Blog Posts by Shani Fenderson

• TaNisha Webb at the NAACP 2012 Convention

  When you have worked in something for so long, you begin to find a need in things that you are familiar with. You take your skills, along with reading up on additional information, and begin creating options for those who also wish to do the same. I can say the same for TaNisha Webb. I met TaNisha at the Authors Pavilion at the NAACP 2012 Convention. She's a very uplifting person who supports every author she comes across. Never in a million years did she imagine that she too would also become an author herself.

  Founder of KC Girlfriends Bookclub, TaNisha understood the meaning of helping authors reach their readers. With planning events and book signings, she recognized both the good and the bad in event planning, and created a way for all other planners to make an event worthwhile. In her first published work, "The Ultimate Book Club Experience" TaNisha gives insight on how to create a successful book club event. However, as she explains, her novel is not

Tamika Newhouse 2012 NAACP Authors Pavillion

Have you ever come across someone who just has it? I mean, they have the business sense, the drive, the confidence, and everything else that comes along with the package regardless of environment or what people say? I came across a wonderful woman with all of that and more. Tamika Newhouse, Entrepreneur, mother, mogul, author, model, and so much more embodies all the characteristics of a woman in business. For over three years, I have followed Tamika on Facebook. From her sheer determination and dedication, she pushed forward regardless of "no's" and obstacles. As I observed her speaking with fans and fellow authors, I noticed a quality that many people do not have; assuredness and inventiveness.

"You have to think about and do what is not typical to get yourself out there as a business person," she said speaking to a fellow author. By looking at her, you can see that those very words are true. After leaving the Essence Festival in New Orleans, she made her way to Houston, Texas

Marqus James and LaWana Gatlin, Instructors at HBCDA South Houston located at Club A&G Dreams. Often times I speak about two becoming one and how it creates a beautiful masterpiece. With each count and movement, I literally witnessed with my own eyes how both man and woman became one in motion like a work of art; beauty in its complete form. I was thankful when my cousin asked me to join her and her friend at a local spot in Houston, Club A & G Dreams, where everyone honestly knows your name. As I walked in, it felt as if I were at home. We sat at a table near the front of the room, next to the dance floor of course, and a couple began dancing to a familiar beat. However, the dance was not something in which I had recognized before. It was called the Houston Swingout. My cousin explained to me that the two on the dance floor was their instructors; LaWana Gatlin and Marqus James of the Houston Bayou City Dance Association (HBCDA).

The two moved effortlessly across the dance floor. He would guide with just a soft touch of the hand, light tap on the shoulder, or through eye

Tainted by my own deception of giving in to the flesh for so long, I had fallen into the trap. I felt because if I gave all my goods away, I would be even more desirable. Funny how the mind tricks us into believe our own lies. I mean you can look at things around you and receive answers that you had questioned years prior but that one simple question that carries the weight of so much, you can never find. "What makes me think that they want me?" I was not worthy of many things because I caused myself to be encased into a lie in which I created. A lie built upon the first lie; I am not worthy to be loved. Why feel that I am not worthy when I can achieve all that I put my mind to? Simple really. Because I pushed so many people away and felt undeserving as a child, not getting what I wanted (having a dad around), I felt that I could never be loved. Of course this story plays out over and over again when I reach a certain point in my life. It returns like a cold winter night haunting me

How many times do you say, "Imma do me, boo." or "I have free will here on earth to do whatever I desire!" This may make some of you mad but this life is not about whatever you desire or want.

Free will actually means that Yahweh knows the choices that you will make (both good or bad). Free from what will; better yet, free from Whose will? Lets see here…….. The option of will was given to you at the time of birth, you either follow it or not once you are older and become aware . It doesn't mean free reign without repercussion.

" This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live." Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV

Choose life…… life for Christians means what? To live how I wish to live by doing whatever I want……. NOPE! WRONG! UH-UH!

"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us

Earlier this week I was going through some heavy struggles. When you counsel someone, you also have to have some sort of relief. I may self did not have any at the time I needed it the most until one person opened up his arms to listen; which happened to be two days later. Regardless of what anyone says, that we must walk this walk alone, you still need support. Support does not mean I am going to beat my idea into your mind about what you are doing wrong and how you need to change your life to look exactly like mine. Support doesn't even mean that I am going to talk over you and your problems because my problems are bigger then yours. All of those ideas cause you to become more of a problem to the person that needs the help the most.

1sup·port

1 : to endure bravely or quietly
2 a (1) : to promote the interests or cause of

3 a : to pay the costs of : b : to provide a basis for the existence or subsistence of
4 a : to hold up or serve as a foundation or prop for b :

I have been away from this Blog for several weeks. There are really no excuses why I have walked away from it. Of course my mother was ill but that still does not mean that I did not have time; even through all of the emotions and sadness. The same idea holds true with my schooling. I have failed in so many things but most of all I have fallen short on the Lord. Each and everyday while away, I found myself looking more into His word and how I should do better… The only problem was, I was just looking and not acting on what I was reading. You see, no work was really being done on me. I realized that today. After being on another social network, I wept for almost an hour. Not from sadness of what I posted but the realization of being short yet and still another day.

Ladies, we try so hard to cover-up and run away from truth because we know the consequences when we finally run into that wall that shows the revelation of what a mess we truly are. I was so busy again trying to

Desires

What are the desires of your heart right now? Be honest. Are they physical desires to fill a gap that you believe is missing in your life? Is it a man, money, sex, a relationship, marriage, a family, children? Nothing wrong with having desires, but how are they affecting your life? Are they the right types of desires? Do you miss deadlines, forget about helping others, are you only worried of self and not of the Lord? Better yet, ask yourself if the desires that you are feeling only occur when you are vulnerable?

Here is the definition of vulnerability: Open to physical injury or attack
Synonyms~ unguarded, defenseless, unprotected

The next few weeks I will be talking about the types of things that single woman are vulnerable to, what causes us to fall in the same cycle, and how can we move into a better position for doing the Lord's bidding. Desires, attention/vanity, loneliness, memories, sadness, wanting, anger, fear, financial hardships, and death are a