No More Violence

No More Violence

A single mom of two, Jill*, is one of those 70 percent of women who has experienced sexual and domestic violence in her lifetime. To put it in tangible terms, seven out of ten women you know have been victims of abuse. Her scars may be visible, but likely not. *Her real name is used…

Overcoming Weight Struggles

Overcoming Weight Struggles

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 35.7% of American adults are obese. This growing epidemic is causing an increase in the number of people who face heart attacks, strokes, certain types of cancer and type 2 diabetes.  One hundred forty seven billion dollars were spent on health care related to obesity in 2008….

End It Movement
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End It Movement

SLAVERY IS WRONG. As a country, we’ve officially known it since 1863. But there’s something you might not know — slavery still exists. The End It Movement wants every man, woman and child to know that there are 27 million men, women and children, just like them, living in the shadows. In brothels. In factories….

Overcoming Tragedy, Part 2

Overcoming Tragedy, Part 2

If you have not read my blog post “Overcoming Tragedy, Part 1”  about losing their son Trey, please do so before reading the heartwarming conclusion to Sharon’s story. Working Through the Tragedy Sharon and John experienced a “honeymoon” period of two to three weeks after Trey’s passing. Everything felt surreal. Life kept happening around them…

Overcoming Tragedy, Part 1

Overcoming Tragedy, Part 1

After eighteen months of trying to have a child, Sharon and John* rejoiced when they discovered they were finally going to have a baby. The first few months of her pregnancy were filled with excitement and expectation. *Their real names, used with permission. Uncertainty at Every Step At the six month appointment, concerns about the…

Determined to Run

Determined to Run

In August of 2011, Jessica* reached a point in her life in which she knew she needed to begin exercising to help control her weight and to get healthy. A friend recommended she try running. It was hard at first, but she had something to prove to herself. With a 5K race in her sights,…

5th grade YWP

Mentoring: Pouring Your Passions Into Young People

Nothing excites me more than combining my two passions: teaching and writing. This November, I was given the opportunity to mentor a class of 5th graders in the art of creative writing. These students participated in the Young Writers Program of National Novel Writing Month. Their teacher set the goal for each student to write a…

My Journey of Overcoming

My Journey of Overcoming

Greetings! Thanks for joining me on the re-launch of my web site! I’m excited to begin sharing interviews of courageous women who have faced some of life’s toughest challenges and decided to be overcomers! I know I’m asking these women to be vulnerable as they share their individual struggles, so I’ll be vulnerable first. Overcoming…