Welcome

Embracing Me is an opportunity for us to connect with ourselves...learning to embrace the God within. The post that I share with you are very real. The experiences of my life (whether good, bad or indifferent) sought to develop me into a Woman who honors the God that dwells inside of me.

For over 10 years I fought against sharing my life's experiences with the world but I also neglected to fully share my gifts. You may ask why I denied myself to live and the answer is fear! After relinquishing the fear of my own thoughts as well as the thoughts of others I have decided to do and be all that God has ordained. He chose me to share my testimonies through songs, poetry, short stories and encouraging words.

I invite you to travel with me as I journey into yet another fearful place, seeking to please the Father while providing healing, restoration and inspiration as chosen. It is my hope that these words will improve your daily living.

My charge to you: Think Well. Do Well. Speak Well. Be Well. Live Well.


"For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." - Isaiah 55:10-11

Monday, October 31, 2011

Thankful for Life...

Since January of this year we embraced monthly fellowship with like-minded women, enjoyed great food and open discussion on topics ranging from but not limited to; being single, marriage, family, love, sex, domestic violence and various other topics that impact our lives daily. 
Although the snow impeded our ability to meet for the month of October, NOTHING will keep my doors shut for our gathering set for November 26, 2011, as this month we celebrate 36 years of life for yours truly. 
I'm a turkey baby -- November 24th is my Birthday and since my birthday fell on Thanksgiving this year I decided I would extend my Thanksgiving celebration into the weekend with a Day-long Open House Birthday Extravaganza.  Be prepared to enjoy breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner or after hours jazz set.
Choose a time from the schedule below and come celebrate with me. This is open to families which includes our men. (Fathers, husbands, brothers etc.)
Schedule as follows:
9am – 11am – Enjoy Breakfast
11:30am – 1:30pm Enjoy Brunch (shift between breakfast & lunch)
2pm – 4pm Enjoy Lunch
5pm – 8pm Enjoy Dinner
9pm – 1am Enjoy Assorted Desserts, Coffees, Teas, Juices and Wine
The entire day will consist of a variety of foods.  Menu will not be disclosed in advance…come knowing you are in for a real treat!
This day of celebration is open to women, men, boys and girls – essentially FAMILY & FRIENDS (except the afterhours 9pm – 1am portion of the celebration - no children allowed)

For those interested in bringing gifts please consider bringing desserts, juice, soda or wine.  Other than that, YOU are my gift.

SAVE THE DATE:
Dec 17th – Final Meet Up of 2011/End of the year celebration


Thursday, October 20, 2011

Women's Meet Up for October

Women's Monthly Meet Up is an opportunity to enjoy fellowship with like-minded women.  You can expect to enjoy lite-fare and open discussion on topics ranging from but not limited to; being single, dating, marriage, family, love, sex, domestic violence, abortion, politics, finances, submitting our will to God, buying a home and various other topics that impact and affect us on a daily basis.  The objective is to provide support and encouragement through fellowship and discussion.  Prayer always available

Being whole is the goal...Mind, Body and Spirit! 
Join us for the next "Women's Meet Up":
Saturday, October 29, 2011, 5pm - 7pm
THERE IS NO BOOK FOR THIS MONTH RSVP by Thursday, October 27, 2011 to:  stacie.jharris@yahoo.com  See you there!
Be amongst the first ten Women to arrive and receive special gift!!!

See below for "Women's Monthly Meet Up" schedule

Meeting Date             Book of the Month                      Author
Oct 29th - MOVIE: "Stoning of Soraya"
Conversation facilitated by Visionary for God, Ms. Shanelle Gayden
http://www.encourageasister.org/

Nov 26th - MUSIC: A Cool Jazz like setting
(This is my Birthday weekend - I'm a turkey baby Nov 24th)
Enjoy an all-day open house with the guest of honor, Stacie J. Whitaker-Harris
Schedule as follows:
9am – 11am – Enjoy Breakfast
11:30am – 1:30pm Enjoy Brunch (the shift between breakfast and lunch)
2pm – 4pm Enjoy Lunch
5pm – 8pm Enjoy Dinner
9pm – 1am Enjoy Assorted Desserts, Coffees, Teas, Juices and Wine
The entire day will consist of a variety of foods.  Menu will not be disclosed in advance…come knowing you are in for a real treat!
This day of celebration is open to women, men, boys and girls – essentially FAMILY & FRIENDS (except the afterhours 9pm – 1am portion of the celebration)
My favorite part will be the expressions on YOUR faces as I share an incredibly special gift that no one else will have. 

