I wrote this in March in my gratitude journal a short while after going back to work after being with my son for 6.5 months full time. Enjoy the short read.
My life as a mom has shifted so much and for the better. I now know what Mommy was saying when she said, "It will all come together."
I was so nervous while I was pregnant praying that I would be a good mother, provider and try to balance life. I'm still learning of course but when I pick my son up every day I know that although I'm still a student trying to master motherhood one day at a time that at the end of the day it's all worth it.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Event Alert!!!! Performing at The Artomatic this Saturday!!! Details Below!
I'm back on the scene! Please join me and other beautiful and talented artists that are a part of the Liberated Muse collective at The Artomatic this Saturday, June 16th from 2-6pm. I have a 10 minute set and will perform 3 poems! One poem is published in the new anthology, "Betrayal Wears a Pretty Face, Liberated Muse Volume 2" edited by Khadijah Ali-Coleman. It's titled, "Bling Dreams!" Pass on the word and thank you for your support!
The Artomatic is located at 1851 S. Bell Street, Arlington, VA. We'll be hitting the Orleans Stage on the 1st floor! Peace and love!
Friday, April 20, 2012
Grace
I don't think I'm done with this poem yet but wanted to share...peace.
God you have cleaned up my mess
As I've steadily stressed
About things I can't fix
Grace
Is always given even when I can't erase
My woes and challenges
Running in this race
Called life
I've been through strife
Emotional damage
Yet you always seem to manage
To give me grace and mercy
Times when I don't think I deserve it
Constantly showered on me from heavens above
Continuous love
Surrounding me
Beginning to remember that I have to lean on the word
Trust the unseen
Know that times might be tough
And I alone can't fix all things
Because I'm on a level that's humanly
Thank you God for Grace and Mercy
Copyright 2012
God you have cleaned up my mess
As I've steadily stressed
About things I can't fix
Grace
Is always given even when I can't erase
My woes and challenges
Running in this race
Called life
I've been through strife
Emotional damage
Yet you always seem to manage
To give me grace and mercy
Times when I don't think I deserve it
Constantly showered on me from heavens above
Continuous love
Surrounding me
Beginning to remember that I have to lean on the word
Trust the unseen
Know that times might be tough
And I alone can't fix all things
Because I'm on a level that's humanly
Thank you God for Grace and Mercy
Copyright 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Whimsical Moments
I began writing this right after my mother passed away and finally finished it. Enjoy.
Whimsical Moments
You're my air
Into your eyes I glare
Knowing that I received the ultimate prize
You as a mother
And I as your daughter
Still moments in time will be remembered forever
From watching you grace the stage with dance
Having deep conversations with me about forgiving people and sometimes giving them a second chance
From the night you held me tight when I heard my father died
Wiping away a steady flow of tears as I cried
Being my warrior through many battles
Dry days to stark nights you were my water
Pouring energy into my valley like a streaming river
Yet I don't know what I would do
Without you when God calls you home
What I'll have left are memories that will float through my brain as whimsical moments
In my heart you'll always be
Whimsical
Like cherry blossoms petals that travel through a spring breeze
Blooming Marguerite flowers in France
Praying to God that as the seconds, minutes and days go on that they will come more with ease
But for now let's share the time we have left
Creating more memories that will be kept
Whimsical moments we will always have
Beyond your last breath
Written By:
Serena Wills
Copyright 2012
Whimsical Moments
You're my air
Into your eyes I glare
Knowing that I received the ultimate prize
You as a mother
And I as your daughter
Still moments in time will be remembered forever
From watching you grace the stage with dance
Having deep conversations with me about forgiving people and sometimes giving them a second chance
From the night you held me tight when I heard my father died
Wiping away a steady flow of tears as I cried
Being my warrior through many battles
Dry days to stark nights you were my water
Pouring energy into my valley like a streaming river
Yet I don't know what I would do
Without you when God calls you home
What I'll have left are memories that will float through my brain as whimsical moments
In my heart you'll always be
Whimsical
Like cherry blossoms petals that travel through a spring breeze
Blooming Marguerite flowers in France
Praying to God that as the seconds, minutes and days go on that they will come more with ease
But for now let's share the time we have left
Creating more memories that will be kept
Whimsical moments we will always have
Beyond your last breath
Written By:
Serena Wills
Copyright 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Once Upon a Time
Once upon a time
You loved me
Adored me
I would get music in the middle of the night and throughout the day
Various songs that kept me wanting more of you…making me want to stay
In your life forever
And take on an endeavor
To build a future with you
I would jam to songs that was a mixture of R&B, Jazz, Sexy House, Caribbean and Latin tunes
Waking up in the morning I felt your presence next to me
Miles away I would still feel your spirit breathe
Every song told a story
Expressed a feeling
Alluring
Showing your heart completely
Or so I thought…
Once upon a time
I felt like a fairy tale as we connected in the park
I told my heart no but over time it said yes
And as the music kept coming daily
Telling me your history
I fell for you deeply
God told me He could be the one
Praying day and night I so didn’t want my feelings to jump the gun
You kept me laughing, smiling and in the midst of it all you were healing
Our connection seemed unreal like some of those beautiful story book endings
But like a party our connection played its last song
Crying oceans of tears over what I once I felt
In a snap all of the feelings you had for me left
I’m left with a broken heart
Reminiscing about that day in the park
Sweet memories that we shared now seem so dark
Once upon a time you loved me
I’m now left in silence
And no music to listen to
Written By:
Serena Wills
Copyright (c) 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Patience
Being a writer to me also means being transparent in a lot of ways. I feel as if God wants me to write to release my creativity to the world but also in some shape or form to help heal people and let people know that its not just them that feel the way they do.
