YEEEEEEEESSSSSSS 🎉🥳!!!!!!
YEEEEEEEESSSSSSS 🎉🥳!!!!!!
Welcome and welcome back. Today is Tuesday, June 23, 2026. A belated Happy Monday. It's another amazing day in paradise. And a Happy Half Birthday to my young Black male superhero, Wisdom Chance/Wisdom Son-shine (his superhero name). Thank you so much for investing your time here with me. And thank you for celebrating with us. There has been so much going on, so much good stuff going on. And I'm so excited to share.
REST AND DIGEST
For me, the most important event is having a nervous system that regulated more often than it's unregulated. I'm finally posting again because I've been blessed with time to achieve a high enough state of rest and digest to want to post. Thank you for the round of applause, finger snaps, hoots, etc. if you know what I'm talking about. Because that's a HUGE reason to celebrate.
Social engagement, healthy social engagement, is a function of a regulated nervous system. So here I am. Feeling regulated, rejuvenated and ready to be about the work God has been preparing me to do. It's really a thrilling time to be alive.
I've had so many thoughts and events I've wanted to post about. We've lived a full life but most of the time my energy was just enough to go places and get involved, to be in a higher level of fight or flight than I had been. I wasn't regulated enough to go a step further and be engaged on social media.
Using the visual image from the chart below, I was in the "I'm Safe" zone flowing between the green and the yellow. Green enough to engage in person. Yellow enough to keep me away from social media. That's how it is for me. The results of being in the different zones are personal.
Being here now isn't just about having something to say, because I'm loquacious. I ALWAYS have something to say. I want to highlight some of the phenomenal things that are going on, especially my young Black male superhero. I'm so proud of him.
HONORING MY DAD'S LEGACY
Before I go on, let me just say I hope your Juneteenth, Freedom Day, Father's Day Weekend was powerful in all the places and spaces you gave your presence to. I hope each event was celebrated in a way that was fulfilling to you and anyone you celebrated with, especially if you were the father being celebrated.
Wisdom spent some time with his dad, which can be stressful but we're good. My dad transitioned to an ancestor on April 11, 2024 so my day was thought-full. I hadn't seen him or talked to him since before we left Connecticut in August of 2019. I was the silent one. Looking back, with new insight, I was emotionally immature, living in fight or flight.
But... a beautiful thing that has come out of his passing is I feel like he's with me more now than ever. Our connection has strengthened. In life, we weaved between moments of connection and disconnection. Some lasting weeks, months or years, since my youth. Now I feel like he understands me better or understands himself better or a little bit of both.
Whatever the reason, however it's possible, I feel he is with me and Wisdom often. One of the main ways I know he's watching and attempting to connect or get me to pay attention is because his first or last name will show up in the most random places.
For instance, Wisdom and I started reading a book series about two weeks ago. I know it was two weeks ago because the series has 12 books. They were short enough to read one a day and we just finished over the weekend.
Here's the fascinating part... We checked out the books about a month ago, in mid-May, but didn't start to read them until June. We had other books to get through. We read A LOT together!
As I'm reading one of the main characters had the same last name as my dad, Henderson. I mean... his last name isn't like Smith or Johnson or anything like that. So when it appears in random places like that I start paying attention.
The other place... this one cracks me up because my dad's first name is Stanley. If you are familiar with sports in the state of North Carolina you probably know exactly where I'm heading with this one. If not, then you may or may not know that the Carolina Hurricanes won the NHL championship (hockey). So for all the time it takes to get through the semi-finals and then play through the finals, it's ALL about winning the big trophy in the end, the Stanley Cup.
Even though I'm not at all interested in hockey, Canes mania was everywhere. While others celebrated hockey, I was hearing, "Check in with your dad". Too funny!! Now I'm not saying that my dad helped the Canes to win the series to get my attention but I'm NOT not saying it either. God works in mysterious ways.
So I'm feeling my dad's presence. He's speaking to me and Wisdom even though they haven't seen each other since Wis was about 3.
It's actually Wisdom who often sees the names before I do so it's pretty cool to share those moments with him. I know why my dad's here. He's reminding me of the work I'm supposed to do.
WISDOM SPEAKS
On May 16, 2023 Wisdom spoke during the City of Raleigh Public Comment Period, held during the afternoon session of City Council meeting. He did so at my request. He was 7.
Fast forward exactly 37 months and he spoke again. On Tuesday, June 16, 2026 he addressed City Council again during their afternoon public comment period.
If you don't know, the protocol for speaking during public comment is you have to sign up by 3p on the Friday before the session. I signed him up except this time I didn't ask him to speak. He. Asked. Me. Yes, you read that right. He asked me to sign him up. I had already signed up to speak so I was surprised when he asked.
