Happy New Year

Photo courtesy of Google Images

As we embark on a New Year, its good to reflect on all that has occurred this year to make provisions for the following year.  Moving from just blogging to also providing services and products are on the agenda for Elegant Granny in the New Year.  It has been a pleasure servicing you and forming relationships with some of you (my cyber buddies).
Looking forward to meeting some of you in the upcoming events (see events tab for more detail).

Walking into the New Year will be with great joy to continue providing you with excerpts of my life.  Thank you for allowing me to share my life with you - one memory at a time.

Much love,
Elegant Granny

Elegant Granny Planning for 2013

Excited about the New Year coming?  I certainly am.  2012 has been a very enlightening year for me.  From the beginning of the year to now:  Although Elegant Granny was created in October 2011, I Founded the Elegant Granny Company in 2012 beginning with just this blog.

Along this journey, I have met some of the most amazing people this year. I would like to express thanks from the bottom of my heart for each one sharing themselves with me so that I may become the woman God intended me to be:
@Vernetta Freeney of Women Are Gamechangers
@April D. Byrd of Breath of Life Daily

@Tyjuana Wilson of Tyland Writings
@Freckles of Love, Curiosity, Freckles, and Doubt
@Nell of theramblingcouchpotato aka my sister from another mother
@ Montina Portis of Organic Life Products, Inc. aka @Sparkwisdom on YouTube


2013, Elegant Granny will attend events enhancing who she has evolved into along with the advice and directives from the above people. I'm most excited about attending the Spark & Hustle event in the District of Columbia in April.  Click the Spark & Hustle image next to the post on the right to see info.  Hope to meet you there.
So many of you have asked that I add blog buttons to share with others on your blogs.  Granny will definitely work on that for the new year.  Thanks for asking.

Thank you again to everyone who supports me on this journey, and may God multiply back to you one hundred fold.

Much love,
Granny

**Click the links next to the names above and visit their site.  If you decide to do business with them, let them know Elegant Granny sent you**

Who inspired you to be greater than what you've become this year?  Has your meeting with them led you to make plans for a greater you in 2013?  Leave comments below.


Feel free to visit me at my other sites:
Be Wise and Know http://www.bewiseandknow.com
Time With Granny  http://www.timewithgranny.tumblr.com

Merry Christmas from Elegant Granny

Photo courtesy of Google Images

It's Christmas!!!  It has been a beautiful year because of all the support you give me.  Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.

Be safe and enjoy the holiday

Much love,
Granny

One of my Favorite Things

While going through the news feed on my Facebook business page earlier, I came across a status from @Women Are Gamechangers about being a nerd girl still loving the smell of books.  Boy did this take me back to a memory that helped me to behave myself.

Just a snippet of my collection

I've always had a love for books - paper or hard back.  Growing up, I'd rather read than go out to play.  My mother used to take whatever book I was reading at the time away from me as punishment for doing or saying something wrong.  With my OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) for completing what I started instead of skipping on to the next thing, she knew it would be hard for me to start reading something else until she gave me back the book she took so I could complete that one first.  It was so nerve racking for this here chick.  So glad that was all it took for me to straighten up. I would also fight to keep the other kids away from my book collection.  If that gives you any indication how I feel about books.


I love books so much!!!

Although eBooks are great, I still prefer my hard copies.  There is always at least two on me at all times.  That's why my shoulder bags are so big.  If you see me with a smaller hand bag, rest assure, there is a couple of books somewhere in the car.
To this day, whenever I'm out, if I pass by any books for sale, you will see that little girl - instead of my forty something self -getting very excited like it's the morning of Christmas until I leave with all I have the money for.

Much love,
Granny



What is one of your favorite things you were very protective of as a child?  Leave comments below. 


 

RECIPE: Great Northern Beans with Smoked Turkey Breast

Hello there!  Granny here with one of her favorite recipes:  Great Northern Beans with Smoked Turkey Breast.  There are so many benefits that come with this recipe:

1. saves time during the week - one meal in one pot
2. health benefits
3. promotes hair growth
4. tastes great
5. enough to share

The list could go on, but I'll stop here.
I use beans as a staple meal when my weeks are extra long.  It frees me from stressing out having to cook with limited time.  Beans also are high in fiber (good for digestive tract), contain biotin which promotes hair growth, helps increase muscle tone, and there is a variety of ways you can cook them.
Turkey breast has its own benefits, it's a lean meat less talked about containing large amounts of B6 and a good amount of B12, and just like beans they taste great depending what your taste calls for.
Of course as all Granny's do, there is always more than enough to share.  I'll be sharing this tasty treat with my coworkers.

Great Northern Beans with Smoked Turkey Breast
1 small turkey breast (mine was approx 6lbs)
1 1/2 lbs of dried great northern beans
onions
seasoning to taste (whatever you like)

Turkey Breast:
Roast turkey breast in oven according to instructions using seasonings of choice after cleaning it.  After taking out of oven allow to sit for approx 10-15 min before carving.  Carve turkey, then dice into smaller pieces (you choose the size).  Put turkey into mixing bowl and let marinade in liquid smoke for approx 2 - 4hrs (I normally do it as long as the beans take to cook).

