas, God loves you! - Happy Birthday Brianna ANGEL!!!!!

Bridgett Gray

Mi Casa Su Casa

Funny how things work out... My mom is very big on taking people for their word. I have adopted this philosophy and have witnessed it first hand that you can't take everyone at their word. It really rubs me the wrong way when you say or tell a person one thing while withholding the actual truth and in the end telling them something totally different and when it's all said and done they try and turn it around to make the hold situation your fault.

GOD and I both know how things go down and it will be judged! So I know my sleep will be light and refreshing, because the truth as a funny way of revealing itself. GOD don't like ugly and this is very UGLY!!! Sleep on that!

Self - Exposed

One of the reasons I wanted to keep this particular blog going was to allow you to see the real me. I wanted to be that example so that as good things happen to my family and I, there are still set-backs, ups and downs, and every now and then depression comes knocking at the door. Most times it's ignored but some times the door is left cracked and it gets in.

This weekend I truly had a very surprising wake-up call. I really do focus a lot on how people see me and what that ultimately think of me and what I'm trying to do with me life. Last night my mom and I had girls night at her house (just the two of us) and while I was in the bathroom I looked in the mirror and was very disgusted at how I've let go of myself.

I'll be promoting my book soon nationally and I'm not sure if I'm at all ready for the limelight. My face use to be clear and now I have black spots all over the chin area. My teeth could use a cleaning and whitening, and I've totally neglected my hair. I told my husband that a lot of why my appearance isn't up to par is mainly because I've redirected my depression and that's been the result. There are so many other things going on and sometimes I feel as if I have no one to turn to. I know "this too shall pass" and this is advice I give others who are feeling down about things. I just needed to vent and get it out so it won't be buried.

Finding Your Niche

I was talking with my sister-in-law today and she was telling me that she heard my radio interview on KGCM Radio. She told me that she thought I'd found my niche and that she wished she could find hers. I told her and I'm going to tell you, find something you love and believe in it. And throw out the notion that it's too late for your dream to come true. I met a very inspirational women today named LaToya Brown the author of "Borrowed Water" and she shared with us, and I'm paraphrasing, It's not over until you give up!

That is so so true. I was near the end of a very tiny lifeline, and I looked at my family and what their life could be without me and I didn't even want that, so I got up and gave God the wheel!!!!! Let him have it, and see the blessing he wanted for your life along!

Monumental Movement

I'm not sure if you've heard the story about the Jena Six boys in Jena, Louisiana. If you haven't heard of this please Google Jena Six and read up on it. The reason I'm bringing this to your attention is because there's going to be a national protest in Jena, La on September 20th. I first time heard about the protest and the story was on the Michael Baisden Radio show. I have since volunteered to organize travel for the Dallas/Fort Worth area in support for the Jena Six. So if you're interested in a seat on the buses that will be traveling down, please call my voicemail # @ 817-349-3602 letting me know how many seats you'll need. There's information posted below so please access those resources. And if there's anything else you'd like to do the help please let me know. Thanks for your time is the urgent matter.

· Jena 6 Timeline

· Free Jena 6 Video

· Online Petition: Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice

· Jena Six Slide Show

· More Photo's

TX Supports Jena Six Blog
TX Supports Jena Six Email
TX Supports Jena Six Myspace

Tyler Perry said it best...

WHAT WILL YOU BELIEVE GOD FOR?

I can honestly say, I believe God for his word. I believe that through him all things are possible, because he says they are. I believe that if I ask him for it, he will provide for me, because he said he would. So I ask you...WHAT WILL YOU BELIEVE GOD FOR?

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"You are truly an inspiration for a lot of us" by Novia (my best friend)

I except that...can I be an inspiration to you? Be inspired!

Crossing Paths

Prayers are being answered in the order in which they are received...to new friends coming my way, and that are already here! May our friendships' get stronger and last for our lifetime!

