We love how well she looks for her age. Oh that we could all be so lucky. Her skin looks flawless and lets be honest, she doesn’t look a day over 45! Way to go Mrs. Judd!
What’s your secret?
I drink 64 ozs. of water every day.
I never wear a lot of makeup.
I exfoliate my face every night with African black soap.
I honestly eat anything that I want just in moderation, but I do try to eat salads about three days of the week.
Proverbs 14:1 “The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands.”
When we read this scripture, we must understand that “her hands” symbolizes her actions or behavior. As a woman, we must realize that we set the atmosphere in the home. One of the meanings of atmosphere is the pervading tone or mood of a place. Your actions and behavior affects your entire household.
Here are a few examples:
The way you treat to your husband affects the way your children treat him as well. If you are constantly catching an attitude with your husband, talking down to him, and disrespecting him your children will follow in your footsteps.
You can choose to be a wise woman and build up your home or you can be foolish and tear it down. Think about the virtuous woman mentioned in Proverbs 31:10-31.
It says the heart of her husband trusts her. She willfully works with her hands and provides food for her household.
She extends her hands to the poor and watches over the ways of her household. Her children rise up and call her blessed. This is a picture of a woman who builds up her house.
Foolish women tear down their house with their actions. These women are selfish and they take no thought that their actions and behavior can destroy their family. We can build up or destroy not only with our actions, but also our words. Be honest with yourself and ask yourself if your actions are building up your home, or tearing it down.
(Read James 3:3-12)
In 1 Peter 3:1 it says, “Wives be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some don’t obey the Word, they without a word may be won by the conduct of their wives”. That is powerful! Our actions and behavior can cause an unbelieving husband to come to know Jesus. What a testimony that would be!
You decide what type of woman you want to be, a construction or demolition worker. Are you building up your house or tearing it down?
Meditation: Proverbs 12:4, “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.
So ladies I ask you, what kind of worker will you be in your home?
Many of us know October as breast cancer awareness month, and although its January, there’s never a bad time to increase our knowledge on an issue that affects so many women. We wanted to give your some important information and we hope you’ll share. Now obviously we are not telling you this so that you can live in fear, but we do believe it is important to know the facts about breast cancer since it affects so many women. We encourage you to take an initiative with your health and diet to lower your chances getting this awful disease. We will do a more in depth blog in the near future on things that you can do to lower your chances of getting breast cancer. But in the mean time here are some things you should know. We sat down with Dr. Jameela Harper and here’s what she had to say on the subject.
“1 in 8 women in the US will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. Breast cancer is a disorder of the breast in which cancerous (malignant) cells grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. This cancer is more prominent in females but can affect some males as well.”
“Affects 1 in 8 women in the U. S.”
Some factors that increases one’s risk for breast cancer include older age, female gender, genetics/family history of breast cancer, personal history of breast cancer, race, obesity, history of chest radiation and use of hormonal therapy. Some protective factors include regular physical activity and breast feeding. Approximately 5-10% of breast cancers are hereditary with the most common cause linked to BRCA1 and BRCA 2. These genes inherited from a parent can increase a person’s risk for breast cancer by 45-80%. One should speak with their doctor regarding testing for BRCA if he/she has close family members with breast cancer, especially before age 50, and/or ovarian cancer and Ashkenazi Jew ancestry.
Symptoms of breast cancer can vary but most commonly are:
New lump or mass
Swelling of part or all of breast
Breast or nipple pain
Nipple retraction (nipple pulled inward)
Skin irritation or dimpling (similar to an orange)
Redness, thickening or scaliness nipple or breast skin
Nipple discharge (other than breast milk)
There are other things that can cause these symptoms, but if one is experiencing any of the above he/she should contact their doctor for an evaluation.
Can breast cancer be detected early? Yes. Early detection of breast cancer can improve survival from breast cancer. Tools used in early detection include:
Breast awareness (knowing how breasts normally look and feel)
Clinical breast exams performed by a health professional
Mammography
A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast which uses compression to produce an image for evaluation. The exam is slightly uncomfortable for a moment, but is necessary to produce a good image for the doctor.
I encourage every female aged 40 or more to read and share this information about breast cancer. Currently there is no cure but through early detection treatment is more successful. Talk to your health provider about your risk factors and the best screening plan for you. Mammograms can be obtained through your health professional or programs such as National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) which provides breast and cervical cancer screening to women without health insurance for free or little cost.”
Dr. Jameela Harper is female physician practicing in Northeast Georgia. She graduated from Boston University School of Medicine and trained at Emory University. She is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology.
