The Accountability Circle Diary Video

   
First off... These videos will be coming Weekly, Not Daily! :) I had to re-adjust to fit my life! 

We all need to hold ourselves accountable for something... right? If we don't, we just start moving aimlessly through life without a care in the world, making more mistakes without any goals or rewards to guide us!

    Sitting at my desk, my mind keeps circling. Should I just order out tonight? Feeding five people is at least $60, but cooking at home is basically free. And yet, those ads, the convenience—it all calls out to me. But then I remind myself: I’ve got stomach issues. Why mess that up, and why spend money that could get me closer to my dream? I think I’m always searching for that reward, that pat on the back. I started young, had kids early, and rarely put myself first. But maybe this new accountability is how I reconstruct things. Maybe it’ll help you, too—what’s one thing you’ve been trying to overcome?

You're Not Lazy!

 

               You’re Not Lazy — You’re Carrying Too Much

    If you’ve been calling yourself lazy lately, pause for a moment.

Lazy doesn’t feel like this.

Lazy doesn’t feel like wanting to do things but having no energy left.

Lazy doesn’t feel like your brain never shuts off, even when your body does.

Lazy doesn’t feel like guilt for resting.

What you’re feeling is weight.

You’ve been carrying responsibilities, emotions, expectations, memories, and survival instincts for a long time. Some of it is visible. Most of it isn’t.

You still show up.
You still care.
You still try.

That alone tells me you’re not lazy.

You’re overloaded.

When your nervous system has been in “keep going” mode for too long, your body eventually pulls the emergency brake. Motivation drops. Focus disappears. Simple tasks feel impossible. And instead of asking, “What am I carrying?” you ask, “What’s wrong with me?”

Nothing is wrong with you.

Burnout doesn’t always look like collapse. Sometimes it looks like scrolling instead of starting. Sitting instead of moving. Needing more rest than you think you’re allowed to have.

Especially if you’re the kind of person who:

• Was strong at a young age

• Had to grow up fast

• Learned to put your needs last

• Became the dependable one

Your exhaustion makes sense.

You weren’t built to carry everything forever.

And here’s the part no one says out loud:
Rest isn’t a reward for productivity. It’s a requirement for being human.

You don’t need to “get it together.”
You don’t need more discipline.
You don’t need to shame yourself into motion.

You need gentleness.
You need space to set something down.
You need permission to stop treating exhaustion like a personal failure.

If today all you can do is breathe and be, that’s enough.
If your pace looks slower than it used to, that doesn’t mean you’re falling behind — it means you’re healing.

You are not lazy.
You are carrying too much.

And here, you don’t have to carry it alone.

 Stay a while.

Changes are coming to Seasons of Life.... Short story Hint ;)

 

                       

Finding Forever at Seasons of Life

The Johnson family arrived under a sky brushed with soft morning light. Wind chimes swayed gently above the gate that read:
“Seasons of Life — Where Hearts Heal and All Creatures Find Home.”

They hadn’t come for a vacation; they’d come searching for something missing. After months of feeling the quiet in their home where laughter used to echo, they’d heard about a place where people and rescue dogs could find peace—and maybe, each other.

The moment they stepped onto the cobblestone path of Doggy Town, the air felt different. It smelled like sunlight and cedar shavings, and the sounds of gentle music and wagging tails filled the air. Small cottages lined the walkway, each home to a rescue dog waiting for a family.

At the Pup Café, the children sipped strawberry-lavender lemonade while volunteers introduced them to friendly faces—Buddy, the golden retriever; Luna, the shy border collie; and finally, Milo, a small black-and-white terrier with a crooked tail and curious eyes.

Milo didn’t bark or jump. He simply walked over, sat down beside the youngest boy, and rested his paw on the child’s shoe.
The connection was instant—quiet, sure, and pure.

“Why don’t you stay the night?” said Ellie, the caretaker. “We offer Adopt & Stay Cabins so families can spend time with their match before deciding.”

That evening, the Johnsons explored the Seasons of Life Exhibit, a walk-through experience of the stages of life—Birth, Growth, Love, and Wisdom. They ended the day at Matt’s Retro Vault, where they played old arcade games and laughed harder than they had in months.

