I Celebrate My Sisterhood - My granny "Mazaree G. Wilson"

As I continue my reflection of the women in my life. Today I will celebrate the other most important woman in my life, the one who raise me, my granny, Mazaree G. Wilson. She would always say G.. when she would say her name, I guess so people would know who she was.. G for Gardner.

And the story begins... As long as I can remember I always lived with my grandma. It wasn't until she died in 2002, when I found out the how and why. At the age of 1 grandma became my second mom. I never called her mom because my mom was in my life. But she was the one who took care of me, taught me how to clean the house, we did this every Saturday. She taught me how to make the best pound cake, pies. We spent the better part of our lives traveling for JESUS. She introduced me to the Lord. She took me to my first tent revival on Washington Street right beside Washington Street Elementary School. I received Christ at the age of 5 and she and I began our walk with the Lord together. Grandma was strict... I mean really strict. No boys, no phone, me and Benji (our dog) couldn't go out to play much. I wore dresses ALL the time. No pants, no make up, no movies. There was a lot of NO'S at grandma's. LOL

I probably had the best of two worlds. Christmas was a double wammy for me because I got gifts from mom and dad and grandma. Now, this I didn't like... when my brothers and sisters would come over to visit and they would eat all the peppermint candy.. I didn't like that because I had the life as a only child... selfish and self-centered.

Grandma made me become a mother after I had my baby at 16. She was there when I told my parents, she made sure I knew the do's and don't's. I never, and I'll say it again, NEVER saw my grandma with a man... a true woman of God. She provided for us. She worked at night, which probably wasn't a good thing for a teenager... I'll never tell. But, even when I messed up, she was always there to show me love.

I remember her telling me as a teenager, "Lisa I hope the Lord let's me live to see you get your own house so I can see how you keep house." He allowed that to happen and I became this crazy OCD housekeeper. LOL. We would sit around the piano and sing hymns. I would play while she sat in her rocking chair and sang Blessed Assurance, How Great Thou Art and some of her other favorite hymns. On Saturday nights we would watch Wrestling, Wahoo McDaniel, and Rick Flair and all the other old wrestler's. We would watch the soap operas's during the day when I was being home schooled during my pregnancy. On Saturday  mornings we went to the beauty salon or beauty parlor as they were called back in the day. I hated spending Saturdays there because she would start doing my hair, then make me sit to the side when a customer would show up. I couldn't go out side to play because that meant she had to shampoo my hair all over again. LOL... We would start fires in the big pop belly stove on those cold nights. She taught me how to drive on the way to and from church from Florence SC. She taught me how to sew. I still have the sewing machine she bought me when I turned 16 and guess what IT STILL WORKS... LOL.

When her health began to fail and we had to put her in a nursing home as she became to much for my parents to care for. She would always tell me to that I would always be Lisa L. Wilson and that she wanted me to marry someone nice and be happy. She knew then that my life was in shambles... I believe Grandma is looking down from heaven now and smiling, knowing that I am still walking with the Lord, I am married and happy. I still wear slips, camisoles, stockings and long dresses. I still struggle with wearing pants and NEVER , NEVER do I wear lipsticks... LOL...

I have become my grandma with a twist. I love that lady.. There is so much I could say about my grandma... maybe I'll put it in a book one day.... :). Stay tune for Grandma's story.

Remember to Smile Everyday, Show Up Everyday, and Succeed Everyday
Find Peace Within
Be blessed,
Ms. Lisa

I Celebrate My Sister-Hood - My Mom Mary Alice Wilson -Women's History Month

In recognition of Women's History Month Today I celebrate my Mother

Mary Alice Wilson, my mom- married her high school sweet heart Bernice at the age of 17 and 18. Their love produced 11 beautiful, very successful children. She was a majorette for Butler High School back in her day. Long legs, hips, thighs, and long hair. My dad spotted her and had to have her..... they have a beautiful love story. She's a beautiful woman inside and out. My mom is truly a strong person.

She has always encouraged us to do our very best. She let us know that it was important to go to college. She taught us how to be ladies and how to be a wives. She taught us how to make homemade biscuits and cakes from scratch. She told us to always have some money on the side, for JUST IN CASE, pay your bills on time and buy good quality furniture because it will last a life time.