Beans:
Sort beans for debris.  Rinse beans well. 
See instructions for soaking method.  Lately, I've been using the quick soak method and it works just as good as if you were to soak overnight.  Use seasoning of choice.  Beans usually take 3 - 4hrs to cook if using on medium heat with lid tilted for better cooking.  Once beans are tender, add turkey and onions and allow to set together as you would spaghetti noodles and sauce.
*onions can be cooked with turkey or beans.  I love onions so much I do it with both.

Serve with cornbread and you have a tasty meal that is very filling.

Enjoy!  I sure plan to!!

What are some of your recipes for northern beans?  Leave comments below.

Much love,
Granny

The Sisterhood of The World Bloggers Award

Since I began blogging, I've met some amazing people.  Some just for conversation, others for networking or coaching me to my next level.
Yesterday, I received an email saying I was nominated for The Sisterhood of The World Bloggers Award by Nell @ theramblingcouchpotato.  Thanks Nell!  I really appreciate it.

Seven interesting facts about myself are:

1. Love to read - my nose is always in a book
2. Love to cook - it soothes my soul
3. Love education - my mother swears I will always be in school
4. Love to write - my thoughts are precious and I love to share what they are
5. Eldest of 20 grandchildren
6. Worked in the Medical Industry for 27 years
7. Great planner - have to plan and organize absolutely everything in my life

 

In turn, I am also nominating seven other deserving sisters for this award:
Vernetta Freeney @ womenaregamechangers.com
April Byrd @ breathoflifedaily.com
MissyMystique @ boujibuzz.com
Freckles @ nvfreckles.blogspot.com
Faith @ onlinewithfaith.blogspot.com
Ty Knighten @ thesexysinglemommy.net
Tamyka Washington @ theceomamma.com

My reason for nominating these young ladies is they are hardworking for the good of all women.

In order to receive this award, the following rules apply:

• Include the award logo on your post
• Thank the blogger nominating you and link back to their blog
• List seven interesting facts about yourself
• Nominate seven other deserving sisters

That seemed easy enough.
Thanks again Nell for the nomination! Much success to you and my other seven social media sisters.

How have you been appreciated for the work you've done?  Male or female, share with us in comment section below.

Much love,
Granny

Food - Pinto Beans with Ground Beef

Most people eat beans when the seasons change and it becomes cold outside.  I can eat it all year long.  The benefits of beans are the amount of protein and fiber you get for your body, and the biotin for your hair.  My favorite part of beans is the price.  You just can't be it.  And for this I'm thankful.
Today, I made some chili and it turned out just like I like it - POPPIN' with color.

I don't measure when I cook but I can tell you what it consist of:

• ground meat (depending if it's just me I'll use veggie crumbles, if I share I use real meat)
• pinto beans
• whole grain rotini pasta
• onions
• tomatoes
• mushrooms
• red, green, and orange peppers
• mixture of different seasonings from cupboard

I always serve with a pan of cornbread.
Making you hungry?  Let me know how yours turn out.

What is one of your favorite food you're thankful for?  Leave comment below.

Much love,
Granny

Family

Warning:  This is my family.  This is NOT how we have fun.  This is how we live........

I don't know about you, but I do believe I have the most fun family there is.  And for this I am very thankful.  No matter what trials, tribulations, sorrow, or pain, we still have the most fun.  The picture below is from last year.  I decided I wanted the family to go to church '70s style for my birthday.  It seems I'm stuck in that era for some reason.  I love those days!!!  We were amazed Mama went along with it. We believe she had more fun with it than we did.  The Pastor got the biggest kick out of it as well.  He had us to stand up and introduced us as Foxy Brown, Cleopatra Jones, Christie Love, etc....

The Real Get Fresh Crew.  Me in the plaid coat.

The following picture is of my other mother and her sisters.  We have a birthday celebration for all of them on the same day due to everyone's birthday falling within 2 weeks of each other at the beginning of the year.  The theme for the party that year was '50s, '60s, and '70s.  Aren't they cute?!

Ma in center as Don King
 

 Looking forward to fun next year.  I hope you are with your family.

Much love, 
Granny

What are some things your family do together for fun?  Share with us in comment section.

Parents

There's one thing in this life I know for certain; you don't get to pick your parents.  For this, I am thankful.  My parents did not have the best of everything to give us, but they gave us everything with the best they had.  We were blessed to have three parents in our lives that we care about and they care about us.

My father c. at his ordination service

My father spent a great portion of his life working hard, being involved in sports (he coached a lot), and teaching Sunday school.  As I remember, his favorite job was during the time he was trucking for Allied.  He always came back home bragging what stars he ran into while delivering cargo in California.  The thing I remember about him the most, he stressed a scripture from the bible that will never leave me - "If a man don't work, he don't eat." (2Thessalonians 3:10).  He was not playing either.  Every child, at any age was required to do something around the house.  If you were able to communicate you were hungry effectively, verbal or not, you had to work for it.  Because of this virtue, I learned to never to depend on anyone for anything when I am well able to get up and do for myself.  Thanks Daddy!!  Here's a post I did in memory of my father earlier this year:  http://timewithgranny.tumblr.com/post/16469095710/live-without-regrets-this-post-is-in-memory-of-my

This is Mama (Nah Nah) dressed for Sunday service

My mother was the one that provided a lot of lung exercises for us.  While growing up, my sisters and I were known as The Braxton Girls.  We were a singing group that had some place to service people in song every Sunday (or so it seemed every Sunday).  It was a lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun.  During the summer, Mama would sell dinner plates for school supplies and school clothes for the upcoming school year.  Because of these two ventures, I learned how to use every stream God has given me to pool income for my household.  Thanks Mama!!  Here's a post I did of Mama earlier this year:  http://www.1elegantgranny.com/2012/05/these-mothers-of-mine.html

Here's a picture of Ma with her winning smile

My step-mother has been the greatest support system for us all.  She was always there for us as the sounding board for anything.  What I remember of her most as a child, is her love for people.  There is never anyone going into lack around her.  If you don't know how to do, she will teach you if you allow her to.  Because of her, I understand the value of giving back to my community.  Thanks Ma!!  Here's a post I did of Ma earlier this year:  http://www.1elegantgranny.com/2012/05/these-mothers-of-mine-part-2.html

All three parents have served God and their children well.  I appreciate them, and I'm sure God does too.

