Sometimes in life, we go through trials that will knock us down, but we are warriors and can get back up. Those are the battle scars that we turn into testimonies and messages from the mess that they cause. I am here today to say that I am living proof that anyone can turn their test into a testimony and their mess into a message. I am going to be transparent today and share with you a glimpse into a part of my message and testimony. I survived bullying as a child, bullying in the workplace as an adult, health issues during a difficult pregnancy, weight gain, emotional scarring from a divorce, and loss of family.
When my ex-husband said to me “you are fat, ugly, and damaged goods, and no one will want you and your baggage of kids.” I lived with this scarring for many years. I believed the lies that this man told me. Now what you don’t know is that at this time I was 5’7″, weighed 124lbs and my body fat was 16% with 98lbs of lean muscle mass. I was in the best shape that I was ever going to be in. I danced, worked out, and ate right. But emotionally, I was a mess because every time I looked in the mirror I saw the description of what this man told me. The image I saw was distorted and I believed the lies of deception. The devil had me believing that I was a worthless human and of no use in this world. However, a friend I met in my dance studio friended me and started talking positive words of affirmation in my ear. He was not romantically interested in me, although I wished at the time he was, however, he knew better what was needed. He took me out on dates as friends, he held my hand, he kissed me on the cheek and taught me how to change a light bulb ( literally) he taught me the thing I needed most. I needed to love myself, love others for who they were, be independent, and to just be enough. This started the healing process and the confidence to be just me. I used this newfound meaning of confidence to get through the challenges that I would later on face. But my faith in Jesus, my support of good friends (Terry, Beth, and Renee), and marrying my best friend and soul mate helped me grow into the person I have become today.
I found my soulmate and married him after 7 years of being single. He loved me as no one else had. He loved me for me and he loved my kids. We experienced in our first years of marriage troubled teens, an ex-husband that talked trash about me to our kids, I had a baby born premature, I had high blood pressure from the pregnancy, and nearly lost my life as it got to stroke level and older kids that are now estranged as a result of the divorce and remarriage. I recently lost my dad unexpectedly and have to take care of my elderly mom who lost her eyesight completely from Diabetes complications, but guess what? I am a warrior and I fought the good fight on the battleground of life and no matter what the enemy tries to throw at me, I will use my shield to fight back. I am not going to be defeated no matter what.
I share this with you today because many times I have women come to me and say your life is so perfect I could never get out of the mess that I am in. No, my life is not perfect, my life is messy like anyone else’s, but what makes it different, is the outlook I look at life with. Circumstances at times cannot be changed but how we look at them is something that we can control. I have a special needs child with intellectual disability and yes he is a handful at times, but nevertheless, God gave me this little boy to share the miracle that he is because he is fortunate to be here on this earth. Doctors gave him zero chance of being conceived naturally, 5% chance of survival after being born, and towards the end of my pregnancy when my blood pressure got to 220/124 and my son stopped breathing, a crash c-section was done to get him out and we both crashed. But guess what? On October 13, 2009, God breathed life into my lungs and baby Kaleb and said today is the day that I have set aside to give you something to share and give hope to others. That became my testimony and how the nonprofit organization The Gift of Life was born.
Through this confidence in myself that came from my Lord and Savior and the support of a loving husband, I completed my bachelor’s degree in nursing as well as my Doctorate of Nurse Practice, I established 27 Miracles Wedding and Event Planning Windermere Baby and Family , Rosie Moore author of children’s books and adult books, and a representative of Ms. Puerto Rico World. SO this may seem like a lot of accomplishments and they are, but what good does it do me if I do not share my gifts and talents to help others?
Matthew 16:26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
So look in the mirror, open your eyes, and repeat this, “My name is Rosie Moore ( insert your own name), I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and I am more than enough. “
Psalm 139:14 says I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Listen to my Tea Time With Just Rosie Moore podcast for some positive words. Then join me on my Facebook group Empowering Girls and Women here you can follow stories of other women and share your own story as well as be inspired.
Have you ever been a mamma bear and you watch someone bully your child or treat them differently because they are not the same as other children? I can understand that a child, may not understand, but adults do and need to set an example for their kids. Children learn what they see, hear, and are told. One of the first things that children are taught in the Bible is always ” I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14. They are also taught that Jesus loves the little children. So wouldn’t that mean that if a child has intellectual disabilities that they too are loved by Jesus? Are they not capable of being loved by others even if they are different?