So, now that you know the facts, lets talk about preventative measures you can start to take right now to reduce your risk.
Stop smoking
Exercise
Maintain a healthy weight
Limit alcohol consumption
Breastfeed, the longer the better
Avoid long periods of hormone therapy (more than 3-5 years)
Maintain a healthy diet rich in plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts
Avoid exposure to radiation
National organizations and websites*
In addition to the American Cancer Society, other sources of patient information and support include:
National Cancer Institute
Toll-free number: 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)
Website: www.cancer.gov
Offers current information about breast cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment as well as information on other types of cancer, as well as information for the family and children of people with cancer.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
Website: www.nccn.org
Made up of experts from many of the nation’s leading cancer centers, the NCCN develops guidelines for doctors to use when treating patients. Some of these guidelines, including one on breast cancer, are available in versions for patients as well. Also provides online information on other topics to help patients, caregivers, and families make informed decisions about cancer care.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Toll-free number: 1-877-465-6636
Website: www.komen.org
Offers information on breast health and breast cancer; tools, including videos and quizzes; and referrals to support groups. Some written materials are in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, and Korean.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Toll-free number: 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC INFO)
Website: www.cdc.gov
Visit http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/ to find out more about the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), which provides breast and cervical cancer early detection testing to women without health insurance for free or at very little cost.
Ladies, you already know how the story goes. So you recently decided to stop trying to force things and wait for God to send you his perfect match. In the past you gave everything you had and now you’re tired of getting your heart trampled on by little boys parading around as grown men. You finally said enough is enough, “Okay God, I’m going to try this your way.” Well believe it or not, those are fighting words so prepare yourself for some serious retaliation.
As if on cue, in walks distraction.
You ever wonder why as soon as you say “God, I’m going to do right this time.” You log onto Facebook to find that there are 30 guys already in your inbox trying to holla. Every…single…time. They weren’t even thinking about you 24 hours ago, now all of a sudden they’re acting like they found the love of their life? They are nothing more than distractions sent to knock you off your path. Don’t fall for it. Learn to recognize distractions.
What is a distraction? Something that makes it difficult to think or pay attention; something that draws away or diverts the mind or attention.
Distractions can come in all shapes and forms. It doesn’t always have to come in the form of a good looking guy. Did you know your very own thoughts may even be distractions? You can be so focused on how much you hate being single and how lonely you are. You don’t understand why everybody else has no problem finding love. Then you slowly begin to believe the lie that there must be something wrong with you. You’ve thought about it so much that now you’re depressed and feel rejected. So to make yourself feel better, you gravitate towards the first guy that shows you any kind of attention. And then you find yourself right back where you started. You allowed your thoughts to distract you from the path you started on.
Or maybe you’re thoughts aren’t depressing or sad. Maybe you spend all day fantasizing about how your wedding will be. Your thoughts could be causing you to idolize marriage to the point where you can think of nothing else. You may be so obsessed with getting married that the very idea of marriage has you distracted from what you should be doing right now. You’ve put your whole life on pause because you’re “waiting.” Yes, God is pleased with you for waiting on him to send you a husband. But you’re not focused on what God is calling you to do right now because you’re think your life won’t start until you are somebody’s wife. And don’t get me wrong, marriage is beautiful but let’s be real, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine. It takes a lot of work, real work. So while you’re so focused on walking down the aisle you need to be asking yourself if you are truly ready to put someone else’s needs before yours and handle the real challenges that come up after the wedding bliss has faded.
You may be in your season of preparation. And that’s not a bad thing. Society likes to feed us the lie that as women, time is not on our side and we have to race this biological clock. Don’t buy into that lie. God’s timing is ALWAYS perfect. Use this time to really get to know your heavenly father and allow him to teach you how to one day be that loving wife and mother you want to be. It won’t hurt to start practicing some of those things now. Like cooking wholesome meals, because your family CANNOT eat Little Caesars everyday. Yes I know those hot & ready $5 pizzas are tempting, and honestly not a bad idea every once in a while. Also, ask yourself if you’re ready to be cleaning up after someone else all the time. You may be saying to yourself “Well my husband is going to clean up after himself”. LOL, you don’t know that and chances are he might not, and lets not even talk about what kids will do to your home! How clean do you keep your home right now when its just you? As a woman, the condition of your home will always fall back on you, so now may be the perfect time to start working on that. So don’t get distracted in your current season. Remember God has you there for a reason.