Much love,
Granny

What values do you treasure most form your parents?  Leave comments below.

Friends

There are events that take place in your life when you will need assistance from others.  Friends are one of the great gifts from God that come few and far between.  Everyone has their definition for what a friend is. 

Here is what Granny looks for in a friend:

• someone who can accept you just as you are, faults and all
• someone who is not afraid to tell you the truth - whether you want to hear it or not
• someone who has YOUR best interest at heart
• someone who is not afraid of letting you grow into something beyond the relationship you have with them
• someone who is willing to promote your growth
• someone who will keep you before God in their prayers
• someone willing to forgive you because they love you with their WHOLE heart 
• someone who will keep the most inner part of you, the most inner part of them - they aren't willing to share your secrets with anyone no matter how angry you make them sometimes

I don't have many friends, but the ones I have, I cherish with my whole heart.

Much love,
Granny

What is your definition of a friend?  Leave comments below.

Life

By my judging stick, my life has been hard, but it's been good.  It has afforded me the opportunities of loving with my whole heart, the ability to stand up on my own two feet, and a determination to continue making myself and assisting others to become the best we all can possibly be.

Loving with my whole heart gives the opportunity to show others how God loves them through me.  Being able to stand on my own two feet was the result of not having things handed to me.  I had to learn either from others or from trial and error how to get things done.  This put me at an advantage to not give up in adverse situations.  A determination to continue making myself and assisting others to become the best we can possibly be goes back to loving with my whole heart.  When you love yourself, you want the best for yourself.  When you love others, you want the best for them.

My life has been so good I can't tell it all.  There is a synopsis of my life on the Bio tab above.

Much love,
Granny

What events in your life has caused you to be thankful regardless the situation?  Share in comment section below.

At This Moment

Photo courtesy of nvfreckles.blogspot.com

At this moment, I am thankful I am able to back track and complete what I started.  A few weeks ago, I took on the challenge of writing everyday this month of things I'm thankful for according to the list provided by nvfreckles.blogspot.com.  I was introduced to the list on day 4, so only days 4-10 are completed.  But a Granny is bound and determined to get the others done.  I fell off the wagon transitioning to new schedules at work and at school.  This caused me to have to reschedule how I do things for Elegant Granny as well.

The list is causing me to go back and thank God for everything He has already done in my life.  Performing this action causes me to be quite free to thank Him for everything He is about to do.

Now that my new schedule is set, I have more than enough time to get all post in for all 31 days, get homework done, and still get ready for work.  God is good!!! 

So Granny, GET TO IT!!

Much love,
Granny

What are you thankful for at this moment?

Salad Sandwiches

Growing up, my sisters and I use to play "Old Sisters."  It was a day we use to dress up in hats, gloves, and purses pretending what we would be doing when we get old.  Our bedroom was the house of one sister, the other two sisters, one lived in the living room while the other in our parents bedroom.  We would pretend to call each other on the phone to make a "sister lunch date" at our favorite restaurant (the kitchen).  The meeting place would be at one of the sisters pretend house which was usually our bedroom or our parents room - that's where the lip gloss or Vaseline was for our pretend lip sticks.

When Mama called to let us know when it was time for lunch, we would commence to the kitchen - our favorite restaurant - for our food.  When we were the age of depending on Mama for lunch, we ate what she gave us.  As we got older and were allowed to prepare our own lunch, we decided as a tradition to have salad sandwiches for lunch.  It only consisted of lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise but it was a favorite lunch for "Old Sisters Day."

Now that I'm in my 40s, I often wonder about that play date we use to have.  Sometimes I wonder if we prophesied happy living in our years of retirement.  The three of us have our own lives living in different places and doing different things.  It will be a pleasure to see and to live life as the real "Old Sisters" enjoying that season of our lives.  The only difference, we have a younger sister, and she will be included.  Here's to happy memories with my sisters.

What fond memories do you have of you and your siblings?  Leave story in comment section below.

Much love,
Granny

Gratitude

There is not enough time to explain how grateful to God I am how my life turned out.  Growing up, I had no reason to believe how poor I was until I was in Junior High, and girls were comparing their brand name clothes to my hand me downs from either my younger sisters (I was smaller), or other relatives.

This is a picture of my sisters and I taking a shot with the sun shining bright in our face at Granddaddy's house.  Our favorite place to be.

I didn't have the opportunity of having children of my own, due to medical reasons.  But the fact that I have raised other children has more than made up for it.  They call me Granny.  Not a lot of people understand why.  It doesn't matter to me if they get it or not.  When I hear my children - and grandchildren - call "Granny", I also hear God say, "Blessed woman of wisdom."

