alltressedup.net

Date: August 24, 2011

I have another extensive testimony to share with you, but I just could not hold this one in any longer!  You see, I am a woman with dreams and aspirations like many of you.  I am a firm believer in the power of the tongue and that you have the ability to speak life (or death) over any situation.  It's all about faith.

After deciding to abandon my full-time job and dedicate my working time to my salon, writing and professor duties I began to speak my milestones and achievements into existence.  One of those achievements was to be published by the end of 2011.

Background

My dear friend and long time client, Camisha, has always been a talented writer.  I knew this from church plays of yesteryear and from listening to her poems face-to-face.  She and I met first through church, as co-workers and finally in the salon.  As you know, she embarked upon the natural hair journey and so many things have blossomed for this beautiful being during this time period.

Speaking Life

While working on Camisha's hair for her photo-shoot, I continued to share how badly I wanted to be published and that I wanted to be published by the end of the year.  I was also extremely 'giddy' about my very first salon photo-shoot and simply wanted Camisha to be able to use the photos to document her journey and to promote her writing.

God's Work

So, I'm sitting here tearing up as I write. (All my people know that I am the premier crybaby...Oh well!) Okay, so I receive a text message from Camisha stating that she had just landed a job as a writer for Urban Views Weekly.  I was (and still am) so excited for her!  Writing is her thing, yall!  She told me that she was going to find a way to 'plug me in'.  I simply said 'Okay thanks' and never thought any more of it because it all happens in God's time.  I was just thankful that she thought of me.

Months pass by and I am getting excited with her about her cover stories, the interviewing and even tools to use for interviews - just loving that my friend has embarked on this beautiful adventure.

Until one day...my phone rings.  Camisha wants to interview me for an article about going natural.  "Sure, I could talk your head off about that!", I say.  We met, conducted the interview and that was it.

My phone rings again and Camisha is requesting images to use in the article.  WHAT?!?!  Refer to the 'Speaking Life' section above.  Um yeah, I said I wanted to be published.  Please allow me to pause here because during this conversation, Camisha and I discussed the professional images and I clearly mentioned the fact that there was one particular image I did not like.  Hold that thought.

The images

I check my email to send images over and find that Camisha has sent her own favorite images and guess what...it includes the one I did not truly care for.  All I did was hope that the publisher wouldn't like it either. LOL!

Do you know that the image that was not my favorite was selected as the cover image of the publication?!?!?  Wow!  Needless to say, since then I have changed my mind about the photograph. LOL!

I share this with you to say that when you ask for blessings, it doesn't always happen in your time or your preferred way.  All I wanted was to be published by December 31, 2011 and on August 24, 2011 (less than two months after giving it my all) All Tressed Up was not only published, but on the cover of a publication!

Gratitude

Thanks to everyone for your continued support!  If you're reading this right now, that includes you.  Special thanks to B.Woods Photography for capturing those images and for making my first salon photo-shoot a great one.

Thanks to Tasha, Joyce and Camisha for not only trusting me with your hair, but allowing me to share those images in this publication.

A huge thanks to Camisha for being obedient to the Spirit and sending that image anyhow, choosing me as a person to quote and just for everything!

All Tressed Up...it's just the beginning.

Oh, and get this...the following week my son was in the same publication (non-Camisha affiliated).  I am always amazed by God's work.  Gratitude.  Whew!