Later, they watched a movie under the stars, Milo curled at their feet, his eyes flicking from the screen to their faces as if memorizing them.

When morning came, the sun poured golden light through the cabin window. The family found their son sitting outside on the porch, Milo in his lap, both looking out over the gardens.

“I think he’s already ours,” the boy whispered.

Ellie met them at checkout with papers and a wooden tag engraved with Seasons of Life Family.

“Every soul that heals here,” she said, “becomes part of the circle.”

As they drove away, Milo’s ears flapped in the wind, the resort fading behind them in the distance. The Johnsons didn’t just adopt a dog that weekend—they found a missing piece of themselves.

And Seasons of Life stood waiting, ready for the next heart to come home.

Something Magical Is Blooming: Welcome to Giggles in the Garden

 “What if laughter could grow like flowers?

What if bugs could teach kids about big emotions, confidence, and kindness—right from the soil up?
That’s the heartbeat behind Giggles in the Garden, and we’re just getting started.”

What Is Giggles in the Garden?

• A new YouTube channel for kids and parents

• Combines funny animal clips + emotional lessons + nature-based characters

• Created with healing, learning, and laughter in mind

• Gentle, safe, and soul-nurturing—especially for kids who’ve experienced hard things

---

What You Can Expect:

• Weekly videos featuring characters like Doug the Slug and Bree the Bee

• Educational AND emotional tools—without kids realizing they’re learning

• Free and affordable printables (coloring pages, activity sheets)

• Garden stories that build self-worth, mindfulness, and joy

• A healing space for parents, too—because your heart matters

---

 Why We Created It:

• Because your child deserves tools to feel empowered

• Because healing doesn't have to be heavy—it can be colorful, silly, and kind

• Because laughter is medicine, and nature is the guide

  How to Join the Garden Movement:

  • Subscribe to the channel (launching soon!) More info to come!! Follow on the mother channel till "Giggles in the Garden" launches!!  Seasons of life Vlog

  • Follow us on Pinterest & Instagram for extra goodies

  • Share with other parents or teachers who need this light

  • check out: Our Website to get updates!!

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  If you’ve been searching for content that gets it—that honors a child’s heart and lets them giggle while they grow—this is for you.
  The garden gates are opening soon. We can’t wait to see you!🐛🦋🐌⚘️🌷🪻

Before the Bloom: A Golden hour walkthrough my sleeping garden.

                THE SLEEPY GARDEN....

There’s something sacred about the garden before it wakes up.
This evening, under the soft light of golden hour, I walked through the bare bones of what will soon become my sanctuary. My garden is still asleep, resting beneath the earth after a long winter. But I can feel it—change is whispering just beneath the soil.

I paused where my garden house will one day stand, imagining the little kitchen, the tucked-away books, the soft sounds of classical music drifting out the open window. I imagined herbs drying in the sunlight and laughter around the little fire pit nearby.

Today I took a photo of this place in its before—the space that holds hope. The space that’s waiting to be filled.

It’s not fancy right now.
It’s raw, and quiet, and honest.
But so am I.

From Winter’s Stillness to Spring’s Awakening

Winter is not the absence of growth—it’s the preparation for it.
It’s where the real healing happens—underground, unseen, slowly.
And now, as the season begins to turn, I feel that same stirring in myself.

That’s why I created the Nature Cure Journal—a printable 30-day journey through healing, reflection, and awakening. It mirrors this transition from winter to spring. From stillness to movement. From surviving… to gently thriving.

What’s Inside the Journal

• 30 days of soulful prompts

• Gentle emotional check-ins

• Space for herbal notes and wellness tracking

  
  
  

• Affirmations and reflections to guide you from the quiet of winter into the bloom of spring

Whether you’re just beginning your healing or are ready to grow something new inside yourself, this journal is a soft place to land and begin again.

🖨️ It's printable, easy to use, and designed with deep love and intention.
🛒 Available now in my Etsy shop: 

Here’s to fresh beginnings.

To slow healing.
To blooms that begin underground.

– SL Bradley
The Nature Cure Co.