I was moved today to write about an incident that to some may seem like an innocent gesture but to a mom who is tired from working 16 hour days as a nurse some weeks 7 days per week with a special needs child that has been distance learning for almost three months, and is now in virtual summer school, with lots of energy to give, it is hurtful. I sit writing with tears in my eyes not because my feelings were hurt, but because my little boy noticed that he was made to feel different and really can’t comprehend why.
My son was born 13 weeks early, he is a miracle. He was given a 5% chance of survival, he is immune-compromised due to his little lungs, he has 1 kidney, and is underweight. But guess what? He has a heart full of love for all that he meets, he loves people, and is the sweetest little boy. He does not know the color of skin, race, or disabilities, he only knows love. Why, because my husband and I instill the values in him to love everyone. But today on a zoom call made for kids, he was cut out of a video zoom class that was made for kids. We had him on silent because we know he can sometimes be chatty but he was making funny faces while he sat and looked at himself in the little video box honestly may have been a little bored because he is on these zoom calls daily for distance learning. But as a mom we always want our kids to get nurtured in groups that we think will make a difference in their lives.
All of Kaleb’s school teachers embrace him and know he is a handful but they love him just the same and find coping skills to help him. His hyperactivity is not something that can always be controlled, but trust me this little boy tries hard. If you told me ten years ago that we would be enduring this and would I want to terminate the pregnancy because we spent 162 days in the neonatal intensive care unit, with a little boy that is special needs, and only has 1 kidney, and may require help with making decisions later in life, I would say no. I would do it all over again. God placed this little boy in our lives for a reason. Through the test that we endured, we created The Gift of Life, an organization that supports parents of premature babies while they are in the neonatal intensive care unit. Through our hurt, we knew that we could take a mess and create a message that would reach many to help them find comfort in knowing that they are loved and supported no matter what race, religion, socioeconomic status, or nationality they are.
God never gives us more than we can handle and He knows who can tolerate a test. He really must think we can handle it because in these last three months, my test of trials has been huge. My husband and I vowed that we would do the best for our son and never let him down. We have my mom who lost her eyesight due to diabetes and a retinal detachment shortly after my dad passed away unexpectedly so therefore she stays with us. We have two puppies that keep us busy but fulfill our lives too. We wonder why all of this with COVID-19 surfaced and now with the Floyd murder and the violence that some groups are creating. With all of this, it is enough to send someone over the edge and totally give everything up, But I have had some strong women in my life.
Anitra Manning that is on our board tells me that I matter and what I am doing in the community matters so I need to hang in there, She loves our Kaleb so much, he is her “little buddy. “
Elisa Planellas our executive director who moved to Florida 1.5 years ago to help run the charity. She was running the charity for four years from a distance and then said she needed to move close to help us more. She takes care of our websites and gives freely of her time and never asks for a dime, on the contrary, she gives of her time and money to the charity through the services she purchases to run our digital website. She is another person that loves our Kaleb and keeps him entertained with her witty questions that make him think.
Ms. Melanie Johnson, Kaleb’s kindergarten teacher who always checks on Kaleb and me and sends me encouraging messages and support to hang in there. She was the first teacher to assure me that Kaleb will learn everything in his own time. She was so right!
Mrs. Nicole Pagan, Kaleb’s 2nd-grade teacher, this woman is a saint, there is so much that she has done throughout the years to go above and beyond the call of a teacher duty to help my family. She loves our Kaleb so much and looks out for his best interest always. She always includes me in her kiddos storytimes even after Kaleb has moved on beyond 2nd grade.
Alexia Rivera, God bless this girl, she has the patience of an angel with Kaleb. She supports me in every way that she can with her positive words and encouraging thoughts. She is one of the most thoughtful people I know. She has the gift of comfort and support. She loves our Kaleb as if he were her family.
Ms. Rosa, one of Kaleb’s teacher’s aides at school, you have to meet her. She loves our little miracle like her own. I never have to worry when he is in her care because she has just loved on him and me.
Ms. Kelly, this woman has been all that Kaleb talks about when it comes to his inflatables. She helps his creativity and looks for ways to bring his little heart joy. She is one of the aides in school that always has a watchful eye for our Kaleb.
