A Christian Mama’s Winter Bucket List

Motherhood

Merry Christmas week!

(more…)

View Post
No Comments

International Day of the Girl 2020

October 11, 2020
Motherhood

As a woman and mother to two girls, I believe that girls everywhere should be treated equally, empowered, and safe. This belief is deeply held, both for personal and biblical reasons. As such, I champion gender equality everyday and especially today, International Day of the Girl 2020. The theme for this day is “My voice,…

View Post

My 30 Before 30 Gratitude Challenge

October 4, 2020
Uncategorized

So I turn 30 in about a month! I’ve always wanted to do some kind of challenge or bucket list to complete before the big 3-0, but each list or challenge just didn’t resonate with me. Taking stock of missed opportunities from my 20s or trying to finish unrealistic bucket list items just doesn’t fit…

View Post

meloniebygrace

3,269

meloniebygrace

View

Apr 16

Open
I’ve overcome a lot and have been very vulnerable and open in sharing my story:  That I was called “gifted” as a kindergartener, even though my parents were told just the year prior that I would need special education assistance for the rest of my life.  That I parented the daughter from a college boyfriend as a single mom, even though he posted photos (that I took of her) to appear that he was involved.  That I left that college boyfriend after he physically abused me and had been threatening my life for months, even though mutual friends questioned if I was telling the truth.  That I graduated college with a 3.97 GPA, with highest honors, and with my daughter by my side, even though I was called stupid just a few weeks prior.  That I went to law school as a single mom, fell more in love with Jesus, graduated, and passed the bar, even though I made plenty of mistakes along the way.  That I started as an attorney at an international law firm, even though I had been on food stamps while in school.  My point is, I know that strength and resilience comes from believing in Someone bigger than people’s doubt. I am powerful, strong, and resilient because I choose not to let people’s words define me. Jesus defined me and ordered my steps through everything I’ve been through.  People are entitled to their opinions. They are even entitled to dislike you. But, they have no right to define you. His Word beats their words, every time.

I’ve overcome a lot and have been very vulnerable and open in sharing my story:

That I was called “gifted” as a kindergartener, even though my parents were told just the year prior that I would need special education assistance for the rest of my life.

That I parented the daughter from a college boyfriend as a single mom, even though he posted photos (that I took of her) to appear that he was involved.

That I left that college boyfriend after he physically abused me and had been threatening my life for months, even though mutual friends questioned if I was telling the truth.

That I graduated college with a 3.97 GPA, with highest honors, and with my daughter by my side, even though I was called stupid just a few weeks prior.

That I went to law school as a single mom, fell more in love with Jesus, graduated, and passed the bar, even though I made plenty of mistakes along the way.

That I started as an attorney at an international law firm, even though I had been on food stamps while in school.

My point is, I know that strength and resilience comes from believing in Someone bigger than people’s doubt. I am powerful, strong, and resilient because I choose not to let people’s words define me. Jesus defined me and ordered my steps through everything I’ve been through.

People are entitled to their opinions. They are even entitled to dislike you. But, they have no right to define you. His Word beats their words, every time. ...

meloniebygrace

View

Apr 12

Open
The day @emorylaw won my heart!  I remember visiting Emory Law as an admitted student with Raegan. I sat in on Professor Alexander’s property class and of course Raegan, my four month old at the time, began to fuss. Professor Alexander walked up to me, peered down, and said, “Is that your baby?” I thought I would die of embarrassment. He then said, “Well, give her here!” He scooped Raegan up in his arms and resumed lecturing. Raegan stopped fussing and relaxed like she had always gone to law school.  Rather than shaming me, Professor Alexander, those 1Ls in property class, and the whole Emory Law community welcomed me, a young single mom at that time. I committed right then to enrolling and it was one of the best decisions of my life.  I am proud to be an Emory Lawyer. #Classof2016 #16L 

The day @emorylaw won my heart!

I remember visiting Emory Law as an admitted student with Raegan. I sat in on Professor Alexander’s property class and of course Raegan, my four month old at the time, began to fuss. Professor Alexander walked up to me, peered down, and said, “Is that your baby?” I thought I would die of embarrassment. He then said, “Well, give her here!” He scooped Raegan up in his arms and resumed lecturing. Raegan stopped fussing and relaxed like she had always gone to law school.

Rather than shaming me, Professor Alexander, those 1Ls in property class, and the whole Emory Law community welcomed me, a young single mom at that time. I committed right then to enrolling and it was one of the best decisions of my life.

I am proud to be an Emory Lawyer. #Classof2016 #16L
 ...

meloniebygrace

View

Mar 30

Open
Our only family photo from Honor’s virtual party. I love my family. Thanks for wishing our baby girl a happy birthday. #WrightforJordanForever

Our only family photo from Honor’s virtual party. I love my family. Thanks for wishing our baby girl a happy birthday. #WrightforJordanForever ...

meloniebygrace

View

Mar 25

Open
Happy birthday to our youngest baby girl, 🌷Honor Grace Jordan , who turned ONE this week! Our warrior, a fighter in the womb and now a fierce little girl. She’s truly a beautiful gift to our family.  She has grown up into a toddler — walking, talking, running, clapping, jumping on her crib, brushing her hair, walking backwards, and has taken to removing her diaper!  I believe the Lord gave me my girls at strategic times in my life. Honor’s birth ushered me into a “spring season,” which is fitting given that she’s our spring baby. I moved into a season full of new life, fresh growth, and vivid beautiful moments. Having Honor birthed a new strength in me.  We love Honie-mommy. She brings such beautiful boldness to our lives. Happy birthday, baby girl.