These past few months have been a total blessing with the birth of my son but it has had its challenges as well. Patience was truly needed as I suffered a job loss that caused me to really become even more humble than ever. I'm a pretty sincere and humble human being but when I was told back in early spring that my organization was being taken over by another and 24 of us (1/3 of the staff) were being laid off and I being one of them; I began to pray heavily.
I asked God, "Please keep my heart light and mind sane since I'm carrying one of your angels. Its easy to get derailed off the track these days." I knew times would get financially tough and that they did.
I hit rock bottom, not knowing where money would come from to even pay rent because I anticipated having a job by mid October. I almost lost hope. However between waking up to my son and having beautiful people in my life...God kept me. He provided my needs. He showed me things in people that I didn't want to see so I knew who was in my corner, who loved me despite my circumstances and who to keep away.
When you hit rock bottom sometimes ugliness will rear its head. Backs were turned on me and I even felt like a charity case at one point.
If my brother or sister fell down I wouldn't want to kick them even further down or walk all over them. I was judged and ridiculed. I realized that I needed to pray for those that turned on me and to forgive. I asked God to not punish but to heal them.
Prayer and patience paid off. Being unemployed gave me more time to bond with my son. I will never regret having spent several months at home. I've been able to refocus and shift my priorities and emotions during the time of stillness. I spoke to family and friends more (on the phone and in person) and we breathed life into each others dreams! The power of fellowship is very real.
I want the best for my son and during this time I realized that I was (and still am) hurting from things that happened to me in life. I want to heal. Its time for the broken pieces to be put back together.
God gave me this time. One day I walked along the river front and told God that I wouldn't even mind a part time job so I could still be home more with my son and work on my business ventures. I told him, "Have your way with me."
The next day (Thursday) I received a message about a potential job from the organization that took over my previous one and laid me off, by that Monday I received the offer letter. Now I'm gainfully employed. Although I still have work to do (hey I'm a work in progress) I have a road map that has been reworked. I'm looking forward to the future. I can only pray that the healing continues, that love will breathe into my spirit and soul like its never done before and that my/our dreams will blossom!
Times may be hard right now. Believe me I know. So if this piece is talking to you, just know that you will be fine in His time. Be still and refocus. Sometimes we get lost in ourselves or even in other people. What I'm doing now is focusing on God instead of the storm. A shift from my prior thinking as I used to focus on the storm and then God.
I pray to remain humble, be a reflection of Him, be a good mother and pursue my dreams with even more fire and desire! I pray that I can be an inspiration!
These past few months have been a total blessing with the birth of my son but it has had its challenges as well. Patience was truly needed as I suffered a job loss that caused me to really become even more humble than ever. I'm a pretty sincere and humble human being but when I was told back in early spring that my organization was being taken over by another and 24 of us (1/3 of the staff) were being laid off and I being one of them; I began to pray heavily.
I asked God, "Please keep my heart light and mind sane since I'm carrying one of your angels. Its easy to get derailed off the track these days." I knew times would get financially tough and that they did.
I hit rock bottom, not knowing where money would come from to even pay rent because I anticipated having a job by mid October. I almost lost hope. However between waking up to my son and having beautiful people in my life...God kept me. He provided my needs. He showed me things in people that I didn't want to see so I knew who was in my corner, who loved me despite my circumstances and who to keep away.