Although I haven't began making money for my business, I am so grateful that I have made so many new connections.  People are more than ready to allow me to come speak (when I finish school).  I have turned down some engagements for now because of school.  I also do guest writing for other companies.  Any opportunity to write or speak is such a pleasure for me.  They are my loves.

If it weren't for the fact that I grew up without a lot of money, I would not have the opportunity to appreciate how good life can be while journeying through it, learning how to grow into a beautiful human being.

There are so many reasons why we should show our gratitude for being alive no matter what state we are in.  Not having the best of everything is not one of them.

What are you grateful for?  Share in with the rest of us in the comment section.

Much love,
Granny

Generosity

Generosity is normally defined by society as being liberal with your giving.  A definition I found on Dictionary.com has become a favorite:  freedom from meanness or smallness of mind or character.  There should be at no time, where any human is mean to another human being.  We are all created by the same Creator, in His likeness, and should be treated as such.

It is being free from meanness and smallness of mind or character that we are enabled to freely give.  I remember growing up, how my Grandfather use to always say, "Think about somebody else besides yourself."  He instilled in us how important it was to always share what you had.  No matter how small.  Earlier this year I wrote a post on him giving me $5 to feed over 20 people and how I was able to do it.  More on this story can be found here.

We are also free to give words of encouragement .  It is something everyone could use.  Especially those transitioning from one lifestyle to another.  Transition of any form is never easy. It is when we are at one of the most vulnerable moments in our lives.  There will be people who will be our cheerleaders, and those who will be our opposition.  When we encounter those who oppose our better life, we should be generous enough to tell them thank you.  We can use every negative dart as a tool to catapult us to our next level sooner than expected.  For those who are in our corner, we should never forget to say thank you.  Because of them, we are able to keep our heads held high and march forward.   

We must always remember to choose to be generous in our giving, be it money, words, or deed(s).  When we do, it must be done with a cheerful heart.  The only way to do it with a cheerful heart, is to be free of meanness or smallness of mind or character.

Much love,
Granny

Encouragement

Photo courtesy of Google Images

There is never a bad time to give or receive encouragement.  It is the state of being in a place where someone or something gives you hope.  It reminds me of faith (state of hoping for something that has not manifested yet).  Before my Grandfather passed, I was in his bedroom talking to him one day.  We were talking about things that happened in our lives and things that were going on in our lives at the time.  At some point during the conversation, he said, "My life was hard, but it was good."

Granddaddy only had a third grade education.  He came up in a time when children were taking from school to work to help support the family.  As we were conversing one day, he inquired about my classes.  I was in Junior College at the time and I told him how rough it was especially while having to work a full-time job at the same time.  He gave me so many words of encouragement that night, I just couldn't post them all.  The one thing that stood out to me was the summation of his life.  It has become one of my famous quotes during one of my motivational engagements:
 "Man is only as strong as his faith.  The more it is exercised, the stronger he becomes."  ~ Elegant Granny

During my Grandfathers life, he had to endure so many things to overcome not only to help himself, but to assist his family members to have a better life.  As the patriarch in the family, there was always a word of encouragement coming from this man.  He also encouraged us to do the same with each other, and others we come into contact with.

My Grandfather never saw me graduate from college, but there was a surety within him that said I was going to make it.  Today, I am working on my MBA, and still working full-time (plus up to 32hrs of overtime during the week).  I am also working on publishing other work besides my three blogs.  I am so grateful to God for the times we shared.  Those words he gave me were always the best pick me up I needed.

Encouragement is one of the greatest gifts you can give.  My gift to you, is to always believe you're going to make it no matter how hard it becomes.  Whenever you feel as if you won't, remember why you started on your journey in the first place.  Once you realize how far you've come, you won't want to turn around.

Much love,
Granny

Writing

Writing has always been one of my favorite things to do (coupled with reading).  It started when I was a little girl growing up in the hills of Virginia.  Writing has been rewarding, therapeutic, and gratifying, and has become the expression of the settlement of my existence.

At the end of writing, I look back at what I published, and am able to envision with others the heart and the experiences of the writer.  The reward is wanting to connect with the writer and comment to the post as if I were a follower of my own writing  (I really enjoy reading and writing).

How therapeutic is the journey of writing?  During the process, I began to see how all the negatives of what I'm saying become positive.  When I was a little girl, I use to have a problem with anger.  To keep from being disrespectful to anyone, instead of performing the wrath of Danielle on them, I would grab a pencil and a piece of paper and write about everything:  what they did, how it made me feel, and what I wanted done to them.  By the end of the writing, I felt better because I was able to get everything I felt out on paper instead of the person(s) that caused the anger.  For more of this story click here.

Once I sit at the computer at night, I began writing as if it were a full-time job.  Gratifying as it is, it never feels as if it is a job, but a love I can't wait to come home to from work at night. I am reminded of how great it is to be able to get involved with something I enjoy so much.  It is because of this I always say, "Much love, Granny" at the end of every post.

As I embark on the next career of my life, writing appears to be the one thing I really want to do (other than motivational speaking).  Be that as it may, there is so much to prepare for my next career move:  school, managing blogs, learning how to publish, etc...  So I'll end this post with - until next time, good-night.

Much love,
Granny

Acceptance

It takes some people time to learn who they are.  At times, they don't like who they are and venture out being something/someone else they're not.  By the time they get through making things harder for themselves and everyone else by doing so, they come full circle realizing they have to accept who they are, where they come from, and who they are becoming.