Thank God for Friendship

I just wanted to take this time out to thank God out loud for my friend Sharon & her family. She and her husband Clarence are two of the nicest people anyone would be lucky enough to know in their lifetime. I am truly blessed to have them in my life.

I prayed for good and positive people to be put into my life and for the guidance to become someones' friend, and the lord answered by linking our families together. I can't thank him enough....thank you Jesus!

Positive Environment

I noticed a while ago when I removed myself from negative situations more positive things started to happen in my life. Even if you find yourself moving away mentally or physically from those that are causing negative stress there's nothing wrong with doing that. You'll see in time, that was the best thing you should have done for your state of mind. People, places, and even things can create unwanted stress, but you have to make the ultimate decision what's best for you and the closest around you. Explain to people that you're in a new place in your life, maybe they'll see the changes you've made and want to make some of those for themselves.

A Prayer For My Friend

Dear God,

I'm sending out a prayer for my friend Caroline. She is going through an awful ordeal and she needs guidance, patients, love, compassion, and time to heal. Please watch over her and her boys for they will need to lean on each other to stay strong and focused on making something happen for their family of 3. Peace be with them!


Latrice -

A Prayer For My Friend

Dear God,

Please allow my new friend Sharon the strength to be able to get past this pain. She is such a wonderful friend and I'm so thankful that our paths have crossed. I pray that we will have the opportunity to see all our plans come to past. Please keep her close to you Lord and uplift her family with love and patients.


Latrice -

My inspirational story of sacrifice, dedication, determination, and the sure will of living my dreams!

Looking at my 5 and 9-year daughters makes me so proud of the life my husband and I have been able to give to them, as well as my 10 yr old son. Even though we haven't had a whole lot to work with over the years we gotten by with the bare minimum and that's all good because none of them will ever have to experience what I've had to endure as I was growing up.

I'm a child SURVIVOR of child incest, molestation, and rape. As far back as 6 and maybe even younger, my brothers father Thomas Johnson sexually molested me. This was happening on and off for about 4 years, again maybe even longer. This man would come and take me out of my bed when he got home from work and would have penetrating intercourse with my young and fragile body.

I know now with the help of therapy my body would shut itself down and this would cause very high fevers, sleep walking episodes, as well as some out of body experiences and hallucinations. This was very scary for my mother and stepfather because they had no clue what was happening. I'm not sure till this day why I wasn't able to tell anyone what was happening, maybe that was erased from my memory.

Thomas wasn't the only person who violated me. There was a very close family friend that lived next door to my grandmother with his wife who we called Aunt Nee Nee. He had never tried anything with me until puberty hit. After I developed breast I guess all bets were off. After coming back to Texas for a visit from Nebraska I went next door from my grandmother's to visit him and his wife Aunt Nee Nee and he all of a sudden attached me at the door while I was trying to make my way towards the back to visit with Aunt Nee Nee.

There was also a cousin of my grandmothers' who lived a few houses down from her. This cousin tried to stick his tongue down my throat and kiss me and I was 8 maybe 9. I remember thinking "why do men do this type of things and why me?"

For a long while after all that trauma I somehow blocked all memory from my mind for a very long time. All throughout junior high as well as high school. Memories and feeling all started to come back after I met my now husband back in 93. Sex to me was something I wanted no part in. It had become totally degaussing and I was starting to hate the male body as well. He couldn't understand why I would always say no when he wanted to make love. It was so hard but we managed to have three children the first few years we were together and then married.

After my second child was born that's when all the memories started to come back into play. My brother came down to Texas to stay with my husband and me the summer of 95 and he became unruly and we couldn't handle him. He called his father who also lived in Texas and asked if he could come and stay with him. That move in didn't last long. My brother was out there, using drugs and pretty much doing his own thing.

For some reason they both got into an argument and my brother asked his father (and my brother was the only person I had ever told until I was grown, but never would believe me) if he really did all those horrible things to me and he confessed YES! Needless to say my brother went off and beat this man with him bare hands to near death. He was in the hospital for weeks of reconstructive surgeries and such. While my brother 15 at the time was tried as an adult and convicted to 10 years in prison.