When you hit rock bottom sometimes ugliness will rear its head. Backs were turned on me and I even felt like a charity case at one point.
If my brother or sister fell down I wouldn't want to kick them even further down or walk all over them. I was judged and ridiculed. I realized that I needed to pray for those that turned on me and to forgive. I asked God to not punish but to heal them.
Prayer and patience paid off. Being unemployed gave me more time to bond with my son. I will never regret having spent several months at home. I've been able to refocus and shift my priorities and emotions during the time of stillness. I spoke to family and friends more (on the phone and in person) and we breathed life into each others dreams! The power of fellowship is very real.
I want the best for my son and during this time I realized that I was (and still am) hurting from things that happened to me in life. I want to heal. Its time for the broken pieces to be put back together.
God gave me this time. One day I walked along the river front and told God that I wouldn't even mind a part time job so I could still be home more with my son and work on my business ventures. I told him, "Have your way with me."
The next day (Thursday) I received a message about a potential job from the organization that took over my previous one and laid me off, by that Monday I received the offer letter. Now I'm gainfully employed. Although I still have work to do (hey I'm a work in progress) I have a road map that has been reworked. I'm looking forward to the future. I can only pray that the healing continues, that love will breathe into my spirit and soul like its never done before and that my/our dreams will blossom!
Times may be hard right now. Believe me I know. So if this piece is talking to you, just know that you will be fine in His time. Be still and refocus. Sometimes we get lost in ourselves or even in other people. What I'm doing now is focusing on God instead of the storm. A shift from my prior thinking as I used to focus on the storm and then God.
I pray to remain humble, be a reflection of Him, be a good mother and pursue my dreams with even more fire and desire! I pray that I can be an inspiration!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Parenthood Experience!
The best gifts are necessities! Christmas is coming! So it's great to get cute stuff but try and get the necessary items covered! We just had to buy diapers for the first time last month when Jordan turned 3 months old! Diapers are costly! Wipes and other essentials are great and gift cards to help are outstanding!
Network with other parents! I have friends that have given me clothes, toys, vibrating chairs, swings, etc for Jordan! They passed it on since their kids are bigger now!
Create a Mommy/Daddy swap! Some things I have are on "loan" because that family wants more kids and until they have them they loaned us stuff (swing, bassinet, vibrating chair)! Saved us a lot of $!
Don't buy every new gadget that's on the market! I love Babies R Us but that store can suck you in! There are gadgets I even had on my baby registry that I took off (thanks to some great friends)! Like pacifier wipes, a wipe warmer, the car wipe warmer, the baby bathtub with shower head/jacuzzi mechanism which is shown above)! Need I say more!
Don't listen to everyone! MY GOD! People had some serious opinions during my pregnancy! Listen to some advice but don't get overwhelmed (its very easy to get irritated with the amount of advice you will receive)!
Its okay to politely tell people to please mind their business. Also its fine to tell people to not touch your belly if you're pregnant. I had strangers who wanted to touch my belly! No...back off!
Don't buy a lot of newborn stuff! Your child might not even fit it and if they do it will be a very short period.
You're not eating for (2)! You can eat healthy while carrying your baby but if you want the baby weight to fall off afterwards please do yourself and the baby a favor and watch what you put into your body while you're preggers!
Your doctor/pediatrician is your friend. At least mine was/are! I told my OB about all the lovely comments and advice I was receiving. He humorously said, "You can ask me anything...that's what I get paid the big bucks to do." Lol. But seriously, have a good relationship with them and ask questions.
Once the baby is here, go out! Don't become a hermit. You want your child to be exposed to the world. I'm not saying go to a rock concert. But get out. Go shopping, a new mom's/dad's group, visit friends, family, etc.
Please start buying bigger clothes (going back to buying a bunch of new born clothes)...plan outward and diversify their wardrobe with all sizes.
Accept help! If a friend says, "I'll come over so you can take a nap, wash clothes, go for a walk/run, etc and I'll watch the baby." Then you should answer with, "Yes! Please come by!"
Did I say don't get caught up in buying all the latest gadgets lol!
Wanna make a profit while making space? Then put the baby things on Craigslist or they even now have markets where parents can set tables up and sell stuff. Some parents know they aren't having any more children. So why hang onto everything. Make room and money (you can start your kids savings account this way too)!
Review ratings of products! Very important!
I wrote this to help out expecting/new parents and hope other parents can add to it! Now my son is only 4 months old and I've experienced all of this! Imagine 4 months down the line. Enjoy parenthood!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