Happy birthday to our youngest baby girl, 🌷Honor Grace Jordan , who turned ONE this week! Our warrior, a fighter in the womb and now a fierce little girl. She’s truly a beautiful gift to our family.

She has grown up into a toddler — walking, talking, running, clapping, jumping on her crib, brushing her hair, walking backwards, and has taken to removing her diaper!

I believe the Lord gave me my girls at strategic times in my life. Honor’s birth ushered me into a “spring season,” which is fitting given that she’s our spring baby. I moved into a season full of new life, fresh growth, and vivid beautiful moments. Having Honor birthed a new strength in me.

We love Honie-mommy. She brings such beautiful boldness to our lives. Happy birthday, baby girl. ...

meloniebygrace

View

Feb 25

Open
This week, we celebrated 11 months with this baby girl!  She’s got 6 teeth now and is trying to say more words. So far she’s added “Papa,” “poo poo,” and “uh oh” to her vocab. Honor understands simple directives like no, give that to me, lay down, and come here.  Honor likes to be chased around the house while she walks as fast she can and squeals. She loves long walks around the house while you hold her hand. Honor spends her days trying to keep up with Raegan. I am filled with love beyond words when I watch my kids play and love on each other. I am the world’s happiest mama with my two girls. I’m so grateful to be their mama.  I’m also really grateful for our friends and family who have loved Honor from afar. We had Honor right at the beginning of this pandemic, so she hasn’t met a lot of our loved ones. Even still, it means the world to me that at least for now we can celebrate her milestones with our online community 🌷

This week, we celebrated 11 months with this baby girl!

She’s got 6 teeth now and is trying to say more words. So far she’s added “Papa,” “poo poo,” and “uh oh” to her vocab. Honor understands simple directives like no, give that to me, lay down, and come here.

Honor likes to be chased around the house while she walks as fast she can and squeals. She loves long walks around the house while you hold her hand. Honor spends her days trying to keep up with Raegan. I am filled with love beyond words when I watch my kids play and love on each other. I am the world’s happiest mama with my two girls. I’m so grateful to be their mama.

I’m also really grateful for our friends and family who have loved Honor from afar. We had Honor right at the beginning of this pandemic, so she hasn’t met a lot of our loved ones. Even still, it means the world to me that at least for now we can celebrate her milestones with our online community 🌷 ...

meloniebygrace

View

Feb 20

Open
After Raegan heard me praying boldness over her and Honor, she asked me, “Mommy, what does ‘bold’ mean?”  What came to mind were people who have tough, outspoken personalities. I choked those thoughts back, because they’re inaccurate. Outspoken doesn’t always mean you are bold. Being loud doesn’t necessarily mean you are a leader.  Parents, particularly the mamas to little girls, are trying to navigate a world that is increasingly aggressive. As such, I see a big push to raise children to be loud and aggressive. I get it, especially after millennia of women, especially Black women, being told to hush up.  But there’s such a movement for leadership but little guidance on character.  Raegan is bold because she’s caring. She’s not one to boss people around (at least all the time). She’s collaborative. She invites you in and calls you friend. She doesn’t leave anyone behind. She defends her friends’ hearts. She’s just downright friendly, even when people aren’t friendly to her (even though that makes Mama wanna knuck and buck). She’s the kind of friend I wish I had, and wish I was, growing up. I know full well there’s a whole world out there who will take her kindness as weakness. But they don’t know that true leadership is built on good character.  My hope is that mamas to girls everywhere raise them to be bold. Whether a girl likes to take charge or just be friendly, like my little one, I hope we emphasize that character is what makes her bold and a leader. I don’t have to make Honor or Raegan into bossy girls if that’s not their personality, because bossiness doesn’t always mean bold, and loud doesn’t always make you a leader. Character matters ❤️

After Raegan heard me praying boldness over her and Honor, she asked me, “Mommy, what does ‘bold’ mean?”

What came to mind were people who have tough, outspoken personalities. I choked those thoughts back, because they’re inaccurate. Outspoken doesn’t always mean you are bold. Being loud doesn’t necessarily mean you are a leader.

Parents, particularly the mamas to little girls, are trying to navigate a world that is increasingly aggressive. As such, I see a big push to raise children to be loud and aggressive. I get it, especially after millennia of women, especially Black women, being told to hush up.

But there’s such a movement for leadership but little guidance on character.