A Journey Through Stories and Seasons: Inspiration behind the ideas

 

Every story begins with a spark. For me, that spark was deeply personal—The Dawning was born from my real relationship with my mother, a bond marked by confusion and heartbreak. Writing it became a path toward understanding, healing, and finding hope through pain. It was my first published book, but more importantly, it was my heart on the page. From that raw beginning, my journey as a storyteller continued to grow, leading me to new books, new dreams, and a vision that I long to share with you.

From The Dawning to Mystical Bounty

While The Dawning came from a personal place of loss and discovery, Mystical Bounty takes my storytelling into realms of fantasy and adventure. In this world of werewolves and succubi, I explore power, passion, and the fight for identity. It’s a story of transformation, reflecting my own growth as a writer and a person.

The Adventures of Skylan and Mary-Jean: Stories for the Heart

In contrast to the complexity of fantasy, my children's series, The Adventures of Skylan and Mary-Jean: Alien Virus, celebrates wonder and play. Inspired by my family, these stories capture the joy and imagination of childhood. My dream is to create more books that parents and children can experience together, building memories through Storytime.

Seasons of Life: A Dream Beyond the Pages

Beyond the pages, I dream of bringing stories to life in a new way—through a place called Seasons of Life. This future campground will be a sanctuary for connection, creativity, and reflection. Imagine cabins inspired by alternative living styles, gardens brimming with life, and an outdoor theater for stories under the stars—a space where people can create their own stories together.

How You Can Help Bring the Dream to Life

Every book purchase, every share, and every donation brings me one step closer to turning Seasons of Life into reality. If my stories—born from love, loss, and imagination—have touched your heart, I invite you to support this journey. Together, we can build a space where stories and community come together.

Thank you for being part of my story. The next chapter awaits, and I would be honored for you to help me write it.

---

Will you help me bring Seasons of Life to life? Donate today and be part of the dream.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-make-the-seasons-of-life-campground-a-reality?attribution_id=sl:2d9e1b7c-5ad4-4397-beb4-d2aa16de99b8&lang=en_US&utm_campaign=man_ss_icons&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link

How i grew, and why time is our friend!

Hello readers,
Yall know I'm a writer. That is what this blog was started on. But I want this blog to be a personal area, where I can teach others and inspire others with my story!

Today I have a lot on my mind. My husband and I are about to embark on the next journey of our life together and I want to take you all on this journey with us! I am not only a writer, but I am a mother, a wife and a lifelong dreamer! I am totally sold on the idea that once you set your mind to your dreams, that you can achieve them, no matter how crazy they are or how far away they seem.

Here is a little back story of my life: I am a product of a split marriage. Which honestly I felt like it didn't effect me a whole lot, seeing as i was a baby when their marriage ended. But, from a psychological standpoint, i know that isn't true. ( Im not an expert in psychology, but I did take 2 years of it to obtain my associates degree :) )

I went through a lot emotionally, and ended up also being physically as well. My mother went on to get married another 5 times, and having  4 more children. When I would go around her, she would treat me as if I was an outcast. Ending up eventually becoming violent and hateful towards me. On top of that, my father worked all the time, so much that I hardly got to spend time with him. My grandma ended up raising me most of the time. My home life was isolated. I spent time in my room, with my door shut, watching tv. While my grandma was in the living room watching her soaps, and my dad in his room watching his t.v. We hardly ever, and I mean EVER did things together.

I'm not telling this story to get sympathy. I'm telling yall my story so that you can see where I come from. There is more.....

When I got into my teen years, lets say around 16-17 that is when I started to rebel. I snuck out of the house, I drank illegally. I dated many guys. I was in constant search of "Mr. Right" but only falling for all the "Mr. Wrongs" When I as 16 I dated a really sweet guy for, I don't know, maybe a few days? Well, he was really into me but I wasn't feeling mutual. So we ended things. I had my heart set on another, but that relationship was complicated. Him and I had a mutual friend and that friend (who WAS my best friend) had a open crush on him and we didn't want to hurt her feelings. So, that was that.

Remember the guy that I dated for a few days that was a really good guy? He ended up getting in a motorcycle accident and lost his life. I was devastated, and blamed myself. I felt that if I just gave him a chance maybe he would of been with me instead of on that bike without a helmet!

