Y'all...normally when I talk about JOE I am referring to the acronym for Joy Over Everything. But today I am talking about Joe Jackson...THEE Joe Jackson...Eternal King of POP, Michael Jackson daddy...Joe Jackson! Sooo, today my baby girl participated in her first ever talent show. Cue the tears because I have been waiting on this moment for a really long time. We have been working on this for a few weeks. Not as diligently as I would like, but I let her drive this thang how

My, my, my.... This week has been full of blips and glimmers. The Blip: Becoming extremely ill Tuesday, vomiting in my office, vertigo triggered, and having to leave work early... The Glimmer: Having a job with benefits that I could use to go home early to rest and reset. The Blip: Getting to work the next day and my computer refused to log on causing me to miss an important presentation The Glimmer: Being able to submit a recording instead and having and amazing specialist w

How is it still January y'all! January has legit been the longest year EVER!!! I am hearing whisperings that we might get another super cold weekend and honestly, I am kinda here for it. I have had extremely long day, so I won't be here long. I just had to come by and say "hey!" I have a lot to say to wrap up the week, but due to my limited capacity...I am gonna save it for tomorrow. I am about to find joy in my bed! Love, MichelleRena

A mini brain dump if you will...

Yes, I said it! Parenting is overstimulating and tiring AF! And let me be clear, I am talking about full-time, every day, all-day parenting. Not drive by parenting. I am legit with my babies every waking moment that I am not at work. If I am at home they are in my skin. I love it but I am still a person. I still need my alone time and I have noticed a pattern. By Wednesday of each week I am either overstimulated or on the verge of dysregulation. Yesterday, my body was fightin

Your girl messed around and got sick…. Made it through winter weather only to get a nasty stomach bug and dizziness today that sat me all the way down. In my older age I have developed an extensive list of allergies. I literally can’t eat much of anything without it creating turmoil in my body. Headaches, tummy-aches, nausea, body aches…it literally makes me sick all over. When your body says no…believe it! Thank God for wellness benefits! I will keep y’all posted! Love, Mic

A boxer learns where to put his trust after life shifts in a way he never could have expected.

So…much like everyone else in the south, I was at home today due to inclement weather. Our weather was in fact not at all inclement. I appreciate the precautions taken to keep our community safe. Looking for the snow! I’ml extremely grateful for the extra time to chill in my bed but I have never seen a day go by faster than today did. I blinked and it was bedtime and I don’t feel rested at all. How does this happen? I did achieve a few things today: Morning Devotion with Coac

Trigger Warning: This post is about grief and death! It's so crazy to think that today makes 33 years since my dad died. There really has only been a handful of days that have gone by where I didn't think of him or wonder what he might think of the life that I have lived and am living. I miss him everyday and I mean single everyday! Losing my dad would shape me in ways I never imagined and honestly because of some of the trauma that I have endured throughout my life I still s

Love my super cute hat from Han.s.ee So I had a whole plan for how I was going to spend the day. I even made a tiktok about it early this morning. https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThUxyrAM/ The Plan: Pick up last minute groceries items Grab a few 27 gallon bins from Sam's Organize the basement Complete my homework assignments Read for leisure Lay in the bed Pick up markers The Reality: Went to several stores for "a few specific groceries" but managed to still forget the black peppe

If you stay ready, you won't have to get ready! If you are reading this from anywhere in the southeastern United States then you are likely in full prep mode and readying yourself for a winter storm. You have raided the grocery stores, stacked firewood to make sure you can keep yourself warm, and prepared your mental for a frigid indoor weekend. These are the kinds of storms that you get fair warning about and usually you are able to prep a little before it hits. Unfortunatel

This is not a sarcastic post. At least that is not the intent. Today's cup of joy was brought to me by a tear free cleaning of my little kid's room! A little joy goes a long way! There really is joy in parenting neurodivergent children, especially as a neurodivergent Mom. I see them as they actually are. I mean...I really see them and I accept them in all of their nuances. I attempt to show up in full support to ensure they know that their neurodivergence is not something th

I promised myself at the start of the year that I would take it easy but I have not stopped going yet. I have literally been going full throttle since I returned to work and now we are barely to the end of the month and I am exhausted and overwhelmed. I am desperately in need of a nap and my feet hurt from all of the walking that I do each day. I want to go on vacation and do nothing! Who signed me up for adulthood? This is hella ghetto! Nevertheless, I am making progress in

I am going to say the thing that folks don't wanna say...sometimes it be your own kids! I had a really great day! It was productive, it was peaceful...I got to serve and highlight some amazing kids and I even got to take one of my kids on a tour of a school. The day was ending great but then... Shit went crazy! One kid made a mess of their shared bathroom and the other was pissed and had a meltdown because I didn't take their concern seriously. Me and the oldest ended up clea

Every woman deserves a Bleu.

I can remember my first teaching job at the now closed French Elementary in Mississippi. I started my first official teaching job in January 2008. As I was thrust into a new position as an elementary gifted teacher, I was also able to witness the first of many MLK Day Oratorical competition preps. Our school counselor at the time worked hard to ensure all of the students and their submissions were well prepared. The theme each year was "Only Light, Only Love" taken from Dr. M

I told y'all that my pastor don’t miss and today was no different. As he continues his “Waiting to Excel” series, he focused specifically on excellence in serving and reminded us how Jesus washed the disciples’ feet as an act of service and as a reminder that there’s no service that is beneath us. Our willingness to serve is an act of love. This is where it hit me… Love is an action word…it’s a verb…LOVE is something you do! He broke down to the simplest form, you can’t lov

As much as I would love to say I laid in bed and did nothing all day, that couldn't be farther from the truth. Today, I was more productive than I anticipated and I actually feel kinda good about it. From cleaning and organizing to finally packing up the Christmas trees and decor, helping my little one prep for an upcoming talent show, picking up my big girl from her first international trip, and finally sitting around the table and just chatting with my girls. Today was pict

This phrase has become a recurring theme so far in 2026. Whether I am referencing arrival time or my actual existence, each instance it becomes more and more applicable. I wasn't sure I would make it! Yet, here I am...at the close of another exhausting week and I have in fact made it. Despite, the many physical, mental, financial, and emotional obstacles this week offered...I made it! The funny thing is...in the past the more I declared my love for God and my faith in him, th

Normally, I come home and I can't wait to write because I have had some strong epiphanic moments throughout the day. Well, today was no different but because my brain has been working overtime, I honestly can't remember what happened today and I don't like that. I literally feel like I'm stuck in quicksand and drowning slowly. Moving fast...to go nowhere and that level of stuck feels so frustrating. My hope is that I get the necessary nap/rest/whatever to push through because