I apologize for the long post, but I really wanted to point out that there are people that will love my son for who he is and not treat him differently because he is different. You just have to get to know him because he will melt your heart. Like my other favorite person in the world, Mrs. June Ings calls him, the little senator. He got this name when she attended our first charity gala and watched our little Kaleb, then 5 yrs old, greet people with a handshake like his dad in his little tuxedo and tell people that he was Kaleb with The Gift of Life. Mrs. June has always been there for me especially when I myself have experienced racism and bullying.
So today I leave you with these short verses:
John 7:24 “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
Acts 10:34-35 “So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”
Romans 2:11 For God shows no partiality.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
So you see to the person that excluded a little boy today from a zoom call because he was making funny faces in an environment that was supposed to be fun for kids, I say, think about what Jesus would have done at that moment. Kids are not perfect by any means, but special needs kids are definitely not perfect either, but they have something that many wish they had, unbiased love for other people.
December 27, 2005, a man named Marcus Moore asked me to be his wife by heart-shaped fireworks as we watched them from my house. Today is our 12 year engagement anniversary. Many don’t know the whole story, but if you read my book A Story of Faith, you will be able to read in detail how we ended up together. Today is about saying thank you to a man that allowed me in 12 years to become who I am today. In 12 years I completed my bachelors, masters and I am also almost finished with my doctorate of nurse practice. We started a successful wedding business 27 Miracles, a non-profit organization called The Gift of Life, expanded my love of dance to a point where I could go to a competition in a group and win 1st place with my group, performed in ballets, Christmas shows, and musicals. We have traveled to places I have never been before, learned to laugh, and care about others, write books, and become a legal nurse. We had a beautiful baby boy that although born prematurely was the inspiration to start a non-profit to help other premature babies and their families.
I was able to achieve a Master Bridal Consultant designation. My latest accomplishment was the designation of Mrs. Windermere International, through this title I am able to reach audiences I would never have dreamed of reaching for my platform The Gift of Life.
To think he manages all this in my life. I am sure there is so much more …but first of all, I thank God for placing Marcus in my path many years ago and then I thank Marcus for being there for me through the ups and downs of life. Happy 12 year engagement anniversary! A serendipity moment that neither of us will ever forget.
If today you are looking for that serendipity moment in your life, do not worry it will come. I waited almost 8 years for it.
What a great gift I received for my birthday yesterday. My BFF invited me out to lunch and some last minute shopping at the mall.
When I arrived at the mall I was thinking about how crowded it may be but in the late morning on a Friday it was not overpacked at all. It was pleasant to stroll through the mall and be greeted with a smile from a gentleman that had the look of love in his eyes as he was leaving the mall with a little package from Tiffanys.
I then passed a gentleman with a shopping bag from Prada beaming from ear to ear as he quickly walked around the mall.
I continued to make my way to the restaurant passing yet another gentleman on the phone sharing his treasure with someone on the phone about his gift from Louis Vuitton.
As I approached Tiffany’s I saw two more gentlemen with little bags from Tiffany’s. I glanced into Tiffany’s to see the store filled with male shoppers, talking with the salespeople.
As I proceeded on my journey I looked around and saw mostly men shopping and started to think to myself about the first few people that I saw with their special gifts they selected for their significant others. Not everyone, of course, can spend the prices that Tiffanys, Prada, or Louis Vuitton charge, however when it comes time to selecting a gift for that special someone, it is not the price but the thought that comes from your heart and how you present it.
A simple card that says you love someone and the gift of time may be the gift that will always be remembered. So this Christmas whether you can afford a gift for that special someone or you can’t due to circumstances, take the time to write a beautiful love letter about the way you feel towards that special someone. Really put some thought into what is in your heart, your significant other will treasure that forever.
I finally made it to my lunch with my BFF and realized that we all need days like this to share lunch, dinner, a cup of coffee, or tea with those near to our heart and cultivate those relationships.
During the holiday season from the time November starts and the Thanksgiving plans begin until the few days after New Year’s Day, many people carry an increased amount of stress.
Today consider taking a step back and laughing out loud. Take it from Old St. Nick who has a laugh that stems from his belly!
Laughing is known to be the best medicine to decrease stress and also a beauty tip, it takes more muscles to make a frown vs. a smile.
So today laugh at yourself, laugh with your friends and family, and by all means enjoy the Christmas season, the true gift of Christmas is what is inside your heart and that my friend will mean more to anyone than you know.