Who you are begins in your genetic makeup.  There are some things that are just inevitable.  For instance, my parents enjoyed cooking and feeding people.  I do also.  Unlike them, I do not care how much everyone enjoys my cooking, I do not plan to start a catering business or open a restaurant.  My love for cooking stems from both parents.  My two sisters and I were always around food.  No microwave nor instant food for us.  Just home cooked meals.  I want good cooking and good conversation for everyone just like my parents did.  Although I don't have the heart for starting a business cooking like my parents and one of my sisters, I accept the fact that I will not make plenty of money cooking for people, but I can make something out of writing a cook book with our recipes.  I accept that I am different in a lot of ways.  I am a writer.  Always have been.  Always will be.  My other sister just rather serve the food and converse with the people.  My sisters and I are all different in relation to cooking and serving.

It's OK to be different.  Learn how to accept and appreciate what separates you from others.  It will make a difference in your happiness.  It has with us.

Much love,
Granny

LOVE

There are so many ways I could talk about love.  Today, I choose to discuss how I believe as a Christian God intended me to love His people.  I'll discuss why He chose me to love the way He did, why He chose you for me to love, and the benefit of me loving you the way He told me to.

God chose me to love you because just like Him, He knew I would look pass your faults and see your need.  There should never be a time where we, as Christians, should focus on the faults of our sisters and brothers.  Doing so would be a misrepresentation of Him and cause shame for the reason Christ died on Calvary.  Your faults are none of my business.  That is Jesus' business to handle.

God chose you for me to love because loving you shows how valuable you are to Him.  Know your worth.  He created you in His image.  When you look in the mirror, you are looking at a piece of Him.  No matter how flawed, He loves you anyway.  He loved you so much, He sent Christ to take care of your faults.  When Christ ascended back to heaven, He sent people like me to love you with the same measure.  Don't worry about those who don't, God gave you just who you need in your life.

The benefit of me loving you the way He told me to is, He is sterilizing you to love others with the same measure.  We should always choose love when it comes to others; faults and all.  To do the opposite, would be a disservice not only to Him, but also to ourselves. 

Love one another.  As I have loved you, so must you love one another.  - John 13:34 

Much love,
Granny

Beware: It's Be My Boo Season - Part 2

While going over some of the statuses in my Facebook news feed, I came across one that went well with my Be My Boo series.  This lady stated, "Not interested in men who aren't business minded.  Why would a man think that if he has no goal he's aiming for, he will get a woman who is about having a vision?"

Photo courtesy of Google Images

My response to her status was:
Exactly....some come to perform the will of the enemy: to kill the desire God placed within you; to steal any progression (tools given by God) moving you in the direction God is guiding you in; and to destroy the work of God using you to bless those around you by trying to bless themselves with the fruit of your labor.

Of course, this status and response applies to both male and female.  I have seen countless men dealing with the women in their lives with the same mentality.

So how do I deal with them Granny?  So glad you asked.

1) Keep the vision in plain site - create vision boards, get out materials that will assist you in aiming for the goals related to the vision.
2)  Affirm who you are to yourself - the more you remind yourself of how valuable you are, the less you are reminded how valuable you are not by this person.  I learned one one from an event I attended last weekend:
     "I am the most important person I will ever meet"  - Marcia A. Paige
3)  Remember, the desire that was put inside you for greatness was place there by God.  If He didn't think you were the one for the job, He would have never placed that desire in you.
4)  Don't tell them anything - sometimes you have to do as Mary did in the Bible and just ponder on what you are going to do and how you're going to do it.  This person wants you to make it, but only on the terms of how they can benefit from it.

There are other things I'm sure you could do to prevent the negatives of this person to deter you from your goals.  This post would be too long and boring if I put them all in one post.  Feel free to leave a comment if you know of any other suggestions that would help.

Much love,
Granny

For part 1 of this series, click the link below
http://www.1elegantgranny.com/2012/09/beware-its-be-my-boo-season.html

I Hate When That Happens

It's that lovely time of the year when the telemarketers are consistently calling, people knocking on your doors to provide un-petitioned service(s), unwanted mail,etc.....   Here's where I'm going with this:

Last night, as I was attempting to do homework, there was a knock at the door.  There were two young men wearing reflector jackets saying they were from the company I subscribe cable to.  They had all my information, asking me if I were the named person they called out, and recited the information to me after I confirmed I was who they were looking for.  Now in my mind, I'm thinking - here we go again.

They proceed by telling me they were going to bump my payment up $20/month.  I ask why.  One of the  representatives said, "To upgrade your channels so you can receive more and also get a land-line phone."

I hate when that happens.  Don't tell me what I'm going to receive with my money, or what you are going to do with it when I did not petition you for your service.  <-----My only rant

Now I don't recall ever asking for anything. So being me, I interrupt the young man telling him, "No thank you.  I didn't ask for that because I never wanted it.  I'm quite satisfied with what I have."
He replied with, "Okay, thank you ma'am", and went to the next door.  As I was closing my door, I heard the other gentleman say, "Man she didn't go for that at all."  I re-opened the door asking what was meant by the comment and he said, "Nothing ma'am."

