The Honeybee's Lifestyle

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  • A Letter To My Father

    Dear Daddy,

    In a few days we will celebrate Father’s Day. Not only is June the month that we celebrate Father’s Day it’s also your birthday month.   I am so proud to be your daughter.  Although we only had ten years together, those were some of my best childhood memories. They helped to shape the woman that I am.

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    I remember every Friday you would pick me up from school and we would go to the record store.  You would let me pick out two 45’s.  I couldn’t wait to get home to play them on the record player.  Every Saturday morning you would play the blues while working around the house.  Thanks for introducing me to B.B. King, Johnny Taylor, Bobby Blue Bland and The O’Jays.

    I remember you giving me my love of sports.  We would watch baseball, basketball, football and boxing. Our last Christmas together you gave me an autographed Dr. J basketball. I returned that gift to you by asking that they put the basketball in the casket with you.  Although the love for all sports didn’t stick, I’m not a fan of baseball & boxing but football and basketball held on tight. Thank you for introducing me to Kareem, Dr. J, Muhammad Ali, and Walter Payton.

    I remember you sharing your love for learning and the importance of an education.  Although you never attended college you made sure that I would.  We always discussed how I would one day go to college. At age 7 you made me promise that I would go to college and in return you would buy me a car.  Unfortunately you weren’t able to be here to see your baby graduate from college not once but twice. Thank you for introducing me to the power of education.

    I remember how you treated my mother.  I saw the power of love.  I saw how a man should treat his wife. I saw the sly smiles & glances.  The loving touches.  The snuggles on the couch when you thought I was sleep. I never had to contend with arguing & fighting.  I know there is no such thing as a perfect marriage and that couples fight but you never let me see that. Because of your example I learned not to settle for anything less. Thank you for showing me what a husband should be.   

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    I remember you helping other family members.  You made sure that others had birthday and Christmas presents just like I did.  I remember you & my mother taking off work at the last minute to go Christmas shopping.  I was not happy that I had to go to school that day but it proved to be so important. That would be your last Christmas with us. Thank you for being my Santa Claus.

    There are so many more memories that I keep in my heart. Although you are not here in person your spirit is still with me. Sometimes when I look at my oldest son, your namesake Robert, I clearly see you.  He has your heart and that makes my heart happy.

    Thank you for the examples.  I love you and I miss you. 

    Your daughter,

    BB Bee pic

    Beewisdom-  My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me  Jimmy Valvano (Jimmy V)

  • Why Are You Still Sitting?

    Hello Honeybees,

    Have you ever watched someone leave a job and wonder how they got the nerve to take that leap of faith? 

    Have you ever watch someone start a business and wonder, “How did they do that”?

    Have you ever sat on the sideline and watched someone else chase their dream?

    My question to you is WHY ARE YOU WONDERING AND JUST WATCHING?

    WHY ARE YOU STILL SITTING?

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    After working in corporate America for most of my career I was ready for a change.  I knew what I wanted to do as far as my next steps but I also knew that sitting still would not get me there. I was so tired of watching other people “go for it” while I just sat by thinking about mine.  So I got busy….. I did the research, talked to people that could point me in the right direction and most importantly I asked God for guidance.  He answered by connecting me with the right opportunities and people.Yet,  I was still scared to move. Where was my faith? To show me that He meant business & that He was truly trying to answer my prayers, God made is so uncomfortable for me that I had no choice but to move.

    I recently ran into someone from a former job and one of the first things that they said was “Are you guys hiring, I’m so sick of this place” I couldn’t help but think to myself… “You have been at this job for over 10 years but you aren’t making any real moves to leave, so obviously you like being here”.  When you get sick and tired of being sick and tired……YOU WILL MOVE. When you figure out that where you are is not your passion or your purpose, YOU WILL MOVE.  Life is too short not to enjoy what you do every day.

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    Was making the change easy?…. NOPE

    Was I scared?…..You bet

    Did I have to make sacrifices?…..Yes & I still do

    Am I happy that I am not still sitting….. NO DOUBT!!

    Lesson learned….when you ask God for something & He agrees to give it to you….BE READY!!!

    We can’t be afraid to move.

    We can’t be afraid to take a chance. 

    We can’t be afraid to jump!

    Are you ready to jump?

    Belinda Bee pic

    Beewisdom-  Making a big life change is pretty scary, but know what’s even scarier?        Regret! -unknown

  • Where’s Honeybee?

    Hello Honeybees,

    I’m baaaack!!

    Did you miss me??  I certainly missed you.

    Thank you to those that called, texted, emailed or stopped me to inquire about the blog. To know that I was missed means the world to me.

    Let me explain why I took a break or rather why I had to take a break.

    Sometime around the end of February, first of March my energy level hit rock bottom, like zero.  Every day by noon I felt like I had worked a 16 hour day.  By 3 pm it was all I could do not to take a nap.  My body was craving rest.  I wasn’t exerting any energy so I shouldn’t be THIS tired.  After talking about it with friends and the ladies at MemphisMomsBlog I decided to go to the doctor.

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    At first I thought it was my thyroid so I did what everyone does….I Googled it!  I fit some of the symptoms but not all of them or in my opinion not enough to scare me.  I knew that if it was my thyroid I might be on medication and for me that’s not a good thing.  I am the worst medicine taker (new phrase alert) EVER.  I’ll take medicine until I feel better then I stop.  I have NEVER, EVER, EVER finished a Zpak in my life.  I know, I know…I’ve got’s to do better.

    Finally I have my doctor’s appointment.  We discuss my symptoms and the doctor orders blood work.  I ask her to check my thyroid, she smiles and says “I am, but I don’t think that’s it because you don’t have enough of the right symptoms”   Didn’t know that I was a MD did you? Yeah neither did I.

    When my results come in I get the answers that I need:  Low iron & low vitamin D.

    We naturally get Vitamin D from the sun, but for us girls with all that beautiful melanin it’s harder for us to absorb it naturally. Also add that fact that I wear sunscreen EVERYDAY year round.  YES, WE need sunscreen too.  If you want to keep the wrinkles away & help get rid of dark spots, sunscreen is a must.

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    Vitamin D helps with the body’s abortion of iron. I have always had low iron levels but I HATE taking iron pills. Most people get enough iron intake from their diet (red meat, pork, dark leafy veggies, dried fruits like raisins). I eat red meat on special occasions, pork less than that and I don’t eat raisins.

    We need iron to carry oxygen to our cells & muscles or we will feel fatigued.  Not only is my iron normally low but now you add the fact that I don’t have enough vitamin D to help carry what little iron I do have. No wonder a sister is tired.

    So I’ve been on an iron, Vitamin D, multivitamin regime for 3 weeks and guess what…. I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER.  I feel like writing, I feel like walking, I feel like cooking, I feel my energy level rising.  I feel like ME!!

    Honeybee I'm back

    Please take care of yourself.  When you feel your energy levels dropping get checked out.  Don’t wait until your body MAKES YOU.

    I’m ready to tackle summer 2016.  

    See you under the sun

    Belinda Bee pic

    Beewisdom- “I’m giving you the D, whether you want it or not”- The Sun