Happy New Year!!

Hi blog family!

Happy New Year to all my blog readers!!!! We did it! Another year! WOW!

So you made it into a new year!!
 Congratulations for staying strong and NEVER giving up!!

 Now is the time for you to reassess what YOU need to do NOW to make THIS year BETTER than last and more productive!! 
Take that singing class, write your first poem or script, record that album, start your new business, find your new mate or friends,
find your talent and gifts - and let them guide you to your greatness!!!!

xo
Tanya

what if you were not born?

Hi blog family! I OFTEN LIKE TO SIT BY THIS LAKE AND REFLECT ON ALL THE GOOD TIMES I HAD WITH MY BABY BROTHER ROB....ENJOY..

I have been VERY busy! I hope your holiday was wonderful, filled with  love, helping others...and then presents!! lol..

I , like many of you, have been challenge this year on many issues:
 fiance,
No love", "lack of" family,
challenged birth family, (lol)
 the law,....got a ticket.....or
 legal rulings that just are not fair
 or my and the latest; being hit in my car as we sat at a red light, by a drunk driver who only got a ticket- even though her kid was in the car!! And she hit someone else less than 2 hours later in the back...at a red light.....
 speaking of unfair!
BUT that is NOT why i write today, I write
to encourage you! We all have the same problems or issues!

When life seems unfair, silly, mean and you think you want to give up - DON"T!!!
WHY?
because you have divine purpose like anyone else: the judge who made a poor decision based on what you know is baloney, the cop who hit you,,..based on a receptionist screaming because you did something simple....like said a curse word in a joke to your friend online....
 like the teacher who gave you a C...even though you knew it was an A paper,
like the person that said you would never be anything because you were a foster kid....and now you have a master's!! lol... Life is amazing and YOU belong here as much as anyone! Never give up fighting for your freedom of speech, (try to say something meaningful lol...), your integrity or your honor!!
Always picture the world without you: (if your "lacking money, relationships...that is not important)..
what would your little brother, sister or friend have done without YOU in there lives???
 don't be selfish, SOMEONE in this world needs you,
 it may be only for a moment or a life time
but YOU are needed! Never think of hurting yourself or anyone else -
you are needed without restrictions...lol...not in jail (where u are still needed but dang , you will have limitations)  and besides, God and the universe did not make you to sit idle (do nothing/be nothing) You are here to save or change a life with your gift...find out what that is....WHAT IF YOU WERE NOT BORN? thank the universe/God that you were, now the world may be better because of you! how thoughtful that your parents may not have been able to care for you BUT they let you live!!!! AMAZING!! MY MOM WAS AN ADDICT, I COMMEND HER FOR KNOWING SHE COULD NOT RAISE ME!! MANY WOULD BE DEAD OR WORSE OFF WITHOUT MY BIRTH!! THIS IS HOW YOU HAVE TO VIEW IT, EVEN IN HARD TIME!!!

.for the new year,  I AM THANKFUL FOR YOU!!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! THE THOUGHT FOR THE NEW YEAR....HOW TO BUILD A BIGGER, BETTER STRONGER ME!! XO TANYA

Holiday blues..how to not lose YOUR mind when life is crazy!

R.I.P little brother!

Hi blog family! After two years I am still missing my brother! The pain gets less but I imagine it will never sink in that he is gone so young! Forgive me for not writing, as I am facing many challenges!
Yes,
it has been a while but life and all its curve balls has been calling me!

I am older and wiser but i still have my days when one error could effect me.
There are days when life can be challenging without family and I want you to know it is NOT your imagination - life is ruff - especially without a family!

Even at my age, I still long for a family. I still hope to be adopted one day-- yes, even over 40!!

 It is a human factor to want to  be loved and to be part of a family unit....this never goes "away"- you only learn to live with  the feeling and talk yourself through it daily! lol....hey if you made it this far without family, you can learn to love you enough and surround yourself around people who love and honor you like family!

On another note
the holidays are hear.
This is the highest times for suicide and loneliness.
*Even people with family who may have had conflict, wish they could be home with love ones*

.... I want you to know that even when you feel lonely and the world is against you God will always be by your side, all you have to do is BELIEVE tomorrow will be better than today!
Faith of a muster seed!
I know some of you may have been in group homes all of your life, some may have been in dysfunctional homes but YOU are the master of your destiny by keeping faith and coming up with an alternative plan! Whatever the plan, failure is not an option, giving up is not on the list!!! God did not design you to "give up"!!!