There have been times when my mom wasn't always my biggest cheerleader and I had to separate myself from her but I never stopped loving her. Today she's my rock. She has shown her strength through her cancer treatments. She went through it with a smile. She never complained and never stopped taking care of our dad. They have been married over 60 years and that is to be celebrated. I've seen her go through some tough times and not one time did she make us feel alone or as if we would be left alone.

I remember when she wanted to learn how to drive, back then the husband did it all....I went with her to BoBo Smith Car dealership to buy her 1st car.. a Buick Regal. I test drove it and drove it home for her. She eventually got her license. She doesn't drive much outside of their small town in SC but she is an independent woman who can do her own thing.

Today I celebrate my mother, Mary Alice Montgomery Wilson.

Remember to Smile Everyday, Show Up Everyday, and Succeed Everyday
Find Peace Within
Be blessed,
Ms. Lisa

You get exactly what you need - Iyanla Vanzant speaks to women

We all get exactly what we need, when we need it, in order to learn what God intends for us to know so we can be who God intends for us to be.

Iyanla Vanzant

God knows just what we need so he creates opportunities for us to grow and learn and trust Him Totally. I needed every journey I've been through to write my book. Today I am able to share what God has a way of getting out of us what we need for us.

Remember to Smile Everyday, Show Up Everyday, and Succeed Everyday
Find Peace Within
Be Blessed,
Ms. Lisa

You Inherited it - You Fix It - Iyanla Vanzant speaks to Women

When you inherit a broken family, you can't throw it away and get a new one.
What you can do is find people and situations that provide for you what your family cannot.

Iyanla Vanzant

Being an African American woman, I've found it interesting that WE as a culture will not get the help we need for our families in order to become better at being a family. We live in dis-functional families and we avoid family gatherings because of the behavior of some. But it's hard to get counseling when you don't know what the REAL problem is. And older people do not want to tell strangers what's going on behind closed doors. As my parents would say, "Don't be telling people what going on behind these doors." Do not put your business in the streets is what they say. But not saying anything has caused us many problems in our own lives. 

I went to counseling twice in my life, and counseling is only as good as the truth you tell. If you're not ready to tell the truth then don't go to counseling. If you want REAL help for you and your family, tell the REAL truth about your part, not about the other person's part.

Remember to Smile Everyday, Show Up Everyday, and Succeed Everyday.
Find Peace Within
Be blessed,
Ms. Lisa

Judging and Accepting - Iyanla Vanzant Speaks to Women

More often than not, the things we detect and judge in others are a reflection of the things we cannot accept about ourselves.

Iyanla Vanzant

She thinks she cute
Why would she wear that
Wow, she's gained a lot of weight
Why would he want to be with her.....

What Iyanla is saying says volumes about how we feel about ourselves as women and how we view other women. Why do we talk about our sisters and say mean things about them...

Ummmm, something to think about.

Grandma said if you don't have anything good to say, then don't say anything at all. If we did that.... WHAT IN THE WORLD WOULD WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT???

Remember to Smile Everyday, Show up Everyday, and Succeed Everyday
Find Peace Within
Be blessed,
Ms. Lisa

The Debt You Owe - Iyanla Vanzant Speaks to women about paying the debt

"You simply cannot pay the debts that come along with believing you are worthy."
Iyanla Vanzant

There is no amount you can afford to pay for being who you are. Do not ever provide an excuse for being the person you've become from your journey. I will say this, there is always room for improvement and you have the responsibility to yourself to always look for ways to be a better you.

Remember to Smile Everyday, Show Up Everyday, and Succeed Everyday
Find Peace Within
Be blessed,
Ms. Lisa 

Delayed but not Denied - Iyanla Vanzant speaks to women

No matter how many times or how long you have wished, hoped, and prayed for something, because it has not happened yet does not mean it will not happen.

Iyanla Vanzant

There are many things in my life that I've waited for and thought would never come. And that one thing is PEACE. For years I've walked in the shoes of other people and wished I was like someone else. But today, I am happy for who I am and the journey I've had. There is nothing else I would change, even this season of menopause... even though I'm not getting my rest these days.

Remember to keep paying and keep hoping and keep wishing.

Smile Everyday, Show Up Everyday, and Succeed Everyday
Find Peace Within
Be Blessed,
Ms. Lisa