As I was about to call the company disclosing my experience with them, I thought, how many people said yes without giving much thought to what was being said to them?  Unfortunately,  some of my neighbors did.  I asked them about their experience as they were going off to work this morning.  How many times are we caught off guard by people talking us into something because we really weren't paying any mind to what they were saying at all?  Whether out of being busy; just plain exhausted; or not wanting to deal with anybody at the time, we need to pay close attention to what the other party is saying.  You never know what agreement you have made when you don't.  In some cases, you never know what relationships are being put into jeopardy when you're not paying attention.

Beware and be safe!

Much love,
Granny

BEWARE: It's Be My Boo Season

Growing up in the church, my mind use to wonder a lot while listening to the speaker.  One of his many quotes after reading the scripture was, "First natural, then spiritual".  He would proceed to explain the scripture to us using everyday situations, so we would understand the scripture better on a spiritual level.  During devotions this week, I read Matthew 7.  This post will be mostly from verses 15-21. And it is also mostly talking about false prophets.  I'm going to venture out and use this scripture giving one of Granny's excerpts on false relationships.

Comparing with verses 15-21, it is important for us to be alert of different people we welcome into our lives.  There are those with a "Charming Spirit" that approach you this time of the year more than any other time of the year.  I choose to call it the "Be My Boo Season".  During this time of the year, someone approaches you attempting to get into some form of relationship with you. Be it potential mate; ace; best friend;  etc..... 
You can tell they mean you no good by their fruit.  The relationship is more you give 99%, they receive 99%.  The 1% they choose to "freely give" comes with a price.  It is mainly for the 99% they are seeking to receive from you.  In any relationship, it should not be 99/1.  It shouldn't even be 50/50, but rather 100% both ways.  This particular type of person usually hangs around until the spring of the year when it's "open game season" for them to comfortably discard you, without warning, then off to find a new prey.  Some even have the gall to find someone else and try to hang onto to you in case it doesn't work out with the next victim.
Once this person is in your life for a portion of the season, you become attached to this person and do your best to keep them satisfied.  Before you know it, you're jumping through hoops doing for them and not reaping any of the benefits yourself.  This is harmful to your spirit and relationship with others.  You will tend to either lash out at those trying to help you out of the situation, or you wilt like a dying flower just accepting the relationship like it is causing more damage to your spirit.  You are much too precious to the rest of us to allow this to happen.  Someone on the outside may see what's going on inside but you choose not to listen.  If the person warning you is still continuing to be a friend no matter what the situation is with this other person, listen carefully.  It will save you a lot of heartache.  Better to face the fact that you were fooled into something you didn't intend to be in, than to try and save face trying to cover up and fix things yourself.

Please everyone be safe!!!  It is Granny's will and pleasure that you have a good life and enjoy it to the fullest.

Much love,
Granny   

For part 2, click the following link
http://www.1elegantgranny.com/2012/11/beware-its-be-my-boo-season-part-2.html

Granny is Back

HELLO EVERYONE!!!!!  Granny here!  Boy have I missed you.  Just got a break from my first term in Grad school.  It was necessary for me to take this time away from you to focus on my studies.  Grad school is no joke!  I count it a privilege and a blessing to be able to accomplish something so great mainly because of how it was afforded me in the first place.  Many of our American ancestors, no matter what race, fought for me to be able to take advantage of this.  I choose to not allow the work they did to be in vain. 
The next term starts just after Labor Day.  I have worked out a schedule that will allow the appropriate time for school, work, family, and Elegant Granny.  It was a trying experience, but I made it.  I felt it was important to put something on the back burner until I worked out a working schedule.  Otherwise, I would have fallen flat on my face. 
Special thanks to my faithful followers, and also to my new ones.  I recently noticed I had some new ones liking my Facebook page.  I will spend the next two weeks writing before starting class again.   Don't worry, my new schedule will allow me to continue writing while in school.  Thanks for your patience.
Have a great week everyone.

Much love,
Granny

My Daily Breath of Life

Growing up, we use to have testimony service during our night services in church.  This was time for people to stand and be a witness of how good God is.  My testimony today, is how I was blessed to encounter a new friend by the name April D. Byrd through the blogosphere.

April D. Byrd, Author of Breath Of Life Daily

April is the creatress and author of Breath Of Life Daily (BOLD) blog.  It is through her posts, people are able to gain strength from the word of God not only from the bible, but through life in general via her life or through the lives of others.  Every Tuesday, April chooses to share testimonies from others to be shared with the world.  At the end of this post, I will leave the address to contact April for you to submit your testimony to her to be shared with the world.

While reading Ezekiel 37, I immediately felt a connection with this scripture and BOLD blog.  In this chapter, God took the Prophet Ezekiel in the Spirit and set him in the middle of a valley full of bones that were very dry.  God told Ezekiel to speak to the bones and command them to hear the word of the Lord. Ezekiel spoke to the bones and said, "Behold I will cause breath (Ruach - breath of God) to enter you that you may come to life."  As he spoke to the bones, the bones began to make a noise and come together.  The sinews (nerves) and flesh began to grow and cover the bones.  But there was no breath in them.  God told Ezekiel to speak again and say to the breath, "Breathe on them."  When he did, life came into them and they stood to their feet as a great army.