Don't ever be so discouraged that you don't realize YOU ARE IT! 
Don't ever hurt YOURSELF or ANYONE, life is too short and we ALL have divine purpose, so don't take away another's purpose, they may be the one who saved or changed a life!
 Your the reason the stars shine at night
the reason your brother, 
sister, lover, 
friend, family,
 stranger, 
has a smile on their face. 
You are the reason someone is alive today! 
Don't ever forget your ancestors died to make sure you ENJOY this life NOW, today!!!!
I know the holidays are here and it can be sad if you have no one around, I am lucky to have my two kids. I decided to make the holidays a day to go feed the homeless and then enjoy a nice dinner. This year may be all you can do to get out of your funk--HELP OTHERS...help at a food bank for the day!! Trust me you will feel better and be inspired!


Bills may be piling up, your lover gone, the news may be violent, everyone wants to keep up with the Joneses and no one has faith anymore- but you- YOU are the ONE that will change or save a life!
Stay positive, focused and keep anger out of your life, ask God to give you peace, acceptance, and constant change and growth so that you may be of service to others. You are so wonderful have a blessed week and know God is with you at ALL times, even at your darkest hour - have faith and take action to create change! xo Tanya

save the date May 19th....Fosterkidsunite will be awarding The Robert Cooper Memorial scholarship to kids aging out of foster care! Location: Mt. Kisco/NY time:TBA  all foster kids, former foster kids, community residents and any other who love to help others are invited to join in, more to come!!

Arsenic Found in Popular Juice Brands | Yahoo! Health

what you eat today is important! try to eat organic fruits, veggies and meat, I know its costly but in the end we are trying to fight other pollutants in the world right now, the air is toxic. Japan's nuclear explosion HAS hit our air, California the first two weeks!! If you don't have health, you have nothing! Eat to LIve" - Tanya

Arsenic Found in Popular Juice Brands | Yahoo! Health

Oprah said...

hi blog family!
I like to write my own blog but today i will share something from Oprah's life class! I am sure she does not mind as she is a "life learner" and those who are about life know that learning, support and love are key to life!

Photo: George Burns © Harpo Inc.

Many of us think that our power is a tool or a weapon, but, in fact, power is a state of being, the way you see, hold and handle yourself in the world that then determines your experiences. The external world can only respond to the way you hold and handle yourself internally. If you show up as weak, broken, confused and dazed, the world is going to respond to you that way. If you show up as confident, kind, compassionate and loving, then the world is going to respond to you that way.

This is why we have got to understand that you do not have to do anything to have power. That said, there are some surprises when it comes to your power, ones that, if understood, can improve your ability to tap into it:

1. Power is your birthright. Your power goes back to something very simple.

At the highest spiritual level, you are made in the image and the likeness of the creator—whatever you call that creator—the source of life, the source of all things. You are one with that source—the same source that makes trees, tornadoes, sunshine, the ocean, the mountains, people. You have the same capacity, the same inherent light and the ability to create. This is your birthright. You were born with power. No one can take it away.

2. The only thing that can diminish your power is your belief that you do not have it. Repeat this to yourself. Every day.

3. Gold stars do not affirm your power. The way life is designed, we are programmed, conditioned and educated out of our power because we have been programmed, conditioned and educated to please others, to do what others say and to do what others are doing. Here's my classic story: When I went to school, they used to have a board where, if you did your work well, you got a star. There were gold stars, silver stars, green stars, blue stars, red stars. Now, red stars were not good stars. But at least you got a star. Well, when it came to writing, I could never get that little hook on that a. I just couldn't do it. I don't know why. I always got green stars: great effort, just not perfect. It confirmed my belief that I wasn't good enough because I couldn't do what somebody else could. What I know now is that comparing ourselves to others is an act of self-violence, as is living up to the expectation of others or not listening to your gut. These acts are about other people. These acts are all about external validation. Power is you. Power is standing up as your true self.