I went to his wake and when I was there.. my "Best friend" you know the one made the other relationship complicated? Ya, her. She came up to me at my Ex's wake and told me that it was my fault that he died! As if I didn't feel horrible enough as it was!

That, on top of my mother issues, on top of feeling like I had no one in the world that was in my corner... caused me to become suicidal. I remember I would lay in my room and cry, I would cry myself to sleep.

I ended up searching for the love and affection from men (well, boys then lol) to soothe the ache inside my soul. I didn't have Jesus in my life. Matter in fact, I was an atheist. I believed more in revolution.

I met a guy... he gave just the right amount of attention, while also having an issue that the helping soul inside me thought I could fix. He had a drug addiction. This is my oldest daughters father.

LONG story short... I tried helping him, SO much.. but instead of me pulling him out of the hole, he was pulling me in. I had to cut ties, even though that was the hardest and longest drawn out process ive ever had to go through. I loved him.. he loved drugs. He wanted a baby, I gave him one. It wasn't enough. Through the whole process,... I started to feel god!

A relationship between me and my childhood sweetheart began to bloom. He was the boy next door. Always a crush of mine.. I remember being 12 years old, shooting him with a BBgun because he crossed over in my yard: and this voice came in my head telling me I was going to marry him one day. I laughed at it at the time, and kind of cringed. lol

He is a wonderful man. Ive been with him for 12 years now. I put him through SO much. Like I stated above, it took a long time for me to get over my daughters dad. He stuck by me through all of the years, all of the lies, secrets and deception. I kept telling myself I didn't love him, because I wanted to be with my Childs father.. we split up during that time, and when I seen him start to date again.. I about lost my mind, so.. I was so obviously lying to myself.

Basically where I am getting at with all of this.... is this:

When I was in High school I had plans: I wanted to be a writer, a famous writer! I wanted to go to college. Instead I met a guy who talked me into having a baby and dropping out of high school.

I chose the wrong path.. but the wrong path doesn't  mean that its the end of your journey and dreams!

2008- I had a blood clot in my LUNG, god gave me another chance!
2010- I had a miscarriage.
2011- I had a healthy baby boy!
2012- another healthy baby boy!

During this time.. times were hard. We were living in an apartment that we now had outgrown. Neither of us had a job, we were living under the assistance of the government completely. I felt stuck. I felt helpless.. I felt ridiculous! I should of been this... I should of been that.... could of done this... blah blah.. I had all of those feelings! My husband (boyfriend at the time) wouldn't work .. he was super shy! I say was now.. because he has since grown tremendously!

2013- We moved into a small town house. Very small.. but it would do! I got a part time job as a dietary aid. (didn't enjoy it at all.. but it was money!) I shortly after applied for a custodian job and got hired! Which was awesome because it was right down the road! I also got my GED this year!
I knew I wanted to go to college, I didn't know what for or why.. I just knew I did! I would write on occasion, poems and short stories.. but nothing more than that. I was buys with kids and my job!

2014- I started college! I got baptized! I got married! This was a very full year!! I was also building my credit and paying off bills that I had accumulated over the years.

2015- Bought our first house with a mortgage! I found another job that was now closer to our new home. Decided I didn't want to work anymore.. told husband to find a job (LOL) he was doing the stay at home dad life, with the occasional working for a local business on a Friday here and there.

2016- I became a stay at home mom and gave birth to a healthy baby girl! Life was good and starting to turn around! We had 1/2 acre home for our children to run free (in the fence) on! It felt amazing!

2017- received my associates degree in psychology! still couldn't decide what I wanted to "Do" with my life.. or my education. I had all kinds of ideas.. I even had a part time job for a little bit, but I didn't want to work outside of the home anymore. I missed my babies. Not to mention, daycare for 4 children isn't cheap! I started really researching gardening, sustainable living, different home building options, ect… all kinds of different things. I never was a "normal" person.. lol. I haven't ever wanted to be like everyone else. So when I started learning about alternative ways to live.. I thought that was amazing! I began writing mystical bounty.. but then shortly after.. put it on hold.