And that's why I'm so proud. More than a few things have transpired in City owned spaces with individuals employed by the City, that should not have. He is tired of being mistreated because he is a child (me too). That's what he spoke about. I'm so grateful he knew he had an outlet to reach out to in order to express his concerns.
The recording starts where he is speaking. Since I had already signed up before him, I centered my comments on the Decade of the Child initiative which I had spoken on last year. It is featured in the proclamation Governor Josh Stein signed proclaiming the month of June Whole Child Health and Well-Being Month. I used that as a way to introduce Wisdom. He was supposed to speak two people after me but the mayor changed the arrangement and he ended up speaking right after me.
Advocating for him did not end with us speaking though. As Momma, I followed up his comments with a lengthy email of my own providing experiences we've had with employees. So stay tuned, Ya'll. Wisdom is about to lead the changes needed to make Raleigh a more child friendly city.
WE ARE HOUSED
It's been a long and exhausting journey to get here. And we could NOT have endured this aspect of our journeys without the grace and goodness of God and many, MaNy, MANY men, women and children. Whoooooosa! Gotta breathe into that one, a nice long deep breath. I get teary just thinking about all the people who have extended so much compassion towards us. There have been others who were straight up jerks but mostly, it's been incredibly miraculous goodness.
It's crazy to think that we've been without long term, stable housing since August of 2019, when we arrived back in Raleigh, NC from a small town in Connecticut called Vernon-Rockville. Yes... that's right. We've been unhoused for about EIGHTY months here in Raleigh, just 4 months shy of 7 years. Wisdom has lived without housing longer than he's had housing. Crazy right?
The last 38 months, since March 2023, we were living in our car. Technically we lived in and out of our car for the first 4 months after we arrived. Then it was totalled (not by me).
The night before we moved into the house we're in now, our car battery died. We were left without any electricity to roll down the windows, recline the seats, open the trunk, all the things. This happened Memorial Day weekend. So you already know the temperature was heating up outside.
To be transparent, our car (Wisdom named her Blessing) already wasn't moving. We had been parked in the same spot for 16 days. Before we moved to that location she had been parked somewhere else for a week, had some work done on the side of that road and then stopped working again the same day. I know God was just moving us to a safer place.
I wasn't taking the car not working personally. I already knew Blessing's challenges were a sign that I needed to focus on getting us inside.
We found out about the dead battery on Saturday night, May 23rd when we returned to our car. It was devastating in some ways but comical in others because I knew already God was up to something. Thankfully the temperature was cool enough to sleep without the windows open. Or else that would have been like a tomb.
It would take so much more time to tell the story of what happened the day we moved in. So I'm just going to show the text I received saying there was a house available to us.
You see the texts! I literally had to gather my thoughts before I could reply with any decorum. Was this a dream or real? Was God really saying "Go!" right now? Sure enough He was. This was confirmation of so many things for me. I received this text as I was leaving Antioch Bible Fellowship where Pastor Frank White Sr. leads. His message for the day was "When God Says 'Go!'". It wasn't a dream. God was saying, "Go to the house". We moved in the same day.
And yes, you read Mordecai! If you're familiar with Raleigh, NC you might know that Mordecai is a historic district. This neighborhood is highly sought after and the land is bookoo (beaucoup) expensive.
Now I wish I could tell you it's been all chocolate, roses and rainbows since then... Naaaawwww!!! that would NOT be authentic. When we got inside, I crashed: mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically, all the ways. My nervous system was a wreck.
It's taken about 4 weeks to start looking up so I could get up and move us forward out of poverty to prosperity, internally and externally. I will also add that there isn't a day that goes by that I don't feel a little bit of guilt for living here. It's a 3 bedroom house and we are only 2 people. AND... there is sooooo much space.
I keep thinking of all the people I know who need housing. I keep SEEING plenty of people I know who need housing. I'm so grateful that me being here is opening the door for others to get housing too.
FROM POVERTY TO PROSPERITY
The climb out of poverty is a long, steep and slippery slope. It's mostly because some people can't see what I see about me. AND... they definitely don't know what God KNOWS about me. To most homeless service providers I am a paycheck. I am a statistic that can benefit or hurt their organization. They think since I am poor now, I always will be. That's exactly why the system is designed to move individuals and families from one level of poverty to another.
That's NOT me. We have dreams, goals and hope, expecting more good. We're on a journey from surviving to thriving, from poverty to prosperity. Here's where we can use some help if you're interested and able. There are a few ways to provide some stepping stones to help our rise go a little bit faster. Don't worry though. I'm not compromising quality for speed.
Some costs nothing AND all of them require an investment of your time, just to be transparent. The amount of time varies. It's based on what you choose to do. Please Note: If you can't afford one whole thing, please don't let that discourage you. Every amount counts. Believe me. Fifty cents. One dollar. Fifty Dollars. One hundred dollars. One might take you longer to get to the other but eventually we'll get to where we want and need to be.