At the trial I was called to testify about what happened to me as a child for my brothers' defense. This was so hard because Thomas was there, my mom, stepfather and my husband. The hardest and scariest part was not being notified in advance that I was even needed to testify.

After it was all said and done my brother was locked up and Thomas was free to go. No one approached me about my rights. No one told me that the statue of limitation for prosecuting him wasn't up. (at that time anyway) I wouldn't find this bit of information out until much much later when I started my counseling sessions at the Women's Center in Arlington, Texas in 2005-2006.

However, before I even thought about going to see any shrink I fell into this very deep dark place with no hopes of ever finding that shinning light again. I was suicidal, neglecting my children to the point they had to fend for themselves most days and nights. Some days would be better than others but for the most part they weren't. I knew right at the moment I heard my oldest daughter tell her brother she hated me I needed to do something about my depression. I knew that if I didn't find a way to make things right within my family I would lose them.

So I started to pray more then I had before. I started talking to God and building a relationship with him. As Mr. Steve Harvey puts it, "don't trip, he's not done with me yet" and I so believe that. I always knew that God was working on me and had been working on me for a long time. He never gave up on me even when I gave up on myself.

I also started talking to my husband more and more. In our early years together he know of what happened to me but not in detail. So one day I knew it was time to start talking. I've since sat down with my mother and told her a few things, not in too much detail but I have opened up the dialogue. I've told an Aunt I lived with when I was in junior high, and I've also told another grandmother not the one mentioned above.

I would write down questions I wanted answered by each of those people who were around back then. Just trying to get some clarification on what they might have known, or not known. Trying to fill in some of the gaps. All I know now is through Christ and prayer all things are possible.

I’ve been able to put all these unfortunate things behind me where they aren't crippling my family any longer. I've been able to take care of my family and myself because of my relationship with God. I'm learning how to be a friend again after isolating myself from people for so long. I found a newfound love for myself I never knew was even possible. And the biggest thing to date I'm following my life long dream of writing and self-publishing my very first of many books. A cookbook titled "Raising Chefs...not just good cooks!" I'm blessed and thankful that this book will be out in the middle part of June or early part of July this year.

I have so many other entrepreneurial ventures I’ll be seeing off and running in the next few years if God says the same. I thank God everyday for everything I've been through because it’s made me the strong and determined women I was meant to be. I always say "thank you for the good, the bad, and the ugly."

If you are going through anything that's hindering you from accomplishing your true calling please I say to you call on him. He has never left you. He is still and will always be working on you. Stay focused on your dreams, so you can see them become a reality. It's worth it yall!

Latrice - Texas Dreamer!

Remembering Sheena

Our family just recently lost a very close friend this past week. Sheena was killed while leaving a local nightclub here in the Fort Worth, Dallas area. I just wanted to share with everyone that life is way too short. Sheena was only 24 years old and had just been signed to a record contract. Her time here is over, and I ask you, what are you doing with your time? Are you living each day as if it were your last? Are you hugging your kids a little tighter each night? Are you showing your spouse unconditional love? How are you spending your time?

Rest In Peace little sister...I love you!

Latrice -

Gathering My Thoughts

Dear Friends,

I was so inspired by Mr. Steve Harvey last Friday I wanted to share with each of you how God has been good to me. Dealing with and facing the past can free you and allow your future to become clearer!

I'm in the process of collecting my thoughts so I can share with you the events in my life that allowed me to get to the point I'm at right now. I'm self-publishing my first book this year and the journey I've had to go through to get here is totally amazing. And I know for a fact I couldn't have gotten this far with out the spiritual connection I have with the almighty Father, God!

Please check back for updates, I wouldn't want you to miss out on a little bit of my inspirational story of sacrifice, dedication, determination, and the sure will of living my dreams!

Latrice - Texas Dreamer!