2018- I was still very heavy into my research of fresh, clean living. Learning about our broken food system, as well as environmental situations that are being impacted by us humans. I wanted to live a more simple life. I wanted to have a way of sustaining my family in the case of anything happening. first thing I thought of was this huge mortgage that we had just taken on. Which in all honesty.. it wasn't huge. It was only $78,000.. but to me that was a LOT of money! The more I read and learned.. I wanted to be free of all huge amounts hanging over our heads. Security... you cant have security if you don't own it. So I set out to find ways to pay it off faster. At the end of the year, I got a job at a mental health center. Working Midnights. while my husband worked days. We hardly ever seen each other.

2019- The job only lasted about 5 months. Oct 2018- Feb 2019. My health took a turn for the worse and my womanly hormones' were actually attacking my body because my immune system was failing. Lack of sleep and adequate nutrition was taking me over. I would only get maybe 4 hours of sleep a day.. I was eating fast food most of the time, or gas station food. I wasn't coping very well at all. But, in the process we were making good money and I managed to buy a lot of awesome books to teach me a lot of skills I hoped to learn! I had to weigh the pros and cons tho, I wasn't getting enough time with my kids (and that's the reason I got a midnight job, was so I could be there) But your not there when you are a zombie! So, I quit. My health dramatically changed over the months and was back on track and I was feeling great again! Back on my path of researching.... I sat down and talked with my husband (whom I hadn't had a lot of time with before due to the job) and we decided to sell our house, and get property in Missouri! We bought a camper and planned on staying in that until we got the means to getting us a house built. Now, this could of been an amazing journey! But.... idk.. it didn't pan out that way. Sometimes life takes you a different direction.
So, MAY came around and our house was SOLD!!!! So.. we went looking for a house that was away from where we were, but still close to my husbands work. we got $30,000 cash from our house after the pay off.. and we found only ONE house that was available within our budget (god?) I have a saying that I say when I feel god is responsible for what happens in our lives now, ("I'm pretty sure that was a god thing!") Maybe I say it.. and am awkward about it still? Idk.. I know that my faith has grown tremendously since we have arrived here, so I know we are on the right path. This house was rough when we first moved in.. I actually have a youtube channel called blossom valley ranch and you can check out what I am talking about. I'm also on facebook under Bradley homestead. This house wasn't livable when we got here. We had $10,000 left over to put into it, to make it livable. We got the electric turned on, and lived in our camper for a couple weeks until my husband did his magic and fixed all the plumbing and we cleaned it out, did all the tests it needed done for safety. Then we all moved into the ONE room that was ready to go. lol! All 6 of us were sleeping in what is now, the living room. We will forever have that memory! :) The septic wasn't good.. but we had to deal with that for the time being because our repair money was drained. Once we were somewhat settled, I started writing my book again!!

2020- As you all know.. this year started off, going to be OUR YEAR!! I'm sure yall can relate?? Ya.. then this amazingly small nuisance came into our lives called Covid-19. Now honestly.. it hasn't effected us that bad. My husbands job is considered essential, but for safety they let him take off about a month (which set our bills and plans back a bit)
In March, I finished my book and I published it on amazon! That was one of the best, most satisfying feelings I have ever felt in my entire life. Something I felt I would never be able to do.. I DID IT!
And today, I just completed Day 1, of my LAST class EVER!! In another four weeks, I will have my bachelors degree in business management! It has been a LONG 6 years! That is one chapter in my life closing.
*1st book published ✔️
*Graduate ✔️
*own paid off home ✔️

If you would have talked to me back in 2008 and told me that today I would have all of this accomplished in my life.. I wouldn't believe you!

I share my story with you, to show you that anything is possible! Don't ever think that you cant do what you want to do.. or that what your dreaming of is too far out of reach! Because if you have determination and the will to do it, It will get DONE!  You will make it! You can do it!

We can only do what we tell ourselves we can do! If you tell yourself you cant do something.. then you wont do it. You cant have that attitude!

My children are better people because they see that they have a mother who never gives up! Now, that's not saying I'm perfect.. because I'm not! I fail, I have bad days.. I have horrible days.. mood swings, depression still creeps in every now and then..