Before I give the list I want to offer something in return. We have been blessed in so many ways, by so many people. And now I'm housed and have the audacity to ask for even more help. (Please remember you can say no. I respect that as a complete sentence.)
While there might have been a few instances where I was able to return the favor, mostly I've attempted to pay the goodness that we've received forward. But none of that is quantifiable. I want to make sure I give back directly to whoever gives this time (if possible).
There is some pride in that but more importantly, I see you contributing to us moving out of poverty as a transaction that deserves recognition. And what I've created with my hands or a service I can provide seem like the most authentic, personal gifts I can offer.
One of the main things I can offer is a discount to my parent coaching experience but I also have things I've created to give away. Those are so much more personal and I would be honored if you were willing to receive something like that. And since we're cleaning out our storage units I know there is more stuff in there I can offer. We'll connect if you provide. Please just don't say no. Allow me to do something to say thank you.
Here are our most immediate needs:
1. Good vibes to keep us elevated as we take these next steps in our journey (the freebie I mentioned).
2. Paying for and moving out of our storage units. The one in Durham is $92 and it needs to be emptied today, 6.23. The other, here in Raleigh, is 2 months overdue. The amount due is $357 by the 26th and be empty by the 30th. I'd like to pay both of them off, rent a moving truck from Tuesday to Wednesday and empty them both so we can finally get settled.
3. Bodies to help clean and move stuff, during the move and beyond (no monetary cost but an investment of time).
4. Our car needs to be towed here. Not sure of cost or resources yet. Looking for someone with AAA roadside assistance because that goes with the person, not their car.
5. Care packages. Gift cards to grocery stores (to get staple items we don't have like flour and baking powder and... etc.) and to thrift stores. I'm very into recycling, up cycling, repurposing, all the things. So if you've got old clothes that aren't too damaged I'd appreciate those to make things out of. There are a few things I would like to buy from a store, like mattress covers since we have some mattresses that were gifted to us. But whatever I can get secondhand or even free is best. I've been scouring Craigslist for furniture the last few days.
6. Funds to reinstate my business license from the Secretary of State.
7. Any support to get the project that's been in my spirit since December 2024 launched. Technology support to build a website and get a professional email would be the most important right now. A logo would be nice too but not . I have a CRM that has the capacity to build a website and I have many webpages I've already created but they are chock full of information and I'd rather my energy be spent doing other things than working on it. So if you're capable of doing any of that, I'd appreciate it.
8. I'm an affiliate with the Food Revolution Network. I believe in their mission "Healthy, ethical and sustainable food for all". This is an incredible organization who I've received a scholarship from, to participate in their first Plant Based Coaching Cohort back in 2023.
And when I attempted a Go Fund Me several years ago to launch a homestead for the unhoused, FRN contributed to the cause. That was June of 2023.
I haven't finished my certification yet but now that we're housed I can focus on graduating. In the meantime, there are a number of digital products that I receive a commission on if you purchase through my affiliate link. And monthly they have online events that I'm going to start promoting. In fact one starts tomorrow.
So if you're interested in learning more about the benefits of a plant based lifestyle. I have plenty of information to share.
Here's the promotion starting today.
I can't wait to see the movie. The producers of the film are also responsible for one of my favorite FRN/Earth Conscious Life movies The Need to Grow. One of the main characters in this movie, Erik Cutter, was originally featured in The Need to Grow as well. Erik has such a brilliant mind and is so innovative. I'm excited to see what he's come up with next.
9. FRN wasn't the only organization I went through a coaching program with. I also went through the Jai Institute for Parenting parent coaching certification. I have worked with clients literally from all over the world: a couple in Japan, a grandmother from Jamaica, a young lady with no children in Cali, a family from Hawaii, a family in Samoa, even a couple here in Raleigh to name a few. It has been amazing.
I Love being an ally, a witness and a guide for parents to highlight their best and address their mess, internally and externally, scientifically and spiritually so they can have more peaceful relationships with themselves. That is the foundation of peaceful relationships with others, especially their children.
If parent coaching is something you or an organization you're a part of is interested in, please let me know.
10. Besides completing my two certifications with Jai and FRN I am interested in attaining other certifications. Being a mom is my career of choice. The modalities I've learned that can make being a parent more enjoyable I want to make more widely available. So if you'd like to help me finance any of the trainings I'm interested in, I would surely appreciate it. Here are the main ones: Circle of Security, Community Resiliency Model and (the ultimate dream) Vegan Chef Virtual Training Course.
And that is TEFN (The End for now)! I bet you were wondering when this would get here. If you made it this far, thank you so much.
I will warn you though (wink, wink), there's more to come. I'm just getting started. Today we get to move out of our storage units so that's my focus. Thank you again and in advance for all your Love, support and encouragement. The best is yet to come. Enjoy the amazing day you're creating. Peace...
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