Dec 17th - End of the year celebration
(Gift Receiving - Surprise gifts to all attendees)
IN CASE YOU MISSED ALL THE GREAT BOOKS WE’VE READ SO FAR:
Jan 29th - The Dream Giver - By Bruce Wilkinson

February 26th - The 5 Love Languages - By Gary Chapman
Book on sale NOW at Lifeway Christian Bookstore in White Marsh
http://www.lifewaystores.com/  ($9.99)

March 19th - Two Weeks Before the Rest of My Life
- By Harold T. Fisher (Author graced us with his presence)
Learn more about author at http://www.rosefogg.com/

April 28th - Inspiration for Life
- By Justin Jones-Fosu
Learn more about author at  http://www.justininspires.com/

May 28th - Verse in Motion
- By Renee Jean  (Author joined us via Skype)
Learn more about author at  http://www.verseinmotion.com/
                                             
June 25th - The Lady, Her Lover and Her Lord - By Bishop TD Jakes

July 30th - Journey to the Well - By Bishop Vashti McKenzie
http://thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com/

August 27th - Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome By Dr. Joy Leary
September 24th – The Audacity to Hope By President Barak Obama


Be well and we look forward to hearing you on the prayer call and seeing you during the monthly meet up.  Feel free to invite others to join the conference call and monthly meet ups
Also, join us Sunday – Saturday 7am for our Women’s prayer via conference call. 
Be restored, healed, refreshed, delivered, renewed, set free, revived and strengthened with this 15 minute power-packed prayer call.  Dial in at 605.562.3000 code 223212#. 

Thought of Today

Typically you would expect me to come with some rhythmic, thematic poem, a melodic song or a bible verse that somehow relates to my life but today I simply share what’s in my heart and on my mind. 
It may or may not make sense.  I t may or may not inspire.  It may or may not rhyme but today I simply share my voice in a deeply connected disconnected, functionally dysfunctional transparent and a most ironically sincere way.
The last four years of my life have yielded reflections of agony, torment, un-forgiveness, bitterness, loneliness and lowliness.  I’ve worn a smile to cover some of my deepest issues and pains.  I tried loving myself more and often finding that my actions were no reflection of what I thought.  I tried to hide my outward appearance because for too long, far too many others judged the pages never reading the content…they simply made inferences based on the cover.
There was a period in time when I decided to be someone else or maybe there were several periods where I concealed my identity with anger, make-up, smiles, glittery jewels, business suits, loving others more than myself and trying way too hard to please way to many people.  As I write these words I am literally having a flashback to the days before I married my now ex-husband.  Who was I to love him more than I loved myself?  Who was I to allow him to project his thoughts and feelings on me?  Who was I to try and get him to love me for me?  Why did I work so hard to please him?
Honestly, I was an insecure, easily guided and certainly misguided young woman who lacked confidence and an understanding of self.  As I walked outside today, I learned that the more I learn the more I realize I still have so much to learn.  Why rush growing up when really in essence you are growing up all your life.  Why try to fall in love when love is always in the atmosphere waiting to infect a heart or two.  Why be so eager to solve someone else’s issues when you have yet to grasp your own?
So today, Stacie told Stacie:
1.       Live up to your own expectations
2.      Be kind, not because you are forced to but because much like love, kindness flows through the air waiting to infect
3.      Love yourself with a deep, passionate, conviction that out last the love of another; for when you master this love, true love will meet you in the air, infecting every area of your being
4.      Open your mind to something new day by day, moment by moment
And these are my thoughts for this day…
“Only in love are unity and duality not in conflict”
– Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941); poet, playwright, essayist