But its how you handle those situations that matters! If you just crawl into a ball and hide in a corner and let the darkness consume you.. you wont find the light.

But I assure you, once you find the light, the darkness cant touch you! It can try.. it can tempt you.. you have to FIGHT! Let the LIGHT become YOU!!

Jesus has open arms yall, he always an ear away!
All you have to do is take time and pray!

My newest dream, yet has been my lifelong dream.. is owning property.... I know.. I have property.

Not just any property... mountainous acreage property! When I was 15 my dad and I took a trip to Tennessee, and I left a huge chunk of my heart in the mountains! I felt at peace.. and I truly feel that now that I look back on it, god was trying to talk to me then. I feel the most spiritual when I'm in the mountains! And I want to live like that till I'm old and grey!

We don't know exactly what state we are going to grow roots in yet, but we do know that we want to rent out our house here eventually and move to that property and grow all old and stuff together, with our children and our farm animals and huge garden! I sit here and I talk about this now.. and just like in 2008 it seems so far away. But I know now what just a short time can do for someone! Its in gods hands and he knows the desires of my heart!

This was a really long story, and if you stuck around and read it all.. bless your heart and I hope I encouraged and inspired you! With much love, ill see yall next time. -Slbradley

April showers

Hello wonderful people!

They say that when it rains it pours... I feel I speak for us all when I say that I can confirm that we have had our fair share of rain showers (metaphorically) lately. Am I right? Kind of? I'm the mother of four littles and being trapped in the house with little to nothing to do, has become quite draining. I have found myself going to bed extremely later than what I normally do, and this has became rather drawing on my creative juices. As a writer I need those juices to be on overdrive, but lately with my sleep schedule and my stress levels being all over the place, that has been very daunting. Most of my inspiration comes from my dreams. I feel that I am not able to complete my dreams in time for my children to get up.. in that I mean, when we enter REM sleep, which is where our dreams come from, it is near the time we are coming to wake up. Well, for me around that time is when my kids start to stir and they are fighting with one another, lecturing the puppies for barking, or singing and dancing... there truly is no in between for mornings in my household. Its either loud, or kind of loud LOL. So, if I don't get to that REM sleep before that happens, well... I don't get to finish that inspiring dream and I loose it.

I do remember a dream that I had recently, bits and pieces of it anyway.. that seemed quite inspiring. Now, for you to understand this dream and how my brain works, you need to know that I am inspired by nature, I love nature! I'm a very big environmentalist! This dream was of this crazy looking tree in my yard.. if I can I will post a picture of it down below! ↓
This dream reminded me of other dreams that Ive had, do dreams do that to anyone else? Its like images, textures, sounds etc. things that are in the dream take you to other dreams that you have had. Well this one in particular reminded me of another book inspiration that I had when I was just a teen. So, maybe there will be more about that in upcoming blogs.

This dream was of this tree, the tree was all funky (I'm sure its a normal tree, but it was funky to me)
Well, our yard is bare, we just had our septic replaced so our backyard looks like a desert island. Its very sad to say the least... So, in my dream there came this massive down pour of rain, like rained really really hard. It was a dream so for a matter of explanation sake, I'm going to say it seemed like we got at least like 5 inches of rain in less than an hour! After the rain stopped, we all went outside. When I walked outside, everything was GREEN! The grass was lush and soft under my bare feet... ya, my feet were BARE! I wouldn't ever not wear shoes outside right now in my yard lol. There were weeds, but there was mainly green lush grass! It was amazing. As I was looking around the yard, one of my children called out to me from across the yard. I ran over to them, and before they could even say anything, my jaw dropped to the ground! That tree... the same tree, the day before I stood and looked at with wonder... I stared at with far more wonder as I saw the dust of pollen coming off these lush HUGE blue flowers that looked as if they could consume me whole! I'm 5'2" so, I'm not extremely tall, but that flower was extremely huge! That was just the size of the petals. The look of the flower mimicked that of a tulip! After seeing that, the dream gets kind of foggy, I remember seeing a tree end up coming to life and talking to me, as if it was my guardian or something.. I don't know, but I know that some of these aspects would be super neat to incorporate into one of my up coming books!