Ladies and gentlemen, I submit to you that God is using Breath Of Life Daily blog to speak into our lives to bring back life into us.  Purpose being, you have to live in order to receive what God has with your name on it.  Later in the scripture verses 12-16, Ezekiel was commanded to speak again and declare that God will open their graves and they would come out; and God would bring them into a place that has their name on it.
What has held you down, can hold you down no longer.  What has held the very thing(s) you need God to supply, will no longer be kept from you.  There are things on this earth with your name on it.  God specifically chose April to speak and call the four winds through the blogosphere to speak into our lives to bring forth life, mobility, and the authority to claim what God has for us.  These things are not just so we can go on with our lives for ourselves, but to testify to others how good and great God is.  It is also to bring us together as one, unifying us to speak life into others around us.  Our responsibility in all this, is to hear God.  Only when we hear Him, Ruach - His breath - will come into our lives and cause things that were dead to rise up and live again. His breath will enable us to claim what is ours, becoming one, speaking into the lives of others so they may live according to the plan of God as well.  

Becoming affiliated with Breath Of Life Daily has been an empowering experience.  Since my beginning of reading BOLD, my life has been enriched with every post.  April, thank you so much for allowing God to use you to speak into our lives.  It is an awesome responsibility.  You were chosen because you were ready to serve, willing to listen, and able to do it.  May God continue to bless you and Breath Of Life Daily blog.

You may reach April by Clicking Breath Of Life Daily link here, or under her photograph, and going to the testimonies tab on the blog.  To share a testimony you would like April to share with the world, you may reach her at boldbloginfo@gmail.com

Much love,
Granny

Happy Birthday Sissy

This is my sister.  She is daughter #2, I'm the eldest.

It's my Sissy's birthday.  And all I can think to get her for her birthday is her favorite slushy from 7-eleven.  She could never turn those down.  It's impossible to be on a road trip with her and pass by any 7-eleven without stopping to get her one.
 Winona, Noni,  single mother of three; graduate of National College; vlogger; songtress; comedienne; the list could go on and on. Noni was always the family's clown.  Always keeping laughter in the atmosphere whether by singing and dancing, telling jokes, or just plain being silly.

Winona's children l to r: Jaizon, Natailsha, and Asia

I'm especially proud of the relationship she has with her three children.  The joy of the Lord has truly been her strength.  Her joy has gotten her through everything in her life.  There is so much more I could write, but while writing this post, I decided to introduce everyone to all of us in the next post.
For post I did on her earlier this year click here.


Happy Birthday Sissy!  Let's go get those slushy's!!!

Much love,
Granny

These Mothers of Mine - Part 2

This post will honor my step-mother, a powerful woman of God.  We choose to call her our "Other Mama".  We don't like to use the term step.

Pastor Patricia J. Braxton of Change Me Ministries and Fellowship

Patricia J. Braxton, Ma, has been one of the greatest blessings for my sisters and I.  She married our father when we were still in grade school.  This moved her status of being the mother of one, to the mother of five children.  She has impacted our lives greatly.  Teaching us money skills, how to sell products you make, teaching us the word of God, how to forgive and change your life for the better are some of the things we learned form her.  There has never been a time when we called upon her for assistance to understand things happening in our lives that she didn't assist us. My Mother's Day would not be complete without honoring her as well.

Ma, is Pastor of Change Me Ministries and Fellowship in Lynchburg, VA, and is also Director of Bright Hope Educational Center.  She has an Associates and Bachelors Degree in Business Administration (it appears I have followed her footsteps), and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Religion.  There is so much more I could tell you about this powerful woman.  You can see more about Pastor Braxton and/or the ministry of Change Me by clicking here or the link under the photo.  Support the ministry and stop by for a visit if you're ever in the area.

Thank you Ma for being a part of our family and assisting in our rearing.  It definitely took another great woman of God to help raise three girls.  You have been more of a blessing to us than you know.

Love you much,
Granny  aka  Danielle

Click link for part 1 to meet my other Mother -  http://www.1elegantgranny.com/2012/05/these-mothers-of-mine.html

These Mothers of Mine - Part 1

Since I'm back to writing now, I suppose I could honor these mothers of mine in this fashion. Wasn't sure what else to do or say for Mother's Day this year. In the next two post, I will honor my mother in part 1, and step-mother in part 2.
 

Nah Nah in her Sunday's best celebrating Women's Day at her local church

Phyllis Elliott-Braxton, "Nah Nah", born and raised in Virginia started in Rustburg, Va where most of her relatives lived until the family's house caught fire when she was around 4yrs old.  Her father, Phillip Elliott, built another house in Lynchburg, Va with the help of his best friend.  Mama graduated from the historic Dunbar High School in 1965 (now Dunbar Middle School), attended the historic Phillips Business School (now Miller-Motte College) and attended Central Va Community College. She didn't finish college due to tending to her family.  Raising three girls as a single parent:  keeping up with our school lessons, helping us practice our singing lessons (she played for us while we sang in various churches), helped us with reading and understanding the bible, teaching us how to cook her way (just go in there until it's right), selling dinner plates - chitterlings, chicken, and ham -  during the summer so she could get our school supplies, teach us the proper way of sitting as a lady, the correct way of setting a formal dining area (we always had guest), the correct way of walking in high heel shoes (I still haven't conquered that one yet), all while taking in private sitting jobs to provide for her girls. 
My mother always emphasized to us, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."  She instilled the value of not hurting people on purpose.  There are times when it may happen but to always remember how you would feel if you were that person.
On her job, she was known as the "Hat Lady", always wearing a variety of hats to put smiles on faces of her patients, friends, and others she came in contact with.  Now, Nah Nah is retired from Centra Health as a Certified Nursing Assistant in Hospice, helping attend to her grand-children and teaching the youth at her local church how to be a lady.