The best way to fight distractions is to develop something called telescope vision. When you look through a telescope you can see only what’s ahead, not what’s behind you or beside you. It is crucial that you stay focusedon what is waiting for you on the other side of your obedience. You can be certain that you will come across many many counterfeits along the way, but I beg you to hold out for the real thing. It will be so worth it. God has a man who is tailored just for you. He is absolutely the perfect matchmaker. Trust him to lead that man to you and stop looking at every man who walks by like he could be your future. Focus. Focus on your relationship with God. Focus on becoming the type of woman who would attract the type of man you’re praying for. Focus on walking in your purpose for your current season.
What are some great ways to fight distractions? Well you may have to stay off social media for a while or steer clear of certain people or places. Or if your thoughts are causing you to be distracted, ask yourself what has been feeding those thoughts. Are you obsessed with romance novels or movies? Put the book down or turn off the TV. What are you listening to? Try switching it up, no more depressing R&B ballads about how he don’t love you no more or sappy love songs that make you anxious to be in a relationship. And that boy crazy friend that always wants to call you and pull you into her boy drama…just hit ignore. You don’t have time for that. You’re trying to focus. You may even find that you have time to do something more productive with your time, like exercising, taking an art class, or starting that business. Who knows, you might even meet someone while you’re in the process. So just remember while you’re waiting, focus on what’s important and dodge those pesky distractions that only want to hold you back from what God has for you.
The answer is a resounding YES! The first thing you need to know considering going into business for yourself is that it is absolutely possible. Most people think you have to have a lot of money to start your own business. And while it is true, some businesses do require a certain amount of capital to get the ball rolling; however, this is not true for all cases, or in fact most cases. Most times you will have to start small anyways and work your way up.
Don’t ever wait for the perfect time to step out on faith and do what you know you’ve been called to do. Now we’re not telling you to go quit your job and dive head first into your business venture today. But you shouldn’t hesitate to get the ball rolling is some way. That perfect time that you are waiting on, it will never come. You’ll wake up years from now still in the same place you’ve been afraid to step out of. Don’t be your own downfall. We as humans are often over thinkers, and as a result, we limit ourselves. Yes! WE limit our own selves. You need to tell yourself to get out of your own way so that you can be great. You have the talents and passion to do something amazing with your life. Don’t be afraid to put your first foot forward.
You may think to yourself you don’t know what your talents are. Well ask yourself these questions: What is something that you do without having to be asked? What is something you truly enjoy doing? What is something that others always come to you for? You may be thinking that talents are always obvious, like musical, athletic, artistic, and so on. But actually your talent can be the fact that you’re very organized, or that you’re a healthy cook, or even something as simple as being outgoing. Believe it or not you can do something with those talents.
The organized person could get paid to go in and organize peoples’ homes or offices. The healthy cook could become a healthy cooking coach or write their own cookbook or even teach classes. The outgoing person can write their own blog or do videos where they give tips on how to be more outgoing. You are probably thinking that sounds crazy, that’s not a real business. But trust us when we say, there are so many people out there making tons of money off of businesses like the ones just named.
They didn’t let anyone tell what they couldn’t do to make a living and now they are making big bucks doing something they love to do. See that’s what happens when you stop limiting yourself! You start excelling. Cheers to you making that leap and becoming that successful business owner you have always wanted to be.
Need some tips on some great ways to get started?
Research your industry, there’s a plethora of information on the web: Blogs, ebooks, articles, etc. but be careful not to allow someone else’s bad experience to kill your dream.
Read books on business in general, not just the industry you’re looking to go into.
Consider hiring a business coach or find a mentor already in the industry.
Network with other business owners, they tend to enjoy sharing advice and contacts.
Create a to do list of things that need to be done to get your business up and running, then focus on completing one thing at a time. Don’t try to do everything all at once.
Devote at least 10-15 hours a week, that’s 2-3 hours a day for every work week, to your growing business. Treat it like a part time job.
Remember these three important words when you hit a brick wall, which you will: “Figure. It. Out.” Problem solving is a major component of being a successful business owner. Whatever you do, don’t let that problem cause you to quit. Find a way to make it happen.
We encourage you to take an initiative with your health and diet to lower your chances getting this awful disease. We will do a more in depth blog in the near future on things that you can do to lower your chances of getting breast cancer. But in the mean time here are some things you should know. We sat down with Dr. Jameela Harper and here’s what she had to say on the subject.
The best way to fight distractions is to develop something called telescope vision. When you look through a telescope you can see only what’s ahead, not what’s behind you or beside you. 
wellkeptwoman.wordpress.com 