Raegan is bold because she’s caring. She’s not one to boss people around (at least all the time). She’s collaborative. She invites you in and calls you friend. She doesn’t leave anyone behind. She defends her friends’ hearts. She’s just downright friendly, even when people aren’t friendly to her (even though that makes Mama wanna knuck and buck). She’s the kind of friend I wish I had, and wish I was, growing up. I know full well there’s a whole world out there who will take her kindness as weakness. But they don’t know that true leadership is built on good character.

My hope is that mamas to girls everywhere raise them to be bold. Whether a girl likes to take charge or just be friendly, like my little one, I hope we emphasize that character is what makes her bold and a leader. I don’t have to make Honor or Raegan into bossy girls if that’s not their personality, because bossiness doesn’t always mean bold, and loud doesn’t always make you a leader. Character matters ❤️ ...

meloniebygrace

View

Feb 1

Open
🖤❤️ Happy first day of #BlackHistoryMonth! 🖤❤️  Things we don’t hear often enough: Black is beautiful. Black culture is deeply rich. Black history includes joy, creativity, and genius.  Celebrating our history so far, making history today, and raising history-makers is what I’m all about ✊🏾

🖤❤️ Happy first day of #BlackHistoryMonth! 🖤❤️

Things we don’t hear often enough: Black is beautiful. Black culture is deeply rich. Black history includes joy, creativity, and genius.

Celebrating our history so far, making history today, and raising history-makers is what I’m all about ✊🏾 ...

meloniebygrace

3,269

meloniebygrace

View

Apr 16

Open
I’ve overcome a lot and have been very vulnerable and open in sharing my story:  That I was called “gifted” as a kindergartener, even though my parents were told just the year prior that I would need special education assistance for the rest of my life.  That I parented the daughter from a college boyfriend as a single mom, even though he posted photos (that I took of her) to appear that he was involved.  That I left that college boyfriend after he physically abused me and had been threatening my life for months, even though mutual friends questioned if I was telling the truth.  That I graduated college with a 3.97 GPA, with highest honors, and with my daughter by my side, even though I was called stupid just a few weeks prior.  That I went to law school as a single mom, fell more in love with Jesus, graduated, and passed the bar, even though I made plenty of mistakes along the way.  That I started as an attorney at an international law firm, even though I had been on food stamps while in school.  My point is, I know that strength and resilience comes from believing in Someone bigger than people’s doubt. I am powerful, strong, and resilient because I choose not to let people’s words define me. Jesus defined me and ordered my steps through everything I’ve been through.  People are entitled to their opinions. They are even entitled to dislike you. But, they have no right to define you. His Word beats their words, every time.

I’ve overcome a lot and have been very vulnerable and open in sharing my story:

That I was called “gifted” as a kindergartener, even though my parents were told just the year prior that I would need special education assistance for the rest of my life.

That I parented the daughter from a college boyfriend as a single mom, even though he posted photos (that I took of her) to appear that he was involved.

That I left that college boyfriend after he physically abused me and had been threatening my life for months, even though mutual friends questioned if I was telling the truth.

That I graduated college with a 3.97 GPA, with highest honors, and with my daughter by my side, even though I was called stupid just a few weeks prior.

That I went to law school as a single mom, fell more in love with Jesus, graduated, and passed the bar, even though I made plenty of mistakes along the way.

That I started as an attorney at an international law firm, even though I had been on food stamps while in school.

My point is, I know that strength and resilience comes from believing in Someone bigger than people’s doubt. I am powerful, strong, and resilient because I choose not to let people’s words define me. Jesus defined me and ordered my steps through everything I’ve been through.

People are entitled to their opinions. They are even entitled to dislike you. But, they have no right to define you. His Word beats their words, every time. ...

meloniebygrace

View

Apr 12

Open
The day @emorylaw won my heart!  I remember visiting Emory Law as an admitted student with Raegan. I sat in on Professor Alexander’s property class and of course Raegan, my four month old at the time, began to fuss. Professor Alexander walked up to me, peered down, and said, “Is that your baby?” I thought I would die of embarrassment. He then said, “Well, give her here!” He scooped Raegan up in his arms and resumed lecturing. Raegan stopped fussing and relaxed like she had always gone to law school.  Rather than shaming me, Professor Alexander, those 1Ls in property class, and the whole Emory Law community welcomed me, a young single mom at that time. I committed right then to enrolling and it was one of the best decisions of my life.  I am proud to be an Emory Lawyer. #Classof2016 #16L 

The day @emorylaw won my heart!

I remember visiting Emory Law as an admitted student with Raegan. I sat in on Professor Alexander’s property class and of course Raegan, my four month old at the time, began to fuss. Professor Alexander walked up to me, peered down, and said, “Is that your baby?” I thought I would die of embarrassment. He then said, “Well, give her here!” He scooped Raegan up in his arms and resumed lecturing. Raegan stopped fussing and relaxed like she had always gone to law school.

Rather than shaming me, Professor Alexander, those 1Ls in property class, and the whole Emory Law community welcomed me, a young single mom at that time. I committed right then to enrolling and it was one of the best decisions of my life.

I am proud to be an Emory Lawyer. #Classof2016 #16L
 ...