4. Power is a habit. Everything we do as human beings is a habit. I've heard that it only takes 40 repetitions to install a habit. Most of us have created a habit of being disempowered: We don't ask for this, don't do that, don't say this, don't say that. Instead, we must create a habit that reinforces our personal power. Part of this requires a daily spiritual practice. We nourish our bodies. We nourish our minds. Do we nourish our spirits? The way to remain connected to, conscious of and in alignment with our power is to remain connected to, conscious of and aligned with our source. That can be through mediation, journaling or stillness. We want to empty the mind as often as possible. We want to listen to that still, small voice that's within.

5. Power is most accessible in your worst times, not your best. When your plane crashes and you wake up in the middle of the desert with no food and no water, it doesn't matter how much money you have, how much education you have or how many friends you have. The great philosopher Whitney Houston, whom I love, sings a song: I didn't know my own strength. I crashed down, and I tumbled, but I did not crumble. I never knew my own strength. Very often, when the things that we lean on for strength—the marriage, the money, the image, the name—are gone, that's when we discover our power.

6. It's okay to forget your power. We're all going to have our moments when we get angry, upset, afraid—when we think we just can't do it. But how long do you stay there? How long do you allow the critical voice in your head to condemn you for your choices? How long will you stay in conflict and confusion, or are you able to focus your attention on something greater, grander, bigger, more loving, more powerful? It's about your recovery time. How long do you stay in your humanness before you slip back into your divinity? The ability to make that shift is the sign of being in touch with your power. 

* you can read more from Oprah at the link below! thanks Oprah!!

Read more: http://www.oprah.com/oprahs-lifeclass/Iyanla-Vanzant-What-You-Dont-Know-About-the-Power-Youve-Always-Had#ixzz1dW254t8U

Rangel Career Fair: Monday, November 14 at CCNY | Rep. Rangel

if your looking for work in NYC area, please view this!

Have a great day and know that you are special and needed!

Rangel Career Fair: Monday, November 14 at CCNY | Rep. Rangel

17-year-old beats the odds and finds a home | year, amanda, last - Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

It is never too late to be adopted! my friend was adopted at 21!!!

Have faith, work on being the best you and let the universe/God lead you to a new family IF that is in the cards, if not...you will be ok, I have lived this long without one. Having support and contacts is what matters, get to know people, let them know and trust you!!

17-year-old beats the odds and finds a home | year, amanda, last - Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

thinking out of the box

Hi blog family!

hope you enjoy this beautiful day, made just for you! I found an old pic from Paris with my kids..that i have posted before..but today,

thought of the day:
I was thinking of  the 1st time I went to Paris to model (years ago!),  I had only been one other time before to visit..I did not know anyone. I knew my birth grandpa had ties but i did not know anyone, until I got off the plane!
I had just officially "aged out" of foster care,  (i signed myself back into a place at 18 because i had no family and no where to go).....
I was at one of the best fashion school's in NYC and had no money to finish, so when someone from the model's club , (a designer) told me to go on faith,  I packed my bags with $250 and a plane ticket and went!
I found an agent in less than a week, found friends that took care of me better than any family! And I found that life is a big "lottery" waiting for you to win IF you go out of your comfort zone!!

I realize sometimes you have to step out of "THE BOX" - the traditional way of doing things...to get what you were destined for! Once you step out and look across the room at the box, you will say.....that box is SO small!

Take good chances and try doing things a little different if your not getting results, life has great plans for you if you keep showing up everyday and keep trying....WE NEVER GIVE UP!! XO

TANYA

You are what you eat!

Hi blog family!

It is a gorgeous day outside - I hope you are  going to enjoy it after school or your kids get home! Learning to take care of your body- crucial after foster care!
Why?
 Well if you lived in a group home - you had lots of food, but i am almost sure it was not the top of the line, meaning, organic.... and if you lived in a foster home, I doubt your foster parents took the time to think about what was dangerous in the cereals you ate.
Not because they were mean, no one knew better!
 I was blessed my foster mom was a diabetic and I ate like one, (thankfully) avoiding common problems associated with a southern (old school) diet...lard, butter, pork, fried foods, red meat, especially not organic....starches like white rice....(brown rice ok..)
(pasta and rice and other food items turns into sugar, if you eat mass amounts of it your body can be thrown off key and perhaps develop diabetes. There are many other factors but I just wanted you to be aware of what you eat!
When shopping I ask myself: "was this food in the garden of Eden or the bible? That usually cuts down my bill!! When my kids had to make a choice at home it was yam over potato chips, grapes (organic) over Hershey's... IF YOU ARE NOW A PARENT, DO BETTER THAN YOUR PARENTS COULD BY HAVING YOUR KIDS EAT HEALTHY!
I am sharing an article i got off of Dr. Mercols's site, (please check it out whenever you can, sign up for the emails, very informative on health news latest!). so these are NOT my words below but i thought if I had to borrow information, it was OK as long as one person walks away thinking healthier! Life is to be enjoyed and you cannot enjoy it if YOUR SICK!!! You cannot enjoy all of it...if you DIE EARLY because you chose to eat bad foods... think about your mind and your body - they go together... xo
____________________________________________________________________________