Well, I hope you all have a very blessed day... night, (or whenever your reading this!) Have a nice one! I'm going to jump off of here and go make supper for my mini army! We are eating some breakfast for supper, homemade biscuits and gravy! Yum! Just remember, after all the April showers have passed, they are said to bring may flowers! Anticipate and search for the beautiful flowers friends!
Love you all! Don't forget to check out slbradley.com and read my 1st published book!

 SL.Bradley.

Here is the tree!

Has weird "Leaves" I'm guessing pine?

Nice to meet you!

Hi, My name is Shana!

I'm the author of "Mystical Bounty part one" I have been writing this book for the last three years! With everything that has been going on in my life, I will admit that it wasn't a constant process. I took a LOT of breaks! I'm a mother and a wife first, but also a student. I will be receiving my Bachelors degree in Business management from The University of Phoenix online in June! I have been in college for the last six years!

My writing began when I was young. As a young child I used to love playing pretend, like most children. As I got older I found that I enjoyed writing poems and short stories. At the age of fifteen, I wrote my first novel. It was a fantasy fiction novel about vampires. I never did publish that book, and sadly, I lost track of where it is now. I found myself very discouraged by all of the family issues that I had in my life. My life took a rocky turn when I turned eighteen I gave birth to my first baby! My daughters dad wasn't the best influence in our lives and I had to end up cutting ties with him. Moving on to find the love of my life, my current husband! In October of 2008 I took my daughter trick or treating and shortly after that I had to be rushed to the hospital and they found a blood clot in my lung. I ended up spending my twentieth birthday in intensive care. Scary stuff.

After going forward with life dealing with the routine living paycheck to paycheck, we ended up brining in another two babies. My boys. They are fifteen months apart, because.. well do I need to explain that? :) Life was expensive, but life was good! We had money troubles and living arrangement problems, seeing as the apartment we lived in didn't allow more than four residents, so we had to move in with my husbands mother for a while. That was very difficult, seeing as we weren't alone, my husbands older sibling and her family was living there as well. Quickly we found a house to rent and moved out.

On our own again, that is when things started to take shape! I enrolled in college, I had a good full time job, wasn't anything exciting or fun, I was a janitor at the local high school.. but it paid the bills. My husband was staying home with the children till he could find a job. With my children getting older I had to think about school. I never did want to send my children to public school, for my own personal reasons. So, I worked full time, did full time college (on campus) as well as started homeschooling my daughter. I did this for quite a while. It was very stressful, which lead me to getting an ulcer, which made me feel like I was having a heart attack. Some more scary stuff! My anxiety was already high due to my previous blood clot.

The stress overcame me and I folded. I put my daughter in public school, and I started attending an online college. This way I could still get my education, and my daughter could get hers, as well as work my job and control my stress level. Life isn't always easy, but finding ways to make things work for you, and everyone else is the art of life.

My husband and I bought our first home, then decided for him to finally put the grind on finding him a full time job so that I could stay home and bring into this world, our final addition to our family. We had another little girl! Spunky and sweet, and mommy got to spend all the time in the world with her babies now! I also began homeschooling again, but well, we went on and off with this. I began writing again, once I had free time. It felt amazing.

This leads me to where we are now. We sold our first home and now bought another one, that is currently paid off! Its a fixer upper, and small.. but its not our forever home.. not yet! Once we settled in, I picked up where I left off and I continued to write my book. I took a break from college for six months so that I could devote myself to getting settled into our new home and write my book! Finally this month (March 2020) I finished my book! It felt so unreal! I put in the time to study ways to publish the best way, I bought books, I learned online from other authors, and finally its done, and I am so proud of myself! My children are proud of me.

I wanted to create this blog, to share my way of thinking. I want to share my inspiration. I want to encourage others that if they have a dream, that they should go out and do it! Grab your dream! When you set your mind to something you can achieve anything! I am a dreamer, and growing up I always heard the same thing "Shana, you sure do have a big imagination!" YES I do! I'm very grateful for my big imagination. My brain is constantly set to GO. Even when I am sleeping my brain is running.. like an app in the background. This is where I hope to share some of my running app.

This is the app of Shanas mind...… Be inspired!