Love you Mama.  Lord knows it took another great woman of God to help with three girls from the hills of Virginia.  Happy Mother's Day.

Love you much,
Granny aka Danielle (Danny-Tee)

Click link for part 2 to meet my other Mother -  http://www.1elegantgranny.com/2012/05/these-mothers-of-mine-part-2.html

My Greatest Investor

Deacon Phillip Elliott

This post is about the most important man there ever was in my life.  My Grandfather, the late Deacon Phillip Elliott.  He was the man in previous posts I wrote about that taught me how to think of others besides myself, how to use my money wisely, to always trust God no matter the circumstance(s), and whatever you do, be the best.
My Grandfather was the next to the youngest of 21 children from Rustburg, Va.  Some of his older brothers and sisters, according to what he told me, he never met until his father passed in his early 20s.  Most of them moved up North.

When I was a little girl, I was a Papa's baby.  Through my youthful eyes, I saw no wrong in this man.  He was my everything.  As I became older, I began to see a few of his flaws, but I also saw how he controlled his flaws and not allow them to control him.
Although he only had a third grade education, he was the biggest advocate for education in our family.  He always told us to do and become better than what he did.  With that in mine, I never stopped struggling to continue with my education.  Next month, my family, friends, and I will celebrate me graduating from National college with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration - Management.  I will began Grad school in June.  Because of Granddaddy, today our family is enriched with Ministers, Teachers, Entrepreneurs, Poets, Writers, Musicians/Songwriters/Singers, and other greatness.
I remember on his death bed, we shared a lot of things about ourselves.  I remember him reflecting back over his life.  One of my many quotes summarizes his life, "Man is only as strong as his faith.  The more it is exercised, the stronger he becomes".  ~Elegant Granny

RIP Granddaddy.  All thanks to God for allowing him to be a very important factor in my life.

Much love,
Granny

It's Not About You - Part 2

Bishop Motley Davis
Pastor of Higher Heights Cathedral of Deliverance

Yesterday, I read a status on Facebook that said, "Will you please stop doubting God?????....You are insulting Him when you doubt Him.....Trust and never doubt.....He will surely bring you out.....Just take your burdens to the Lord and leave them there."  - Bishop Motley Davis

                                                                                                  

Granny's testimony:
In 2003, I was laid off from work, for the third time.  The same year, my legs decided they did not want to work anymore.  The Doctors tried to discover what the problem was, but to no avail.  They decided I should not try to work until they found what was going on with me.  Me, on the other hand, decided I needed to be busy.  Everyday, a friend of mine, who was laid off with me, went job hunting.  While she was able to walk at a normal or quick pace, I was going at a very slow pace, shuffling in very slow motion, hardly bending my knees.  At the end of each day, we would retire at her apartment to relax and work on a game plan for the next day.  One day, her roommate, who happened to be home with some of her friends, decided to ask, "How are you going to get hired with your legs not working right?"  My reply was, "I'm going to get a job."  One of the roommate's friends said, "No one is going to hire you looking like that."  We were all looking for jobs.  My reply to this lady was, "I'm going to get a job.  As a matter of fact, I will have one before you."  By the end of the following week, I had a job working in a retail store in the mall which required me to use my legs a lot.  Being of a competitive nature, I took the challenge on deciding I was going to be the best Sales Associate that store had seen in a while.  As usual, we went back to my friend's apartment, same doubting females still there, haven't looked for a job that day while I came in exclaiming I had one.  One said, "How are you going to do that job when it requires you to move around a lot with your legs like that?"  I answered, "I asked God for a job that will assist me in strengthening my legs and He did. You'll see."
As time went on, I reported to work faithfully.  Did what was asked of me faithfully.  Never complained, never looking for an easy way out of doing my share of the work load.  My legs became stronger.  Before anyone knew it, I was pretty much running half the time - I was hired during the Christmas season. A lot of people were rushing in and I was responsible for refilling stock on the floor.
By the end of the season, my legs were back to functioning properly.  The medicine the Physicians had given me, continued to sit at the bedside table without me taking any.  I figured why take them for something if they could not tell me why my legs weren't functioning properly in the first place.

When life dealt me a bad hand, I played the best hand I had.  I chose to believe God.  I never knew God to lie so I depended on Him to get me through this and He did.  I knew that sitting around at home on temporary disability and taking medicine was not going to work.  I knew within myself, that more mobility on my part was the answer.  My act of faith is what caused God to move on my behalf.
Months later, the same ladies that were doubting still did not have a job.  I was enjoying my strength, my new job, and mobility.  There were others, who knew my testimony and believed God according to what they saw Him do in my life and received great results.
Time has passed since this event.  The last few years, I ran into some of these ladies again.  Everyone is doing well now.

So what does all this have to do with the title?  There is always someone needing to hear your testimony of how you overcame a bad hand dealt to you in life.  It gives them a sense of hope and helps them to hold on a little longer because they have something to identify with.  Had I not believed God, the people who received results because of the actions they took according to the testimony they witnessed in my life, they would most likely still be in the position of a defeated mind set.  And God would not have gotten the glory out of my testimony. 

When life dealt you a bad hand, what was your reaction?

For part one click here
To view another testimony click here
For a worship experience with Bishop at Higher Heights Cathedral of Deliverance, click link here or picture above. 

Much love,
Granny