How to Avoid Heat-Induced Toxins in Your Diet

Ideally, you should consume foods that are raw or minimally processed to avoid these types of toxic byproducts—the more raw food, the better. My nutrition plan emphasizes the need for at least one-third of your foods to be consumed raw. Personally, I consume about 80 percent of my food raw, and I find it is one of the most important factors that help keep me healthy.

It may take you awhile to switch over to a less processed diet, but throwing out the most obvious culprits would be a great start.

These would include:

• French fries and potato chips
• All sodas (both regular and diet, as artificial sweeteners may be more problematic than fructose)
• Doughnuts

Healthy Eating Made Easy

Aside from creating potentially toxic byproducts, cooking and processing also depletes the food of valuable micro nutrients, which is another reason for eating as much raw food as possible. This includes protein sources such as eggs. Raw whole eggs from organic, pastured chickens are an incredible source of high-quality nutrients that many are deficient in. Raw milk is another good example of a food that is beneficial in its raw state but becomes harmful after it is pasteurized.

By opting for foods that will benefit your health, such as raw, preferably organic and/or locally-grown vegetables, organic grass-fed meats, healthy oils, raw dairy, nuts and seeds, you can change your health for the better. These are the foods that are truly natural, and quite easy to prepare once you get the hang of it.

For a step-by-step guide to make the transition to a healthier diet as simple and smooth as possible, simply follow the advice in my optimized nutrition plan.

Remember, eating fresh whole foods is the "secret" to getting healthier, losing weight and really enjoying your food. It's unfortunate that so many are under the mistaken belief that it's "next to impossible" to create a meal without processed foods. Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough tackle this issue head-on in their book Real Food Has Curves, which is a great starting point to "relearn" the basics of how to enjoy and prepare real food.

Once you get used to it, you'll find you can whip up a healthful meal from scratch in the same amount of time it would have taken you to drive down the street to pick up fast food. The main difference will be greater satisfaction, both physically and mentally, and perhaps even financially, as processed foods typically end up being more expensive than cooking from scratch.

checking back in

Hi blog family!

So glad to have our power back on in my town!! I know their are often times when we want to "black out" and forget about all the negative that has happenend as well as all the work we must continue daily JUST to survive!!!
I encourage you today to get your head back in the game! Life throws us ALL curves, its how u catch them that matter! Yes it would be nice to have the best mit for catching but sometimes you only have your bare hands, and while it will sting to catch a flying ball.....it can be done!

If you survived foster care half your battle is over, the other half is "plugging back in" to life...after being out of it so long!
How do you do this?
1. stay focused on YOUR goals and what it takes to achieve them; ie more schooling, contacts, $..
2. know YOUR moral code; what do YOU live by? does it include integrity and honor?
3. learn to enjoy silence! it will be your best friend AND help you follow your "instinct" in any situation! go to a quaker meeting house in your area at 11am...learn to sit in silence for 45 minutes, listening to what God or the Universe has to tell you...we are usually TOO busy talking and responding to hear anything!!
4. Love yourself enough to be proud you made it thru and while this won't be your last test...YOu know you are made to be a winner!!! don't let your experience in foster care harden you or make you angry, learn to help others in foster care. You have some gift waiting to be shared with others in care...start a journal, mentor to a foster kid, give them a job or internship, teach them how to make jewelry or write a book....SHARE what you know and how you make it thru!!!
Remember: we are all here to SAVE or CHANGE a life!!! smile, someone is watching you and you may help them have a great day just by smiling!!! xo Tanya